GB2585181A - A two-handed controller stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A two-handed controller stand comprising a body 12 with a coupling element 14, shoulder 16 and two legs (18) extending away from the body. The stand supports the controller in a vertical orientation. The grips of the controller along with the stand bears the weight of the controller equally. The stand body, shoulder and legs can be formed of the same material and/or have a similar depth. The coupling element can have a lug which would engage with a port on the controller. It is preferred that the legs and controller have multiple contact points. The weight distribution that is borne by the stand may be in the range of 40% to 60% of the controller’s weight.

Description

A two-handed controller stand The field of the invention generally is stands for remote controllers which are used to operate games consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox (registered trade marks). Typically such controllers have a body portion having an array of input devices such as buttons and thumb-controlled joysticks. More specifically, for two-handed controllers, the body comprises two grips for a user to hold the controller with both hands and hence they can be referred to as two-handed controllers. The grips extend from opposite sides of the body to provide an ergonomic means for gripping and using the controller while playing a game on an associated games console.

Stands are known for two-handed controllers to enable a user to have a defined storage location for the controller. A problem with known stands for two-handed controllers is that they tend to be bulky and therefore both costly to manufacture and wasteful of fabrication materials. The invention seeks to avoid the use of excess materials in the manufacture of a controller stand while providing an effective means for storing a controller.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a two-handed controller stand (10) for a controller (C) comprising a body (B) having an array of input controls, and a pair of grips (G) extending from the body (B), the grips (G) each having a remote end (E) distal from the body, wherein the stand comprises: a body (12) comprising a coupling element (14) for attaching to the controller (C), a shoulder (16) for abutting the controller (C), and two legs (18) extending from the body (12) each leg (18) having a distal end remote from the body (12) comprising a foot (20) for engaging a surface (S) in use, and wherein; the stand (10) is configured to support the controller (C) in normal use in a substantially vertical orientation with the remote ends (E) of the grips (G) engaging the surface (S) with the centre of gravity of the controller (C) being operably disposed above the remote ends (E) and the feet (20) of each of the legs (18) such that the weight of the controller (C) is borne substantially equally by the stand (10) and the controller (C). In other words, the two-handed controller stand (10) is configured such that in use, when coupled to a controller (C), the controller stands substantially upright on the remote ends (E) with the two-handed controller stand (10) bearing approximately half of the weight of the controller and holding the controller in a stable upright position.

Preferably the weight borne by each of the controller and the stand (10) is in the order of 40% to 60% of the weight of the controller (C), such that if 60% is borne by the controller itself then 40% is borne by the stand and vice versa. Preferably, the range is between about 45% and 55%, and more preferably in the order of 47% to 53% and in some cases substantially half and half (ie about 50% each). Beneficially therefore, the stand (10) does not bear all of the controller weight and the size and mechanical properties of the stand are designed accordingly thereby to minimise material usage and structural size whilst meeting the structural performance requirements. For example, a stand can be made of thermosetting material and be in the order of 5g in weight compared to a controller which might weigh 250g.

According to other features of the invention, the body (12), shoulder (16) and/or legs (18) are formed of the substantially the same material and or have a substantially similar depth and or width, preferably less than about 8mm and more preferably less than about 6mm.

Other features include that: the controller comprises a port, for example a socket for an electrical charging plug, and the coupling element (14) comprises a lug configured to engage with the controller port in use; and or the angle (thetal) subtended at the centre of gravity (cog) of the controller by a line from the cog to the position (P1) of surface contact at the remote grip ends (E) is less than 10 degrees, preferably between about 5-9 degrees and more preferably about 6-7 degrees. Similarly, the angle (theta2) subtended at the centre of gravity (cog) of the controller (C) by a line to the position (P2) of surface contact of the feet (20) of the stand (10) is less than 10 degrees, preferably between about 5-9 degrees and more preferably about 6-7 degrees. In some embodiments the stand is configured such that the angles thetal and theta2 are substantially equal in use, thereby to effect a substantially equal load bearing of the weight of the controller through the controller and the stand (10).

More than one and preferably multiple contacts are made in use between the legs (18) and the controller, thereby to reduce the moment at each of the contact points including the shoulder (16). Beneficially therefore the weight of the controller that is borne by the stand (10) is distributed within the stand (10) and therefore any moment is not as large at the shoulder it it would be if bearing all the necessary weight of the controller at a single higher point in use.

Beneficially the low load bearing nature of the stand (10), while providing a stable upright configuration in use for the controller, enables the stand (10) to be made of minimal materials since only minimal structural integrity need be provided. Additionally, the stand (10) therefore has minimal visual impact in use due to the relative dimensions of the stand (10) versus the controller. The stand (10) is therefore very discreet and can give the controller the appearance that it is actually unsupported, and standing upright of its own accord.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a two-handed controller (C) and stand (10) wherein the controller (C) comprises: a body (B) having an array of input controls, and a pair of grips (G) extending from the body (B), the grips (G) each having a remote end (E) distal from the body, and wherein the stand comprises: a body (12) comprising a coupling element (14) for attaching to the controller (C), a shoulder (16) for abutting the controller (C), and two legs (18) extending from the body (12) each leg (18) having a distal end remote from the body (12) comprising a foot (20) for engaging a surface (S) in use, and wherein; the stand (10) is configured to support the controller (C) in use in a substantially vertical orientation with the remote ends (E) of the grips (G) engaging the surface (S) with the centre of gravity (cog) of the controller (C) being operably disposed above the remote ends (E) and the feet (20) of each of the legs (18) such that the weight of the controller (C) is borne substantially equally by the stand (10) and the controller (C).

A further aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing a stand according to a previous aspect, wherein the method comprises the steps of moulding the whole of the stand from substantially the same material, such a thermoplastics material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a two-handed controller stand according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the stand in figure 1 with sectional view AA through part of the stand; Figure 3 is a plan view from above of the stand in figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the stand in figure 1 with sectional view BB through part of the stand; Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of a stand in use showing the relative load bearing of the components, with Figure 5a inset better to show the geometry and angles; Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view through a controller with the stand in position; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a stand in use supporting a controller.

Referring to figures 1 to 4 there is shown a two-handed controller stand 10 comprising a body 12 having a controller coupling element 14, shoulder 16 and a pair of legs 18. Each leg 18 extends away from the body 12, and is attached to an end of the shoulder 16 remote from body 12. Each leg 18 comprises a foot 20 for engaging a surface in use, and further comprises a lower leg portion 22 and an upper leg portion 24, respectively having lengths 11 and 12.

Body 12 extends from the shoulder 16 and carries at its opposite, lower end a controller coupling element 14 comprising a neck 30 carrying a pair of lugs 32 for engaging in a port(s) or socket(s) in a controller thereby to couple the stand 10 to a controller (C). Other forms of coupling element 14 are possible such as a suction attachment or cooperating hook and loop material components (eg Velcro (trade mark)). However, the structure of the neck 30 and lugs 32 is found to be particularly beneficial in giving a steady engagement which both holds the controller in use while also enabling easy release of the controller.

Sectional views of the lower leg portions 22, upper leg portions 24 and of part of shoulder 16 are shown in section AA comprising a width w1 and a depth dl. Beneficially all of these components (ie lower leg portion 22, upper portion 24 and shoulder 16) have substantially the same cross-sectional dimensions w1 and dl. For example, the depth dl is preferably in the order of 3 to 8 mm and more preferably in the order of 4 to 6 mm. Similarly, the width w1 is in the order of 3 to 10 mm and more preferably 4 to 6 MM.

The body 12 has a depth d2 (see section BB) similar to that of the legs 18 and shoulder 16; a width w2 greater than the width of the legs 18 and shoulder 16; and a length 13 adapted to extend between the shoulder 16 and the neck 30. The length 13 is preferably in the order of 15 to 25 mm and width w2 in the order of 18 to 24 mm. The width w2 is designed to enable the coupling element 14 easily to be formed within the stand 10 through use of a neck or extension plate 30 at the bottom end of a body 12 which neck 30 carries one or more lugs 32 for engaging in a socket on a controller C. The separation of the lugs 32 on neck 30 is intended to align with appropriate sockets or ports in a controller C in use. In another form, the neck 30 carries a single lug (or lip) 36 which extends away from the neck so as also to be able to engage with a socket in a controller C in use.

Beneficially, the stand 10 is made substantially from a single material, such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers. For example stand 10 can be made by injection moulding polyethylene in a mould cavity. Other suitable materials include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polyamide (Nylon (trade mark)).

In some embodiments, the body 12 is adapted to carry printed or other graphical material such as a logo or brand name for example. Also, body can be made wider than shown in the figures with width w2 about the same as length 14 of the shoulder 16.

Referring to figures 5, 6 and 7 different views of stand 10 in use with a controller C are shown. In use the stand 10 is coupled to a controller by engaging the coupling element 14 by inserting lugs 32 into sockets within the controller.

