Ulllted States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`6,153,843
`
`Date et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`*Nov. 28, 2000
`
`US006153843A
`
`[54] HAND HELD CONTROL KEY DEVICE
`INCLUDING MULTIPLE SWITCH
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Toshinori Date, Tokyo, Japan; Johnny
`D_ Couch’ San Jose; Sarah Mason
`.
`.
`.
`R‘°hm°“d> Foster C195 both Of Cahf
`_
`.
`[73] Asslgneei Sega Enterprises: Ltd» T01<Y0> Japan
`
`[ * ] Notice:
`
`Tlhis patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`C aimer.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/851,694
`
`[22]
`
`Ffledi
`
`May 5, 1997
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`442029
`4/1992
`Japan.
`
`.
`.
`Przmary Exam;/1er—J. R. Scott
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Price and Gess
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[60] Division of application No. 08/414,316, Mar. 31, 1995, Pat.
`No. 5,644,113, which is a continuation—in—part of application
`No. 08/367,577, Jan. 3, 1995, abandoned.
`Int. Cl.7 .......................... .. H01H 3/00; H01H 13/70;
`A631: 9/00
`
`[51]
`
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`........................ .. 200/339; 200/5 A; 200/341;
`273/148 B; 463/37; 345/169
`200/5 R 5 A
`[58] Field of Search
`.
`200/6 A’ 512’ 329-345’ 345/156-158’ 160’
`161’ 168’ 169; 364/70901-70916; 273/148 B;
`46336-39
`
`[56]
`
`References Clted
`Us. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`R388
`4,029,915
`4,127,740
`4,469,330
`
`g 2
`ggfiloet al‘ “
`200/5 A
`6/1977 Ojima .......
`200/5 A
`11/1978 Lamarche .
`9/1984 Asher .................................... .. 200/5 A
`
`
`
`A‘{°“”°1'k"Y.deViC‘°: is Pr°Yid‘{d for “S? 3‘? a Controller for
`3 Vldeo game mcludmg 3 dlrectlon Speclfymg key mounted
`on a housing which an operator manipulates to control the
`P1aY.°f. a V1d°° gam‘? where ‘h‘? S“.rfa°‘°* Of Sald d“°°.“°“
`specifying key comprises a combination of concave portions
`to facilitate use of the direction specifying key. The unit
`f
`bl
`.
`hb H
`d
`h
`.
`.
`1 d.
`pre era y comprises a pus
`u on an a ousing inc u ing
`a hole through which the push button protrudes. The housing
`extends along a plane wherein said plane intersects a plane
`perpendicular to an axis of said push button at a predeter-
`mined angle and said plane of said housing also extending
`parallel to a plane defined by the surface of said push button.
`In a preferred embodiment, the push button is mounted in a
`manner such that the push button has a rotation axis and a
`plurality of operating surfaces, Where each of said plurality
`of operating surfaces includes a projection that forms a
`surface perpendicular to the rotational direction defined by
`Sad Mano“ ms‘
`
`6 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`20b
`
`20°
`
`20d
`
`20e
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 001
`
`.................................... .. 200/5 A
`.. 400/485
`
`
`
`
`
`4,687,200
`8/1987 Shirai
`4,778,295
`10/1988 Bleuer
`222222: 11:23 1:61;;
`,
`,
`ica e a.
`21:2: et al‘ ““““““““““““" 6]:
`.................................. ..
`3
`/1995 Matsumiya et al.
`200/6 A
`6/1995 Danziger .. .... ... ...
`... .. 345/168
`6/1996 Lin etal.
`..... .. 341/22
`7/1997 Date et al.
`............................ .. 200/5 R
`
`5,396,030
`,
`,
`5 426 449
`5,528,235
`5,644,113
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 001
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 002
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 002
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 003
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 003
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`F I G. 3
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 004
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 004
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 4 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`§.§
`
`36a
`
`36c
`
`36b
`
`4?"
`
`‘T;
`
`§§
`
`360
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`36b
`
`/‘ 36c
`
`H ,
`
`F I G. 5B
`
`23x
`
`/’
`2Ia
`I’
`23b _)
`f‘\»’/
`K.
