SE2200026A1 - Flexible / flexible mat, strap or cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention thus relates to a flexible mat (2) preferably shaped as a cylinder and preferably intended to be used for, but not limited to, a pointing device (1) arranged to control the movement of a marker on a screen at, for example, a computer or similar electronic device, wherein the mat (2) consists of a plurality of in its axial direction substantially rigid elongate links (11a-y) made of a material of substantially equal thickness which are arranged side by side mutually rotatable a limited angle in that the links (11a-y) are The invention is characterized in that the links (11a-y) and its coupling elements (15a-q) are made of a foil-shaped material / material, preferably of steel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a flexible / flexible mat, endless belt or cylinder comprising mutually rotatable or rotatable links, preferably intended to be used for, but not limited to, a pointing device arranged to control the movement of a pointer / marker / cursor on a monitor, for example a computer or similar electronic device, but also for use in other applications. The invention is especially intended for enabling a pointing device so thin, with such a construction height, that it is suitable for installation in, for example, a laptop computer or similar device.

State of the art The common and common pointing device today is the mouse, which is the dominant market for e.g. desktop computers. However, the mouse has a significant disadvantage, namely that the user has to move his hand from the keyboard and place it over the mouse to be able to move the cursor on the screen. The mouse is also directly unsuitable in cases where desktops are missing or if the space next to the computer is limited. Therefore, various alternatives to the mouse have been developed, of which the so-called the touchpad is now integrated in virtually all laptop computers. The touchpad lacks the mentioned disadvantages but often gives a less precise movement of the cursor on the screen due to the finger's contact surface against the touchpad, and not any real movement, being detected. The fact that the finger must slide against the solid surface of the touchpad, with accompanying friction, is also often perceived as negative by the user. These disadvantages result in many laptop computer users not using the built-in touchpad but instead using a connected mouse where possible.

S.k. Tablets have now gained great popularity and a wide market. Unfortunately, these devices do not have a physical keyboard, which means that work cannot always be performed efficiently with these devices. Therefore, many of these tablets offer an external keyboard, and an external mouse is also often used alongside this. Alternatively, the user must use the monitor's "touch" function, which reduces efficiency, precision and ergonomics.

There are also pointing devices on the market that are placed between the user and the keyboard, designed with a rigid cylinder or rod that can be rotated and displaced / translatable. Rotation of the cylinder moves the cursor vertically on the computer screen and axial movement The advantage of pointing devices of this type is that the user only needs to move the hand a short distance to reach the cylinder with the retained advantage that the response between cylinder movement and the movement of the cursor on the screen is as direct as in a conventional computer mouse. The cylinder can be easily moved, which results in good usability. A disadvantage of pointing devices of this type is that if the cylinder has a small diameter, the surface that can be affected by the user also becomes small, which makes it difficult to effectively move the cursor for longer distances, especially in the vertical direction of the monitor. The larger the diameter of the cylinder, the larger the surface that the user can reach, of course, but this at the expense of the construction height of the pointing device becomes larger / higher. The consensus among ergonomists is that pointing devices of this type should be as thin as possible, which makes it more difficult if the cylinder has a large diameter. The trend is also towards thinner keyboards, and the height of a pointing device mentioned type, which is placed next to a thin keyboard, should not be significantly higher than the height of the keyboard in order to achieve a comfortable working situation for the user.

A pointing device described, for example, in SE0201694-7 is currently on the market, which is also placed between the user and the keyboard. The pointing device comprises an axially rigid mentally angularly bendable cylinder which encloses a flat elongate relatively thin plate or boom, arranged so that its upper surface is parallel to the base on which the pointing device is placed. its upper side, hereinafter referred to as the operating opening, is reached and moved in two dimensions by the user, substantially parallel to the upper support surface of the boom. This is achieved in that the cylinder is translatably arranged in its axial direction between end stops, and rotatable about the boom in all axial positions about two co-rotating rollers. The movement of the cylinder is detected optoelectronically, e.g. a cursor is caused to move correspondingly on a single screen. The main advantage of this technology is that the pointing device can be manufactured with a significantly lower construction height than competing pointing devices with a comparable operating opening, built with a rigid cylinder or rod. Despite this, there are problems that limit how low a height a pointing device with this technology can be designed / manufactured with.

One problem is that the cylinder is made up of a thin fabric, such as a thin fabric, which, although extremely flexible, can still be used in combination with rollers with a diameter of less than 6 mm. This is because the fabric exhibits a "memory effect"; if the pointing device remains unused for a while, the parts of the fabric which are in the curved / bent state tend to form the circumferential rollers permanently in this curved state. If a user then desires the moving cursor on the screen vertically a short distance (i.e. the cylinder rotates slightly above the boom) and then releases the cylinder, the cylinder risks rotating back to its previous "rest position" or original position, which then moves the cursor on the monitor in an unacceptable manner. The effect of this memory effect increases with decreasing diameter of the rollers.

The part of the cylinder which is under the boom also needs to hang down a few millimeters, in order to reduce the tangential stress of the cylinder and thereby reduce the friction to a value which allows comfortable movement of the cylinder. This has further increased the pointing device thickness.

On the inside of a finished cylinder are thin strands of hard glue. On the outside of the cylinder are thin strands of silicone rubber. Manufacturing has started with a cut piece of fabric, glue has been applied in the form of strands on one side of the fabric and hardened to a hard condition, then resin silicone rubber is applied in strands on the other side of the fabric and hardened, the cylinder being closed via a narrow so-called overlapping joints, also using hardened adhesives. All this has proven to be very difficult and expensive to achieve in production. The rejection rate is high.

Prior art is thus drawn with the problem that not sufficiently thin mats / cylinders can be manufactured to e.g. be suitable to be built into and used in future electronics units with low construction height, such as e.g. laptop computers or stand-alone pointing devices adapted for thin keyboards, and which also do not have a mechanically "memory effect". The thinnest constructions of carpets / cylinders that exist today, based e.g. on a carpet of fabric, are also difficult to manufacture rationally and provide high scrap which makes them costly to manufacture.

The prior art thus does not show or describe any practical / economically usable construction of a tangentially bendable cylinder which is suitable for installation in, for example, small computers or similar units.

