COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE WITH A CLIP AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME

• US 20090189859A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Simonian, Mike, Evers, Maaike, Sween, Barry
• Application Number:
  US12/022,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

In a number of embodiments, a computer input device includes: (a) an outer casing having; (1) a first surface; (2) a second surface; and (3) a cavity between the first surface and the second surface; (b) at least one button at the first surface; (c) a mechanism configured to detect movement of the outer casing and located at the second surface; and (d) a dip. In these embodiments, the mechanism and the at least one button are at least partially located within the cavity. Other embodiments are disclosed in the application.

Claims

1. A computer input device comprising:

an outer casing comprising;

a first surface;

a second surface; and

a cavity between the first surface and the second surface;

at least one button at the first surface;

a mechanism configured to detect movement of the outer casing and located at the second surface; and

a clip,

wherein;

the mechanism and the at least one button are at least partially located within the cavity.

2. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein:

the clip forms at least a portion of the second surface; and

the clip is integrally coupled to the outer casing.

3. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of the clip is flexible.

4. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of the clip is removably coupled to the outer casing.

5. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein:

the clip comprises;

a main portion; and

a tail portion with a proximal end adjacent to the main portion and with a distal end opposite the proximal end; and

the clip is configured such that a space can be created between the distal end of the tail portion and the main portion by moving the distal end of the tail portion away from the main portion.

6. The computer input device of claim 5, wherein:

the main portion is integrally coupled to the outer casing.

7. The computer input device of claim 5, wherein:

the main portion comprises;

a proximal end adjacent to the tail portion;

a distal end opposite the proximal end; and

a first bump at the distal end;

the tail portion further comprises a second bump at the distal end;

the clip is configured such that a space exists between the main portion and the trail portion, and

the space is devoid of being located between the first bump and the second bump when the distal end of the tail portion is not moved away from the main portion.

8. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein:

the outer casing further comprises a third surface; and

the clip is located at the third surface.

9. The computer input device of claim 1, further comprises:

a donate,

wherein;

the outer casing is configured to allow storage of the donate inside of the cavity.

10. A computer mouse comprising:

one or more buttons;

a movement sensing mechanism; and

a structure comprising;

a body defining an interior space;

a segment coupled to the body; and

an extension spaced apart from the body and coupled to the segment,

wherein;

at least a portion of the one or more buttons and at least a portion of the movement sensing mechanism are in the interior space of the body; and

the body and the segment define therebetween a channel.

11. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein:

the structure further comprises a first exterior surface; and

the extension forms a first potion of the first exterior surface of the structure.

12. The computer input device of claim 11, wherein:

the movement sensing mechanism is adjacent to a second portion of the first exterior surface of the structure.

13. The computer input device of claim 12, wherein:

the structure farther comprises a second exterior surface opposite the first exterior surface; and

the one or more buttons are adjacent to or form a portion of the second exterior surface.

14. The computer input device of claim 11, wherein:

a first portion of the body, the segment, and the extension are removably coupled the structure.

15. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein:

the body is configured to support a removal power source in the interior space.

16. The computer input device of claim 15, wherein:

a first portion of the body, the segment, and the extension are removably coupled the structure; and

the structure is configured such that the removable power source can be placed inside of the cavity when the first portion of the body, the first segment, and the extension are uncoupled from the structure.

17. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein;

at least one of the segment and the extension are flexible.

18. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein:

the body is configured to receive a dongle.

19. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein:

the body has a first surface and comprises a first protrusion at the first surface;

the extension has an interior surface and comprises a second protrusion at the interior surface; and

the first protrusion is adjacent to the second protrusion.

20. A computer mouse comprising;

a housing comprising a clip; and

two or more user input mechanisms located at least partially within the housing.

21. The computer mouse of claim 20, which:

the clip is integral with the housing.

22. The computer mouse of claim 20, wherein:

the clip is non-removable from the housing.

23. The computer mouse of claim 20, further comprising:

a memory device storably within the housing and removal from the housing.

24. A method of manufacturing a computer input device comprising:

providing at least one button;

providing an outer casing comprising a clip;

providing a mechanism configured to detect movement of the outer casing; and

at least partially enclosing the at least one button and the mechanism in the outer casing.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

providing the outer casing comprises;

integrally coupling at least a portion of the clip to at least a portion of the outer casing.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein:

providing the outer casing comprises;

integrally forming at least a portion of the outer casing with at least a portion of the clip.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein:

providing the outer casing comprises;

providing the clip to comprise;

a main portion; and

a tail portion such that the tail portion forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the outer casing.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein:

providing the outer casing comprises;

providing at least a portion of the clip to be removable from the outer casing.