Heated joystick
OwnerNathan Jerome Mayerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure generally describes a system for warming an area surrounding a control element for controlling operation of an associated machine or device. The system can include a heating element that can warm air in and around the heating element when actuated, a blower unit that can be in fluid communication with the heating element and that can generate a flow of the warm air when the heating element and the blower unit are actuated, and a forearm extension unit that can channel the flow of the warm air from the blower unit to warm a user's forearm when the user uses an associated machine or device to which the forearm extension unit is attached. The associated machine or device can be a wheelchair.
Claims20
A joystick handle comprising:
- a distal portion having an elongated cylindrical shape with a distal tapered end and a proximal tapered end;
- a proximal portion extending circumferentially from the proximal tapered end of the distal portion around a central axis;
- one or more vent openings located on the distal portion and configured to direct airflow received at a base of the joystick handle out towards a user's hand;
- the base of the joystick handle defining an opening configured to receive the airflow from below the base of the joystick handle;
- an airflow receiving area positioned at a bottom of the joystick handle and in fluid communication with the opening defined by the base of the joystick handle;
- and
- one or more internal channels extending from the airflow receiving area through the joystick handle to the one or more vent openings,
- wherein the air is directed up through the opening defined by the base of the joystick handle, through the one or more internal channels, and out of the one or more vent openings.
A kit for retrofitting a joystick to include heating features to warm a user's hand, the kit comprising:
- a joystick handle configured to replace an existing joystick handle for a machine or device, the joystick handle being configured to be attached to a control unit for the machine or device,
- wherein the joystick handle comprises a first surface defining one or more vent openings extending through a body of the joystick handle to channel air flow emanating from a joystick opening in the control unit through the one or more vent openings, and
- an outlet that is configured to be fluidly connected to an aperture in the control unit through which the air flow is introduced into a cavity in the control unit, wherein the outlet is configured to transmit the air flow through the one or more vent openings in the joystick handle via an air channel provided by the aperture in the control unit, the cavity, and the joystick opening.
A method for retrofitting a joystick to include heating features to warm a user's hand, the method comprising:
- removing a first joystick handle from a control unit for a machine or device;
- and
- replacing the first joystick handle with a second joystick handle that includes a first surface defining one or more vent openings extending through a body of the second joystick handle to channel air flow emanating from a joystick opening in the control unit through the one or more vent openings, wherein the second joystick handle further comprises an outlet that is configured to be fluidly connected to an aperture in the control unit through which the air flow is introduced into a cavity in the control unit, wherein the outlet is configured to transmit the air flow through the one or more vent openings in the second joystick handle via an air channel provided by the aperture in the control unit, the cavity, and the joystick opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.