Abstract:
A portable video game and video playback holder for holding a portable video game and video playback device. The holder includes a tiltable tray, a frame portion to which the tray is pivotally mounted, the tray being adapted to retain a portable video game and video playback device and including audio speakers, and a mechanism for the tiltable tray to be retained in at least two discrete tilt positions relative to the frame portion. The device also includes straps for detachably attaching the portable video game and video playback holder to another object, such as an automotive headrest. The device includes electrical connectors adapted for electrically connecting the portable video game and video playback holder to a portable video game and video playback device.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Portable video game and video playback devices, such as the Sony® Play Station Portable®, or PSP®, and Nintendo® Game Boy® and Nintendo DS® devices are popular among not just children, but adolescent and adults who appreciate the ability to view videos and play high resolution games in a small, portable device. These types of video game and video playback devices are designed to be held in a user&#39;s hand with the features manipulated by a user&#39;s two thumbs or other fingers at sides of one or two displays. Although these video game and video playback devices possess great video processing and computing power, they are small and compact and are basically designed for a single user/viewer. In the case of two or more viewers wishing to view a video or a game, this is difficult as the controls are not readily accessible if the portable device is not being held in a user&#39;s hands. 
         [0002]    Many motor vehicles are now equipped with onboard DVD players and display screens. Some motor vehicles provide the display screen or screens in a ceiling console. In other motor vehicles, the LCD screens are installed in the back of the headrests of the front seats. If a vehicle does not already come equipped with a LCD screen installed in the back of a headrest, then it can be retrofitted with an aftermarket LCD screen. Some of these existing LCD screens are adapted to be connected with an external DVD player, and others have the DVD player built in. These retrofitable DVD player systems do not have video gaming features and have a static LCD screen position once fitted to the back of a headrest. 
         [0003]    It would therefore be convenient to have provided a video game and video playback device holder that is adapted to detachably attach to a motor vehicle&#39;s headrest and is adapted to position a user&#39;s preexisting portable video game and video playback device such that it can be viewed by one or more individuals and operate without being held in a person&#39;s hands. The holder preferably includes a control device to permit the portable video game and video playback device to be operated without grasping the portable video game and video playback device or the holder for same. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder of the invention used to retain a video game and video playback device to the back of an automotive headrest. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder of  FIG. 1  holding an exemplary video game and video playback device in its untilted position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder of  FIG. 1  in an untilted position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder in a tilted position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a back view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder of  FIG. 1  showing its attachment straps and an optional tilt stand. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder of  FIG. 1  showing its stand being used to prop up on a Support surface. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a detail showing an exemplary embodiment of a tilt mechanism of the video game and video playback device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder of  FIG. 1   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder  10  of the invention used to retain a video game and video playback device  12  to the back of an automotive headrest  14 . The holder includes a tintable tray portion (not shown) held within a frame portion  16 . The tray portion has an upper rim  18  and a lower rim  20 . The upper rim has detachable attachment means  22 , such as thumbscrews that are used to retain the video game and video playback device  12  in place. The video game and video playback device holder  10  includes straps  24  and  26  for detachably attaching the video game and video playback device holder  10  to the back of the headrest  14 . The video game and video playback device holder  10  includes speakers  28 . A control device  30  is connectable via a cable  32  to the video game and video playback device  12  to control features thereof and permit a user who is not holding the video game and video playback device  12  in his or her hands to control the video game and video playback device  12 . It is also possible for the control device  30  to be wireless. The frame portion  16  has an indentation  52  formed on a lower middle wall  54  thereof. As shown, the video game and video playback device  12  has a display screen  40  and sets of control buttons  42  and  44  that can also be accessed by the user if desired. The upper and lower rims  18  and  20 , respectively, are also shown. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder  10  of  FIG. 1  holding the exemplary video game and video playback device  12  in an untilted position. In the untilted position, the face of the display screen  40  of the video game and video playback device  12  is generally parallel to a plane of the face  46  of the video game and video playback device holder  10 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder  10  of  FIG. 1  shown in its untilted position. The holder includes a tiltable tray portion  34 . The tiltable tray portion  32  has an upper rim  18  and a lower rim  20 , and two side rims  36  that extend from a back wall  38 . The upper rim  18  has the detachable attachment means  29 , such as the thumbscrews  22 . The lower rim  20  has protrusions  50  extending therefrom which, together with the thumbscrews  22 , can be used to retain the video game and video playback device (not shown) within the frame portion  16 . The back wall  38 , upper rim  18 , lower rim  20  and side rims  36  of the tiltable tray  34  are designed to define a space to receive and hold the video game and video playback device (not shown). The frame portion  16  has an indentation  52  formed on a lower middle wall  54  thereof. This indentation  52  allows a user to push on a lower front portion of the video game and video playback device (not shown) or on the lower rim  20  of the tiltable tray  34 , which is accessible due to the presence of the indentation  52 . This will cause the tiltable tray portion  34  to tilt relative to the frame portion  16  and assume the position shown in  FIG. 4 , which is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder  10  and video game and video playback device of  FIG. 2 , but in a tilted position. By pushing on the upper rim  18  of the tiltable tray  34  or on an upper front of the video game and video playback device, this will return the tiltable tray  34  and the retained video game and video playback device  12  back to its untilted position. 
