GB2422418A

GB2422418A - Hand-held thumb-operated mouse

Info

Publication number: GB2422418A
Application number: GB0512673A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joshua James Halls
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-24
Filing date: 2005-06-21
Publication date: 2006-07-26
Also published as: GB0501421D0; GB0512673D0

Abstract

A computer pointing device (e.g. mouse 1) has a base 2, a top surface 4, and side walls 3A, 3C, 3D that can be gripped by a users hand with the fingers, thumb and palm in a hand shake configuration (i.e. substantially vertical), at least one switch 5A, 5B on the top surface for operation by the thumb, and a position sensor 6, with the footprint of the base 2 being smaller than that of the top surface 4. Various body shape are possible (figs 3-18); embodiments have the side walls 3A, 3C, 3D arranged substantially in a wedge shape, the thin end of which in use is pressed against the palm; other embodiments have rectangular forms. The walls or corners may be curved and the top inclined. Extending lips 4A, 4B, 4C helps with lifting the device off a surface when required. A wire 7 or wireless connection may be made to a computer, and the device may have optical, roller ball or other lateral sensors. Scallops for fingers or thumb rests may be provided.

Description

Hand-held Thumb-Operated Mouse

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hand-held thumb-operated mouse.

The conventional mouse typically requires users to hold their hands in such a way that the palm is parallel to the flat surface on which the mouse is being used. This requires the hand to be twisted approximately ninety degrees inward from the vertical or handshake' position. Prolonged mouse use in this essentially unnatural position can lead to medical problems with the muscles and tendons of the hand, wrist and forearm. The more natuial position is for the hand to be held in a substantially vertical or handshake' position.

A number of different types of mouse have been developed to allow the use of this vertical hand position.

U.S. pat. no. 6,262,715 issued to Sawyer proposes a mouse with a base and pedestal which maintains the user's hand at a large acute angle to the horizontal.

U.S. pat. no. 5,894,303 issued to Barr proposes a hand-held mouse with a contoured body with control buttons on its front wall which the hand grasps in a vertical position.

U.S. pat no. 2003/0234765 Al by Simon proposes a vertical mouse with an extended base, thumb rest and control buttons on various sides.

U.S. pat. no. 2003/0206152 Al by Wu Paul Ying-Fung et al proposes a conelike vertical mouse with control buttons on its side walls.

There are various other similar patents and designs for this type of mouse available in addition to the above.

None of the prior art teaches a mouse as taught in the present invention.

Summary of the Invention

Against this background, there is provided, according to one aspect of the present invention a computer pointing device comprising a base; a top surface; a substantially wedge- shaped body having three side walls, wherein two of the three side walls form a thin end of the wedge, the remaining side wall forms a wide end of the wedge and where all three side walls extend from the perimeter of the base plate to the top surface, wherein the body is further shaped to be gripped by a hand, with thumb, fingers and palm in the handshake configuration with the fingers gripped around one side wall opposite the thin end of the wedge and with the thin end of the wedge pressed against the palm; one or more switches located on the top surface for operation by the thumb; a position sensor; and means for transmitting signals from the one or more electrical switches and the electronic position sensor to a computer, wherein the footprint of the base is smaller than that of the top surface. The advantage of this type of computer mouse is that the mouse can be used in the more natural handshake position with the fingers extended around the front of the body of the mouse which is pressed into the palm. This allows the thumb to reach the buttons and the mouse may be lifted from a surface without requiring the thumb to leave the top buttons. The extended top surface also helps with the lifting of the mouse and this forms a lip that rests on the first finger and fleshy part of the hand extending from the first finger to the thumb. Therefore, the body of the device is arranged to be lifted by the hand, wherein the thumb is located over or on the top surface. This allows the thumb to remain over or on the buttons when lifting the mouse so that only the fingers are required in the lifting action. The wedge shape may optionally have rounded corners to improve the comfort of the mouse for the user.

Optionally, the wedge-shaped body may have a further, fourth side wall at the thin end of the wedge truncating the wedge.

This forms a frustum-wedge shaped body or one where the thin end of the wedge does not come to a point or corner but instead ends with a wall parallel to the wide end of the wedge.

Preferably, the corners of the wedge are rounded. This makes the mouse more comfortable to hold and reduces the sharpness of the edges.

Optionally, the device may further comprise a lip extending from the top surface from the wide end of the wedge in the direction away from the thin end of the wedge-shaped body.

This makes it easier to press the top buttons with the thumb as the lip allows the buttons to be pressed between the thumb (pressing the button) and the first finger (pressing against the lip) Optionally, the device may further comprise a lip extending from the top surface away from the two sides forming the thin end of the wedge. This allows the mouse to be lifted more comfortably.

