GB2610797A

GB2610797A - Grip for a hand-operated device

Info

Publication number: GB2610797A
Application number: GB2110193.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Coombes Samuel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-07-15
Filing date: 2021-07-15
Publication date: 2023-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2041-07-15
Also published as: GB2610797B; GB202110193D0

Abstract

A grip 11R for a hand-operated electronic device 10, such as a video game controller, the grip comprising a thermoplastic outer layer 12. The grip may comprise an inner layer 13 that contacts the surface of the device, this inner layer may comprise an elastic material. The grip may comprise a sleeve with an open end and an opposite closed end. The grip may comprise a pair of grips for the left and right hands. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a grip comprising moulding the thermoplastic layer. The outer layer may be over moulded over the inner layer of elastic material. Also disclosed is a glove comprising a textured outer surface. Also disclosed is a stand configured to support the grip in an upright position when it is on the device.

Description

GRIP FORA HAND-OPERATED DEVICE

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a grip for a hand-operated device, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a grip for a hand-operated electronic device, such as a games console controller.

Background

Hand-operated devices such as games console controllers, smartphones, computer mice, steering wheels and joysticks are a large part of everyday life for many people and especially gainers. These devices are usually designed to accommodate a large range of hand sizes and shapes, for example, they may be designed to be usable by those with hand sizes between the 5t1 and 95th percentile of the population.

These hand-operated devices are often used for extended periods of time and/or for a significant cumulative time. As a result, overuse injuries such as carpel tunnel syndrome are becoming more common, especially in garners. Hand cramp and fatigue are also common problems in people who spend a large amount of time using a hand-operated device.

Summary

There is provided a grip for a hand-operated device, the grip comprising a thermoplastic outer layer.

The thermoplastic outer layer of the grip can be softened by heat. Once on the hand-operated device, a user can hold the grip to mould the layer to conform to the user's hand.

The thermoplastic outer layer can then be cooled and retains its moulded shape so that the outer layer is shaped to match the size, shape and contours of the user's hand.

Using the grip of the invention, a generic controller can be quickly and easily improved to have a personalised shape that increases usability and reduces risk of injury. The personalised shape and contours of the grip increases the ergonomic quality of usage of the hand-operated device and increases the user's control over the hand-operated device.

Further, due to the conforming shape of the outer layer, hand cramp, hand fatigue and risk of overuse injuries are all reduced.

The grip may have an inner surface for contacting the hand-operated device. The inner surface may be shaped and sized to correspond to an outer surface of the hand-operated device. The inner surface may be elastically stretchable to the shape and size of the outer surface of the hand-operated device.

The thermoplastic outer layer may comprise thermoplastic pellets such as Polymorph or EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate). The outer layer may be formed of a composite of materials. 15 The thermoplastic outer layer may have a melting and/or softening point of between 40 and 80 degrees Celsius, or between 50 and 70 degrees Celsius, for example, 62 degrees Celsius. In this way, the melting point is higher than the temperature that the grip may reach during use of the hand-operated device, due to the heat of the device and the heat of the user, so the thermoplastic outer layer will hold its shape rather than be softened and remoulded during use. The melting point is also low enough that the thermoplastic outer layer may be easily and safely heated at home and the user may safely use their hands to grip the layer while it is soft to mould the layer without the risk of burns. These temperatures may be reached using a household hairdryer or heat gun, making the grip accessible without the need for speciality equipment.

The outer layer may be translucent or transparent when melted. The outer layer may be opaque when set. In this way, the user may easily see that the outer layer is melted and ready for moulding by virtue of being able to see through it. Equally, the user can see when the outer layer is set and ready for use as they can no longer see through the outer layer.

The grip may be between lmm and 20mm in thickness. In this application, thickness is measured from an inner surface of the grip, the inner surface being for contacting the hand-operated device, to an outer surface of the grip for contacting the hand of the user, in a direction normal to the inner surface. The thickness of the grip may vary across the grip within the range of lmm to 20mm.

The grip may further comprise an inner layer, wherein the inner layer has an inner surface for contacting the hand-operated device and an outer surface in contact with the outer layer.