`v::9 ‘
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 005
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 005
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 5 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`O O O O O O O O O
`
`FlG.6
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 006
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 006
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 6 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`~67.
`
`nm-_m
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 007
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 007
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 7 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`FlG.8
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 008
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 008
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 8 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`FIG. 9A
`
`FIG. 9B
`
`200
`
`"219
`
`20e
`
`93
`
`98
`
`20b
`
`3-9
`
`20°
`
`20d
`
`20b
`
`20d
`
`20e
`
`20c
`
`F’ G.
`
`P R
`
`A’
`A/—~—/'
`
`-9
`
`H
`‘-
`
`§~ W
`
`FIG. 11
`
`90
`
`33
`
`32
`
`3!
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 009
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 009
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 9 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`NE:
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 010
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 010
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 2000
`
`Sheet 10 0f 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`
`
`FIG. l3F25re
`
`25!
`
`25H
`
`:2
`
`20
`
`2H
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 011
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 011
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 11 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 012
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 012
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 12 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`FlG.l5A
`
`2H
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 013
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 013
`
`

`
`6,153,843
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 014
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 2000
`
`Sheet 14 of 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`FIG.
`
`|7A
`
`_2__|_
`
`25le
`
`5|b
`
`5IQ_
`
`2511'
`
`PI G. ITB
`
`.9;
`
`A
`
`25le
`R
`
`2|!
`
`R
`
`25lf
`
`5Ia
`
`5le
`
`32
`
`’
`
`I2
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 015
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 015
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28,2000
`
`Sheet 15 0f 15
`
`6,153,843
`
`FIG. 18 PRIOR ART
`
`3529
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 016
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 016
`
`

`
`6,153,843
`
`1
`HAND HELD CONTROL KEY DEVICE
`INCLUDING MULTIPLE SWITCH
`ARRANGEMENTS
`
`This Application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser.
`No. 08/414,316, filed on Mar. 31, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No.
`5,644,113, which is a continuation-in-part of abandoned
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/367,577, for a CON-
`TROL KEY DEVICE filed on Jan. 3, 1995 abandoned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION,
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a control-key device, and
`in particular, to a control-key device, to be used by a single
`person having the control-key device with the person’s two
`hands. The control-key device has many operating buttons
`which can be manipulated by a total of four fingers consist-
`ing of the forefingers and thumbs of the person.
`2. Prior Art
`
`in a television game machine or in a
`Conventionally,
`portable electronic game machine using a liquid crystal
`display plate, a control-key device having a direction speci-
`fying key is used. The direction specifying key is used to
`specify a direction along which a character moves. The
`character is realized by the television game machine or the
`portable electronic game machine can represent a human
`being or the like. Recently, a control-key device has, in
`addition to the direction specifying key, a plurality of
`buttons to be used for an operator’s input of various com-
`mands into the game machine, the commands being required
`in the progress of the game.
`An example of such control-key devices in the prior art is
`an operating device 300 for a game machine shown in FIG.
`18 as described in Japanese Utility-Model Laid-Open Appli-
`cation No. 4-42029. The operating device 300 has a first
`operating unit 310, four second operating units 320, two
`third operating units, and two fourth operating units 330.
`The above-mentioned two third operating units are provided
`on a rear surface of the operating device respectively, and
`thus are not shown in the figure. An operator holds this
`operating device using two hands, and manipulates the first
`operating unit 310 and the left one of the two fourth
`operating units 330 using the thumb of the left hand, the left
`one of the two third operating units using the forefinger
`thereof, the right one of the two third operating units using
`the forefinger of the right hand, the four second operating
`units 320 and the right one of the two fourth operating units
`330 using the thumb thereof.
`However, a control-key device in the related art such as
`the operating device 300 has a plane configuration. Such a
`plane configuration of a control-key device is not always the
`best for the hands of an operator who is operating the
`control-key device. The operator is holding the control-key.
