GB2307445A

GB2307445A - A computer mouse mat comprising a notepad

Info

Publication number: GB2307445A
Application number: GB9624208A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Gordon Webb
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-11-21
Filing date: 1996-11-21
Publication date: 1997-05-28
Also published as: GB9523798D0; GB9624208D0

Abstract

The notepad comprises sheets of paper 2 bonded together along two adjacent edges, e.g. along the full length of their bottom and left-hand edges 3,4. The sheets are mounted on a card back 5 for support having self-adhesive tabs 6 mounted at the corners. Each sheet has printed matter, e.g. a notepad area, a to-do area and advertising 7-9, running along the length of the pad. The pad corners 10 may be rounded or square. Alternatively the pad may be made of water-impervious wax paper and used as a utility pad in place of a bar towel or drip tray.

Description

Accessory for a ComDuter Pointing Device The present invention relates to an accessory for a computer pointing device, such as a mouse.

It is well known to provide a "mouse mat" as a surface on which to move a computer "mouse". These mats generally comprise a rubber foam base manufactured in various sizes and thicknesses, the upper surface of which may be covered in nylon material (the traditional mouse mat) or a hard, smooth plastics surface (the speed-mat).

A problem with these mats is that they pick up contaminants from the air, such as furniture polish, diesel fumes, tobacco smoke and dead skin cells, etc., due to their static electric properties. They also pick up grease and skin cells from a mouse user's hand.

These contaminants are transferred from the mats to the ball of a mouse, which in turn transfers them onto the workings inside the mouse, such as the wheels contacting the ball. This can make the mouse hard to use, and results in the user continually having to open the mouse and probe inside in an effort to remove the contaminants. This can be time-consuming, and possibly dangerous to the operator and the equipment.

The mats also occupy dead space on the user's desktop, which may already be sufficiently cluttered with other office trappings.

Furthermore, although the mats may be usefully employed in advertising, for example by having their surfaces printed with a supplier's details and other information, this information can never be changed once the mat is produced, and may become obsolete when the mat is only part way through its useful life. Thus, mats may continue to be used for some time which have old information thereon.

The present invention aims to provide a working surface for a computer pointing device, such as a mouse, which does not have the above problems.

Viewed form one aspect, the present invention provides an accessory for a computer pointing device comprising a pad of e.g. paper sheets, the sheets being bound together along portions of at least two edges of the pad, with the top sheet of the pad acting as a surface on which the pointing device may be moved in use.

Being bound along two edges of the pad should be taken to include both the situation in which the actual edges of the sheets are bonded together, e.g. adhesive is applied to the edges of the pad of sheets, and the situation in which the sheets are surface bonded to adjacent sheets at peripheral regions of their surfaces along their edges. Bonding may include mechanical as well as adhesive bonding.

Each time the top sheet of the pad becomes too dirty, it may be ripped off or otherwise removed to reveal a new clean top sheet. Also, paper is generally absorbent, and so will transfer far less (if any) contaminants to the mouse ball and inner parts than the prior art mats. Both these features help to reduce the maintenance needs of the mouse.

As the pad is made from paper sheets, the pad may serve the dual purpose of both a mouse mat and a jotter or notepad, thereby removing the need for a separate notepad and reducing desktop clutter.

Further, as the sheets will eventually all be used, the pad has a finite lifespan, which may be relatively short. If the pad comprised for example fifty sheets, then it would last only a year assuming that one sheet were removed per week, and, in practice, this period would probably be much shorter, especially where the pad is also used as a jotter. As the pad has a finite and relatively short lifespan, it is ideal for advertising purposes, in that the user will regularly require new pads which may be easily produced and supplied and have new information thereon. Also, if a number of competing companies supply a customer with their own pads, the pad of each supplier will eventually be used. The present invention allows a relatively expensive long-lasting mat to be replaced by a relatively inexpensive and easily made mat of shorter life.

By bonding the sheets together along portions of at least two edges of the pad, the sheets can be prevented from curling up at the edges or riding over one another as a user moves the mouse and their hand over the top sheet's surface.

The sheets are preferably bound together along adjacent edges, such as the bottom and left-hand edges (for right-handed users), or the bottom and right-hand edges (for left-handed users). This is particularly effective at preventing curl, as a user will normally have their hand adjacent the left or right bottom corner of the pad.

The bonding may be along the full lengths of the edges, but could also be along less than the full lengths, so as to facilitate the removal of the sheets.

Bonding may be to more than two edges, e.g. to three edges.

Bonding may be achieved in any suitable manner, and the sheets may be glued together along their edges using for example vegetable glue. In one embodiment, the sheets are bonded together so that on removal from the pad, the sheets may be re-adhered. For example, the sheets may be stuck together by adhesive as used with removable self-stick notes, such as are produced as

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The pad may include a rigid backing of for example card for support, e.g. 280 gsm card. The sheets may be bonded to this backing along the same edges as the sheets are bonded to themselves.

