Support device for a computer mouse

• US 5,948,520 A
• Filed: 07/14/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hirsch & Partner GmbH (HIRSCH & Partner GmbH /Fugger/)
• Original Assignee: Hirsch & Partner GmbH (HIRSCH & Partner GmbH /Fugger/)
• Inventors: Hirsch, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahta, Abraham
• Application Number:
  US08/891,772
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 428/13, 428/321.5, 428/76, 428/72, 428/178, 428/192, 428/194, 428/212, 428/218, 428/14, 428/315.9, 428/304.4, 428/318.6, 428/319.3, 248/118.1, 248/118
• US Class Current: 428/304.4
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/0235 Vinyl halide, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/00 Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin fibrous or filamentary layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/02; particulate layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/16; foamed layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/065 of foam
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/08 characterised by added members at particular parts layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/234 including elements cooperating to form cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/239 Complete cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24661 Forming, or cooperating to form cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24992 Density or compression of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24998 Composite has more than two layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249988 Of about the same composition as, and adjacent to, the void-containing component

Abstract

A support device for a computer mouse (mouse pad) comprises, extending over the lower foil made of foam material, at least one thin, colored liquid layer which is enclosed between two foils welded together along the edge in a liquid-tight manner and is visible through the transparent foil or foils. The liquid occupies the available cavity only incompletely and it spreads out in puddle-like patterns to define void spaces which change continuously due to the actuation of the mouse, thereby providing the mouse pad with an optically interesting appearance.

Claims

1. A support device for a computer mouse, said support device comprising:

a lower foil made of a foam material;

a carrier layer laminated over the lower foil;

a transparent upper foil affixed to said carrier layer to define a cavity having a predetermined volume; and

a layer of liquid disposed in the cavity between said upper foil and said carrier layer, said liquid having a volume less than the predetermined volume of the cavity and at least partially defining a plurality of void spaces in said liquid layer.

2. A support device as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one transparent partitioning foil between said carrier layer and said upper foil and wherein said layer of liquid is positioned between said partitioning foil and one of said carrier layer and said upper foil.

3. A support device as defined in claim 2 further comprising a pair of partitioning foils between said carrier layer and said upper foil and wherein said layer of liquid is positioned between said pair of partitioning foils.

4. A support device as defined in claim 3 further comprising a liquid-tight welding seam between said pair of partitioning foils and defining a pair of laterally spaced cavities, each of said cavities having a layer of liquid of different colors disposed therein.

5. A support device as defined in claim 1 wherein an upper surface of said upper foil is sufficiently roughened to allow proper actuation of the computer mouse.

6. A support device as defined in claim 1 further comprising indicia imprinted in reversed mirror image form on a lower surface of said upper foil.

7. A support device as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid is a pure vegetable oil.

8. A support device as defined in claim 7 wherein cosmetics are admixed to the vegetable oil to color the liquid.

9. A support device as defined in claim 1 further comprising generally flat solid bodies disposed in said layer of liquid.

10. A support device for a computer mouse, said support device comprising:

a lower foil made of a foam material;

a carrier layer laminated over the lower foil;

a transparent upper foil which is welded to said carrier layer along a continuous liquid-tight welding seam to define the periphery of a sealed cavity having a predetermined volume; and

a layer of liquid disposed in the cavity between said upper foil and said carrier layer, said liquid having a volume less than the predetermined volume of the cavity and at least partially defining a plurality of void spaces in said liquid layer.

11. A support device as defined in claim 10 further comprising at least one transparent partitioning foil sealed to the seam between said carrier layer and said upper foil and wherein said layer of liquid is positioned between said partitioning foil and one of said carrier layer and said upper foil.

12. A support device as defined in claim 11 further comprising a pair of partitioning foils sealed to the seam between said carrier layer and said upper foil and wherein said layer of liquid is positioned between said pair of partitioning foils.

13. A support device as defined in claim 12 further comprising a second liquid-tight welding seam between said pair of partitioning foils and spaced from the liquid-tight welding seam between said carrier layer and said upper foil thereby defining a pair of laterally spaced cavities, each of said cavities having a layer of liquid of different colors disposed therein.

14. A support device as defined in claim 10 wherein an upper surface of said upper foil is sufficiently roughened to allow proper actuation of the computer mouse.

15. A support device as defined in claim 10 further comprising indica imprinted in reversed mirror image form on a lower surface of said upper foil.

16. A support device as defined in claim 10 wherein said liquid is a pure vegetable oil.

17. A support device as defined in claim 16 wherein cosmetics are admixed to the vegetable oil to color the liquid.

18. A support device as defined in claim 10 further comprising generally flat solid bodies disposed in said layer of liquid.

19. A support device for a computer mouse, said support device comprising:

a lower foil made of a foam material;

a carrier layer laminated over the lower foil;

a transparent upper foil affixed to said carrier layer to define a cavity having a predetermined volume; and

a bag having a predetermined volume and being disposed in the cavity between said upper foil and said carrier layer, said bag containing a liquid having a volume less than the predetermined volume of the bag and at least partially defining a plurality of void spaces in said liquid layer.

20. A support device as defined in claim 19 wherein said bag comprises a pair of partitioning foils between said carrier layer and said upper foil which are sealed together with a liquid-tight welded seam.

21. A support device as defined in claim 19 wherein said bag comprises a foil which is folded along a halving line and the peripheral edges are continuously welded with one another.

22. A support device as defined in claim 19 wherein said bag further comprises a liquid-tight welding seam spaced from the edges thereof and thereby defining a pair of laterally spaced cavities, each of said cavities having a layer of liquid of different colors disposed therein.

23. A support device as defined in claim 19 wherein an upper surface of said foil is sufficiently roughened to allow proper actuation of the computer mouse.

24. A support device as defined in claim 19 further comprising indica imprinted in reversed mirror image form on a lower surface of said upper foil.

25. A support device as defined in claim 19 wherein said liquid is a pure vegetable oil.

26. A support device as defined in claim 25 wherein cosmetics are admixed to the vegetable oil to color the liquid.

27. A support device as defined in claim 19 wherein said upper foil and said carrier layer define peripheries of substantially the same shape and size and the upper foil is welded to the carrier layer along a welding seam about the peripheries of the upper foil and the carrier layer.

28. A support device as defined in claim 27 wherein the welding seam is continuous.

29. A support device as defined in claim 27 wherein the welding seam is not continuous.

30. A support device as defined in claim 28 wherein said lower foil and said carrier layer each define an opening aligned with the other opening.

31. A support device as defined in claim 19 further comprising generally flat solid bodies disposed in said bag.