US5786807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Convertible peripheral input device
Assignee: Sega Corp
•
Filing: 1996-05-28
•
Granted: 1998-07-28
•
Expires: 2016-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A convertible peripheral input device comprises a control pad and a multiaxis input device selectably mounted on either side of the control pad so that the multiaxis input device can be positioned for right-hand use or left-hand use according to the user's preference. The multiaxis input device can be rotated from one position to another by use of a hinge mechanism with two points of rotation; one for rotation of the multiaxis input device 180 degrees relative to the hinge mechanism and the second point of rotation allowing the hinge mechanism to rotate 180 degrees relative to the control pad bottom surface. The rotatable hinge mechanism may be used with videogame control pads and joysticks as well as keyboards with mouse controllers.
Inventors
- 👤 Johnny D. Couch
- 👤 Sarah Mason
- 👤 Ira L. Velinsky
- 👤 Steven Kevin Guerrera
- 👤 Gregory Hunter
- 👤 John Gundlach
- 👤 Masanori Kudou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0338; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/20; A63F13/24; A63F13/40; A63F13/42; A63F13/428; G05; G05G; G05G5/00; G05G5/06; G05G5/08; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/021; G06F3/0213; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03543; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1006; A63F2300/1043; G05G2009/04774; H; H01; H01H; H01H2217/00; H01H2217/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A convertible peripheral input device comprising: a control pad having a bottom surface; a multiaxis input device having a bottom surface; and a hinge member having a first end and a second end opposite to said first end, said hinge member being rotatably mounted to said control pad substantially 180 degrees with respect to said bottom surface of said control pad at said first end, said hinge member being rotatably mounted to said multiaxis input device substantially 180 degrees with respect to said bottom surface of said multiaxis input device at said second end, wherein said multiaxis input device is movable to either the right or left side of said control pad.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A convertible peripheral input device comprising: a control pad having a bottom surface; a multiaxis input device having a bottom surface; and a hinge member having a first end and a second end opposite to said first end, said hinge member being rotatably mounted to said control pad substantially 180 degrees with respect to said bottom surface of said control pad at said first end, said hinge member being rotatably mounted to said multiaxis input device substantially 180 degrees with respect to said bottom surface of said multiaxis input device at said second end, wherein said multiaxis input device is movable to either the right or left side of said control pad.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control pad has a first opening in said bottom surface thereof, and said first end of said hinge member has a first protrusion being fit in said first opening so that said hinge member is rotatable with respect to said bottom surface of said control pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hinge member further comprises a third end extending in the same direction as said first end and a fourth end extending in the same direction as said second end, said control pad having a second opening in said bottom surface thereof, said third end having a second protrusion being fit in said second opening of said control pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control pad has a first protrusion in said bottom surface thereof, and said first end of said hinge member has a first recess being fit to said first protrusion so that said hinge member is rotatable with respect to said bottom surface of said control pad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hinge member further comprises a third end extending in the same direction as said first end and a fourth end extending in the same direction as said second end, said control pad having a second protrusion in said bottom surface thereof, said third end having a second recess being fit to said second protrusion of said control pad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control pad includes two raised portions each having a sidewall and a space formed between said sidewalls of said two raised portions in said bottom surface of said control pad, each of said sidewalls being perpendicular to said bottom surface of said control pad and having a slot-shaped opening therein, each of said raised portions having a notch adjacent to and continuous with the respective slot-shaped opening, said hinge member having a third end extending in the same direction as said first end, each of said first end and said third end having a protrusion being inserted into the respective notches and slot-shaped openings so that said protrusions are rotatable within said slot-shaped openings and movable along an extending direction of said slot-shaped openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said protrusions of said hinge member comprises a cylindrical portion being fit in the respective one of said slot-shaped openings and a rectangular raised portion being inserted into the respective one of said notches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a securing device to rigidly secure said hinge member to said control pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said securing device comprises a screw fastened to said control pad through said hinge member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiaxis input device is a joystick.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiaxis input device is a trackball.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The convertible peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiaxis input device is a mouse controller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
