GAMING ACCESSORY FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, GAMING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

[0001] A claim for the benefit of priority to the Jun. 20, 2012 filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/661,976, titled GAMING CONTROLLER AND INTEGRATED PROTECTIVE COVER FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND METHODS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH (“the '976 Provisional Application”) is hereby made. The entire disclosure of the '976 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein.

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to accessories for portable electronic devices and, more specifically, to cases (including, but not limited to, protective cases) for portable electronic devices. Even more specifically, the disclosed accessories include controls for gaming, which may be configured for use with a portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is used to play a video game. Gaming systems are also disclosed, as are methods for using portable electronic devices.

[0003] In various embodiments, an accessory for a portable electronic device may be configured to carry the portable electronic device and to facilitate play of one or more video games with the portable electronic device. Such an accessory may include a receptacle and at least one game control element. In a specific embodiment, an accessory may include two game control elements, which may be configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, an accessory may also include a base that carries the receptacle and the at least one game control element. Because of its dual (or more) functionality, the accessory may be referred to as a “case” or as a “game controller.”

[0004] The receptacle of the accessory may be configured to carry a portable electronic device, such as a mobile telephone (e.g., a smart phone, etc.), a portable media player, a tablet computer or the like. Without limitation, the receptacle may be configured to carry the portable electronic device by engaging one or more peripheral corners of the portable electronic device, one or more peripheral edges of the portable electronic device, or any combination of the foregoing. The receptacle, or a base that carries the receptacle, may be configured to cover a back side of the portable electronic device. In some embodiments, the receptacle may comprise a protective case for the portable electronic device.

[0005] In embodiments where an accessory includes a receptacle secured to a discrete base, the receptacle may be removably secured to the base; i.e., the receptacle and base may include cooperating, releasable engagement elements. Thus, the receptacle may be disassembled from the base, and from each game control element carried by the base. The receptacle may be configured to, when disassembled from the base and any game control element carried by the base, continue to serve as a case, or even as a protective case. Further, in embodiments where a game control element is configured to communicate wirelessly with an electronic device, a game control element of an accessory that has been uncoupled from the receptacle of the accessory may still be used in playing a video game on, or executed by, a portable electronic device (which may be assembled with the receptacle or separate therefrom).

[0006] In some embodiments where the accessory includes a base, the receptacle may be configured to move relative to the base. In a specific embodiment, the receptacle may be rotatably associated with the base. Such rotational association may enable movement of the receptacle, and any portable electronic device carried thereby, to two or more orientations. Without limitation, the receptacle and the base may be configured to position the receptacle, and any portable electronic device carried thereby, in at least a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.

[0007] The at least one game controller may be configured to operatively couple with a portable electronic device carried by the receptacle to enable actuation of functions of a video game played on the portable electronic device. Each game controller may move relative to the receptacle or, if the accessory includes a base, relative to the base. Each game controller may have a storage position and a gaming position. In its storage position, a game controller may be positioned beneath the receptacle and, in some embodiments, to comprise an integral part of a case for a portable electronic device. In its gaming position, the game controller may be accessible from a location laterally adjacent to the receptacle and, thus, a portable electronic device carried by the receptacle. The accessory may be configured in such a way that each game controller may slide relative to the receptacle and/or the base (if any) to enable movement between the storage position and the gaming position. Such sliding movement may comprise linear sliding, arcuate sliding or the like. Alternatively, a game controller may rotate or pivot relative to the receptacle and/or base (if any) to enable movement between the storage position and the gaming position.

[0008] A gaming system may include an embodiment of an accessory, as well as a portable electronic device with which the accessory is configured to be used.

[0009] A portable electronic device may be assembled with the receptacle of an accessory that also includes one or more game control elements. The receptacle may protect the portable electronic device from mechanical damage (e.g., impact that may occur during an accidental drop, other types of impact, scratches on covered surfaces, exposure to the elements, etc.). In embodiments where the receptacle is removable from the one or more game control elements or a base that carries the one or more game control elements, the receptacle may also be assembled with the one or more game control elements and/or the base.

