Pyramidally-shaped computer mouse
First Claim
1. A hand-held input device for use with a computer enabling a user thereof to interact with a display device associated with said computer, said input device comprising:
- a pyramidally-shaped housing having four triangular-shaped inclined planar faces and an interior, said inclined planar faces being separated from each other by straight edges, said straight edges converging together at a top of said housing;
a first depressible switch and a second depressible switch each disposed on a first of said inclined planar faces,said first depressible switch and said second depressible switch independently operable with at least one of an index finger and a middle finger of said user thereof;
a third depressible switch disposed on a second of said inclined planar faces, said second of said inclined planar faces adjacent said first of said inclined planar faces, wherein said first and second depressible switches are separated from said third depressible switch by one of said straight edges for facilitating a tactile distinction of said first and second switches from said third switch,said third depressible switch operable with a thumb of a first hand of said user thereof; and
a substantially planar base member enclosing said hollow interior of said pyramidally-shaped housing, said base member providing stable engagement with an underlying surface.
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Abstract
A new Pyramidally-Shaped Computer Mouse for allowing a user to position his or her hand in a physically comfortable and effective position during use. The inventive device includes a pyramidally-shaped housing having four triangular-shaped inclined faces. A first depressible switch and a second depressible switch are disposed on one of the inclined faces and a third depressible switch is disposed on an adjacent inclined face. As such, the first depressible switch and the second depressible switch are operable with the index finger and the middle finger of the user thereof. Accordingly, the third depressible switch is operable with the thumb of the user thereof.
41 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A hand-held input device for use with a computer enabling a user thereof to interact with a display device associated with said computer, said input device comprising:
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a pyramidally-shaped housing having four triangular-shaped inclined planar faces and an interior, said inclined planar faces being separated from each other by straight edges, said straight edges converging together at a top of said housing; a first depressible switch and a second depressible switch each disposed on a first of said inclined planar faces, said first depressible switch and said second depressible switch independently operable with at least one of an index finger and a middle finger of said user thereof; a third depressible switch disposed on a second of said inclined planar faces, said second of said inclined planar faces adjacent said first of said inclined planar faces, wherein said first and second depressible switches are separated from said third depressible switch by one of said straight edges for facilitating a tactile distinction of said first and second switches from said third switch, said third depressible switch operable with a thumb of a first hand of said user thereof; and a substantially planar base member enclosing said hollow interior of said pyramidally-shaped housing, said base member providing stable engagement with an underlying surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A hand-held input device for use with a computer enabling a user thereof to interact with a display device associated with said computer, said input device comprising:
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a pyramidally-shaped housing having four triangular-shaped inclined faces and a hollow interior; a first depressible switch and a second depressible switch each disposed on a first of said inclined faces; said first depressible switch and said second depressible switch independently operable with at least one of an index finger and a middle finger of said user thereof; a third depressible switch disposed on a second of said inclined faces, said second of said inclined faces adjacent said first of said inclined faces; said third depressible switch operable with a thumb of a first hand of said user thereof; a substantially planar base member enclosing said hollow interior of said pyramidally-shaped housing, said base member providing stable engagement with an underlying surface; a relative positioning means provided on said base member for sensing the relative position of said input device with respect to said underlying surface; a selective disabling and enabling means for selectively disabling and enabling operation of said relative positioning means; said disabling and enabling means allowing for relocation of said input device on said underlying surface without said relative positioning means sensing the relative position of said input device with respect to said underlying surface; and wherein said disabling and enabling means is actuatable by said third depressible switch. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A hand-held input device for use with a computer enabling a user thereof to interact with a display device associated with said computer, said input device comprising:
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a pyramidally-shaped housing said pyramidally-shaped housing including a first triangular-shaped inclined face, a second triangular-shaped inclined face, a third triangular-shaped inclined face, and a fourth triangular-shaped inclined face said first, second, third, and fourth triangular-shaped inclined faces integrally joined along abutting side edges thereof and defining a hollow interior, said first triangular-shaped inclined face adjacent said fourth triangular-shaped inclined face and said second triangular-shaped inclined face, said second triangular-shaped inclined face adjacent said first triangular-shaped inclined face and said third triangular-shaped inclined face said third triangular-shaped inclined face adjacent said second triangular-shaped inclined face and said fourth triangular-shaped inclined face, and said fourth triangular-shaped inclined face adjacent said third triangular-shaped inclined face and said first triangular-shaped inclined face; a first depressible switch and a second depressible switch each disposed on said first triangular-shaped inclined face, said first depressible switch and said second depressible switch independently operable with at least one of an index finger and a middle finger of said user thereof; a third depressible switch disposed on one of said fourth triangular-shaped inclined face and said second triangular-shaped inclined face, said third depressible switch operable with a thumb of a first hand of said user thereof; a substantially planar base member enclosing said hollow interior of said pyramidally-shaped housing, said base member providing stable engagement with an underlying surface; a fourth depressible switch disposed on an other of said said fourth triangular-shaped inclined face and said second triangular-shaped inclined face; said fourth depressible switch operable with a thumb of a second hand of said user thereof; a relative positioning means provided on said base member for sensing the relative position of said input device with respect to said underlying surface; a selective disabling and enabling means for selectively disabling and enabling operation of said relative positioning means; said disabling and enabling means allowing for relocation of said input device on said underlying surface without said relative positioning means sensing the relative position of said input device with respect to said underlying surface; and wherein said disabling and enabling means is actuatable by at least one of said third depressible switch and said fourth depressible switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification