Video Game Device Case for Enhanced Playing Experience
A video game device case includes a body configured to receive a hand-held video game device and a plurality of video game cartridges. In some examples, the video game device case includes a selector switch, which may be used to select between the plurality of video game cartridges housed in the video game device case. In some examples, the body of the video game device case is configured to receive a battery. Upon being electrically connected to the hand-held video game device, the video game device case may provide power to the hand-held device and different games for play at the touch of a switch, thus enhancing the length of playing time and the variety of gaming experiences available when using the hand-held gaming device.
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This disclosure relates to video game devices and, more particularly, to cases for video game devices.
BACKGROUNDPortable video game devices are enjoyed by children and adults alike because the devices provide self-contained entertainment without the encumbrances of larger home video game systems. One of the original and most popular portable video game devices was the Nintendo Gameboy. Predecessors to the Nintendo Gameboy include the Nintendo DSi and DSi XL gaming devices. Other makers now provide portable gaming devices as well, such as Sony, who makes the PlayStation® PSP Go gaming device. In general, a portable video game device includes a display screen, a battery as a portable power source, a media slot for receiving a video game, and different user input features for interacting with the video game during play.
Portable video game devices are often used for entertainment when traveling or otherwise away from home. As such, play on a portable video game device is generally limited by the lifespan of the battery of the video game device and a user's attention span when playing a particular video game. While a user can sometimes bring a battery recharging cord, replacement batteries, or different video games for increased playing time and enjoyment on a trip away from home, this requires preplanning on the part of the user. Moreover, because these features are external to the self-contained portable video game device, they can be lost or otherwise damaged.
SUMMARYIn general, the disclosure is directed to a case for a portable, hand-held video game device. The video game device case includes a body configured to receive both the hand-held video game device and a plurality of video game cartridges. The video game device case includes a selector switch, which may be used to select between the plurality of video game cartridges. In some examples, the body of the video game device case is configured to receive a battery. Upon being electrically connected to the hand-held video game device, the video game device case may provide power to the hand-held device and different games for play at the touch of a switch, thus enhancing the length of playing time and the variety of gaming experiences available when using the hand-held gaming device. In some examples, the case is constructed of a robust material able to withstand dropping, scratches, and other physical abuse. As a result, the case can protect the portable video game device from different physical abuses associated with portability.
In one example according to the disclosure, a video game device case includes a body configured to receive a hand-held video game device and to receive a plurality of video game cartridges. The video game device case includes a plurality of video game cartridge connectors, each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors configured to electrically connect to one of the plurality of the video game cartridges, and a device connector configured to establish electrical connectivity with the hand-held video game device. According to the examples, the video game device case also includes a selector switch electrically connected between the device connector and the plurality of video game cartridge connectors, where the selector switch includes a plurality of settings configured to separately place each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors in electrical communication with the device connector.
In another example according to the disclosure, a video game device case includes a body configured to receive a hand-held video game device, at least two video game cartridges, and a battery. The video game device case includes a lid pivotally mounted to the body, where the lid is configured to receive a pivotally mounted screen of the hand-held video game device. The video game device case also includes a battery connector configured to establish electrical connectivity between the battery and a power connector of the hand-held video game device. According to the example, the video game device case includes a plurality of video game cartridge connectors, each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors configured to electrically connect to one of the plurality of the video game cartridges, a device connector configured to establish electrical connectivity with the hand-held video game device, and a selector switch electrically connected between the device connector and the plurality of video game cartridge connectors, where the selector switch includes a plurality of settings configured to separately place each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors in electrical communication with the device connector.
The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Hand-held video game devices provide portable, interactive entertainment that can be used at home or when traveling. In general, a hand-held video game device includes a display screen, a battery power source, a media slot for receiving a video game, and different user controls for interacting with the video game during play (e.g., buttons, directional pads, joysticks, and the like). A video game user (i.e., a video game player) can manipulate the different controls of the hand-held video game device during play to interact with the video game in the media slot of device. In general, the video game user may play a specific video game until the battery of the hand-held video game device is exhausted or until the user loses attention with the specific video game. While the video game user may be able to replace or recharge the battery of the device, or insert a different video game into the media slot of the device, the user may not want to be encumbered with these accessories or may avoid bringing these accessories on a trip away from home for fear of losing them.
This disclosure describes a video game device case for a hand-held video game device. The video game device case may protect the hand-held video game device from physical abuses associated with portability (e.g., dropping and scratches). The video game device case may also enhance the video game user's playing experience. For instance, in one example, the video game device case includes a body configured to receive both the hand-held video game device and a plurality of video game cartridges. The video game device case also includes a selector switch, which may be used to select between the plurality of video game cartridges. Upon being electrically connected to the hand-held video game device, the video game device case may allow the user to switch between different video games, thus enhancing the variety of gaming experiences available when using the hand-held gaming device
In an additional example, the video game device case includes a body that is configured to receive a battery. By electrically connecting the video game device case to the hand-held video game device, the video game device case may provide auxiliary power to the hand-held device. As a result, the video game user may be able to play the hand-held video game device for a longer period of time without recharging or changing the batteries of the device, thus enhancing the user's playing experience.
Different views of an example video game device case will be described in greater detail with reference to
Video game device case 10 is configured to receive hand-held video game device 14. In general, hand-held video game device 14 may be any electronic device that provides a gaming experience through user interaction. Hand-held video game device 14 may be a dedicated video game device or a multifunction device configured to play a video game such as, e.g., a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a portable media player, or the like. In the example of
In the example of
In operation outside of video device case 10, a video game user may insert one of the plurality of video game cartridges 16 into video game cartridge slot 30 of device 14. In some examples, each video game cartridge of the plurality of video cartridges 16 may be a rectangular cartridge that includes memory. In other examples, each video game cartridge of the plurality of video cartridges 16 may be a cassette, disk, diskette, thumb drive, or other form of removable media. Each video game cartridge of the plurality of video cartridges 16 includes memory that stores one or more video games, which in different examples may be, e.g., magnetic, flash, or optical memory, for storing video game data. Upon being inserted into video game cartridge slot 30, a video game user may interact with one or more of operation buttons 26A-26C, e.g., by selectively depressing operation buttons 26A-26C, to power device 14 on, start the video game, or perform other functions generally associated with a hand-held video game device. A battery within hand-held video game device 14 (not shown) may power the various features of device 14 during operation. The battery may be rechargeable via power connector 28. During play, the battery may power first display screen 22, second display screen 23, speakers and the like on a hand-held video game as a video game user interacts with user controls 24A-24D during play.
To protect hand-held video game device 14 during transport, and to enhance the user experience available on device 14 during play, hand-held video game device 14 may be connected with a video game device case 10 in accordance with this disclosure. Video game device case 10 can assume different configurations; however, in the example of
As discussed in greater detail below, video game device case 10 may include features that enhance the playing experience of hand-held video game device 14. In one example, device case 10 may include a selector switch electrically connected between hand-held video game device 14 and a plurality of video game cartridges 16 inserted into cartridge slots 56 of device case 10. The switch may include a plurality of different settings, where separate settings place separate video game cartridges of the plurality of video cartridges 16 in electrical communication with device 14. As a result, a video game user can selectively play each of the plurality of video game cartridges 16 by touching the selector switch without physically exchanging cartridges in device 14. In another example, body 12 of the video game device case 10 is configured to receive a battery. The battery of video game device case 10 may be electrically connected with a battery of hand-held video game device 10 via battery connector 52. As such, video game device case 10 may provide auxiliary power to hand-held video game device 14, e.g., to extend the amount of playing time available on device 14.
As shown in
Video game case 10 is configured to receive a plurality of video game cartridges 16. A plurality of video game cartridges 16 may be two, three, four, five, or more video game cartridges 16, however, in the example of
Video device case 10 includes device compartment 54 for receiving hand-held video game device 14 and cartridge slots 56 for receiving the plurality of video game cartridges 16. Device compartment 54 and cartridge slots 56 may be arranged in a variety of different locations on device case 10 and the locations may vary, e.g., based on the configuration of the specific hand-held video game device 14 to be housed. In
The specific dimensions of video game device case 10 may vary, e.g., based on the specific features included with device case 10, the specific hand-held video game device 14 that device case 10 is designed to accommodate, and the number of video game cartridges 16 that device case 10 is designed to receive. That being said, in some examples, device case 10 may include lid 40 that is approximately 14 centimeters long, approximately 7.5 centimeters wide, and approximately 0.5 centimeters tall. In some examples, device case 10 may include body 12 that is approximately 14 centimeters long, approximately 8 centimeters wide, and approximately 2.5 centimeters tall. These dimensions are merely examples, however, and other dimensions are both contemplated and possible.
Upon placing hand-held video game device 14 in video game device case 10, it may be useful to physically connect device 14 to case 10, e.g., to form an integral assembly that resists detachment except with user assistance. Physically attaching hand-held video game device 14 to video game device 10 may prevent device 14 from inadvertently coming out of case 10 during use or transport. For example, in the example of
Hand-held video game device 14 may be subject to different physical abuses during the service life of the device. At various times, device 14 may be dropped, thrown, scratched, abraded, or otherwise abused. Video game device case 10 may protect hand-held video game device 14 from these and other physical abuses. As such, video game device case 10 may be constructed of a robust material able to withstand different physical forces without breaking In various examples, video game case 10 may be constructed of a metal material (e.g., steel, aluminum, copper), a thermoplastic material (e.g., polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl-based materials), a thermosetting plastic material (e.g., Bakelite, epoxy resin-based materials), or the like. In one example, video game case 10 is constructed of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic. In another examples, video game case 10 is constructed of a polycarbonate material. Other materials for video game device case 10 are both possible and contemplated.
Video game device case 10 may include one or more features for establishing an electrical connection between the plurality of video game cartridges 16 received by device case 10 and hand-held video game device 14, e.g., when device 14 is inserted into device case 10. Upon establishing the electrical connection, a video game user may play one of the plurality of video game cartridges 16 in video game device case 10 on hand-held video game device 14 without physically exchanging different cartridges 16 in and out of device 14. The specific features for establishing an electrical connection may vary, e.g., based on the specific configuration of video game device case 10 and the specific hand-held video game device 14. However, in some examples, as shown in the example of
It should be appreciated that although device connector 50 is illustrated in
A video game user's gaming experience with hand-held video game device 14 may be limited by the amount of battery power provided by device 14. Although hand-held video game device 14 may include a rechargeable battery, e.g., rechargeable through power connector 28, a power source may be unavailable while traveling or the user's video game may be interrupted during a recharging cycle. A video game user's gaming experience may be enhanced with increased battery life, e.g., to increase the amount of playing time available on hand-held video game device 14 before a battery recharging is required. As such, video game device case 10 may, in some examples, include one or more batteries to provide auxiliary power to hand-held video game device 14. Example battery details will be discussed in greater detail with reference to
In examples where video game device case 10 includes one or more batteries, the batteries may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable. Further, one or more of the batteries may be permanently sealed in body 12 of video game device case 10, or one or more of the batteries may be removable, e.g., for replacement or recharging. In some cases, video game device case 10 may include a permanently sealed battery and one or more areas sized to receive removable batteries. Any batteries in video game device case 10 may provide power to a connected hand-held video game device 14, or, in some cases, a user may need to select a given battery via a battery selection switch (not shown).
Where video game device case 10 includes a rechargeable battery, it may be useful for easy and efficient recharging if video game device case 10 is configured to connect to an external power source without removing the battery from device case 10. The battery may then be recharged directly in device case 10. In the example of
In one example, as generally depicted in
During video game play, a video game user may hold video game case 10 while operating hand-held video game device 14. To increase the video game user's grip and comfort while holding video device case 10, device case 10 may include one or more ergonomic features suitable for gripping. In the example of
As briefly noted above, body 12 of video game device case 10 may include one or more cutouts that define openings for accessing different features of hand-held video game device 14 when device 14 is placed within device case 10. The number and arrangement of the different cutouts may vary, e.g., based on the specific configuration of video game device case 10 and the specific configuration of hand-held video game device 14. With respect to the examples of
Device connector aperture 79 is defined in sidewall 62 and arranged such that video game cartridge slot 30 may be positioned under device connector aperture 79 when base 18 is inserted into device compartment 54. Volume control aperture 82 is defined in a sidewall of body 12 over one of extensions 48 and is arranged such that a volume control button of hand-held video game device 14 may be positioned under volume control aperture 82 when device 14 is inserted into device compartment 54. Stylus aperture 84 is defined in an opposing sidewall of body 12 over an opposing extension 48 and is arranged such that a stylus stored in hand-held video game device 14 may be accessed when device 14 is inserted into device compartment 54. In addition, hinge aperture 86 is defined between top surface 58 of body 12 and lid 40 and is configured to allow hinge 34 of hand-held video game device 14 to be inserted into video game case 10. It should be appreciated that the foregoing description of cutouts are merely examples, and the disclosure is not limited to a video game device case that includes any cutouts or any particular arrangement of cutouts.
As noted above, video game device case 10 may include one or more features to enhance a video game user's playing experience on hand-held video game device 14. For example, as previously explained, video game device case 10 may include a plurality of video game cartridge slots 56A-56C for receiving a plurality of video game cartridges 16. A video game user may store and/or use different video game cartridges in the plurality of video game cartridge slots 56. In this manner, video game device case 10 may provide a contained source of different video game playing experiences that is easily portable with hand-held video game device 14.
In addition to or in lieu of the plurality of video game cartridge slots 56, video game device case 10 may include various electrical features, e.g., to electrically support hand-held video game device 14 or to electrically connect different features of video game device case 10.
Each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 is configured to electrically connect to one of the plurality of video game cartridges 16. In some examples, each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 is also configured to physically connect to one of the plurality of video game cartridges 16. The shape, size, and/or electrical contact pattern of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 may vary, e.g., based on the specific video game cartridges to be inserted into the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100. Further, each cartridge video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 may be the same, or at least one video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 may be different than one other video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100. In other words, different video game cartridge connectors of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 may be configured to receive different types of video game cartridges, e.g., different types of removable media or different video game cartridges designed for different types of hand-held video game devices. In some examples, however, at least one video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 may be configured to receive a video game cartridge designed for a Nintendo DSi or Nintendo DSi XL hand-held gaming device. In some additional examples, all video game cartridge connectors of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 may be configured to receive a video game cartridge designed for a Nintendo DSi or Nintendo DSi XL hand-held gaming device.
Video game cartridge slots 56 may define a variety of different sizes, and the sizes may vary, e.g., based on the size of the cartridge intended to be inserted into a specific video game cartridge slot. Further, each video game cartridge slot of video game cartridge slots 56 may be the same size, or at least one video game cartridge slot may be a different size than at least one other video game cartridge slot of video game cartridge slots 56. In one example, one or more of video game cartridge slots 56 may define an opening that is approximately 3.8 centimeters long, approximately 3.5 centimeters wide, and approximately 0.4 centimeters tall. Other dimensions are possible, however, and it should be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited in this respect.
During operation of hand-held video game device 14, quick and easy switching between each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 may enhance a video game user's playing experience, e.g., by allowing the video game user to switch between different video games without physically exchanging cartridges in an out of video game cartridge slot 30. In accordance with this disclosure, video game device case 10 may include selector switch 102. Selector switch 102 is electrically connected between video game cartridge connectors 100 (which may receive cartridges 16) and device connector 50 (which may electrically connect to hand-held video game device 14). Selector switch 102 also includes a plurality of different settings configured to separately place each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 in electrical communication with device connector 50 and hence hand-held video game device 14. As a result, a video game user may be able to experience different video games at the touch of selector switch 102.
In general, selector switch 102 may be any type of switch that opens and closes different electrical circuits between each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100 to separately place different video games in electrical communication with device connector 50. In some examples, selector switch 102 may be a mechanical switch, e.g., a mechanical switch with a plurality of different positions each corresponding to one of the plurality of different video cartridge connectors 100. Moving the mechanical switch from a first position may terminate electrical contact with a first video cartridge connector corresponding to the first position (i.e., by opening a circuit), while moving the mechanical switch to a second position different than the first position may establish electrical contact with a different video cartridge connector corresponding to the second position (i.e., by closing a circuit). In other examples, selector switch 102 may be an electrical switch. Engagement of an electrical selector switch 102 may result in one or more electrical control signals being applied to different terminals on the switch, e.g., to controllably open and close different electrical circuits corresponding to each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100.
