Two-sided trackball

• US 5,767,841 A
• Filed: 02/01/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William M. Hartman
• Original Assignee: William M. Hartman
• Inventors: Hartman, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US08/595,199
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/164, 345/167, 345/172, 345/184, 348/734
• US Class Current: 345/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A hand-held, double sided trackball apparatus for controlling a cursor has a housing with a first side and a second side, and a third side extending between and joining the first and second sides. The third side has an inset portion for placement of the tip of an index finger of either hand. Each of the first and second sides has an aperture. A ball is rotatably mounted in the housing so that the ball is exposed in the first and second apertures. The trackball apparatus is usable in the left or the right hand of a user. First and second buttons, connected to a single electrical circuit, are on the first and second side, respectively, of the housing.

Claims

1. A hand-held, double sided trackball apparatus for controlling a cursor, the apparatus comprising:

a) a housing having a first side and a second side, each of the first and second side having an aperture;

b) a ball rotatably mounted in the housing, the ball being exposed in the first and second apertures; and

c) at least a first and second button connected to a single electrical circuit, the first button being on the first side and the second button being on the second side of said housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

a) the first button is adjacent the ball; and

b) third and forth buttons are on the first side and adjacent the ball.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

a) the second button is adjacent the ball; and

b) fifth and sixth buttons are on the second side and adjacent the ball.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

a) the housing has a third side;

b) at least four buttons are on the first side, the four buttons being adjacent the third side.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

a) the housing has a third side;

b) at least four buttons are on the second side, the four buttons being adjacent the third side.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

a) the first and second side each having an outward most plane; and

b) the ball is inwardly of the first and second side outward most planes.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

a) the first and second side each has an indention; and

b) the first and second side apertures are within the first and second side indentions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein both the first and second side most outward planes are defined by raised circular surfaces surrounding each of the first and second side apertures.

9. A handed hand-held trackball apparatus for controlling a cursor, the apparatus comprising:

a) a housing having opposed first and second sides, the housing having a third side extending between and joining the first and second sides, the first and second side each having an aperture, and the third side having an inset portion; and

b) a ball rotatably mounted in the housing and having a surface, the ball surface being exposed in the first and second side apertures.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

a) the housing has a center line on both the first and second sides parallel to a longest dimension of said housing; and

b) the first and second side apertures are offset from the long center line.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:

a) each of the first and second sides has a circular portion and an oblong portion, each oblong portion having first and second ends, and the circular portion being adjacent the first end;

b) the first and second side apertures are located in the circular portion; and

c) the inset portion is defined by where the circular portion connects to the oblong portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and second side apertures are centered in the first and second side circular portions.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the inset portion is shaped to allow the thumb of a user to reach the first side aperture and to allow the index finger of a user to reach the inset portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a first intersection of the inset portion with the first side is an equal distance to the first side aperture as a second intersection of the inset portion with the second side is to the second side aperture.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the inset portion is shaped to receive an index finger and to align the thumb of the user so that ball is at the tip of the user'"'"'s thumb.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first side is oriented upward for use in the left hand of a user and, alternatively, the second side is oriented upward for use in the right hand of a user.

17. A hand-held remote control apparatus for transmitting control information, the apparatus comprising:

a) a two-sided trackball controller having a housing, the housing having first and second sides, each side having an aperture; and

b) a ball rotatably mounted within both the first and second side apertures.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the housing is shaped so that when the controller is used in a right hand of a user, the second side is used by the thumb of the user, and when the controller is used in the left hand of a user, the first side is used by the thumb of the user.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

a) the housing has a third side, the third side having an inset portion; and

b) the inset portion is shaped so that the finger tips of a user fit against the inset portion whether the apparatus is used in the left or right hand of the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second sides has at least one button.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first and second sides have shapes that are mirror images of one another.