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
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
  • G06F2203/033—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/033
  • G06F2203/0333—Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an accessory for a hand- operated peripheral computer control device, sucn as a mouse.
• Mouse covers have been known, but they either (a) must be removed before use, or (b) involve some variation on a lever mechanism m order to activate the underlying buttons.
• a cover with a lever mechanism requires that the user have a mouse with a button configuration to which a lever mecnanism can conform.
• Such covers are known, they cannot address all possible joutton configurations, and none allow the user to use a scrolling wheel mechanism. Furthermore, none permit the user to directly access the button configuration or the scrolling wheel mecnanism.
• the present invention relates to a cover configured to receive a hand-operated peripheral computer control device, such as a mouse .
• the cover may preferably include a window.
• the window of the cover can be configured to allow a user to directly access control mechanisms of the hand-operated peripheral computer control device, such as a mouse button or scrolling mechanism.
• a mouse button or scrolling mechanism such as a mouse button or scrolling mechanism.
• An advantage of the present invention is that the window can Joe configured to allow the user to access a wide range of button configurations, as well as scrolling wheels which are now included on many new computer mice.
• the cover may have an ergonomic shape to adjust the shape of a traditional computer mouse to a more pleasing ergonomic shape.
• An advantage of the present invention is that the ergonomic shaped cover provides an element of comfort to an otherwise hard-shell computer mouse.
• the cover may be configured to not affect the functionality of the mouse by nor contacting the surface upon which the mouse rests.
• the cover may also nave a window no allow tne user to directly access control mechanisms of the mouse.
• the cover may be made with a flexible material, such as a material from the elastomer group.
• the flexible material enables the cover to be adaptable to virtually any computer mouse shape.
• Figure 1 shows a first view of an exemplary embodiment of a cover according to the present invention.
• Figure 3 shows a third view of the exemplary embodiment of the cover of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 shows a fourth view of the exemplary embodiment of the cover of Figure 1.
• Figure 5 shows a fifth view of the exemplary embodiment of the cover of Figure 1.
• a cover configured to receive a hand-operated peripheral computer control device can be illustrated by Figures 1-5, which depict an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• the cover 1 may be configured to receive a computer mouse 2.
• the cover 1 may be configured to cover a surface 9 on the mouse 2.
• the cover 1 preferably has a window 12 that is configured to reveal a surface 10 on the mouse 2.
• the surface 10 revealed can include control mechanisms 6 on the mouse 2, which can include any number of button configurations 13, a scrolling wheel 14, or other mechanisms or means (not shown) by which the user sends an electrical impulse to the computer (not shown) m order to activate a function or respond to an event.
• An advantage of the window 12 is that the cover 1 can cover a top surface 15 on the mouse 2 while exposing the control mechanisms 6 to provide a user with direct access to and use of the control mechanisms 6. For example, the scrolling wheel 14, would not be accessible to a user if covered.
• the cover 1 may have an ergonomic shape 16 to adjust the shape 17 of the mouse 2 ' to a more pleasing ergonomic shape.
• the cover 1' may preferably also have a window 12 ' to allow a user to directly access control mechanisms 6' of the mouse 2'.
• the mouse 2 may have an elliptical shape 18.
• the cover 1 may have a cavity 3 of an approximately convex shape 19 with an elliptical perimeter 20.
• One advantage of the present invention is that the cavity 3 may receive the mouse 2 even if the mouse 2 has an interior curvature 4 m its footprint 21.
• the elliptical perimeter 20 can secure the cover 1 to the mouse 2 by engaging a perimeter 22 of the mouse 2 when the cover 1 is placed on the mouse 2.
• an edge 23 of a wall 5 of cover 1 can be varied to include a recess 8 m order to accommodate an outer surface 24 of a mouse cord 7 connecting the mouse 2 to a computer system (not shown) .
• the walls 5 of cover 1 can have a thickness 25 of approximately one-quarter of an inch.
• the thickness 25 and size 26 of cover 1 can be set to ensure that the cover 1 does not contact the resting or operating surface 11 used by the mouse 2.
• the cover 1 can be free of contact from the resting or operating surface 11 if a bottom surface 27 of the mouse 2 does not contact the cover 1.
• the cover 1 can be designed to not contact the bottom surface 2 "7 by ensuring that a height 28 at any point along a contour 29 of the cavity 3, such as point 30, is less than a height 31 at a corresponding point 32 of the mouse 2.
• An advantage of the present invention is that the cover 1 does not affect the functionality of the mouse 2 by not contacting the resting or operating surface 11.
• the cover 1 may rest atop the mouse 2 such that there is relatively consistent contact between the top surface 15 of the mouse 2 and a roof 33 of the cavity 3.
• the degree of contact between the cover i and mouse 2 may vary depending on a contour 34 of the mouse 2 and a contour 35 of the cover 1.
• the degree of contact may be impacted by the material used to construct the cover i .
• the cover I may be flexible and may be made from an elastomer material from the group including, but not limited to, rubber, latex, and polyurethane .
• the inherent elastic and frictional nature cf elastomer material increases the degree of contact between the cover 1 and the mouse 2, and creates a friction which secures the cover 1 to the mouse 2 where the material contacts the mouse 2, without requiring any additional securement means.
• cover 1 may be secured to the mouse 2 by a tension created m the edge 23 when the cover 1 is stretched to be placed on the mouse 2.
• the cover 1 may also be made with an elastomer skin from the group including, but not limited to, rubber, latex, and nylon.
• the elastomer skin can be on an outer surface 36 of the cover 1, or otherwise surround and enclose the cover 1.
• An advantage cf the present invention is that the cover 1 can be easily molded into any desired shape if made cf an elastomer material.
• the outer surface 36 of the cover 1 may also be decorated or otherwise altered in shape or size as desired without impacting the functionality of the mouse 2.

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)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=23828802

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2000
  • 2000-11-22 AU AU17953/01A patent/AU1795301A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-11-22 EP EP00980731A patent/EP1240641A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-11-22 CA CA002394314A patent/CA2394314A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-11-22 WO PCT/US2000/032190 patent/WO2001045076A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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