Secure and/or lockable connecting arrangement for video game system

Abstract

Compatible mechanical and/or electrical connections to video game system accessories provide unique shape, design and dimensions that discourage or prevent non-compatible devices from being connected, connector configurations that allow connection only in a proper orientation to ensure electrical compatibility and eliminate the possibility of short-circuits, quick release locking arrangement firmly mechanically holds mating connectors together despite extensive movement of the game player's arms and hands, staged electrical contacting sequence provides proper signal application sequence, and wrist strap to tether handheld remote controller to hand is attached to a locking connector that mates with a connector of the remote controller.

1 . A connector for a handheld video game remote control device for electrically connecting said handheld remote video game remote control device to an additional handheld video game control device, said additional handheld video game control device having an associated male-type insertion portion having a plurality of electrical contacts, said connector comprising:
 a female-type connector socket for receiving a male-type insertion portion associated with said additional handheld video game control device, said female-type connector socket including:
 an outer housing; 
 an opening disposed within said outer housing shaped to receive said male-type insertion portion associated with said additional handheld video game control device; 
 a projection located within said opening, wherein a plurality of electrical contacts are disposed on first and second opposite sides of the projection, and wherein the electrical contacts are configured to make sliding electrical contact with corresponding electrical contacts associated with said male-type insertion portion when said male-type insertion portion is inserted into said female-type connector socket; 
 said projection having a terminating end surface defining the end of said projection; 
 a first electrical contact of said plurality of electrical contacts being coupled in use to a ground; 
 a second electrical contact of said plurality of electrical contacts being coupled in use to a voltage source; 
 a third electrical contact of said plurality of electrical contacts being coupled in use to a serial data line; 
 wherein said first electrical contact, said second electrical contact and said third electrical contact are disposed with respect to said terminating end surface such that when said male-type insertion portion is inserted into said female-type connector socket, the first and second electrical contacts make electrical contact with counterpart electrical contacts on the male-type insertion portion before the third electrical contact makes electrical contact with its counterpart electrical contact on the male-type insertion portion. 
   
   
   
       2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the female-type connector socket further includes a fourth electrical contact of said plurality of contacts that is coupled in use to a serial clock line, and wherein the fourth electrical contact is disposed with respect to said terminating end surface such that when said male-type insertion portion is inserted into said female-type connector socket the fourth electrical contact makes electrical contact with a counterpart electrical contact on the male-type insertion portion after the first and second electrical contacts make electrical contact with counterpart electrical contacts on the male-type insertion portion. 
   
   
       3 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the female-type connector socket includes a longitudinally extending plateau that is configured to be received in a longitudinally extending recess of a mating male-type insertion portion. 
   
   
       4 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the longitudinally extending plateau is located on the same side of the projection as the first electrical contact. 
   
   
       5 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact is located on the first side of the projection, and wherein the second electrical contact and the third electrical contact are located on the second opposite side of the projection. 
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 5 , further comprising a fourth electrical contact being coupled in use to a serial clock line, wherein the fourth electrical contact is located on the first side of the projection. 
   
   
       7 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein the first and third electrical contacts are located directly opposite each other on a first end of the projection, and wherein the second and fourth electrical contacts are located directly opposite each other on a second end of the projection. 
   
   
       8 . The connector of  claim 6 , further comprising a fifth electrical contact that is coupled in use to an attach sense line, wherein the fifth electrical contact is located on the second exterior side of the projection between the second and third electrical contacts. 
   
   
       9 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein longitudinally extending channels are formed on the first and second opposite sides of the projection, and wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts is located in a respective one of the channels. 
   
   
       10 . A handheld video game remote control device comprising the connector of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . A female connector for a handheld video game remote control device for electrically connecting said handheld video game remote control device to an additional handheld video game control device having a male connector, said female connector comprising:
 an outer housing;   an opening disposed within said outer housing and shaped to receive a male-type insertion portion of a mating male connector of said additional handheld video game control device;   a projection within said opening, said projection including:
 a terminating end surface defining the end of said projection, and 
 a plurality of electrical contacts located on first and second opposite exterior sides of the projection, the plurality of electrical contacts being disposed to make sliding electrical contact with corresponding electrical contacts in a recess of the male-type insertion portion of the mating male connector when the male-type insertion portion is inserted into the opening, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts include a first electrical contact being coupled in use to ground, a second electrical contact being coupled in use to a voltage source, a third electrical contract being coupled in use to a serial data line, and a fourth electrical contact being coupled in use to a serial clock line. 
   
   
   
       12 . The female connector of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts further include a fifth electrical contact that is coupled in use to an attach sense line. 
   
   
       13 . The female connector of  claim 12 , wherein the second, third and fifth electrical contacts are located on the second exterior side of the projection, with the fifth electrical contact located between the second and third electrical contacts. 
   
   
       14 . The female connector of  claim 11 , wherein the first and fourth electrical contacts are located on the first exterior side of the projection, and wherein the second and third electrical contacts are located on the second exterior side of the projection. 
   
   
       15 . The female connector of  claim 14 , wherein the first and third electrical contacts are located opposite each other at a first end of the projection, and wherein the second and fourth electrical contacts are located opposite each other at a second end of the projection. 
   
   
       16 . The female connector of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one longitudinally extending plateau that is formed on an inner surface of the opening, the at least one longitudinally extending plateau configured to be received in a corresponding recess of a male-type insertion portion of a mating male connector so that the male-type insertion portion can only be inserted into the opening in a single orientation. 
   
   
       17 . The female connector of  claim 16 , wherein the longitudinally extending plateau is located on the same side of the projection as the first and fourth electrical contacts. 
   
   
       18 . The female connector of  claim 11 , wherein longitudinally extending channels are formed on the first and second opposite exterior sides of the projection, and wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts is located in a respective one of the channels. 
   
   
       19 . The female connector of  claim 11 , wherein an electrically conductive shield is located on an inner surface of the opening. 
   
   
       20 . A handheld video game remote control device comprising the female connector of  claim 11 .