GB2401418A

GB2401418A - A pointer device presenting a hand in a vertical position

Info

Publication number: GB2401418A
Application number: GB0224485A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher William Rickwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-22
Filing date: 2002-10-22
Publication date: 2004-11-10
Also published as: WO2004038572A2; AU2003274341A8; AU2003274341A1; GB0224485D0; WO2004038572A3

Abstract

A pointer device 1 is provided in which an upstanding side 3 incorporates switches 4, 5 to enable operation of a computer or computer game console. The device 1 is arranged such that a housing 2 which extends from a base 6. Thus, a user's hand is substantially in a relaxed state in a perpendicular relationship to a surface upon which the device 1 operates. Generally, the base 6 includes a cavity or recess 7 for a user's little finger for positional orientation and operation of the pointer device with reduced fatigue or potential for repetitive strain injury. The base may have a roller ball, or a roller can be mounted in a top surface for manipulation by a user's thumb. Extensions to the base 6 or a screw-thread adjuster can allow for hand size adjustment, and/or an elastomeric sleeve may adjust the diameter of the housing 2.

Description

A Pointer Device The present invention relates to a pointer device and

more particularly to a pointer device used with regard to electronic apparatus such as computers and game consoles.

Pointer devices are a convenient means of moving a pointer or cursor within a display of an electronic device. These pointer devices are commonly referred to as a "computer mouse". Traditionally, these pointer devices have taken the form of a flat lobe upon which a user's hand rests also in a flat configuration to operate switches located side by side in order to select desired functions. The pointer device typically incorporates a roller ball and associated sensors in order to determine from movement of the pointer device adjustment of a cursor or pointer in the computer display as required. The side by side switches then being used to select the desired function. More recently, static pointer device have been provided in which the roller ball is directly turned by a user's fingers. Alternatively, touch pads have been provided particularly with laptop or notebook type computers in order to provide movement of the pointer as required.

An unfortunate feature with all these previous pointer devices is that a user's hand must be presented to the pointer device in a flat configuration.

This flat configuration necessitates the user's arm being presented to the pointer device in a twisted orientation with the user's hand thereby substantially flat to the pointer device. This twisting, particularly over protractive periods of time, causes stress to a user's arm. The stresses are exacerbated by the necessary wrist movements in order to manipulate the pointer device in order to move the associated pointer in the computer display or screen.

With increasing use of computers both in terms of time and numbers of applications, occupational health concerns through such a rise in use of traditional pointer devices are growing.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pointer device for a computer or game console, the device comprising a housing with an upstanding side and switch means, the switch means being secured to the upstanding side whereby in use a user embraces the housing between their finger and thumb to engage the switch means by lateral movement of one or more of their fingers or their thumb and their hand being substantially in a perpendicular orientation relative to a rest surface.

Preferably, the housing is moveable upon a surface for adjustment of a character position in a display.

Preferably, the switching means comprises juxtaposed individual switch elements and/or a rotary switch.

Preferably, the housing includes a base against which a user in use rests their hand with their thumb upper most. Typically, the base has a bottom surface formed to allow ready slide movement of the device upon the surface.

Possibly, the housing is adjustable in vertical height to alter the position of the switching means dependent upon user requirements. Firstly, the housing may be adjustable through extension of the housing by screw or ratchet displacement. Alternatively, the housing may be adjustable by insertion of expansion elements into the housing. Finally, the housing may be adjustable by addition of extension elements about the housing upon which a user may rest their hand in order to provide relaxed positioning relative to the switching means.

Normally, the housing will be formed from a moulding using a plastics material. Possibly, the housing could be covered with a sleeve. Advantageously, the sleeve will provide an enhanced grip for a user. Furthermore, the sleeve may increase the barrel diameter of the housing in order to accommodate different user requirements. Normally, the sleeve will incorporate openings to expose the switch means. Generally, the sleeve and/or the housing will be covered with an aesthetically pleasing design or touch/feel sensitive surface to meet individual user requirements.

Preferably, the pointer device will include a recess in order to accommodate in use a user's little finger such that the user can gain displacement reference through tactile contact between the little finger and the surface upon which the pointer device is displaced for pointer or cursor movement.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pointer device; Fig. 2 is a side view of the pointer device depicted in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pointer device; Fig. 4 is a front view of the pointer device; Fig. 5 is a rear view of the pointer device; and, Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the pointer device.

Referring to the drawings depicting a pointer device 1 in accordance with the present invention. The pointer device 1 comprises a housing 2 with an upstanding side 3 in which switches 4, 5 are located. The housing 2 generally has a grip part including the upstanding side 3 and a base 6 from which the upstanding side 3 extends. In use, a user will embrace the upstanding part of the housing 2 with fingers on the upstanding side 3 and their thumb on the other side of the upstanding part of the housing 2. The user will also generally locate their little finger in a cavity or recess 7. Thus, the user's hand will be presented in a vertical position which is substantially consistent with the normal relaxed state of a user and so presents little if any stress to the tendons and ligaments of the user's hand and arm. The desired embrace is substantially consistent with that expected when gripping a wine glass.

In use, the pointer device 1 will rest upon a surface and will be moved in traditional pointer device or computer mouse fashion in order to displace a pointer or cursor within a display associated with an electronic device such as a computer or computer game console. Positioning of a user's little finger in the recess or cavity 7 provides a tactile reference and response for the user in order to allow accurate displacement through auto-reflex feedback. As can be seen, generally, the switches 4,5 will be located side by side one upon the upstanding side 3 such that a user will operate such switches through lateral motion in the direction of arrow head A rather than a vertical depression as with traditional graphic pointer devices.

The housing 2 will be generally manufactured by a moulding process using a plastics material. The actual shape of the upstanding part of the housing 2 including the side 3 along with the base 6 and recess 7 will be determined ergonomically for user comfort and efficiency of operation. Clearly, it will be appreciated that different users will have different specific requirements dependent upon the size of their hand, response and dexterity.

Arrangements for adjusting the pointer device to accommodate such requirements will be described later. Furthermore, there will be right handed and left handed versions of the device with the switches presented appropriately.

The switches 4, 5 in accordance with the present invention will be electrically connected in a similar fashion to traditional pointer devices or computer mouses. Thus, the switches 4,5 will be connected through electrical cable or other connection to the electronic device such as a computer or games console in order to provide and actuate or select a particular function when the pointer is located at the appropriate position within a display screen. Similarly, movement of the present pointer device 1 will as with traditional pointer devices and normally determined through a roller ball and sensors located within the base of the pointer device 1. Alternatively, a roller could be mounted in a top surface of the upstanding part of the housing 2 and a user's thumb lo arranged to manipulate that roller in order to provide movement of the pointer or cursor whilst the pointer device 1 itself remains stationery upon a surface. It should also be appreciated that further function selection switching including a rotary switch to provide "scrolling" in a display can be provided within the pointer device 1. Such a rotary switch or wheel could be located on the opposite side to the upstanding side 3 to allow operation by a user's thumb typically held in the embrace on that side of the pointer device 1.

As described previously, a user's hand will be presented to the present pointer device l in a more relaxed position with less stress to the user's arm and wrist with the result that long term use of the pointer device should not result in occupational health problems with respect to ligament damage, etc. In the present invention the switches 4,5 are generally facing side ways as opposed to the traditional pointer device which extend side by side in an upwards configuration.

The upstanding embraced part of the housing 2 as indicated previously is generally moulded and will be provided with a soft skin for tactile feel and to allow gripping principally between the base of a user's thumb and the base of a user's index finger.

