Ergonomic hand support for use with a computer pointing device

• US 5,868,365 A
• Filed: 08/15/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ERGO Devices Corporation
• Inventors: Hesley, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPCSIK, ROBERT N
• Application Number:
  US08/912,277
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, 248/918, 400/715, 345/163, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166, D14/115
• US Class Current: 248/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A hand support device for use with a computer pointing device relieves repetitive motion stress and includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter surface connecting the top surface and the bottom surface. The top surface includes: a palm support region, that is an inclined planar surface; a little finger support portion extending from the palm support region; a thumb support region extending from the palm support region; a front index positioned on a side of the palm support region, and between the little finger and thumb support regions; and a side index adjacent to and extending from the palm support and thumb support regions. The bottom surface facilitates sliding of the hand support device on a work surface. The hand support device reduces stress and risk of injuries resulted from repetitive motions by encouraging the user of a computer pointing device to employ two fields of motion to control the pointing device. The user engages the fingers, the hand, and the wrist to make fine movements while holding the hand support device stationary. The user moves the computer pointing device and the hand support device in unison with the arm and shoulder when making coarse movements.

Claims

1. A hand support device for use with a computer pointing device comprising:

a palm support region;

a little finger support region extending from said palm support region wherein said little finger support region is adjacent to and transitions into said palm support region; and

a thumb support region extending from said palm support region,

wherein said thumb support region is adjacent to and transitions into said palm support region so that said palm support region, said little finger support region and said thumb support region form a continuous surface of said hand support device and so that at least a portion of said thumb support region and at least a portion of said little finger support region are in a plane of said palm support region and

said thumb support region and said little finger support region define an opening positioned between said thumb support and little finger support regions wherein a position of said thumb support region and a position of said little finger support region are selected to provide a size of said opening to permit said computer pointing device to be moved within said opening.

2. The hand support device of claim 1 wherein said palm support region has a slope in a direction from said little finger support region to said thumb support region.

3. The hand support device of claims 1 or 2 further comprising:

a front index extending from a portion of said palm support region between said little finger support region and said thumb support region.

4. The hand support device of claim 3 further comprising:

a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.

5. The hand support device of claims 1 or 2 further comprising:

a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.

6. The hand support device of claim 1 wherein a part of said palm support region is textured.

7. A hand support device for use with a computer pointing device comprising:

a first continuous surface having a thumb support region, a little finger support region, and a palm support region extending from said thumb support region and said little finger support region;

wherein said thumb support region and said little finger support region define an opening positioned between said little finger and thumb support regions; and

further wherein a position of said thumb support region and a position of said little finger support region are selected to provide a size of said opening to permit said computer pointing device to be moved within said opening; and

said thumb support region is adjacent to and transitions into said palm support region;

said little finger support region is adjacent to and transitions into said palm support region so that said palm support region, said little finger support region and said thumb support region form said first continuous surface of said hand support device, and so that at least a boundary of said thumb support region and at least a boundary of said little finger support region are in a plane of said palm support region.

8. The hand support device of claim 7 further comprising:

a second surface opposite and removed from said first continuous surface;

a perimeter surface connecting said first continuous surface to said second surface.

9. The hand support device of claim 8 wherein said palm support region has a slope in a direction said little finger support region to said thumb support region.

10. The hand support device of claims 8 or 9 further comprising:

a front index extending from a portion of said palm support region between said little finger support region and said thumb support region.

11. The hand support device of claims 8 or 9 further comprising:

a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.

12. The hand support device of claim 8 further comprising:

a pressure relief edge surface extending from a portion of said palm support region opposite and removed from said opening to a portion of said perimeter surface, wherein said pressure relief edge surface is a convex surface.

13. The hand support device of claim 8 with said second surface having a plurality of rails affixed thereto.

14. The hand support device of claim 7 wherein a part of said palm support region is textured.

15. A hand support device for use with a computer pointing device comprising:

a first surface having a thumb support region, a little finger support region, and a palm support region extending from said thumb support region and said little finger support region;

wherein said thumb support region is adjacent to and transitions into said palm support region;

said little finger support region is adjacent to and transitions into said palm support region so that said palm support region, said little finger support region and said thumb support region form said first surface of said hand support device, and so that at least a boundary of said thumb support region and at least a boundary of said little finger support region are in a plane of said palm support region;

a second surface opposite and removed from said first surface; and

a perimeter surface connecting said first surface to said second surface, and extending between said little finger support region and said thumb support region to define a control surface of an opening positioned between said little finger support region and said thumb support region;

wherein said first surface extends over said control surface between said thumb support region and said little finger support region to create a computer pointing device cavity.

16. The hand support device of claim 15 wherein said palm support region has a slope in a direction from said little finger support region to said thumb support region.

17. The hand support device of claims 15 or 16 further comprising:

a front index extending from a portion of said palm support region between said little finger support region and said thumb support region.

18. The hand support device of claim 17 further comprising:

a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.

19. The hand support device of claims 15 or 16 further comprising:

a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.

20. The hand support device of claim 15 with said second surface having a plurality of rails affixed thereto.

21. The hand support device of claim 15 further comprising:

a pressure relief edge surface extending from a portion of said palm support region opposite and removed from said opening wherein said pressure relief edge surface is a convex surface.

22. The hand support device of claim 20 wherein each of said plurality of rails comprises a sliding surface and a beveled edge surface, said beveled edge surface surrounds said sliding surface and extends from said sliding surface to said second surface.

23. The hand support device of claim 15 wherein a part of said palm support region is textured.

24. The hand support device of claim 15 further comprising an attachment cable connecting a surface of said hand support device to a work surface.