Abstract:
A video game controller charging device is supported directly on the top of a video game console and integrated therewith. The device includes a main body portion having a console-engaging structure for providing support to the device while positioned on top of the game console. One or more controller support surfaces, formed as cradles or docking structures for receiving game controllers, are formed on a top surface of the charging device. An extension arm engages a second surface of the game console and includes power connector integrated therein and adapted to engage a power source connection on the game console when the charging device is installed on the game console. Fastening devices may include suction devices that may be selectively activated to secure the charging device to a surface of the game console.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to the field of charging systems for video game controllers. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    Various devices have been devised for charging video game controllers. Such devices typically utilize a carriage or cradle for receiving and supporting the game controller as well as a power supply for providing energy to recharge a power storage device, such as a battery, on the video game controller. The prior art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 8,143,848, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
         [0005]    Existing devices typically involve a separate structure that is supported in a remote location from the gaming console and requires a power cord that is typically plugged into a wall outlet. The separate structure does not lend itself to compact storage and integrated association with the gaming console. Moreover, the separate power cord adds to the complexity in managing the many power devices that are typically located near a video gaming console, such as additional devices for entertainment, including satellite receivers and digital video recorders. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a device and system which addresses the aforementioned problems and others. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Aspects of the invention provide a video game controller charging device that may be supported directly on the top of a video game console and integrated therewith. The device may include a main body portion having a console-engaging structure for providing support to the device while positioned on top of the game console. One or more controller support surfaces, which may be formed as cradles or docking structures for receiving game controllers, may be formed on a top surface of the charging device. An extension arm may be provided on the charging device for extending from the main body to engage a second surface of the game console. The extension arm may be provided with a power connector integrated therein and adapted to engage a power source connection on the game console when the charging device is installed on the game console. 
         [0007]    Aspects of the invention also provide fastening devices as part of the gaming console engaging structure, which may include suction devices that may be selectively activated to secure the charging device to a surface of the game console. The fastening devices may be provided on a fastening subassembly which may be first installed on the game console surface and then receive an interlocking controller support assembly having docking cradles formed therein for supporting one or more game controllers thereon. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The features and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. It will be understood that the description and embodiments are intended as illustrative examples and are not intended to be limiting to the scope of invention, which is set forth in the claims appended hereto. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a game controller charging device according to one aspect of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the game controller charging device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is perspective view of a game controller charging device according to another aspect of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the game controller charging device of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the game controller charging device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  installed on a game console and supporting two game controllers. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the game controller charging device of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , showing suction devices mounted on an underside thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing an installation operation associated with the game controller charging device of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing an installation operation of the game controller charging device of  FIGS. 3 and 4  on a game console. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the game controller charging device of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in an installed position on a game console and supporting two game controllers. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate exemplary embodiment to that illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in which the game controller connectors are integrated with the main body rather than provided in the form of dongles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a game controller charging device according to an aspect of the invention. The device, generally referenced  100 , includes a main body portion  110  which includes a top game controller support surface  112  and a bottom console-engaging support structure  114  for engaging a surface of a game console (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) and supporting the charging device  100  thereon. Bottom console-engaging support structure  114 , according to this aspect of the invention, may be a flat bottom surface of the main body portion  110 —the underside of the main body portion  110  shown in  FIG. 1 . A pair of game controller power connectors  140 A and  140 B are disposed in respective recesses  150 A and  150 B, formed in the top game controller support surface  112 . Game controller power connectors  140 A and  140 B may include mini-USB connectors  142 A and  142 B, which are in electrical communication with internal conducting elements to convey power and information from a gaming console in a manner that will be further described herein. 
         [0020]    An extension arm  120  extends from the main body portion and may include a second console engaging support structure  122  for engaging a surface of a gaming console and supporting the charging device  100  thereon. A game console power connector  130 , which may be a male USB connector, extends from the extension arm  120  such that, when the charging device is installed on the game console, the power connector  130 A fits within a correspondingly-shaped connector, i.e., a female USB connector, on the game console, providing power, information and further structural support to the charging device  100 . 
         [0021]    Referring additionally to  FIG. 2 , which is an exploded view showing the internal components of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , main body  110  may generally comprise two sections, a top section  113  and bottom section  115 , which may be injection molded plastic elements secured together in a known manner, such as by adhesive or screw fasteners (not shown). Bottom section  115  includes a console-engaging support structure  114 , which may be a generally planar wall formed as part of the bottom section  115 , the underside of which engages the game console surface. Bottom section  115  may also include an extension arm bottom portion comprising the extension arm console engaging support structure  122  for engaging a second surface on the game console to support the charging device. Housed within the main body  110  ( FIG. 1 ) may be a printed circuit board  117  having conductor paths (not shown) that communicate eletronically with extension cables  118 A and  118 B, (i.e., forming a dongle connector) which in turn communicate with mini-USB connectors  140 A and  140 B, in a manner that will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Printed circuit board  117  is also in electronic communication, through a suitable cable or conductive path (not shown) with USB connectors  130 A and  130 B. USB connectors  130 A and  130  may be secured within a mounting plate  132 , which is fastened to the main body bottom section  115 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the charging device of Figured  1  and  2  installed on a game console  500 . A top surface  502  of the game console  500  is engaged by the console-engaging support structure—the bottom surface  114  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of main body  110 . A second surface  504  of the game console  500  is engaged by the second console-engaging support structure—the bottom surface  122  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of extension arm  120 . A pair of game controllers,  401 A and  401 B are shown supported on the top surface of the charging device  100  in a charging position. As will be recognized, the charging device  100  forms a compact, integrated pairing with the game console  500 , without the obtrusive cables and wires of prior art devices. Moreover, the charging device  100  enables the game controllers to be conveniently and compactly mounted for charging in a position that is immediately proximate to the game console itself. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a charging device  300  according to another aspect of the invention. This exemplary embodiment provides fastening devices for engaging the game console—console-engaging support structure—in the form of suction devices  370 A and  370 B on an underside of the charging device  300 . A main body  310  may comprise two cooperating assemblies: a lower fastening base assembly  330  and an upper cradle assembly  340 . An extension arm  320  extends from the main body  310 . 