The pad may also include non-slip and/or sticking pads, e.g. self adhesive tacky pads, on its back to prevent it from sliding about the desk. These may for example be placed one at each corner. Alternatively, the back of the pad may be non-slip, e.g. it may be provided with a non-slip coating or film. For example, a coating of a rubberised material, such as latex, may be sprayed onto backing card.

The pad sheets may include holes along an edge, such as the left edge, to facilitate filing of removed pages if desired.

The corners of the pad may be right angular or rounded, and for example may be cut with a 6 mm radius.

This radius may be larger or smaller depending on the size of the finished pad and the requirements of the user, and may be such as to produce a pleasing aesthetic appearance.

Rounded corners are less likely to snag on a user's clothing or jewellery. They may also allow for a more secure bond, with the bond between the sheets extending around and possibly beyond corners of the pad. For example, the bond may run from the start of the top-left radius on the top edge, down the left hand side, and along the bottom edge to the end of the bottom-right hand corner for a right-hand pad (or vice-versa for a left-hand pad). Bonding around the corners could also be applied to square corners, although this may be more difficult to achieve. Rounded corners can provide a pleasing appearance.

The pads are preferably cut to size using a downstroke and a cutter of sufficient weight so as to impart a slight downward curve to the edges of the sheets, as this provides further resistance against curl caused by the movement of the mouse.

The pad may be of any suitable size, such as from about 140 mm x 120 mm to about 594 mm to 410 mm, or the size of a standard mouse mat. A pad size of about 290 mm x about 220 mm is particularly preferred, as it provides adequate advertising space and a usable scribble pad/mouse mat.

The pads are preferably produced so as to be longer along their top and bottom edges than along their side edges. Therefore, any printed material, such as advertising, tables for telephone numbers and notes, calenders, etc., are preferably printed on the sheets in landscape form, i.e. with the text and ruled lines, etc., running along the long length of the pad.

The sheets may be of any colour, and may be produced and treated in any desired manner. They may be of any suitable paper stock and could be data film.

They may be new, recycled and/or waxed, and may be nonabsorbent. They may be backed with new or recycled card.

Data film or computer graphics film, e.g. Folex laserfilm matt, a semi-plasticised film, may be used Such film is non-absorbent and resists wrinkling. It is often used by graphics designers, e.g. to produce camera ready copies, and so pads of such material may be produced particularly for such customers.

The use of recycled paper coupled for example with the use of vegetable glue as a binder for the sheets provides an environmentally friendly pad.

The sheets may be of any suitable weight, with heavier paper being able to resist curl more. It is preferred to use sheets of weights greater than 70 gsm, and more preferably of weights greater than 100 gsm.

Preferably sheets of smooth bond paper of a weight greater than 100-120 gsm are used, but cartridge paper (150 gsm) or any other type of paper stock with a weight preferably greater than 100 gsm may also be used. Some paper surfaces may not be as suitable as others, and, for example, rough surfaced paper, such as linen, may possibly pass some paper dust into the mouse.

Viewed from a further aspect, the present invention provides a mat for a computer pointing device comprising a plurality of removable sheets of material. These sheets are preferably made of or based on paper, paper stock, data film or similar material, and are preferably bound together in such a way as to tend to resist forces produced by the movement of the pointing device or the user's hand over the top sheet, which tend to cause the sheets to curl up or ride over one another.

Pads of the above construction may also be used for purposes other than that of a mouse mat. For example, if produced so as to be relatively impervious to water or liquid, such as by being made from wax paper, the pad could serve many purposes in the licensed/entertainments industries. A pad of for example about 200 mm x about 470 mm made from waxed paper could be used in place of a "bar towel" or drip tray, and would not require laundering, the top sheet being removable each time it was contaminated. Each pad could be produced with a different or the same advertising message on each page of the pad, as required by the advertiser.

The invention therefore extends to a utility surface pad comprising a number of pad sheets bonded together along portions of at least two edges thereof, so that the top sheet may act as a utility surface and may be removed to reveal a new top sheet, advertising preferably being provided on each sheet.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pad in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a side view of the pad of Fig. 1 along its bottom edge.

Referring to both Figs. 1 and 2, the pad 1 is made up from a number of sheets of paper 2, for example about 50, which are glued together along the full length of their bottom and left-hand edges 3 and 4 respectively and are mounted on a card back 5 for support. Self adhesive tabs 6 are mounted at the four corners of the card back 5 to keep the pad in place on for example a desktop.

Each sheet 2 may have special areas, lines or tables printed onto it, such as an area 7 for a notepad or an area 8 for a "To Do" list, and may include an area 9 for advertising, etc.

The top sheet of the pad 1 is used as a surface on which to move a mouse. As the two adjacent edges 3 and 4 of the pad are glued, the sheets 2 are prevented from curling up during this use.

