Ergonomic computer mouse with handheld and ambidextrous body design

• US 9,785,256 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ming Xia
• Original Assignee: Ming Xia
• Inventors: Xia, Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZUBAJLO, JENNIFER L
• Application Number:
  US14/622,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20160239109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• 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 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

This invention is an ergonomic computer mouse. The computer mouse body has a unique design in shape that may change the way for people to use a computer mouse. It is designed to be handheld by ring finger, little finger, and the hand part between thumb and index finger with a grip handle. A rear extrusion is smoothly curved and is designed to create a curved support area for the hand part between thumb and index finger. A trackball is confined in the body with a spherical housing and partially exposed on right side and left side of the body. The trackball is arranged near the middle of the body and above the grip handle so that thumb can reach it and operate it in its natural posture. A trackball cover is designed to separate the trackball and hand palm. Two click buttons and scroll wheel are arranged vertically on the fore edge of the body so that index finger and middle finger can naturally reach and operate them. A finger guard ring is designed to help adjusting the body'"'"'s location in a hand palm with ring finger and little finger. A curved top edge and a front extrusion are designed to make the body shape look aesthetic. Two spherical extrusions on each side of the body are designed to provide 3-points support together with trackball on a flat surface. People can hold and use the mouse at any desired orientation without a flat surface and can use either right hand or left hand to operate it. It can also be used on a flat desk surface (even on a transparent flat surface) as people use a regular computer mouse. It allows people to take a comfortable desired posture to operate the computer mouse and allows people to change hand to operate it. As a result it can reduce discomfort, pain, and fatigue injury on a user'"'"'s hand, arm, and shoulder when the user works on a computer with this invention.

Claims

1. An ergonomic computer mouse comprising:

a computer mouse housing having a front end, a back end, a top end, and opposite first and second sides;

said computer mouse housing defining a grip handle for holding, a finger guard ring located on said front end of said grip handle, a trackball housing having an opening formed through each of said first and second sides, a slide slot formed through each of said first and second sides and approximate said opening on each side, a plurality of sunken spaces formed on said front end of said grip handle, and two spherical-shaped extrusions disposed on each of said first and second sides and arranged to support said computer mouse housing on a desk surface with said first and second sides oriented generally planar with said desk surface;

a trackball disposed within said trackball housing for rotation therein;

a trackball cover disposed within said slide slots and slidable therein between a first position wherein said trackball cover extends across and outwardly of said trackball and the opening formed through said first side and a second position wherein said trackball cover extends across and outwardly of said trackball the opening formed through said second side;

a index finger click button disposed in one sunken space of said plurality of sunken spaces;

a middle finger click button disposed in second sunken space of said plurality of sunken spaces; and

a scroll wheel disposed in a third sunken space of said plurality of sunken spaces, wherein said third sunken spaced is located between said first and said second sunken space.

2. The ergonomic computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said computer mouse housing further defines a rear extrusion that is disposed to rest upon a user'"'"'s hand part located between the thumb and index finger when said grip handle is held by the user'"'"'s hand.

3. The ergonomic computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said rear extrusion is smoothly curved and has a curved support area for the hand part located between the user'"'"'s thumb and index finger.

4. The ergonomic computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said trackball cover is a partial spherical shell.

5. The ergonomic computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said index finger click button, said scroll wheel, and said middle finger click button are arranged in said order, in a direction away from said top end.