[0010] When a portable electronic device is used to play a video game or perform any other function (e.g., execute another app, etc.) in which a game controller may be useful, a game control element in the gaming position may be used as an actuator in the video game or other function. The game control element may be used to play a video game on a portable electronic device that has been assembled with a receptacle that been assembled with the game control element or a base that carries the game control element. The game control element may also be used with a portable electronic device while the portable electronic device remains separate from (i.e., in an unassembled state from) the game control element.

[0011] When the game control element is not in use, it may be placed in the storage position. With the game control element in the storage position, the portable electronic device may be used for a non-gaming function, such as a phone call, text messaging, e-mailing, playing audio, playing video viewing images, using the internet and executing a non-game app. Non-gaming use of the portable electronic device may occur while the receptacle is assembled with the game control element or a base that carries the game control element, or the portable electronic device may be used for nongaming purposes while assembled with the receptacle, but disassembled from the game control element and/or the base; i.e., when the receptacle is not assembled with the game control element and/or the base.

[0012] Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

[0030] With reference to FIGS. 1-7, an embodiment of an accessory 108 for use with a portable electronic device 102 is depicted. As depicted, the accessory 108 includes a receptacle 104 and a pair of game control elements 118 and 120. When a portable electronic device 102 is assembled with the receptacle 104, the accessory 108 and the portable electronic device 102 form a gaming assembly 100.

[0031] The receptacle 104 of the accessory 108 is configured to carry a portable electronic device 102, such as a mobile telephone, a portable media player, a tablet computer or the like. The receptacle 104 may be configured to protect a portable electronic device 102. The receptacle 104 may reside on a front side of a base 122, which may be part of the receptacle 104 or a separate element to which the receptacle 104 may be secured. Corners 106 may protrude from corners of the base 122, and may be configured to extend over, or cover, and optionally engage corresponding corners of the portable electronic device 102. The receptacle 104 may include side walls 107 that protrude from peripheral edges of the base 122, and which may be configured to extend over, or cover, and optionally engage corresponding peripheral edges, or sides or ends, of the portable electronic device 102. One or more corners 106 and/or one or more side walls 107 of the receptacle 104 may include laterally extending lips, which may be configured to extend slightly over a surface 110 (e.g., a display surface, a back surface, etc.) of the portable electronic device 102 to hold the portable electronic device 102 within the receptacle 116. Depending upon its configuration, the receptacle 104 may comprise a case, or even a protective case, for the portable electronic device 102.

[0032] In some embodiments, the orientation of the receptacle 104 may be fixed relative to the orientations of other features of the accessory 108, including its game control elements 118 and 120. Alternatively, as illustrated by FIGS. 14-14C, an accessory 108′ may include a receptacle 104′ that is configured to rotate between at least two orientations relative to the game control elements 118′ and 120′ (e.g., the landscape orientation shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, a portrait orientation 104A′, a plurality of intermediate orientations 104B′, 104C′, etc.). As the receptacle 104′ rotates from one orientation to another, any electronic device 102′ (and its display) carried thereby will also rotate from one orientation to another. In this regard, the base (which may be configured like base 122 shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 8 and 9) of the receptacle 104′ may comprise a turntable that rotates between two or more positions relative to a base (see, e.g., base 152 of FIG. 9, etc.) of the accessory 108′. Such a configuration may place and hold the receptacle 104′ in two or more discrete orientations, or it may enable placement and maintenance of the receptacle 104′ in a larger number, or even an infinite number, of orientations.

[0033] FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate a specific, but non-limiting embodiment of a swivel 150, which includes cooperating swivel elements 150a and 150b that enable the receptacle 104 to rotate relative to a base 152 of the accessory 108 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) and relative to each game control element 118, 120 carried by the base 152. In the depicted embodiment (see, especially, FIG. 14B), a male swivel element 150b, comprises an annular protrusion from a front side of the base 152, with a plurality of tabs extending a spaced apart intervals around the circumference of the annular protrusion. The depicted embodiment (see, especially, FIG. 14A) of the cooperating female swivel element 150a comprises a circular receptacle in a rear side of the base 122 of the receptacle 104 with an undercut around the outside of its entire circumference. The female swivel element 150a has dimensions that correspond to the dimensions of the corresponding male swivel element 150b, with the undercut of the female swivel element 150a being configured to receive the tabs of the male swivel element 150b. In addition, the female swivel element 150a includes an outwardly extending detent that is configured to receive a tab of the male swivel element 150b, and to introduce the tabs of the male swivel element 150b into the undercut of the female swivel element 150a and enable removal of the tabs of the male swivel element 150b from the undercut.

[0034] As depicted by FIG. 14C, the receptacle 104 may be assembled with and disassembled from the base 152 and, thus, from each game control element 118, 120 carried by the base 152. Assembly may be accomplished by aligning the corresponding male and female swivel elements 150b and 150a, respectively, and forcing the receptacle 104 and the base 152 toward one another while rotating these elements relative to one another. Disassembly may include rotating the receptacle 104 and the base 152 about the swivel 150 while forcing these the receptacle 104 and the base 152 apart from one another.

[0035] The accessory 108 may include features that accommodate various elements and/or features of the portable electronic device 102. As a non-limiting example, as illustrated by FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 8, in embodiments where the receptacle 116 includes walls that extend over portions of the peripheral edges of the portable electronic device 102, the side walls 107 of the receptacle 104 may be configured with recessed areas, apertures and/or other features 114a-114f (e.g., slots, holes, buttons, etc.) to accommodate and provide access to or otherwise enable use of various elements 114a-114i of the portable electronic device 102, such as buttons, switches, ports, microphones, speakers, camera lenses and the like. As another non-limiting example, as depicted by FIGS. 5, 9 and 13, the accessory 108 may include one or more features that align with camera lenses and/or flashes 134, such as an aperture (not shown) that extends through the base 122 of the receptacle 104 and a corresponding aperture 136 through one of the game control elements 118. The aperture 136 through game control element 118 may be positioned to align with the camera lens and/or flash 134 when the game control element 118 is in its stored position; the aperture through the base 122 may expose the camera lens and/or flash 134 to the back of the accessory 108 when the game control element 118 is in its gaming position. Alternatively, the aperture 136 may be positioned to align with the camera lens and/or flash 134 when the game control element 118 is in its gaming position, as shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and 13.

[0036] FIGS. 1-7 show the game control elements 118 and 120 in a stored position. In their stored position, the game control elements 118 and 120 may be located beneath the receptacle 104. In some embodiments, when the game control elements 118 and 120 are in the stored position, they may, along with the receptacle 104, appear to be an integral part of a case for a portable electronic device 102. In some embodiments, power to each game control element 118, 120 may shut off, or the game control element 118, 120 may be deactivated or in an inactive state, when that game control element 118, 120 is in its stored position.

[0037] In FIGS. 8-13, the game control elements 118 and 120 are shown in their gaming positions. While in the gaming position, various controls 126, 128, 130, 132 (the embodiments and arrangements shown are not limiting) on the upper surfaces of the game control elements 118 (e.g., controls 126 and 128) and 120 (e.g., controls 130 and 132) are exposed laterally beyond the outer periphery of the receptacle 104 and, thus, beyond the outer periphery of an electronic device 102 carried by the receptacle 104, as depicted by FIGS. 8 and 12. Additional controls 138, 140 (e.g., a power switch and a light sensor, respectively, etc.) on an interior periphery of a game control element 120 may also be exposed when that game control element 120 is in its gaming position. In addition to controls 126, 128, 130 and 132 that are revealed when the game control elements 118 and 120 are in their gaming positions, and that are hidden beneath the receptacle 104 when the game control elements 118 and 120 are placed in their stored positions, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the game control elements 118 and 120 may include peripheral controls 124 (e.g., buttons, triggers, etc.), which may be accessible regardless of the positions of the game control elements 118 and 120 (see also, FIGS. 11-13).