The top sheet 2 may be periodically removed to reveal a new clean top sheet. This may occur when for example the old top sheet is dirty, or when any notes made on it need to be filed away. If a calender month or week is printed on the sheets, the sheet may be removed at the end of each month or week.

Typically, the pad will be used so that its top and bottom edges will be of longer length than its sides, in which case the printed material should be printed on the pad in landscape form, i.e. with the text and ruled lines, etc., running along the long length of pad.

The sheets may be of any suitable size and weight.

Each sheet 2 has a slight downward curl to resist curling up. This may be achieved during manufacture of the pads by cutting the pads to size using a downward stroke of sufficient force.

The corners 10 of the pad 1 are rounded. Rounded corners are less likely to snag on a user's clothing or jewellery and they also allow for a more secure bond: In this case, the bond extends from the start of the top-left radius on the top edge, down the left hand side, and along the bottom edge to the end of the radius of the bottom-right hand corner. The rounded corners also provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance.

The above is only one embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications are possible. For example, the corners 10 may be square. Also, the sheets may be bound together along different or more edges, and the bonding need not be fully along the lengths of the edges, but may be less, to facilitate the removal of the sheets. Bonding may be at the actual edges of the sheets or between the surface peripheries of the sheets along the edges thereof. The sheets may be made from any suitable paper, which may be new, recycled, waxed and treated to be waterproof or coloured, etc. The sheets may be of data film/computer graphics film. Any printed matter may be printed on the sheets. The pad may be provided with a non-slip backing surface, e.g. by being coated with a non-slip film of rubberised material.

Claims

1. An accessory for a computer pointing device comprising a pad of sheets, the sheets being bound together along portions of at least two edges of the pad, with the top sheet of the pad acting as a surface on which the pointing device may be moved in use.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the sheets are bound together along adjacent edges of the pad.

3. The accessory of claim 1 or 2, wherein the bonded edges are the bottom and left-hand edges of the pad.

4. The accessory of claim 1 or 2, wherein the bonded edges are the bottom and right-hand edges of the pad.

5. The accessory of any preceding claim7 wherein the bonding is along the full lengths of the edges of the pad.

6. The accessory of claim 1-4, wherein the bonding is along less than the full lengths of at least one of the edges of the pad.

7. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets are bonded together by vegetable glue.

8. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the pad includes a rigid backing.

9. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the pad includes a backing card.

10. The accessory of claim 8 or 9, wherein the sheets are bonded to the backing along the same edges of the pad as the sheets are glued to themselves.

11. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the pad includes non-slip and/or sticking pads on its back.

12. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the pad is provided with a non-slip backing.

13. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the pad sheets include holes along an edge thereof.

14. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the corners of the sheets are right angular.

15. The accessory of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the corners of the sheets are rounded.

16. The accessory of claim 15, wherein the corners have a radius of about 6 mm.

17. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the bond between the sheets extends about at least one of the corners of the sheets.

18. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the bond runs from the start of the top-left radius on the top edge of the pad, down the left hand side, and along the bottom edge to the end of the bottom-right hand corner.

19. The accessory of claim 17, wherein the bond runs from the start of the top-right radius on the top edge of the pad, down the right hand side, and along the bottom edge to the end of the bottom-left hand corner.

20. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets have a downward curve to their edges.

21. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets are from about 140 mm x 120 mm to about 594 mm to 410 mm.

22. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets are about 290 mm x about 220 mm.

23. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets are longer along their top and bottom edges than along their side edges.

24. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein printed material is printed on the sheets along the long length of the pad.

25. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets are made from recycled paper and a vegetable glue is used to bond them together.

26. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets are of a weight such that they are able to resist curl.

27. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets are of a weight greater than 70 gsm.

28. The accessory of any of claims 1 to 26, wherein the sheets are of a weight greater than 100 gsm.

29. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets are surface-bonded to adjacent sheets along regions of the peripheral edges.

30. The accessory of any preceding claim, wherein the sheets comprise data film.

31. A mat for a computer pointing device comprising a plurality of removable sheets of material.

32. The mat of claim 31, wherein the sheets are made of or based on paper or similar material.

33. The mat of claim 31 or 32, wherein the sheets are bound together in such a way as to tend to resist forces produced by the movement of the pointing device or the user's hand over the top sheet.

34. The mat of claim 31, 32 or 33, including any of the features of any of claims 1 to 30.

35. A utility surface pad comprising a number of pad sheets bonded together along portions of at least two edges thereof, so that the top sheet may act as a utility surface and may be removed to reveal a new top sheet.

36. The utility surface pad of claim 35, wherein advertising is provided on each sheet.

37. the utility surface pad of claim 35 or 36, wherein the sheets are about 200 mm by about 470 mm.

38. A pad for a computer mouse substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.

39. A utility surface pad substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.