GB2347733A

GB2347733A - Computer mouse

Info

Publication number: GB2347733A
Application number: GB9905292A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsien-Chung Hung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-08
Filing date: 1999-03-08
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Also published as: GB9905292D0

Abstract

A computer mouse 30 includes a mouse body 32 having a rigid casing 34, a cushion 46 mounted to a top wall 42 of the mouse body for absorbing an external force applied to the mouser by a user's hand thereby reducing reaction force acting upon the user's hand. The cushion may include a mass of soft material 50 e.g.sponge, cotton or cloth, or a bag (56, Fig.6) filled with pressurized air, and the soft material may be attached to the top wall by a hook-and-loop type fastener (71, 72 Fig.9). Alternatively, the cushion comprises a number of springs (60, Figs. 11-22) located between the top wall and a rigid outer surface layer (48), which may have a piece of leather or fur adhesively fixed thereto.

Description

COMPUTER MOUSE The present invention generally relates to a computer mouse, and in particular to a computer mouse having a cushion formed on a top side thereof for reducing reaction force acting upon a user's hand holding the mouse.

Computer mice are a common computer input means. As shown in Figure 23 of the attached drawings, a conventional computer mouse, designated by reference numeral 10, comprises a mouse body 12 having a rigid casing 14 for being held by a user's hand to move the mouse on for example a desk (not shown). The casing 14 defines an interior space for accommodating a tracking ball 16 (see Figure 3) which partially projecting beyond a bottom face of the mouse body 12 for contacting the desk so that when the mouse 10 is moved with respect to the desk, the tracking ball 16 is rotated.

The rotation of the tracking ball 16 is converted into an electrical signal by means of electro-mechanical means and electrical circuit (both not shown). The signal is transmitted through a cable 18 extending from the mouse 30 to a computer (not shown). Furthermore, the casing 14 has pushbuttons 20 formed on the top side thereof actuateable by user's fingers to generate electrical signals to the computer via the cable 18.

The casing 14 of the conventional computer mouse 10 is made of a rigid material which causes strain in the user's hand muscles whereby a long term use of the computer mouse makes the user's hand tired. Thus, it is desired to have a computer mouse which overcomes such a problem.

Accordingly, general aim of the present invention is to provide a computer mouse which comprises a cushion on a top side thereof for reducing reaction force acting upon a user's hand that holds the computer mouse.

The cushion is preferably soft on a top side thereof for providing a comfortable contact with a user's hand holding the mouse.

In a preferred aspect the present invention provides a computer mouse having a sponge layer on a top side thereof for avoiding tiredness of a user's hand during a long term use of the mouse.

In a further preferred aspect the present invention provides a computer mouse having an air bag filled with pressurized air mounted on a top side thereof for avoiding tiredness of a user's hand during a long term use of the mouse.

In another preferred aspect the present invention provides a computer mouse having a movable top member supported by springs mounted on a top side thereof for avoiding tiredness of a user's hand during a long term use of the mouse.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a computer mouse comprising a mouse body having a rigid casing. A cushion is mounted to a top wall of the mouse casing for absorbing an external force applied to the mouse by a user's hand thereby reducing reaction force acting upon the user's hand. The cushion may include a mass of soft material, a air bag filled with pressurized air or a number of springs, for example.

The present invention will be better understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, which are illustrative and not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a computer mouse constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view showing a first embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is an exploded view showing a third embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 is an exploded view showing a fourth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 9 is an exploded view showing a fifth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 11 is an exploded view showing a sixth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 12 is a top view of the sixth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV of Figure 12; Figure 15 is an exploded view showing a seventh embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing an eighth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 17 is a perspective view showing a ninth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention held by a user's hand shown by phantom lines; Figure 18 is an exploded view of the ninth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the ninth. embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 20 is an exploded view showing a tenth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of the tenth embodiment of the computer mouse in accordance with the present invention; Figure 22 is another cross-sectional view of the tenth embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 23 is a perspective view showing a conventional computer mouse.

With reference to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, wherein a computer mouse constructed in accordance with the present invention, generally designated at the reference numeral 30, is shown, the computer mouse 30 comprises a body 32 having a rigid casing 34 to be held by a user's hand 100 (see Figure 17) for moving the computer mouse body 32 with respect to for example a desk (not shown). The casing 34 defines an interior space 36 (Figure 3) for accommodating a tracking ball 16 therein. The tracking ball 16 partially extends beyond a bottom wall 38 of the mouse body 32 for contacting the desk surface whereby when the mouse 30 is moved relative to the desk, the tracking ball 16 is rotated by means of the contact engagement thereof with the desk.

The rotation of the tracking ball 16 is converted into electrical signals by means of suitable electro-mechanical means and electrical circuit (both not shown). The electrical signals are transferred to a computer (not shown) through a cable 40 extending beyond the casing 34.

A number of pushbuttons 44 are formed on a top wall. 42 of the casing 34 for being depressed by the user's hand in order to generate corresponding signals which are also transferred to the computer by the cable 40.

