Detachable joystick for video game controller

A kit for a removable joystick assembly for use with a video game controller, comprising:

• a base shaft with a circumferential recess at a proximal end of the base shaft;
• and
• a top shaft assembly removably coupleable to the base shaft, the top shaft assembly comprising
• a top shaft having a threaded proximal end, a circumferential slot at a proximal portion of the top shaft having a clip disposed therein, a plurality of openings defined in a distal wall portion of the top shaft, and a plurality of metal balls movably retained in the plurality of openings, and
• a sleeve movably coupled over the top shaft, a spring disposed between the clip on the top shaft and an inner shoulder in the sleeve to allow spring loaded movement of the sleeve relative to the top shaft between a distal position and a proximal position, the sleeve having a flange extending radially outward from a distal portion of the sleeve,
• wherein the spring is configured to bias the sleeve toward a distal position so that the sleeve biases the balls in the openings radially inward and into the circumferential recess of the base shaft to intercouple the top shaft and the base shaft, and wherein when the sleeve is pulled proximally a proximal end of the sleeve configured to slidably extend into a joystick head and an inner surface of the sleeve is spaced from the plurality of openings so that the balls move radially out of the circumferential recess to decouple the top shaft assembly from the base shaft, the flange configured to engage a dust cover disposed over sleeve to retain the dust cover when the top shaft assembly is decoupled from the base shaft.

In combination, a video game controller comprising a housing on which a user can rest their wrists while operating the controller and a removable joystick assembly, comprising:

• a base shaft with a circumferential recess at a proximal end of the base shaft and a distal end coupled to a joystick unit in the housing;
• and
• a top shaft assembly removably coupleable to the base shaft, comprising
• a top shaft having a threaded proximal end removably coupleable to a joystick head, the joystick head defining an annular gap about a circumference of the proximal end of the top shaft, a circumferential slot at a location in the proximal portion of the top shaft having a clip disposed therein, a plurality of openings defined in a distal wall portion of the top shaft, and a plurality of metal balls movably retained in the plurality of openings, and
• a sleeve movably coupled over the top shaft and extending between a proximal end configured to slidably extend into the annular gap and a distal end, a spring disposed between the clip on the top shaft and an inner shoulder in the sleeve to allow spring loaded movement of the sleeve relative to the top shaft between a distal position and a proximal position, the sleeve having a flange extending radially outward from a distal portion of the sleeve,
• wherein the spring is configured to bias the sleeve toward a distal position so that the sleeve biases the balls in the openings radially inward and into the circumferential recess of the base shaft to intercouple the top shaft and the base shaft, and wherein when the sleeve is pulled proximally the proximal end of the sleeve extends into the annular gap and an inner surface of the sleeve is spaced from the plurality of openings so that the balls move radially out of the circumferential recess to decouple the top shaft assembly from the base shaft, the flange configured to engage a dust cover disposed over sleeve to retain the dust cover when the top shaft assembly is decoupled from the base shaft, a proximal end of the base shaft disposed at or below a top surface of the housing.