`That is, in a control-key device having such a configuration,
`if an operator attempts to hold the control-key device using
`two hands and continuously manipulates operating units
`such as buttons and the direction specifying key provided on
`the device using the thumbs and forefingers for a long time,
`the hands are likely to become tired.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention discloses a control-key device or
`controller for a video game machine that can be conve-
`niently operated by both hands of an operator. Ahousing has
`an upper surface of a spherical configuration with an
`
`2
`approximately circular outer perimeter along a significant
`portion of the housing to permit contact with the respective
`fingers and palms of each of the operator’s hands. Abottom
`outer perimeter is indented, while the lower surface has
`separate right and left convex sections extending,
`respectively, inwardly from the circular outer perimeter and
`terminating on a flat lower surface to permit the respective
`middle and second to last fingers of the respective operator’s
`hands to hold the lower surface of the housing. The com-
`bination of the spherical upper surface and the convex lower
`surfaces provide obovoid hand grip configurations that natu-
`rally position the operator’s fingers in a comfortable state.
`The respective middle and second to last fingers of the
`respective operator’s hands can grasp the lower surface of
`the housing. A first control button, such as a directional key
`or button, can be formed on one side of the upper surface of
`the housing in a slight concave portion. Aplurality of second
`control buttons can be mounted on the other side of the
`
`upper surface of the housing on a slight concave portion so
`that the respective right and left thumb of the operator can
`manipulate these control buttons. A start control button can
`be positioned between these thumb-controlled keys or but-
`tons. The circular outer perimeter can also incorporate an
`L-shaped pivoting switch member on either side of the
`housing in a position to be readily activated by the respective
`forefingers of the operator. The pivoting switch members
`can have an L-shaped configuration so that they extend
`along the circular outer perimeter in a traverse direction to
`the spherical upper surface and then extend across the upper
`surface in a complementary fashion whereby the operator
`can activate these switches with either of the forefinger or
`the thumb. The housing component parts can be molded
`from a plastic material and can integrally include substrate
`supporting posts and guide members for the insertion of
`control buttons. Electrical contact pad circuit substrates can
`be mounted so that they can be bent within the housing and
`can be matched with rubber electric contact pads, which can
`be controlled by the respective directional key and operator
`push buttons. The arrangement of the parts are created to
`minimize any mold shrinkage problems and to accommo-
`date the curvilinear configuration of the controller of the
`present invention.
`Other objects and further features of the present invention
`will become more apparent as a result preferred embodi-
`ments being described with reference to the accompanying
`drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF show an outward form
`of a control-key device in a first embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 shows a state in which the control-key device
`shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF is manipulated;
`FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the control-
`key device shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1;
`FIGS. 4A and 4B show shapes of button guiding portions
`of the control-key device shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D,
`1E, and IF;
`FIGS. 5A and 5B show positions at-which rotation pre-
`venting portions are provided in the control-key device
`shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF;
`FIG. 6 shows circuit substrates of the control-key device
`shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF;
`FIG. 7 shows a state of the circuit substrates in the
`
`control-key device shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and
`IF;
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 017
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 017
`
`

`
`6,153,843
`
`3
`FIG. 8 shows the inside of a bottom case of the control-
`
`key device shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF;
`FIG. 9A and 9B show a shape of a manipulating surface
`of a direction specifying key of the control-key key device
`shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF;
`FIG. 10 shows a shape of a manipulating surface and a
`manner of operation of an L button the control-key device
`shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF;
`FIG. 11 shows a structure of a connecting member for
`temporarily fixing A, B and C buttons in the control-key
`device shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF;
`FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a basic
`structure of a control-key device in a second embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, and 13F show an
`outward form of a control-key device in a third embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 14 shows an exploded perspective view of the
`control-key device shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D,
`13E, and 13F;
`FIG. 15A shows a plan view of a surface, to be fitted into
`an inner surface of a top case, of a supporting plate used in
`the control-key device shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D,
`13E, and 13F;
`FIG. 15B shows a side elevational sectional view along a
`line B—B of FIG. 15A, showing a state in which the
`supporting-plate of FIG. 15A has been fitted into the top
`case;
`
`FIG. 16 shows positions at which rotation preventing
`portions are provided in the control-key device shown in
`FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, and 13F;
`FIG. 17A shows a front view of an L button in the
`
`control-key device shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D,
`13E, and 13F;
`FIG. 17B shows a side elevational view of the L button of
`
`FIG. 17A, showing a state in which it has been incorporated
`into the device; and
`FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of an operating device
`in one example of the related art.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`With reference to figures, a control-key device in a first
`embodiment of the present invention will now be described.
`FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and IF shows the control-key
`device 10 in a first embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 1A shows a plan view, FIG. 1B shows a bottom view,
`FIG. 1C shows a rear view obtained as a result of viewing
`along a direction C of FIG. 1A, FIG. 1D shows a front view
`obtained as a result of viewing along a direction D of FIG.
`1A, FIG. 1E shows a right side elevational view obtained as
`a result of viewing along a direction E of FIG. 1A, and FIG.
`1F shows a left side elevational view obtained as a result of
`
`viewing along a direction F of FIG. 1A. Further, FIG. 2
`shows a state in which an operator is holding the control-key
`device 10 using two hands of the operator.
`The control-key device 10 has a top case 11 and a bottom
`case 12. As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, the entirety of the
`control-key device 10 is curved so that bottom case 12 may
`be located at a side of the curving center. Further, left and
`right sides of the bottom case 12 project gently. The thus-
`projecting portions will be referred to as projecting portions
`12a and 12b, hereinafter. The curved shape of the top and
`bottom cases 11 and 12 including the projecting portions 12a
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`and 12b is a shape that an operator can easily hold using two
`hands as shown in FIG. 2 so that fingers and the finger base
`portions of the palms cover the device.
`The housing has a circular outer perimeter for contact
`with the operator’s hands while the upper housing surface is
`approximately spherical and the lower surface has convex
`portions to simulate with the upper surface a pair of approxi-
`mately obovoid shapes to fit within the operator’s fingers on
`either hand.
`
`Dimensions of the control-key device 10 are optimized to
`be held by the two hands. The top and bottom cases 11 and
`12 are made from ABS resin and formed in a resin molding
`method. However, the material thereof is not limited to the
`ABS resin.
`
`As shown in FIG. 1A, a direction specifying key 20 is
`provided at the left side on the top surface of the top case 11,
`and a total of 6 buttons, an Abutton 31, a B button 32, a C
`button 33, an X button 41, a Y button 42, a Z button 43 are
`provided at
`the right side. Further, a start button 60 is
`provided at the middle on the top surface of the top case.
`Further, an L button 51, and an R button 52 are provided at
`the left and right on the rear surface. However, the number
`of buttons are not limited to the above-mentioned A, B, C,
`X, Y, and Z buttons, and also the number of buttons to be
`provided is not limited to 6.
`The direction specifying key 20 is, as described above,
`used for a purpose such as that of specifying directions along
`which a character such as a simulated human being or the
`like moves in a game realized by a game machine having the
`control-key device 10. The other buttons 31, 32, 33, 41, 42,
`43, 51, 52 and 60 are means for inputting various commands
`regarding progress of the game.
`As shown in FIG. 2, the direction specifying key 20 is
`manipulated using the thumb of the left hand, and the A, B,
`C, X, Y and Z six buttons 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, and 43 are
`manipulated using the thumb of the right hand. The start
`button 69 is manipulated using a thumb of either one of the
`left and right hands. Further, the L button 51 and R button
`52 are manipulated using the forefingers of the left and right
`hands. Positions of these key and buttons are determined,
`combined with the shape of the whole control-key device 10,
`such that the manipulating thumbs and fingers are easily
`placed on the positions when the two hands are used for
`holding the control-key device 10 as shown in FIG. 2.
`Therefore, the hands of an operator may not be tired even if
`the operator continuously manipulates each key and button
`for a long time.
`FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the control-
`key device 10. In the figure, for the sake of convenience in
`description,
`the control-key device 10 is disposed in a
`manner in which the bottom case 12 is located at the top.