         [0024]    Referring additionally to  FIG. 4 , which is an exploded perspective view showing the internal components of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the two cooperating assemblies are referenced by brackets  330  and  340 . Base assembly  330  may include a lower suction device mounting plate  332  for securing suction devices  370 A and  370 B thereon. To avoid uneccesary duplicity herein, only the details of suction device  370 A ( FIG. 3 ) will be described, with those of ordinary skill in the art understanding that suction device  370 B will have like structure. The structure of suction device  370 A may include actuating arm  372 A having cam surface  374 A for effecting a vaccuum within suction cups  376 A. Suction device  370 A may further include a hole  373 A formed in a stem portion of suction cup  376 A and adapted to receive a bushing  371 A and retainer pin  370 A, which also extends through holes in the actuating arm  372 A. Suction device mounting plate  332  may include a retaining collar  334 A as well as a conical recess  336 A formed therein. When the suction devices are assembled, the suction cup stem extends into the collar  334 A and retainer pin  373 A is inserted first into the right side of actuator  372 A, then through hole in collar  338 A, then bushing  371 A which resides inside stem hole  373 A. Pin  370  further extends through the opposite side of collar  338 A and then through the hole in the left side of actuator  372 A, thereby retaining the suction cup  376 A within the mounting plate  332  and providing for pivoting movement of actuator  372 A. In operation, cam surface  374 A cooperates with an annular shoulder  338 A such that when actuating arm  372 A is pivoted (counterclockwise in  FIG. 4 ), suction cup  376 A is pulled upward into conical recess  336 A, thereby creating a vacuum within suction cup  376 A, which engages a surface on the game console. Base assembly  330  also includes a top cover  360 , including respective recesses  362 A and  362 B formed therein for permitting a user to access the actuating arms  372 A and  372 B of suction devices. Top cover  360  and fastening device mounting plate  332  also include extension arm top portion  322  and extension arm bottom portion  324 , respectively, which form extension arm  320  ( FIG. 3 ) when assembled. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the base assembly  330  and cradle assembly  340  assembled together and showing the position of fastening devices (suction cups  376 A and  376 B) for engaging a surface of a game console. 
         [0026]    Referring again to  FIG. 4 , according to a further aspect of the invention, base assembly top cover  360  includes an interlocking structure in the form of a pair of retaining ridges  364  formed thereon for cooperating with complimentarily-shaped structure on the upper cradle assembly  340  such that the cradle assembly  340  may be installed on and removed from the base  330  with a sliding motion, as will be described further below. Upper cradle assembly  340  further includes a top cradle member  380  with cradle or docking recesses  382 A and  382 B formed therein for supporting respective game controllers. Upper cradle assembly  340  also includes a cradle assembly bottom plate  390 , the underside of which is provided with the cooperating structure for retaining ridges  364 . Conductive elements  392 A and  392 B are secured to the bottom plate  390  and include conductors  394 A and  394 B which protrude through corresponding recesses formed in the top cradle member  380  to engage and provide power and information connections to the game controllers supported in the docking recesses  382 A and  382 B. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  illustrates an assembly operation for a charging device described above relative to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Base assembly  330  is illustrated with suction device actuating arms  372 A and  372 B in a generally vertical position in which suction devices are in a disengaged position and the base assembly  330  is disengaged from a game console. Upper cradle assembly  340  is illustrated in a removed position from engagement of the interlocking ridge  364  of the base assembly  330 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  illustrates an installation operation for the exemplary embodiment described above with regard to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this illustration, the base assembly  330  has been secured to a top surface of game console  800  by actuation of the fastening devices  370 A and  370 B (only device  370 A is shown in  FIG. 8 ). Upper cradle assembly  340  is shown in an intermediate position towards installation, having been slid in direction of arrow A, towards a fully installed position, with the interlocking ridge  364  ( FIG. 4 ) of the base  330  retaining the upper cradle assembly thereon.  FIG. 9  illustrates the charging device exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in a fully installed position and supporting two game controllers in a charging position. 
         [0029]      FIG. 10  illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment to that illustrated and described with regard to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in which the mini-USB connectors  140 A and  140 B are integral with the main body  112  instead of being provided with extension cables (i.e., dongles)  118 A and  118 B ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0030]    It should be understood that implementation of other variations and modifications of the invention in its various aspects may be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and that the invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described herein. It is therefore contemplated to cover, by the present invention any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein. 
         [0031]    As an example, although the invention is described with regard to charging game controllers, the invention also contemplates charging devices for directly charging batteries to be used in controllers or otherwise, rather than charging only controllers. Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the orientation of the controllers and/or battery packs to be charged by charging devices according to the invention may be different than the specifically disclosed exemplary embodiments. That is, charging devices according to the invention may support controllers or battery packs in vertical or horizontal orientation and in positions that are elevated or resting upon the charging device structure. 
         [0032]    Further, the invention is not limited to devices in which the structure for conveying power from the game console or separate power supply to the game controllers or batteries being charged involves plugs, wires or contact couplings, but also contemplates inductive or wireless couplings to communicate energy to the controllers or batteries to be charged.