Preferably, the position sensor of the device is one of a track ball and an optical sensor. These allow the mouse to generate electronic position signals in a format that may be processed by the computer. The track ball is provided through the base to roll as the mouse is moved. The device may be implemented using any other type of suitable position Sensor.

Advantageously, the one or more electrical switches of the device includes a rotary switch. This provides additional functionality such as controlling the scroll bars of windows.

Optionally, the top surface of the device may have a slope that extends towards the thin end of the wedge-shaped body.

This allows easier access by the thumb to the buttons on the top of the mouse.

Optionally, the angle of the slope is less than 45 degrees.

This makes it more comfortable to hold the mouse.

Preferably, the mouse should be longer than it is wide with the longer side against the palm and the fingers extending around the narrower side.

Optionally, the mouse may be wedge-shaped in the plane parallel to the surface on which the mouse rests and / or wedge-shaped in the direction perpendicular to this surface with the wide end of the wedge at the top side containing the switches and with the thin end of the wedge at the bottom of the mouse that rests on the surface. Such a wedge will be truncated to provide a surface on which the mouse will stand.

Optionally, the mouse may have a wider foot or flange to support the mouse on a surface.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand-held mouse comprising: a) a base plate to rest on a surface, b) a mouse body having side walls extending from the perimeter of the base plate, said body being adapted to be received in the palm of the hand with fingers extending around part of the body c) a top surface on the top of the side walls, d) one or more thumb-operated buttons on the top surface adapted to be operated by the thumb, e) control means in the mouse body to generate signals indicative of lateral movement of the base plate relative to the surface and to generate signals upon depression of the or each button, said control means adapted to connect generated signals to a computer.

Preferably the or each button is positioned so that the end of the thumb is located above the or each button when the mouse body is held in the hand. Preferably the mouse body has a front wall adapted to be engaged by fingers of a user, and the or each button is located on the top surface towards the front wall of the mouse body.

Preferably the mouse body has four side walls extending from the base. The four walls may be formed from a front wail, a back wail and two side walls. Preferably the side wails are curved and/or are inter-connected with rounded corners.

Preferabiy the top surface is generally horizontal or inclined less than 45 degrees e.g. less than 30 degrees.

The top surface may be wider than the two opposing side walls to create a lip on either side of the mouse body adjacent the top surface.

The preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a mouse in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, including a handle portion; Figure 2 shows a perspective view with a hand operating the mouse of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a mouse in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a perspective view with the hand operating the mouse of Figure 3; Figures 5 to 8 show side views of the mouse; Figures 9 to 12 show front views of the mouse; and Figures 13 to 18 show sectional views through the handle portion of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a hand-held mouse 1.

Mouse 1 has a planar base plate 2 to rest on a surface, such as a desk top.

Extending from the base plate 2 is a wedge-shaped mouse body 3 having three walls extending from the perimeter of the base plate 2. The three walls may be formed from a front wall 3A and two opposing side walls 3C, 3D. Preferably the walls are curved and are inter-connected with rounded corners. The two opposing side walls 3C, 3D join together to form the thin end 3B of the wedge. The corners of the wedge are rounded. Body 3 is adapted to be received in the palm of the hand with fingers extending around and engaging front wall 3A of the body 3 (as shown in Figure 2) . The hand engages at least two sides of mouse 1 with the narrow end of the wedge pushed into the palm.

A curved top surface 4 is provided on the top of the walls 3A, 3C, 3D. Top surface is inclined at around 20 degrees but may be inclined at other angles less than 45 degrees e.g. less than 30 degrees. Alternatively it may be generally horizontal.

A pair of thumb-operated mouse buttons 5A, SB are provided on the top surface 4 adapted to be operated by the thumb of the user. Buttons 5A, 5B are equivalent to the left and right "click buttons" on a known type of mouse. Buttons SA, 5B are located on the top surface 4 towards the front wall 3A of the mouse body 3. As shown in Figure 2, buttons 5A, SB are positioned so that the end of the thumb is located above the or each button when the mouse body is held in the hand.

The top surface 4 is wider than the two opposing side walls 3C, 3D to create a side lip 4A, 4B on either side of the mouse body adjacent the top surface which engages the top of the forefinger to help lift the mouse 1 off a surface when required.

The top surface 4 is loiger than the two opposing side walls IC, 3D to create a front lip 4C extending beyond the mouse body which engages the top of the forefinger to help lift the mouse 1 off a surface when required. This front lip 4C also provides a rest against which the forefinger may apply pressure through the mouse and buttons when the thumb presses the buttons 5A, SB.

