Abstract:
An interchangeable battery pack system for video game controllers is disclosed. The battery pack configured and arranged for insertion into a battery compartment of a video game controller. The battery pack has a bottom surface with a recess formed therein. The battery pack has a first set of battery electrical contacts for engagement with the electrical contacts of the video game controller and a second set of battery electrical contacts for charging the battery pack. A battery pack adapter cover is also included and is configured and arranged to releasably attach to the battery pack. The battery pack adapter cover has an aperture therethrough exposing the bottom surface of the battery pack when attached thereto. The battery pack adapter cover has mating formation thereon configured and arranged to releasably attach to a battery compartment of a video game controller for a video game system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present patent document relates generally to video game systems and controllers and more particularly to a universal charging system and battery pack for wireless video game controllers 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Many households have multiple video game systems, such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox, and Sony PlayStation brand video game system. These video games systems have one or more wireless video game controllers that players use to play the video game systems with. 
         [0005]    Because the game controllers are wireless they operate on battery power. Players must, therefore, ensure the game controller battery is adequately charged prior to playing the video game system to have an enjoyable experience. A game controller with a weak battery can cause unresponsive play, leading to frustration of the player. 
         [0006]    Many households, though, have multiple video game systems, which leads to the problem of having multiple wireless game controllers that all require having adequately charged batteries. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and system of ensuring multiple different brand video game controllers have adequately charged batteries 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The universal charging system and battery pack for video game controllers solves the problems of the prior art by providing a charging station that can hold and charge multiple video game controllers. The universal battery pack provided is configured to mount within multiple different brand controllers via an adapter cover, which replaces the standard battery cover on the video game controller. The battery pack is configured and arranged to be recharged by the charging station without removal of the battery pack from the game controller. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a charging station; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is side elevation view of a charging station 
           [0012]      FIG. 1C  is a top view of a charging station; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1D  is an end view of a charging station; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a top front perspective view of a battery pack; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of a battery pack; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a right side view of a battery pack; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2D  is a front view of a battery pack; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2E  is a left side view of a battery pack; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2F  is a top view of a battery pack; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2G  is a rear view of a battery pack; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2H  is a bottom view of a battery pack; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a battery pack docked in the charging station; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a Sony brand video game controller docked in the charging station; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  is a partially exploded bottom perspective view of a Nintendo brand video game controller showing the battery pack and a battery pack adapter cover; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  is a bottom perspective view of a Nintendo brand video game controller showing the battery pack and a battery pack adapter cover assembled together; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a Nintendo brand video game controller docked in the charging station; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Nintendo brand video game controller; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7B  is a top view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Nintendo brand video game controller; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7C  is a bottom view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Nintendo brand video game controller; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7D  is a rear view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Nintendo brand video game controller; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7E  is a left side view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Nintendo brand video game controller; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8A  is a partially exploded view of a Microsoft brand video game controller showing the battery pack a battery pack adapter cover; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8B  is a bottom perspective view of a Microsoft brand video game controller showing the battery pack a battery pack adapter cover assembled together; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a Microsoft brand video game controller docked in the charging station; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Microsoft brand video game controller; 
           [0036]      FIG. 10B  is a top view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Microsoft brand video game controller; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10C  is a bottom view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Microsoft brand video game controller; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10D  is a front view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Microsoft brand video game controller; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 10E  is a right side view of a battery pack adapter cover configured for a Microsoft brand video game controller. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0040]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-1D , the charging station is shown generally at  100 . The charging station  100  includes two cradles  102   a ,  102   b  contoured to receive a number of different brand video game controllers  122 ,  300 ,  400  (Best seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  6 , and  9 ). The contoured surface of each cradle  102   a , 102   b  includes a number of sloped sides  104  and recesses  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  to accommodate the shapes of the different brand video game controllers  122 ,  300 ,  400 . 
         [0041]    In the bottom of the cradle  102   a ,  102   b , a raised boss  114  extends upwards. The boss  114  is shaped and contoured for mating engagement with a recess formed on the battery pack  200 , described further below. Forward of the raised boss  114  are a number of electrical contacts  116  configured and arranged to engage the battery electrical contacts on the battery pack  200  when placed in the cradle  102   a ,  102   b.    