OBJECTS AND MAIN FEATURES OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to demonstrate a device comprising a mat or belt made of thin axially relatively rigid links which are mounted together so as to form a belt or an endless loop or cylinder. where the links are at least to some extent rotatable or rotatable relative to each other.

A further object of the invention is that the mat / cylinder should have a sufficiently large axial rigidity so that it does not deform or collapse, e.g. when it has reached an end stop in the pointing device and the user tries to move the cylinder further in the same direction.

A further object of the invention is that the gap between adjacent links shall be eliminated so that even small movements of the part of the mat / cylinder which is performed manually in the operating opening are transmitted to the part of the cylinder where its movement is detected.

A further object of the invention is that the mat / cylinder should provide minimal tangential rigidity without memory effect so that the mat / cylinder can easily rotate around the boom and remain in the achieved, and in the user desired, position when the user releases the manual contact with the mat / the cylinder.

A further object of the invention is that the mat / cylinder should be sufficiently mechanically durable so that it is not deformed plastically, e.g. when the user forcefully strives to separate two or more fingers that are in contact with the mat / cylinder.

A further object of the invention is that the friction between the user's finger / fingers and the upper surface of the mat / cylinder should substantially exceed the friction between the mat / cylinder and the boom, so that the mat / cylinder can be easily moved by the user.

A further purpose of the invention is that the mat / cylinder can be made with low weight, which minimizes friction that needs to be overcome when the user moves the mat / cylinder.

An additional purpose is to reduce other friction in the construction that needs to be overcome by the movement of the mat / cylinder.

A further purpose of the invention is that the construction height of the cylinder, ie the distance between the top and bottom of the cylinder in mounted and active position, should be so low that installation in, for example, laptop computers or keyboard accessories adapted for laptop computers, tablets or similar devices becomes suitable.

A further object of the invention is to achieve minimal friction between the links and the mutual rotation of the links, which is achieved by the links contacting each other in substantially point-shaped contact surfaces.

A further object of the invention is that pointing devices with a mat / cylinder of the construction according to the invention should in principle be simple and thus cost-effective to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is that pointing devices with a cylinder of the inventive construction should also be able to function as an accessory for computers, touch plates and similar units on the market.

A further object of the invention is to demonstrate an arbitrarily long mat or flexible band which can be used e.g. ijalusier el. dyl.

A mat / cylinder according to the present invention should also be able to be used, for example, as a conveyor belt, drive belt, caterpillar belt, bogie belt or the like. dyl.

The present invention eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art. The memory effect of the mat / cylinder is eliminated, the risk of deformation of the mat / cylinder during operation is reduced / eliminated so that every mechanical movement in the mat / cylinder is detected with the least possible distortion / distortion, low construction height of the pointing device can be achieved etc.

The above-mentioned and further objects and advantages are achieved according to the invention by a flexible mat defined in claims 1-40, a link according to claim 41, a method of manufacturing the link according to claim 42 and the use of the invention according to claim 43.

Brief description of the invention The invention thus relates to a flexible mat preferably shaped as a cylinder and preferably intended to be used for, but not limited to, a pointing device arranged to control the movement of a cursor on a screen at for example a computer or similar electronic device, the mat consisting of a plurality in its axial direction substantially rigid elongate links made of a material of substantially equal thickness which are arranged side by side, mutually rotatable at a limited angle by the links being arranged with at least one, preferably several, coupling elements.

The invention is characterized in that a first link and its coupling element, in the exemplary mat, are arranged to form an integrated unit and that the coupling elements in a second link, by two adjacent links, are arranged to extend through the coupling elements in the first link, the links being in mechanical and articulated contact with each other when the mat is stretched in its longitudinal direction.

A link thus consists of a material of substantially equal thickness, such as e.g. of a flat and / or foil-shaped material / goods. The link further comprises coupling elements with the intended center line of the opposite link directed hinge or contact edges and that the contact edges may be oriented parallel to the imaginary center line of the link, or oriented at an angle relative to the center line of the link, said contact edges being arranged , and that the link and / or coupling element is bent / bent along at least one bending or bending line preferably arranged between the intended center line of the link and the storage points of the coupling element, and wherein said bending line extends substantially parallel to the center line.

According to the invention, the link is also provided with a base portion (16a) extending in the link longitudinal / axial direction, that at least one, preferably a number, coupling elements are arranged in or at the base portion of the link. A coupling element of a link is arranged in the form of a single-hole recess, for example forming an arc / stirrup / loop or the like, and at least one of the coupling elements of a link is mechanically coupled to an coupling element of an adjacent link, in that the coupling element of the link is at least partially inserted in or through it. adjacent coupling elements of the adjacent link, wherein adjacent links in the mat remain mutually rotatable or rotatable a limited angle relative to each other when the mat is stretched in its longitudinal direction.

Special problems arise in the production of a at the same time rigid but at the same time flexible mat / cylinder of a very thin material / material. However, this is solved by the present invention.

The mat is preferably arranged to form an endless loop or cylinder and is thus made up of a number of mutually rotatable or rotatable, axially substantially rigid links, and encloses and rests against some form of support element, e.g. a mainly flat boom. At least a part of the cylinder, the upper part of the cylinder, rests against a base, such as the top of the boom, the support surface, which is typically arranged parallel to the base on which the pointing device is in turn placed. The top of the cylinder is arranged cover, so that the cylinder can be conveniently moved relative to the surface of the boom by a user. The cylinder can thus be displaced in the axial direction but also rotate about its intended center line. The movements of the cylinder are detected by means of, for example, an optical detector, which in turn generates an electrical signal which gives rise to the movement of, for example, a cursor on a monitor. The invention is particularly directed to the design of the cylinder, its links and their assembly. The axial length of the cylinder is preferably equal to or greater than its circumference.

Optionally, two rods can be arranged to rotate and slide axially on their respective shafts or rods, located at both edges of the boom and the cylinder in this case also encloses these rods and shafts.

The cylinder is made up of links which, when the cylinder is stretched, are in mechanical contact with each other in substantially point-shaped contact surfaces. The links are thus mutually rotatable or rotatable a limited angle in relation to each other.

