IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,494,331
Granted Patent B2
US 12,494,331 · App. 18/188,649 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Multi-directional input device

Inventors: Yusho Nakase (Shenzhen, CN); Shiying Yang (Shenzhen, CN); Chaoxian Chen (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: SHENZHEN ZESUM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
H01H25/04H01H25/06H01H2025/043
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,494,331
App. No.
18/188,649
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a multi-directional input device, including: a first casing provided with a first containing space with a first opening; an operating body, wherein one end of the operating body is provided with a tiltable operating portion penetrating through the first opening, and another end of the operating body extends into the first containing space and is provided with a clamping joint; a hemisphere provided with an installation hole for inserting the clamping joint; a positioning piece provided on an inner wall of the installation hole, wherein the positioning piece is elastically abutted against the clamping joint so that the clamping joint is fixed in the installation hole; a reset mechanism for returning the operating body to a neutral position; a switch mechanism for pressing and operating the switch mechanism through the operating body to realize electrical action.

Claims (24)

1 . A multi-directional input device, comprising:

a first casing provided with a first containing space with a first opening;

an operating body, wherein one end of the operating body is provided with a tiltable operating portion penetrating through the first opening, and another end of the operating body extends into the first containing space and is provided with a clamping joint;

a hemisphere provided with an installation hole for inserting the clamping joint;

a positioning piece provided on an inner wall of the installation hole, wherein the positioning piece is elastically abutted against the clamping joint so that the clamping joint is fixed in the installation hole;

a reset mechanism for returning the operating body to a neutral position;

a switch mechanism for pressing and operating the switch mechanism through the operating body to realize electrical action;

a first rocker arm and a second rocker arm, wherein the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are provided outside the first casing, the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm rotate following a tilting operation of the operation body, and rotation axes of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are horizontal and perpendicular to each other; and

a first detection mechanism for detecting rotation movement of the first rocker arm and a second detection mechanism for detecting rotation movement of the second rocker arm;

wherein the multi-directional input device comprises a plurality of positioning pieces provided on an inner periphery of the installation hole;

wherein each of the plurality of positioning pieces is an elastic arm, a first end of the elastic arm is integrally formed with the inner wall of the installation hole, and a second end of the elastic arm extends along an insertion direction of the clamping joint and forms a gap with the inner wall of the installation hole, when the clamping joint is inserted into the installation hole, the clamping joint is abutted against the elastic arm to make the elastic arm deform in a direction to reduce the gap;

wherein the clamping joint is provided with a positioning notch corresponding to the elastic arm, and the elastic arm is inserted into the positioning notch to fix the operating body and the hemisphere; and/or

the operating body is provided with a limiting portion towards an insertion direction, and when the clamping joint is inserted into the installation hole, the limiting portion is abutted against and cooperated with an upper surface of the hemisphere to limit the operating body from continuing to be inserted into the installation hole.

2 . The multi-directional input device of claim 1 , wherein the switch mechanism comprises:

a switch made of metal, wherein the switch is provided with a disc-shaped reversing mechanism;

a circuit substrate electrically connected to the switch; and

a pressing bracket for pressing the switch, wherein the pressing bracket is coaxial with the operating body, the pressing bracket is roughly cylindrical, an upper end of the pressing bracket is formed with a hemispherical concave corresponding to the hemisphere on the clamping joint provided on the operating body, and a lower end of the pressing bracket is formed with a convex portion for pressing the switch.

3 . The multi-directional input device of claim 2 , wherein the hemisphere is provided with a circular plane portion, and the reset mechanism comprises:

a spring bracket fixed inside the first containing space, the spring bracket being sleeved on an outer periphery of the pressing bracket at intervals;

a platen provided between the hemisphere and the spring bracket; and

a coil spring, wherein an end of the coil spring is abutted against the spring bracket, and another end of the coil spring is abutted against the platen, so that the platen is abutted against the circular planar portion.

4 . The multi-directional input device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second casing provided on an upper portion of the first casing,

wherein the second casing forms a second containing space, both the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are movably accommodated in the second containing space, the second casing is provided with a second opening for the operating body to pass through, and the second opening is provided at a center of a top surface of the second containing space.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2023
From: NAKASE, YUSHO; YANG, SHIYING; CHEN, CHAOXIAN
To: SHENZHEN ZESUM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063149/0234 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202223601583.2 · Dec 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240222049A1 · Jul 4, 2024
References Cited (3)
US 6654005B2 · Wang · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 10770247B1 · Wu · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210093950A1 · Duncan · 2021 [cited by examiner]