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EP-4741986-A1 - DIRECTION INPUT APPARATUS AND STICK DEVICE

EP4741986A1EP 4741986 A1EP4741986 A1EP 4741986A1EP-4741986-A1

Abstract

A stick portion is tilted with respect to a stick module housing. The stick portion includes a user-operable portion located at least partially outside an outer edge of an upper surface of the stick module housing when viewed in a third direction. A housing includes a first hole through which a stick module passes, the first hole being larger than the user-operable portion in a second direction. A cover closes a part of the first hole. When viewed in a first direction, at least a part of the cover is located between an edge of the first hole and the stick module housing. The cover is immovable relatively to the stick module housing. When viewed in the third direction, an upper surface of the user-operable portion covers the entire stick portion.

Inventors

  • OKAMURA, TAKANORI
  • TAKEI, MASAYA
  • JINGUJI, GAGAKU
  • MINAGAWA, SHINTA

Assignees

  • Nintendo Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251022

Claims (13)

  1. A direction input apparatus (1) comprising: a stick module (3) comprising a stick module housing (40), and a stick portion (10), the stick portion extending in a first direction from an opening at the stick module housing, the stick portion being configured to be tilted with respect to the stick module housing, the stick portion comprising a user-operable portion (11), the user-operable portion being located at an end in the first direction of the stick portion, the user-operable portion extending from the stick portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the user-operable portion being located at least partially outside an outer edge of an upper surface of the stick module housing when viewed in a third direction which is opposite to the first direction; a housing (100) comprising a first hole (103) through which the stick module passes, the first hole being larger than the user-operable portion in the second direction; and a cover (20) configured to close a part of the first hole, at least a part of the cover being located between an edge of the first hole and the stick module housing when viewed in the third direction, the cover being immovable relatively to the stick module housing, wherein when viewed in the third direction, an upper surface of the user-operable portion covers the entire stick portion.
  2. The direction input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a first surface (21) comprising an area flush with a front surface of the housing.
  3. The direction input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the cover projects from the first hole.
  4. The direction input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first surface is curved, the first surface being located more in the first direction as it is closer to a center of the first hole.
  5. The direction input apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cover comprises a second surface (22) extending from an outer edge of the first surface in the third direction, and a third surface (23) extending from the second surface in the second direction, the second surface is opposed to an inner circumferential surface of the first hole, and the third surface is opposed to an inner surface of the housing that is an opposite side of the front surface of the housing.
  6. The direction input apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cover comprises a second hole (25) that opens at the third surface, and a protrusion (105) that projects from the inner surface of the housing passes through the second hole.
  7. The direction input apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cover comprises a step portion (29), the first hole is located at a front wall of the housing, and the step portion is configured to be matched with a corner formed by an inner circumferential surface of the first hole at the front wall and an inner surface of the housing.
  8. The direction input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stick portion comprises a deformable umbrella portion (13) extending in the third direction and the second direction, and the cover overlaps with an outer edge of the umbrella portion when viewed in the first direction.
  9. The direction input apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer edge of the umbrella portion is located outside the housing.
  10. The direction input apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, comprising a substrate (30), wherein the stick module housing is located to pass through a notch or a hole provided at the substrate, and at least a part of a surface opposite to an externally exposed surface of the cover is opposed to a surface at a side of the first direction of the substrate.
  11. The direction input apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cover is fixed to the stick module housing.
  12. A stick device (2) comprising: a stick module housing (40); a stick portion (10), the stick portion extending in a first direction from an opening at the stick module housing, the stick portion being configured to be tilted with respect to the stick module housing, the stick portion comprising a user-operable portion (11), the user-operable portion being located at an end in the first direction of the stick portion, the user-operable portion extending from the stick portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the user-operable portion being located at least partially outside an outer edge of an upper surface of the stick module housing when viewed in a third direction which is opposite to the first direction; and a cover (20) fixed to the stick module housing, the cover being located between the stick module housing and the user-operable portion in the first direction, wherein when viewed in the third direction, an upper surface of the user-operable portion covers the entire stick portion, and when viewed in the first direction, an outer edge of the cover surrounds the user-operable portion.
  13. The stick device according to claim 12, wherein the stick portion comprises a deformable umbrella portion (13) extending in the third direction and the second direction, and the cover overlaps with an outer edge of the umbrella portion when viewed in the first direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present disclosure relates to a direction input apparatus and a stick device. Description of the Background Art As disclosed in WO2023/203799, a configuration to suppress exposure of an internal structure of a controller housing by closing by a stick module housing, a hole at the controller housing through which a stick module passes has been known. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A direction input apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a stick module including a stick module housing and a stick portion, a housing, and a cover. The stick portion extends in a first direction from an opening at the stick module housing and is configured to be tilted with respect to the stick module housing. The stick portion includes a user-operable portion, the user-operable portion being located at an end in the first direction of the stick portion, the user-operable portion extending from the stick portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the user-operable portion being located at least partially outside an outer edge of an upper surface of the stick module housing when viewed in a third direction which is opposite to the first direction. The housing includes a first hole through which the stick module passes, the first hole being larger than the user-operable portion in the second direction. The cover is configured to close a part of the first hole, at least a part of the cover being located between an edge of the first hole and the stick module housing when viewed in the first direction. The cover is immovable relatively to the stick module housing. When viewed in the third direction, an upper surface of the user-operable portion covers the entire stick portion. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, the cover may include a first surface including an area flush with a front surface of the housing. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, at least a part of the cover may project from the first hole. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, the first surface may be curved, the first surface being located more in the first direction as it is closer to a center of the first hole. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, the cover may include a second surface extending from an outer edge of the first surface in the third direction and a third surface extending from the second surface in the second direction. The second surface may be opposed to an inner circumferential surface of the first hole. The third surface may be opposed to an inner surface of the housing that is an opposite side of the front surface of the housing. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, the cover may include a second hole that opens at the third surface. A protrusion that projects from the inner surface of the housing may pass through the second hole. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, the cover may include a step portion. The first hole may be located at a front wall of the housing. The step portion may be configured to be matched with a corner formed by an inner circumferential surface of the first hole at the front wall and an inner surface of the housing. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, the stick portion may include a deformable umbrella portion extending in the third direction and the second direction. The cover may overlap with an outer edge of the umbrella portion when viewed in the first direction. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, the outer edge of the umbrella portion may be located outside the housing. The direction input apparatus according to the above may include a substrate. The stick module housing may be located to pass through a notch or a hole provided at the substrate. At least a part of a surface opposite to an externally exposed surface of the cover may be opposed to a surface at a side of the first direction of the substrate. In the direction input apparatus according to the above, the cover may be fixed to the stick module housing. A stick device according to the present disclosure includes a stick module housing, a stick portion, and a cover. The stick portion extends in a first direction from an opening at the stick module housing and is configured to be tilted with respect to the stick module housing. The stick portion includes a user-operable portion, the user-operable portion being located at an end in the first direction of the stick portion, the user-operable portion extending from the stick portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the user-operable portion being located at least partially outside an outer edge of an upper surface of the stick module housing when viewed in a third direction which is opposite to the first direction. The cover is fixed to the stick module housing, the cover being located between the stick module housing and the user-operab