Portable gaming and entertainment system

Abstract

A portable gaming and entertainment system (or “environment”) for use with a game console and related components that allows the user thereof to easily, safely and conveniently transport the system. The system comprises a case having a lid pivotally attached to a base. One or more custom inserts are provided to securely receive the game console therein. The custom inserts permit the system to be usable with a variety of supported game consoles. The lid includes a monitor and speakers, and is operative to be opened and maintained at a position to provide a desirable viewing angle for a user. The lid closes against the base to enclose the game console and other related components so that the user may easily transport and / or store the system.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field[0002]The field of present invention relates generally to the field of custom portable gaming and entertainment environments. In particular, the present invention relates to a gaming and entertainment system that is configured with an audio output, high definition display, and a video gaming console and storage.[0003]2. Related Art[0004]The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. Many people enjoy playing games on and otherwise utilizing gaming and entertainment consoles, such as Microsoft's Xbox®, Sony's Play Station 3®, Nintendo Wii®, and the like. Hereinafter, these and all related gaming and / or entertainment consoles are referred to as a “gaming console” or “game console.” As known, gaming cons...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention discloses a portable system (or “environment”) for allowing a gamer and other game console players to easily, safely and conveniently move a game console and its associated video and audio devices from one location to another. The environment of the present invention provides an easily transportable, customized case design that houses a game console and a video device in a manner that protects this equipment while being moved and played.

[0014]In one embodiment, the transportable case includes a lower base portion that allows for easy access to the front and rear features and audio / video inputs of a game console and, as a result, does not restrict airflow to the game console. As can be appreciated, an appreciable amount of airflow is required to maintain an acceptable temperature during use. As such, the portable case allows for substantially full access to both the front and rear portions of the game console without hindering or damaging the game console, cabling or peripherals while connected during play. In this embodiment, the transportable case also houses one or more audio devices, game controllers, games or movies, and the various wires and / or cables necessary to utilize the game console for playing games or watching movies. In this regard, the portable gaming and entertainment environment of the present invention allows the user to play games or watch movies on his or her game console at virtually any desired location including another room within a specific location with a minimum amount of onsite configuration and / or setup required.

[0017]A hinge at the back side of the case may be utilized to interconnect the base and a lid and to pivot the lid relative to the base. The case may comprise one or more handles for ease in transporting the case from one location to another. In some embodiments, the case includes a fixed handle on one side. The case may also comprise a locking mechanism, such as one or more case latches, for locking the case in its closed position. The mounting mechanism may comprise an integrated loop latch passing through the case latches.

[0018]The environment of the present invention provides a much safer and easier means for a gamer to utilize a game console in a “community” or network environment with friends and / or family who may be competing against him or her at a game. With the environment of the present invention, the gamers will not need to share a television or monitor or be hindered by a single location to utilize a specific video device or by utilizing split screen technology, which results in small screens placed side-by-side. Instead, with the environment described herein, the gamers will each have their own full screen monitor environment. In addition to gamers, the environment of the present invention will allow businesses to provide an all inclusive gaming and multimedia unit for entertaining customers, employees and others in an easy to store package that can be freely moved. If desired, the environment could be modified to include a keyboard and other computer functionality. If desired, the environment could also be utilized for non-gaming or entertainment purposes, such as a training environment to present media and / or marketing.

[0019]Accordingly, an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention is to provide a portable gaming and entertainment environment that has the advantages discussed above and which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations associated with presently available environments for transporting and playing games and / or movies on a game console or providing a personal gaming and entertainment portable environment and the like. It is also an aspect of some embodiments to offer a desirable viewing angle and access to all the inputs of a gaming console. It is also an aspect of some embodiments to maximize game console port access, and allow substantial airflow around the game consoles. It is also an aspect of some embodiments to protect the game console vendor warranty by using the game console's power cord and plugging the game console directly into an electrical outlet and not an internal power source onboard the gaming and entertainment environment.

[0020]It is also an aspect of some embodiments to provide a portable gaming and entertainment environment that allows the user to play games or watch movies on his or her game console at virtually any location with a minimum amount of onsite configuration and / or setup. It is also an aspect of some embodiments to provide a portable gaming and entertainment environment that is configured to allow the user to connect the game console to the Internet or in a multi-console configuration to a network environment so he or she may compete against other players utilizing their game console environment no matter where those players are located locally within the same location or globally external to his or her location. It is also an aspect of some embodiments to provide a portable gaming and entertainment environment that generally comprises an easily transportable case which safely and conveniently houses a game console, video device (e.g., a monitor), one or more audio devices, game controllers, one or more game or movie disks, and the various gaming peripherals, wires and / or cables necessary to utilize the game console for playing games or watching movies, all in a manner that protects these components while being transported, stored, and operated.

Problems solved by technology

Although required to utilize the game console and to play games on and / or watch movies therewith, game consoles are generally not sold with any video or audio playing devices.

Although having to provide and connect the game console to separate video and audio devices in order to utilize the game console may be seen as a disadvantage to some, most people who utilize game consoles prefer such an arrangement so they can connect to video and audio devices of their own choosing, typically selecting the best quality of video and audio devices he or she can afford.

One limitation that results from not having video and audio devices fixedly associated with the game console is that playing games or watching movies on the game console requires the user to connect to available and appropriately configured video and audio devices.

This limits the portability of game consoles and sharply contrasts their use with laptop and similar portable computing devices, which have a fixedly attached monitor and speakers.

As well known in the art, many people who play games on game consoles are very serious and competitive with their game play.

Most garners, however, consider the use of split screens to have several important limitations, namely a much smaller visual display of their play (because the screen is split) and the visual distraction which results from having the other player's screens adjacent their own screen.

The smaller visual display generally makes it much more difficult for the player to see the graphics provided by the game, which are usually quite extensive and sophisticated (in fact, represent much of the value of the game console and games), and substantially reduces the player's enjoyment of the game.

Another problem with split screens is that they allow one player to see the screens of his or her competitors, thereby allowing each player to view the movements or other action in a manner that reduces competitive play by eliminating the element of surprise or advantage of personal strategy.

Generally, however, such requirements are impractical and, as a result, very rarely do players get together in this manner.

In fact, most serious gamers utilize video devices that are rather large, somewhat heavy and / or bulky and expensive, making their movement even more impractical.

Even when sized such that they would be relatively easy to move, generally there is no practical manner to move the video device with the game console in a manner that reduces the likelihood of damaging the video device and / or game console.

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