Point and click device for a computer workstation

• US 9,665,185 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Posturite Limited
• Original Assignee: Posturite Limited
• Inventors: Fletcher-Price, Ian George
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasinowski, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/407,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345157, 345163-166
• 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 2203/0334 Ergonomic shaped mouse for vertical grip, whereby the hand controlling the mouse is resting or gripping it with an attitude almost vertical with respect of the working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An ambidextrous point and click device for a computer work station comprising; a body 1 having an inclined back surface 2 configured for supporting the palm of a user'"'"'s hand and an upright front surface accessible by the fingers of a user'"'"'s hand when gripping the device, “right click” 3 and “left click” 4 buttons arranged one above the other centrally of the upright front surface, a scroll dial 5 arranged above and in alignment with the “right click” and “left click” buttons and a select button encircling the scroll dial.

Claims

1. A point and click device for a computer work station, which provides for ambidextrous operation, comprising:

a body having a forwardly-inclined back surface configured for supporting the palm of a user'"'"'s hand, wherein the back surface is curved from a lower, rear end to an upper, forward end, a front surface accessible by the fingers of a user'"'"'s hand when gripping the device, and a base which, in use, contacts a fixed horizontal surface and includes a horizontally-extending surface on which the heel of a user'"'"'s hand may be rested;

right-click and left-click buttons which are arranged one above the other centrally of the front surface;

a scroll dial arranged on the front surface in alignment with the right-click and left-click buttons and rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis; and

a select button associated with the scroll dial.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the select button is integral with the scroll dial.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a rocker switch in vertical alignment with the right-click and left-click buttons and being operable as a power switch.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a rocker switch in vertical alignment with the right-click and left-click buttons and being for use in panning horizontally across an on-screen image.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the scroll dial is disposed in vertical alignment with the right-click and left-click buttons.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the body has symmetrical sides.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the body has a lateral width and the scroll dial extends across the lateral width of the body.