Ergonomic pointing device

• US 7,768,500 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
• Original Assignee: Humanscale Corporation
• Inventors: Puleio, Jonathan, Heer, Maximo Diaz, Saez, Manuel, Tsvetanov, Lachezar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said; Mansour M
• Application Number:
  US10/867,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,241 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-170, 345/172, 345174-175, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.3, 248/118.5, D14402-408
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An input device for a computer is described that positions the user'"'"'s hand in a more ergonomically desirable position, i.e., at an angle of about 45° to the work surface. In preferred embodiments, the input device accommodates either a user'"'"'s left or right hand, and in either case, positions the hand in an ergonomically desirable position. In another embodiment, the length of the input device of the present invention is adjusted for the size of the user'"'"'s hand. In further embodiments, the input device of the present invention provides a palm rest. Other desirable features included in preferred embodiments include lateral buttons that are positioned one above the other.

Claims

1. A data input device comprising a housing enclosing, in operative connection, a motion detector, a motion detector transducer, and a communication link, said housing comprising:

a. an upper surface adapted to support a user'"'"'s palm;

b. a lower surface comprising two planar regions, said lower surface adapted to tilt the housing bilaterally at an angle that substantially supports a user'"'"'s hand in a position of function in use; and

c. wherein at least one of said planar regions of said lower surface further comprises a support extension.

2. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said two planar regions intersect at an angle of between about 120°

and 175°

.

3. The data input device of claim 2, wherein said housing further comprises a chamber at one end.

4. The data input device of claim 3, further comprising a movable body having a projection adapted to slide within said chamber in said housing.

5. The data input device of claim 4, wherein said projection frictionally engages an inner surface of said chamber.

6. The data input device of claim 4, further comprising a locking mechanism for securing said projection.

7. The data input device of claim 4, wherein said projection has a length of up to about 4 inches.

8. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said two planar regions intersect at an angle of between about 130°

and 150°

.

9. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a first end having two switch operating buttons.

10. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a side having two switch operating buttons positioned on above the other.

11. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a scroll device.

12. The data input device of claim 11, wherein said scroll device is capable of directing movement in four directions.

13. The data input device of claim 11, wherein the force required to move said scroll device is less than about 1.0 N.

14. The data input device of claim 13, wherein the force required to move said scroll device is less than about 0.3 N.

15. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said motion detector is selected from the group consisting of optical motion sensors, mechanical motion sensors, optical-mechanical motion sensors, and wireless motion sensors.

16. The data input device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said planar regions of said lower surface further comprises a slot for receiving said extension.

17. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said support extension further comprises a tab for securing said support extension.

18. The data input device of claim 17, wherein at least one of said planar regions of said lower surface further comprises an aperture for receiving at least a portion of said tab.

19. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a first end having two switch operating buttons.

20. The data input device of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a side having two switch operating buttons position one above each other.

21. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises:

a. a first end having two switch operating buttons; and

b. a side having two switch operating buttons positioned one above the other.

22. The data input device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a chamber at one end.

23. The data input device of claim 22, further comprising a movable body having a projection adapted to slide within said chamber in said housing while frictionally engaging an inner surface in said chamber, said projection being between about zero and about four inches in length.

24. A data input device housing comprising:

a. an upper part having a mound region, a button region, and a shelf region, said shelf region being distal to said button region; and

b. a lower part adapted to tilt the housing bilaterally, said lower part comprising two planar regions, wherein at least one of said planar regions of said lower surface further comprises a support extension.

25. The data input device of claim 24, wherein said two planar regions intersect at an angle of between about 120°

and 175°

.

26. The data input device housing of claim 25, further comprising a chamber at one end.

27. The data input device housing of claim 26, further comprising a movable body having a projection adapted to slide within said chamber in said housing while frictionally engaging an inner surface in said chamber, said projection being between about zero and about four inches in length.

28. An X-Y input device, which is moved on a surface to an intended position to sense relative X and Y coordinates of the position and output corresponding signals to the central processor, having a body casing including a bottom member, said bottom member adapted to tilt the housing bilaterally at an angle that substantially supports a user'"'"'s hand in a position of function in use, said bottom member comprising two planar regions, wherein at least one of said planar regions of said lower surface further comprises a support extension.

29. A housing for a data input device, comprising:

a. an upper surface adapted to support a user'"'"'s palm;

b. a v-shaped bottom surface attached to the upper surface and comprising two planar regions; and

c. a support extension attached to the v-shaped bottom surface.

30. The housing of claim 29, wherein the bottom surface further comprises a slot allowing access to an internal cavity of the housing.

31. The data input device of claim 30, wherein at least one of the two planar regions further comprises an aperture, and wherein the support extension further comprises a tab capable of engaging the aperture to releasably attach the support extension to the bottom surface.

32. The data input device of claim 30, wherein the support extension is at least partially inserted into the bottom surface'"'"'s slot to allow the tab to engage the aperture from within the housing'"'"'s internal cavity.