The links preferably consist of a material / material of substantially uniform thickness and are, for example, etched or punched from this thin material / material which may suitably be a single film, for example a metal foil such as a steel foil. However, other materials are also conceivable to use, such as e.g. plastics, ceramics, fiberglass, carbon fiber or similar. The material typically has a thickness of up to about 1 mm, but preferably has a thickness of 0.025 - 0.3 mm. A thin foil helps to reduce the thickness of the pointing device and can be etched at low cost. Cylinder weight is thus minimized, which contributes to low contact force during use, which in turn provides low friction and thus the cylinder can be easily moved by a user. Furthermore, very advanced shapes can be produced by etching from a foil, which enables a long-term optimization of assembly and function.

The links can be said to have a base portion, to which a number of coupling elements are arranged. The coupling elements are preferably all arranged along the long side of the base portions of each link. A center link is, however, arranged with coupling elements along the both longitudinal sides of the base portion. Each coupling element suitably consists of two side legs connected to the base portion and substantially perpendicular to the axial extension of the base portion, which are connected to other outer ends, directed from the base portion, via a beam. The coupling elements on the different links in the mat are arranged in a corresponding place, in a corresponding axial position, on each link in the mat to enable the links to be mechanically connected to each other by means of the coupling elements. However, the coupling elements at respective locations on adjacent links preferably have different lengths, in order to enable adjacent links to be effectively connected and pushed into each other. The area of the coupling elements where the mechanical contact between the links occurs, forms a cross seen in the end view of the links.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following, more detailed description, of the invention, and from the accompanying drawings and other claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described in more detail below in the form of some preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pointing device intended to be placed in front of a keyboard. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the pointing device with the upper part of the housing removed.

Figures 3a and b show in a section across the housing of the pointing device an end view of the upper and lower part of the housing and the cylinder and boom around which the cylinder rotates, and an enlargement of part of the cylinder.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of three adjacent and interconnected links where it is shown how the coupling elements can be designed.

Figure 5 shows an example of how low and high friction elements can be placed on the links in a mat.

Figure 6a shows a link comprising a base portion which along its one side is provided with a number of substantially U-shaped coupling elements with an outer length L, inner length I and a width B, figure 6b shows in more detail how a contact edge can be formed arcuate, figure 6c shows an alternative design of links without inclined contact edges and figure 6d finally shows some different conceivable constructions of a base portion of a link and the connecting elements of these links.

Figure 7 shows three interconnected links and here it is shown that the coupling elements on the different links have different outer and inner lengths in order to enable interconnection.

Figure 8a shows a link in end view, figure 8b shows in end view interconnected links which are slightly rotated at an angle relative to each other and figure 8c shows, among other things, at which points two interconnected links are in mechanical contact with each other and along which lines the coupling elements are bent.

Figure 9 shows in end view how the links rotate relative to each other as they pass around a single bar, placed outside the side edge of the boom.

Figures 10a-f show in end view how the coupling elements and their side legs can be bent in different ways.

Figure 11 shows an alternative embodiment of coupling elements, provided with side legs arranged at an oblique angle to the base portion. Figure 12 shows a link where the base portion is open between the side legs of the coupling elements. Figure 13a-c shows a so-called middle link to which other links are intended to be connected in two directions.

Figure 14 shows a possible embodiment of a mat where links are mounted symmetrically starting from a central link according to Figures 13a-c.

Figures 15a and b show a part of a mat consisting of a number of links extending in two directions from a central link.

Figures 16a and b show how the so-called splice coupling elements are suitably welded to each other by means of, for example, spot welding.

Figure 17 shows how the so-called starting, intermediate and ending coupling elements are connected to each other, dashed lines running through the storage points where mechanical contact occurs between the coupling elements of the various links.

Figure 18 shows an example of how links with starting, intermediate and ending connecting elements are joined to a mat.

Figure 19 shows a simple embodiment of a mat where only the starting and ending coupling elements are arranged on the respective link.

Figure 20 shows an embodiment in which a link is provided with terminating and intermediate connecting elements.

Figure 21 shows a preferred embodiment of mat where the links are arranged with three different coupling elements, beginning, intermediate and ending.

Figure 22 shows an embodiment where coupling elements from four adjacent links form a converging series of interconnected coupling elements and where each link is provided with at least one group of coupling elements consisting of a starting, two intermediate and a terminating coupling elements placed one after the other in the longitudinal link.

Figure 23 shows another embodiment of a carpet according to the invention.

Figures 24a and b show another design of coupling elements provided with inclined side legs.

Figures 25a and b show a further design of coupling elements where three arcuate or bracket-shaped coupling elements are connected to each other in a corresponding manner as in Figures 23a, b.

Description of preferred embodiments Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pointing device 1 intended to be placed between a user and a commonly used keyboard, not shown. The pointing device 1 is provided with a flexible / flexible mat 2 according to the invention formed into a cylinder. In the upper housing part 3a of the pointing device 1, the device is directed upwards, towards the user, directed opening, a so-called operating opening 4, which exposes at least a part of the upwardly directed surface of the mat / cylinder 2, the upper side of the mat 2. One-user can with one or more fingers reach the top of the cylinder and move the mat / cylinder 2 optionally in two directions / dimensions, laterally and transversely the pointing device 1. The pointing device 1 has suitable buttons 5a-c for further functions not further specified here.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the pointing device 1 with the upper part of the housing (not shown) removed. The mat2, here more clearly shaped as a cylinder, consists of a number of thin and elongate links which are rotatably connected to each other. The mat / cylinder 2 encloses a preferably flat and rectangular shaped plate or boom 6. The length of the cylinder is typically greater than half its circumference. The upper part of the cylinder rests against the substantially flat top of the boom 6, its support surface 7.

The cylinder is here tangentially clamped over the boom 6 and in this case over two, 8 longitudinal sides of the longitudinal boom 6, located rods 8a, b, each of which is arranged to rotate about, and slide axially on, each rod 9a, b. It is also conceivable to use only one rod (not shown) placed along one of the long sides of the boom 6, the cylinder will rotate directly towards the edge of the boom 6 on its opposite side.

