Apparatus for extending a cursor control stick

• US 6,433,777 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sawyer, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIZIALI, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US09/408,995
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/161, 345/168, 345/169, 345/184, 744/71.XY, 361/680
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033

Abstract

Apparatus are disclosed for extending cursor control sticks commonly utilized by portable computers to provide a joystick. The apparatus allow adjustment of joystick height, and provide for storage and use of the cursor control stick cap while attached to the mounting post.

Claims

1. A joystick extension for a cursor control stick, comprising:

at least one extension member having a first end and a second end;

said first end including a mounting post attachment portion; and

said second end providing a grip;

wherein said mounting post attachment portion is suitable for attaching said extension member to the mounting post of said cursor control stick so that said cursor control stick may be utilized as a joystick.

2. The joystick extension as recited in claim 1, wherein said mounting post attachment portion comprises a surface having an aperture formed therein, said aperture sized and shaped to fit securely onto the mounting post of said cursor control stick.

3. The joystick extension as recited in claim 1, wherein said mounting post attachment portion is permanently attached to said mounting post.

4. The joystick extension as recited in claim 1, wherein said second end includes a grip attachment portion comprising a neck having the same size and shape as the mounting post of said cursor control stick for attachment of said grip.

5. The joystick extension as recited in claim 4, wherein the cap of said cursor control stick is removed from said cursor control stick mounting post when said extension member is installed thereon and utilized as said grip.

6. The joystick extension as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two of said extension members are stacked on top of each other so that a first extension member is attached to the mounting post of said cursor control stick and a second extension member receives said grip.

7. The joystick extension as recited in claim 1, wherein said extension member comprises one or more telescoping segments configured to fit and slide within one another.

8. The joystick extension as recited in claim 7, wherein said extension member further comprises a spring biased extension and retraction mechanism for extending and retracting said telescoping segment between a collapsed position and an extended position.

9. The joystick extension as recited in claim 7, wherein said extension and retraction mechanism includes a latching device for holding the extension member in the collapsed position.

10. The joystick extension as recited in claim 1, wherein said extension member is made at least one of a rigid plastic and a metal.

11. The joystick extension as recited in claim 1, wherein said extension member has a textured surface.

12. The joystick extension as recited in claim 1, wherein said extension member is at least partially coated with a rubberized material.

13. A joystick extension for a cursor control stick, comprising:

at least one extension member having a first end and a second end;

a mounting post attachment portion disposed in the first end of said extension member; and

a grip attachment portion disposed in the second end of said extension member;

wherein said mounting post attachment portion is suitable for attachment to one of the mounting post of said cursor control stick and a grip attachment portion of a second extension member and said grip attachment portion is suitable for attachment of one of a grip and a second extension member so as to provide a joystick.

14. The joystick extension as recited in claim 13, wherein said mounting post attachment portion comprises a surface having an aperture formed therein, said aperture sized and shaped to fit securely onto one of the mounting post of said cursor control stick and the grip attachment portion of a second extension member.

15. The joystick extension as recited in claim 13, wherein said grip attachment portion comprises a neck having substantially the same size and shape as the mounting post of the cursor control stick.

16. The joystick extension as recited in claim 15, wherein a cursor control stick cap is removed from said cursor control stick mounting post when said extension member is installed thereon.

17. The joystick extension as recited in claim 13, wherein said extension members are stacked on top of each other so that a first extension member is attached to the mounting post and a second extension member receives the cursor control stick cap.

18. The joystick extension as recited in claim 13, wherein said extension member is made at least one of a rigid plastic and a metal.

19. The joystick extension as recited in claim 13, wherein said extension member has a textured surface.

20. The joystick extension as recited in claim 13, wherein said extension member is at least partially coated with a rubberized material.

21. A joystick extension for a cursor control stick, comprising:

telescoping extension member having a first end and a second end;

mounting post attachment portion disposed in the first end of said telescoping extension member, said mounting post attachment portion suitable for attaching said telescoping extension member to the mounting post of said cursor control stick; and

a grip attachment portion disposed in the second end of said telescoping extension member, said grip attachment portion suitable for attachment of a cursor control stick cap;

wherein said telescoping extension member may be alternately extended to provide a joystick controller device and retracted to provide a cursor control stick.

22. The joystick extension as recited in claim 21, wherein said telescoping extension member comprises a plurality of segments configured to fit and slide within one another.

23. The joystick extension as recited in claim 21, wherein the outermost of said telescoping extension member includes said mounting post attachment portion and the smallest of said plurality of segments includes said grip attachment portion.

24. The joystick extension as recited in claim 21, wherein the innermost of said telescoping extension member includes said mounting post attachment portion and the outermost of said plurality of segments includes said grip attachment portion.

25. The joystick extension as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one end of said telescoping extension member is tapered for locking said telescoping extension member in the extended position.

26. A computer, comprising:

a keyboard;

a telescoping extension member positioned on said keyboard, said telescoping extension member having a first end and a second end;

a mounting post attachment portion disposed in the first end of said telescoping extension member, said mounting post attachment portion suitable for attaching said telescoping extension member to the mounting post of a cursor control stick; and

a grip attachment portion disposed in the second end of said telescoping extension member, said grip attachment portion suitable for attachment of a cursor control stick cap;

wherein said telescoping extension member may be alternately extended to provide a joystick and retracted to provide a cursor control stick.

27. The computer as recited in claim 26, wherein said telescoping extension member comprises a plurality of segments configured to fit and slide within one another.

28. The computer as recited in claim 27, wherein the outermost of said plurality of segments includes said mounting post attachment portion and the smallest of said plurality of segments includes said grip attachment portion.

29. The computer as recited in claim 27, wherein the innermost of said plurality of segments includes said mounting post attachment portion and the outermost of said plurality of segments includes said grip attachment portion.

30. The computer as recited in claim 27, wherein at least one of said segments is tapered for locking said telescoping extension member in the extended position.

31. The computer as recited in claim 26, further comprising a portable housing including a main housing portion on which said keyboard is disposed and a lid portion having a display, said main housing portion and lid housing portion pivotally attached together so that said main housing portion and said lid portion may be folded together.

32. The computer as recited in claim 31, wherein folding of said housing and said lid together causes said telescoping extension member to retract to prevent damage to said display.

33. The computer as recited in claim 31, wherein said extension member further comprises a spring biased extension and retraction mechanism for extending and retracting at least one of said telescoping segments between a collapsed position and an extended position.

34. The computer as recited in claim 33, wherein said extension and retraction mechanism includes a latching device for holding said telescoping segment in the collapsed position.