COLLAPSIBLE MOUSE WITH PINCH-RISK SOLUTION

• US 20100053084A1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Monique, Wahl, Eric J.
• Application Number:
  US12/198,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20100053084A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

Architecture for a collapsible mouse having a hinge with an anti-pinch component. For example, the anti-pinch component can be a sheath that covers the hinge area between a main body portion and a tail portion of the collapsible mouse. The anti-pinch component can also include a hinge having hinge portions respectively connected to the main body portion and the tail portion where each hinge portion has a surface continuous with surfaces of the main body portion and the tail portion, to not permit a gap into which pinching can occur. The anti-pinch component can also include a slot formed between the surfaces of the main body portion and the tail portion. The slot cooperates with a recessed hinge so that the surfaces of the main body portion do not come into contact at any time, thus precluding pinching.

Claims

1. A collapsible mouse, comprising:

a first body portion and a second body portion;

a hinge for foldably connecting the first and second body portions; and

an anti-pinch component for substantially preventing pinching along the hinge between the first and second body portions.

2. The collapsible mouse of claim 1, wherein the anti-pinch component further comprises a sheath for substantially covering the hinge between the first and second body portions.

3. The collapsible mouse of claim 1, wherein the anti-pinch component comprises a hinge surface of the hinge formed continuously with first and second body portion surfaces that enable foldable motion of the first and second body portions without a pinch gap.

4. The collapsible mouse of claim 1, wherein the anti-pinch component comprises a hinge surface recessed from first and second body portion surfaces for forming a slot separating the first and second body portion surfaces that precludes pinching.

5. The collapsible mouse of claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises a first hinge portion connected to the first body portion and a second hinge portion connected to the second body portion, the first hinge portion pivotally connected to the second hinge portion.

6. The collapsible mouse of claim 5, wherein the first and second hinge portions are respectively formed integrally with the first and second body portions.

7. The collapsible mouse of claim 1, wherein the first and second body portions have an arcuate configuration when in an extended position.

8. The collapsible mouse of claim 1, wherein the first and second body portions are in abutment when in a folded position, for reducing a device footprint.

9. The collapsible mouse of claim 1, further comprising a tracking component for tracking movement of the mouse relative to a tracking surface and a communications component for sending signals to and receiving signals from a computer.

10. The collapsible mouse of claim 1, further comprising first and second bumpers formed respectively on opposing edge portions of the first and second body portions for flexing when the mouse is opened to preclude pinching.

11. A collapsible mouse, comprising:

a main body portion foldably connected to a tail portion;

a hinge for foldably connecting the main body portion to the tail portion and for pivoting between an extended position and a folded position; and

a sheath extending between the main body portion and the tail portion and over the hinge for covering the hinge when in the folded position and in the extended position.

12. The collapsible mouse of claim 11, wherein the sheath is rotatably received within a clearance volume on one of the main body portion or the tail portion when in the extended position.

13. The collapsible mouse of claim 11, wherein the sheath includes an end that is fixed to one of the main body portion or the tail portion.

14. The collapsible mouse of claim 11, wherein the sheath is a rigid member having a substantially circular configuration for rotatably moving into one of the main body portion or the tail portion.

15. The collapsible mouse of claim 11, wherein the sheath is a flexible member that flexes when the hinge pivots between the extended position and the folded position.

16. A collapsible mouse, comprising:

a main body portion having a main body portion surface;

a tail portion having a tail portion surface;

a hinge for foldably connecting the main body portion to the tail portion, for pivoting between an extended position and a folded position; and

an anti-pinch structure for preventing pinching between the main body portion and the tail portion.

17. The collapsible mouse of claim 16, wherein the anti-pinch structure comprises a hinge surface formed continuously with the main body portion surface and the tail portion surface, for enabling foldable motion to an open position without a pinch gap between the main body and tail portions.

18. The collapsible mouse of claim 16, wherein the anti-pinch structure comprises a hinge surface recessed from the main body portion surface and the tail portion surface for forming a slot that separates the main body and tail portion surfaces to preclude pinching when in the extended position.

19. The collapsible mouse of claim 16, wherein the hinge comprises a first hinge portion pivotally connected to a second hinge portion, the first hinge portion is connected to the main body portion and the second hinge portion is connected to the tail portion.

20. The collapsible mouse of claim 19, wherein the first and second hinge portions are respectively formed integrally with the main body portion and the tail portion.