         [0042]    The charging station  100  further includes a power adapter (not shown) which supplies power to the charging station  100  to charge the battery pack  200 . The charging station  100  may be equipped with a charging circuit to prevent overcharging of the battery pack  200 , as is known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. If included, the charging circuit may also include an indicator  118  to show to the user that the battery pack  200  is finished charging. 
         [0043]    The charging station  100  also includes a charging connector  120  to charge video game controllers that have integral rechargeable batteries. The charging connector  120 , such as a mini USB connector and the like. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2G , the battery pack is shown generally at  200 . The battery pack  200  includes a body portion  202  with a cover  204 . One or more power cells  206  are included in the body portion  202  and wired electrically together, preferably in series. The body portion  202  includes a set of mating formations  208   a ,  208   b  configured and arranged for engagement with the adapter covers  302 ,  402 , described below. A first set  208   a  is configured for a snap-fit engagement with either adapter cover  302 ,  402  and a second set  208   b  is configured as a top to prevent the battery pack  200  from being pushed through the adapter cover  302 ,  402 , both of which will be describe in more detail below. 
         [0045]    As seen in  FIGS. 2D and 2F , the surface of the cover  204  and front and rear surfaces of the body portion  202  of the battery pack  200  includes a number of voids  210  to accommodate the shape of the battery compartment  30   x ,  40   x  in the game controllers  300 ,  400 , examples of which can be seen in  FIGS. 5A and 8A . 
         [0046]    The rear face of the battery pack  200  includes a pair of electrical contacts  212   a ,  212   b  configured for engagement with the electrical contacts of a game controller to provide power from the power cells  206  to the game controller. 
         [0047]    The bottom surface of the body portion  200 , best seen in  FIG. 2H , includes a recess  214  sized and dimensioned to receive the raised boss  114  on the cradle  102   a ,  102   b  of the charging station  100 . One or more electrical contacts  216  are formed on the bottom surface of the body portion  202 . The electrical contacts  216  are electrically connected to the powers cells  206  and configured for connecting to the electrical contacts  116  in the cradle  114 . 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the battery pack  200  is shown docked in the cradle  102   b  of the charging station  100 . The boss  114  in the cradle  102   b  mates with the recess  214  on the battery pack  200 , ensuring that the electrical contacts  116  on the charging station  100  properly align with the battery electrical contacts  216  and preventing the battery pack  200  from being accidentally dislodged from the cradle  102   b . Generally speaking, the battery packs  200  are intended to be charged while installed in the video game controller  300 ,  400  as described further below. However, the user may place a battery pack  200  in the charging station  100  for charging without being installed in a video game controller  300 ,  400 . 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a Sony brand video game controller  122 , which lacks a removable battery pack, is shown docked in the charging station. The Sony brand video game controller  122  includes an integral battery (not shown). The charging station  100  may still charge the Sony brand video game controller  122  via the charging connector  120 . The shape and contour of the cradle  102   b  permits the Sony brand video game controller  122  to be mounted in the cradle  102   a  because the sloped sides  104  conform to the bottom of the Sony brand video game controller  122 . The Sony brand video game controller  122  may be placed in either cradle  102   a ,  102   b.    
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the battery pack  200  is mounted into a Nintendo brand video game controller  300  with a battery pack adapter cover  302 . As can be seen, the battery pack  200  fits into the battery compartment  304  of the Nintendo brand video game controller  300 . The voids  210  on the cover  204  and body portion  202  of the battery pack  200  accommodate plastic projections  306  inside the battery compartment  302 . The electrical contacts  212   a ,  212   b  on the battery pack  200  engage electrical contacts  308   a ,  308   b  of the video game controller  300 . 
