IP Library Granted Patent US 10,427,037
Granted Patent B2
US 10,427,037 · App. 16/004,102 · Granted Oct 1, 2019

Video game controller

Inventors: Bradley M. Strahle (Crestline, CA); Yannik Wiggemans (Studio City, CA)
Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
A63F13/24A63F13/22A63F13/285A63F13/98
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,427,037
App. No.
16/004,102
Granted
Oct 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A video game controller can include a body with a top surface and a bottom surface, multiple control inputs (e.g., thumbsticks, directional pads, buttons), and a face plate removably coupleable to the body over the top surface so that the plurality of control inputs extend through the face plate. One or more of the multiple control inputs are removable and replaceable without the use of tools by decoupling the face plate from the body and decoupling the control input from the body without disassembling the body.

Claims (35)

1. A video game controller, comprising:

a controller body having a top surface and a bottom surface and a pair of handles, each of the pair of handles having an opening defined on the top surface that is aligned with a compartment in each of the pair of handles, the compartment being accessible through the opening on the top surface and configured to removably receive a vibration motor through the opening on the top surface;

a first plurality of control inputs that protrude from and are movable relative to a front portion of the controller body, and a second plurality of control inputs removably mounted on the controller body through the top surface to releasably connect with electronics disposed within the controller body below the top surface of the controller body, the top surface facing in a different direction than the front portion, each of the first and second plurality of control inputs operable to control one or more operations of the video game controller; and

a face plate having a plurality of openings and being removably coupleable to the controller body over at least a portion of the top surface so that the second plurality of control inputs extend through the plurality of openings in the face plate, at least one of the plurality of openings in the face plate having a cross shape,

wherein one or more of the second plurality of control inputs are removable and replaceable by decoupling the face plate from the controller body and decoupling said one or more of the second plurality of control inputs from the controller body without disassembling the controller body.

2. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of control inputs comprises one or more of thumbsticks, one or more directional pad, and one or more buttons.

3. The video game controller of claim 2 , wherein the one or more thumbsticks are interchangeable thumb sticks having different heights or shapes.

4. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein said one or more of the second plurality of control inputs are mechanically coupled to the controller body.

5. The video game controller of claim 4 , wherein said one or more of the second plurality of control inputs are coupled to the controller body by a clip mechanism.

6. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein said one or more of the second plurality of control inputs is installed by aligning the control input with a compartment in the controller body and linearly advancing the control input into the compartment.

7. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more compartments are covered by removable covers.

8. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of control inputs comprises one or more depressible triggers coupled to the controller body, the one or more depressible triggers having an adjustable travel distance.

9. The video game controller of claim 8 , further comprising one or more movable switches actuatable to adjust the travel distance of the one or more depressible triggers.

10. A video game controller, comprising:

a controller body having a top surface and a bottom surface and a pair of handles, each of the pair of handles having an opening defined on the top surface that is aligned with a compartment in each of the pair of handles, the compartment being accessible through the opening on the top surface and configured to removably receive a vibration motor through the opening on the top surface;

a plurality of control inputs comprising one or more thumbsticks, a directional pad and a plurality of buttons, the plurality of control inputs removably mounted on the controller body through the top surface to releasably connect with electronics disposed within the controller body below the top surface of the controller body, each of the plurality of control inputs operable to control one or more operations of the video game controller;

a face plate having a plurality of openings and being removably coupleable to the controller body so that the plurality of control inputs extend through the plurality of openings in the face plate when the face plate is coupled to the controller body, at least one of the plurality of openings in the face plate having a cross shape; and

a detachable paddle disposed on an underside of the controller body and movable relative to the bottom surface of the controller body,

wherein one or more of the second plurality of control inputs are removable and replaceable by decoupling the face plate from the controller body and decoupling said one or more of the second plurality of control inputs from the controller body without disassembling the controller body.

11. The video game controller of claim 10 , wherein the one or more thumbsticks are interchangeable thumbsticks having different heights or shapes.

12. The video game controller of claim 10 , wherein the controller body further comprises one or more compartments accessible through the top surface of the controller body that are configured to removably receive one or more vibration motors.

13. The video game controller of claim 10 , wherein the paddle is decoupled from the controller body via actuation of a locking switch on the controller body.

14. The video game controller of claim 10 , wherein the paddle comprises a pair of wings configured to contact a pair of levers in the bottom surface of the controller body when one or both of the pair of wings are pressed by the user.

15. The video game controller of claim 10 , wherein the face plate is magnetically coupleable to the controller body.

16. The video game controller of claim 10 , further comprising one or more movable switches actuatable to adjust a travel distance of one or more depressible triggers coupled to the controller body.

17. A video game controller kit, comprising:

a video game controller comprising

a controller body having a top surface and a bottom surface and a pair of handles, each of the pair of handles having an opening defined on the top surface that is aligned with a compartment in each of the pair of handles, the compartment being accessible through the opening on the top surface and housing a vibration motor therein that is removable through the opening on the top surface,

a plurality of control inputs removably mounted on the controller body through the top surface to releasably connect with electronics disposed within the controller body below the top surface of the controller body, each of the plurality of control inputs operable to control one or more operations of the video game controller,

a face plate having a plurality of openings and being removably coupleable to the controller body so that the second plurality of control inputs extend through the plurality of openings in the face plate, at least one of the plurality of openings in the face plate having a cross shape; and

a plurality of replacement control inputs configured to replace one or more of the second plurality of control inputs,

wherein one or more of the second plurality of control inputs are removable and replaceable by decoupling the face plate from the controller body and decoupling said one or more of the second plurality of control inputs from the controller body without disassembling the controller body.

18. The video game controller kit of claim 17 , wherein the face plate is magnetically coupled to the controller body.

19. The video game controller kit of claim 17 , further comprising one or more depressible triggers movable relative to the controller body, the one or more depressible triggers having an adjustable travel distance.

20. The video game controller kit of claim 19 , further comprising one or more movable switches actuatable to adjust the travel distance of the one or more depressible triggers.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 075315/0067 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2026
From: PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075311/0507 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072470/0260 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 4, 2025
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072338/0059 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072337/0391 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 066895/0786 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066797/0517 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 066796/0562 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053657/0655 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2018
From: STRAHLE, BRADLEY M.; WIGGEMANS, YANNIK
To: PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 046046/0536 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62518507 · Jun 12, 2017
Related Publication 20180353850A1 · Dec 13, 2018
Cited By (5)
US 12,194,375 US 12,453,923 US 12,504,826 US 12,539,459 US 12,650,713