Independent of the specific type of selector switch 102 used with video device case 10, selector switch 102 may be designed to be engaged in a number of different ways. In one example, selector switch 102 may be a depressible push button where depressing the push button a different number of times results in electrical connection of different video game cartridge connectors of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100. In another example, selector switch 102 may be a rotatable dial where rotating the dial to different positions results in electrical connection of different video game cartridge connectors of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100. In yet another example, selector switch 102 may be a slide (e.g., a toggle) where moving the slide to different positions results in electrical connection of different video game cartridge connectors of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors 100. Other types of engagement for selector switch 102 are possible.
As briefly discussed with respect to
Battery 104 can be electrically connected to hand-held video game device 14 via battery connector 52. In different examples, battery 104 may be sealed in body 12 of video game device case 10 in a substantially permanent manner, or battery 104 may be removable, e.g., through a removable cover of body 12. In various examples, battery 104 may be an alkaline battery, a lithium polymer battery, or a nickel metal hydride battery. Other types of batteries are possible for battery 104. The amount of charge stored by battery 104 may vary, e.g., based on the size of video game device case 10 and the power requirements of hand-held video game device 14. In some examples, however, battery 104 may store between approximately 500 milliamp-hours (mAh) and approximately 2500 milliamp-hours of charge, such as, e.g., between approximately 1200 milliamp-hours and approximately 1800 milliamp-hours of charge. A battery with charge stored in these ranges may, in some examples, effectively double, triple, or even quadruple that amount of playing time available on hand-held video game device 14, depending on the specific type of device.
Upon electrically connecting battery 104 of video device case 10 to hand-held video game device 14, battery 104 may supply operating power to device 14. In some examples, video device case 10 may include features to regulate power exchange between battery 104 and hand-held video game device 14. For example, video device case 10 may query a battery in hand-held video game device 14 and supply power from battery 104 when the battery of device 14 falls below a given threshold, e.g., fifty percent of full charge or twenty-five percent of full charge. In other examples, battery 104 may continuously supply power to a battery in hand-held video game device 14 which in turn powers the different features of device 14. For example, battery 104 may be configured to trickle charge a battery in hand-held video game device 14. Upon being electrically connected to hand-held video game device 14, battery 104 may supply power to the battery in device 14 until the battery in device 14 reaches a full charge. In addition, upon reaching a full charge, battery 104 may supply power to the battery in hand-held video game device 14 at substantially the same rate the battery in device 14 is discharging, e.g., while powering the various features of device 14. In this way, battery 104 may trickle charge a battery in device 14. In some cases, video device case 10 may include a permanent battery and one or more volumetric regions designed to receive removable batteries. If multiple batteries are included, the video game device 14 may draw power from multiple sources or only one of the batteries, in which case a battery selection switch (not shown) might also be included. The ability to receive multiple batteries may be desirable to increase the amount of time that a user can operate hand-held video game device 14 inside video device case 10.
Although battery 104 may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable, in the example of
In examples where video game device case 10 includes battery 104, user awareness of a charge level of battery 104 may help a video game user determine when battery 104 needs to be replaced and/or recharged. To help the video game user determine the charge level of battery 104, video game device case 10 may include a charge status indicator. In general, a charge status indicator provides an indication of the level of charge of battery 104. In the example of
Different features described with respect to the conceptual block diagram of
As previously noted, video device case 10 may, in some examples, include extensions 48 that may be configured to be gripped by a video game user during operation of hand-held video game device 14. In some examples, extensions 48 may be removable, e.g., to facilitate storage or transport of video device case 10. As such, video game device case 10 may include one or more features to removably attach extensions 48 to device case 10. In some examples, the features may be a mechanical fixation element such as, e.g., a screw, bolt, clasp, hook-and-loop fastener, or the like. In other examples, extensions 48 may be interference fit with video game device case 10 to frictionally engage extensions 48 with device case 10. For example, in the example of
As also noted above, body 12 of video device case 10 can include any number of different cutouts for viewing and accessing different features of hand-held video game device 14 or the plurality of video game cartridges 16.
This disclosure refers to illustrative examples that are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative examples, as well as additional examples consistent with the disclosure, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A video game device case comprising:
- a body configured to: receive a hand-held video game device; and receive a plurality of video game cartridges;
- a plurality of video game cartridge connectors, each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors configured to electrically connect to one of the plurality of the video game cartridges;
- a device connector configured to establish electrical connectivity with the hand-held video game device; and
- a selector switch electrically connected between the device connector and the plurality of video game cartridge connectors, wherein the selector switch includes a plurality of settings configured to separately place each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors in electrical communication with the device connector.
