Computer accessory having assemblage of mouse pad and paper pad

• US 6,491,275 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goodman, Kenneth, William Callahan
• Original Assignee: Goodman, Kenneth, William Callahan
• Inventors: Goodman, Kenneth, Callahan, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZUMNY, JONATHON A
• Application Number:
  US09/309,694
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 248/918, 248/346.01, 248/118.1, 108/25, 108/26, 206/576, D19/78, D19/95, D19/99, D19/100
• US Class Current: 248/346.01
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/10 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

A handy computer accessory provides a mouse pad, which is cut out to provide an opening, and a paper pad in the opening. The paper pad consists of a stack of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive sheets. When needed, the paper pad is visually and manually accessible to a computer operator. Graphics on the mouse pad and paper pad are functional and/or aesthetic. A used paper pad may be replaced easily by removing any residual backing and pressing a replacement paper pad into the opening in the mouse pad.

Claims

1. A computer accessory comprising a mouse pad and a paper pad, said mouse pad and said paper pad being structurally integrated and operationally coordinated:

(a) said mouse pad being a plate-like unit including a lower elastomeric foam base and an upper fibrous face;

(b) said face providing a frictional surface that includes a contact area on which a mouse is adapted to be moved;

(c) said mouse pad having a cutout adjacent to said contact area for the reception of said paper pad;

(d) said paper pad including a stack of sheets;

(e) said cutout constituting a receptacle that has a planar profile of predetermined size and shape;

(f) said paper pad being a planar unit that is provided with a profile of substantially the same predetermined size and shape as has said cutout;

(g) said paper pad being press fitted into said cutout;

(h) said paper pad and said cutout being geometrically congruent;

(i) a web that spans the back of said cutout and limits movement of said paper pad into said cutout;

(j) said sheets being characterized by a front face that is adapted to receive written notations, and a back face that, along at least one of its edges, has a band of coating of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive;

(k) said repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive being applicable and adherent to a substrate, and then removable and re-applicable to a substrate;

(l) the upper face of said contact area and the upper face of said pad presenting a substantially continuous manually accessible surface;

(m) said substantially continuous manually accessible surface being adapted for immediate alternative contact by a hand or a mouse controlled thereby.

2. A computer accessory comprising a mouse pad and a paper pad, said mouse pad and said paper pad being structurally integrated and operationally coordinated:

(a) said mouse pad being a plate-like unit including a lower elastomeric foam base and an upper fibrous face;

(b) said face providing a frictional surface that includes a contact area on which a mouse is adapted to be moved;

(c) said mouse pad having a cutout adjacent to said contact area for the reception of said paper pad;

(d) said paper pad including a stack of sheets;

(e) said cutout constituting a receptacle that has a planar profile of predetermined size and shape;

(f) said paper pad being a planar unit that is provided with a profile of substantially the same predetermined size and shape as has said cutout;

(g) said paper pad being press fitted into said cutout;

(h) said paper pad and said cutout being geometrically congruent;

(i) a web that spans the back of said cutout and limits movement of said paper pad into said cutout;

(j) said sheets being-characterized by a front face that is adapted to receive written notations, and a back face that, along at least one of its edges, has a band of coating of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive;

(k) said repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive being applicable and adherent to a substrate, and then removable and re-applicable to a substrate;

(l) said mouse pad and said paper pad having registered and contiguous graphics that provide matching indicia;

(m) the upper face of said contact area and the upper face of said pad presenting a substantially continuous manually accessible surface;

(n) Said substantially manually accessible surface being adapted for immediate alternative contact by a hand or a mouse controlled thereby.

3. The computer accessory of claim 2 wherein said mouse pad has along an edge of said cutout, a listing of string variables, and said paper pad has in registration therewith a listing of indicated areas to encourage consistent manual entry of information.

4. The computer accessory of claim 2 having a decorative motif that blends the upper surfaces of said paper pad and said mouse pad to produce a seamless design.

5. The computer accessory of claim 2 wherein indicia on said mouse pad and indicia on each sheet of said paper pad are identically matched.