When the user manually moves the cylinder, ie it rotates or displaces the mat 2 axially or performs a combination of these movements, the movement of the mat / cylinder 2 is also detected schematically shown in figure 3 and information about the movement / movement is transmitted in the form of a signal to e.g. a connected computer (not shown), resulting in e.g. that a cursor is moved in the same way as the cylinder but on the computer screen. The lateral movement of the cylinder, ie in the axial direction, thus suitably gives rise to a horizontal movement of the cursor on the screen and rotation of the cylinder gives rise to a vertical movement of the cursor on the screen. Diagonal movements of the cursor are a combination of said movements of the cylinder and the cursor can thus be moved in all conceivable directions on the screen.

Figure 3a shows, in a section across the housing 3 of the pointing device 1, an end view of the upper 3a and lower 3b part of the housing and the mat / cylinder 2 and the boom 6 around which the mat / cylinder 2 rotates. Here the cylinder is shown rotating only around the boom 6 and its edges without use rods / rods 8a, b. This normally requires that the boom 6 be made of, or coated with, a material which provides sufficiently low friction against the mat / cylinder 2. The cylinder is kept sufficiently tangentially stretched by suitable selection of the width of the boom 6 in relation to the circumference of the cylinder. Sensor 10, e.g. an optical type sensor, is arranged to detect the movements of the mat / cylinder 2.

Figure 3b shows in more detail a part of the mat / cylinder 2, here directed downwards in the figure. The mat / cylinder 2 is composed of a number of links 11a-c (see also figure 4), the construction of which is discussed in detail in the following. High friction elements 12 are arranged on the upper / outer surface of the links 11a (i.e. the surface of the mat facing outwards relative to the center of the cylinder) to facilitate the user's operation of the pointing device 1 and low friction elements 13, also located on the outer surfaces of the links 11a-c, are arranged to reduce the friction between the mat / cylinder 2 and the inner / lower bottom surface 14 of the pointing device. a plate covered with, or consisting of, a material which gives low friction and low wear against the low friction elements 13. It is a great advantage that the mat / cylinder 2 is only so tensioned around the boom 6 in the cylinder tangential direction that the mat / cylinder 2 hangs down slightly under the boom 6 and slightly to the inner bottom surface 14 of the housing 3. significantly facilitates the user's movement of the mat / cylinder 2 and the comfort user's comfort.

The longitudinal direction of the mat / cylinder 2 is defined here as the direction across the axial extent of the links. The "axial length" of the cylinder, on the other hand, is denoted as the length seen in the cylinder axis direction.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view obliquely from above of three adjacent and interconnected links 11a-c each provided with a plurality of coupling elements 15a-c. The coupling elements 15a-c are arranged with different lengths to enable / facilitate the assembly of the mat 2. When mounting a mat 2, a coupling element 15b of a second link 11b is simply pushed into the coupling element 15a of a first link 11a, after which a coupling element 15c of a third link 11c is pushed into the coupling element 15b of the second link 11b, etc. For each mounted link 11a-b 11, the length of the mat 2 increases and the longitudinal direction LR of the mat 2 is indicated by the bidirectional dashed arrow LR in fig. 4.

After mounting, the coupling element 15c can be said to be located in, be located through, the coupling element 15b, which in a corresponding manner can be said to be located in the coupling element 15a. Each of the links 11a-c can advantageously be made of one and the same goods / material and thus form an integrated unit.

Figure 4 also shows some examples of the high-friction elements 12 and the low-friction elements 13 arranged on the links 11a-c. These partially cover the outer surface of the link 11a-c.

The links 11a-c are made of a thin platform material / material, preferably a foil, and preferably a metal foil whose thickness is advantageously 0.025 - 0.30 mm, whereby the total weight of the mat / cylinder 2 can be kept low, typically 10 grams or less . This facilitates the movement of the cylinder as the friction in the pointing device / system is minimized. The material of the links 11a-c can of course be both thicker or thinner, depending on the application, material stiffness and other circumstances.

The links 11a-c can advantageously be etched out of a thin steel foil. The etching can be done in a cost-effective way when the material is thin. A high precision can also be achieved as well as that voltage-free and degree-free links 11a-c can be obtained without other further processing.

Alternatively, fine cutting, laser cutting or 3D printing can be used to produce the links 11a-c according to the invention.

In addition to metal, the links 11a-c can be made of a material from the group: plastic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, a ceramic material or other materials with similar properties.

The links 11a-c are coated on as large an area as possible with, of a substantially soft material-resistant, high-friction element 12, as a mat / cylinder 2 of metal links without arranged high-friction elements 12 can be perceived as too slippery and thus difficult to operate by a single user. The high friction elements 12, which solve this problem, are suitably arranged completely or partly on the outer surfaces of the links 11a-c with a thickness of about 0.1 mm, but can of course be formed with a different thickness and advantageously consist of a silicone rubber or other material with similar properties.

The links 11a-c of the mat / cylinder 2 are also here and were provided with low-friction elements 13 arranged in the form of small "islands" or "drops", which extend a few tenths of a mm longer than applied high-friction elements 12, calculated from the outwardly directed surfaces of the links 11a-c. The diameter of the low-friction elements 13 is suitably about 1 mm. the low friction elements 13.

Provided that the low-friction elements 13 are not too sparsely placed on the links 11a-c, the high-friction elements 12 will never reach down to the bottom surface 14 of the pointing device and create a disadvantageously increased friction. When the low-friction elements 13 consist of a hard and smooth material such as acrylic plastic or the like, the friction of the mat / cylinder 2 against the bottom 14 of the pointing device is minimized, whereby the mat / cylinder 2 becomes easily movable. The low-friction elements 13 are small and relatively few so the user's fingertips always easily reach down to the high-friction elements 12, via the operating opening 4, which gives the user a good attachment / grip to the mat / cylinder 2.

Without low friction elements 13, the high friction elements 12 would contact the inner bottom surface 14 of the pointing device, resulting in greatly increased friction in the movements of the mat / cylinder 2, which would significantly impede the user's movement of the mat / cylinder 2.

Figure 5 shows an example of how the low-friction elements 13 can be placed on certain deflectors in a mat / cylinder 2. The link 11b is e.g. thus arranged with partly high-friction elements 12 but also with low-friction elements 13.

As low-friction elements 13, small bulges, tongues or bumps can also be formed from the link's 11b's own materials (not shown), which then function as low-friction elements 13. The advantage is that no extra materials need to be added.

