The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 2002
Filed:
May. 26, 1998
David R. Knaub, Portland, OR (US);
Philip A. Frank, Portland, OR (US);
Jason E. Denner, Portland, OR (US);
Michael D. Holloway, Beavertown, OR (US);
Lonnie D. Milton, Mulino, OR (US);
Guillemot Corporation, La Gacilly Cedex, FR;
Abstract
The present invention concerns a controller for use with racing games and simulations running on a personal computer which includes a specially adapted attachment mechanism for desktop mounting. A particular embodiment of the controller includes a housing for removably attaching the controller to a desktop and a rotatable steering wheel mounted to the housing for manipulating the game object. An clamping assembly is received in the housing. An adjustable arm is pivotally connected to the clamping assembly and includes a substantially curved bridging portion and a distal end, the bridging portion extending to an underside of the desktop such that the distal end opposes an extension of the housing on an upper side of the desktop. The clamping assembly binds the desktop between the arm and the housing. A first embodiment of the clamping assembly includes a retention tube received in the housing having a first end and a threaded second end. A clamp is pivotally connected to the retention tube first end. A shaft has a threaded portion and a head. The threaded portion is received in the retention tube threaded second end and the bead is received in an arm bore such that turning the clamp engages the shaft to move the arm closer to the housing thereby binding the desktop between the arm and the housing. A second embodiment of the clamping assembly includes a bolt having a threaded portion and a knob. The threaded portion is received in the threaded bore of the housing such that turning the knob brings the arm closer to the housing thereby binding the desktop between the arm and the housing.