GAMING ACCESSORY FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, GAMING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

A case for a portable electronic device, such as a mobile telephone (e.g., a smart phone, etc.), a portable media player or a tablet computer, includes at least one game control element for use in playing a game on the portable electronic device. In addition to the game control element, the protective case may include a receptacle and a base, which may be part of the receptacle or operatively associated with the receptacle. The receptacle is configured to receive or otherwise carry the portable electronic device, and may be configured to protect the portable electronic device. The receptacle may be configured to move relative to the base in a manner that enables a user to select an orientation of a display of the portable electronic device relative to the at least one game control element. The at least one game control element may be moved between a storage position, where it may appear to be an integral part of the case, and a gaming position where it is accessible from a location laterally beyond the receptacle and any portable electronic device held by the receptacle. A gaming system may include a case and a portable electronic device. A gaming method may include use of the case to play a game on a portable electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS. 1-7, an embodiment of an accessory108for use with a portable electronic device102is depicted. As depicted, the accessory108includes a receptacle104and a pair of game control elements118and120. When a portable electronic device102is assembled with the receptacle104, the accessory108and the portable electronic device102form a gaming assembly100.

The receptacle104of the accessory108is configured to carry a portable electronic device102, such as a mobile telephone, a portable media player, a tablet computer or the like. The receptacle104may be configured to protect a portable electronic device102. The receptacle104may reside on a front side of a base122, which may be part of the receptacle104or a separate element to which the receptacle104may be secured. Corners106may protrude from corners of the base122, and may be configured to extend over, or cover, and optionally engage corresponding corners of the portable electronic device102. The receptacle104may include side walls107that protrude from peripheral edges of the base122, and which may be configured to extend over, or cover, and optionally engage corresponding peripheral edges, or sides or ends, of the portable electronic device102. One or more corners106and/or one or more side walls107of the receptacle104may include laterally extending lips, which may be configured to extend slightly over a surface110(e.g., a display surface, a back surface, etc.) of the portable electronic device102to hold the portable electronic device102within the receptacle116. Depending upon its configuration, the receptacle104may comprise a case, or even a protective case, for the portable electronic device102.

In some embodiments, the orientation of the receptacle104may be fixed relative to the orientations of other features of the accessory108, including its game control elements118and120. Alternatively, as illustrated byFIGS. 14-14C, an accessory108′ may include a receptacle104′ that is configured to rotate between at least two orientations relative to the game control elements118′ and120′ (e.g., the landscape orientation shown inFIGS. 8 and 12, a portrait orientation104A′, a plurality of intermediate orientations104B′,104C′, etc.). As the receptacle104′ rotates from one orientation to another, any electronic device102′ (and its display) carried thereby will also rotate from one orientation to another. In this regard, the base (which may be configured like base122shown inFIGS. 1,3,8and9) of the receptacle104′ may comprise a turntable that rotates between two or more positions relative to a base (see, e.g., base152ofFIG. 9, etc.) of the accessory108′. Such a configuration may place and hold the receptacle104′ in two or more discrete orientations, or it may enable placement and maintenance of the receptacle104′ in a larger number, or even an infinite number, of orientations.

FIGS. 14A-14Cillustrate a specific, but non-limiting embodiment of a swivel150, which includes cooperating swivel elements150aand150bthat enable the receptacle104to rotate relative to a base152of the accessory108(see, e.g.,FIG. 1) and relative to each game control element118,120carried by the base152. In the depicted embodiment (see, especially,FIG. 14B), a male swivel element150b,comprises an annular protrusion from a front side of the base152, with a plurality of tabs extending a spaced apart intervals around the circumference of the annular protrusion. The depicted embodiment (see, especially,FIG. 14A) of the cooperating female swivel element150acomprises a circular receptacle in a rear side of the base122of the receptacle104with an undercut around the outside of its entire circumference. The female swivel element150ahas dimensions that correspond to the dimensions of the corresponding male swivel element150b,with the undercut of the female swivel element150abeing configured to receive the tabs of the male swivel element150b.In addition, the female swivel element150aincludes an outwardly extending detent that is configured to receive a tab of the male swivel element150b,and to introduce the tabs of the male swivel element150binto the undercut of the female swivel element150aand enable removal of the tabs of the male swivel element150bfrom the undercut.

As depicted byFIG. 14C, the receptacle104may be assembled with and disassembled from the base152and, thus, from each game control element118,120carried by the base152. Assembly may be accomplished by aligning the corresponding male and female swivel elements150band150a,respectively, and forcing the receptacle104and the base152toward one another while rotating these elements relative to one another. Disassembly may include rotating the receptacle104and the base152about the swivel150while forcing these the receptacle104and the base152apart from one another.

