Pistol-grip trackball mouse
First Claim
1. A hand-held pistol-grip input device, comprising:
- a pistol grip handle, which comprises a forward surface, rear surface, left side, right side, upper end, and butt end, a thumb-operated cursor control means located upon a surface of the input device, the cursor control means functioning to allow a thumb of an operator to rest thereon as the pistol-grip input device is hand-held by the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer input device, comprising a pistol grip handle and having the functionality of a conventional computer mouse. In the preferred mode, the invention is hand-held and comprises a pistol grip with front and rear edges, left and right edges, and a top end and butt end. A thumb-operated control is located upon at least one side of the grip, in a position suitable to allow the user'"'"'s thumb to engage same easily when the pistol grip is normally held. A plurality of buttons to emulate functions of conventional computer mouse buttons, such as a first button on an upper portion of the grip front edge, and a second button at a lower position upon the front edge. A third button may be included at a lower position, and each button allows the user to depress the same in a trigger-like fashion. Moreover, the device provides a latching function to allow a user to perform click and drag type functions. Such generates a continuous signal, as if a button were being depressed and held in position. Thus, the hand-held input device allows for usage with reduced desk space and the device may be easily used in moving vehicles. Enhanced embodiments of the device include a version worn on the user'"'"'s hand, and the device may be cordless and further comprises a data link transmitter which may be upon an upper surface thereof. Such embodiment is sufficiently compact to allow a user to operate a computer keyboard while the input device is held in place via restraint means.
68 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A hand-held pistol-grip input device, comprising:
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a pistol grip handle, which comprises a forward surface, rear surface, left side, right side, upper end, and butt end, a thumb-operated cursor control means located upon a surface of the input device, the cursor control means functioning to allow a thumb of an operator to rest thereon as the pistol-grip input device is hand-held by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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29. The pistol-grip input device as described in clain 27, wherein the total thickness of the grip including thumb control slide, does not exceed ¾
- inch.
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36. A hand-held computer cursor pointing device comprising:
- at least 2 buttons that emulate functions of left and right buttons of a conventional computer mouse, and further comprising a latching means, such that, when engaged by the user, the device produces a signal corresponding to a left mouse button in depressed position, while a corresponding button is not held down by the user.
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37. A hand-held computer cursor pointing device comprising:
- a pistol grip held by restraint means against the palm of an operator'"'"'s hand, said pistol grip including at least 2 buttons that emulate functions of the left and right buttons of a conventional computer mouse and further including means to control cursor movement, said pistol grip and restraint being so disposed to leave the user'"'"'s fingers unimpeded to attend to keyboard tasks when not performing mouse-related functions.
Specification