Ergonomic handle for game controller

An ergonomic handle for a game controller forms a pocket which receives the controller. The handle is made of a substantially moldable, pliable material which provides support and cushioning to the hands, fingers and thumbs while manipulating the controls for preventing cramping and stiffness. The handle wraps around the back and sides of the controller to retain the handle on the controller. The handle portion includes cushioning sides and a ridge around the front for supporting the base of the thumb. The face of the controller remains substantially open so that the thumb and fingers have free access to the controls. The rear of the handle has a cushioning shoulder forming a recess receiving the fingertips of fingers which wrap around the back of the handle. The shoulder and recess support the fingers in a natural holding position. In addition, a small peak portion for each hand extends down from the bottom of the handle for a lower finger of each hand to wrap around and rest against.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to ergonomic handles for hand-held 
controllers such as those commonly used with video games. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Hand-held controllers with fingertip controls are well known and commonly 
used as remote controls and with video games and portable electronic 
games, such as, for example, Nintendo.RTM. Game Boy.TM.. The controllers 
typically have a rectangular box configuration which is generally held by 
both hands so that the control buttons and/or control levers on the front 
of the controller may be manipulated by the thumbs and fingers. 
The generally squared shape of controllers does not fit particularly well 
with the contours of hands and fingers so that holding the controller may 
not be particularly comfortable for users. The housing is commonly made of 
metal or rigid plastic which provides no padding to the palms, thumbs or 
fingers. The rigid housing also provides little protection for the 
controller should it be dropped. With extended periods of use, the hands 
and fingers may stiffen or develop cramps from gripping the controller and 
manipulating the controls. In particular, it has been found that the palms 
and the thumb have inadequate support or cushioning against the hard 
exterior of the controller and are likely to cramp. 
Sculpting the controller to more closely follow the contour of the hand 
improves the ergonomics so that the hands are in a natural holding 
position, however the controller still provides inadequate cushioning for 
the hands and fingers and inadequate cushioning should the controller be 
dropped. Plastics or other materials providing sufficient pliability to 
lessen cramping and provide adequate padding do not lend themselves for 
use as a housing so that detachable handles may be required. 
It can be seen then, that a device is needed which provides adequate 
support and cushioning for the hands while using a hand-held controller. 
It can also be seen that a device is needed which can be added to existing 
controllers to provide cushioning and support. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to ergonomic handles for hand-held 
controllers. The handle attachments slide onto an end of the controller to 
fit the hand of the user while operating the game. 
The detachable ergonomic handles provide needed support and cushioning for 
the palms of the hand while holding the controller. The controller slides 
into a pocket formed in the handle which also retains the controller 
during use. The handle has cushioning at the sides of the controller for 
the palms. The front portion of the handle has a ridge extending along the 
edge of the handle for supporting the base of the thumbs and which borders 
the open face of the controller so that manipulation of the controls by 
the thumbs and fingers is unobstructed. 
The rear portion of the handle behind the controller has a sculpted 
shoulder extending around the edge to support the palms and fingers which 
wrap around the back of the handle. A recess receives the fingertips and 
allows the fingers to rest against the shoulder in a natural position. 
The bottom of the handle has at least one peak extending downward to 
support the palm and to provide a rest pad for at least one of the lower 
fingers to wrap around during use. 
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which 
characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the 
claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better 
understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained 
by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further 
part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is 
illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown 
a hand-held controller 10 for a portable electronic video game having a 
detachable ergonomic handle device 12 attached to the controller 10 and 
being held with two hands in a typical operating fashion. As shown in FIG. 
2, the handle device 12 forms a generally rectangular pocket 32 into which 
the controller 10 slides during use, as shown in FIG. 1. The pocket 32 is 
preferably sculpted to fit the shape of the outer housing of the 
controller 10 with sufficient friction so that the controller 10 does not 
slide out of the pocket 32 during normal use. To provide adequate support 
and cushioning, in the preferred embodiment, the handle 12 is composed of 
a slightly pliable material such as rubber or a moldable grade elastomer 
having a durometer reading of between 55 and 85 percent. 
To support the palms and base of the thumb, the handle 12 has cushioning 
side portions 14. The side portions 14 are sculpted to bulge out slightly 
and generally fit the contour of the palm of the hand. The side portions 
14 curve into a ridge 16 extending around the outer edge of the front of 
the handle 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The ridge 16 is proximate a 
sculpted recess 18 which borders an opening on the front of the controller 
10. The recess 18 retains the face of the controller 10 sufficiently while 
allowing the thumb unrestricted movement to work the controls. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the side portions 14 curve around to the back of the 
handle device 12 to form a rear shoulder portion 22. The rear shoulder 22 
follows along the sides and top of the handle 12 to form a center recessed 
pad portion 24. When held, the fingers wrap over the shoulder 22 so that 
the fingertips rest in the center recess 24 against the rear shoulder 22, 
should that position be most comfortable for the user. 
A pair of slightly peaked portions 28 extend down from the bottom of the 
handle 12 with a concave section 30 projecting slightly inward toward the 
controller 10 and extending between the peaks 28. The concave section 30 
allows the lower finger or fingers to wrap under the handle 12 so that the 
fingers may rest against the peak portions 28 or concave section 30. The 
concave section 30 preferably includes an orifice 36 allowing a cord, such 
as may be used with external headphones for video games, to extend from 
the controller 10 and through the handle 12. 
It can be appreciated that the handle 12 wraps around a portion of the 
front, back, sides and bottom of the controller 10. Since the handle 12 is 
preferably composed of a pliable plastic material which provides 
cushioning around the controller 10, it can be appreciated that the handle 
12 provides protection to the controller 10 should it be dropped or 
bumped. The pliable material also adapts to varying hand sizes so that the 
handle 12 can be used comfortably by children as well as adults. 
In FIG. 5 there is shown a controller 46 for a video game having a second 
embodiment of an ergonomic handle device 52 attached thereto. The handle 
52 has a pair of handle attachments 52a and 52b adapted for the left and 
right hands, respectively. For clarity, reference will be made to the 
features of only one handle 52, the second handle portion being 
substantially a mirror image of the other. 
For the controller 46, wherein the width is substantially greater than the 
height, the handles 52a and 52b slide onto the ends rather than up onto 
the bottom of the controller. The handles 52a and 52b provide adequate 
comfort to users and leave the controller face open so that access to 
controls 48 is not restricted. Each handle portion 52 forms a generally 
rectangular pocket 54 for the end of the controller 46 to slide into. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at the side of each handle portion 52a and 52b, 
there is formed a sculpted side portion 56 for the palm of the hand to 
rest against. The sculpted side portion 56 provides support and cushioning 
so that the palm remains comfortable during use. As shown in FIG. 7, a 
front ridge 58 along the edge of the handle 52 provides support and 
cushioning for the thumb and hand, while keeping the face of the 
controller 46 and access to controls 48 unobstructed. The ridge 58 has a 
recess 60 formed proximate thereto in order to receive the tips of the 
thumb and fingers when not manipulating the controls 48. 
As shown in FIG. 8, the rear of each handle portion 52 has a sculpted 
shoulder 62 raised along the side and to portion of each handle 52. Inside 
the shoulder 62 is a padded recess 64 which extends away from the shoulder 
62. The padded recess 64 normally receives the fingertips when the 
controller 46 is held, depending on the size of the user's hands and/or 
the user's holding preference. The shoulder 62 and padded recess 64 
provide adequate cushioning to increase comfort for the user when grasping 
the controller 46, especially during extended periods of use. 
At the bottom of each handle portion 52, a peak portion 68 extends 
downwardly. The peak 68 provides cushioning and a rest pad 70 on the inner 
side of each peak for at least one lower finger, should the user desire to 
wrap it around and under the handle 52, as shown in FIG. 5. 
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a nook 72 may be formed in the handle 52 to 
accommodate a power cord 74 for the controller 46 as shown in FIG. 5. It 
can be appreciated that the nook may be moved to a number of locations on 
the handles 52 to accommodate various cord configurations. 
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics 
and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the 
foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function 
of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be 
made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of 
parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated 
by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are 
expressed.