Ergonomic dual-section computer-pointing device

• US 6,489,947 B2
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Hesley
• Original Assignee: Ergodevices Corporation
• Inventors: Summit, Scott W., Hesley, William P., Boetzer, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US09/123,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/157, 345/156, 345/158, 345/161, 345/165, 345/166, 345/167, 248/118, 248/118--11, 341/20, 341/23
• US Class Current: 345/163
• 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

Abstract

An ergonomic dual-section computer-pointing device, that includes a cursor control section fixedly and movably attached to an ergonomic hand support section, reduces stress and helps to prevent cumulative trauma disorder. The ergonomic dual-section computer-pointing device keeps the hand in a neutral position, which imitates the natural roll of the hand, the wrist and the forearm. The ergonomic dual-section computer-pointing device facilitates two fields of motion. In a first field of motion, the fingers, the hand, and the wrist are used to manipulate the cursor control section while the ergonomic hand support section remains substantially stationary. In a second field of motion, the arm and shoulder are used to move the cursor control section and ergonomic hand support section in unison. The cursor control section is fixedly and movably attached to the ergonomic hand support section by a coupler. The fixed attachment permits the cursor control section to move freely within an opening over the first field of motion. When the cursor controlled by movement of the cursor control section must be moved further than is permitted within the first field of motion, the user grasps the cursor control section, and effortlessly slides the combination of the ergonomic hand support section and cursor control section around the work surface using the arm and shoulder muscles while maintaining the hand, wrist and forearm in the neutral position.

Claims

1. An ergonomic computer-pointing device comprising:

a cursor control section wherein a cursor is controlled by movement of said cursor control section;

an ergonomic hand support section; and

a coupler movably and fixedly interconnecting said cursor control section and said ergonomic hand support

wherein said cursor control section is movable relative to said ergonomic hand support section so that said cursor control section can be moved to position said cursor while said ergonomic hand support remains stationary;

said coupler limits a separation between said cursor control section and said ergonomic hand support section to a first distance in a first direction, and so motion of said cursor contol section relative to said ergonomic hand support in said first direction is limited to a maximum of said first distance that in turns limits a range of cursor motion obtained by motion of said cursor control section while said ergonomic hand support remains stationary and, a pressure timing circuit coupled to ergonomic hand support section wherein the pressure timing circuit measures an amount of time a user maintains pressure on the ergonomic hand support section and generates a time-out signal when the amount of time exceeds a predefined time and further wherein the pressure timing circuit generates a warning to the user, in respond to the time-out signal, to adjust a hand of the user with respect to the ergonomic hand support section and thereby relieves said pressure.

2. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 1 wherein said coupler permits free movement of said cursor control section over a first field of motion;

and said coupler limits a range of motion in said first direction in said first field of motion.

3. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 2 wherein said ergonomic hand support section includes a control surface, and a combination of said control surface and said coupler limit ranges of motion in said first field of motion.

4. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 2 wherein said coupler includes an internal surface that bounds a cam opening oriented about a crash stop wherein a size of said cam opening and a size of said crash stop determine a range of motion in said first field of motion.

5. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 1 wherein said coupler is a telescoping mechanism pivotally connected to said cursor control section and pivotally connected to said ergonomic hand support section.

6. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 5 further comprising a set of crash stops mounted in said ergonomic hand support section about said telescoping mechanism to limit movement of said telescoping mechanism.

7. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 5 further comprising a set of crash stops mounted in said cursor control section about said telescoping mechanism to limit movement of said telescoping mechanism.

8. An ergonomic computer-pointing device comprising:

a cursor control section wherein a cursor is controlled by movement of said cursor control section;

an ergonomic hand support section having;

a palm support region;

a little-finger support region extending from said palm support region; and

a thumb support region extending from said palm support region;

a coupler movably and fixedly interconnecting said cursor control section and said ergonomic hand support,

wherein said cursor control section is movable relative to said ergonomic hand support section so that said cursor control section can be moved to position said cursor while said ergonomic hand support remains stationary;

said coupler limits a separation between said cursor control section and said ergonomic hand support section to a first distance in a first direction, and so motion of said cursor control section relative to said ergonomic hand support in said first direction is limited to a maximum of said first distance that in turns limits a range of cursor motion obtained by motion of said cursor control section while said ergonomic hand support remains stationary and, a pressure timing circuit coupled to ergonomic hand support section wherein the pressure timing circuit measures an amount of time a user maintains pressure on the ergonomic hand support section and generates a time-out signal when the amount of time exceeds a predefined time and further wherein the pressure timing circuit generates a warning to the user, in respond to the time-out signal, to adjust a hand of the user with respect to the ergonomic hand support section and thereby relieve said pressure.

9. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 8 wherein said coupler permits free movement of said cursor control section over a first field of motion while said ergonomic hand support section remains substantially stationery.

10. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 8 wherein said palm support region has a slope in a direction from said little-finger support region to said thumb support region.

11. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 10 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.

12. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 11 further comprising:

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

13. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 8 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.

14. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 13 further comprising:

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

15. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 13 further comprising:

a pressure relief edge surface extending from a portion of said palm support region opposite and removed from said front index.

16. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 8 further comprising:

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

17. The ergonomic computer-pointing device of claim 8 wherein a part of said palm support region is textured.

18. An ergonomic computer-pointing device comprising:

a cursor control section wherein a cursor is controlled by movement of said cursor control section;

an ergonomic hand support section movably and fixedly coupled to said cursor control section wherein said cursor control section is movable relative to said ergonomic hand support section so that said cursor control section can be moved to position said cursor while said ergonomic hand support remains stationary; and

a pressure timing circuit coupled to said ergonomic hand support section wherein said pressure timing circuit measures an amount of time a user maintains pressure on said ergonomic hand support section and generates a time-out signal when said amount of time exceeds a predefined time and further wherein said pressure timing circuit generates a warning to said user, in response to said time-out signal, to adjust a hand of said user with respect to said ergonomic hand support section and thereby relieve said pressure.