Patent Publication Number: US-2020277014-A1

Title: Game Mount System for Use With Snow Bike

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system for allowing a smartphone to be mounted on to a steering frame of a conventional snow bike so that the steering frame of the snow bike can be used to manipulate the smartphone for use in playing a game. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     One of the most popular activities associated with a hand-held smartphone are games that can be downloaded and played by the user. The user would hold the smartphone using both hands, with a finger from each hand pressing on the screen of the smartphone, and then manipulate the smartphone to play the game by turning the smartphone. Many of these games include action games where a user is required to navigate a course or a roadway, or through obstacles or battles. It would be beneficial to provide these users with a more life-like or realistic experience, such that the user can actually simulate the experience of navigating through the course, roadway, obstacles or battle. 
     Separately, snow bikes are very popular for use in the winter or at ski resorts where there is enough snow to ride these snow bikes. Unfortunately, these snow bikes can only be used with snow, and when there is no snow (e.g., such as in the summer), most owners of snow bikes usually park the snow bikes in the garage and do not use them. It would be beneficial to find a new and additional use for snow bikes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention provides a system and a method for using a snow bike to provide a more realistic simulation of a game experience, by providing a mounting system for allowing a conventional smartphone to be mounted to a steering assembly of a conventional snow bike so that a user can ride the snow bike and play a game on the smartphone by steering the steering assembly of the snow bike. 
     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a method of playing a video game on a smartphone using a snow bike. The snow bike has a main body, at least one sled extending from the main body, and a front frame provided on the main body, the front frame having a steering assembly that includes a central portion and two handlebars extending from opposite ends of the central portion. A holder is mounted to the front frame in a manner where the holder is positioned at the central portion, and a smartphone is positioned in the holder. Two conductive button assemblies are provided, each having a conductive button, a conductive suction cup, and a connecting wire that connects the conductive button to the conductive suction cup. Each conductive button is clipped onto a separate handlebar, and each conductive suction cup is attached to the touchscreen of the smartphone. The user then actuates a video game on the smartphone and manipulates the steering assembly to play the video game. The user can ride on the main body of the snow bike and grip the handlebar while steering the steering assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional snow bike shown with the mounting system of the present invention installed on the steering assembly, and with a smartphone secured on the mounting system. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the steering assembly of  FIG. 1  showing the mounting system and the smartphone. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective of a conductive button assembly for the mounting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the steering assembly and mounting system of  FIG. 1  showing the steering assembly turned to one side. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a conventional snow bike  20  has a main body  22  which houses the electronics and power supply for the snow bike, and which also functions as a seat for one or two riders. Two sleds  24  extend from below the main body  22 . A front frame  26  is secured to the front of the main body  22 , and has a left fork that connects to the left sled, and a right fork  28  that connects to the right sled  24 . A front ski  30  extends from the bottom of the front frame  26 , and a steering assembly  32  is provided at the top of the front frame  26 . The steering assembly  32  has a generally U-shaped central portion  34  and two handlebars  38  extending from opposite ends of the central portion  34 . Each handlebar  38  has a grip  36 . The central portion  34  is attached to the top of the front frame  26 . 
     A mounting system is removably secured to the front frame  26  at the location of the central portion  34  so that a smartphone  40  can be mounted at the location of the U-shaped opening in the central portion  34 . The mounting system has two conductive button assemblies  42 , and a mount  44  that includes a curved bar  46 , a holder  48  and clamping section  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the conductive button assemblies  40  are the same, and each conductive button assembly  40  has a clip  60  that has a C-shaped body  62  which is sized and configured to clip on to the handlebar  38  adjacent the grip  36 . The C-shaped body  62  has a bore  64  that is sized and configured to receive the handlebar  38 . A button  66  is provided on top of the C-shaped body  62 , and a connecting wire  68  extends from the button  66  to a suction cup  70 . The suction cup  70  is adapted to be removably stuck on to the touchscreen of a conventional smartphone, and is adapted is simulate the effect of a human finger or thumb pressing on a portion of the touchscreen while playing a game. All the components of the conductive button assembly  42  can be made from a conductive material, such as conductive silicone rubber, so that conductive signals from a human finger or thumb can be transferred from the button  66  through the connecting wire  68  to the suction cup  70 , and then on to the touchscreen. The conductive silicone rubber is also soft and flexible enough to allow the body  62  to be flexed for gripping the handlebar  38 . 
     The mount  44  includes a curved bar  46  that has a first end connected to a holder  48 , and an opposite second end connected to a first clamp part  52  of the clamping section  50 . The clamping section  50  has a first curved clamp part  52  and a second curved clamp part  54 . The two clamp parts  52  and  54  are curved so as to together define an annular space that is sized and configured to receive the bar of the front frame  26  when the two clamp parts  52  and  54  are wrapped around the bar of the front frame  26 . Screws  56  can be used to secure the two clamp parts  52  and  54  together. 
     The holder  48  includes a fixed support piece  80  that is secured to the first end of the curved bar  46 . An adjustable support piece  82  is movably connected to the fixed support piece  80  by connecting bars  84  that extend through both support pieces  80  and  82 , and which allow the adjustable support piece  82  to be slid towards and away from the fixed support piece  80 . Each support piece  80  and  82  has an end ridge  86  and  88 , respectively, each of which is adapted to grip an edge of a smartphone  40 . The user can adjust the distance between the ridges  86  and  88  by moving the adjustable support piece  82  towards and away from the fixed support piece  80 . This allows smartphones  40  of different sizes to be accommodated in the holder  48 . As shown in the FIGS., the holder  48  is positioned in the U-shaped central portion  34 . 
     In use, the user secures the mount  44  to the front frame  26  at the location of the central portion  34  so that a smartphone  40  can be mounted at the location of the U-shaped opening in the central portion  34 . This is accomplished by wrapping the two clamp parts  52  and  54  around the bar of the front frame  26 , and using screws  56  to secure the two clamp parts  52  and  54  together. The smartphone  40  can then be positioned in the holder  48 , and the relative positions of the two support pieces  80  and  82  adjusted, to securely hold the smartphone  40  in the holder  48 . Next, one conductive button assembly  40  is installed to each handlebar  38  by clipping the C-shaped body  62  around the handlebar  38  so that its bore  64  receives the handlebar  38 . The suction cup  70  is then attached to the touchscreen of the smartphone  40  adjacent an edge thereof (see  FIG. 2 ), and the game is ready to be played. 
     The user then mounts the snow bike  20  and sits on the main body  22 , using each of his or her hands to grip a grip  38 . The user then starts the game on the smartphone  40  and uses his or her thumbs to press on the button  66  of each conductive button assembly  40  so that conductive signals from the thumbs can be transferred from the button  66  through the connecting wire  68  to the suction cup  70 , and then on to the touchscreen. See  FIG. 2 . The user can manipulate the steering assembly  32  by turning it left and right. See  FIG. 5 . This provides a more realistic simulation of a game experience, as the user can experience the feeling of being in an actual vehicle that is being steered by the smartphone. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.