         [0051]    When coupled together, the adapter cover  302  and bottom surface of the battery pack  200  form a near uniform surface on the bottom of the Nintendo brand video game controller  300 , excepting the recess  214  on the battery pack  200  that is configured to mate with the raised boss  114  in the cradle  102   a ,  102   b  of the charging station  100 . The adapter cover  302  includes reciprocal mating formations  310   a ,  310   b  configured to engage the set of mating formations  208   a ,  208   b  on the battery pack  200 . 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the Nintendo brand game controller  300  may be set into the charging station  100 . The cradle  102   b  of the charging station  100  includes additional contours  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  in the surface to accommodate the shape of the Nintendo brand video game controller  300 . Moreover, the raised boss  114  engages the exposed recess  214  on the bottom of the battery pack  200  ensuring that the electrical contacts  216  of the battery pack  200  properly align with the electrical contacts  116  of the charging station  100 . 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-7E , the adapter cover  302  for the battery pack  200  for Nintendo brand video game controller  300  is shown generally. The adapter cover  302  includes an aperture  312  formed through the adapter cover  302 , which exposes the bottom surface of the battery pack  200  when assembled therewith. The reciprocal mating formations  310   a ,  310   b  on the adapter cover snap-fit with the first set of mating formations  208   a  on the battery pack to prevent the adapter cover  302  from being easily separated from the battery pack  200 . The second set of mating formations  208   b  on the battery pack  200  stop against the reciprocal mating formations  310   b  to prevent the battery pack  200  from being pushed entirely through the adapter cover  302 . 
         [0054]    The adapter cover  302  includes additional mating formations  314   a ,  314   b  at the front and rear of the adapter cover configured and arranged to engage the battery compartment  304  of the video game controller  300 . The rear of the adapter cover  300  includes a release  316  to permit the adapter cover  302  to be removed and snapped into the battery compartment  304  of a video game controller easily  300 . 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , the battery pack  200  is mounted into a Microsoft brand video game controller  400  with a battery pack adapter cover  402 . As can be seen, the battery pack  200  fits into the battery compartment  404  of the Microsoft brand video game controller  400 . The voids  210  on the cover  204  and body portion  202  of the battery pack  200  are unnecessary inside the battery compartment  404  of the Microsoft brand video game controller  400 . However, the adapter cover  402  includes additional electrical contacts  418   a ,  418   b  that engage the electrical contacts  212   a ,  212   b  on the battery pack  200 . The additional electrical contacts  214   a ,  418   b  engage electrical contacts  408   a ,  408   b  of the video game controller  400  and thus form an electrical bridge between the battery pack  200  and the video game controller  400 . 
         [0056]    When coupled together, the adapter cover  402  and bottom surface of the battery pack  200  form a near uniform surface on the bottom of the Microsoft brand video game controller  400 , excepting the recess  214  on the battery pack  200  that is configured to mate with the raised boss  114  in the cradle  122   a ,  102   b  of the charging station  100 . The adapter cover  402  includes reciprocal mating formations  410   a ,  410   b  configured to engage the set of mating formations  208   a ,  208   b  on the battery pack  200 . 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the Microsoft brand game controller  400  may be set into the charging station  100 . The cradle  102   a  of the charging station  100  includes additional contours in the surface  104 ,  110  to accommodate the shape of the Microsoft brand video game controller  400 , battery adapter cover  402 , and battery pack  200 . Moreover, the raised boss  114  engages the exposed recess  214  on the bottom of the battery pack  200  ensuring that the electrical contacts  216  of the battery pack  200  properly align with the electrical contacts  116  of the charging station  100 . 
         [0058]    Referring now to  FIGS. 10   a - 10   g , the adapter cover  402  for the battery pack  200  for the Microsoft brand video game controller  400  is shown generally. The adapter cover  402  includes an aperture  412  formed through the adapter cover  402 , which exposes the bottom surface of the battery pack  200  when assembled therewith. The reciprocal mating formations  410   a  on the adapter cover  402  snap-fit with the first mating formations  208   a  on the battery pack  200  to prevent the adapter cover  402  from being easily separated from the battery pack  200 . The second set of mating formations  208   b  on the battery pack  200  stop against the reciprocal mating formations  410   b  to prevent the battery pack  200  from being pushed entirely through the adapter cover  402 . 
         [0059]    The adapter cover  402  includes additional mating formations  418   a ,  418   b  at the front and rear of the adapter cover  402  configured and arranged to engage the battery compartment  404  of the video game controller  400 . The front of the adapter cover  402  includes a release  416  to permit the adapter cover  402  to be removed and snapped into the battery compartment  404  of a video game controller easily  400 . 
         [0060]    Therefore, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a universal charging system and battery pack for multiple video game systems. Although the invention is described with reference to current popular brand video game systems, one skilled in the art would find adapting the present system to new or other brand video game systems easy. 
         [0061]    It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention except as limited by the scope of the appended claims.