US2007197300A1PendingUtilityA1

Game controller with cord take up reel

46
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Feb 17, 2006Filed: Feb 17, 2006Published: Aug 23, 2007
Est. expiryFeb 17, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John Cotner
A63F 2300/1062A63F 2300/1043A63F 13/98A63F 13/245A63F 13/24A63F 2300/1025A63F 13/23A63F 13/06A63F 13/20
46
PatentIndex Score
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A game controller with a retractable cord is disclosed. The game controller can be a universal game controller that is compatible with many different gaming platforms and have many different physical shapes and user inputs. Game controller can have a connector at the end of a cord that can be plugged into the desired game platform. The game controller can include a housing with handles or a gripping surface such that a user can securely grip or hold the game controller. A spring loaded spool or reel can be integrated into the housing of the game controller such that the cord can be coiled by the reel when the entire cord length is not required or when the game controller is to be stored when it is not in use. The reel can also include a crank handle and a latching mechanism to reel in the cord and lock the reel into a desired position.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A game controller comprising: 
 a housing;    at least one switch integrated into the housing and configured to accept user input;    a cord coupled to the at least one switch for delivering the user input to a gaming platform;    a cylindrical reel integrated into the housing, the cylindrical reel rotatable in relation to the housing and having a spring force configured to wind the cord; and    a latching mechanism configured to lock the cylindrical reel in a position where the cord is extended from the housing.    
   
   
       2 . The game controller of  claim 1  further comprising an orifice configured to guide the cord into and out of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The game controller of  claim 1  further comprising a spring integrated with the reel.  
   
   
       4 . The game controller of  claim 1  further comprising a gripping surface on the housing.  
   
   
       5 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein the reel further comprises a constant force spring.  
   
   
       6 . The game controller of  claim 1  wherein the latching mechanism is configured to locking the cylindrical reel in a plurality of positions.  
   
   
       7 . The game controller of  claim 1  further comprising a bearing positioned between the cylindrical reel and the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The game controller as in  claim 1  wherein the at least one switch further includes a joystick switch.  
   
   
       9 . A game controller comprising: 
 a housing configured to mount a plurality of switches;    a cord coupleable to the plurality of switches; and    a spool rotatable in relation to the housing and configured to wind the cord around the spool.    
   
   
       10 . The game controller of  claim 9  wherein the spool further comprises a re-coil spring coupled to the spool and configured to rotate the spool in relation to the housing.  
   
   
       11 . The game controller of  claim 9  further comprising a latching mechanism coupled to the spool to latch the spool in a desired position.  
   
   
       12 . The game controller of  claim 9  further comprising a crank handle for manually winding the cord around the spool.  
   
   
       13 . The game controller of  claim 9  further comprising a constant force spring mounted concentrically with the spool.  
   
   
       14 . The game controller of  claim 9  further comprising a latching mechanism controllable by a speed of release of the cord.  
   
   
       15 . A method comprising: 
 holding a game controller;    pulling a cord from an opening in a housing of the game controller;    spinning a reel in the housing as the cord is pulled from the opening; and    latching the reel when a desired cord length has been pulled from the housing.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising unlatching the reel.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein latching the reel further comprises activating a reel latch mechanism.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein activating the latch further comprises releasing the cord at a specific rate.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising resisting a pulling force on the cord as the cord is pulled from the game controller.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising retracting the cord by pulling the cord from the controller and slowly releasing the cord.

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