GB2322290A

GB2322290A - Cleaning ball for a computer 'mouse'

Info

Publication number: GB2322290A
Application number: GB9702926A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Busola Holloway
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-13
Filing date: 1997-02-13
Publication date: 1998-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-13
Also published as: GB9702926D0; AU6221498A; GB2322290B; WO1998036375A1

Abstract

A generally spherical or cylindrical device 20 for cleaning the inside of an electrical transducer (ie: a computer 'mouse'). The device has protrusions 22 on its surface to provide an abrasive action on the rollers inside the transducer, thereby cleaning the interior of the article. Preferably the device has a metal core, and a diameter slightly greater than that of the usual ball which it replaces; and optionally features a handle or stalk 24 to aid manipulation, possibly with two spheres or cylinders of different dimensions fitted to either end of such a stalk. Various patterns for arranging the protrusions or surface features are described (Figs 4-10).

Description

ELECTRICAL TRANSDUCER CLEANING DEVICE The present invention relates to a cleaning device for an electrical transducer and in particular, but not exclusively, to such a cleaning device for cleaning within the cavity of a computer-mouse which is otherwise arranged to receive a track-ball.

Electrical transducers such as a computer-mouse are becoming increasingly used in combination with data input/handling/storage devices and while some transducers are inbuilt to their related electrical data-handling apparatus, the vast majority of such transducers are provided in the form of a movable hand-piece, referred to as a computer-mouse, having a spherical member known as a track-ball depending from the underside thereof such that a movement of the mouse over a surface such as an appropriately designed mat causes the track-ball to rotate.

The rotation of the track-ball is detected within the mouse and electrical signals are delivered to the data-handling apparatus which includes a visual display unit arranged for displaying a cursor which moves in response to movement of the track-ball within the mouse, and thus in response to movement of the mouse over the mat.

Electrical transducers of this nature, i.e. those which rely on movement of the hand piece over a surface are particularly prone to errors arising from the amount of dirt/dust that is formed/received or that generally collects within the cavity arranged for receiving the track-ball.

The aforementioned cavity of the track-ball generally includes two or more roller members and dust/dirt commonly collects in the regions of these roller members.

Some devices have been proposed for temporary replacement of the track-ball within the cavity in the mouse so as to allow for cleaning within the cavity but such known devices nevertheless exhibit specific disadvantages.

For example, a cleaning device is known from GB-A2268049 and which comprises a spherical object arranged to be received, and rotated, in the cavity of a computer-mouse and which is arranged specifically for use in combination with a cleaning fluid so as to achieve the cleaning effect required.

Further, WO-A-96/29642 discloses a similar replacement ball comprising an outer surface layer of fabric hot-pressed onto the track-ball for cleaning purposes.

These known devices are disadvantageous in that they are relatively expensive, and unnecessarily complicated to manufacture and use and their effective lifetime is also limited.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide for an electrical transducer cleaning device having advantages over known such devices.

According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning device for an electrical transducer having an at least part spherical cavity for receipt, in operation, of a roller member therein, wherein the device comprises a body having a surface defining an at least partially curved contour and arranged for receipt and movement within the said cavity, the body having formations in the said surface thereof for cleaning within the cavity when so received and moved.

The present invention is particularly advantageous in that the abrasive surface provided for cleaning within the electrical transducer cavity is formed as part of the cleaning device itself rather than as a separate surface element to be attached thereto. A particularly simple, cost-effective and long-lasting cleaning device can therefore be produced and which also does not necessitate use of a cleaning fluid.

Advantageously, the cleaning device of the present invention is provided in the form of a one-piece body, which can be formed from any appropriate material such as rubber, plastic or indeed any appropriate material that can be readily moulded and that might, if required, exhibit at least some resilience.

Also, to assist with the cleaning action exhibited by the device, the body can advantageously be provided with a weighted core portion which advantageously increases the weight of the device so as to ensure that it is appropriately rotated within the cavity as required. As an alternative, the weighted core can advantageously be provided in the form of a separate core element such as an inner sphere formed of an appropriately dense/heavy material such as a metal.

In accordance with the main advantage of the present invention, the maximum dimension of the body to be received within the cavity advantageously exceeds the track-ball that it is temporarily replacing for cleaning purposes by a predetermined amount. The afore-mentioned predetermined amount can advantageously be in the region of one millimetre.

For example, if a spherical cleaning device is employed, the diameter of the cleaning device is advantageously arranged to be lmm greater than the diameter of the track-ball the device is temporarily replacing.

As mentioned, the cleaning device can be provided in the form of a sphere or can have an at least part-spherical body, but, as a further alternative, the cleaning device can be substantially cylindrical in form.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning device can be provided with a handle which can be arranged to extend from the cleaning device such that rotation or twisting of the handle causes the device to rotate, pivot or otherwise move, within the cavity of the transducer.

As a further advantage, such a handle member can be provided with a cleaning device at each end and wherein the cleaning devices differ either in their respective dimensions, in the formations provided in the surfaces thereof, in the material from which they are formed, or both.

Advantageously the afore-mentioned formations are provided in the form of one or more ridges or recesses formed in the said surface of the body so as to provide the necessary formations on the surface required so as to arrive at an abrasive surface for cleaning within the cavity.

The combination of recesses and ridges can advantageously exhibit a honeycomb appearance on the said surface of the body or indeed can represent any particular repeated pattern of islands or recesses in the surface. Of course, any particular rectilinear pattern can advantageously be formed in the surface in a manner such that at least some of the ridges extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device which is defined by a handle portion thereof or extends at a predetermined angle to the said longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the said formations can be provided by means of at least one recess which extends in the manner of a screw thread around the curved surface of the body or which comprises a plurality of parallel channels formed within the said curved surface.

An appropriate repeated pattern of the formations can be provided and indeed the particular formations formed within the said surface of the body can be arranged having regard to any particular manner of cleaning and also the nature of the dirt/dust to be removed from the cavity of the transducer.

For an embodiment of the device in which a recess in the form of a helical screw thread is formed in the said curved surface and wherein the device also includes a handle portion, the screw thread recess, or equivalent ridges, can advantageously be formed at an angle of between 150 and 30 from a line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device defined by the handle member. The same angular relationship can advantageously be provided if the said formations comprise the plurality of channel-like recesses extending around the said curved surface in parallel.

The invention is described further hereinafter by way of example only, with reference the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partial cut-away view of the device of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a cleaning device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a cleaning device according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a cleaning device according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a view of a cleaning device according to still a further embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention in which the formations comprise a series of repeated rectilinear islands; Fig. 9 is a plan view of an embodiment in which the formations are generally pyramidal in form; and Fig. 10 is a plan view of a normal track-ball for comparison.

Turning now to Fig. 1, there is shown a plan view of a cleaning device embodying the present invention and which comprises a body in the form of a sphere 10. The surface 12 of the body 10 is provided with formations having a honeycomb appearance and which include a spaced series of square recesses 14 separated by rectilinear ridges 16.

The ridges preferably form a lmm wide border to each of the recesses and the recesses are preferably 3mm wide and lmm deep.

As with all the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, the cleaning device of Fig. 1 is formed from moulded plastic but it will be appreciated that a cleaning device of the present invention can be formed from any appropriate material which can be readily moulded with the required detail of formations on its surface.

Turning now to Fig. 2, there is shown a partial cutaway view of the body 10 of Fig. 1 and which illustrates a particular embodiment of the present invention in which the body 10 of the cleaning device includes a weighted core portion which serves to enhance the overall weight of the cleaning device. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the weighted core portion is provided by way of central metal core 18.

The increased weight of the device enhances its frictional contact with the surface over which the mouse is moved during the cleaning process.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a variation of the embodiment illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 in that a spherical body 20 having formations 22 of a honeycomb appearance similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is mounted on a cylindrical handle member 24 so as to resemble a lollipop.

In the example illustrated in Fig. 3, the dimensions of the honeycomb formations are the same as those illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 although it should be appreciated that the recesses illustrated in Fig. 3, and the ridges defining the recess, are angled at approximately 15" to 25O to the longitudinal axis of the device as defined by the handle portion 24.

In Fig. 4, there is illustrated an embodiment of the present invention having different formations on the surface thereof. This embodiment comprises a spherical body 26 having ridges 28 formed therein and in a manner to resemble a screw thread extending over the surface of the body 26.

As will be seen, the body 26 is mounted on a cylindrical handle member 30 which defines a longitudinal axis of the device. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the screw thread extends substantially parallel to a line A-A2 and which lies at an angle defined by arrow B of between 150 to 30 from the line A-A1 which represents an extension of the longitudinal axis of the device as defined by the cylindrical handle 30.

Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention which comprises a spherical body 32 having a helical formation 34 similar to that found in the embodiment Fig. 4 but in which the pitch of the helical thread is less than the pitch illustrated in the embodiment of Fig. 4.

Further, as with the embodiment of Fig. 4, the spherical body 32 of Fig. 5 is mounted on a cylindrical handle member such as 36 in Fig. 5.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6 there is provided a spherical body 38 having a plurality of circular channellike recesses 40 formed therein in a mutually parallel manner. The spherical body 38 is attached to a cylindrical handle 42 so as to again represent a structure similar to a lollipop.

In Fig. 7, there is illustrated a further version of the present invention and which can readily be adapted to exhibit any of the features described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6, wherein the cleaning device 44 comprises a first 46 body and a second 48 body mounted at respective ends of a cylindrical handle 50.

In the illustrated example of Fig. 7, the bodies 46, 48 are in the form of substantially cylindrical members in which the outer cylindrical surface is provided with the formations required for cleaning within the cavity of an electrical transducer. As with particularly advantageous embodiments of the present invention, the diameter of at least one 46 of the cylindrical bodies exceeds the diameter of the track-ball it is to replace during the cleaning operation by in the region of lmm. For example, a typical track-ball of a mouse is 22mm, and the diameter of the body is then 23mm.

As before, the ridges formed on each of the cylindrical bodies 46, 48 are preferably in the region of lmm thick and the recesses defined by those ridges are advantageously in the region of 1-2mm wide. As will be appreciated from Fig.

7, some of the ridges extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle member 50 of the cleaning device 44 and the remaining ridges are formed in the manner inclined by between 15 to 250 to those first mentioned ridges.

The embodiment of Fig. 7 has a particular advantage in that the two bodies 46, 48 can be provided with different characteristics. For example, the bodies 46, 48 can be provided with different patterns of formations on the curved surfaces thereof so as to effect different cleaning actions or as an alternative, or in addition, the overall outer dimensions of the bodies 46, 48 can differ so that the single cleaning device 44 can be arranged for cleaning two different size cavities within electrical transducers.

When mounted on a handle, the device of the present invention is advantageously arranged to be twisted several times in the same direction so as to ensure that all rollers within the mouse cavity rotate fully.

As mentioned, the embodiment of Fig. 8 has formations resembling rectilinear islands formed in the surface thereof and in Fig. 9 pyramidal formations are provided. The diameter of each of the cleaning bodies of Figs. 8 and 9 is preferably 23mm, whereas a normal track-ball having a diameter of 22mm is shown for comparison in Fig. 10.

While a variety of embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment.

For example, the various embodiments illustrated can have any number of their respective features combined such that a cleaning device similar to that illustrated in Fig.

7 can be provided but with spherical bodies as illustrated and described elsewhere in the present invention attached to either end of the handle 50 or the embodiment of Fig. 7 can merely be provided in a lollipop format so that only one substantially cylindrical body is provided at an end of the handle portion.

Thus, it will be appreciated that any particular combination of the features described and illustrated in the present application can be combined having regard to the particular requirements of the cleaning device.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for an electrical transducer having an at least part spherical cavity for receipt, in operation, of a roller member therein, wherein the device comprises a body having a surface defining an at least partially curved contour and arranged for receipt and movement within the said cavity, the body having formations in the said surface thereof for cleaning within the cavity when so received and moved.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a one-piece body formed from a moulded rigid material.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the body comprises a weighted core portion.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the body is formed around separate weighted core element.

5. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, and arranged such that the maximum dimension of the body exceeds the track-ball that it is temporarily replacing for cleaning purposes by in the region of lmm.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including a handle arranged to extend from the bbdy such that appropriate movement of the handle causes the device to rotate, pivot or otherwise move, within the cavity of the transducer.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the handle is elongate and provided with a cleaning device at each end, which devices have different dimensions.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the formations comprise one or more ridges or recesses formed in the said surface of the body.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the formations comprise at least one recess which extends in the manner of a screw thread around the curved surface of the body.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9, and having an elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis of the device and wherein the screw thread recess is formed at an angle of between 15 and 3d from a line extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body comprises a substantially spherical member.

12. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1-10, wherein the body comprises a substantially cylindrical member.