`Each of the buttons 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, and 43 having an
`approximately cylindrical shape is inserted into a respective
`one of button guiding portions 36, 37, 38, 46, 47 and 48 from
`the inside of the top case 11. These button guiding portions
`36 through 38 and 46 through 48 have inner walls having
`approximately cylindrical shapes which have inner diam-
`eters slightly larger than outer diameters of the cylindrical
`shapes of the relevant buttons. The button guiding portions
`are in a unit together with the top case 10, and are molded
`at the same time the top case 11 is molded. That is, the button
`guiding portions and the top case 11 are molded in an
`integral molding method and thus they are in a unit without
`requiring or connection with one another after being
`molded.
`
`Although the integral molding has been described above,
`only the button guiding portions may be separated bodies for
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 018
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 018
`
`

`
`6,153,843
`
`5
`the sake of simplicity of metal mold manufacturing. In this
`case, each of the six button guiding portions is formed as a
`result of integrally molding a cylindrical body portion and a
`mounting portion constituting a surface extending along the
`inner surface of the top case. The mounting portion is
`provided with a plurality of openings. The inner surface of
`the top case which is integrally molded in a state without
`these guiding portions is provided with a plurality of
`approximately vertically projecting bosses at predetermined
`positions on the inner surface thereof, which bosses are
`suitable for the above-mentioned openings of the mounting
`portions. The six button guiding portions are mounted on the
`inner surface of the top case as a result of these bosses being
`inserted into the openings of the mounting portions respec-
`tively.
`The direction specifying key 20 having an approximately
`cross shape is linked with a rubber push member 21 in a
`mutual center axis via a through hole 23a formed in the top
`case 11. Movement of the direction specifying key 20 which
`was thus provided outside the top case 11 is communicate to
`the rubber push member 21 located inside the top case 11.
`The inside of the top case 11 is provided with a cylindrical
`control wall 23d which controls movement of the rubber
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`push member 21. Further, rotation preventing portions 23b
`and 23c are provided at the top left part in FIG. 3 of the
`inside of the control wall 23d. These control wall 23d and
`
`25
`
`rotation preventing portions 23b and 23c are in a unit
`together with the top case 11, and are molded at the same
`time as the time the top case is molded. That is, the control
`wall 23d and rotation preventing portions 23b and 23c and
`top case 11 are molded in an integral molding method and
`thus they are in a unit without connecting with one another
`after being molded.
`Further, the start button 60 is inserted into a through hole
`61 formed in the top case 11 from the inside of the top case
`11.
`
`Each of shaft portions 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b of the left and
`right L button 51 and R button 52 is fitted into a respective
`one of bearing portions 5ic, 51d, 52c, 52d provided on an
`inner wall surface of the top case 11. Each of the buttons 51
`and 52 is fitted into a respective one of cut-out portions 56
`and 57 provided in the top case 11. The above-mentioned
`bearing portions 51c, 51d, 52c and 52d are in a unit together
`with the top case 11 and are molded at the same time the top
`case is molded. That is, the bearing portions and the top case
`11 are molded in an integral molding method and thus they
`are in a unit without connecting with one another after being
`molded.
`
`A a six point rubber contact member 70 is placed on, in
`FIG. 3, each of the above-mentioned A, B, C, X, Y, Z buttons
`31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43. Further, a four point rubber contact
`member 22 is placed on the rubber push member 21. An
`electrical conductive member is provided on a top surface,
`in FIG. 3, of each of contact portions 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76,
`and 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d of these rubber contact members. The
`other portions of these rubber contact members 70 and 22
`are made from insulating rubber. The above-mentioned top
`surfaces of the contact portions 71 through 76 and 22a, 22b,
`2c, 22d of these rubber contact members 70, 22 are dented
`downward in FIG. 3. Corresponding bottom surfaces project
`downward. These projecting portions come into contact with
`respective buttons 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, and come into
`contact with respective extending portions 21a, 21b, 21c,
`21d, extending in a cross shape, of the rubber push member
`21.