Another option is to small balls, discs el. dyl. of a relatively hard material, applied to the link 11b. How the low-friction elements 13 are constructed, or of what material they are made up is not decisive, the essential thing according to the present invention is that low-friction elements 13, consisting of a harder or at least more low-friction material than the high-friction elements, reach further out, higher up, from the outer surface of the link than surrounding high friction elements12.

An alternative to arranging low friction elements 13 resting on the bottom surface of the pointing device is that the edges of the via boom 6, or via rods 8, stretch the mat / cylinder 2 so much that it hangs down very small, minimally, on the underside of the boom 6 and therefore does not reach down to point bottom inner surface 14. This enables a relatively low (thin) pointing device 1 but increases, due to the mat / cylinder 2 in this case inevitably high tangential stress, the friction of the mat / cylinder 2 against the edges of the boom 6, or the friction of the rods 8 against the rods 9 on which they slides and rotates, which would significantly impede the user's movement of the mat / cylinder 2.

Another alternative is to let the mat / cylinder 2 hang down a good distance under the boom 6, which admittedly enables a good rotation / rotation of the mat / cylinder 2 around the boom 6, but at the same time requires a large distance between the underside of the boom 6 and the bottom surface 14 of the pointing device 1. the construction height (thickness) of the pointing device 1 is significant, which is not desirable. The problem is thus to design a pointing device 1 with a low construction height at the same time as the mat / cylinder 2 must easily be able to rotate around the boom 6. High friction elements 12 arranged large surfaces of the links 11a-c and small low friction elements 13 arranged in selected places the outer surfaces of the links for solving this problem.

Figure 6a shows the link 11b, from figure 5, consisting of a base portion 16a, the portion of the som which is within the dashed area and which constitutes the most rigid part in length. The link 11b is provided along its one long side with a number of substantially U-shaped coupling element 15b, having an outer length L and an inner length I.

Each coupling element 15b extends from the base portion of the link 11b with a width B. The coupling elements 15b are thus arranged on one long side of the link 11b while the other long side lacks coupling elements. Each coupling element 15b is formed with a single recess and can be said to form a "loop" comprising the side legs 17a, b, which are thus fixedly arranged in or at the base portion 16a of the link 11b. The side legs 17a, b are connected to each other at the other ends via a connecting beam 18a. These beams 18a are arranged substantially parallel to the imaginary center line C of the link 11b which extends parallel to the length of the link, and is located midway between the long sides of the link.

The base portion 16a may be provided with a widened surface 16b, along parts of the link 11b, and which may extend into the inner cavity of the coupling element, in order to increase the surface which can be coated with high friction elements 12 and / or low friction elements 13. The side legs 17a, b are arranged here at a substantially right angle to the center line C of the link 11a-c, but can of course be arranged at another angle.

The outer and inner length of the coupling elements 15b, L resp. 1, they are denoted below as follows: The outer length L of a coupling element 15b is the largest distance between the outer edges of the side legs 17a, b which can be measured along a line parallel to the axial extent of the link, or its center line C.

The inner length I of a coupling element 15b is the largest distance between the inner edges of the side legs 17a, b which can be measured along a line parallel to the center line C of the link.

These definitions also apply to side legs with irregular design, which are described below.

The coupling elements 15b are provided with angled contact or hinge edges 19a, arranged to create storage points P between adjacent and interconnected links 11a, b (see for example Figures 8b and c) in order to achieve substantially play-free and friction-free rotation / rotation of the links 11a, b in relation to each other, when the mat 2 is stretched in the longitudinal direction. Such angled inner contact or hinge edges 19a are arranged i.a. at 14 the connection of the side legs 17a, b to the connecting beam 18a, and more specifically on the insides of the corners formed there. Correspondingly, the side legs 17a, b, near the Iänkens base portion 16a, are also provided on their outer sides with angled contact edges 19b. The contact edges 19a, b are, in the region of the storage points P between two interconnected coupling elements 15a, b, preferably arranged at an angle d of between 15 - 75 degrees in relation to the center line C of the link 11b. However, the angle d is typically about 45 degrees.

The base portion 16a is widened between the side legs 17a, b of each coupling element and between the respective coupling elements 15b, in order to increase the surface which can be provided with high-friction elements 12 and / or low-friction elements 13. The connecting beam 18a can also advantageously be coated with high-friction elements 12 (not shown). ).

Figure 6b shows how the contact edges 19a, b, here specifically the contact edge 19b, can also be designed concavely curved / arcuate.

Figure 6c shows that it is also possible to arrange the contact edges 19a, b parallel to the imaginary center line C of the link. adjacent link 11d, the contact edges 19a being said to be integrated in the beam 18a, and the contact edges 19b can similarly be said to be integrated in the base portions 16a of the links 11d, e simply by their design.

Problems with this embodiment may be that the axial play between the links 11d, e can increase unfavorably.

Figure 6d shows in principle different conceivable constructions of a link base portion 16a and these different links 11f-i coupling elements 15a where some of the coupling elements 15a together with the base portion 16a form closed loops, the respective link 11f, g base portion 16a being provided with a closure / bridge 18b in the area between the connection points of these coupling elements 15 aside legs 17a, b to the base portion 16a of the link 11f, g. Other coupling elements 15a form "open loops" where the links 11h, in base portions 16a, have no bridges and are open between these side legs 17a, b of these coupling elements 15a. The figure also shows how parts of the base portion 16a can be widened in order to stiffen the links 11f, h in their axial joints and / or to increase the space for high-friction elements 12 and / or low-friction elements 13 (not shown).

Figure 7 shows how coupling elements 15a-c of adjacent links 11a-c are formed with outer lengths, L1, L2 and L3, which differ from each other. The assembly of the links 11a-c begins with the link 11a, whereupon the coupling element 15b of the link 11b is threaded into the coupling element 15a of the link 11a, whereupon the coupling element 15c of the link 11c is threaded into the coupling element 15b of the link 11b.

The outer length L3 of the coupling element 15c is smaller than the inner length I2 of the coupling element 15b. The outer length L2 of the coupling element 15b is smaller than the inner length I3 of the coupling element 15a. This ensures that the coupling elements 15a-c of the links 11a-c can be inserted into each other without hindrance, which enables a rational manufacture / assembly. It should also be noted that the outer lengths of the links 11a-c differ from each other. the outer length of the inserted coupling element has a small excess relative to the inner length of the next link.