The inner layer may comprise an elastic material, such as TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) and/or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). The elastic nature of the inner layer assists in holding the grip on the hand-operated device. Further, the elastic nature of the inner layer may mean that no adhesive is needed to retain the grip on the hand operated device. Thus, when the product needs to be removed, or used on another hand-operated device, the product can be pulled away from the controllers handles easily leaving no residue. The inner surface of the inner layer may be elastically stretchable to the shape and size of the outer surface of the hand-operated device.

The outer surface of the inner layer may comprise a raised pattern and/or indentations.

The raised pattern and/or indentations provide greater surface area and a mechanical key which assists in retaining the thermoplastic outer layer on the inner layer. The raised pattern and/or indentations may be a hexagonal pattern, a cross-hatched pattern, or a pattern of symbols. The symbols may be triangles and/or circles and/or squares and/or x-shapes. The raised pattern and/or indentations may be repeating. The raised pattern and/or indentations may be coloured.

Alternatively, the outer surface of the inner layer may be smooth. This allows the inner layer to be thinner, which may make the grip more comfortable for those with small hands and/or a narrow grip.

When the outer layer is heated and becomes translucent or transparent, the outer surface of the inner layer will be visible to the user. The raised pattern and/or indentations act as another visual indicator to the user of the softened or set state of the outer layer.

The inner layer may be a different colour to the outer layer. This increases the visual indicator to the user of the status of the outer layer as they will see the grip change colour when the outer layer melts to reveal the colour of the inner layer.

The inner layer may be injection moulded.

The hand-operated device may be a hand-operated electronic device, such as a games console controller, a handheld games console, a smartphone, a RC controller for controlling a remote-controlled vehicle, a remote controller such as a TV remote, a computer mouse, or another computer controller. Alternatively, the hand-operated device may be non-electronic, such as a pen.

The games console controller or computer controller may be a steering wheel or a joystick. The games console controller may be a PlayStation controller, such as a PS5 controller or a PS4 controller. The PlayStation controller may be a Dual Sense controller or a Dualshock wireless controller. The games console controller may be an Xbox controller, such as, an Xbox wireless controller, which may be used to control an Xbox One series S, Xbox One Series X, Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X console. The games console controller may be a Wii Remote, a Wiimote, or a Wii Nunchuck. The games console controller may be a Joy-Con controller for a Nintendo switch or may be any other games console controller. The games console may be a Nintendo DS or a Gameboy. The controller may be hand-held or may be self-supporting for example, by being free standing, or damnable to a table.

The grip may form a sleeve. The sleeve may have an open end and may have an opposing closed end. The open end of the sleeve may be slid over a handle region of the hand-operated device and the elastic nature of the inner layer may cause the grip to constrict around the handle to retain its position on the handle.

The sleeve may have a longitudinal axis extending through the centre of the sleeve, from the centre of a first end to the centre of a second end, the second end opposing the first end. An internal cross-section of the sleeve is the area inside the sleeve, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Where the grip has an inner layer, the area inside the sleeve is the area inside the inner layer. The internal cross-section of the sleeve may vary in shape and/or size along the axis. The longitudinal axis of the sleeve may be curved. The first end may be an open or closed end and the second end may be an open or closed end.

The length of the sleeve may be measured along the longitudinal axis, from the first end to the second end. The width of the sleeve may be measured from the outer surface of the outer layer, through the outer layer and inner layer, if present, across the internal cross-section, through the inner layer, if present, and through the outer layer to the outer surface. In other words, the width of the sleeve may be measured from the outer surface of the outer layer on one side of the sleeve to the outer surface of the outer layer on an opposite side of the sleeve.

The width of the sleeve may be between 4 and 6cm, preferably Scm to one significant figure. The length of the sleeve may be between 6 and 10cm, preferably 8cm to one significant figure. These sizes are merely examples, and the width, length and shape of the grip may be selected depending on the hand-operated device. For example, the length and internal cross-section of the sleeve may match the length and outer cross-section of a handle region of the hand-operated device.

The inner layer may comprise a collar which extends away from the inner surface at the open end of the sleeve. The collar may extend entirely around the open end of the sleeve.

The collar may help to ensure that the thermoplastic outer layer remains on the inner layer when softened and moulded by the user. The collar may also be held by the user when pulling the grip onto the hand-operated device. Further, the collar may display information about the grip, such as a logo and/or model and/or melting temperature of the outer layer.

Where a grip has two open ends, the inner layer may comprise a collar at each of the open ends. This may be the case, for example, on a steering wheel.

The inner layer may comprise a ridge which extends away from the inner surface at the closed end of the sleeve. The ridge may extend entirely around the closed end of the sleeve. The ridge may help to ensure that the thermoplastic outer layer remains on the inner layer when softened and moulded by the user and cannot slide off the sleeve at the closed end.

The ridge may extend between 2mm and 6mm, preferably 4mm, in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve.

The collar and/or the ridge may extend away from the inner surface of the inner layer by a greater distance than the raised pattern.

Thus, the outer layer may be retained on the outer surface of the inner layer between the collar and the ridge.

The grip may be shaped to correspond to a handle region of the hand-operated device. For example, the grip may be shaped to correspond to a handle of a games console controller or a wheel of a steering wheel, or the rim of a smartphone. An inner surface of the grip for contacting the hand-operated device may match a shape and size of a handle region of the hand-operated device.

Where the hand-operated device is a games console controller, the grip may have a front region, shaped and sized to match the front of a handle of the controller, and a back region, shaped and sized to match the back of the handle of the controller.

In this application, as is the normal meaning in the art, the front of a controller is the side which faces the user when they are using the controller and the back of the controller faces away from the user when they use the controller. The controller may comprise a controller body including one or more joysticks, directional buttons and/or other buttons, a left handle and a right handle, each handle extending away from its respective side of the controller body. The joysticks, directional buttons and/or other buttons are generally on the front side of the controller, on the controller body, although other buttons, such as triggers, may be positioned on other sides of the controller, for example the top in the case of triggers. The bottom region of a controller is the end of the handles that are farthest from the controller body and the top is the opposite side of the controller body to the handles.

The back region of the grip may have a length of at least 7cm, preferably at least 8cm. This allows the user to mould the outer layer with three fingers of their hand.

The closed end of the grip may match the shape of the terminal end of the handle and the open end of the grip may match the shape of the handle proximal the controller body.

There is further provided a pair of grips as described above. The pair of grips may comprise a left-hand grip and a right-hand grip. The left-hand grip and the right-hand grip may each have inner layers shaped to conform to the left handle and right handle respectively of the hand-operated device.

There is further provided a hand-operated device and a grip as described above.

There is further provided a kit comprising a grip as described above, and a glove. There is further provided a kit comprising a hand-operated device and grip as described above, and a glove.

The kit(s) may comprise a pair of gloves. Each of the glove(s) may be a vinyl glove. Each of the glove(s) may comprise a textured outer surface. In this way, the user may wear the glove(s) while moulding the outer layer and thereby impart a texture to the outer layer. This reduces the risk of the grip and the hand-operated device sliding out of the user's hand.

There is further provided a kit comprising a grip as described above, and a stand configured to support the grip. There is further provided a kit comprising a hand-operated device and grip as described above, and a stand configured to support the grip. In this way, the user may heat the grip while it is supported in the stand, thereby keeping their hands safely away from the heat source. The stand may be configured to support the grip in an upright position, either while the grip is on the hand-operated device or separate from the hand-operated device.

The stand may be an inner layer of a packaging box.

There is further provided a method of manufacturing a grip for a hand-operated device, the method comprising: moulding a thermoplastic material to form a thermoplastic outer layer.

The method may further comprise: forming an inner layer from an elastic material such as TPE or TPU, optionally by injection moulding. The method may further comprise, during injection moulding of the inner layer, over-moulding a layer of the thermoplastic material on the outer surface of the inner layer, to form the thermoplastic outer layer. The method may further comprise using a mould with a surface that is the same shape and size as a surface of the hand-operated device.

The method of manufacturing may be a method of manufacturing a grip as described above.

There is further provided a method of shaping a grip as described above, the method comprising: heating the grip until the thermoplastic outer layer is softened, pressing, by the user, the user's hand into the thermoplastic outer layer to shape the outer layer to the user's hand, cool the grip until the thermoplastic outer layer is set.

The outer layer may be transparent or translucent when softened and heating the grip may comprise heating the grip until the inner layer is visible through the outer layer. Where there is a pattern on the inner layer, such as a hexagonal pattern, heating the grip may comprise heating the grip until the hexagonal pattern is visible through the outer layer. Heating the grip may comprise heating the grip for between 1 and 3 minutes. Heating the grip may include using a hairdryer or heat gun to heat the grip.

The method may further comprise waiting 15 seconds after heating the grip and before holding the grip. This may allow the outer layer to cool slightly. This may prevent the grip sticking to the user's hand and/or burning the user's hand.

Holding the grip may comprise the user pressing their hand into the outer layer for 30 seconds. This helps to ensure the shape of the hand is properly transferred to the outer layer.

S

Cooling the grip may comprise leaving the grip to cool until it has returned to its original colour. Cooling the grip may comprise leaving the grip to cool for 10 minutes and/or running the grip under cold water.

The method can be repeated to remould or to increase the shaping of the outer layer.

The method may further comprise pulling the grip onto a handle region of the hand-operated device. The step of pulling the grip may occur after heating the grip. The inner layer may be made more pliable by being heated, so this utilises the heat for easing application of the grip to the hand-operated device.

Further features and advantages of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the claims and the following description.

Brief Description of Drawings

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams, in which:-Figure 1A shows a front view of a games console controller having grips on the left and right handles; Figure 18 shows a back view of the games console controller and grips of Figure 1A; Figure 2 shows a partial front view of the games console controller of Figure 1A and the right grip; Figure 3 shows a front view of the games console controller of Figure 1A during moulding by a user's hands; Figure 4 shows a front view of the games console controller of Figure 1A after the outer layer of the grips have been moulded by a user's hands; Figure 5A shows a front view of an inner layer of a left grip for a games console controller; Figure 5B shows a side view of the inner layer of Figure BA; Figure 6A shows a front sectional view of a left grip for a games console controller, including the inner layer of Figure 5A; Figure 6B shows a side sectional view of the left grip of Figure 6A; Figure 7A shows a front view of an inner layer of a right grip for a games console controller; Figure 7B shows a side view of the inner layer of Figure 7A; Figure 7C shows a perspective bottom rear view of the inner layer of Figure 7A; Figure 713 shows a perspective top front view of the inner layer of Figure 7A; Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of an inner layer of a grip; Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of an inner layer of a grip; Figure 10 shows a perspective side view of a games console controller with a grip on the right handle; Figure 11 shows a top view of a textured glove.

Detailed Description

A number of different embodiments of the disclosure are described subsequently. In order to minimise repetition, similar features of the different embodiments are numbered with a common two-digit reference numeral and are differentiated by a third digit placed before the two common digits. Such features are structured similarly, operate similarly, and/or have similar functions unless otherwise indicated.

Figures 1A and 1B show a games console controller 10 with a le ft handle grip 11L and a right handle grip 11R. Each grip comprises a thermoplastic outer layer 12 and an inner layer 13, wherein the inner layer has an inner surface for contacting the games console controller handle and an outer surface in contact with the outer layer.

Each grip can be pulled into place on its respective handle. This is illustrated with by the arrow A in Figure 2 which shows the direction in which the right grip is moved onto the right handle.

The thermoplastic outer layer of the grip can be softened by heat, either before or after pulling the grip onto the games console controller. Once the outer layer is heated, the user can hold the grip to mould the layer to conform to the user's hand as is shown in Figure 3. The thermoplastic outer layer can then be cooled and retains its moulded shape so that the outer layer is shaped to match the size, shape and contours of the user's hand as is shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 4, a generic controller can be quickly and easily improved to have a personalised shape given by the thermoplastic outer layer 12 that increases usability and reduces risk of injury.

The thermoplastic outer layer of grips 11L and 11R comprises Polymorph thermoplastic pellets. The Polymorph pellets have a melting point of 62 degrees Celsius. This melting point is high enough that the outer layer will not melt during gaming due to heat from the user's hands, and low enough that the thermoplastic outer layer may be easily and safely heated at home, for example using a hairdryer.

The outer layer 12 is translucent or transparent when melted and opaque when set In this way, the user can easily see when the outer layer is melted and ready for moulding by virtue of being able to see through it. Equally, the user can see when the outer layer is set and ready for use as they can no longer see through the outer layer.

The grips 11L and 11R have an inner surface shaped and sized to correspond to an outer surface of the games console controller handles.

The inner layer 13 of the left grip 11L is shown in more detail in Figures 5A and 5B. The inner layer 13 is formed of TPE and/or TPU. The elastic nature of the inner layer 13 assists in holding the grip on the games console controller handle. Further, the elastic nature of the inner layer 13 means that no adhesive is needed to retain the grip on the hand operated device. Thus, when the product needs to be removed, or used on another hand-operated device, the product can be pulled away from the controllers handles easily leaving no residue.

The outer surface 14 of the inner layer 13 has a raised hexagonal pattern which provides greater surface area and a mechanical key which assists in retaining the thermoplastic outer layer 12 on the inner layer 13. When the outer layer 12 is heated and becomes translucent or transparent, the outer surface 14 of the inner layer 13 will be visible to the user. The raised pattern and/or indentations act as another visual indicator to the user of the softened or set state of the outer layer.

In other embodiments, such as those shown in Figures 8 and 9, the raised pattern on outer surface 14 may have an alternative shape. For example, the cross-hatched shape as shown in Figure 8, or the symbols shown in Figure 9 which include squares, crosses, circles and triangles.

In other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in Figures 7A to 7D, the outer surface 114 of the inner layer 113 may be smooth. This allows inner layer 113 to be thinner than inner layer 13, which may make the grip more comfortable for those with small hands and/or a narrow grip.

The inner layer 13, 113 may be a different colour to the outer layer 12. This increases the visual indicator to the user of the status of the outer layer as they will see the grip change colour when the outer layer 12 melts to reveal the colour of the inner layer 13, 113.

The inner layer 13, 113 is injection moulded. The outer layer 12 is over-moulded on the inner layer as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. The interaction between the hexagonal raised pattern and the outer layer can also be seen in Figures 6A and 6B.

The grips 11L, 11R form a sleeve shape. The sleeve has an open end 15, 115 and an opposing closed end 16, 116. The open end 115 of the sleeve can be slid over the handle of the games console controller 10 and the elastic nature of the inner layer 13, 113 causes the grip to constrict around the handle to retain its position on the handle.

The sleeve has a longitudinal axis extending through the centre of the sleeve, from the centre of the closed end 16, 116 to the centre of the open end 15, 115. The internal cross-section of the sleeve is the area inside the sleeve, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The area inside the sleeve is the area inside the inner layer. The internal cross-section of the sleeve may vary in shape and/or size along the axis. The longitudinal axis of the sleeve may be curved. The first end may be an open or closed end and the second end may be an open or closed end.

The inner layer 13, 113 has a collar 17, 117 which extends away from the inner surface at the open end 15, 115 of the sleeve. The collar 17, 117 extends entirely around the open end of the sleeve. The collar helps to ensure that the thermoplastic outer layer 12 remains on the inner layer when softened and moulded by the user.

The inner layer 13, 113 also comprises a ridge 18, 118 which extends away from the inner surface at the closed end 16, 116 of the sleeve. The ridge may extend entirely around the closed end 16, 116 of the sleeve. The ridge 18, 118 helps to ensure that the thermoplastic outer layer 12 remains on the inner layer when softened and moulded by the user and cannot slide off the sleeve at the closed end. The ridge may extend by a length Li between 2mm and 6mm, preferably 4mm, in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve.

The collar 17 and the ridge 18 extend away from the inner surface of the inner layer 13 by a greater distance than the raised pattern 14.

The outer layer 12 is retained on the outer surface 14, 114 of the inner layer 13, 113 between the collar and the ridge.

The length of the sleeve, measured along the longitudinal axis, from the closed end to the open end is between 6 and 10cm, preferably 8cm to one significant figure. The width of the sleeve, measured from the outer surface of the outer layer 12, through the outer layer and inner layer 13, 113, across the internal cross-section, through the inner layer 13, 113 and through the outer layer 12 to the outer surface is between 4 and 6cm, preferably 5cm to one significant figure. These sizes are merely examples, and the width, length and shape of the grip may be selected depending on the games console controller or other hand-operated device.

