Patent US4604502A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4604502A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Joystick control
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-07-05
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Granted: 1986-08-05
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Expires: 2005-07-05
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is an improved joy stick control including a control rod interrelated with four switches so as to enable the control of movements in eight different directions. In a further aspect, the present invention includes a fire button located below the switches associated with the control rod and above indentations formed in the handle for the fingers. Each of the switches associated with the control rod includes a stationary upper contact and a movable lower contact with the lower contacts of the switches being operatively connected to the control rod.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:48
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G9/04785; G05G9/04788; G05G2009/04703; G05G2009/04722; G05G2009/04725; G05G2009/04733; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04744; H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/02; H01H9/0214
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An improved joystick control device comprising: (a) an upper housing portion; (b) a control rod extending upwardly from said upper housing portion; (c) a hand grip held housing portion depending downwardly from said upper housing portion; and (d) switch means in said upper housing portion, said switch means having actuating means facing downwardly in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of elongation of said control rod and operatively connected to said control rod by a movable plate means whereby controlled movement of said control rod selectively actuates said switch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An improved joystick control device comprising: (a) an upper housing portion; (b) a control rod extending upwardly from said upper housing portion; (c) a hand grip held housing portion depending downwardly from said upper housing portion; and (d) switch means in said upper housing portion, said switch means having actuating means facing downwardly in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of elongation of said control rod and operatively connected to said control rod by a movable plate means whereby controlled movement of said control rod selectively actuates said switch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said upper housing portion is bulbous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said hand grip held housing portion has a fire button mounted thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said switch means includes at least one switch device including: (a) a switch housing fixedly connected to said upper housing portion; and (b) a pushbutton comprising said actuating means and operatively connected to said rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention of claim 4, wherein said switch means comprises four such switch devices, the respective switch housings thereof being mounted on a top function plate and the pushbuttons thereof being engaged to a bottom function plate comprising said movable plate means, said top function plate being fixedly connected to said upper housing portion and said control rod being rigidly connected to said bottom function plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 5, wherein each said push button is resiliently biased in a direction opening each said switch device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 5, wherein said top function plate has a hole therethrough through which said control rod extends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 7, further including a spring mounted between said top function plate and a retainer mounted on said control rod above said top function plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A switch mechanism for a joystick comprising: (a) a housing portion; (b) a top plate fixedly mounted to said housing portion; (c) a control rod; (d) a bottom plate rigidly connected to said control rod; (e) said top plate having a hole therethrough through which said control rod extends; and (f) a plurality of switches, each of said switches including a switch housing inversely mounted to said top plate in a direction opposite to the direction of elongation of said control rod and a pushbutton engaging said bottom plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A switch mechanism for a joystick comprising: (a) a housing portion; (b) a top plate fixedly mounted to said housing portion; (c) a control rod; (d) a bottom plate rigidly connected to said control rod; (e) said top plate having a hole therethrough through which said control rod extends; and (f) a plurality of switches, each of said switches including a switch housing inversely mounted to said top plate in a direction opposite to the direction of elongation of said control rod and a pushbutton engaging said bottom plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 9, wherein said plurality of switches includes four switches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 9, wherein said control rod includes a retainer thereon above said top plate and further including spring means interposed between said top plate and said retainer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 9, wherein each said pushbutton is resiliently biased to an open position of said switch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-04 | 1990-02-03 | 1990-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-04 | 1994-02-03 | 1994-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-04 | 1998-02-03 | 1998-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |