U.S. patent application number 12/285264 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for manipulation input device structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to KYE SYSTEMS CORP.. Invention is credited to Tsu-Nan Lee, Chung-Wei Lin.
Application Number | 20100048308 12/285264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40176350 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100048308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Tsu-Nan ; et
al. |
February 25, 2010 |
Manipulation input device structure
Abstract
A manipulation input device structure includes a foundation base
and an operating base. The foundation base has a rotation slot,
such that the operating base is pivoted therein, and the operating
base may relatively pivots to the foundation base and is fixed at a
using position or a packaging position. When the operating base
pivotally rotates to the packaging position, a space occupied by
the manipulation input device is smaller than a space occupied by
the manipulation input device when the operating base is located on
the using position.
Inventors: |
Lee; Tsu-Nan; (Taipei
County, TW) ; Lin; Chung-Wei; (Taipei County,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE, FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-1176
US
|
Assignee: |
KYE SYSTEMS CORP.
Taipei County
TW
|
Family ID: |
40176350 |
Appl. No.: |
12/285264 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/47 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/1043 20130101;
A63F 13/245 20140902; A63F 13/803 20140902; A63F 2300/1062
20130101; A63F 13/06 20130101; A63F 2300/8017 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/47 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/14 20060101
A63F009/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 22, 2008 |
TW |
097132270 |
Claims
1. A manipulation input device structure, comprising: a foundation
base; and an operating base, pivoted on the foundation base,
pivotally rotating relative to the foundation base, and further
having a manipulation unit; wherein the manipulation unit
relatively pivots to the foundation base and is fixed at a using
position above the foundation base, and the foundation base, the
operating base, and the manipulation unit form a first volume
together; the manipulation unit relatively pivots to the foundation
base and is fixed at a packaging position which is at the side of
the foundation base, and the foundation base, the operating base,
and the manipulation unit form a second volume together; the second
volume is smaller than the first volume.
2. The manipulation input device structure according to claim 1,
wherein the foundation base has a rotation slot, and the operating
base is pivoted in the rotation slot; the rotation slot has a pivot
hole at one side thereof, the operating base has a pivot shaft at
one side thereof, and the pivot shaft is inserted in the pivot
hole, such that the operating base pivotally rotates relative to
the foundation base.
3. The manipulation input device structure according to claim 2,
wherein the rotation slot has a releasing button at the other side
opposite to the pivot hole, the operating base has a combining body
at the other side opposite to the pivot shaft, the releasing button
has a first tooth, the combining body has a second tooth, the
releasing button shifts relative to the foundation base, and the
first tooth is selectively engaged with the second tooth.
4. The manipulation input device structure according to claim 3,
further comprising a first tension spring, wherein two ends of the
first tension spring respectively lean against the releasing button
and the operating base, and the first tension spring normally
pushes the releasing button, such that the first tooth is engaged
with the second tooth.
5. The manipulation input device structure according to claim 2,
wherein the rotation slot has an inserting part at the other side
opposite to the pivot hole, the operating base has a positioning
tray at the other side opposite to the pivot shaft, the positioning
tray has at least two positioning holes each corresponding to the
using position and the packaging position, the inserting part
shifts relative to the foundation base and is selectively inserted
in one of the positioning holes, such that the operating base is
fixed at the using position or the packaging position.
6. The manipulation input device structure according to claim 5,
wherein the inserting part further has an operating portion, a
connecting rod, a latch, and a second tension spring, the operating
portion is exposed out of the foundation base, the connecting rod
has two ends respectively connected to the operating portion and
the latch, the second tension spring is sleeved on the connecting
rod and has two ends respectively lean against the foundation base
and the latch, so as to normally push the latch to insert in one of
the positioning holes.
7. The manipulation input device structure according to claim 1,
wherein the manipulation unit is a steering wheel, a key set, or a
joysticker.
8. An manipulation input device structure, comprising: an operating
base, with one side pivoted on a foundation base, and the other
side having a manipulation unit disposed thereon; wherein a
positioning unit is disposed between the operating base and the
foundation base, the manipulation unit pivotally rotates relative
to the foundation base and is caught on a position with an angle;
the manipulation unit pivotally rotates relative to the foundation
base to one side of the foundation base, so that the manipulation
unit is approximately parallel with the foundation base.
9. The manipulation input device structure according to claim 8,
wherein the manipulation unit is a steering wheel, a key set, or a
joysticker.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 097132270 filed in
Taiwan, R.O.C. on Aug. 22, 2008 the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a manipulation input
device, and more particularly to a manipulation input device
structure having a pivotally rotating operating base.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Recently, multi-media entertainment market is rapidly
developed, software and hardware manufacturers continuously propose
newer and better game software and game hosts, so as to occupy
gigantic market business opportunity. As the newer and more special
game software and hardware are proposed, the game joysticker, as
the main game manipulation interface, definitely must be
continuously developed and modified, so as to meet the demand of
the pleasant sensation of the user during manipulation.
[0006] Particularly, in the racing game, in order to search for the
realistic operation sensation, a game wheel for dedicatedly
performing the manipulation in the racing game is proposed on the
market, so as to enable game players fully enjoy the realistic
sensation during the game, such that the game wheel has become one
of the indispensable game devices used by the gamer players.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, after being manufactured, a recently
existing game wheel 10 is packaged in a packaging paper case A1 in
shape of an elongated cube or an elongated rectangular block, such
that it is convenient for the conveying personnel to convey, and
the game wheel is protected from being damaged by impacting.
However, a game steering wheel 11 for manipulating the game
interface follows the size of the steering wheel used on the real
car, so the game steering wheel 11 has a certain volume. Further,
the game steering wheel 11 is fixed on a base plate 12, and is
maintained on a using operation position to form an inclined angle
with the base plate 12, such that the appearance of the game wheel
10 cannot be changed, and the whole volume of the game wheel 10 is
too large to be minimized.
[0008] Referring to FIG. 1, in order to be convenient for the game
player to immediately use the game wheel after purchasing it, the
manufacturer pre-assembles and fixes the game steering wheel 11 on
the base plate 12 before delivery. However, during packaging for
delivery, a large-scale packaging paper case A1 is required to
completely wrap the game wheel 10 after being assembled, thus
increasing the manufacturing cost and wasting the packaging
material, which not only departs from the requirement of cost
benefit, but also causes severer problem on recycling due to the
too many discarded packaging materials.
[0009] In addition, the game steering wheel 11 is fixed on the base
plate 12 with an inclined angle, so the invalid space generated by
the convention game wheel 10 in the packaging paper case A1 is
large, which results in a large whole space occupied by the
packaging paper case A1. Therefore, during conveying or saving, the
enough space is required to place the game wheels 10, or the number
of the game wheels 10 capable of being loaded or saved in the unit
space may not be increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In view of the above problems, the present invention
provides a manipulation input device structure, capable of
modifying the problem that the game steering wheel of the
conventional game wheel is fixed on the base plate and forms an
inclined angle with the base plate, resulting in large occupied
space and increased manufacture cost.
[0011] The present invention provides a manipulation input device
structure, which includes a foundation base and an operating base.
The foundation base has a rotation slot, the operating base is
pivoted in the rotation slot, and the operating base relatively
pivots to the foundation base and is fixed at a using position or a
packaging position. When the operating base pivotally rotates to
the packaging position, a space occupied by the manipulation input
device is smaller than a space occupied by the manipulation input
device when the operating base is fixed at the using position.
[0012] The efficacy of the present invention is that the operating
base relatively rotates to the foundation base to the packaging
position, and at this time, the space occupied by the manipulation
input device is smaller than the space occupied by the manipulation
input device when the operating base is fixed at the using
position, such that the packaging cost is greatly reduced, and
convenient conveying may be achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below for illustration only,
and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and
wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the conventional art;
[0015] FIG. 2A is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2B is a partial exploded view of the first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the
present invention at a using position;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 5 is plan view of the first embodiment of the present
invention at the using position;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the
present invention at a packaging position;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the present
invention at a packaging position;
[0023] FIG. 9A is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 9B is a partial exploded view of the second embodiment
of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the
present invention at the using position;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment
of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the
present invention at the packaging position;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the
present invention at the using position; and
[0029] FIG. 14 is a plan view of the third embodiment of the
present invention at the packaging position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The manipulation input device provided by the present
invention includes, but not limited to, a joysticker, a game
controller, and other computer input devices capable of being
operated by the users to generate vector signals. In embodiments as
follows, the game controller is used as the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0031] Referring to schematic views of FIGS. 2A to 3, a
manipulation input device 100 according to a first embodiment of
the present invention includes a foundation base 110 and an
operating base 120. The foundation base 110 has a rotation slot 111
with a size matching the operating base 120. The rotation slot 111
has a pivot hole 112 at one side thereof, and a positioning unit at
the other side opposite to the pivot hole 112. The positioning unit
has a releasing button 113 with one end exposed out of the
foundation base 110 and may axially shift relative to the
foundation base 110, and the other end having a first tooth 1131
surrounded on an outer periphery.
[0032] The operating base 120 has a manipulation unit, for example,
a joysticker, a key set, or a steering wheel 121, for the game
players to hold and perform the manipulation. The operating base
120 has a pivot shaft 122 at one side thereof, and the pivot shaft
122 is inserted in the pivot hole 112 of the foundation base 110.
The operating base 120 has a combining body 123 at the other side
opposite to the pivot shaft 122. A through-hole 1231 is opened at
the central position of the combining body 123, which is provided
for the releasing button 113 to pass through. A second tooth 1232
is protruded on a periphery of the through-hole 1231. The
manipulation input device 100 of the present invention further
includes a first tension spring 130 having two ends respectively
leaning against the releasing button 113 and the operating base
120. The first tension spring 130 normally pushes the releasing
button 113, such that the first tooth 1131 of the releasing button
113 is engaged with the second tooth 1232 of the combining body
123. The operating base 120 is pivoted in the rotation slot 111 of
the foundation base 110 through the pivot shaft 122 and the
combining body 123, and the operating base 120 pivotally rotates
relative to the foundation base 110 to an angle for operation (that
is, the steering wheel is fixed at a using position), or at a
packaging position for accommodation.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, when the operating base 120 is
fixed at the using position (that is, an operating surface 1211 of
the steering wheel 121 rotates to be located above the foundation
base 110, for the game player to perform the manipulation), the
first tension spring 130 normally pushes the releasing button 113,
the first tooth 1131 is engaged with the second tooth 1232 of the
combining body 123, so as to limit the operating base 120 from
pivotally rotating relative to the foundation base 110. Referring
to FIG. 5, if it intends to package the manipulation input device
100 of the present invention in a state that the operating base 120
is fixed at the using position, a packaging paper case A2 with the
same size as shown in FIG. 1 is required for packaging. That is to
say, the operating base 120, the steering wheel 121, and the
foundation base 110 form a first volume together.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, if it intends to pivotally
rotate the operating base 120 to the packaging position (that is,
the operating surface 1211 of the steering wheel 121 rotates to a
bottom part of the foundation base 110, and the operating surface
1211 is approximately parallel with the bottom surface of the
foundation base 110), it is firstly necessary to apply an external
force to push the releasing button 113 exposed out of the
foundation base 110, such that the first tooth 1131 is separated
from the second tooth 1232, and the first tension spring 130 is
forced to be compressed. At this time, the operating base 120 may
pivotally rotate relative to the foundation base 110, and rotate to
one side or the bottom side (i.e. the packaging position) together
with the steering wheel 121. Finally, the external force applied on
the releasing button 113 is released, the first tension spring 130
returns to an initial state and pushes the releasing button 113,
such that the first tooth 1131 is engaged with the second tooth
1232, and the operating base 120 is fixed at the packaging position
and does not rotate.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 8, when the packaging is performed as the
operating base 120 pivotally rotates to the packaging position, the
size of the used packaging paper case A3 is smaller than that of
the packaging paper case A2, so when the operating base 120
pivotally rotates to the packaging position, the space occupied by
the manipulation input device 100 (that is, a second volume
occupied by the foundation base 110, the operating base 120, and
the steering wheel 121 together) is smaller than the space occupied
by the manipulation input device 100 when the operating base 120
pivotally rotates to the using position (that is, the second volume
is smaller than the first volume). Therefore, the volume proportion
of the manipulation input device 100 is smaller, such that
convenient packaging for the manufacturer and convenient
accommodation for the user may be achieved.