[0038] The game control elements 118 and 120 may be configured to communicate with a portable electronic device 102 in any suitable manner. Without limitation, the game control elements 118 and 120 may wirelessly couple with the electronic device (e.g., via a BLUETOOTH® wireless protocol, etc.). Alternatively, the accessory 108 may be configured to establish a wired connection between a portable electronic device 102 and the game control elements 118 and 120 when the portable electronic device 102 is inserted into the receptacle 104.

[0039] The game control elements 118 and 120 may also function and interact with a portable electronic device 102 in a manner known in the art to actuate desired video game functions.

[0040] Looking now to FIGS. 9 and 13, the accessory 108 may include a carriage that facilitates and/or controls movement of each game control element 118, 120 between its storage position and its gaming position. In the depicted embodiment, the carriage includes one or more guides 144, 146 that enable the game control elements 118 and 120 to move linearly toward and away from one other. The guides 144 and 146 may comprise tracks, or flanges, and/or slots that, along with other features of the carriage (e.g., springs, wheels, rack and pinion systems, etc.), enable the game control elements 118 and 120 to move between and to be maintained in two or more discrete positions. Other configurations of carriages and their respective guides (e.g., arcuate tracks, hinges, etc.) may be configured to enable the game control elements 118 and 120 to move in any other suitable manner relative to the receptacle 104 and, thus, relative to a portable electronic device 102 carried by the receptacle 104.

[0041] In some embodiments, game control elements 118 and 120 may be configured to move independently from one another. Thus, while one game control element 118 is in a gaming position, the other game control element 120 may be in a stored position, a gaming position, or some position between the stored and gaming positions. In other embodiments, the accessory 108 may be configured in such a way that the game control elements 118 and 120 move together; i.e., when one game control element 118 is moved to a certain position (e.g., its stored position, an intermediate position, its gaming position), the other game control element 120 is automatically carried to the same position (e.g., its stored position, an intermediate position, its gaming position).

[0042] As inferred previously, the delivery of power to the game control elements 118 and 120 (e.g., by way of a battery, etc.) may be controlled by way of a switch or button (e.g., control 138-FIG. 9, etc.). In some embodiments, the switch may be configured for selective control by a user, or manual operation. In other embodiments, operation of the switch may be automatic: as one or more game control elements 118, 120 are moved to its (their) gaming position(s), the game control elements 118 and 120 are turned “on,” or activated; as the game control elements 118 and 120 are moved to their stored positions, the game control elements 118 and 120 are turned “off,” or deactivated.

[0043] FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of accessory 208, which includes a receptacle 204 for receiving and holding a portable electronic device 202 to provide a gaming assembly 200. The accessory 208 includes a single game control element 218 that is configured to be moved between a storage position beneath the receptacle 204 and a gaming position (as depicted) in which various controls 226, 228, 230, 232, 238 (e.g., a power button, etc.) and 240 (a light sensor, etc.) are exposed laterally beyond a side wall 207 of the receptacle 204, and are accessible to a user.

[0044] Turning now to FIG. 16, a schematic representation of a gaming system 300 is provided. The gaming system 300 includes a portable electronic device 300 and an accessory 304 for the portable electronic device 300.

[0045] The portable electronic device 300, which may comprise a smart phone, a portable media player, a tablet computer or the like, includes a processor 305, as well as memory 306 associated with the processor 305, a display 310 for receiving output images (e.g., video, etc.) from the processor 305 and optionally receiving inputs to be communicated to the processor 305, and one more communication interfaces 308, which may establish communication between the portable electronic device 302 an devices external thereto. A power supply 312, such as a battery, may provide power to one or more of the processor 305, the memory 306, the display 310 and the communication interface 308.

[0046] The accessory 304 may comprise one or more game control elements, such as the game control elements 118 and 120 shown in and described with reference to FIGS. 1-13 or the game control element 218 shown in FIG. 15. The accessory 304 includes actuators 314 or other controls (e.g., a power switch, a light sensor, etc.), as well as a communication interface 316 for communicating inputs received by the actuators 314 to the communication interface 308 and, thus, the processor 305 of a portable electronic device 302 to which the accessory 304 has been communicatively (and, optionally, physically) coupled. The accessory 304 may also include a power supply 318, such as a battery, for providing power to the actuators 314 and the communication interface 316.