The accessory108may include features that accommodate various elements and/or features of the portable electronic device102. As a non-limiting example, as illustrated byFIGS. 1,2,6and8, in embodiments where the receptacle116includes walls that extend over portions of the peripheral edges of the portable electronic device102, the side walls107of the receptacle104may be configured with recessed areas, apertures and/or other features114a-114f(e.g., slots, holes, buttons, etc.) to accommodate and provide access to or otherwise enable use of various elements114a-114iof the portable electronic device102, such as buttons, switches, ports, microphones, speakers, camera lenses and the like. As another non-limiting example, as depicted byFIGS. 5,9and13, the accessory108may include one or more features that align with camera lenses and/or flashes134, such as an aperture (not shown) that extends through the base122of the receptacle104and a corresponding aperture136through one of the game control elements118. The aperture136through game control element118may be positioned to align with the camera lens and/or flash134when the game control element118is in its stored position; the aperture through the base122may expose the camera lens and/or flash134to the back of the accessory108when the game control element118is in its gaming position. Alternatively, the aperture136may be positioned to align with the camera lens and/or flash134when the game control element118is in its gaming position, as shown inFIGS. 5,9and13.

FIGS. 1-7show the game control elements118and120in a stored position. In their stored position, the game control elements118and120may be located beneath the receptacle104. In some embodiments, when the game control elements118and120are in the stored position, they may, along with the receptacle104, appear to be an integral part of a case for a portable electronic device102. In some embodiments, power to each game control element118,120may shut off, or the game control element118,120may be deactivated or in an inactive state, when that game control element118,120is in its stored position.

InFIGS. 8-13, the game control elements118and120are shown in their gaming positions. While in the gaming position, various controls126,128,130,132(the embodiments and arrangements shown are not limiting) on the upper surfaces of the game control elements118(e.g., controls126and128) and120(e.g., controls130and132) are exposed laterally beyond the outer periphery of the receptacle104and, thus, beyond the outer periphery of an electronic device102carried by the receptacle104, as depicted byFIGS. 8 and 12. Additional controls138,140(e.g., a power switch and a light sensor, respectively, etc.) on an interior periphery of a game control element120may also be exposed when that game control element120is in its gaming position. In addition to controls126,128,130and132that are revealed when the game control elements118and120are in their gaming positions, and that are hidden beneath the receptacle104when the game control elements118and120are placed in their stored positions, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, the game control elements118and120may include peripheral controls124(e.g., buttons, triggers, etc.), which may be accessible regardless of the positions of the game control elements118and120(see also,FIGS. 11-13).

The game control elements118and120may be configured to communicate with a portable electronic device102in any suitable manner. Without limitation, the game control elements118and120may wirelessly couple with the electronic device (e.g., via a BLUETOOTH® wireless protocol, etc.). Alternatively, the accessory108may be configured to establish a wired connection between a portable electronic device102and the game control elements118and120when the portable electronic device102is inserted into the receptacle104.

The game control elements118and120may also function and interact with a portable electronic device102in a manner known in the art to actuate desired video game functions.

Looking now toFIGS. 9 and 13, the accessory108may include a carriage that facilitates and/or controls movement of each game control element118,120between its storage position and its gaming position. In the depicted embodiment, the carriage includes one or more guides144,146that enable the game control elements118and120to move linearly toward and away from one other. The guides144and146may comprise tracks, or flanges, and/or slots that, along with other features of the carriage (e.g., springs, wheels, rack and pinion systems, etc.), enable the game control elements118and120to move between and to be maintained in two or more discrete positions. Other configurations of carriages and their respective guides (e.g., arcuate tracks, hinges, etc.) may be configured to enable the game control elements118and120to move in any other suitable manner relative to the receptacle104and, thus, relative to a portable electronic device102carried by the receptacle104.

In some embodiments, game control elements118and120may be configured to move independently from one another. Thus, while one game control element118is in a gaming position, the other game control element120may be in a stored position, a gaming position, or some position between the stored and gaming positions. In other embodiments, the accessory108may be configured in such a way that the game control elements118and120move together; i.e., when one game control element118is moved to a certain position (e.g., its stored position, an intermediate position, its gaming position), the other game control element120is automatically carried to the same position (e.g., its stored position, an intermediate position, its gaming position).

As inferred previously, the delivery of power to the game control elements118and120(e.g., by way of a battery, etc.) may be controlled by way of a switch or button (e.g., control138-FIG. 9, etc.). In some embodiments, the switch may be configured for selective control by a user, or manual operation. In other embodiments, operation of the switch may be automatic: as one or more game control elements118,120are moved to its (their) gaming position(s), the game control elements118and120are turned “on,” or activated; as the game control elements118and120are moved to their stored positions, the game control elements118and120are turned “off,” or deactivated.

FIG. 15illustrates another embodiment of accessory208, which includes a receptacle204for receiving and holding a portable electronic device202to provide a gaming assembly200. The accessory208includes a single game control element218that is configured to be moved between a storage position beneath the receptacle204and a gaming position (as depicted) in which various controls226,228,230,232,238(e.g., a power button, etc.) and240(a light sensor, etc.) are exposed laterally beyond a side wall207of the receptacle204, and are accessible to a user.

Turning now toFIG. 16, a schematic representation of a gaming system300is provided. The gaming system300includes a portable electronic device300and an accessory304for the portable electronic device300.

The portable electronic device300, which may comprise a smart phone, a portable media player, a tablet computer or the like, includes a processor305, as well as memory306associated with the processor305, a display310for receiving output images (e.g., video, etc.) from the processor305and optionally receiving inputs to be communicated to the processor305, and one more communication interfaces308, which may establish communication between the portable electronic device302an devices external thereto. A power supply312, such as a battery, may provide power to one or more of the processor305, the memory306, the display310and the communication interface308.

The accessory304may comprise one or more game control elements, such as the game control elements118and120shown in and described with reference toFIGS. 1-13or the game control element218shown inFIG. 15. The accessory304includes actuators314or other controls (e.g., a power switch, a light sensor, etc.), as well as a communication interface316for communicating inputs received by the actuators314to the communication interface308and, thus, the processor305of a portable electronic device302to which the accessory304has been communicatively (and, optionally, physically) coupled. The accessory304may also include a power supply318, such as a battery, for providing power to the actuators314and the communication interface316.

With returned reference toFIGS. 1-13, a portable electronic device102may be assembled with an accessory108. In some embodiments, such as that depicted byFIGS. 1-7, such assembly may comprise inserting the portable electronic device102into a receptacle104of the accessory108. The accessory108, or at least its receptacle104, may be configured to protect the portable electronic device102. By way of non-limiting example, portions of the portable electronic device102that are covered by the accessory108and its receptacle104may be protected from scratches that might otherwise occur from incidental contact (e.g., with hard surfaces; with keys coins or other objects; etc.) if those portions of the portable electronic device102were unprotected. As another example, the accessory108may protect the portable electronic device102from impacts, as may occur when the portable electronic device is accidentally (or intentionally) dropped, when other objects are dropped on the portable electronic device102, or when other forces are applied to the portable electronic device102. In addition, the receptacle104may protect the portable electronic device102even when the receptacle104has been disassembled from game control elements (e.g., game control elements118and120, etc.) and any base (e.g., base122, base152, etc.) that carries the game control elements.

In embodiments where the receptacle104is removable from the one or more game control elements (e.g., game control elements118and120, etc.) or a base (e.g., base122, base152, etc.) that carries the one or more game control elements, the receptacle104may also be assembled with the one or more game control elements and/or the base.

With each game control element118,120of the accessory108in a stored position, as shown inFIGS. 1-7, the portable electronic device may be used for a non-gaming function. Examples of nongaming functions include, without limitation, a telephone call, text messaging, e-mailing, playing audio, playing video viewing images, using the internet and executing a non-game app. Of course, in some embodiments, these functions may also be performed while one or more game control elements118,120are in their gaming positions (seeFIGS. 8-13and15). In some embodiments, a game control element118,120may be used in the performance of a non-gaming function. Non-gaming use of the portable electronic device102,202may occur while the receptacle104is assembled with the game control element118,120,218or a base122,152that carries the game control element118,120,218, or the portable electronic device102,202may be used for nongaming purposes while assembled with the receptacle104, but disassembled from the game control element118,120,218and/or the base122,152; i.e., when the receptacle104is not assembled with the game control element118,120,218and/or the base122,152.

When a game control element118,120,218of an accessory108,208is in a gaming position, as depicted byFIGS. 8-13and15, activated (or turned “on”) and communicatively coupled with the portable electronic device102,202, the game control element118,120,218may be used to control play of a video game executed by, or played on, the portable electronic device102,202. Video game control with the game control element118,120,218may be accomplished as an individual uses one or more controls124,126,128,130,132. The game control element118,120,218may be used to play a video game on the portable electronic device102,202that has been assembled with the receptacle104that been assembled with the game control element (e.g., game control elements118and120, etc.) or a base (e.g., base122, base152, etc.) that carries the game control element. The game control element118,120,218may also be used with a portable electronic device102,202while the portable electronic device102,202remains separate from (i.e., in an unassembled state from) the game control element118,120,218.

Once game play is complete, each game control element118,120,218may be deactivated, or powered down or turned “off,” and placed in its storage position. While in its storage position, the game control element118,120,218and at least some of its controls124,126,128,130,132,138,140may be shielded and, thus, protected by a remainder of the accessory108.

Although the foregoing disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the appended claims, but merely as providing information pertinent to some specific embodiments that may fall within the scopes of the appended claims. Features from different embodiments may be combined. In addition, other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter that lie within the scopes of the appended claims may be devised. The scopes of the claims are, therefore, indicated and limited only by the plain language used in each claim and the legal equivalents to the elements recited by the claims. All additions, deletions and modifications to the disclosed subject matter that fall within the meaning and scopes of the claims are to be embraced by the claims.