[0036] In addition, the operating base 120 may pivotally rotate
relative to the foundation base 110, so the user may
correspondingly adjust the angle between the operating base 120 and
the foundation base 110 according to the using habit and demand
thereof, thereby obtaining the best using angle and the best using
position.
[0037] FIGS. 9A to 10 are schematic views of a second embodiment of
the present invention. The manipulation input device 100 according
to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a
foundation base 110 and an operating base 120. The foundation base
110 has a rotation slot 111 with a size matching the operating base
120. The rotation slot 111 has a pivot hole 112 at one side thereof
and a positioning unit at the other side opposite to the pivot hole
112, and the positioning unit has an inserting part 114. The
inserting part 114 further includes an operating portion 1141, a
connecting rod 1142, a latch 1143, and a second tension spring
1144. The operating portion 1141 is exposed out of the foundation
base 110, and the connecting rod 1142 has two ends respectively
connected to the operating portion 1141 and the latch 1143. The
second tension spring 1144 is sleeved on the connecting rod 1142,
and has two ends respectively lean against the foundation base 110
and the latch 1143.
[0038] The operating base 120 has a steering wheel 121 for the game
players to hold and perform the manipulation. The operating base
120 has a pivot shaft 122 at one side thereof, and the pivot shaft
122 is inserted in the pivot hole 112 of the foundation base 110,
such that the operation base 120 may relatively rotate to the
foundation base 110 and is fixed at the using position or the
packaging position. The operating base 120 has a positioning tray
124 at the other side opposite to the pivot shaft 122. At least two
positioning holes 1241 are opened in the positioning tray 124, each
corresponding to the using position and the packaging position of
the operating base 120, and the latch 1143 of the inserting part
114 may be selectively inserted in one of the positioning holes
1241.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, when the operating base 120 is
fixed at the using position (that is, the steering wheel 121
rotates to be located above the foundation base 110), the latch
1143 of the inserting part 114 is inserted in one of the
positioning holes 1241, and is normally pushed by the second
tension spring 1144, so as to limit the operating base 120 from
pivotally rotating relative to the foundation base 110.
[0040] If it intends to pivotally rotate the operating base 120 to
the packaging position (that is, the operating surface of the
steering wheel 121 rotates to the bottom part of the foundation
base 110, and the operating surface is approximately parallel with
the bottom surface of the foundation base 110), it is firstly
necessary to apply an external pulling force on the operating
portion 1141 exposed out of the foundation base 110, such that the
latch 1143 is separated from the positioning hole 1241, and the
second tension spring 1144 is forced to be compressed. At this
time, the operating base 120 may pivotally rotate relative to the
foundation base 110, and rotate to one side or the bottom side
(i.e. the packaging position) together with the steering wheel 121,
and the latch 143 is aligned with the other positioning hole 1241
of the positioning tray 124. Finally, the external force applied on
the operating portion 1141 is released, the second tension spring
130 returns to an initial state and pushes the latch 1143 to insert
in the positioning hole 1241 of the positioning tray 124
corresponding to the packaging position, such that the operating
base 120 is fixed at the packaging position and does not
rotate.
[0041] Referring FIGS. 13 and 14, in a third embodiment of the
present invention, the manipulation unit may be a joysticker, and
the remaining structures are the same as those of the first or the
second embodiment. At this time, the joysticker may be folded on an
inclined side position of the foundation base 110, such that the
joysticker is approximately parallel with the foundation base,
thereby effectively reducing the second volume occupied during
accommodation.
[0042] In the present invention, the operating base of the
manipulation input device structure may pivotally rotate relative
to the foundation base. When the operating base pivotally rotates
to the packaging position, the space occupied by the manipulation
input device is smaller than the space occupied by the manipulation
input device when the operating base is fixed at the using
position, such that the volume occupied by the manipulation input
device is much smaller, and convenient packaging for manufactures
and convenient accommodation for users are thus achieved. Further,
the user may correspondingly adjust the angle between the operating
base and the foundation base according to the using habit thereof,
thereby satisfying the different using positions and the demands of
different users.
* * * * *