[0047] With returned reference to FIGS. 1-13, a portable electronic device 102 may be assembled with an accessory 108. In some embodiments, such as that depicted by FIGS. 1-7, such assembly may comprise inserting the portable electronic device 102 into a receptacle 104 of the accessory 108. The accessory 108, or at least its receptacle 104, may be configured to protect the portable electronic device 102. By way of non-limiting example, portions of the portable electronic device 102 that are covered by the accessory 108 and its receptacle 104 may be protected from scratches that might otherwise occur from incidental contact (e.g., with hard surfaces; with keys coins or other objects; etc.) if those portions of the portable electronic device 102 were unprotected. As another example, the accessory 108 may protect the portable electronic device 102 from impacts, as may occur when the portable electronic device is accidentally (or intentionally) dropped, when other objects are dropped on the portable electronic device 102, or when other forces are applied to the portable electronic device 102. In addition, the receptacle 104 may protect the portable electronic device 102 even when the receptacle 104 has been disassembled from game control elements (e.g., game control elements 118 and 120, etc.) and any base (e.g., base 122, base 152, etc.) that carries the game control elements.

[0048] In embodiments where the receptacle 104 is removable from the one or more game control elements (e.g., game control elements 118 and 120, etc.) or a base (e.g., base 122, base 152, etc.) that carries the one or more game control elements, the receptacle 104 may also be assembled with the one or more game control elements and/or the base.

[0049] With each game control element 118, 120 of the accessory 108 in a stored position, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, the portable electronic device may be used for a non-gaming function. Examples of nongaming functions include, without limitation, a telephone call, text messaging, e-mailing, playing audio, playing video viewing images, using the internet and executing a non-game app. Of course, in some embodiments, these functions may also be performed while one or more game control elements 118, 120 are in their gaming positions (see FIGS. 8-13 and 15). In some embodiments, a game control element 118, 120 may be used in the performance of a non-gaming function. Non-gaming use of the portable electronic device 102, 202 may occur while the receptacle 104 is assembled with the game control element 118, 120, 218 or a base 122, 152 that carries the game control element 118, 120, 218, or the portable electronic device 102, 202 may be used for nongaming purposes while assembled with the receptacle 104, but disassembled from the game control element 118, 120, 218 and/or the base 122, 152; i.e., when the receptacle 104 is not assembled with the game control element 118, 120, 218 and/or the base 122, 152.

[0050] When a game control element 118, 120, 218 of an accessory 108, 208 is in a gaming position, as depicted by FIGS. 8-13 and 15, activated (or turned “on”) and communicatively coupled with the portable electronic device 102, 202, the game control element 118, 120, 218 may be used to control play of a video game executed by, or played on, the portable electronic device 102, 202. Video game control with the game control element 118, 120, 218 may be accomplished as an individual uses one or more controls 124, 126, 128, 130, 132. The game control element 118, 120, 218 may be used to play a video game on the portable electronic device 102, 202 that has been assembled with the receptacle 104 that been assembled with the game control element (e.g., game control elements 118 and 120, etc.) or a base (e.g., base 122, base 152, etc.) that carries the game control element. The game control element 118, 120, 218 may also be used with a portable electronic device 102, 202 while the portable electronic device 102, 202 remains separate from (i.e., in an unassembled state from) the game control element 118, 120, 218.

[0051] Once game play is complete, each game control element 118, 120, 218 may be deactivated, or powered down or turned “off,” and placed in its storage position. While in its storage position, the game control element 118, 120, 218 and at least some of its controls 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 138, 140 may be shielded and, thus, protected by a remainder of the accessory 108.

[0052] Although the foregoing disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the appended claims, but merely as providing information pertinent to some specific embodiments that may fall within the scopes of the appended claims. Features from different embodiments may be combined. In addition, other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter that lie within the scopes of the appended claims may be devised. The scopes of the claims are, therefore, indicated and limited only by the plain language used in each claim and the legal equivalents to the elements recited by the claims. All additions, deletions and modifications to the disclosed subject matter that fall within the meaning and scopes of the claims are to be embraced by the claims.