Performance Designed Products LLC

Bradley M Strahle

Eric B Fulghum

Christopher F Richards

Dany Nikolova Paragouteva

Yannik Wiggemans

John M Alpay

Gerard Lambert Block

Christopher Michael Mancini

Jacob Eliades Dunham

Tark Abed

Alice Sebastian Minchella Jennings

Dennis Keith Foster

Simon Mingjen Huang

Nicholas Peter deSomov

Various embodiments described herein are directed toward input mechanisms, for input devices, configured to receive and removably couple to interchangeable elements. Handheld input devices applicable to some embodiments may include, without limitation, computer controllers, video game console controllers, and handheld video gaming devices. Input mechanisms applicable to various embodiments may include, for example, control sticks (e.g., joysticks or analog sticks operable by a user's finger, such as a thumbstick), buttons, switches, and directional pads. According to some embodiments, an input mechanism is provided comprising a base component. Depending on the embodiment, coupling different interchangeable elements to the base component may cause the input mechanism to vary in size, appearance, contour, material, or features provided by the input mechanism.

Interchangeable input mechanisms for control devices

A video game controller can include a body with a top surface and a bottom surface, multiple control inputs (e.g., thumbsticks, directional pads, buttons), and a face plate removably coupleable to the body over the top surface so that the plurality of control inputs extend through the face plate. One or more of the multiple control inputs are removable and replaceable without the use of tools by decoupling the face plate from the body and decoupling the control input from the body without disassembling the body.

Video game controller

Face plate for a video game controller

A removable joystick for use with a video game controller includes a base shaft that is coupled to a joystick unit in the housing of the video game controller so that the proximal end of the base shaft extends to a location at or below an outer surface of the housing. A top shaft assembly is removably coupleable to the base shaft via a quick disconnect assembly. The top shaft assembly includes a top shaft with a proximal end that removably couples to a joystick ball, and a collar that is spring loaded and movably coupled to the top shaft and has a flange that extends outward from the outer surface of the collar. When the top shaft assembly is disconnected from the base shaft, the flange of the collar engages and retains a dust cover disposed over the collar to inhibit misplacement or loss of the dust cover.

Detachable joystick for video game controller

A removable joystick for use with a video game controller includes a base shaft that is coupled to a joystick unit in the housing of the video game controller so that the proximal end of the base shaft extends to a location at or below an outer surface of the housing. A top shaft assembly is removably coupleable to the base shaft. The top shaft assembly includes a top shaft with a proximal end that removably couples to a joystick ball. The top shaft assembly also includes a collar that is spring loaded and movably coupled to the top shaft and has a flange that extends outward from the outer surface of the collar. The top shaft assembly removably couples to the base shaft via a quick disconnect assembly. When the top shaft assembly is disconnected from the base shaft, the flange of the collar engages and retains a dust cover disposed over the collar to inhibit misplacement or loss of the dust cover. This assembly facilitates travel with the video game controller by allowing decoupling of the joystick while preventing misplacement or loss of the dust cover.

Growing community of inventors

Crestline, CA, United States of America

Bradley M Strahle