Computer mouse hook

• US 5,750,934 A
• Filed: 03/06/1997
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kuljis, Zoran R.
• Original Assignee: Kuljis, Zoran R.
• Inventors: Kuljis, Zoran R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US08/811,767
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 174/135, 174/137 R, 248/51, 248/52, 248/560, 248/624, 248/918
• US Class Current: 174/135
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/003 using gravity-loaded or spring-loaded loop

Abstract

A mouse cable holder (mouse hook) includes a base heavy enough to support a mast that suspends a computer mouse cable over a separate mouse pad. The mast is made of a single steel wire with an integral cable feed loop at its lower end and an integral mouse cable gripper at its upper end. The base can be slid over a table top to move the mouse cable holder to a desired position relative to the mouse pad. The base also serves as a spool to take up any excess cable between a computer and the mouse cable holder.

Claims

1. A computer mouse system, comprising:

a computer;

a computer mouse;

a mouse cable connecting said computer to said computer mouse;

a spool having a weight and a center of gravity;

a mast attached to said spool and extending a length from said spool, with said mouse cable extending along said length, said mouse cable having a portion coiled a plurality of turns about a vertical line passing through said center of gravity, said mast having a lower end and an upper end with said lower end being attached to said spool and said upper end overhanging laterally beyond said spool toward said computer mouse; and

a gripper having a serpentine wire through which said mouse cable is woven, said gripper being integrally disposed on said upper end of said mast, said gripper inhibiting said mouse cable from pulling through said gripper in a direction lengthwise along said mouse cable.

2. The computer mouse system of claim 1, further comprising a coil integrally incorporated in said lower end of said mast with said mouse cable running through said coil.

3. A mouse hook for managing a mouse cable, said mouse cable connecting a computer to a computer mouse resting on a mouse pad which in turn is resting on a table top, said mouse hook comprising:

a spool having a weight, a front, a back, and a bottom surface, said bottom surface lying against said table top with said front facing said mouse pad;

a mast having a lower end and an upper end, said lower end being attached to said spool, said upper end overhanging beyond said front and said bottom surface and extending over said table top to ward said mouse pad;

a coil incorporated into said lower end of said mast, said coil receiving said mouse cable; and

a gripper disposed on said upper end of said mast, said gripper inhibiting said mouse cable from pulling through said gripper in a direction lengthwise along said mouse cable, said weight of said spool being sufficient to maintain said bottom surface flat against said table top by counteracting any moment applied to said spool by said weight of said mast plus at least 30 grams of tension from said mouse cable hanging from said gripper.

4. The mouse hook of claim 3 wherein said mast, said coil and said gripper comprise a unitary piece.

5. The mouse hook of claim 4 wherein said gripper includes a serpentine wire through which said mouse cable is woven.

6. The mouse hook of claim 3 wherein said spool has a cavity adapted to hold a writing instrument.

7. The mouse hook of claim 3 further comprising a cable restrainer attached to said spool and holding said mouse cable in a coiled configuration around said spool.

8. The mouse hook of claim 7 wherein said spool includes a sliding sleeve that covers a portion of said mouse cable when said portion is coiled around said spool.

9. A mouse hook for managing a mouse cable, said mouse cable connecting a computer to a computer mouse resting on a mouse pad which in turn is resting on a table top, said mouse hook comprising:

a spool having a weight, a front, a back, and a bottom surface lying against said table top with said front facing said mouse pad;

a mast having a lower end and an upper end, said lower end being attached to said spool, said upper end overhanging beyond said front and said bottom surface and extending over said table top toward said mouse pad;

a coil receiving said mouse cable therethrough and integrally incorporated into said lower end of said mast; and

a serpentine gripper integrally disposed on said upper end of said mast, so that said mast, said coil and said serpentine gripper comprise a unitary piece of wire, said mouse cable being woven through said serpentine gripper to inhibit said mouse cable from pulling through said serpentine gripper in a direction lengthwise along said mouse cable, said spool being of sufficient weight to maintain said bottom surface flat against said table top by counteracting any moment applied to said spool by the weight of said mast plus at least 30 grams of tension from said mouse cable hanging from said serpentine gripper.

10. The mouse hook of claim 9 wherein said spool has a cavity adapted to hold a writing instrument.

11. The mouse hook of claim 9 further comprising a cable restrainer attached to said spool and holding said mouse cable in a coiled configuration around said spool.

12. The mouse hook of claim 11 wherein said spool includes a sliding sleeve that covers a portion of said mouse cable when said portion is coiled around said spool.