Patent Publication Number: US-2013244797-A1

Title: Video game player with extra disc trays

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention: 
     The invention relates generally to video game players and particularly to the disc drives of video game players. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Video game players or consoles, such as Microsoft&#39;s Xbox 360, come with a disc drive which is capable of accepting only one disc at the time, and thus, only one game may be played from the disc drive. When a player wishes to play a different game, he/she (“she”) needs to press the eject button, take the existing disc out from the disc tray, place the disc containing the new game in the tray and press the eject button again to close the tray. This is time consuming and frustrating when the player wants to play several games one after the other. Furthermore, this is very inconvenient and sometimes painful for players with disabilities and/or bound to a wheelchair. In addition, this is impossible for people with serious illnesses that physically incapacitate them, such as a person bound to a hospital bed. These players, such as sick kids bound to a hospital bed, depend on a second person, such as a nurse, who is physically able, available and willing to change the disc for them. Without this second person, these players cannot play the next game. 
     Furthermore, there are many other situations when changing the discs one by one is inconvenient, such as when the room is dark and turning the light on would disturb the other person(s) in the room. 
     Thus, there is a need for a new and improved video game player/console that can accommodate and play several disc video games. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In one exemplary embodiment a video game console is equipped with an integrated and remotely controlled multidisc changer, which has a magazine (or cartridge) containing five or six disc trays. Thus, an advantage is that it gives the video game player the comfort of playing several games one after the other without the need to personally or through someone else manually change the disc video games. This is particularly beneficial to disabled players or, for example, players bound to a hospital bed. 
     The above embodiment and advantages, as well as other embodiments and advantages, will become apparent from the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes, embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the front view of an existing video game console. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the front-perspective view of a video game console according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     What follows is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, and the information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The specific preferred embodiments of the invention, which will be described herein, are presented for exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications could be made by someone of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the front view of an existing video game console  100  is shown. The prior art video game console  100  is configured to have a disc drive  101 , which has only one disc tray (not shown, as the disc drive is in close position). Thus, at one time, only one disc video game may be inserted into the disc drive  101 . Hence, as stated earlier, when a player wishes to play a different game, she needs to press the eject button  102 , take the existing disc out from the disc tray, place the disc containing the new game in the tray and press the eject button  102  again to close the tray. This is, again, time consuming and frustrating when the player wants to play several games one after the other. Furthermore, as earlier explained, physically reaching the video game console may be very difficult or impossible for certain video game players. For example, a disabled person or a person bound to a hospital bed may not be able to reach the console and change the disc and thus play another game without the help of a second person such as a nurse. Thus, this configuration of the prior art video game console is inadequate. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the front-perspective view of a video game console according to one embodiment is shown. This is an improved video game console which solves the problems associated with the prior art console depicted in  FIG. 1 . The improved video game console  200  is equipped with an integrated multidisc changer  203  (depicted in open position), which has a magazine (or cartridge) containing, preferably, 5 (five) or 6 (six) disc trays  204 . More or less disc trays may also be used. The main idea is to give the video game player the comfort of playing several games one after the other without the need to manually change the disc video games. 
     As shown, the multidisc changer  203  has the disc trays  204  in a stacked arrangement (as opposed to, for example, a rotating disc platform), which is probably the best arrangement given the limited space available inside the video game console  200 . 
     The multidisc changer  203  may be remotely controlled from, preferably, the main video game controller (not shown). However, alternatively, a separate remote control may be used. Thus, the video game player will be able to remotely start a disc video game, stop it, switch to a different disc/game and so on. Hence, for example, a person bound to a hospital bed will be able to play game after game without depending on a third person (e.g., a nurse) to change the discs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the multidisc changer  203  is integrated into the video console  200  as opposed to using an external multidisc changer and connecting it to the console  200  with and external connection cable such as a USB cable. The integrated configuration is advantageous as it is more esthetic, occupies less space and it allows to proximally couple or associate the multidisc changer  203  with the console  200 , which in turn prevents loss of signal through an external connection cable, and thus, facilitates better communication between the two devices. 
     Another advantage of the multidisc changer  203  is that it stores the discs, thus, protecting them from surface damage such as scratching. 
     It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for the purpose of disclosing the preferred embodiments, someone of ordinary skills in the art will easily detect alternate embodiments and /or equivalent variations, which may be capable of achieving the same results, and which may be substituted for the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of this application is intended to cover alternate embodiments and /or equivalent variations of the specific embodiments illustrated and/or described herein. Hence, the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the invention.