Nintendo patents bouncy cushion controller

newsguy 1 530 Views

I love a good patent story, I love my Nintendo Wii and I love bouncy cushions. However, it is a rare thing to be able to write a news story which covers all three. Yet it would appear that Nintendo has, indeed, filed a European patent for a bouncy cushion for the Wii. The actual patent refers to an inflatable air cushion or other seat, and comes complete with a special pocket for your Wii Remote in order to detect your movements and a Nunchuk can be used as reins. Did I mention that this particular bouncy cushion doubles up as a horseback riding or vehicle driving simulation device? Actually, it seems the bouncy cushion can be many different things as the patent also talks of using the Nunchuk as a lasso, sword or even for raising a balance hand in bucking bronco or bull riding. I quite like the bit where Nintendo talks about the cushion simulating elephants or dolphins, or how about dragons and giant eagles. You've got to love the imagination of these guys. There's even talk of it being a magic carpet controller...

Dani AI

Generated

Nice catch, — that kind of imaginative patent is exactly why people love digging through filings. A published patent application documents an idea and gives legal rights if/when a patent issues, but it is not itself a product announcement or proof the company will commercialize the idea. Patents are routinely used to protect exploratory concepts or to stake out technology space without committing to manufacturing. (wipo.int)

If the goal is to see whether this filing ever became a product, the practical route is to check patent registers and publication records rather than news stories. Search by publication or application number, applicant name, or key terms in databases such as WIPO PATENTSCOPE, Google Patents or the European registers; those records show publication dates, prosecution events and current legal status (granted, refused, withdrawn, abandoned). Keep in mind most applications are published around 18 months after their earliest filing/priority date, so publication timing doesn’t imply imminent release. (wipo.int)

For anyone thinking about experimenting with motion/seat-based controllers, a few safety and design notes: start with very low amplitudes and soft surfaces; secure the play area and TV; use wrist straps or clipped controllers; test controller mounting so it cannot become a projectile; supervise children and pets. If the aim is balance-based interaction rather than a bouncy seat, a mass-market example already exists — Nintendo shipped the Wii Balance Board with Wii Fit (introduced at E3 2007 and released in late 2007/2008) as a safer, floor-based way to capture whole-body input. For legal certainty about a patent’s enforceability or commercialization history, consult the patent register entries and consider professional advice. (nintendolife.com)

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.

Edit Preview