Abstract:
A ball-shaped housing for encapsulating a game controller. The game controller is held in a compartment within the hollow of a ball. A user accesses control buttons on the game controller by way of buttons on the housing that are mechanically linked to contact ends that are in close proximity to the game controller buttons. When a user presses the buttons on the housing, its mechanical linkages transfer motion to the contact ends, which press respective buttons on the game controller. The invention allows a player to approximate real game conditions and allows for a realistic gaming experience

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/181,912 filed May 28, 2009—the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of video game accessories, more specifically to a ball-shaped holder for a game controller. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For many years, video games have been a popular form of entertainment for players of all ages and skill levels. Since the earliest games have first been introduced to the public, there has been a continuous effort on the part of game developers to produce games having a realistic feel. In this regard, the NINTENDO WII presents a vast improvement to the state of the art. 
         [0004]    WII games are played by means of a WII controller. The WII controller has many buttons for a user to press to control various aspects of the game displayed on a screen, but it also uses accelerometer and optical sensor technology to sense the motion imparted by a player to accordingly manipulate images displayed on a game display screen. Players of WII games use the WII controller to simulate the various motions associated with all types of games and sports such as, for example, bowling, golf, baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, boxing and car racing. 
         [0005]    In order to provide players with a more realistic game experience, developers have produced various sports equipment replicas that house the WII controller. For example, a mock tennis racquet or golf club is provided with a compartment for receiving a WIT controller. In this manner, players of WII tennis or golf actually swing a tennis racquet or a golf club when playing the respective WII games. This enhances the overall game experience. 
         [0006]    There has been some difficulty, however, creating a similar realistic experience for players of WII Bowling and WII Football—as there is no equipment held by players of these games other than the ball itself. Therefore, in order to effectively simulate a bowling experience, an actual life-sized ball is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The current invention is a ball that encloses a game controller therewithin. The ball is designed to replicate a real ball and it is handled as would a normal ball during play. As a result, players of WII Bowling and Football are better able to approximate real playing conditions. 
         [0008]    The inventive ball is comprised of two semi-spheres that couple together to form a unitary ball. Inside of the ball there is a compartment for holding a game controller. The compartment is accessible when the ball sections are separated. After inserting the controller into the compartment, the ball is fastened closed and ready for play. 
         [0009]    Buttons are provided on the outside surface of the ball, which have spring-biased rods or other mechanical linkages extending therefrom into the center of the ball. Each of the rods terminates in close proximity to a corresponding button on a game controller. Thus, when a button on the outside of the ball is pressed—a corresponding button on the controller is simultaneously pressed. This allows a user to have full functional access to the controller—even while it is encapsulated within a ball. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a front, perspective view of a bowling ball according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a rear, perspective view of the bowling ball of  FIG. 1   
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a top, exploded view of a bowling ball according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a bottom, exploded view of a bowling ball according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a side, cross-sectional view of a bowling ball according to an embodiment of the invention with a game controller enclosed therein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of an operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic view of an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted with wired control. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  shows a schematic view of an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted with wireless control. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic view of a plurality of finger hole inserts according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic view of a player inserting an insert according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  shows a rear, perspective view of a bowling ball having inserts seated in its finger holes according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The following is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the drawings in which the same reference numerals identify the same elements of structure in each of the several figures. It should be noted that these drawings are merely exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing herein below. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of a ball that is sized and shaped to resemble a real bowling ball. A compartment inside of the ball holds a WII remote. As part of the functionality of the WII remote, there is a sensor that communicates wirelessly with a sensor bar on the WII game console. In order to allow transmission of wireless signals between the WII remote to the sensor bar while the remote is contained within the ball, an opening  101  is provided allowing visual access to the WII remote sensor. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a rear view of the bowling ball  100  (“rear” herein refers to the side of the ball having finger holes, whereas “front” refers to the area diametrically opposed to the finger holes) As shown, three finger holes are provided for a user to grasp the ball Finger holes are positioned substantially similarly to finger holes in a standard bowling ball—in a generally triangular configuration, where two holes are positioned opposite of a single hole. The two holes are for receiving a middle finger and ring finger, respectively, and the single hole is for receiving a thumb. 
         [0024]    It should be noted that unlike with real-life bowling, the ball  100  of the current invention is not actually released from a player&#39;s grasp. A player only goes through the motion of throwing the ball—without actually releasing it. In order to ensure that the ball does not escape from a player&#39;s grip during play, a wrist strap  40  is provided for tethering the ball to a player&#39;s wrist.  FIG. 6  shows a bowling ball  100  securely tethered to a player&#39;s wrist and being “tossed” in accordance with the method of the invention. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of a bowling ball. As shown, the bowling ball housing and mechanical parts  30  consist of the following principal elements: a first, roughly semi-spherical housing  31  and a second, roughly semi-spherical housing  32 ; a first equatorial plate  11  and a second equatorial plate  12 ; and a plurality of rod assemblies  20  extending from the equatorial plate  11 , through holes  33  formed in spherical housing member  31 . 
         [0026]    It will be understood that the manner of execution of mechanical linkage from buttons on the surface of the ball  100  to the buttons on the controller comprises substantially conventional techniques, which may be implemented in any of various methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art—which are not novel in itself. Moreover, instead of linkages being mechanical, such linkage could be electronic. For example, hard-wired or wireless transmission of current could power mechanical movement of cams, pistons or the like to contact and press buttons on the game controller stored within the compartment in the cavity of the ball. 
         [0027]    First plate  11  is seated in the opening of housing  31 . A first side  11   a  of plate  11  faces plate  12  and a second side  11   b  of plate  11  faces housing member  31 . Equatorial plate  12  is seated in the opening of housing  32  A first side  12   a  of plate  12  faces plate  11  and a second side  12   b  of plate  12  faces housing member  32 . Plate  12  is generally flat, but in its center, the material is indented to form a slot  13   a  that is sized and shaped to accommodate the bottom side of a WII remote  200 . Opposing plate  11  also is generally flat, but in its center a pair of substantially parallel walls extends upwardly to define a slot  13   b  that is sized and shaped to receive the top portion of a WII remote  200  Slot  13   b  of plate  11  is best seen in  FIG. 4 . When the two ball segments  31 ,  32  are fastened together, slots  13   a  and  13   b  align to form a compartment that is sized and shaped to accommodate a WII remote. 
         [0028]    It should be noted that in an embodiment of the invention a compartment for receiving a game controller could be provided entirely in one ball segment—and not shared between the two as described above. Moreover, in an embodiment of the invention, a ball could be constructed to be solid (i.e. comprised of a single sphere and not two ball segments as described above) with a slot for receiving a game controller disposed in its cavity. 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 3 , a number of rod assemblies  20  are shown. The rod assemblies begin on the outside surface of the ball  100  and terminate as contact ends  23  on the plate  11  in close proximity to buttons on WII remote  200  (when remote  200  is seated in the compartment). Each rod assembly  20  comprises an outer press button  21 , a link rod  22  extending therefrom and a terminal contact end  23 . When a player presses button  21 , link rod  22  (extending directly from button  21 ) moves downward (i.e. in the direction toward plate  11  in the ball orientation shown in  FIG. 3 ). Link rod  22  pushes contact end  23  in the same direction. Because each contact end  23  is positioned in close proximity to corresponding buttons  201  on WII remote  200 , when contact end  23  is pushed by link rod  22  it moves into buttons on the WII remote  200  and thereby presses them. As such motion imparted by a user to buttons  21  is transferred by way of link rod  22  to contact end  23 , which ultimately presses the buttons on the WII remote  200   
         [0030]    Rod assemblies are provided with an outward spring bias, which allows button  21  to recover to its starting position after being released by a player. Preferably, a spring is placed around the axis of link rods  22 , with the top part of the spring contacting button  21  and the bottom part of the spring contacting plate  11 . As such, a constant biasing force is applied to buttons  21 , which can be temporarily defied when a user imparts a counter force to buttons  21 . It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that buttons  21 , may be provided as a pad or surface that is contiguous with housing  31 ,  32 . The pad, when pressed by a player, similarly moves a mechanical link to press buttons on the game controller. 
         [0031]    Rod assemblies  20  are best shown in  FIG. 3 , which shows the second side of plate  11   b  (i e the side that faces housing  31  and which is not visible to a player once plate  11  is seated in housing  31 ). As shown, the rod assemblies  20  extend from plate  11  to the outside of the ball—traversing the cavity defined by the hollow of semi-sphere housing  31  and then protruding through apertures  33 . In  FIG. 1 , ball  100  is shown with both ball segments  31 ,  32  fastened together. Button ends  21  of rod assemblies  20  are shown protruding through apertures  33   
         [0032]      FIG. 4  best shows the first side  11   a  of a plate  11  (i.e. the side that is visible to a user when the two ball segments are separated). As shown, compartment  13   a  is integrally formed on plate  11 . The contact ends  23  of the rod assemblies  20  are shown. Contact ends are positioned to substantially align with corresponding buttons on a WII remote  200 . 
         [0033]    Two holes  50   a ,  50   b  are formed in the rear surface of housing  32 . The holes accommodate two tubular members  34  —which are secured in the hollow of housing  32 , for example, by way of screws or clasps. Each of the tubular members  34  has an opening on one end  52  and which is closed on a second end  53 . The tubular members are positioned such their open ends  52  open into holes  50   a ,  50   b  in housing  32 . The outside surfaces of tubular members  34  face the hollow cavity defined by housing  32 , whereas the inside surfaces serve as pockets for receiving a player&#39;s middle and index fingers, respectively. A single hole is similarly formed in hosing  31  to receive a single tubular member  34   a  Single tubular member  34   a  similarly accommodates a player&#39;s thumb. 