2. The video game device case of claim 1, wherein the selector switch is a mechanical switch configured to at least one of establish electrical contact or terminate electrical contact with one of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors when the selector switch is physically moved from a first position to a second position.
3. The video game device case of claim 2, wherein the selector switch comprises a slide configured to be moved to a plurality of different positions, each of the plurality of different positions corresponding to a different one of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors.
4. The video game device case of claim 1, wherein the selector switch is an electrical switch configured to at least one of establish electrical contact or terminate electrical contact with one of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors in response to an electrical control signal.
5. The video game device case of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to receive a battery, and further comprising a battery connector configured to establish electrical connectivity between the battery and a power connector of the hand-held video game device.
6. The video game device case of claim 5, further comprising a charge status indicator configured to indicate a charge of the battery.
7. The video game device case of claim 6, wherein the charge status indicator comprises a plurality of lights.
8. The video game device case of claim 6, further comprising a charge status switch, wherein engagement of the charge status switch results in activation of the charge status indicator to indicate the charge of the battery.
9. The video game device case of claim 5, wherein, upon establishing electrical connection between the battery and the hand-held video game device, the video game device case is configured to trickle charge a video game device battery housed in the hand-held video game device.
10. The video game device case of claim 1, further comprising a lid pivotally mounted to the body, wherein the lid is configured to receive a pivotally mounted screen of the hand-held video game device.
11. The video game device case of claim 1, further comprising at least two body extensions extending from opposing sides of the body, wherein the body extensions are configured to be gripped by a user during operation of the hand-held video game device.
12. The video game device case of claim 11, wherein the at least two body extensions are removable.
13. The video game device case of claim 1, wherein the device connector comprises a cable and a plug, the cable extending from the body to the plug, and wherein the plug is configured to be inserted in a video game receiving slot of the hand-held video game device.
14. The video game device case of claim 13, wherein the plug substantially replicates a shape and an electrical contact pattern of a video game cartridge such that the plug can be inserted into the video game receiving slot of the hand-held video game device and electrically engaged with the hand-held video game device.
15. The video game device case of claim 1, wherein the plurality of video game cartridges comprise at least three video game cartridges.
16. The video game device case of claim 1, wherein the hand-held video game device is at least one of a Nintendo DSi hand-held video game device or a Nintendo DSi XL hand-held video game device.
17. A video game device case comprising:
- a body configured to: receive a hand-held video game device; receive at least two video game cartridges; and receive a battery;
- a lid pivotally mounted to the body, wherein the lid is configured to receive a pivotally mounted screen of the hand-held video game device;
- a battery connector configured to establish electrical connectivity between the battery and a power connector of the hand-held video game device;
- a plurality of video game cartridge connectors, each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors configured to electrically connect to one of the plurality of the video game cartridges;
- a device connector configured to establish electrical connectivity with the hand-held video game device; and
- a selector switch electrically connected between the device connector and the plurality of video game cartridge connectors, wherein the selector switch includes a plurality of settings configured to separately place each video game cartridge connector of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors in electrical communication with the device connector.
18. The video game device case of claim 17, wherein the selector switch is configured to be moved to a plurality of different positions, each of the plurality of different positions corresponding to a different one of the plurality of video game cartridge connectors.
19. The video game device case of claim 17, wherein the body defines a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a sidewall connecting the top surface to the bottom surface, the body including:
- a device compartment defined in the top surface of the housing, wherein the device compartment is configured to receive the hand-held video game device; and
- at least two cartridge slots defined in the sidewall of the body, wherein the at least two cartridge slots are configured to receive the at least two video game cartridges.
20. The video game device case of claim 17, wherein the hand-held video game device is at least one of a Nintendo DSi hand-held video game device or a Nintendo DSi XL hand-held video game device, and wherein the device connector comprises a cable and a plug, the cable extending from the body to the plug, and wherein the plug is configured to be inserted in a video game receiving slot of the at least one of the Nintendo DSi hand-held video game device or the Nintendo DSi XL hand-held video game device.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 22, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 22, 2012
Applicant: Imation Corp. (St. Paul, MN)
Inventor: Lawrence D. Hovseth (Circle Pines, MN)
Application Number: 12/888,081