Controller support tool

Abstract

To provide a controller support tool in which a resistance feeling to a movement of a controller is not attenuated.SOLUTION: A controller support tool 1 has: a holding part 3 for holding a controller 2 that can control motions of a target body in accordance with movements; and a support part 5 for supporting the holding part 3, where a metal sphere part 7 that is a ferromagnetic body is installed to the holding part 3, a magnet part 9 is installed to an upper end of the support part 5, and a spacer part 16 is installed between the metal sphere part 7 and the magnet part 9. Accordingly, the metal sphere part 7 is always attracted with magnetic force to the magnet part 9 across the spacer part 16 and slide resistance between the spacer part 16 and the metal sphere part 7 is always secured. Whereby, a resistance feeling to the movement of the controller 2 is not attenuated in the controller support tool 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a controller support for supporting a controller, and in particular to a controller support for supporting a controller capable of controlling the action of an object in response to movement. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, controller supports having a holding part that holds a controller and a support part that supports the holding part have been well known. In recent years, controllers have become larger and heavier as a result of being equipped with a wider variety of functions. Since it is difficult to hold and operate such a large controller for long periods of time, controller supports have been proposed to support the controller and reduce the burden on the user (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The controller support in Patent Document 1 is for supporting a so-called dual-grip type game controller, and shows a configuration including a holding part that holds the controller, a support part that supports the holding part, and the support part being connected to a ball stud part of a ball joint.

[0004] More specifically, the controller support in Patent Document 1 is configured so that the controller can be operated by rotating around the ball portion of the ball joint as the center of rotation.

[0005] However, with the controller support in Patent Document 1, when controlling the movement of a target object (in this case, a character in a game) in accordance with the movement of the controller, there is a risk that the inner surface of the ball housing portion of the ball joint and the outer surface of the ball portion will gradually wear down due to sliding against each other.

[0006] In particular, double-grip game controllers are designed to be operated with greater force, which can lead to more intense operations and accelerated wear on the sliding surfaces. As a result, over time the resistance to controller movement disappears, resulting in problems such as being unable to stop movement at the correct point, being unable to make fine adjustments to position, and unintended movements due to the controller's own weight. Such problems have become more pronounced in recent years as controllers have become larger and heavier, resulting in a larger moment of inertia.

[0007] Furthermore, as the size and weight of controllers have increased, there is inevitably an uneven weight distribution in the holding portion, and there are many cases in which the holding portion tilts toward the heavier part. This can cause a problem of uneven wear on the sliding surfaces. The above problem is particularly noticeable when a controller is operated by a child or an elderly person who has weak arm strength.

[0008] Furthermore, if the resistance to the controller's operation disappears, it is not possible to address the issue by simply replacing the ball portion and ball housing portion individually; it is generally necessary to replace the entire ball joint, which entails the problem of time and cost. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6503536 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an objective to provide a controller support that does not attenuate the sense of resistance to the movement of a controller.

[0011] The controller support of the present disclosure has a holding part that holds a controller that can control the action of a target object according to its movement, and a support part that supports the holding part. Here, the holder is provided with a ferromagnetic metal sphere. In addition, a magnet portion is provided at the upper end of the support portion. A spacer portion is provided between the metallic sphere portion and the magnet portion.

[0012] As a result, the metal sphere portion is constantly attracted to the magnet portion by magnetic force across the spacer portion, and since the spacer portion is sandwiched between the magnet portion and the metal sphere portion, sliding resistance between the metal sphere portion is constantly maintained. Therefore, the resistance to the movement of the controller in the controller support is not attenuated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of the controller support (embodiment example). [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a front view showing the controller support in an extended state (embodiment); [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the controller support in use (embodiment); [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a controller support (embodiment); [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a main part of a controller support with a holding portion and a support portion separated (embodiment); [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a spacer portion taken along a plane including an axis (embodiment); [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view of the controller support when not in use (embodiment); [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a front view of the controller support (modified example). [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a front view of the controller support with its legs closed (variant example). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on examples. It should be noted that the following examples are merely illustrative and the present disclosure is not limited to the following examples. EXAMPLES

[0015] [Configuration of the embodiment] The configuration of a controller support 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The controller support 1 has a holding part 3 that holds a controller 2 that can control the action of a target object according to its movement, and a support part 5 that supports the holding part 3. The controller 2 is a so-called double-grip type game controller, and the target object is a character or the like in the game.

[0016] The holder 3 is also provided with a ferromagnetic metal sphere 7 . More specifically, the metal sphere portion 7 is disposed on the lower side of the holding portion 3, which is opposite to the side where the controller 2 is held. Here, the ferromagnetic material is one that is attracted by magnetic force, and examples of such materials include iron, nickel, cobalt, and gadolinium. The metallic sphere portion 7 is made of iron.

[0017] Furthermore, a magnet portion 9 is provided on the upper end of the support portion 5 that supports the holding portion 3. Here, the magnet portion 9 is a neodymium magnet, which is a permanent magnet. The magnet portion 9 is fixed to the rod 12 by magnetic force with a magnet body fixed to the upper end of the aluminum rod 12 of the support portion 5 .

[0018] In addition, by operating the lock mechanism 13 and pulling out the rod 12, the overall length of the support part 5 of the controller support 1 can be extended as shown in FIG. 2, and the height during use can be adjusted.

[0019] Furthermore, when in use, support part 5 is operated with elastomer spherical part 15 at the lower end of support part 5 as the center of rotation of the entire controller support device 1, as shown in FIG. In addition, since the spherical portion 15 is made of elastomer, it will not slip even on a smooth floor surface and its position will be fixed.

[0020] In addition, the controller support 1 has a spacer portion 16 provided between the metal sphere portion 7 and the magnet portion 9. Here, the spacer portion 16 is made of aluminum, and is fixed to the upper end of the magnet portion 9 with an adhesive tape (not shown).

[0021] More specifically, the spacer portion 16 has a configuration as shown in a cross section taken along a plane including the axis α of the rod 12, as shown in FIG. Here, the spacer portion 16 contacts the metal sphere portion 7 via a sphere contact surface 18 that abuts along the outer circumferential surface of the metal sphere portion 7 .

[0022] Further, in the controller support 1, a counterweight portion 20 for the controller 2 is provided in the holding portion 3 as shown in FIGS. Here, the counterweight portion 20 is intended to suppress excessive tilting of the holding portion 3 by the controller 2, and is arranged on the holding portion 3 so that the metal sphere portion 7 is located between the counterweight portion 20 and the controller 2.

[0023] When the controller support 1 is not in use, the holding part 3 can be removed from the support part 5 as shown in Fig. 7. Furthermore, the support part 5 from which the holding part 3 has been removed can be stored with the locking mechanism 13 operated and the rod 12 retracted.

[0024] [Effects of the embodiment] The controller support 1 of the embodiment has a holding part 3 that holds a controller 2 that can control the action of a target object according to its movement, and a support part 5 that supports the holding part 3. Here, the holder 3 is provided with a ferromagnetic metal sphere 7 . Furthermore, a magnet portion 9 is provided on the upper end of the support portion 5. A spacer portion 16 is provided between the metal sphere portion 7 and the magnet portion 9.

[0025] As a result, the metal sphere portion 7 is constantly attracted to the magnet portion 9 by magnetic force across the spacer portion 16, and since the spacer portion 16 is sandwiched between the magnet portion 9 and the metal sphere portion 7, sliding resistance between the spacer portion 16 and the metal sphere portion 7 is constantly maintained. For this reason, in the controller support 1, the sense of resistance to the movement of the controller 2 is not attenuated.

[0026] Moreover, by changing the thickness of the spacer portion 16, it is possible to change the sliding resistance between the spacer portion 16 and the metal sphere portion 7. More specifically, by increasing the thickness of spacer portion 16, the distance between magnet portion 9 and metal sphere portion 7 is increased, thereby reducing the clamping force between magnet portion 9 and metal sphere portion 7 on spacer portion 16, and thereby reducing the sliding resistance between spacer portion 16 and metal sphere portion 7. This allows the sliding resistance between the spacer portion 16 and the metallic sphere portion 7 to be easily adjusted by changing the spacer portion 16, and allows the sliding resistance to be easily achieved according to one's preference.

[0027] Furthermore, even if extreme wear occurs between the spacer portion 16 and the metal sphere portion 7, the distance between the metal sphere portion 7 and the magnet portion 9 will narrow, increasing the clamping force between the magnet portion 9 and the metal sphere portion 7 on the spacer portion 16, and increasing the sliding resistance between the spacer portion 16 and the metal sphere portion 7. In other words, even in such a case, the sense of resistance to the movement of the controller 2 in the controller support 1 is not attenuated.

[0028] Furthermore, in the controller support 1, the spacer portion 16 contacts the metal sphere portion 7 via a sphere contact surface 18 that abuts along the outer circumferential surface of the metal sphere portion 7. This increases the contact area between the spacer portion 16 and the metal sphere portion 7, thereby distributing the clamping force exerted by the magnet portion 9 and the metal sphere portion 7 on the spacer portion 16, and suppressing wear due to sliding between the spacer portion 16 and the metal sphere portion 7. By changing the area of ​​the sphere contact surface 18, the sliding resistance between the spacer portion 16 and the metal sphere portion 7 can be easily changed.

[0029] Furthermore, in the controller support 1, the magnet portion 9 is a neodymium magnet. Here, neodymium magnets are relatively easy to obtain, and their magnetic force does not decay much over time. However, neodymium magnets are susceptible to rust, and if the coating that is usually applied to them, such as nickel plating, peels off, rust will occur, causing a significant decrease in performance.

[0030] Therefore, in the controller support 1, the metal sphere portion 7 and the magnet portion 9 are arranged separated by the spacer portion 16, and the magnet portion 9 is not configured to come into direct contact with the movable metal sphere portion 7, so there is no need to worry about the coating on the magnet portion 9 peeling off. Therefore, the presence of the spacer portion 16 improves the durability of the magnet portion 9.

[0031] Moreover, the spacer portion 16 in the controller support 1 is made of aluminum. As a result, the spacer portion 16 is made of metal and is therefore less susceptible to wear. This improves the durability of the spacer portion 16.

[0032] Furthermore, in the controller support 1, the holding portion 3 is provided with a counterweight portion 20 for the controller 2. This makes it possible to prevent excessive tilt of the controller 2 in the holding portion 3, and to prevent uneven wear on the sliding surface.

[0033] Furthermore, the controller support 1 allows the height of the controller 2 to be adjusted during use. This prevents excessive tilt of the holding part 3 caused by the height of the controller 2 being too high or too low during use, and suppresses uneven wear on the sliding surface. In addition, since there is no need to operate the device in an awkward position, deterioration of the user's posture during operation can be prevented.

[0034] Furthermore, when controller support 1 is not in use, holding part 3 can be detached from support part 5, and support part 5 from which holding part 3 has been detached can retract rod 12 by operating lock mechanism 13. This makes it possible to reduce the space occupied by the holder 3 when not in use, and also to prevent uneven wear on the sliding surface caused by tilting of the holder 3 due to its own weight.

[0035] [Variations] The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In the embodiment, the spacer portion 16 is made of aluminum, which is a paramagnetic material, but it may be made of other paramagnetic metals such as SUS304 and SUS316, or may be made of diamagnetic metals such as copper. In addition, by using SUS304, SUS316, or copper, which has a higher hardness than aluminum, for the spacer portion 16, wear on the sliding surface of the spacer portion 16 can be further suppressed.

[0036] Furthermore, the spacer portion 16 may be made of a ferromagnetic metal such as iron. In this case, the sense of resistance to the movement of the controller 2 becomes greater, making it possible to provide a configuration suitable for operations that primarily require accurate movement of the controller 2 rather than quick movement of the controller 2.

[0037] Furthermore, the spacer portion 16 may be made of resin. In this case, it is more preferable to use a material having high hardness and excellent abrasion resistance, such as polyacetal resin, which is a so-called engineering plastic.

[0038] In addition, in the embodiment, the controller 2 is a so-called game controller, but this is not essential. For example, the controller 2 may be a remote control controller. In this case, when accuracy of movement is more important than speed of movement of the controller 2, the spacer portion 16 can be made of a ferromagnetic metal, thereby making it possible to provide a configuration suitable for more accurate movement.

[0039] In addition, in the embodiment, the controller 2 is a double-grip type game controller, but it may be a so-called gun grip type controller. In this case, operation is performed using one arm, and loss of resistance to movement can make operation more difficult.

[0040] In addition, in the embodiment, the magnet portion 9 and the spacer portion 16 are fixed with adhesive tape, but they may be fixed with an adhesive, or a retainer may be provided on the spacer portion 16 and fixed to the magnet portion 9 by the retainer. When the spacer portion 16 is made of a ferromagnetic material, no fixing means is particularly required.

[0041] In addition, in the embodiment, the part that comes into contact with the floor is the elastomeric spherical part 15, but as shown in FIG. 8, the controller support 21 may have extendable legs 22, and the legs 22 may be configured to come into contact with the floor. This provides higher stability on the floor etc. when in use. Also, the support part 25 can be made to stand on its own when not in use.

[0042] By folding the legs 22, the controller support 21 can reduce the space it occupies when not in use, as shown in FIG. 9, making it convenient to carry. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Controller support 2 Controller 3 Holding part 5 Support part 7 Metal sphere part 9 Magnet part 16 Spacer part

Claims

1. A controller support having a holding part for holding a controller capable of controlling a motion of an object in response to a motion of the controller and a support part for supporting the holding part, A ferromagnetic metal sphere portion provided on the holding portion; A magnet portion provided at an upper end of the support portion; A controller support comprising: a spacer portion provided between the metal sphere portion and the magnet portion.

2. 2. The controller support according to claim 1, A controller support characterized in that the spacer portion contacts the metal sphere portion via a sphere contact surface that abuts along the outer circumferential surface of the metal sphere portion.

3. 3. The controller support according to claim 2, The controller support is characterized in that the magnet portion is a neodymium magnet.

4. 4. The controller support according to claim 3, A controller support, wherein the spacer portion is made of metal.

5. 4. The controller support according to claim 3, The controller support is characterized in that the spacer portion is made of resin.

6. 6. The controller support according to claim 3, A controller support device, characterized in that the holding portion is provided with a counterweight portion for the controller.

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