Video game controller with collapsible control stick

Abstract

A controller, thumbstick, or system comprising a thumbstick body, a thumbstick shaft coupled to the thumbstick body wherein the thumbstick shaft is configured to retract into the thumbstick body and wherein the thumbstick body and the thumbstick shaft is freely rotatable together around a pivot center within the controller body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controller comprising;
 a controller body;   a thumbstick body coupled to the controller body;   a thumbstick shaft coupled to the thumbstick body wherein the thumbstick shaft is configured to retract into the thumbstick body and wherein the thumbstick body and the thumbstick shaft is freely rotatable together around a pivot center within the controller body.   
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the thumbstick shaft includes at least one tab that stops the thumbstick shaft from retracting into the thumbstick body when the thumbstick shaft is turned. 
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 2  wherein the thumbstick body includes at least one retention slot that fits the at least one tab and stops the thumbstick shaft from retracting into the thumbstick body and wherein the at least one slot includes at least one shelf that prevents the thumbstick shaft from extending out of the controller body when the thumbstick shaft is pressed into the thumbstick body. 
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 3 , further comprising a spring under the controller shaft configured to apply pressure on the thumbstick shaft assisting in extending out the thumbstick shaft from the controller body and apply a force on thumbstick shaft when the at least one tab is in contact with the at least one shelf locking the thumbstick shaft in position. 
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 2 , further comprising an elastic connection between the thumbstick shaft and the thumbstick body configured to provide a retracting force on the shaft that retracts the thumbstick shaft into the thumbstick body when the at least one tab is not in the at least one slot. 
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid within the thumbstick body and wherein the thumbstick shaft displaces the fluid when the thumbstick shaft retracts into the thumbstick body. 
     
     
         7 . The controller of  claim 6  further comprising a reservoir coupled to the thumbstick body configured to contain the fluid displaced by the thumbstick shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The controller of  claim 6  wherein the fluid is a non-Newtonian fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 7  further comprising an actuator and plunger coupled to the reservoir wherein the actuator applies force to a plunger which pressurizes the fluid in the thumbstick body forcing the thumbstick shaft to slide out from the thumbstick body. 
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 9  further comprising a pressure sensor coupled to the reservoir and actuator wherein a pressure within the reservoir detected by the pressure sensor causes the actuator to reduce a force applied to the plunger allowing the thumbstick shaft to retract into the thumbstick body. 
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 1  further comprising a thumbstick pad coupled to the thumbstick shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein the thumbstick pad is removably coupled to the thumbstick shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 11  wherein the thumbstick pad includes a recess configured to fit a wall of the thumbstick body and further configured to allow a bottom of the thumbstick pad to sit flush with a top of the thumbstick body when the thumbstick shaft is retracted into the thumbstick body. 
     
     
         14 . A thumbstick, comprising:
 a thumbstick body;   a thumbstick shaft coupled to the thumbstick body wherein the thumbstick shaft is configured to retract into the thumbstick body and wherein the thumbstick body and the thumbstick shaft are configured to freely rotate together around a pivot center within a controller body.   
     
     
         15 . The thumbstick of  claim 14  wherein the thumbstick shaft includes at least one tab that stops the thumbstick shaft from retracting into the thumbstick body when the thumbstick shaft is turned. 
     
     
         16 . The thumbstick of  claim 15  wherein the thumbstick body includes at least one retention slot that fits at least one tab and stops the thumbstick shaft from retracting into the thumbstick body and wherein the at least one retention slot includes at least one shelf that prevents the thumbstick shaft from extending out of the controller body when the thumbstick shaft is pressed into the thumbstick body. 
     
     
         17 . The thumbstick of  claim 15  wherein an elastic connection between the thumbstick shaft and the thumbstick body provides a retracting force on the shaft that retracts the thumbstick shaft into the thumbstick body when the at least one tab is not in the at least one slot. 
     
     
         18 . The thumbstick of  claim 14  further comprising a fluid within the thumbstick body and wherein the thumbstick shaft displaces the fluid when the thumbstick shaft retracts into the thumbstick body. 
     
     
         19 . The thumbstick of  claim 18  further comprising a reservoir coupled to the thumbstick body configured to contain the fluid displaced by the thumbstick shaft. 
     
     
         20 . A computer system, comprising:
 a computer element having a processor and memory coupled to the processor; and   a controller configured to interoperate with the computer element, wherein the controller includes a controller body, a thumbstick body coupled to the controller body, a thumbstick shaft coupled to the thumbstick body wherein the thumbstick shaft is configured to retract into the thumbstick body and wherein the thumbstick body and the thumbstick shaft are freely rotatable together around a pivot center within the controller body.