Control means 6 in the mouse body 3 is provided to generate signals indicative of movement of the base plate across the surface and to generate signals upon depression of the or each button. A wire 7 and plug 8 extending from the control means 6 are adapted to connect generated signals to a computer (not shown) . Control means 6, wire 7 and plug 8 are items well known in the art and need not he described further. As also known in the art, the connection to the mouse 1 could be wireless. The control means may use optical, roller ball, track ball or other lateral movement sensors.

Mouse 1 he formed of any suitable material such as plastics, and may be of any colour. It may be produced in a left- handed version or a right handed version or a single version for both left and right-handed use.

Figure 3 shows a second aspect of the present invention.

This is similar to the first aspect and like features will have the same reference numerals and shall not be described again.

The body 3 has four walls 3A, 35, 3C and 3D arid form a rectangular shaped body. The four wall are interconnected at rounded corners.

Figure 4 shows the mouse of Figure 3 being held by a hand in the handshake position with the thumb of the hand free to press the buttons 5A, SB.

Various alternative side profiles shall now be described.

These alternative side profiles are shown in Figures 5 to 7.

Similar features have the same reference numerals.

The side profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 5 has a quadrilateral shape that has a top wall 10, a bottom wall 20, a front wall 30 and a rear wall 40. The rear 40 and bottom 20 walls form a right angle and the angle between the front 30 and bottom 20 walJs is slightly obtuse. The front - 10 - wall 30 is longer than the back wall 40 and the top wall 10 slopes to join the front wall 30 to the rear wall 40.

The side profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 6 has a quadrilateral shape similar to that shown in Figure 5.

However, the angle between the rear wall 40 and the bottom wall 20 is slightly obtuse but smaller than the angle between the front wall 30 and the bottom wall 20.

The side profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 7 has a substantially rectangular shape with a nose shaped portion extending from one corner.

The ovals 60 shown in Figure 8 indicate the position of the fingers and thumb of the hand of a user using the mouse shown in Figure 7.

Various alternative front profiles shall now be described.

These alternative front profiJes are shown in Figures 9 to 12.

The front profile of the mouse in Figure 9 has a substantially rectangular shape with a convex top side 70.

The front profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 10 has a truncated wedge shape with a convex wide end wafl 70 of the wedge.

The front profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 11 has a narrow mushroom shape. The mushroom shape has concave side walls and a convex top 70.

- 11 - The front profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 12 has a wide mushroom shape. The mushroom shape has concave side walls and a convex top 70.

Various alternative sectional profiles through the handle of the mouse shall now be described. These sectional profiles are shown in Figures 13 to 18.

The sectional profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 13 is substantially rectangular with rounded corners.

The sectional profiJe of the mouse 1 in Figure 14 has a trapezium shape with rounded corners.

The sectional profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 15 has a truncated wedge shape with both the wide end and the thin end of the wedge being rounded.

The sectional profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 16 has an oval or ellipsoid shape.

The sectional profile of the mouse 1 in Figure 17 has an ovoid or egg shape.

The sectional profile of the mouse I in Figure 18 has a wide ovoid or egg shape.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example, the front wall may be - 12 - scalloped to accommodate the fingers. The button/s could be at other positions and scroll wheels could be provided along with further buttons. A projecting lip could be provided at the front of the base to prevent the mouse from falling forward. A thumb rest projection could also be provided, e.g. on a side wall.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

- 13 - CLAIMS: 1. A computer pointing device comprising: a base; a top

surface; a substantially wedge-shaped body having three side walls, wherein two of the three side walls form a thin end of the wedge, the remaining side wall forms a wide end of the wedge and where all three side walls extend from the perimeter of the base plate to the top surface, wherein the body is further shaped to be gripped by a hand, with thumb, fingers and palm in the handshake configuration with the fingers gripped around one side wall opposite the thin end of the wedge and with the thin end of the wedge pressed against the palm; one or more switches located on the top surface for operation by the thumb; a position sensor; and means for transmitting signals from the one or more electrical switches and the electronic position sensor to a computer, wherein the footprint of the base is smaller than that of the top surface.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the wedge-shaped body has a further, fourth side wall at the thin end of the wedge truncating the wedge.
3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the corners of the wedge are rounded.

- 14 -
4. The device of any previous claim further comprising a lip extending from the top surface from the wide end of the wedge in the direction away from the thin end of the wedge- shaped body.
5. The device of any previous claim further comprising a lip extending from the top surface away from the two sides forming the thin end of the wedge.
6. The device of any previous claim, wherein the electronic position sensor is one of a track ball and an optical sensor.
7. The device of any previous claim wherein the one or more electrical switches includes a rotary switch.
8. The device of any previous claim wherein the top surface has a slope that extends towards the thin end of the wedge-shaped body.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the angle of the slope is less than 45 degrees.
10. The device as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

232343 HSS, 1-SS