WO2017006292A1

WO2017006292A1 - Protection device

Info

Publication number: WO2017006292A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/054115
Authority: WO
Inventors: Riccardo FRIGIERI
Original assignee: Frigieri Riccardo
Priority date: 2015-07-09
Filing date: 2016-07-08
Publication date: 2017-01-12
Also published as: ITUB20152023A1

Abstract

A protection device (1; 101; 201; 301) for protecting a control lever (2), in particular in a game console (3), the control lever (2) having a rod (12) and a head (13) with an enlarged end, comprises an attachment element (4), arranged for attaching the protection device (1; 101; 201; 301) to the head (13), a contact portion (18; 118; 218), arranged for being touched by a finger of a user during use of the control lever (2), fixing means (5; 105; 305), arranged for fixing the contact portion (18; 118; 218) to the attachment element (4), in which the attachment element (4) and the fixing means (5; 105; 305) are reciprocally connectable in a reversible manner.

Description

PROTECTION DEVICE

The invention relates to a protection device for a control lever or joystick, in particular in a game console or control panel.

In many game consoles, one or more control levers are provided to control the position and the movements of cursors, elements or characters for the progress of the game. The control levers are generally mushroom-shaped, comprising a rod at the top of which a cylindrical head is provided that is intended for receiving the thumb of a user.

The great proliferation of video games has made the shape of the control levers increasingly ergonomic over time in order to increase the ease of use thereof, the comfort and reduce the muscular tension caused by prolonged use.

The repeated contact with the thumb and with sweat cause wear to the surface of the joystick, which causes the joystick to be slippery, unpleasant to the touch, more difficult to control because it requires greater force from the user to obtain the desired game movement.

In order to improve contact with the control lever, adapters or caps have been introduced to the market that are generally made of elastomeric material that increase the resting area or the friction of the thumb on the tip of the joystick.

Nevertheless, such caps, after a certain period of use, are instable and tend to slide on the head of the joystick under the pressure of the finger, increasing the force that the user has to apply to the lever.

This occurs with greater frequency if the adapter or cap is applied to the joystick when the latter is already fairly worn.

In other words, adapters or caps of known type are not effective in protecting the joystick from wear and ensuring ease of use over a prolonged period.

The need is therefore felt for an adapter that can protect the joystick from wear, fix itself effectively to the joystick even when the joystick is worn, maintaining great comfort and high gaming precision.

One object of the invention is to meet the aforesaid need for a relatively long game time and overcome one or more of the limits and drawbacks of the prior art.

Another object is to provide a protection device that enables the user to choose a combination of materials that can adapt better to personal gaming requirements.

Such objects, and yet others, are achieved by the protection device according to one or more of the claims set out below. The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting example in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a protection device for a control lever or joystick of a game console in a fitting step on the joystick;

Figure 2 is a frontal perspective view of the game console of Figure 1 with the protection device assembled on the left control lever;

Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged perspective views of the protection device of Figure 1 in fitting steps on the control lever;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the protection device of Figure 3 or 4 when assembled on the control lever;

Figure 6 is a top view of an attachment element of the protection device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary frontal view of the protection device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 8 is a cross section of the protection device of Figure 7;

Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the protection device 1 during fitting steps on a control lever;

Figure 1 1 is a cross section of the alternative embodiment of the protection device of Figure 9 or 10;

Figure 12 is a cross section of a further alternative embodiment of the protection device according to the invention;

Figure 13 is a bottom view of a contact member provided in the protection device of Figure 12;

Figure 14 and Figure 15 are perspective views of the contact member of Figure 13;

Figure 16 and Figure 17 are exploded perspective views of a protection device for a control lever or joystick of a game console in a fitting step on the joystick according to a still further embodiment;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the protection device of Figure 16 when assembled on the console;

Figure 19 is a cross section of the protection device of Figure 16 when assembled;

Figure 20 is a frontal view of the protection device of Figure 16, when assembled.

In this description, elements common to various examples or embodiments illustrated are indicated by the same reference number. Figures 1 to 8 show a protection device 1 for a control lever or joystick 2 of a game console or gamepad 3. The joystick 2 comprises a rod 12 the top of which ends in a head 13, of substantially cylindrical or tapered shape, which gives the joystick 2 a typical mushroom shape. The protection device 1 comprises an attachment element 4 and fixing means 5 that are reciprocally connectable in a reversible manner.

The attachment element 4 enables the protection device 1 to be attached to the joystick 2 and comprises an annular element 7. The annular element 7 is provided with a bottom wall 8 and with a side wall 9. The bottom wall 8 is arranged for abutting on a lower surface of the head 13. As shown in Figure 3 and in Figure 6, the circumferential extent of the side wall 9 is interrupted by an opening 10 that extends on the bottom wall 8 to form a slot 1 1. The slot 1 1 is so configured that an end surface 1 la thereof surrounds at least partially the rod 12 once the protection device 1 is fitted on the joystick 2. The slot 1 1 comprises two side surfaces 1 lb and 1 1 c that connect the opening 10 to the end surface 1 l a. These side surfaces l ib, 1 1 c are substantially flat and parallel to one another, but can also be slightly chamfered towards the centre of the annular element 7. The end surface 1 la can surround the rod 12 by more than 180°.

The side wall 9 of the annular element 7 is configured and sized to surround the head 13 of the joystick 2 and to adhere circumferentially thereto. In other words, the annular element 7 is so configured as to be fixed to the joystick 2 by interference between the side wall 9 and the head 13. The slot 1 1 enables the annular element 7 to be fitted laterally on the joystick 2, i.e. bringing the attachment element 4 near in a radial direction below the head 13 and introducing the rod 12 inside the slot 1 1 until it abuts on the end surface of the latter. The slot 1 1 gives the annular element 7 such a flexibility that the annular element 7 can clasp the head 13 circumferentially and remain attached thereto, exploiting the elastic return of the material of which the annular element 7 is made.

With reference to the embodiments of Figures 1 to 8, the fixing means 5 comprises a ring nut 14 provided with an inner thread 14a arranged for engaging with an outer thread 7a obtained outside the side wall 9 of the attachment element 4.

With reference to Figure 8, the ring nut 14 comprises an upper part 15, which is for example disc-shaped, provided with a hole 15a, in particular a central hole. The ring nut 14 further comprises a side part 16, for example of cylindrical shape, on which the inner thread 14a is obtained internally. Between the attachment element 4 and the fixing means 5 a contact member is interposed and retained, such as in particular a contact button or disc 6, arranged for being touched by the thumb of the user. The contact button or disc 6 is dismantleable from the protection device 1 owing to the removable connection between the attachment element 4 and the fixing means 5.

The contact disc 6 comprises a base 17 on which a contact portion 18 is fixed, on which the finger of the user prevalently rests in use. The contact portion 18 is substantially received in a housing 21 provided in the base 17. Alternatively, the contact disc 6 is obtained as a single piece so that the base 17 and the contact portion 18 are regions of the same piece.

When the protection device 1 is assembled, the contact portion 18 is reachable by the finger of the user through the hole 15a of the ring nut 14. As Figures 7 and 8 show, the contact portion 18 is rounded and convex and projects outwards, but naturally it can have a different shape, to meet ergonomics and convenience criteria that enable the use of the joystick 2 to be facilitated and muscular tensions induced by repeated and protracted over time use to be minimised. For example, the contact portion 18 can be flat or concave, or can have a shaped surface with recesses and ridges of the desired shape and dimensions, such as to form a pattern or a figure, which, in addition to modifying the tactile perception of the user, confer a customised appearance on the control lever 2 that is based on the taste of the user.

The contact portion 18 is made of a material having a certain friction with the skin of the user, to limit the force necessary for driving the control lever 2 by preventing the control lever 2 being slippery. For example, the contact portion 18 is made of elastomeric material, in particular rubber or silicone. If the contact portion 18 is made of rubber, it can be formed by vulcanisation directly coupled with the base 17, or can be fixed to the housing 21 after forming by glue or adhesive.

The base 17 comprises a circumferential protrusion 19 arranged for interacting with an abutting surface 20 provided in the upper part 15 inside the ring nut 14.

When the protection device 1 is fitted, a lower surface of the base 17 rests on the head 13 of the joystick 2 and the abutting surface 20 presses against the circumferential protrusion 19, in such a manner that the contact disc 6 is maintained in position by the clamping of the ring nut 14 on the annular element 7. The fixing means 5 is thus arranged for fixing the contact portion 18 to the attachment element 4. The height of the side wall 9 of the annular element 7 does not exceed the height of the head 13 of the joystick 2 measured by the lower surface of the head 13; this enables the attachment element 4 not to be an obstacle to the base 17 when the contact disc 6 is pressed downwards by the fixing means 5.

To fit the protection device 1 , the attachment element 4 is brought near the rod 12 of the joystick 2 by keeping the attachment element 4 below the head 13 and inserting the rod 12 through the opening 10 until the rod 12 reaches the end surface 1 1 a of the slot 1 1 ; the attachment element 4 is then pressed upwards, forcing the attachment element 4 against the head 13 until the side wall 9, after being tilted outwards, reaches a gripping position adhering to the head 13. At this point, the contact disc 6 is inserted into the ring nut 14 from below and the latter is brought nearer the annular element 7 and fixed thereto by screwing by the threaded connection 7a, 14a.

In Figures 9 to 1 1 , an embodiment of the protection device is shown, indicated by 101 , which differs from the protection device 1 disclosed above by the fact that the contact button or disc is not present but the contact member 106 is integrated into the fixing element 105. In this embodiment, the fixing element 105 comprises a cap 1 14 provided with an upper part 1 15, for example disc-shaped, and a side part 1 16, for example of cylindrical shape, on which an inner thread is obtained internally, which is not shown, which is arranged for engaging with the outer thread 7a of the annular element 7. The cap 1 14 comprises a housing 121 , obtained on an outer side of the upper part 1 15 in which a contact portion 1 18 is fixed, on which the finger of the user prevalently rests in use.

During fitting of the protection device 101 , the attachment element 4 is fixed to the joystick 2 similarly to what has already been disclosed for the protection device 1 and, subsequently, the fixing element 105 is connected by screwing to the attachment element 4. The fixing element 105 is then arranged for fixing the contact portion 1 18 to the attachment element 4.

The contact portion 1 18 can be made from the same material as that with which the contact portion 18 is manufactured.

If the contact portion 1 18 is made of rubber, it can be formed by vulcanisation directly coupled with the cap 1 14, or can be fixed to the housing 121 after forming by glue or adhesive.

An example of a contact member formed of a single piece is shown in Figure 12. In this embodiment of the protection device, indicated by reference number 201 , instead of the contact button or disc 6, the contact member comprises a rod 60 provided with a stem 61 and with a top 62, on which the contact portion 218 is obtained.

In this case, the contact member has a "mushroom" shape, which is very similar to that of a control lever, with the stem 61 being cylindrical, of smaller diameter than that of the top 62, which is also cylindrical. The contact member of this embodiment acts as an extension of the control lever and spaces the contact portion 218 away from the centre of rotation of the joystick 2. This structure of the contact member modifies the position of the finger of the user with respect to the gamepad 3, increasing the movement that the finger has to perform to obtain a corresponding movement of the game cursor, but reducing the force to be imposed on the control lever 2.

In this example, the shape of the contact portion 218 is concave, but naturally a variety of different shapes can be provided, similarly to the contact disc 6 embodiment.

Instead of the circumferential protrusion 19, a projection 219 is provided that extends circumferentially to a lower end 63 of the rod 60, opposite the top 62. The lower end 63 is enlarged with respect to the stem 61 and configured in such a manner as to be locked by the ring nut 14 when the protection device 201 is fitted.

The top 62 has a greater diameter than the hole 15a of the ring nut 14, so the contact member cannot be inserted into the ring nut 14 from below, as occurs in the case of the contact disc 6. To enable mounting of the contact member of this embodiment on the ring nut 14, the projection 219 is provided with two notches 64, shown in Figures 13 to 15. The notches 64 are substantially two surfaces that are flat, parallel and diametrically opposite on the lower end 63. The distance between the two notches 64 is substantially the same as, or is slightly less than, the diameter of the hole 15a of the ring nut 14. The notches 64 interrupt the circumferential extent of the projection 219 by forming on the lower end 63 two lugs 65 that can be deformed, in particular flex, and pass through the hole 15a from above, pressing the lower end 63 from above against the ring nut 14. The contact member can be fitted on the ring nut 14 by tilting the rod 60 so as to insert one of the lugs 65 into the hole 15a such as to position the lug below the abutting surface 20 of the ring nut 14; subsequently, by returning the rod 60 to a vertical position, the other one of the lugs 65 is pressed against the edge of the hole 15a and forced to flex upwards. After passing the edge of the hole 15a, the other of the lugs 65 also reaches below the abutting surface 20.

The rod 60 is made of a material that is such as to confer a certain flexibility on the lugs 65, for example a material of the same type that is usable for the contact portion 18. With reference to Figures 16 to 20, a still further embodiment of the protection device is shown, indicated by 301 , and comprising the attachment element 4 and fixing means 305. This embodiment differs from the protection device 1 by the structure of the fixing means 305 that comprises two fixing elements, i.e. an extension 70 and the ring nut 14. The extension 70, interposed between the attachment element 4 and the contact member, is provided with connecting means for removably conriectingTb the attachment element 4 and with further connecting means for removably connecting to the ring nut 14. The extension

70 comprises a rod provided with a stem 71 and with a top 72, on which the contact member is restingly received in the shape of a contact button or disc 6. The extension 70 has a "mushroom" shape, which is very similar to that of a control lever, having the stem

71 of cylindrical shape of a smaller diameter than that of the top 72, which is also cylindrical. The upper end 72 is provided with an outer thread 72a arranged for engaging with the inner thread 14a of the ring nut 14 to fix the contact disc 6 to the extension 70. The extension 70 is further provided with an enlarged lower end 73 arranged for surmounting the head 13 of the joystick 2. The lower end 73, which is of hollow cylindrical shape, is provided with an inner thread 73a arranged for engaging with the outer thread 7a of the attachment element 4.

Between the attachment element 4 and the ring nut 14, the contact disc 6 is thus interposed and retained by the extension 70, on which the ring nut 14 is fixed and which is in turn fixed to the attachment element 4.

The extension 70 performs the same function as the contact member in the shape of a rod 60 disclosed previously. Further, the extension 70, by the inner thread 73a acts as a ring nut. In other words, the extension 70 incorporates in itself a ring nut and a rod.

Alternatively to the ring nut 14 and to the contact disc 6, a cap can be provided as disclosed with reference to Figure 1 1.

In a still further alternative embodiment, which is not shown, an extension is provided that differs from the extension 70 by having a lower end shaped like the lower end 63 of the contact member of Figures 12-15, which is fixed to the attachment element 4 by a first ring nut and the top of which is configured like the top of the extension 70, so as to be able to couple with a further ring nut, to retain the contact member in the shape of a contact disc 6. The ring nut and the further ring nut can be the same as one another and configured like the ring nut 14. In the embodiments of the protection device disclosed and illustrated above, the fixing means cooperates with the attachment element through a threaded connection. In these embodiments, the attachment element and the fixing means are made of metal, in particular aluminium, or of plastics. Naturally, the attachment element and the fixing means can be made of two materials that are different from one another.

Alternatively to the threaded connection, the fixing means cooperates with the attachment element, for example with an interference connection of the "snap" type, which exploits the elasticity of the material of which the fixing means and or the attachment element are made.

With respect to adapters of known type, the presence of two parts that are connected together by a removable connection, such as the attachment element and the fixing means, enables greater fixing efficacy of the protection device to the joystick 2.

The protection device is fixed to the joystick 2 through the effect of the clamping force of the two parts connected together and not only through the effect of friction forces against the surface of the joystick 2, as occurs in caps or adapters of known type. Further, the protection device exerts friction on the upper surface and on the lower surface of the head 13 of the joystick 2 as well as on the side surface thereof, on which caps of known type act prevalently, this providing high stability in use of the protection device.

It has been found that the corresponding movements of the protection device with respect to the joystick 2 are substantially eliminated even after prolonged use of the latter and in particular when the protection device is fitted on an already worn joystick.

The protection device thus protects the joystick 2 from wear, when applied to a still unworn joystick 2, and as it can be effectively fixed also to a worn control lever, it significantly extends the life of the gamepad 3, which, otherwise, should be replaced, with forced suspension of the game until replacement of the gamepad and with increased costs for the user. In fact, owing to the coupling between the attachment element and the fixing means, the protection device is able to fix itself to the joystick without slipping or moving during use, thus maintaining great steering precision.

