GB2289520A

GB2289520A - Mouse pad

Info

Publication number: GB2289520A
Application number: GB9410041A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael James Higgs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-19
Filing date: 1994-05-19
Publication date: 1995-11-22
Also published as: GB9410041D0

Abstract

A mouse mat has a flat smooth surface on which a mouse travels. The mouse allows a user to communicate with several forms of computer platform. The mouse pad comprises a paper block 1, consisting of removable bleedproof paper sheets attached to one another, using a non-permenant, residue free glue. Each paper sheet providing a surface onto which any form of printable material may be printed. The paper block is permanently attached to a cardboard stiffener 2 which is in turn permanently attached to a synthetic rubber base 3. These latter two layers are permanently attached by the available surface areas having a permanent glue applied, thus sticking the surfaces together. Each sheet of paper can be removed whenever necessary to reveal a clean top sheet for use. <IMAGE>

Description

Mouse Pad This invention relates to a mouse pad: Background A mouse mat is a well recognised device used in conjunction with a mouse, an input device for use with several forms of computer. A mouse mat is used to improve the handling characteristics of the mouse by providing a flat, smooth surface on which it can operate.

Mouse mats are usually rectangular in shape but some specialist mouse mats have become available to suit individual tastes. A typical mouse and mat configuration is shown in figure 1.

Mouse mats are however, by their very design, cumbersome on the user's desk where space is usually at a premium (having been greatly reduced by the existence of the computer and keyboard). In addition, mouse pads can suffer from the application of notes or scribbles on their surface, or by the build up of substances common to the design studio or office environment - such as airborne glue (in the studio) or everyday dust in the office. The result of this ink and dirt present on the surface of the mat means that the substances are transferred to the ball mechanism, as described in figure 2. This makes the mouse input information to the computer in an erratic and irregular manner making it necessary to clean the ball mechanism on a regular basis.

Proposed Mouse Pad According to the present invention there is provided a mouse pad comprising a rectangular synthetic rubber base permanently laminated to a rigid cardboard sheet of the same dimensions, onto which is attached, by means of a similar permanent glue, a block pad of sheets of bleed-proof paper to the same dimensions as both the rubber base and cardboard sheet. Each sheet within the pad being glued along three edges by a non permenant glue leaving no residue to the surface beneath once the top sheet is removed.

Printed information may be reproduced on the surface of each sheet. Material which may otherwise be printed onto some other device present on the desk surface of the user, again using valuable desk space, e.g. an internal telephone directory or calendar. For instance many software manufacturers produce printed cards relating to a specific software package describing keyboard shortcuts - that is, combinations of key strokes to evoke a computer function. This information could easily be printed onto the surface of the mouse pad, (when constructed in the form described in paragraph 3 and illustrated in figure 3), allowing the user immediate access to the specific information without the need for a second cumbersome information sheet on the desk surface.

Large organisations often have long complex internal telephone dialling codes printed onto paper sheets, giving the user access to the internal phone network. This type of information is ideal material to be printed onto the surface of the mouse pad when constructed as described in paragraph 3.

Many other applications for printed information are provided for by this mouse pad, comprising; education, scientific, leisure (crossword, wordsearch etc.), leisure, promotional and decorative.

Construction A detailed description of the embodiment of the invention will be made by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 3 shows the constituent parts of the mouse pad.

Figure 4 illustrates the removal of the top sheet from the pad.

Figure 5 illustrates the method of attachment of one paper sheet to the next.

Refering to figure 3 it can be seen that the paper block 1 is attached to a cardboard 'stiffener' sheet 2 giving rigidity to the surface of the pad. The paper block 1 can consist of any number of sheets - subject to the user's requirements - and is composed of bleedproof paper. Each sheet is attached to the next by a non-permanent glue, leaving no residue, applied to the underside of each sheet as shown in figure 5. The glue is applied to three edges of the block allowing the removal of each sheet by taking hold of the glue-free edge and lifting the sheet away from the next, as sheets would be removed from a pad of pauper.

The paper block 1 is attached permanently to the cardboard stiffener 2 by means of an overall application of permanent glue to the last sheet in the block 1 and to the cardboard 2. The cardboard 2 is in turn permanently attached to the synthetic rubber base 3 by the same permanent glue application as described above.

The mouse pad as described within this document is disposable, its constituent parts being mainly of paper or board stock and therefore recyclable to become new mouse pads.

Claims

1 A mouse pad comprising a rectangular synthetic rubber base permanently fixed to a rigid cardboard sheet of the same dimensions. Onto the cardboard sheet is attached, by means of a similar permanent glue, a block pad of sheets of bleed-proof paper of the same dimensions as both the rubber base and cardboard sheet. Each sheet within the pad being glued as described in claim 3.

2 A mouse pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface of the pad is that of a sheet of bleed-proof paper as part of a pad of the same.

3 A mouse pad as claimed in claim 2 and claim 3 wherein each sheet of paper is attached to the next by means of a non-permanent glue applied to the long edges of the underside of each sheet forming the rectangular pad, the constituent parts as described in claim 1. The glue being applied to the underside of each sheet in a narrow strip along three of the surface edges.

4 A mouse pad as claimed in claim 2 and claim 3 wherein each sheet of paper, forming the surface of the pad, is removable. Tearing the top sheet away from the next by taking hold of the glue free edge, revealing a fresh, clean sheet to act as the new surface.

5 A mouse pad as claimed in claim 3 and claim 4 wherein each sheet, forming the surface of the pad, can be utilised for providing printed information for the user, of any subject or decoration as can be applied to a paper surface by any known printing method.

6 A mouse pad substantially as described herein with reference to figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.