Figure 8a shows in more detail the basic construction of a link 11a according to the invention, in the end view of the link 11a. Arranged on the outer surface of the base portion 16a of the link 11a are high friction elements 12 and low friction elements 13. The side legs 17a, b (of which only 17b can be seen in the end view shown in the figure) extend outwards and downwards from the base portion 16a of the link 11a. The side legs 17a, b are bent along two lines BL (see figure 8c) in a first area 20a near the base portion 16a of the link 11a and bent along two further lines BL (see figure 8c) in a second area 20b near the outer part of the side legs 17a, b and thus near the connecting beam 18a which connects the outer ends of the side leg 17a, b. Thus, in each bending area 20a, b, two bending points 21a, b are arranged per side leg 17a, b; the connecting beam 18a is arranged in substantially the same level / plane as the base portion 16a of the link 11a, i.e. in the maneuvering surface 22 of the mat. base portions 16a and the upper surfaces of the connecting beam 18a, but not arranged in the same plane, and arranged to constitute the mechanical / physical contact of the mat 2 against a base, such as the support surface 7 of a boom 6, at least when the mat / cylinder 2 is in the area of the actuator 1 of the pointing device 1.

The angles ß, shown in Figure 8a, are suitably about 160 degrees but are preferably in the range 135 - 170 degrees. Too large an angle ß complicates or prevents the mat 2 from being stretched in a straight line, which in turn means that the mat cannot lie flat against a base such as the support surface 7 of the boom 6. Too small an angle ß risks leading to plastic deformation, especially in the link 11a bending points 21b if a user with his opp tops applies a larger separating force / tensile stress to the links 11a-c of the carpet 2 in the carpet longitudinal direction.

Figure 8b shows the two links 11a and 11b slightly rotated at an angle γ relative to each other. In a normal application of the invention, the angle y between two adjacent links 11a, b at the rotation of the mat / cylinder 2 can vary in the range 0 - 90 degrees, depending on the position of the links 11a, b around the boom 6 and depending on the diameter of the edge for the boom 6 or rod 8 about which the links 11a, b rotate. The side legs 16a, b of the links are bent so that the states mounted in the links 11a, b at each storage point P therein coupling element 15a is in mechanical contact with an adjacent link coupling element 15b can be said to form a cross seen in the end view of the links 11a, b, when the mat 2 is stretched in its longitudinal direction.

Figure 8c shows that the mechanical contact between two adjacent links 11a, b occurs at the storage points P, located within the area 20a when the mat 2 is mounted and stretched in the longitudinal direction. The coupling element 15a of one link 11a extends from its attachment in the base portion 16a into the base portion 16a of the adjacent link 11b and is then mechanically coupled to the coupling element 15b of the next link 11b. At least one, but preferably all, of a coupling element of a link are arranged in this way.

Figure 8c also shows how the bending points 21a, b in the bending areas 20a, b for the respective side are located along the bending or bending lines BL (dashed) which run parallel to the imaginary center line C of the link 11a.

Figure 9 shows in end view how the links 11a-c rotate / rotate relative to each other when they pass rod 8, placed outside one side edge of the boom 6. Here it can also be seen how the side leg 17b is slightly curved to be better adapted to the radius of the rod 8. This curved shape can be made larger or smaller or of course completely missing.

Figure 10a shows in end view a variant of link seen in end view is bent along only two linesBL. An inventive mat 2 can of course be built up of a number of such links. However, this has the disadvantage that the upwardly directed both outer ends / edges of the links can be sharp / sharp, and thus uncomfortable, for the user. Any applied high-friction coatings (not shown) will then also not be mutually parallel or parallel to the operating surface 22, which complicates the user's mechanical contact with the high-friction coatings.

Figure 10b shows in end view in principle how a link can be bent and bent with a large radius so that the link becomes partially arcuate seen in the end view of the link, and this applies to all bend geometries. Thus, single bending does not have to be sharp with a small radius but can be performed with a larger radius.

Figure 10c shows two interconnected alternative links, each bent along only one bend line BL, seen in the endw of the links.

Figure 10d shows two interconnected links, each bent with a very large radius so that a substantially completely curved / bent or arcuate link is provided.

Figure 10e shows a link where base portions and connecting beams are located in the same plane, and parallel to the operating surface 22 of the mat. The embodiments shown in Figures 10a-d and 10f can also of course be supplemented in a similar manner. Figure 10f shows a combination of two different interconnected links, one of which is arcuate and one is substantially straight, seen in end view. By combining them and connecting them alternately to each other, it is achieved that the mat / cylinder 2 can still lie flat against a surface when it is stretched in its longitudinal direction, despite the fact that every other link lacks bending.

Common to all embodiments is that the contact between the links forms a cross set in the end view of the links (shown circled in Figure 10c).

Figure 11 shows an alternative embodiment of coupling elements 15f, provided with the base leg 16a of the relative link inclined side legs 17a, b. The length of these coupling elements 15f is greater at its connecting outer beam 18a than at its inner part, at the attachment to the base portion 16a. As a result, links 11j with the same outer length of the coupling elements 15 can theoretically be connected to each other, but a disadvantage is that the manufacture is significantly made difficult as the connecting beam 18a of each coupling element 15f must be strongly bent in order to be inserted into the corresponding coupling element 15fi next link 11j.

Figure 12 shows a link 11k where the base portion 16a is open between the side legs 17a, b of the coupling elements 15. An advantage of this construction is that the link 11k has a lower weight which contributes to a lower friction when moving the mat / cylinder 2 but at the same time reduces the axial stiffness of each link 11k, as well as the space for mounting high friction elements 12 and low friction elements 13.

Figures 13a-c show a so-called center link 11l to which other links (not shown here) are connected on each side, and out in two directions, via the recesses 15g. Figure 13a shows the center link 111 in its entire extent and Figure 13b shows a part of the outer end portion of the center link 111 in more detail. Figure 13c shows in an end view how the center link 111 is bent.

This symmetrical central link 111 is, in the same way as other links, preferably bent in two areas 20a, b with two bending points 21a, b each. The two outer longitudinal edges 24a, b are located in substantially the same plane.

