AEE (articulated, elevated, ergonomic) computer mouse

• US 8,049,724 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phillip Francois Van Dalen
• Original Assignee: Phillip Francois Van Dalen
• Inventors: Van Dalen, Phillip Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad; Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOYD, JONATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/011,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

An ergonomic computer mouse whose design and function is solely dedicated to ergonomic benefit and optimal operator comfort for improved operator efficiency and avoided injury. The ergonomically formed mouse body is elevated from a fixed base structure via a short rigid pedestal where the ball-and-socket interface to the mouse body allows for a wide range of adjustment across three axis of positioning. This adjustment is lockable into an operator-selected position which best meets individual operator'"'"'s ergonomic and comfort requirements. Once in locked mode, the operator'"'"'s arm, wrist and hand remain stationary to operate the standardized prior art mouse controls, thereby achieving a zero-motion ergonomic benefit. The current art ergonomic mouse solution provides any computer mouse operator with the ability to achieve optimal ergonomic form, comfort and operation under virtually any workstation condition.

Claims

1. An ergonomic computer mouse that allows for a wide range of operator-adjustable positions-of-use comprising:

a) an ergonomic mouse body that closely conforms to the shape of the underside of the average human hand in a partially closed and relaxed, grasping position;

b) wherein said ergonomic mouse body includes a miniature cursor control joystick operable by the operator'"'"'s thumb;

c) a fixed base structure;

d) a short and generally vertically oriented pedestal rigidly affixed to said fixed base structure and incorporating a generalized curvature as needed so that the interface of the pedestal centerline to said ergonomic mouse body is generally perpendicular when the mouse body is in the optimal ergonomic starting point of adjustment which is generally a 30 to 40 degrees tilt from parallelism to the fixed base structure when said fixed base structure is parallel to the workstation floor;

e) wherein said pedestal includes a ball-and-socket mechanism integral to the top of said pedestal;

f) the ball and socket mechanism of said pedestal being connected internally to said ergonomic computer mouse body to allow for a variable three axis of movement of said ergonomic computer mouse body;

g) said ball and socket incorporating a mechanism to impart resistance during positional adjustment so said ergonomic mouse body does not move unless directly manipulated by the operator;

h) a low-effort, single-movement to lock or unlock, position lock of said locking mechanism integral to said ball-and-socket mechanism and generally located on the underside of said ergonomic mouse body which locks said ball-and-socket mechanism in place to prevent movement between said ergonomic mouse body and said pedestal during mouse control operation, thereby preserving the operator selected, ergonomically optimal positioning for zero-motion computer screen cursor control operation.

2. The method of use for the device of claim 1 wherein:

a) the ergonomic mouse operator can manually swivel the ergonomic mouse body in a wide range of orientations defined by three axis of movement so that the optimal ergonomic positioning for the operator of the ergonomic mouse body in varying workstation configurations can be obtained;

b) the ability for the operator to lock and retain the selected orientation of the ergonomic mouse body with the low-effort, single-movement to lock or unlock, position lock so that no movement of said ergonomic mouse body will occur during its operation;

c) whereby with no movement of said ergonomic mouse body in a locked position, the ergonomic mouse operator does not need to move the selected ergonomically optimal hand, wrist and arm positioning for operation;

d) whereby the ergonomic mouse operator can fully manipulate computer screen cursor movement with the prior art thumb-actuated miniature cursor control joystick so that only minute thumb movements are required thereby preserving the ergonomically optimal zero-motion operation of said ergonomic mouse.