In the protection device 1 it will be the contact member that gets worn. Nevertheless, being dismantleable, the contact member can be easily replaced, disconnecting the fixing means from the attachment element. On the other hand, in the protection device 101 , it will be the entire cap 1 14 that will be replaced with a new cap, simply by disconnecting the cap from the attachment element or from a rod that acts as an extension.

The contact button or disc 6, or the cap 1 14, can be changed at will, in the event of wear or to customise the joystick 2.

The contact portion 18, 1 18, 218 can be customised not only in the shape and type of material but also in the colour. The contact portion 18, 1 18, 218 can further be decorated by a desired print. Alternatively, in particular if the contact portion 18, 1 18 is of a transparent or partially transparent material, a decoration or a print can be provided that is applied to the housing 21 , 121 and interposed between the contact portion 18, 1 18 and the housing 21 , 121. The decoration can also be included or embedded in the contact portion 18, 1 18.

Thus, in addition to protecting from wear by maintaining the accuracy of steering precision, the protection device enables the variety of materials and colours to be increased from which the user can choose.

The protection device 1 , 101 , 201 , 301 can be produced in the dimensions that are compatible with the control levers of any game console by adapting the dimensions of the attachment element and of the fixing means and possibly of the button, if one is present, to the dimensions of the joystick of the particular console.

Claims

1. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301) for protecting a control lever (2), in particular in a game console (3), said control lever (2) having a rod (12) and a head (13) with enlarged end, comprising:

- an attachment element (4), arranged for attaching said protection device (1 ; 101 ;

201 ; 301) to said head (13),

a contact portion (18; 1 18; 218), arranged for being touched by a finger of a user during use of said control lever (2),

- fixing means (5; 105; 305), arranged per fixing said contact portion (18; 1 18; 218) to said attachment element (4),

wherein said attachment element (4) and said fixing means (5; 105; 305) are reciprocally connectable in a reversible manner.

2. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said attachment element (4) comprises an annular element (7) provided with a bottom wall (8) and a side wall (9), said bottom wall (8) being arranged for abutting on a lower surface of said head (13) and said side wall (9) being conformed and dimensioned for surrounding and circumferentially adhering to said head (13).

3. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ) according to claim 2, wherein the circumferential extension of said side wall (9) is interrupted by an opening (10) extending on said bottom wall (8) to form a slot (1 1 ), said slot (1 1 ) being so conformed as to at least partially surround said rod (12) as said protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301) is assembled on said control lever (2).

4. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301) according to claim 2, or 3, wherein the height of said side wall (9) does not exceed the height of said head (13) measured from said lower surface, as said protection device (1 ; 101) is assembled on said control lever (2).

5. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said contact portion (18; 1 18; 218) is obtained on a contact member (6; 60) at least partially interposed between said attachment element (4) and said fixing means (5; 105; 305).

6. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ) according to claim 5, wherein said fixing means (5; 105; 305) comprises a ring nut (14) provided with an upper part (15) having a hole (15a), said contact portion (18; 1 18; 218) being reachable through said hole (15a) and/or projecting from said hole (15a) towards the outside of said ring nut (14).

7. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ) according to claim 6, wherein said contact member (6; 60) comprises a circumferential projection (19; 219) arranged for interacting with an abutting surface (20) provided in said upper part (15) internally of said ring nut (14) as said protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ) is assembled on said control lever (2).

8. Protection device (1 , 101 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said contact portion (18; 1 18) is obtained on a fixing element (105) of said fixing means (5; 105; 305), said fixing element comprising a cap (105).

9. Protection device (301 ) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said fixing means (305) further comprises an extension (70) interposed between said control lever (2) and said ring nut (14) or between said control lever (2) and said cap (105).

10. Protection device (301 ) according to claim 9, wherein said extension (70) is provided with connecting means (73a) for removably connecting said extension to said attachment element (4) and with further connecting means (72a) for removably connecting said extension to said ring nut (14) or to said cap (105).

1 1. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301) according to any preceding claim, wherein said contact portion (14) is of elastomeric material.

12. Protection device (1 ; 101 ; 201 ; 301 ) according to any preceding claim, wherein said attachment element (4) and said fixing means (5; 105; 305) are connectable through a threaded connection and/or a snap-on connection.

13. Protection device (1 , 101 ; 201 ; 301 ) according to any preceding claim, wherein said attachment element (4) and/or said fixing means (5; 105; 305) are made of metal material or of plastics.