Figure 14 shows an embodiment of a mat 2, where links 11a-c, m have been mounted symmetrically starting from said center link 111.

Figure 15a shows in more detail how in manufacturing an embodiment of a mat 2, starting from a central link 111 and inserting a connecting element 15a of a first link 11a into the recesses 15g, corresponding to the space between a side leg 17a, b of a coupling element, which are arranged in the central link 111. . The inner length I (see Fig. 13a) of the recesses 15g in the central link 111 is greater than the outer length of the coupling element 15a of the first link 11a. In the next manufacturing step, a second link 11b is threaded into the first link 11a, the inner length of the coupling element 15a of the first link 11a being larger than the outer length of the coupling element 15b of the second link 11b, and so on. Each additional link 11a-c, m is then provided 18 with gradually shorter coupling elements 15a-c, but placed on the corresponding axial position on the links 11a-c, m. During manufacture, links 11a-c, m are threaded in both upwards and downwards, seen in the gure 15a, from the center link 11l in both directions until a symmetrical mat 2 is obtained.

The last / outermost links, called connection links 11m, can, but need not be, provided with splice coupling elements 25, shown here in the form of "splice tongues" and bent only two points 21a, b, shown in the end view in Fig. 15b. The connection link 11m on one side of this mat 2 can be spliced together via its splice coupling elements 25, via an overlap joint 26 (see figure 16a, b), with the splice coupling elements 25 of the connection link 11m on the other side of the mat 2 so that a closed cylinder is obtained. Alternatively, and preferably, several such mats can be joined together to form an arbitrarily long mat 2, or cylinder with a larger circumference. a cylinder of any circumference or a mat 2 of any length.

Figures 16a and 16b show how the splice coupling elements 25 are suitably welded to each other by means of, for example, spot welding and thus form an overlap joint 26. The splice coupling elements 25 can also be fastened to each other in another way, e.g. by soldering or gluing. In all the embodiments described above, the links 11a-c, m in the mats 2, once they are joined together via their outermost links 11m to a cylinder, are impossible to separate. However, the manufacture of a mat 2 for pointing device 1 consisting of several mats 2 is in practice complicated, as the mats 2 are mechanically difficult to handle and with precision must be placed relative to the second mats 2 before welding. It would be advantageous if an arbitrarily long carpet 2 according to the present invention could be built in one piece, and it has been found that this is actually possible.

Figure 17 shows a group of links 11n-q, provided with the coupling elements 15h-k respectively. The assembly of the links 11n-q begins with a first link 11n, which can therefore be said to be provided with a starting coupling element 15h. Then two links 11o and 11p, mounted in the mounting arrangement, are provided with the coupling elements 15i, j and respectively. The terminating link 11q of the mounting arrangement can be said to be provided with a terminating coupling element 15k, since no further coupling element is inserted in the roof coupling element 15k. The coupling elements 15i, j are mechanical, and also counter mounting order, intermediate the starting coupling element 15h and the terminating coupling element 15k and can therefore be said to be intermediate coupling element 15i, j.

Starting, intermediate and terminating coupling elements are hereby defined as follows: 19 A starting coupling element is not inserted / located in any other coupling element but has a coupling element inserted / located in itself.

An intermediate coupling element is inserted / located in a beginning or intermediate coupling element and has an additional intermediate or ending coupling element inserted / located in itself.

A terminating coupling element is inserted / located in a starting or intermediate coupling element but has no further coupling element inserted in itself.

This means that the middle link 11l, shown t.e> '<. in Figs. 13 a-c, is provided with starting coupling elements, here denoted by 15g.

Here, the term "inserted" has been used, but the definitions mentioned above apply even if all links and coupling elements are produced with a method that eliminates the need for the coupling elements to be mechanically / physically threaded / pushed into each other. Such a method edge.ex. be 3D printing, where the mechanics shown e.g. in Figure 17 can be produced in a single process where the links are already placed, or "inserted / located", in each other. The essential thing is that the coupling elements are possible to be threaded / pushed into each other so that one coupling element "is in" the other, not necessarily that they have really been pushed into each other.

It is important to note that with the exception of the terminating coupling element 15k in Fig. 17, none of the coupling elements 15h-k can slide out of the coupling element into which it is inserted, which is mechanically prevented by the "next" coupling element in the mounting order. in mounting order no next coupling element that can prevent an exit (a separation). This applies in general; only a terminating coupling element 15k can potentially slip out of the coupling element into which it is inserted.

Figure 17 shows dashed lines connecting the storage points P where contact exists between the connecting elements 15h-k of adjacent links, and how these lines run substantially diagonally and converge towards a common point P2. The coupling elements 15h-k can therefore be said to form a converging series. It can be noted that the coupling elements 15h-k of the outer lengths of the link links are different. It is obvious that the number of coupling elements which can form a converging series is limited, since during assembly sooner or later one unconditionally arrives at a terminating coupling element in which no further coupling element can be inserted. It should be noted, however, that a terminating coupling element can very well be made e.g. with side legs and connecting beam similar to other described connecting elements, so that it would in principle be possible to insert additional single connecting elements but that this has not happened.

In the following text, various embodiments of carpets according to the present invention are described which can be made arbitrarily long, without the need for splicing / joining. These mats can then be turned into a cylinder via only a single joint. The mats comprise in their simplest form at least one link which is provided with at least one, preferably several, terminating coupling elements and at least one, preferably several, starting coupling elements. A separation of two coupling elements can take place in this type of mat when / if the terminating coupling element slides out of the coupling element in which it is inserted. If all coupling elements between two adjacent links separate, these links will of course separate. These mats must therefore be kept in a tensioned condition to reduce / eliminate the risk of separation of coupling elements and, in the worst case, links. This can make them unsuitable for use in pointing devices, as a user with fingers could compress links in the control area so that at least one or more coupling elements separate, which would at least interfere with the tangential flexibility of the hammock and thereby reduce the mat's smooth and easy movement around the boom.

Figure 18 shows a mat with a number of links where the number of intermediate coupling elements in each converging series is six. The number of intermediate coupling elements in different converging series can be both larger and smaller in other embodiments. Also in fi gur18 converging series can be identified. The last link in each converging series is provided with both terminating coupling elements and starting coupling elements, which enables an additional link provided with intermediate coupling elements to be inserted into this link.

