JP2578830Y2 - Coordinate information input device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate information input device, such as a mouse and a trackball, used to easily and enhance input / instruction operations in a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A keyboard is widely used as an input device in a computer system.
A coordinate information input device such as a mouse or a trackball may be used to simplify and enhance input / instruction operations.

A mouse as an example of such a coordinate information input device usually includes a ball for inputting coordinate information, a case for accommodating the ball with a part of its outer surface exposed, and a mouse for this case. A cover to be covered
A push button disposed so as to cover an upper surface of an inner cover portion forming a front end side of the cover, and transmitting a coordinate information signal based on a rotation amount and a rotation direction of the ball, and A signal indicating an operation state is transmitted.

[0004] In such a mouse, the case and the cover are generally assembled by screwing the four corners. However, such a method of screwing the four corners is troublesome. Recently, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a cover 15 is assembled to the case 14.

In the mouse 1 shown in FIG. 4, a ball 14 is accommodated in a case 14 with only a part of its outer surface exposed, and a circuit board 5 and switches are appropriately arranged. A cover 15 is attached so as to cover the case 14.

A push button 12 having a rear spring portion fixed to the cover 15 is provided so as to cover the upper surface of an inner cover portion 16 forming the front end side of the cover 15. Then, the inner cover portion 16 of the cover 15
A locking hook 21 protrudes downward at a position slightly closer to the rear side than the front end, and a locking piece 22 for locking the locking hook 21 is provided on the case 14.

In a mouse having such a configuration,
When the cover 15 is assembled to the case 14, the locking hook 21 is hooked on the hook piece 22, and the cover 1 is attached to the case 14.
5 is fitted, and the vicinity of the center is fastened with screws 19.

According to such an assembling method, only one screw is required, the screw hole and the like can be hidden by a label or the like, and the removability is good.

[0009]

However, in the conventional mouse as described above, the locking hook 21 and the case 14 are not provided.
A gap is formed between the front end of the circuit board 5 and the gap becomes a dead space, and in consideration of the amount of sliding when the cover is attached and detached, the space for disposing components on the circuit board 5 is greatly reduced, and the space in the case is reduced. There is a problem that it is difficult to effectively use the mouse and it is difficult to reduce the size of the mouse.

In view of the above, the present invention makes it possible to easily assemble the cover to the case, reduce the size of the cover by minimizing the occurrence of dead space, and manufacture the device at a low cost with a relatively simple structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coordinate information input device which is configured as described above.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a coordinate information input device according to the present invention basically includes a ball for inputting coordinate information and a part of an outer surface of the ball for inputting the ball. The ball, comprising: a case that is housed in an exposed state; a cover that covers the case; and a push button that is disposed to cover an upper surface of an inner cover portion that forms a front end side of the cover. In addition to transmitting the coordinate information signal based on the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the switch, a signal representing the operation state of the switch is transmitted. A hook portion having an L-shaped cross section is provided at a front end portion of the inner cover portion of the cover, and a hook gate portion having a concave portion with which the hook portion is engaged is provided inside an upper front end of the case. The cover is assembled to the case by engaging the hook with the hook gate portion.

[0012]

In the coordinate information input device according to the present invention having the above-described structure, the hook and the hook gate are provided at the front ends of the cover and the case, respectively.
The dead space in the case is reduced as compared with the conventional one. Therefore, miniaturization can be advanced.

Further, since the hook portion and the hook gate portion may have a relatively simple slide structure, the cover can be easily assembled to the case, and the mold used for manufacturing the case and the cover can be formed by a conventional mold. It can be manufactured at the same cost as that described above, so that the manufacturing cost of the case and the cover can be reduced.

[0014] Further, since the cover and the case are fitted at the ends, advantages such as an increased drop fitting strength and an excellent detachability can be obtained.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 mainly shows a one-button type mouse which is a coordinate information input device according to the present invention, particularly focusing on a fitting structure portion of a case and a cover. The same reference numerals are given to the portions, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified, and the following description will focus on the differences between the mouse of the present embodiment and the conventional mouse.

The mouse 10 of the present embodiment basically accommodates a ball 3 for inputting coordinate information and the ball 3 with a part of its outer surface exposed, similarly to the conventional mouse. A case 14, a cover 15 that covers the case 14, and an upper surface of an inner cover portion 16 formed at one end of the cover 15 are disposed.
A push button 12 provided with a spring portion 18 on one end side, and a switch 7 attached to the wiring board 5 and arranged in the case 14 and operated by the push button 12 via the pressing protrusion 9. And transmits a coordinate information signal based on the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the ball 3,
A signal indicating the operation state of the switch is transmitted.

The front end of the inner cover 16 of the cover 15 has a pair of left and right hook portions 3 having an L-shaped cross section, as can be clearly understood from FIG. 2 in addition to FIG.
6 and a case 14 is provided at the center of the front end thereof.
Is provided with a convex portion 37 which is fitted on the upper portion of the cord outlet 27 provided in the connector.

The inner cover 16 is formed with various openings 33, 35 and 31 provided for the push button 12 to be covered on the upper surface side.

On the other hand, inside the upper front end of the case 14,
As can be clearly understood by referring to FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 1, a pair of hook gate portions 25 having the concave portions 26 with which the hook portions 36 are engaged are provided on the left and right.

In the mouse 10 having such a configuration, the cover 15 is assembled to the case 14 by the cover 1
The hook portion 36 having an L-shaped cross section provided at the front end of the case 5 is connected to the hook gate portion 25 provided inside the upper front end of the case 14.
And the cover 15 is fitted to the case 14 and the vicinity of the center is fastened with screws 19.

In the mouse 10 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the hook portion 36 and the hook gate portion 25 are provided at the front ends of the cover 15 and the case 14, respectively. Shrink compared to Therefore, miniaturization can be advanced.

The hook portion 36 and the hook gate portion 2
5 can have a relatively simple slide structure, so that the cover 15 can be easily assembled to the case 14 and the mold used for manufacturing the case 14 and the cover 15 can be manufactured at a cost similar to that of the conventional case. Can be manufactured, so
The manufacturing cost of the case and the cover can be reduced.

Further, since the cover 15 and the case 14 are fitted at the ends and fastened with screws at the center, advantages such as increased drop fitting strength and excellent detachability can be obtained.

[0024]

As is clear from the above description, the coordinate information input device according to the present invention can easily assemble the cover to the case, and can reduce the size by minimizing the occurrence of dead space. The effect that it can be manufactured at a low cost with a relatively simple structure is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view mainly showing a main part of an embodiment of a mouse which is a coordinate information input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a cover of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view for explaining a conventional mouse.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Ball 5 Wiring Board 14 Case 15 Cover 16 Inner Cover 19 Screw 25 Hook Gate 26 Concave 36 Hook

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A ball for inputting coordinate information, a case for accommodating the ball with a part of its outer surface exposed, a cover covering the case, and a front end side of the cover. A push button disposed so as to cover the upper surface of the inner cover portion to be formed, and transmits a coordinate information signal based on the amount and direction of rotation of the ball, and a signal representing the operation state of the switch. In the coordinate information input device adapted to be transmitted, a cross section L is provided at a front end portion of the inner cover portion of the cover.
A hook-shaped portion is provided, and a hook gate portion having a concave portion with which the hook portion engages is provided inside the upper front end of the case, and the cover is engaged by engaging the hook with the hook gate portion. A coordinate information input device characterized by being assembled to a case.