         [0034]    In an embodiment of the invention, and as shown in  FIG. 9 , in order to tailor the finger hole sizes to smaller fingers, finger hole inserts  60  are provided for inserting into the finger holes in order to diminish the size of the hole. Inserts are comprised of walls having a thickness  61 . An outer surface  62  of the insert  60  is roughly sized to fit inside and make physical contact with an inside surface of the finger holes  50   a ,  50   b . The inside surface of the inserts  63  accommodate a player&#39;s fingers. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that inserts could be manufactured in any of various material including rubber, foam and the like. The inserts also could be provided having varying degrees of thickness. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a single button  21   a  is shown disposed in housing member  32 . Button  21   a  is positioned in close proximity to finger hole  50   b  such that button  21   a  is easily in the reach of a player&#39;s free index finger when he/she is gripping the ball  100  in the conventional manner—that is with middle finger and ring finger respectively in finger holes  50   b  and  50   a    FIG. 6  shows a player gripping the inventive ball  100 , with his/her index finger free to access button  21   a . As shown, button  21   a  is preferably located on the housing between finger hole  50   b  and the edge of ball segment  32  at approximately ¾″ from finger hole  50   b . In a preferred embodiment, button  21   a  is anywhere from about ½″ to 1″ from finger hole  50   b.    
         [0036]    Button  21   a  allows a user to access a button on the underside of the WII remote. Access to such button (“B Button”) is critical, as in current versions of WII Bowling, that button allows for the “release” of the ball. To that end, and as best shown in  FIG. 5 , a rod assembly  20   a  is provided in a similar manner to that describe above. Namely, a button  21   a  is positioned to protrude through an aperture in housing  32  and which has a link rod  22   a  extending therefrom. 
         [0037]    When a player presses button  21   a , rod  22   a  moves laterally (i.e. when viewed according to the orientation of the ball shown in  FIG. 5 ). However, to push the B button  51  an upward movement is necessary. In order to transfer the lateral motion imparted by link rod  22   a  to upward motion, a pivotable lever  23   a  is positioned in contact with link rod  22   a . Lever  23   a  is connected inside of housing  32  by way of a pivot, fulcrum, hinge or the like. When lateral force is applied to bottom region thereof, the lever moves about its pivot such that the bottom region moves in the same direction of the imparted force, but the top region moves in the opposite and upward direction thereof. When lever  23   a  is so acted on by link rod  22   a , the top of lever  23   a  moves into contact with button  51  on the underside of remote  200 . Rod assembly  20   a  is similarly spring-biased as described above. It should be noted that according to this embodiment of the invention, buttons on both a top and an underside of a game controller are accessed by way of mechanical linkages to buttons on the housing. 
         [0038]    In use, a player separates the two semi-spherical ball segments (also referred to as “housing,” “housing members” or “semi-spherical housing” herein) to expose compartment  13   a . The player then inserts a WII remote into the slot  13   a  and fastens the two ball segments  31 ,  32  together—bringing plates  11  and  12  into close contact with each other. Slots  13   a  on plate  12  and slot  13   b  on plate  11  combine to form a compartment, which substantially encloses the WII remote  200 . In order to securely maintain the two ball segments together as one unitary ball, plate  12  is provided with one or more snap members  14  which are snapped into corresponding catches in housing  31 . In addition, release buttons  15  are provided in lateral contact with snap members  14 . Housing  32  is provided with through-holes  35  which allow physical access release buttons  15 . When release buttons  15  are pressed by a user, force is applied to snap members  14 , thereby disengaging them and allowing for the ball  100  to be separated into two segments. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5 , shows a side, cross-sectional view of a ball  100  according to an embodiment of the invention, with a WII remote positioned therein. As shown, rod assemblies  20  extend through the hollow of housing  31  and slightly protrude therefrom. Inside the cavity of ball  100 , rod assemblies terminate in close proximity to buttons  201  on WII remote  200 . The WII remote  200  is shown encapsulated within the cavity of the housing and with its sensor  202  aligned and substantially parallel to opening  101   
         [0040]    In one embodiment, opening  101  comprises a notch-out on each of the housing members, which align to for a window. In another embodiment, a complete cut-out is made to a ball segment—such as for example in the embodiment wherein a compartment is provided in entirely in one ball segment. 
         [0041]    It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the inventive ball need not be a round ball such as a bowling ball, but that others shapes, such as that of a football may be similarly crafted according to the teachings of this disclosure. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic view of an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted with wired control. As shown in the drawing, when the user presses down the button  21  of the rod assembly  20 , the link rod  22  will be pushed to drive the contact end  23  to touch with the push button  201  of the controller  200 , allowing the controller  200  to send out a wired control signal to a game console  300  through wired transmission. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8 , shows a schematic view of an implementation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention fitted with wireless control. As shown in the drawing, when the user presses down the button  21  of rod assembly  20 , the link rod  22  will be pushed to drive the contact end  23  to touch with the push button  201  of the controller  200 , allowing the controller  200  to send out a wireless control signals to the game console  300  through wireless transmission. 
         [0044]    Having described this invention with regard to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation since further modifications and variations may be apparent or may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art It is intended that the present application cover all such modifications and variation as fall within the scope of the appended claims