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a back view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder  10  of  FIG. 1  showing it attachment straps  24  and  26  (with interruptions being shown therein), and a deployable stand  60  extending from a back wall  62 . The video game and video playback device holder  10  has strap retainers formed on the back wall  62  through which the attachment straps  24  and  26  can be passed. Other means to retain the straps  24  and  26  can be used. The deployable stand  60  is shown in its undeployed position, where it is snapped into the back wall  62 . Detachably attachable clips or buckets  66  on the straps  24  and  26  can be used to engage the straps  24  and  26  with the headrest (not shown.) 
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder  10  of  FIG. 1  showing the deployable stand  60  being moved to its deployed position from the back wall  62  and used to prop up the holder  10  on a flat surface. In this position, users can view and operate the video game and video playback device  12  without needing to hold the device. This provides another optional way to use the holder  10 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a detail showing one side of an exemplary embodiment of a tilt mechanism  70  of the video game and video playback device holder  10 , which is located inside of the holder  10 . The tilt mechanism comprises the tiltable tray  34  having shafts  72  that extend laterally from both side rims  36  of tiltable tray  34 . The shafts  72  are rotatably seated in carriers  74  formed inside the frame portion  16 . The carriers  74  extend upwardly from an inside back wall  86  of the frame portion  16 . Not shown is an upper carrier that allows the shaft  72  and tray  34  to rotate but not lift out of the carrier  74 . Also extending laterally from the side rims  36  of tiltable tray  34  are lock extensions  76 . These lock extensions  76  have untilted position aperture  78  and tilted position aperture  80  formed therein to form first connectors Extending from the frame portion  16  and aligned to intercept the openings  78  and  80  in the lock extensions  76 , are tabs  82  which each have a protrusion  84  formed thereon (to form second connectors) which protrusion will snap into either of the untilted position aperture  78  and tilted position aperture  80 , depending on whether the tiltable tray  34  is untilted or tilted. The tabs  82  extend upwardly from the inside back wall  86  of the frame portion  16 . Due to flexibility of the tabs  82 , a user can move tilt the tiltable tray  34  to establish the desired tilted, or untilted position. While two apertures  78  and  80  are shown, the device can have more apertures (to establish additional degrees of tilting) if desired. If desired, the relative position of the apertures  78  and  80 , and the protrusion  84  on the tabs  82  can be reversed, if desired. The detail view is just one exemplary way to form the tilting mechanism, it being understood that other tilting and tilt lock mechanism can be used. In order to prevent the tiltable try  34  from being tilted upwardly, an intercepting wall or other protrusion (not shown) can be formed on either the back side of the tiltable tray and/or can extend upwardly from the inside back wall  86  of the frame portion. 
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the video game and video playback device holder  10  of  FIG. 1  and shows plugs  90  and  92  and jacks  94  and  96  that can extend from the bottom wall  86  of the video game and video playback device holder  10 . These jacks  94  and  96  are available to electrically connect, for example, the speakers  28  of holder  10  to the video game and video playback device and also provide external power to the video game and video playback device. The plugs  90  and  92 , for example, can be used to connect the holder to further possible headphones and an external power supply. The indentation  52  is shown formed on a lower middle wall  54 . 
         [0019]    In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications may be made to the described embodiment. Moreover, to those skilled in the various arts, the invention itself herein will suggest solutions to other tasks and adaptations for other applications. It is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.