U.S. Pat. No. 10,463,977

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures are generally illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and are included to represent at least one way of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are described and/or illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and shown in the figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the description and figures included herewith generally describe and show a particular configuration for the thumbstick of the video game controller and the tubular sleeve and attachment mechanism components of the thumb glove of the present invention, these are only shown for exemplary purposes in order to better explain the present invention. Persons skilled in the relevant art will readily appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the various components shown or described herein.

A thumb glove that is configured pursuant to one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is shown generally as10inFIGS. 2-9and12-14. As set forth in more detail below, the thumb glove10of the present invention is sized and configured to be worn by a user2to receive his or her thumb3, as shown inFIG. 12, and engage the upwardly extending thumbstick12of a video game controller14, an example of which is shown inFIG. 1, being utilized by the user2to play a video game or the like. As will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art, the prior art video game controller14is of the Xbox or Playstation, or equivalent, type of controller that is commonly utilized with certain video game systems. This type of video game controller typically has a controller body16that is shaped and configured to define a pair of hand grips18/20that are gripped by the user's hands during use of the video game controller14. In one configuration, the video game controller14attaches to its associated game console (not shown) via one or more wires (also not shown). Alternatively, the video game controller14may wirelessly connect to the game console. The thumbstick12generally has an upwardly projecting post22that moveably interacts with components inside the controller body16and a generally round shaped top member24that is attached to or integral with the upper end of the post22. The top member24generally has a concave upper surface26. As well known in the art, during use of the video game controller14the bottom surface4(shown inFIG. 12) of the user's thumb3rests against the upper surface26of the top member24and applies pressure to the top member24so he or she can move the thumbstick12in the direction necessary to accomplish the movement or other action desired by the user2for one or more objects that are displayed on a video screen (not shown) connected to or otherwise associated with the game console.

As set forth in the Background above, during game play the user's thumb3may slip off of the upper surface26of top member24of the thumbstick12due to the user quickly moving the thumbstick12around, particularly during rapid game play, or due to perspiration reducing the surface contact between the thumb and top member24of the thumbstick12. As also set forth above, frequent video game play can result in soreness or even repetitive-type injuries to the user's thumb3. The thumb glove10of the present invention solves these problems and reduces the likelihood of soreness and injury to the thumb3. In general, the thumb glove10of the present invention comprises a generally tubular sleeve28that is sized and configured to removably receive substantially the user's entire thumb3and an attachment mechanism30that is configured to secure the thumb glove10to the thumbstick12, as best shown inFIG. 12. As set forth in more detail below, the thumb glove10of the present invention can be configured to be removably attached to the thumbstick12or it can be made as an integral part of thumbstick12and video game controller14.

The tubular sleeve28comprises an elongated sleeve body32having a first or front end34and a second or back end36that defines a thumb cavity38that, in a preferred embodiment, has front wall40at least substantially closing the first end34of the sleeve body, as shown inFIGS. 2-14. As best shown inFIGS. 3, 7, 10 and 12, the second end34of the sleeve body32is configured to allow the user to put his or her thumb3inside the thumb cavity38through the open second end34of the sleeve body32. The sleeve body32is sized and configured for the user's thumb to comfortably fit inside the thumb cavity38through the open second end34of the sleeve body32. In the preferred embodiment, the length of sleeve body32(i.e., as measured between the first end34and the second end36and best shown inFIGS. 4 and 5) is sufficient to enclose substantially the entire thumb3of the user2inside the thumb cavity38with the forward or distal end5of the thumb3being at or near the front wall40and the rearward or proximal end6of the thumb3at or near the second end36of the sleeve body32(with the terms distal and proximal being utilized in reference to the user's hand or wrist) so as to provide support to the user's thumb3. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, this length will further (relative to certain prior art devices) reduce the likelihood that the thumb3will inadvertently slip out of the thumb glove10and/or that the thumb3will become sore or injured from frequent video game playing. As will also be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the support provided by the longer length of the tubular sleeve28of the thumb glove10of the present invention will be much easier on the user's wrist. In addition, because the longer length of the tubular sleeve28more securely attaches the thumb glove10to the user's thumb3, the user2will not have to work as hard, or even really have to think about it at all, to ensure that his or her thumb3remains inside the thumb cavity38of the tubular sleeve28.

In one embodiment of the thumb glove10of the present invention, the sleeve body32of the tubular sleeve28has solid walls along the entire length of the sleeve body32. In a preferred embodiment, however, the sleeve body32has several openings which provide benefits for the user of the thumb glove10. For instance, in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 2-10, the tubular sleeve28has a knuckle opening42at the top wall44of the sleeve body32, as best shown inFIGS. 2-5 and 8, that is sized and configured to allow the user's thumb knuckle7to comfortably fit in the sleeve body32so as to reduce the strain and stress on the user's thumb3. The embodiment of thumb glove10of the present invention shown inFIGS. 2-10also comprises one or more vent slots46along one or more of the walls of the sleeve body32. In a preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of vent slots46along each of the right or first side wall48and the opposing left or second side wall50of the sleeve body32. The vent slots46generally allow air to pass through thumb cavity38so as to cool the user's thumb3and make wearing the thumb glove10more comfortable for the user2and reduce perspiration inside thumb cavity38. In a first embodiment of thumb glove10of the present invention, shown inFIGS. 2-12, the sleeve body32of thumb glove10also has a connector opening52in the bottom wall54that is sized and configured, as set forth in more detail below, to receive a portion of an attachment mechanism30. In a second embodiment of the thumb glove10, shown inFIGS. 13-14, the bottom wall54of the sleeve body32is solid.

In the first embodiment of the thumb glove10of the present invention, shown inFIGS. 2-12, the attachment mechanism30of thumb glove10generally comprises a base56at the bottom side54of the sleeve body32, a plurality of engaging members58extending downward (when thumb glove10is being worn by the user2, as shown inFIG. 12) from the base56, an attachment element60at or near the bottom of each engaging member58extending inwardly from the engaging members58and a contact member62that extends upward from the base56, as best shown inFIGS. 2-7 and 9-10 and 12. The contact member62has an upper surface64(as best shown inFIGS. 8 and 11) that is sized and configured, in a preferred embodiment, to be in at least substantially corresponding relation with the upper surface26of the thumbstick12of the video game controller14. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the upper surface64of the contact member62at least substantially corresponds to the upper surface26of the top member24, namely the contact member62is substantially the same diameter as the top member24of the thumbstick12and the upper surface64of the contact member62is similarly concavely shaped with the upper surface26of top member24so the bottom surface4of the user's thumb3will have the same familiar feeling as if the thumb3were being pressed against the upper surface26of the top member24of thumbstick12. Alternatively, the upper surface64can have any desired configuration, such as having the rounded or mushroom top shape that it typically utilized with certain types of video game controllers (such as Nintendo64controllers) as may be desired by the user2of the thumb glove10of the present invention. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 2-12, contact member62extends through the connector opening52at the bottom side54of the sleeve body32so that it is inside the thumb cavity38. In use, the user's thumb3will be against the upper surface64of the contact member62and the interior sidewalls66of the engaging members58will be abutting the edge or edges68of the top member24of thumbstick12with the attachment elements60extending below the edges68of the top member24to engage the lower surface70of the top member24, as shown inFIG. 12. Preferably, the engaging members58are structured and arranged around the base56to be able to fully engage the top member24of the thumbstick12.

As set forth above, the engaging members58are structured and arranged to extend along at least a portion of the edge68of top member24of the thumbstick12and the attachment elements60extend inward sufficiently so as to abut and engage the lower surface70of the top member24and secure the attachment mechanism30to the thumbstick12. To attach the thumb glove10to the thumbstick12, the user2merely presses the attachment mechanism30down onto the top member24of the thumbstick12. The engaging members58will flex slightly outward to allow the attachment elements60to slide under top member24and engage the lower surface70of the top member24with the interior walls66of the engaging members58tightly abutting the edge or edges68of the top member24, which will secure the thumb glove10to the thumbstick12of the video game controller14. In an alternative embodiment, the attachment elements60are not utilized. Instead, the tight engagement of the engaging members58against the top member24of the thumbstick12is configured to be sufficient to securely hold the thumb glove10to the thumbstick12of the video game controller14. As will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the thumb glove10of the present invention will secure the user's thumb3to the thumbstick12and substantially reduce, or even eliminate, the problem with the thumb3slipping off of the upper surface26of top member24of the thumbstick12during game play, even during rapid game play and/or when the user's thumb3is sweaty. This will allow faster and more precise strafing type of action and eliminate thumb creep. In addition, the thumb glove10of the present invention will significantly reduce thumb soreness and stress, common with use of the thumbstick12without the thumb glove10, that could lead to repetitive type injuries. Use of the thumb glove10will also eliminate tension in the user's wrist while he or she is using the video game controller14to play a video game.

