Patent ID: 6285353
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A computer pointer comprising:a housing having an aperture;a ball rollably mounted within the housing and configured such that a portion of the ball extends through the aperture so that force created external to the housing can be exerted on the ball through the aperture to induce the ball to rotate within the housing;at least one rotating position member having an outer surface, the at least one rotating position member being mounted within the housing and engaged on a first side with the ball so that rolling motion of the ball results in corresponding rotation of the at least one rotating position member;a cleaning member mounted within the housing so as to be positioned adjacent a second side of the at least one rotating position member so that debris that is adhering to the outer surface of the at least one rotating position member is dislodged from the outer surface of the at least one rotating position member by the cleaning member as the at least one rotating position member rotates in response to the rolling motion of the ball, wherein the cleaning member comprises a tapered member that is mounted to the housing so as to extend towards the at least one rotating position member in a cantilevered fashion; anda biasing member that is mounted within the housing so as to urge the ball into a first orientation wherein the ball is frictionally engaged with the at least one rotating position member and the portion of the ball extends through the aperture in the housing.