The controller 10 has a controller body 19 including one or more joysticks, directional buttons and/or other buttons, a left handle and a right handle 20R (shown in Figure 2), each handle extending away from its respective side of the controller body. The joysticks, directional buttons and/or other buttons are generally on the front side of the controller 10, on the controller body 19, although other buttons, such as triggers, may be positioned on other sides of the controller, for example the top side in the case of triggers 21. The bottom region of a controller is the end of the handles that are farthest from the controller body and the top is the opposite side of the controller body to the handles.

The grips 11L and 11R have a front region, shaped and sized to match the front of a handle of the controller which can be seen in Figure 1A, and a back region, shaped and sized to match the back of the handle of the controller which can be seen in Figure 1B. The back region of the grip may have a length of at least 7cm, preferably at least 8cm. This allows the user to mould the outer layer with three fingers of their hand.

The closed end 16 of each grip matches the shape of the terminal end of its respective handle and the open end 15 of the grip matches the shape of the handle proximal the controller body 19.

The inner layer 113 of grip 111 is shown in Figures 7A to 7D. The inner layer 113 has many features in common with the inner layer 13 as denoted by the similar reference numbers. Difference between the grip 111 and the grips 11L and 11R will be discussed here. As discussed above, the inner layer 113 has a smooth outer surface 114. The back region of the grip, seen in Figure 7C is longer than the back region of inner layer 13. The back region is longer than the front region. This enables the grip to cover more of the handle of the controller and means that three of the user's fingers can all contact the grip.

A width W1 of the grip n1 from a left side to a right side of the grip as shown in Figure 7A is 49 mm. A width W2 of the grip n1 from a front side to a back side of the grip is 48mm as shown in Figure 7B. A height H1 of the grip in measured from the closed end to the farthest part of the open end is 82mm.

Figure 10 shows an alternative right grip 211R on a games console controller 210. The grip 211R comprises a thermoplastic outer layer 212. The thermoplastic outer layer of the grip 211R can be softened by heat, either before or after pulling the grip onto the games console controller 210. Once the outer layer is heated, the user can hold the grip to mould the layer to conform to the user's hand. The thermoplastic outer layer can then be cooled and retains its moulded shape so that the outer layer is shaped to match the size, shape and contours of the user's hand as is shown in Figure 10.

The thermoplastic outer layer of grip 211R comprises Polymorph thermoplastic pellets.

The Polymorph pellets have a melting point of 62 degrees Celsius. The outer layer 212 is translucent or transparent when melted and opaque when set. In this way, the user can easily see when the outer layer is melted and ready for moulding by virtue of being able to see through it to the controller handle 220R. Equally, the user can see when the outer layer is set and ready for use as they can no longer see through the outer layer 212.

The grip 2 HR has an inner surface shaped and sized to correspond to an outer surface of the games console controller handle.

In a similar manner to the grips described above, the grip 211R forms a sleeve shape. The sleeve has an open end and an opposing closed end. The open end of the sleeve can be slid over the handle 220R of the games console controller 210.

The sleeve has a longitudinal axis extending through the centre of the sleeve, from the centre of the closed end to the centre of the open end. The internal cross-section of the sleeve is the area inside the sleeve, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The area inside the sleeve is the area inside the inner layer. The internal cross-section of the sleeve may vary in shape and/or size along the axis. The longitudinal axis of the sleeve may be curved. The first end may be an open or closed end and the second end may be an open or closed end.

One or more gloves may be provided with and of the grips 11, 111, 211 discussed above.

The user may wear the glove(s) when moulding the outer layer of the grip. The glove shown in Figure 11 is an example of a vinyl glove with a textured outer surface. When the user wears the glove(s) while moulding the outer layer of the grip, a texture corresponding to the texture of the glove is imparted to the outer layer. This provides the grip with a textured outer surface which reduces the risk of the grip and the controller 10 sliding out of the user's hand in use.

A stand may be used to support any of the grips 11, 111, 211 discussed above so that the user may heat the grip while it is supported in the stand, thereby keeping their hands safely away from the heat source. The stand is configured to support the grip in an upright position, while the grip is on the controller and is formed by an inner layer of a packaging box.

An example of a method of manufacturing the grips 11L, 11R, 111 will now be explained. The inner layer 12, 112 is formed by injection moulding from TPE and/or TPU. During injection moulding, a layer of the thermoplastic material is over-moulded on the outer surface 14, 114 of the inner layer, to form the thermoplastic outer layer 12 of the grip. The inner layer may be injection moulded using a mould with a surface that is the same shape and size as the surface of the controller handle.

An example of a method of manufacturing the grip 211 comprises moulding a thermoplastic material to form a thermoplastic outer layer. The method may further comprise using a mould with a surface that is the same shape and size as the surface of the controller handle.

An example method of shaping the grips 11, 111, 211 includes heating the grip until the thermoplastic outer layer 12, 112, 212 is softened, pressing, by the user, the user's hand into the thermoplastic outer layer 12, 112, 212 to shape the outer layer to the user's hand, and cooling the grip until the thermoplastic outer layer is set.

The outer layer 12, 112, 212 is transparent or translucent when softened and so the user may heat the grip until the inner layer 13, 113, or the controller handle 220R is visible through the outer layer. Where there is a pattern on the inner layer surface 14, 114, such as hexagonal pattern, heating the grip may comprise heating the grip until the hexagonal pattern is visible through the outer layer. The grip may be heated for between 1 and 3 minutes to reach the melting temperature of the thermoplastic outer layer. This may be achieved using a hairdryer or heat gun to heat the grip.

The grip may be pulled onto the handle of the controller after heating the grip or before heating the grip. The inner layer may be made more pliable by being heated, so pulling the grip onto the handle may be easier once the grip has been heated.

The user may wait 15 seconds after heating the grip, before holding the grip to allow the outer layer to cool slightly to prevent the grip sticking to the user's hand and/or burning the user's hand. The user may press their hand into the outer layer for 30 seconds. This helps to ensure the shape of the hand is properly transferred to the outer layer.

Once the grip has cooled, it will return to its original opaque colour. Cooling the grip may be achieved by leaving the grip to cool for 10 minutes and/or running the grip under cold water.

Although particular embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example and for the purposes of illustration only. The aforementioned embodiments are not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the invention.

It is contemplated by the inventors that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A grip for a hand-operated electronic device, the grip comprising a thermoplastic outer layer.
2. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic outer layer has a melting point of between 40 and 80 degrees Celsius.
3. A grip according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic outer layer comprises thermoplastic pellets.
4.A grip according to any preceding claim, wherein the thermoplastic outer layer comprises Polymorph.
5. A grip according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer layer is translucent or transparent when melted and the outer layer is opaque when set.
6. A grip according to any preceding claim, the grip further comprising an inner layer, wherein the inner layer has an inner surface for contacting the hand-operated device and an outer surface in contact with the outer layer.
7. A grip according to claim 6, wherein the inner layer comprises an elastic material.
8. A grip according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the inner layer is a different colour to the outer layer.
9. A grip according to any preceding claim, wherein the hand-operated electronic device a games console controller.
10. A grip according to any preceding claim, wherein the grip forms a sleeve having an open end.
11. A grip according to claim 10, when dependent on claim 6, wherein the inner layer comprises a collar which extends away from the inner surface at the open end of the sleeve.
12. A grip according to claim 11 or claim 10, when dependent on claim 6, wherein the sleeve further comprises a closed end, the closed end being at an opposite end of the sleeve to the open end, and the inner layer comprises a ridge which extends away from the inner surface at the closed end of the sleeve.
13. A pair of grips comprising a left-hand grip and a right-hand grip, each of the pair of grips being according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
14. A kit comprising: one or more grips, the or each grip being according to any of claims 1 to 12, and one or more gloves, the or each glove comprising a textured outer surface.
15. A kit comprising: one or more grips, the or each grip being according to any of claims 1 to 12, and a stand configured to support the grip in an upright position, while the grip is on the hand-operated device.
16. A method of manufacturing a grip for a hand-operated device, the method comprising: moulding a thermoplastic material to form a thermoplastic outer layer.
17. A method according to claim 16, the method further comprising: forming an inner layer from an elastic material, and over-moulding a layer of the thermoplastic material on an outer surface of the inner layer, to form the thermoplastic outer layer.