`
`The above-mentioned dented and projecting configura-
`tions are formed by the rubber materials of the rubber
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`contact members 70, 22, and thus can be deformed elasti-
`cally. A shape of each of these dented, projecting configu-
`rations is elastically changed in response to upward move-
`ment of a respective one of the buttons 31, 32, 33, 41, 42,
`43 and the extending portions 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d of the
`rubber push member 21, as a result of being manipulated by
`an operator. By such elastic form changing, a corresponding
`contact portion of the contact portions 71 through 76, 22a,
`22b, 22c, 22a’ is upwardly moved, and a corresponding
`contact pair, provided on circuit substrates 81, 83, (shown as
`a bottom surface in FIG. 3) are electrically connected. The
`respective contact pairs 81-8a, 81-lb, 81-2a, 81-2b, 81-3a,
`81-3b, 81-4a, 81-4b, 81-5a, 81-5b, 81-6a, 81 -6b, and 83-aa,
`83-ad, 83-ba, 83-bb, 83-ca 83-cb, 83-da, 83-db, are shown
`in FIG. 6) is short-circuited. These contact pairs are con-
`nected to a game machine via a cable 86 and a plug 88, and,
`by short-circuiting of a contact pair, a predetermined signal
`is given to the game machine.
`A similar rubber contact member 63 is provided at the top
`end, in FIG. 3, of the start button 60, and similarly to the
`above-mentioned situation, a contact portion 62 of an elec-
`trical conductive material short-circuits a corresponding
`contact pair, provided on a circuit substrate 82, (82a, 82b
`shown in FIG. 6), in response to upward movement, in FIG.
`3, of the start button 60 as a result of being manipulated by
`the operator.
`The shapes of the button guiding portions 36, 37, 38, 46,
`47, 48 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4A and
`4B.
`
`FIG. 4A shows a plan view of the button guiding portion
`36, and FIG. 4B shows a longitudinal sectional view along
`a B—B line of FIG. 4A thereof. Because the other button
`
`guiding portions 37, 38, 39, 46, 47, 48 have shapes similar
`to the shape of the button guiding portions 36 shown in
`FIGS. 4A and 4B, description thereof is omitted.
`The button guiding portion 36 includes a through hole 36c
`passing through the top case 11, and a first wall 36a and a
`second wall projecting from the inner wall surface of the top
`case 11. Because the entirety of the control-key device has
`a curved shape, a portion of the top case in which the button
`guiding portion 36 is formed is inclined right-side down as
`shown in FIG. 4B. The first wall 36a constitutes an approxi-
`mate left half circumference of a cylinder in FIGS. 4A and
`4B. The second wall 36b constitutes an approximate right
`half circumference. The first wall 36a extends approxi-
`mately perpendicular to a portion of the top case in which
`the button guiding portion is formed, that is, approximately
`along a direction X of FIG. 4B. An inner wall surface of the
`second wall 36b also extends approximately along the
`direction X of FIG. 4B. Because of this inner wall surface of
`each of the first and second walls 36a and 36b, movement
`of the button 31 along the direction X is guided. All outer
`wall surface of the second wall 36b extends along a direction
`slightly leftwardly inclined from the vertical direction of
`FIG. 4B. By applying these configurations, a mold can be
`removed when the top case 11 including the button guiding
`portion 36 is molded. The mold used in the molding work is
`removed along the vertical direction in FIG. 4B.
`Acase where the outer wall surface of the second wall 36b
`
`extends in parallel to its inner wall surface, that is, along the
`direction X will now be considered. In this case, a portion of
`an upper mold which corresponds to the outer wall surface
`of the second wall 36b comes into the outer wall surface of
`
`the second wall 36b and this portion cannot be removed
`upward. In order to enable a mold to be removed in a
`molding work, it is necessary to apply a sectional shape such
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 019
`
`PETITIONER VALVE CORPORATION, EX. 1005 p. 019
`
`

`
`6,153,843
`
`7
`as that shown in FIG. 4B to the second wall 36b. This
`condition is required for the following reason: The inner
`wall surface of the second wall 36b is a right wall, in FIGS.
`4A and 4B, of the button guiding portion 36 having the
`approximately cylindrical shape, that is, a wall of a lower
`side in the inclination of the top case 11.
`Areason why it is necessary to divide the second wall 36b
`in top and bottom directions of FIG. 4A will now be
`described. Generally speaking, in a resin molding process, it
`is necessary to make a wall thickness to be approximately
`uniform. This is because, if a wall thickness is not uniform,
`a shrinkage amount of a resin is uniform when the molded
`resin is cooled in the molding process. As a result, it is likely
`that the molded shape may be deformed in the cooling
`process. This is because a shrinkage rate is constant inde-
`pendently of a wall thickness and thus a shrinkage amount
`in a thick portion is larger than a shrinkage amount in a thin
`portion.
`In order
`to prevent such deformation from
`occurring, it is necessary to make a wall thickness of a shape
`to be molded to be uniform. Further, it is necessary to apply
`a shape such as that shown in FIG. 4B to a sectional shape
`of the second wall 36b so that the button 31 may be guided
`along the direction X as mentioned above. If the second wall
`36b is not divided, a wall thickness of the second wall 36b
`is thicker than a wall thickness of another portion. In order
`to prevent such a situation, the second wall 36b is divided
`into a plurality of divisions as shown in FIG. 4A so that a
`wall thickness of each division is equal to a wall thickness
`of another portion.
`With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, positions of rotation
`preventing portions 23b and 23c of the rubber push member
`21 will now be described. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the
`
`rubber push member 21 has been fitted to the control wall
`23d and the rotation preventing portions 23b and 23c. The
`control wall 23d and the rotation preventing portions 23b
`and 23c are provided along an inclination surface, of the top
`case 11, resulting from the above-mentioned general curved
`shape of the control-key device 10. An inclination direction
`of the above-mentioned inclination surface is shown by an
`arrow G in FIG. 5A, the inclination being from an upper side
`to a lower side along the direction G. As shown in FIG. 3,
`the top case is placed in a manner in which the rear surface
`of the top case faces upward.
`FIG. 5B shows a longitudinal sectional view of the
`rotation preventing portion 23b taken along a line B—B of
`FIG. 5A. As shown in FIG. 5B, a left side wall surface, in
`the figure, of the rotation preventing portion 23b extends
`along an approximately vertical direction of the figure, and
`the right side wall surface (an wall surface adjacent to the
`extending portion 21a of the rubber push member 21)
`extends approximately perpendicular to a portion, shown in
`the figure, of the inner wall surface of the top case 11.
`Because the left side wall surface (a wall surface at the side
`reverse to the extending portion 21a of the rubber push
`member 21) thus extends along an approximately vertical
`direction of FIG. 5B, an upper mold can be removed upward
`of the figure (vertically upward in FIG. 5B) when the top
`case 11 including the rotation preventing portion 23b is
`molded in a resin molding process. The direction in which
`a mold is removed in the resin molding process is referred
`to as a mold removing direction. Further, because the right
`side wall surface of the rotation preventing portion 23b
`extends approximately perpendicular to the inner wall sur-
`face of the top case 11, the rotation preventing portion 23b
`can perform a desired function of preventing the rubber push
`member 21 from being rotated and also of allowing a
`movement, of the rubber push member 21, perpendicular to
`the inner wall surface of the top case 11.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`Such a configuration can be realized as a result of the
`rotation preventing member 23b is provided at the left side,
`in FIG. 5B, of the extending portion 21a of the rubber push
`member 21, that is, the lower side in the inclination surface
`of the top case 11. A case where, contrarily to this, such a
`rotation preventing portion is provided in a position shown
`in a broken line shown in the figure, that is, the right side,
`in the figure, of the extending portion 21a, that is, at the
`higher side in the inclination surface of the top case 11 will
`now be considered. It is necessary that the left side wall
`surface (a wall surface adjacent to the extending portion 21a
`of the rubber push member 21) of this rotation preventing
`portion 23x shown by the broken line extends approximately
`perpendicular to the inner wall surface of the top case 11 so
`as to perform the above-mentioned function of the rotation
`preventing member. When it is attempted that such a rotation
`preventing portion 23x is molded in a resin molding process,
`the left side wall surface,
`in the figure, of this rotation
`preventing portion 23x comes into contact with a corre-
`sponding portion of a mold so that the upper mold cannot be
`removed upward. In order to prevent such a situation from
`occurring, the rotation preventing portions are provided at
`the lower sides, in the inclination surface of the top case 11,
`of the extending portions 23a and 21d, respectively.
`Similar explanation can be used for the other rotation
`preventing portion 23c, and thus the explanation