Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/039—Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
  • G06F3/0395—Mouse pads
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B21/00—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards
  • A47B21/03—Tables or desks for office equipment, e.g. typewriters, keyboards with substantially horizontally extensible or adjustable parts other than drawers, e.g. leaves
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B2200/00—General construction of tables or desks
  • A47B2200/0084—Accessories for tables or desks
  • A47B2200/0095—Computer mouse platform

Definitions

• This invention concerns a mouse pad and in particular a plate-like pad, on which it is possible to move and keep a mouse.
• mouse pad There are several types of mouse pad known at present. The most common are formed by a plate-like component, the upper surface of which is covered with a suitable material on which the ball of the mouse rolls and usually also a cushion ⁇ like raised section, on which it is possible to support the wrist of the hand using the mouse. At its simplest, however, a mouse pad is a piece of plastic sheet on top of which the mouse is moved.
• a drawback with state-of-the-art mouse pads is their fixed location. Pads are almost invariably placed on the desk surface next to the keyboard of a computer, where they take up space and remain in the selected location, until the place is changed. Changing the location of a mouse pad by peeling it off the desk and placing it elsewhere is an unpleasant task, because it has usually been made difficult to slide the pad, to ensure that it remains in place.
• Various mouse pads that can be moved from the operating position are also known. According to one type, the pad moves by means of a separate system of rails, and in another type, rotation takes place round an anchoring spindle.
• the anchoring spindle is, in turn, placed in a loop-like component, permitting attach ⁇ ment to the edge of a desk.
• the intention of this invention is to create an improvement in the detrimental features of the state-of-the-art mouse pads, and to create a mouse pad which is extremely simple but nevertheless highly functional.
• the form and proportions of the pad section 2 proper which is possibly covered with a suitable material, and which is essential for moving the mouse according to the invention, have been selected in an appropriate manner.
• One generally used shape is nearly circular or oval.
• a wrist support component 3 can be at- tached to the pad or left off.
• the pad In order that the mouse pad 1 according to the invention operates in the desired manner, it is advantageous for the pad to be rotatable from the working position, shown in the figure, to the storage position, which means a position in which the pad 2 is rotated beneath the desk or similar flat board 5. According to the inven ⁇ tion, this is arranged so that rotation occurs round a joint 6. It should be noted that the arrangement of the pad 2 and the attachment component may be diffe ⁇ rent; i.e. the pad component 2 may be located beneath attachment component 4.
• the attachment component 4 is a bent plate of sufficient strength, in particular a metal plate, one end of which is attached by means of screws 7, or corresponding fasteners, to the underside of the desk, and the other end to plate 2 of the mouse pad 1 , in a manner permitting rotation.
• Rivet-type solutions are especially suitable for securing the latter attachment, but a simple nut-and-bolt combination can also be suitably used.
• a mouse pad according to the invention is thus extremely simple: two components 2 and 4, which are attached to one another.
• the pad is reliable and cheap to manufacture.
• Attachment component 4 may have a different shape to that shown in the figure.
• the attachment component may be, for example, U- shaped. This is a practical shape when there is some obstacle beneath the desk, which prevents the attachment component being taken very far.
• the U- shape is also suitable when it is intended to locate a mouse pad 1 according to the invention on top of a board-like component, such as a desk or keyboard support board or similar. In this case, one branch of the U of the attachment component can be screwed, for example, onto the under-surface of the board, even though the pad 2 is on top of the board.
• the shape of the attachment com ⁇ ponent as such, is of no significance to the invention. Rather, the scope of its protection naturally encompasses all adaptations that fall within the scope of the protection created by the accompanying Claims.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8542457

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (3)

• 1995
  • 1995-05-24 FI FI950271U patent/FI2075U1/fi active
• 1996
  • 1996-05-23 AU AU58209/96A patent/AU5820996A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-05-23 WO PCT/FI1996/000294 patent/WO1996037128A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (3)

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