A combination peripheral input device for a video game apparatus comprising: a control pad having operator buttons on an upper surface and a right and a left side edge; a joystick member having a cantilevered controller extending from an upper surface and a right and a left side edge which are respectively compatible with the control pad right and left side edges; hinge member rotatably connected to a respective bottom surface of the control pad and the joystick member; and means for releasably locking the hinge member to both the control pad and the joystick member, whereby the joystick member can be positioned on either the right or the left side edge of the control pad by movement of the hinge member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
A combination peripheral input device for a video game apparatus comprising: a control pad having operator buttons on an upper surface and a right and a left side edge; a joystick member having a cantilevered controller extending from an upper surface and a right and a left side edge which are respectively compatible with the control pad right and left side edges; hinge member rotatably connected to a respective bottom surface of the control pad and the joystick member; and means for releasably locking the hinge member to both the control pad and the joystick member, whereby the joystick member can be positioned on either the right or the left side edge of the control pad by movement of the hinge member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination peripheral input device of claim 13 wherein the hinge member is also slidably connected to the bottom surface of the control pad.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination peripheral input device of claim 13 further including an input port extending traversely to the control pad button surface and an input port protector extending above the input port, the hinge member being indented on opposite sides to accommodate the input port protector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
143 words
A combination peripheral input device comprising: a control pad having operator buttons on an upper surface and a right and a left side edge; a joystick member having a cantilevered controller extending from an upper surface and a right and left side edge which are respectively compatible with the control pad right and left side edges; movable means for movably connecting the control pad to the joystick member so that the joystick member can be positioned on either the right or the left side edge of the control pad at the option of the operator, said movable means maintaining operative contact with the control pad and the joystick member during any re-positioning of the joystick member to either the right or the left side of the control pad to the other side; and means for locking the joystick member to the control pad.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
143 words
A combination peripheral input device comprising: a control pad having operator buttons on an upper surface and a right and a left side edge; a joystick member having a cantilevered controller extending from an upper surface and a right and left side edge which are respectively compatible with the control pad right and left side edges; movable means for movably connecting the control pad to the joystick member so that the joystick member can be positioned on either the right or the left side edge of the control pad at the option of the operator, said movable means maintaining operative contact with the control pad and the joystick member during any re-positioning of the joystick member to either the right or the left side of the control pad to the other side; and means for locking the joystick member to the control pad.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination peripheral input device of claim 16 wherein said movable means rotates the joystick across the control pad.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
138 words
A combination peripheral input device for a video game apparatus comprising: a control pad having operator buttons on an upper surface and a right and a left side edge; a joystick member having a cantilevered controller extending from an upper surface and a right and a left side edge which are respectively compatible with the control pad right and left side edges; a hinge member that is pivotally connected to the control pad with a pivot point that can be traversely moved across a bottom surface of the control pad for movably connecting the control pad to the joystick member so that the joystick member can be positioned on either the right or the left side edge of the control pad at the option of the operator; and means for locking the joystick member to the control pad.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
138 words
A combination peripheral input device for a video game apparatus comprising: a control pad having operator buttons on an upper surface and a right and a left side edge; a joystick member having a cantilevered controller extending from an upper surface and a right and a left side edge which are respectively compatible with the control pad right and left side edges; a hinge member that is pivotally connected to the control pad with a pivot point that can be traversely moved across a bottom surface of the control pad for movably connecting the control pad to the joystick member so that the joystick member can be positioned on either the right or the left side edge of the control pad at the option of the operator; and means for locking the joystick member to the control pad.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4648603A
Cited
US4739451A
Cited
EP0389679A1
Cited
US4969647A
Cited
US5267181A
Cited
US5253836A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-27 | 2002-01-26 | 2002-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-27 | 2006-01-26 | 2006-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-27 | 2010-01-26 | 2010-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |