Game Controller Cover Assembly for Hidden Fasteners and Quiet Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing input devices for video games have exposed screws and components that detract from the appearance and are cumbersome to assemble, and they lack effective noise suppression and comfortable grip design.

Innovation Solution

The input device features a cover that conceals screws and components, a grip design with recessed cover surfaces, and noise-reducing features such as sound holes and buffer members to enhance appearance and usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If screws and components are exposed for easy assembly, then assembly simplicity is improved, but appearance is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The cabinet is divided into an upper cabinet section and a lower cabinet section that can be separately assembled and then combined. The cover is a separate component that can be attached to conceal fastening portions, allowing for modular assembly while maintaining aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover acts as an intermediary component between the fastening portions (screws) and the external environment. It conceals the fastening portions while allowing the cabinet sections to remain detachable for easy assembly and disassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If cover surfaces are recessed to improve grip comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrip comfortVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover surface is designed with a recessed portion specifically in the grip area where the user's hand contacts the device. This localized modification provides enhanced grip comfort without requiring complex structural changes throughout the entire cabinet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The recessed cover surface creates a curved, contoured grip area that conforms to the natural shape of a user's hand. This curvature improves ergonomics and grip comfort while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through molded or machined recesses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If sound holes are added to reduce noise, then harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovenoiseVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Sound holes are created by removing material from the cabinet structure, extracting the harmful noise transmission path. The sound holes allow noise to escape from the interior of the cabinet to the exterior, reducing internal noise levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sound holes create a porous or perforated structure within the cabinet, allowing sound waves to pass through the cover and cabinet walls. This porous configuration reduces noise while maintaining structural integrity through relatively simple drilling or punching operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentEP4252874B1Input device and cover
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP4252874B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4252874B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4252874B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an input device including: a cabinet including an upper cabinet section and a lower cabinet section that are combined in an upward-downward direction; at least one fixture fixing the upper cabinet section to the lower cabinet section; and a cover attached to an exterior surface of the cabinet to cover the at least one fixture. The exterior surface of the cabinet has an exposed region adjacent to the cover and not covered by the cover. A step is formed between the exposed region of the exterior surface of the cabinet and an exterior surface of the cover, so that the exterior surface of the cover is recessed with respect to the exposed region of the exterior surface of the cabinet.