In this way, an arbitrarily long mat can be manufactured by repeating the pattern of link coupling elements according to Figure 18. Carpets of this type should always be kept taut as the terminating coupling elements can otherwise slide out of the coupling elements they have entered.

The number of intermediate coupling elements in each converging series of coupling elements is thus optional. The maximum possible number of intermediate coupling elements is determined by the length of the starting coupling elements starting and the width of the side legs of the next coupling element.

Figure 19 shows the probably simplest embodiment of a mat 2 according to the invention, where intermediate coupling elements in each converging series of coupling element are missing. The links 11r here consist of a single type / design, provided with both starting and ending coupling elements 15h, k placed along one side of the link 11r, every other beginning, every other ending. Carpets 2 according to this embodiment should also be kept taut so that coupling elements 15h, k and thus entire links 11r can otherwise separate.

However, it is possible to construct arbitrarily long mats with the very advantageous property that coupling elements and thus links hardly or never in practice separate from each other, even if the mat is not stretched. Common to all such variants of mats is 21 that links provided with terminating coupling elements are also provided with intermediate coupling elements.

Separation of coupling elements is made even more difficult if the terminating coupling elements on a link extend at least partially below the base portion of the link following in the assembly order, seen in perpendicular view from above and towards the carpet (shown in Figures 20, 21 and 22).

Figure 20 shows an embodiment of such a type of mat 2 where separation of the links is practically eliminated. Here, a link 11t is provided with at least one terminating coupling element 15k, but also provided with at least one intermediate coupling element 15i, j. The terminating coupling element 15k is arranged to extend below the base portion 16a of the next link 11u, which contributes to complicating the separation of the coupling elements 15 and 15i. The pattern of coupling elements 15i, j, k is advantageously repeated in the axial direction of the links, so that the link 11t is provided with intermediate coupling elements 15j, placed on each side of the terminating coupling elements 15k.

Common to all embodiments of mats according to the present invention is that all coupling elements on a link need not be in contact with coupling elements of adjacent link, since the contact or hinge edges 19a, b mentioned in Figure 6a may be missing in some of the coupling elements on a link. The storage to an adjacent link takes place in this case via the contact edges 19a, b of the other coupling elements of the link.

Figure 21 shows a preferred embodiment of mat 2, suitable to be connected to a cylinder pre-pointing device 1. The number of intermediate coupling elements 15i in each converging series 27 decoupling elements 15h, i, k is the smallest possible so that coupling elements do not risk separating, i.e. a single, and the number of coupling elements in each converging series 27 is integral (a starting 15h, an intermediate 15i and a ending 15k). Each link 11v has the same design as the other links in this mat 2, which facilitates manufacture and assembly.

The link 11v is provided with a terminating coupling element 15k, an intermediate coupling element 15i, and a starting coupling element 15h which constitute a group 28 disengagement elements 15h, i, k arranged one after the other along the base portion 16a of the link 11v. After the first group 28 of coupling elements 15h, i, k on the link 11v comes a new similar group 28 of coupling elements 15h, i, k, seen in the axial direction of the links 11v. Other links 11v are provided with corresponding axially repeated groups of terminating, intermediate and initiating coupling elements 15h, i, k arranged in the axial direction of each link 11v. on an adjacent link 11v, seen in the axial direction of the links. 22 The risk of separation of coupling elements 15h, i, k and thus links 11v even if the mat 2 is not stretched is minimized, partly because links 11v which are provided with terminating coupling elements 15k (in this case all links 11v), are also provided with intermediate coupling elements 15i , while all terminating coupling elements 15k extend below the base portion 16a of adjacent link 11v.

Figure 22 shows an embodiment where each converging series 27 of coupling elements 15h-k in the mat 2 comprises four coupling elements 15h-k on equal numbers of links 11w. Each link 11 includes axially repeated groups of coupling elements 15h-k, each such group comprising a starting coupling element 15h, two intermediate coupling elements 15i, and a terminating coupling element 15k.

Of course, the links and link groups shown in the present application can be constructed identically with mutual differences.

Figure 23 shows a mat 2 which also meets the requirement that links 11x with terminating coupling elements 15k are also provided with intermediate coupling elements 15i, j, while the terminating coupling elements 15k extend below the base portion 16a of adjacent link 11y, so that the links 11x, y can not easily separate even if the carpet 2 is unstretched.

Figures 24a and b show another design of coupling elements. Shown here are three different longitudinally shaped coupling elements 151-n mounted to each other, wherein coupling element 15n is located in or through coupling element 15m and coupling element 15m is located in or through coupling element 151. In this form of coupling element 151, all the side legs 17a, b, are inclined at an angle relative to the base portion 16a of the link. This angle can vary but is here about 45 degrees. In figure 24a the base portion 16a between the side legs 17a, b is the end with a bridging 18b whereby "closed loops" can be said to be formed. form "open loops". In both of these variants of coupling elements 151-n the special contact edges as described earlier are missing, but the mechanical contact between the links arises in the side leg of the intermediate coupling elements 151-n, whereby the contact edges can be said to be integrated in the coupling elements 151-n by their design.

Figures 25a and b show a further design of coupling elements. Shown here are three arcuate or stirrup-shaped coupling elements 15o, p, q located in each other in a manner corresponding to Figures 24a, b. A difference here is that no regular side legs or connecting beam bar can be identified when substantially the entire coupling element 15o, p, q is arcuate.

It can thus be seen from Figures 24a, b and 25a, b that the coupling elements 151-q can be designed in a number of different ways within the scope of the inventive idea. The inventive construction of a cylinder can be used as a conveyor belt, bogie belt, crawler belt, drive belt / transmission element etc. In such cases, the cylinder preferably rotates about wheels and the tangential length of the cylinder often exceeds the width of the cylinder. Such a belt has the advantage of being robust, able to be manufactured and assembled at low cost and provide low friction when rotating around the wheels and thus low power consumption for its propulsion.

The above description is primarily intended to facilitate the understanding of the invention and the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments stated here, but also other variants and embodiments of the invention are fully possible and conceivable within the scope of the inventive concept and the scope of the appended claims.