Once coupled to the controller, the stand 10 acts to support the controller C in a substantially vertical orientation where the controller rests in part on the ends E of the hand-grips G. The controller C is supported by stand 10 by abutting a region R1 along the edge of shoulder 16, shown in figure 3. The coupling element 14 can also act to bear some load, and beneficially the coupling element 14 acts to stabilise the stand 10 by being located on the opposite face of the controller C to the region R in use, thereby to help prevent the controller sliding away from the stand 10. The stand 10 acts to transfer a portion of the weight of the controller through abutment with the controller C at R1 (and to some extend coupling element 14) through to a surface engaged by feet 20 at the lower ends of legs 18.

The proportion of the weight borne by the stand 10 is depended on the dimension and configuration of the body 12, shoulder 16 and legs 18. In the present embodiment, the stand 10 acts to hold the controller at a substantially vertical position, wherein the center of gravity (cog) of the controller is displaced only slightly away from the vertical. In the upright vertical position the cog is directly above the point P1 of engagement of the grip G with a surface. The stand 10 provides a second point of engagement P2 with the surface, as shown in figure 6. Beneficially the stand 10 enables the controller to be supported substantially upright and stable position when an theta less than 10 degrees, preferably between 5 and 9 degrees, and more preferably between 6 and 7 degrees is achieved.

More than one abutment region can be provided to engage the controller such as regions R2 at the lower end of the upper leg portions L1 + L2 of legs 18. Beneficially therefore the load of the controller is distributed across a number of points and of the stand 10 thereby to reduce the any bending moment or other forces acting on the stand 10 at any particular point or region. Hence the construction of the stand 10 is able to comprise minimal materials to provide the requisite structural integrity and strength to support the controller. In another form, the stand contours the shape of the controller such that the stand 10 abuts the controller along virtually an entire length between one foot 20 on one leg 18 and the other foot 20 on the other leg 18, via the legs and should 16.

The stand 10 is shown supporting the controller C in figures 5, 6 and 7. The coupling element 14 is not shown in figures 5 and 7 since it has engaged a port on the central underside of the controller C and shoulder 16 abuts a position on the controller substantially adjacent the controller centre of gravity (cog). Figure 6 shows in partial section the relative positions in use of the shoulder 16 (region R1) and coupling element 14 with respect to the cog of the controller C, such that they are on opposite faces of the controller C)that is to the left and right respectively of the cog as shown in figure 6).

Beneficially in use, the controller is held in a substantive vertical orientation shown in figure 5 wherein the centre of gravity (cog) of the controller is displaced by some 7° angle thetal away from the vertical position (normal Nc) directly above point of contact P1 at a surface S at the bottom end of a grip G1 G2 to in this orientation: ie it leans to the left as shown in figure 5 away from the vertical.

Similarly, an angle theta2 is subtended at the centre of gravity (cog) by the position P2 of contact of the foot 20 on surface S (see normal Ns) and the normal from the surface S (Ncog) through the cog (see figures 5 and 5a). The angle theta2 depends on the shape and configuration of the stand 10, which beneficially is designed to put the controller in a stable substantially upright position as shown in the side elevation of figure 5. In a stable position the cog of the controller (when projected normal to the surface S -see normal Ncog in figure 5) is substantially equally between the positions P1 and P2. Thus movement of the controller C to the left or right in figure 5 is resisted by the stand 10 and controller C respectively. Moreover, this configuration means that the weight of the controller borne by the controller itself and the stand 10 is substantially equal. In this configuration the angles thetal and theta2 are substantially equal. In preferred embodiments both thetal and theta2 are less than 10 degrees and more preferably in the order of 7 degrees.

Whilst the above configuration is preferable, it is found that the weight distribution need not be identical and indeed a difference of say 10% of the controller weight W might be borne by either of the controller C or the stand 10 while still allowing the beneficial minimal size of the stand 10. The total weight of the controller W is divided between the controller C (which bears a weight component Wc) and the stand 10 (which bears a weight component Ws), approximately according to the following trigonometric equation: Total Weight W = Wc (cos(theta1) / (cos(theta 1)+cos(theta2)) + Ws (cos(theta2) / (cos(theta1)+cos(theta2)) Equation1 So with thetal equal to theta2 then Wc equals Ws and hence the stand and controller each bear approximately 50% of the total weight of the controller. However, if the angle thetal is 7 degrees and the angle theta2 is 30 degrees then the weight component borne by the controller is 54% and that by the stand 46%.

Beneficially then the controller itself carries approximately about 50% of its own weight through point of contact P1 and the stand 10 carries approximately is 50% of the controller's weight through the foot 20 at the lower end of leg portions L1 of each of the legs 18.

The controller C typically has a weight (with batteries) of about 250g while the stand 10 can have a weight in the order of 5g. As such the stand 10 has insignificant impact on the position of the centre of gravity of the combined system of the controller C and the stand 10 -in effect i tis the same as for the controller C alone. Moreover, any moment created at the point of contact of the shoulder 16 abutting the controller is mitigated by having the abutting position (R1) substantially adjacent the controller cog. Referring to figure 5, the shoulder 16 is not shown since it engages a surface of the controller hidden from view in the side elevation of figure 5 but which is more apparent from figure 6 and 7.

Claims (10)

1. Claims 1. A two-handed controller stand (10) for a controller (C) comprising a body (B) having an array of input controls and a pair of grips (G) extending from the body, the grips (G) each having a remote end (E) distal from the body, wherein the two-handed controller stand (10) comprises: a body (12) comprising a coupling element (14) for attaching to the controller (C), a shoulder (16) for abutting the controller (C), and two legs (18) extending away from from the body, each leg (18) having a distal end remote from the body comprising a foot (20) for engaging a surface in use, and wherein; the stand (10) is configured to support the controller (C) in a substantially vertical orientation with the remote ends (E) of the grips (G) engaging a surface and the centre of gravity of the controller (C) being operably disposed, when supported by the stand (10) in use, above the remote ends (E) and the feet (20) of each of the legs (18) such that the weight of the controller (C) is borne substantially equally by the stand (10) and the controller (C).
2. 2. A stand according to claim 1 wherein the body (12), shoulder (16) and/or legs (18): a. are formed of the same material; and or b. have a substantially similar depth, preferably less than about 8mm and more preferably less than about 6mm.
3. 3. A stand according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the controller comprises a port (for example a socket for an electrical charging plug or a communications port, or a support socket), and the coupling element (14) comprises a lug configured to engage with the controller port in use.
4. 4. A stand according to any preceding claim wherein in use the angle (theta2) subtended at the centre of gravity of the controller by the normal from the surface to the cog and the position (P2) of the point of contact of the foot (20) on the surface is less than 10 degrees, preferably between about 5-9 degrees and more preferably about 6-7 degrees; and or wherein the angle (thetal) subtended at the centre of gravity of the controller by the normal from the surface to the cog and the position (P1) of the point of contact of the remote grip ends (E) on the surface is less than 10 degrees, preferably between about 5-9 degrees and more preferably about 6-7 degrees; and more preferably the angles thetal and theta2 are substantially equal.
5. 5. A stand according to any preceding claim wherein multiple contacts are made in use between the legs (18) and the controller and preferably wherein the contacts are in one or more regions (R1 and R2) across the stand (10).
6. 6. A stand according to any preceding claim wherein the weight borne by each of the controller (C) and the stand (10) is in the order of 40% to 60% of the weight of the controller (C), such that if 60% is borne by the controller itself then 40% is borne by the stand; preferably the ratio is in the range of about 45% and 55%, and more preferably in the order of 47% to 53% and in some cases substantially half and half (ie about 50% each); and in a preferable form the weight distribution conforms substantially to the equation: Total Weight W = We (cos(theta1) / (cos(theta 1)+cos(theta2)) + Ws (cos(theta2) / (cos(theta1)+cos(theta2))
7. 7. A stand according to any preceding claim wherein the the coupling element (14) is adapted to bear some of the weight of the controller (C) in use, and beneficially the coupling element (14) acts to stabilise the stand 10 in use for example by being located on the opposite face of the controller (C) to the shoulder (16) or other weight bearing region (R) in use.
8. 8. A two-handed controller (C) and stand (10) wherein the controller (C) comprises: a body (B) having an array of input controls, and a pair of grips (G) extending from the body (B), the grips (G) each having a remote end (E) distal from the body, and wherein the stand comprises: a body (12) comprising a coupling element (14) for attaching to the controller (C), a shoulder (16) for abutting the controller (C), and two legs (18) extending from the body (12) each leg (18) having a distal end remote from the body (12) comprising a foot (20) for engaging a surface (S) in use, and wherein; the stand (10) is configured to support the controller (C) in a substantially vertical orientation with the remote ends (E) of the grips (G) engaging a surface and the centre of gravity and the centre of gravity of the controller (C) being operably disposed, when supported by the stand (10), above the remote ends (E) and the feet (20) of each of the legs (18) such that the weight of the controller (C) is borne substantially equally by the stand (10) and the controller (C).
9. 9. A two-handed controller (C) and stand (10) according to claim 8 in combination with any feature of any of claims 2 to 7.
10. 10. A method of manufacturing a stand according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the method comprises the steps of moulding the whole of the stand from substantially the same material, such a thermoplastics material.