As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the various components of the thumb glove10of the present invention described above can be made out of a wide variety of materials. In one embodiment, the thumb sleeve28is made out of latex, rubber or like materials and the attachment mechanism30will be made out of a hard plastic or similar material. The upper surface64of the contact member62can be coated with latex or rubber to provide more comfort for the user. If desired, the edges of the contact member62can be curved slightly upward to hug the sides of the user's thumb for more comfortable and secure interaction between the contact member62and the user's thumb3.

A second embodiment, which is likely preferred due (primarily) to ease and cost of manufacturing, of the thumb glove10of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 13-14. In this embodiment, the attachment mechanism30comprises a tubular member72which is attached to or integral with the bottom wall54of the sleeve body32and extends downward (when being worn by the user2) from the bottom wall54to tightly engage the top member24of the thumbstick12. The tubular member72has interior side wall or walls74which form an opening76sized and configured to receive the top member24into the tubular member72. When the attachment mechanism30is secured to the thumbstick12, the interior wall or walls74of the tubular member72will tightly engage the edge68of the top member24to secure the tubular sleeve28, and therefore the thumb glove10, to the thumbstick12of the video game controller14. To be effective, the tubular member72must be at least generally sized and configured in corresponding relation to the top member24of the thumbstick12to securely attach the tubular member72to the top member24. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 13-14, the interior diameter of the circular cross-sectioned tubular member72is configured to tightly go around the edge68of the round top member24. Naturally, the shape of the tubular member24will have to be adapted for non-round top members24. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interior dimension of the tubular member72is selected so as to be slightly smaller than the width of the top member24and the tubular member72will be made out of materials that enable the tubular member72to expand around the edges68of the top member24and then retract to tightly engage the top member24to secure the thumb glove10to the thumb stick12. This will allow the attachment mechanism30to fit different sized top members24for different video game controllers14. The tight fit of the tubular member72around top member24of the thumbstick12has the benefit of reducing the likelihood of damage to the thumbstick12that could otherwise result from movement of the thumb glove10relative to the thumbstick12.

In a preferred configuration of this embodiment of the thumb glove10of the present invention, the entire thumb glove10is made out of a pliable material and the attachment mechanism30is integral with the tubular sleeve28. In one embodiment, the thumb glove10can be made out of a thermoplastic elastomer material or like polymers (including EDPM rubber, latex and the like). In one of the preferred embodiments, the entire thumb glove10is molded out of Santoprene™ (available from ExxonMobile). The use of Santoprene™ or like polymers provides a comfortable tubular sleeve28for the user's thumb3and provides the desired elasticity for the tubular member72of the attachment mechanism30, as described above. Additionally, the use of a relatively soft, pliable material for the attachment mechanism30also reduces the likelihood of damaging the thumbstick12or any other components of the video game controller14. In a preferred embodiment, the entire thumb glove10, with the knuckle opening42and vent slots46, is molded from the selected material. In a preferred configuration of this embodiment, the contact member62is also molded into the interior of the thumb cavity38, as shown inFIG. 13, such that the bottom surface4of the user's thumb3will contact the upper surface64of contact member62(as described above for the previous embodiment) when the thumb3is inside the thumb cavity38. This will provide the user2with a similar feel as if he or she is contacting the upper surface26of the thumbstick12.

With regard to using the embodiment ofFIGS. 13-14, before or after inserting his or her thumb3into the thumb cavity38, the user2aligns the opening76of the tubular member72with edge68of the top member24and then presses the tubular member72downward onto the top member24. Being pliable, the tubular member72will expand around the edge68of the top member24to allow the top member24through the opening76into the interior of the tubular member72. The interior side wall74of the tubular member74will contract around the edge68of the top member24to tightly engage the top member24and, therefore, thumbstick12. This will securely attach the tubular sleeve28to the thumbstick12of the video controller14, thereby allowing the user2to maintain his or her thumb3in operative engagement with the thumbstick12so he or she will be able to control the objects of the video game even during rapid or aggressive game play and/or when his or her thumb3is sweaty.

While there are shown and described herein a specific form of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.