Patent Publication Number: US-2023133332-A1

Title: Game controller with replaceable joystick gate(s)

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION (PRIORITY CLAIM) 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/274,743, filed Nov. 2, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention generally relates to game controllers, and more specifically relates to a game controller having at least one joystick and a removable gate that is associated with the joystick. 
     Game controllers often include one or more joysticks. A joystick gate is the physical part of the game controller shell that restricts a joystick&#39;s movement too far in certain directions and makes for more precise direction choices. In the industry, joystick gates have openings that come in many different shapes with the most common shaped opening being circle, octagon and square. 
     Sometimes, users will put notches in the gate of a game controller in order to make certain joystick inputs easier to hit. In addition to making certain joystick inputs easier to hit, notches also tend to provide tactile feedback for when the joystick is in specific input locations. 
     Joystick gates are physically part of the shell of the game controller. In other words, typically joystick gates are integral with the main body of the controller. As such, when a user cuts notches into a gate, the user risks damaging the game controller. Furthermore, a user could mistakenly cut a notch too deep into a gate, or cut the notch at slightly the wrong location, and then ultimately regret it. Mis-notching the gate of a game controller could cause the user to not want to use that particular game controller anymore or could cause the user to want to start over trying to notch a new game controller. 
     As discussed, joystick gates are physically part of the shell of the game controller. As such, other than notching a gate to make relatively minor adjustments to the shape of the gate, the overall shape of the gate cannot be readily and easily changed. For example, if a game controller includes a joystick that has a gate having a circular opening and the user would rather that the gate have an octagon opening, the user would have no choice but to attempt to notch into the existing circular gate in an attempt to convert it into an octagon. This presents the risk of damaging the game controller and/or mis-notching the gate. 
     Even if a user successfully notches a gate, those notches tend to get a lot of action and the notches tend to provide points of weakness in the shell of the game controller (which is typically plastic). As such, oftentimes those points tend to wear prematurely. 
     SUMMARY 
     One object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a game controller having at least one joystick and a removable gate that is associated with that joystick. 
     Another object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a game controller having at least one joystick gate that can be easily replaced, either with a gate having the same shaped opening or a gate having a different sized and/or shaped opening. 
     Still another object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a game controller having at least one joystick gate that can be easily swapped out for a gate having an opening that provides a different size or shape. 
     Briefly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a game controller which comprises at least one joystick. A gate is associated with the joystick (i.e., the gate surrounds, or is at least proximate to, the joystick). The gate is removable from the game controller. To that end, the gate is connected to the game controller via any type of suitable attachment that provides for quick and easy removal of the gate, such as magnetic attraction, snaps, fasteners, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which: 
         FIG.  1    provides a top view of a game controller that is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the game controller includes removable joystick gates; and 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of the game controller showing the gates and the fasteners associated with those gates exploded away from the game controller. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated. 
       FIG.  1    provides a top view of a game controller  10  that is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The game controller  10  includes at least one joystick  12 ,  14  and a removable gate  16 ,  18  associated with (surrounding or at least proximate to) the joystick  12 ,  14 . 
     In the specific example shown in  FIG.  1   , the game controller  10  includes two joysticks  12  and  14 , a removable gate  16  and  18  associated with each joystick  12  and  14 , as well as other buttons and controls  20 . The exact number and placement of joysticks, gates, buttons, controls, etc. is not imperative to the present invention and the game controller  10  shown in  FIG.  1    is merely provided as one possible example. Furthermore, while gates  16 ,  18  having octagon shaped openings are shown, still other shapes and sizes of openings are, of course, totally possible. 
     As shown, the game controller  10  has a main shell body  22  and the gates  16 ,  18  (one gate  16  associated with the left joystick  12  and another gate  18  associated with the right joystick  14 ) are removably attached thereto. 
       FIG.  2    shows the gates  16 ,  18  and the fasteners  24 ,  26  associated with those gates  16 ,  18  removed from the game controller  10 . 
     To replace the gate  16  of the left joystick  12 , one merely removes the fasteners  26  associated with that gate  16 , removes the gate  16 , positions a new gate where the old gate used to be, and reinstalls the fasteners  26 . The new gate would look just like the gate  16  shown in  FIG.  1   , but potentially could have a different shaped and/or sized opening. Likewise, to replace the gate  18  of the right joystick  14 , one merely removes the fasteners  24  associated with that gate  18 , removes the gate  18 , positions a new gate where the old gate used to be, and reinstalls the fasteners  24 . The new gate would look just like the gate  18  shown in  FIG.  1   , but potentially could have a different shaped and/or sized opening. 
     In the specific example shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the game controller  10  also includes a cover piece  28  that surrounds the left joystick  12 . While the cover piece  28  may be attached with fasteners  30 , preferably the game controller  10  is configured such that neither the cover piece  28  nor the associated fasteners  30  have to be removed in order to replace either one of the gates  16  or  18 . 
       FIGS.  1  and  2    show the specific example where the gates  16 ,  18  (and the cover piece  28 ) are attached to the game controller  10  with fasteners, but other methods of attachment could very well be used while still staying within the scope of the present invention. For example, one or more snaps can be used, magnets can be used, etc., even an adhesive can be used. Regardless, the gates  16 ,  18  are provided as separate pieces and therefore are removable. 
     Having a removable gate  16 ,  18  makes it possible for a user to replace a gate  16 ,  18  that has become worn or broken. 
     Furthermore, it makes it easier for a user to notch a gate  16  or  18  without risking messing up the entire shell  22 , i.e., if the user makes a mistake when notching. Another gate could simply be purchased and installed on the game controller  10  to replace that was mis-notched. 
     Gates having different sized or shaped openings can be used as well. The stock gate  16 ,  18  being shown in  FIG.  1    is a gate having an octagon shaped opening allowing for easy cardinal and diagonal inputs. However, gates having different openings, such as circular openings (or any other shape), can be used. This allows the user freedom to choose to what inputs each joystick  12 ,  14  of the game controller  10  is gated. 
     Alternatively, the gates  16 ,  18  shown in  FIG.  1    having octagon shaped openings can be replaced with gates having smaller sized octagon openings. 
     Over time, when users notch a gate, the plastic of the notches wear down. Because the gate is a separate part, it can be made of a higher impact resistant material (compared to the rest of the game controller) to prevent breakdown over time. 
     These are just many of the advantages of providing removable or modular gates on a game controller. 
     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.