Handheld Controller Grip Attachment

• US 20170189800A1
• Filed: 12/31/2016
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Bearded Bear LLC
• Original Assignee: The Bearded Bear LLC
• Inventors: Crain, Joel M.
• Granted Patent: US 11,154,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a grip attachment that changes the shape of a handheld controller, allowing individual users to comfortably hold the controller while they interact with the controlled system. For example, some embodiments include a video game controller grip attachment having features that conform to fit securely with the video game controller, allow the user to hold the video game controller, and/or enable a user to grip a handheld controller in different configurations. In other embodiments, the grip for interfacing with one hand (e.g., the right hand) may be different than the grip for interfacing with the other hand (e.g., the left hand). In some embodiments, the grip has a palm swell element including a controller interface surface configured to at least partially accommodate a back surface of a handheld controller, and/or an outer surface extending an overall depth of the palm area of the handheld controller.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a grip for a handheld controller comprising;

a palm swell element, wherein the palm swell element comprises;

a handheld controller interface surface that is configured to at least partially accommodate a back surface of the handheld controller; and

an outer surface which extends from the handheld controller interface surface in a direction opposite from a front surface of the handheld controller,

an attachment element coupled to the palm swell element, the attachment element having a top attachment member and a bottom attachment member,

the top attachment member is configured to at least partially accommodate a top surface of the handheld controller and to culminate around the juncture between the front surface and the top surface of the handheld controller; and

the bottom attachment member is configured to at least partially accommodate a bottom surface of the handheld controller and to culminate around the juncture between the front surface and the bottom surface of the handheld controller; and

wherein the attachment element is configured to detachably secure the grip to the handheld controller through frictional and clamping forces between the top and bottom attachment members and the front, top, and bottom sides of the handheld controller.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the handheld controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the top attachment member includes a finger rest.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the grip is a first grip, the system further comprising the handheld controller and a second grip having a shape mirroring that of the first grip.

5. The system of claim 4, where the first grip and the second grip are coupled to one another.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the top attachment member comprises a moveable joint or hinge.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve shaped to fit over and interface with the outer surface.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve shaped to fit over and interface with the finger rest.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the grip is secured to the handheld controller by means of pressing the grip against the back surface so that the attachment element will expand around the top and bottom surfaces of the handheld controller then retract to, or near to, the attachment element'"'"'s original shape when the top attachment member and the bottom attachment member culminate respectively around the junctures between the front surface and the top surface and the front surface and the bottom surface of the handheld controller.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means of coupling the grip to the handheld controller.

11. A method for making a grip for a handheld controller comprising:

Injection molding the grip for a handheld controller, wherein the grip for a handheld controller comprises;

a palm swell element and an attachment element,

wherein the palm swell element comprises;

a handheld controller interface surface that is configured to at least partially accommodate a back surface of the handheld controller; and

an outer surface which extends from the handheld controller interface surface in a direction opposite from a front surface of the handheld controller

wherein the attachment element is coupled to the palm swell element, the attachment element having a top attachment member and a bottom attachment member wherein

the top attachment member is configured

to at least partially accommodate a top surface of the handheld controller and

to culminate around the juncture between the front surface and the top surface of the handheld controller; and

the bottom attachment member is configured

to at least partially accommodate a bottom surface of the handheld controller and

to culminate around the juncture between the front surface and the bottom surface of the handheld controller;

wherein the attachment element is configured to detachably secure the grip to the handheld controller through frictional and clamping forces between the attachment member and the front, top, and bottom sides of the handheld controller.

12. A system, the system comprising:

a handheld controller having a front with at least one front control button, a top with at least one top control button, a controller palm swell;

a top tapered area where the front transitions to the top, and a bottom tapered area where the front transitions to the bottom;

a grip removably coupled with the handheld controller, the grip having a grip palm swell and an attachment element,

the grip palm swell configured to cover at least a portion of the controller palm swell and extend an overall depth of the controller palm swell when the grip is removably coupled with the handheld controller,

the attachment element comprising a top attachment member and a bottom attachment member, the top attachment member engages the top tapered area and the bottom attachment member engages the bottom tapered area in a snap fit engagement when the grip is removably coupled to the handheld controller.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the top tapered area is a ledge.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein no portion of the attachment element extends entirely across the front from top to bottom or bottom to top.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the grip further comprises a finger rest ledge located at the top when the grip is removably coupled with the handheld controller.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the grip palm swell includes an inside surface with a shape that substantially conforms to at least a portion of the controller palm swell shape when the grip is removably coupled to the handheld controller.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the attachment element is C shaped.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein a firmness of the snap fit engagement of the attachment element with the handheld controller is imparted by elasticity properties of the attachment element.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein an outer surface of the grip palm swell includes an overall curvature that generally follows curvature of a user'"'"'s palm when the palm is in a cupped or curled configuration.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein an outer surface of the grip palm swell includes a continuous curvature without acute edges.