Rotating Control Stick Assembly for Adjustable Handle Height

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional video game controllers have fixed control stick heights, requiring users to dismantle the controller and replace sticks to adjust height, which is cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable control stick assembly that allows users to rotate the control stick handle to raise or lower the stick, using a protrusion and indents system within the control stick shell to change the height without removing the stick.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the control stick height is fixed during manufacture, then the manufacturing process is simple and reliable, but the controller cannot be adapted to different games requiring different handle heights

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol stick height adaptabilityVSAvoidcontrol stick structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control stick shaft is made rotatable relative to the control stick shell, allowing the height to be dynamically adjusted by the user through rotation. The protrusion and indent mechanism provides discrete height positions while maintaining structural integrity, transforming a static fixed-height design into a dynamic adjustable one without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control stick is divided into separable components: the control stick shaft, the control stick shell, and the protrusion-indent height adjustment mechanism. This segmentation allows the height adjustment function to be implemented independently through rotation, avoiding the need to redesign the entire control stick structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple control sticks of different heights are provided, then the controller can be adapted to different games, but the user must physically dismantle the controller to replace sticks which is tedious and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol stick height adaptabilityVSAvoidcontrol stick height adjustment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control stick assembly is designed to be self-adjusting through user rotation of the shaft. The protrusion automatically engages with different indents at different heights during rotation, eliminating the need for external tools or complex assembly/disassembly procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the user must replace entire control sticks to change height, then the height can be changed, but the process requires maintaining and tracking multiple control sticks which is inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol stick height adaptabilityVSAvoidnumber of control sticks required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single control stick shaft is designed to perform multiple height functions through rotation. The same shaft can engage different indents to provide multiple discrete height positions, eliminating the need for multiple separate control sticks and making one component universal for all height requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple height adjustment functions are merged into a single control stick assembly. The protrusion and indent mechanism combines what would otherwise require separate sticks into one integrated unit, allowing the user to access different heights from a single component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4534160A1Retractable/extendable control stick

Publication Date: 2025.04.09 ACCO BRANDS CORP

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AI summary

A video game system controller comprises a controller body and a controller control stick movably coupled to the controller body. The controller control stick has a handle (116; 1102). The controller control stick or the handle (116; 1102) is rotatable relative to the controller body and rotating the controller control stick or the handle (116; 1102) causes height of the handle (116; 1102) to change with respect to the controller body.