To this point, the computer mouse 30 of the embodiment is substantially identical to the conventional computer mouse whereby further details thereof will be omitted.

In the embodiment illustrated, the casing 34 defines a top opening which is covered by the top wall 42 made of a rigid material and fixed to the casing 34. However, if necessary, the top wall 42 may be integrally formed with the casing 34 as a single unit.

In accordance with the present invention, cushion means 46 is mounted on the top wall 42 of the casing 34. The cushion means 46 covers a major portion of the surface of the top wall 42. The cushion means 46 comprises force absorbing means which may be deformable upon being acted upon by an external force thereby absorbing the force and reducing reaction force acting upon the user's hand. The cushion means 46 also provides soft contact with the user's hand for releasing the strain of the hand thereby reducing the likelihood of being tired during a long term use of the mouse.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the cushion means 46 comprises an outer surface layer 48 which is spaced from the top wall 42 of the casing 34 to define a space therebetween for accommodating a mass of soft material 50 that serves as the force absorbing means. The soft material 50 may be sponge which may be nature sponge or artificial sponge. Other soft (eg. yielding, maleable and/or compressible) materials, such as cotton and cloth, may also be used.

The outer surface layer 48 is fixed to the top wall 42 of the casing 34 for retaining the cushion means 46 on the top wall 42. In accordance with the an embodiment of the present invention, the outer surface layer 48 has a circumferential edge 49 which is received in a circumferential channel 52 defined in the top wall 42. An inwardly-extending flange 54 is formed along the top opening of the casing 34 (Figure 3) which snugly fits into the channel 52 thereby securing the circumferential edge 49 of the outer surface layer 48 therebetween.

The soft material 50 that is contained in the cushion means 46 fixed on the top wall 42 of the computer mouse 30 is compressed when the mouse 30 is held by the user's hand which absorbs the reaction force acting upon the user'hand by the mouse casing 34 thereby reducing the strain of the user's hand muscle and making the user's hand comfortable.

To allow the holding force caused by the user's hand to compress the soft material 50, the outer surface layer 48 of the cushion means 46 is preferably made of a sheet of resilient material.

The above described structure may be extended to form a second embodiment of the present invention which is shown in Figure 4. In the second embodiment, the circumferential channel 52 of the first embodiment described with reference to Figures 2-3 is replaced by a flange 53 having a flat top face on which a circumferential edge 47 of the outer surface layer 48 is supported The circumferential edge 47 has an incline top face which defines a sloped recess into which a correspondingly-shaped portion or flange 55 of the casing 34 is received thereby securing the outer surface layer 48 to the top wall 42.

Figures 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, the cushion means 46 comprises at least one air bag 56 filled with suitably pressurized air for replacing the soft material 50. The air bag 56 is interposed between the outer surface layer 48 of the cushion means 46 and the top wall 42 of the casing 34. Preferably, the cushion means 46 further comprises a bottom layer 58 which is spaced from the outer surface layer 48 for defining a space therebetween to accommodate and retain the air bag 56 therein. The bottom layer 58 may be made of resilient material or rigid material. The bottom layer 58 is positioned on and supported by the top wall 42 of the casing 34.

However, it is apparent that the bottom layer 58 of the cushion means 46 may be removed and the air bag 56 be directly positioned on the top wall 42 of the casing 34 and retained in position by the outer surface layer 48 of the cushion means 46. This is similar to the situation shown in the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 2-3 in which the soft material 50 is directly positioned on the top wall 42 of the casing 34.

It is apparent that the air bag 56 may be replaced by bags filled with water or other fluid for providing cushioning function. Furthermore, the cushion means 46 of the third embodiment may also adapt the same design of the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 in securing itself to the casing 34.

Figures 7 and 8 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention which is a combination of the second embodiment shown in Figure 4 and the third embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6. The soft material 50 that is retained between the outer surface layer 48 and the bottom layer 58 of the cushion means 46 is now replaced by suitably pressurized air which is filled in a hermitic space formed by sealing the outer surface layer 48 and the bottom layer 58 together. The cushion means 46 of the fourth embodiment is fixed to the casing 34 in the way similar to the second embodiment.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 9 and 10 wherein the cushion means 46 is fixed to the casing 34 by means of hook-and-loop type fastener. As shown, the soft material 50 is enclosed by a flexible enclosure, such as cloth, to which a hook portion 71 of the hook-and-loop type fastener is fixed. A loop portion 72 of the hook-and-loop type fastener is fixed to the top wall 42 of the casing 34 and engages with the hook portion 71 thereby securing the cushion means 46 to the casing 34. Quite apparently, the hook portion 71 and the loop portion 72 may be switched with each other.

Preferably, a recess is defined on the top wall 34 for receiving the cushion means 46 therein. Furthermore, a skirt 73 may be formed along the enclosure of the cushion means 46 for covering a gap between the cushion means 46 and an inside face of the recess defined on the top wall 42.

The cushion means 46 of the fifth embodiment may be disposable whereby the user may change the cushion means 46 when he or she wishes.

Figures 11-14 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The cushion means 46 of the sixth embodiment comprises a number of resilient members, such as helical springs 60, disposed between the outer surface layer 48 and the top wall 42 of the casing 34 for replacing the pressurized air and soft material. In the embodiment illustrated, the outer surface layer 48 of the cushion means 46 is made of a rigid material and is movable relative to the top wall 42 of the casing 34 whereby when the user holds the body 32 of the mouse 30, the user's hand applies a force to the outer surface layer 48 which in turn compresses the springs 60 thereby buffering the force of the user and reducing the strain induced in the user's hand.

Preferably, the outer surface layer 48 is provided with a first spring holder 62 on an inside face thereof for retaining a first end of a corresponding spring 60. Correspondingly, the top wall 42 of the casing 34 defines a recess 64, serving as a second spring holder that is located below the top wall 34, for receiving and retaining a second end of the spring 60.

A number of tabs 68 are formed along a circumference of the outer surface layer 48 of the cushion means 46 which are retained by an inwardly-extending flange 66 of the casing 34 thereby preventing the cushion means 46 from separation from the top wall 42 of the casing 34.

The tabs 68 may be replaced by barbed legs engaging with openings defined in the top wall 42 as shown in Figure 15 which illustrates a seven embodiment of the present invention. Alternatively, the tabs 68 may be replaced by a continuous flange as shown in Figure 16 which illustrates an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

As an extension of the sixth embodiment, a layer of soft material 70 may be attached to the rigid outer surface layer 48 to provide a comfort contact with the user's hand 100 as shown in Figures 17-19 which illustrates a ninth embodiment of the present invention. An example of the soft material 70 is a piece of leather or fur adhesively fixed to the outer surface layer 48 to be contacted by the user's hand 100.

As a variation of the ninth embodiment, the outer surface layer 48 is provided with barbed legs 74 which engage with holes 75 defined in the top wall 42 for preventing the outer surface layer 48 from separating from the casing 34. This is shown in Figures 20-22 as a tenth embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, the second spring holder 64 may be formed as a recess defined in a raised portion formed on the top wall 42 of the casing 34.

Although the present invention is illustrated with the description of the preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that there may be changes and modifications in the described embodiments that can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS 1. A computer mouse comprising a mouse body having a rigid casing having a top wall, cushion means being mounted to the top wall of the mouse casing and comprising force absorbing means, optionally retained by an outer surface layer, which absorbs an external force applied to the mouser by a user's hand thereby reducing reaction force acting upon the user's hand.
2. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the force absorbing means comprises a mass of soft material which is compressible upon being acted upon by the external force and wherein the outer surface layer is made of a resilient material.
3. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the soft material comprises sponge.
4. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cushion means comprises an air bag filled with pressurized air and wherein the outer surface layer is made of a resilient material.
5. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the cushion means comprises a bottom layer sealingly fixed to the outer surface layer to define a hermetic space therebetween in which the pressurized air is filled.
6. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the cushion means comprises a bottom layer spaced from the outer surface layer for accommodating the air bag therebetween.
7. The computer mouse as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the casing has an open top side to which the top wall is attached.
8. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the top wall comprises a circumferential channel receiving a circumferential flange of the cushion means therein, the top opening of the casing forming an inner flange snugly fit into the circumferential channel for fixing the flange of the cushion means in the channel of the top wall.
9. The computer mouse as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the top wall of the casing defines a recess into which the cushion means is received and retained.
10. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the cushion means comprises a first portion of a hook-and-loop type fastener fixed thereto and the top wall comprises a second portion of the hook-and-loop type fastener fixed thereto for engaging with the first portion thereby securing the cushion means to the top wall of the casing.
11. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the top wall has a flat flange on which a circumferential flange of the outer surface layer is positioned, the circumferential flange of the outer surface layer having an inclined top face which defines a sloped recess into which a corresponding portion formed along the top opening of the casing is fit for securing the outer surface layer to the top wall.
12. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the outer surface layer is made of a rigid material and is movable relative to the top wall, the force absorbing means comprising a plurality of resilient elements arranged between the outer surface layer and the top wall of the casing.
13. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the outer surface layer comprises a flange retained by an inwardly-extending flange of the casing for preventing the outer surface layer from separating from the top wall.
14. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, wherein the resilient elements comprise springs.
15. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the outer surface layer and the top wall of the casing comprise spring holders formed thereon for receiving and retaining two ends of each spring.
16. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 15, wherein each spring holder comprises a recess for receiving a corresponding end of the spring.
17. The computer mouse as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the outer surface layer comprises a hand contact layer attached to an outside surface thereof.
18. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the hand contact layer is made of a soft material.
19. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the hand contact layer is made of leather.
20. The computer mouse as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the outer surface layer comprises a number of barbed legs engaging with openings defined in the top wall.
21. A computer mouse substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in Fig. 1, Figs. 2 and 3, Fig. 4, Figs. 5 and 6, Figs. 7 and 8, Figs. 9 and 10, Figs. l l to 14, Fig. 15, Fig. 16, Figs. 17 to 19, or Figs. 20 to
22.