Cushioned user interface or control device

• US 8,786,545 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ergonomic Ingenuity, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ergonomic Ingenuity, LLC
• Inventors: Schneider, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIESY, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US13/975,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20130342449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041

Abstract

A user interface or control includes a cushion-type support member and a user input member that is interconnected with and carried by the support member. The support member defines an upwardly facing recess, and the input member may be a user interface or control device that is contained within the upwardly facing recess. The support member may be formed to surround the recess about the user interface or control device. The support member may include an air vent that vents air exhausted from the user interface or control device. The user interface or control device may be a laptop computer having a body including a keyboard contained within the recess, and a screen carried by the body. The user interface or control device may alternatively be an electronic input member having an upwardly facing screen, a convertible input member movably mounted to a mounting member, or a game controller.

Claims

1. An interactive system, comprising:

a processing unit;

a signal receiver interconnected with the processing unit; and

a cushion-type support member that includes a user input member mounting area; and

a user input member separate from the cushion member and engaged with the user input mounting area of the cushion-type support member, wherein the user input member is operable to output signals in response to user inputs, wherein the signals are adapted to be received by the signal receiver and transferred by the signal receiver to the processing unit;

wherein the cushion-type support member is configured such that a user input area defined by the user input member faces upwardly when the user input member is engaged with the interface device mounting area of the cushion member, and wherein a lower portion of the cushion-type support member is located below the user input member and defines a downwardly facing conformable lower surface, wherein at least the lower portion of the cushion-type support member including the downwardly facing conformable lower surface comprises a variably shaped displaceable material having a shape independent of a shape of the user interface device, wherein the variably shaped displaceable material enables the lower portion of the cushion-type support member including the downwardly facing conformable lower surface to displace and conform to the contours of a surface on which the cushion-type support member is placed independent of the shape of the user input device and also enables variation in the orientation of the user input member relative to the surface on which the cushion-type support member is placed.

2. The interactive system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit and the user interface are used in an interactive learning application.

3. The interactive system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit and the user interface are used in an interactive shopping application.

4. An interactive method, comprising the acts of:

providing a display on a screen at a first location;

providing user inputs at the first location, in response to the display, on a user interface device supported on a cushion-type support member, wherein the user interface device includes a user input area and is operable to output signals in response to user inputs, wherein the user interface device and the cushion-type support member are separate from each other, and wherein the cushion-type support member includes an interface device mounting, wherein the user interface device is engaged with the interface device mounting area and is configured such that the user input area faces upwardly when the user interface device is engaged with the interface device mounting area, and wherein a lower area of the cushion member is located below the user interface device and defines a downwardly facing conformable lower surface, wherein at least the lower area of the cushion-type support member including the downwardly facing conformable lower surface comprises a variably shaped displaceable material having a shape independent of a shape of the user interface device, wherein the variably shaped displaceable material enables the lower area of the cushion-type support member including the downwardly facing conformable lower surface to displace and conform to the contours of a surface on which the cushion member is placed independent of the shape of the user interface device and also enables variation in the orientation of the user interface device relative to the surface on which the cushion-type support member is placed; and

transmitting the signals to a second location remote from the first location.

5. The interactive method of claim 4, wherein the display and the user inputs provided to the user interface are used in an online interactive learning application.

6. The interactive method of claim 4, wherein the display and the user inputs provided to the user interlace are used in an online shopping application.

7. The interactive method of claim 4, wherein the display and the user inputs provided to the user interface are used in a wireless Internet application.

8. A user interface or control arrangement, comprising:

a cushion-type support member that includes an interface device mounting area; and

a user interface device separate from the cushion member and engaged with the interface device mounting area of the cushion-type support member, wherein the user interface device is arranged so as to face upwardly relative to the cushion-type support member when the user interface device is engaged with the interface device mounting area of the cushion-type support member;

wherein the cushion-type support member includes a lower area located below the user input member that defines a downwardly facing conformable lower surface, wherein at least the lower area of the cushion-type support member including the downwardly facing conformable lower surface comprises a variably shaped displaceable material having a shape independent of a shape of the user interface device, wherein the variably shaped displaceable material enables the lower area of the cushion-type support member including the downwardly facing conformable lower surface to displace and conform to the contours of a surface on which the cushion-type support member is placed independent of the shape of the user interface device and also enables variation in the orientation of the user input member relative to the surface on which the cushion-type support member is placed.

9. The user interface or control arrangement of claim 8, wherein the cushion-type support member has an upper section that includes the interface device mounting area and a lower section located below the upper section, wherein the lower section includes the downwardly facing conformable lower surface.

10. The user interface or control arrangement of claim 9, wherein the upper section is formed of a first foam material and the lower section is formed of a cushioning material other than the first foam material.

11. The user interface or control arrangement of claim 8, wherein the user input member comprises an interactive touch screen member.

12. The user interface or control arrangement of claim 8, wherein the user input member comprises a game controller.

13. The user interface or control arrangement of claim 8, wherein the interface device mounting area of the cushion-type support member comprises a recess in an upper surface of the cushion-type support member within which the user input member is positioned.

14. The user interface or control arrangement of claim 13, wherein the recess is defined by a bottom wall and a series of side walls, wherein the user input member is supported on the bottom wall of the recess when the user input member is positioned within the recess.