Abstract: The present invention provides a self-centering, tactile thumb joystick for use to control a virtual directional pad displayed on a touch screen of an electronic gadget. The thumb joystick is removeably mounted on the touch screen so that movement of a puck via a stem and a button operates the virtual directional pad to control a software running in the electronic gadget. A resilient member, in the form of an annular spring or garter spring, biasing inwardly against a wall element formed around an opening of a hollow housing of the thumb joystick centers the puck when a user releases activating the button.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tactile buttons device for removable attachment on a capacitive touch screen of an electronic device. The tactile buttons device is made up of a hollow, rigid housing and a plurality of resilient, deformable cones disposed on an upper member of the hollow, rigid housing, with each resilient, deformable cone for supporting a button. A film is disposed across a lower face of the hollow housing to define a lower surface, and a plurality of electrically conducting islands are disposed between the film and the buttons, so that each button is in register with both the associated conducting island and virtual button displayed on the capacitive touch screen. Momentary depressing each of the buttons activates the associated virtual button.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-centering, tactile thumb joystick (100, 100a-100k, 100m-100p) for use to control a virtual directional pad displayed on a touch screen of an electronic gadget. The thumb joystick (100, 100a 100k, 100m-100p) is removeably mounted on the touch screen so that movement of a puck (140, 140a, 140d, 400) via a stem (141) and a button (110) operates the virtual directional pad to control a software running in the electronic gadget. A resilient member, in the form of an annular spring (150) or garter spring (150a), biasing inwardly against a wall element (126, 126a) formed around an opening (121) of a hollow housing (120) of the thumb joystick (100, 100a-100k,100m-100p) centres the puck (140) when a user releases activating the button (110).