Patent US4491325A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4491325A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Game control apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-01-26
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Granted: 1985-01-01
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Expires: 2003-01-26
Abstract
Abstract Control apparatus for video games has a control handle spaced apart from and joined to a separate housing by a connecting rod. The housing is contoured and securable to a user's arm, and forms an anchor point for manipulation of the control handle. The user may choose between variable resistive controls and switch controls which operate responsive to movement of the control handle and/or the connecting rod. Multiple individual controls may also be mounted on the handle to control other game functions. Plates having cutouts formed therethrough are attachable to the housing, with the control rod protruding therethrough, the movement of the control rod may thereby be limited by contact with the periphery of the cutout, preventing simultaneous engagement of two or more signal controls.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Bersheim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:46
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G1/00; G05G1/58; G05G1/62; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/20; A63F13/24; A63F13/40; A63F13/42; A63F13/428; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0338; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1043; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G2009/04703; G05G2009/04714; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04748; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/02; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20201; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20582; Y10T74/20612
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for controlling electrical signals, said apparatus comprising: housing means having a top; means to releasably secure said housing means to a user's arm; handle assembly means, shaped and positioned to be manipulable by said user's hand when said housing means is secured to said user's arm; means connecting said handle assembly means and said housing means; means enabling movement of said handle assembly means with respect to said housing means; means to transmit said electrical signals to and from said apparatus; and means to control said signals responsive to the movement of said handle assembly means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for controlling electrical signals, said apparatus comprising: housing means having a top; means to releasably secure said housing means to a user's arm; handle assembly means, shaped and positioned to be manipulable by said user's hand when said housing means is secured to said user's arm; means connecting said handle assembly means and said housing means; means enabling movement of said handle assembly means with respect to said housing means; means to transmit said electrical signals to and from said apparatus; and means to control said signals responsive to the movement of said handle assembly means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle assembly means is movable in a fore-and-aft direction with respect to said housing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle assembly means is movable in a side-to-side direction with respect to said housing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle assembly means is movable in an up-and-down direction with respect to said housing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing means top is contoured to accommodate said user's arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one said signal control means is a variable resistive element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one said signal control means is characterized by selectively openable and closeable contact points.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said control means includes secondary control means mounted on said handle assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said secondary control means includes at least one trigger control.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said secondary control means includes at least one intermittently operable push button.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 including means to limit movement of said connecting means, said limiting means preventing simultaneous engagement of selected of said signal control means when said handle assembly means is moved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said limiting means includes a plate having a cutout formed therethrough, said connecting means protruding through said cutout and limited in its movement by contact with said plate about the periphery of said cutout.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said plate is removably attachable to said housing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said limiting means further includes a plurality of said plates having cutouts of differing configurations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said releasable securing means includes at least one strap member having two ends, the first of said ends attached to said housing means; and means to releasably secure said second end to said housing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for controlling electrical signals, said apparatus comprising: housing means having a top; means to releasably secure said housing means to a user's arm proximate said user's wrist; handle assembly means separate from said housing means; said handle assembly means shaped and positioned to be manipulable by said user's hand when said housing means is secured to said user's arm; means connecting said housing means and said handle assembly means; means enabling movement of said handle assembly means with respect to said housing means; means to transmit said electrical signals to and from said apparatus; and means to control said signals responsive to the movement of said handle assembly means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for controlling electrical signals, said apparatus comprising: housing means having a top; means to releasably secure said housing means to a user's arm proximate said user's wrist; handle assembly means separate from said housing means; said handle assembly means shaped and positioned to be manipulable by said user's hand when said housing means is secured to said user's arm; means connecting said housing means and said handle assembly means; means enabling movement of said handle assembly means with respect to said housing means; means to transmit said electrical signals to and from said apparatus; and means to control said signals responsive to the movement of said handle assembly means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said handle assembly means includes: a base; and an upstanding handle pivotally attached to said base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein at least one said signal control means is mounted within said base, said control means operable responsive to the movement of said handle with respect to said base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said connecting means is extendable from and moveable into said housing means, thereby allowing movement of said handle assembly means toward and away from said housing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein said housing means includes means to limit the travel of said connecting means with respect to said housing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein said housing means has at least one said signal control means mounted therewithin operable responsive to the movement of said handle assembly means toward and away from said housing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said signal control means includes variable resistance means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said signal control means includes selectively openable and closeable contact means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said signal control means includes variable resistance means and selectively openable and closeable contact means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 24 including means to select said variable resistance means or said contact means to function as said control means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said releasable securing means includes at least one strap member having two ends, the first of said ends attached to said housing means; and means to releasably secure said second end to said housing means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for controlling electrical signals, said apparatus comprising: housing means having a top, said housing means being hollow; means to releasably secure said housing means to a user's arm; handle assembly means, said handle assembly means shaped and positioned to be manipulable by said user's hand when said housing means is secured to said user's arm; means connecting said housing means and said handle assembly means; means gripping said connecting means and said housing means to enable movement of said connecting means with respect to said housing means, said gripping means including a switchblock within which said connecting means is received; a frame member; said switchblock being pivotally mounted along a first axis within said frame member, said frame member pivotally mounted within said housing along a second axis; means to transmit said electrical signals to and from said apparatus; and means to control said signals responsive to the movement of said connecting means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for controlling electrical signals, said apparatus comprising: housing means having a top, said housing means being hollow; means to releasably secure said housing means to a user's arm; handle assembly means, said handle assembly means shaped and positioned to be manipulable by said user's hand when said housing means is secured to said user's arm; means connecting said housing means and said handle assembly means; means gripping said connecting means and said housing means to enable movement of said connecting means with respect to said housing means, said gripping means including a switchblock within which said connecting means is received; a frame member; said switchblock being pivotally mounted along a first axis within said frame member, said frame member pivotally mounted within said housing along a second axis; means to transmit said electrical signals to and from said apparatus; and means to control said signals responsive to the movement of said connecting means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said control means includes means operable responsive to movement of said switchblock about said first axis.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said control means includes means operable responsive to movement of said frame member about said second axis.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said signal control means includes a first control element operable responsive to movement of said switchblock about said first axis, and a second control element operable responsive to movement of said frame about said second axis.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 30 wherein said first and second control elements operate independently one from another.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 30 including means to prevent simultaneous engagement of said first and second control elements.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 32 wherein said prevention means includes means to limit movement of said connecting means when said handle assembly means is moved.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 33 wherein said limiting means includes a plate having a cutout formed therethrough, said connecting means protruding through said cutout and limited in its movement by contact with said plate about the periphery of said cutout.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 34 wherein said plate is removably attachable to said housing means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 34 wherein said limiting means further includes a plurality of said plates having cutouts of differing configurations.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said signal control means includes variable resistive means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said signal control means includes selectively openable and closeable contact means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said signal control means includes variable resistive means and selectively openable and closeable contact means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 39 including means to select said variable resistive means or said contact means to operate responsive to movement of said handle assembly means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said frame member includes 2 pairs of oppositely disposed sides.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 41 wherein said first axis passes through the first of said pairs of opposed sides.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 41 wherein said second axis passes through the second of said pairs of opposed sides.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus in claim 41 wherein said frame member is rectangular.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 41 wherein said frame member is square.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said frame member is circular.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said first and second axes are perpendicular to each other.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said releasable securing means includes at least one strap member having two ends, the first of said ends attached to said housing means; and means to releasably secure said second end to said housing means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said connecting means is slidably received by said switchblock.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said handle assembly means includes a hand grip, said hand grip having a rest position when not in use; and means to vary said rest position.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said control means includes secondary control means mounted on said hand grip.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 51 wherein said secondary control means includes at least one trigger control.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 51 wherein said secondary control means includes at least one intermittently operable push button control.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-01 | 1988-07-02 | 1989-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-01 | 1992-07-02 | 1993-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-01 | 1996-07-02 | 1997-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |