Computer mouse
A computer mouse is provided which includes an elastic cover detachably secured upon a main body of the mouse, to enhance ease of operation and reduce muscle strain and soreness by repeatedly operating the computer mouse. The main body has left and right click knobs and optionally a scrolling wheel, pivotally mounted thereon. The cover and main body can be complementary coupled together through respective mating convex and concave portions. A display surface is explicitly provided on the main body and/or cover to allow for labeling of instructional information and/or advertising. Additionally, the computer mouse, notably the detachably mounted cover member, can be provided in an attractive shape to encourage use by a child.
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The present invention is directed to a computer mouse for operating a computer. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improved computer mouse having structure enhancing operation thereof, avoiding muscular strain to a hand during repeated operation, protecting components of the mouse from damage during use and/or shipping, and even enhancing educational aspects of computer operation, i.e., for a child.
A computer mouse for electrically operating a computer has been known to be provided with standard components such as left and right click portions and a scrolling wheel. The left click portion controls a pointer displayed upon a screen of a computer terminal while the right click portion generally activates a menu in conjunction with the particular computer screen being displayed. Additionally, the scrolling wheel allows for scrolling up or down of the displayed computer screen. The mouse is electrically coupled to the computer, either directly through a connecting wire or remotely by radio frequency, and is generally formed of hard plastic.
However, debilitation of muscle use and control by a user of a computer and accompanying mouse over extended periods of time, has become a great problem. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome affects many long-time computer users. In particular, muscle soreness of the hand and fingers of a user can develop by extended gripping, movement and operation of a computer mouse over time. Since computers have rapidly become an integral, indispensable part of the living environment, both at home and work, it is critical physical discomfort and muscular debilitation associated with extended computer use be reduced or eliminated altogether. Furthermore, it is essential that people rapidly learn computer skills to successfully function in the workplace, home and most importantly school in the case of children.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve operating a computer mouse.
It is also an object of the present invention to enhance ease of gripping, moving and adjusting a computer mouse.
It is another object of the present invention to reduce muscle strain and soreness caused by repeatedly gripping and operating a computer mouse.
It is a further object of the present invention to facilitate activation of a computer in response to depressing keys or click portions on a computer mouse.
It is still another object of the present invention to enhance use and operation of a computer mouse, and therefore a computer, by providing for display of information and/or images upon the computer mouse.
It is still a further object of the present invention to facilitate learning to operate a computer and mouse therefor, especially by a child.
These and other objects are explicitly attained by the present invention which is directed to a mouse structured and arranged as an input device for a computer, which comprises a main body arranged to be electrically coupled to a computer, left and right click portions (buttons) and optionally a scrolling wheel located upon an upper surface of the main body, and a mounting cover formed of elastic or resilient material arranged to be detachably mounted upon the main body. The mounting cover and main body comprise convex and concave portions arranged to complementary mate with one another. The mounting cover can take any convenient shape, e.g., elliptical, ring-shaped, etc., or even the shape of a novelty or toy to enhance attraction to a child and encourage use of and learning to operate the computer mouse. An adhesive surface can be optionally applied to the respective surfaces of the main body and mounting member to enhance secure coupling together.
In one embodiment of the inventive mouse, the elastically-formed cover member essentially encompasses the entire upper surface of the computer mouse except for the scrolling wheel (if present), so that the click portions can be depressed through the cover member. The main body of the mouse can feature a display portion, e.g., for labeling, use information or advertising, upon the upper surface of the main body and/or a projecting tongue therefrom. The cover member itself can also present such a display surface.
The inventive mouse reduces muscle soreness and fatigue caused by repeated use of a computer mouse, by softening gripping and/or contact of the respective click portions through the elastic cover member. Such a mouse is extremely easy to manufacture and assemble, because the respective components, namely the main body and cover member, can be separately packaged for shipment (thereby avoiding damage during transit) and easily assembled at a computer to be ready for use. At the same time, the cover member and main body can be easily detached from one another, should the elastic cover member require replacement, e.g., after extended use. This helps conserve material and avoid unnecessary expense because the entire computer mouse need no longer be replaced should the elastic cover member happen to wear out or stiffen after extended use over an extremely long period of time. Protection of the left and right click knobs and scrolling wheel is also enhanced, thus prolonging effective use of the computer mouse. Furthermore, discrete display surfaces are explicitly arranged upon both the mouse main body and cover member, to allow for adequate labeling, instructional information and advertisements, if necessary. The cover member can be produced in the shape of a novelty or toy to enhance attraction to a child and encouraging learning and understanding of computer operation.
The present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Referring to the drawings in the present application,
The mounting cover 3 is formed from elastic material and shaped to complementary seat about projection 8 from the surface 2′ of main body 2 to be securely retained thereon, without need for further securing means. However, an adhesive layer can be conveniently applied to either the surface 2′ and or mounting cover 3 to improve adherence of the mounting cover 3 thereon. However, the mounting cover 3 can always be easily detached from the main body 2 when necessary, either in the presence or absence of an additional adhesive layer. An example of an adhesive layer includes a hook and loop arrangement marketed under the name Velcro®. The elastic mounting cover 3 can be formed from any number of suitable resilient materials, e.g., rubber, silicone, plastic or gel products.
The inventive computer mouse 1 is illustrated as being electrically connected to a computer via a wire 7. However, electrical connection within the context of the present invention also includes connection in the absence of a physical interconnecting wire, i.e., through radio frequency signals. Furthermore, the mounting cover 3 and main body 2 can be easily coupled by being brought together in the direction of the dash-dot lines shown in
The alternative embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrate in
The main body of the inventive computer mouse can be formed from any suitable material, e.g., hard plastic, with the projections 8, 25, 50, 72 also being formed from the same hard plastic upon molding, or alternatively separately formed from elastic, rubbery material secured to the main body, e.g., by glueing. Any type of design, e.g., letters, patterns, logos, marks, characters, etc. can also be presented on the surface of the mounting cover which can take any accepted three-dimensional shape, e.g., a square, ring, ellipse or the shape of a known object. By the same, token, the concavity and mating protrusion may take any acceptable three-dimensional shape such as a cube, mound, oval, triangle, etc. Advertising information and/or labeling can be affixed to the requisite surfaces, e.g., by decals. The elastically-formed mounting cover helps reduce muscle soreness in the hand caused by repeated gripping of the computer mouse.
The preceding description of the present invention is merely exemplary and not intended to limit the scope thereof in any way.
Claims
1. A mouse structured and arranged as an input device for a computer, comprising:
- a main body structured and arranged to be electrically coupled to the computer;
- left and right click portions located on an upper surface of said main body; and
- a mounting cover formed of resilient or elastic material; wherein
- said mounting cover is structured and arranged to be detachably mounted upon said main body.
2. (canceled)
3. The mouse of claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a concave portion on the upper surface thereof at a location spaced away from said right and left click portions and upon which said mounting cover is structured and arranged to seat in complementary fashion.
4-7. (canceled)
8. The mouse of claim 1, wherein said mounting cover is substantially in the shape of a ring, and said main body comprises a protrusion extending up from the upper surface thereof at a location spaced away from said right and left click portions, such that said substantially ring-shaped mounting cover is structured and arranged to removably seat over said protrusion.
9. The mouse of claim 8, wherein said resilient or elastic material is formed from rubber, plastic or gel products.
10-12. (canceled)
13. The mouse of claim 3, wherein said concave portion is in a three-dimensional shape of one of a right angle, a triangle or an ellipse.
14-18. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 12, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 25, 2008
Applicant:
Inventor: Junji Hiromori (Tokyo)
Application Number: 12/075,542