A further benefit with the present invention is that the pointer device is held by the hand rather than with a traditional pointer device where finger contact is generally the main engagement with the pointer device adding further stress to finger ligaments. In the present pointer device, the user is urged through the recess 7 to maintain their smallest finger in contact with the surface upon which the device 1 moves. This acts as a reference or register for distance travelled by their hand such that small movements will be readily discerned and so allow more precise hand movements and therefore control of the pointer in the display screen.

As indicated above, adjustment of the pointer device 1 to accommodate different user requirements is advantageous. Alternatively, a number of different sized pointer devices] could be provided for different user specific al requirements. In terms of adjustability it is the height of the upstanding embraced or handle portion of the housing 2 which is of paramount importance in order to present the upstanding side 3 with the switches 4,5 for convenient use by the user. This upstanding embraced or handle part of the housing 2 may be adjusted through a screw thread extension upwards from a recess in the base 6. Thus, the base 6 will incorporate an aperture or well within which the upstanding embraced or handle part of the housing 2 is located. This embraced or handle portion of the housing 2 can then be displaced upwards or downwards against a screwthread or ratchet engagement between the well or aperture and the embraced part in a motion depicted by arrow head B. Alternatively, extension elements (not shown) could be secured in the well or aperture of the base with the embraced or handle portion of the housing 2 then supported in a top hat fashion upon the extension portion(s) secured within the well or aperture of the base rest 6. In any event, the relative position of the switches 4,5 is therefore adjustable for user convenience and requirements relative to their hand size and relaxed finger presentation to the switches 4,5 for lateral displacement in the direction of arrow head A for operation of the respective switches 4,5.

In order to adjust the barrel diameter of the upstanding embraced or handle portion of the housing 2, an elastomeric sleeve may be placed around a portion of the housing 2 which constitutes the embraced or handle part. The thickness of the sleeve will thereby alter the radial or barrel dimensions of the upstanding grip or handle part of the pointer device 1 for user comfort and specific requirements. The switches 4,5 may be directly operable by providing opening windows in the sleeve to allow user finger access to the switches 4,5.

Alternatively, the sleeve may incorporate means for individually actuating the respective switches 4,5. Such means for individual activating the switches 4,5 may be achieved by simply isolating band sections within the sleeve such that depression of one band section does not cause depression of its adjacent other band section such that only one switch is activated at any one time.

The bottom of the base 6 is generally formed to facilitate slide movement on a surface. Thus, the bottom of the base 6 may be polished or otherwise al smooth to allow ready slide motion of the pointer device as required.

I Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. A pointer device for a computer or computer console, the device

comprising a housing with an upstanding side and switch means, the switch means being secured to the upstanding side whereby in use a user embraces the housing between their finger and thumb to engage the switch means by lateral movement of one or more of their fingers or their thumb and their hand being substantially in a perpendicular orientation relative to a rest surface.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is moveable upon a surface for adjustment of a character position in a display.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the switching means comprises juxtaposed individual switch element and/or a rotary switch.
4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing includes a base against which a user in use rests their hand with their thumb upper most.
5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the base has a bottom surface formed to allow ready slide movement of the device upon the rest surface.
6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is adjustable in vertical height to alter the position of the switching means dependent upon user requirements.
7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the housing is adjustable through extension of the housing by screw or ratchet displacement.
8. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the housing is adjustable by addition of extension elements about the housing upon which a user may rest their hand in order to provide relaxed positioning relative to the switching means.
9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is formed from a moulding of a plastics material.
10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least a part of the housing is covered by a sleeve.
11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the sleeve provides an enhanced grip for a user.
12. A device as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the sleeve increases the radial or barrel diameter of the housing in order to accommodate different user requirements
13. A device as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12 wherein the sleeve incorporates openings to expose the switch means.
14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing includes a recess in order to accommodate in use a user's little finger such that the user can gain displacement reference through tactile contact between that little finger and the rest surface upon which the pointer device is displaced for pointer or cursor movement.
15. A pointer device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.