Patent ID: 6373467
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An ergonomic computer input device comprising:a generally horizontally extending base having an outer lip and an upper surface, said outer lip extending above said upper surface of said base generally perpendicularly to said upper surface, said lip serving as a protective bumper, minimizing the risk that the shell will contact another object and be damaged during normal operation; a plurality of depressible control buttons mounted on said upper surface of said base; a housing having a plurality of openings, said housing coupled to said base along a bottom periphery of said housing such that said outer lip extends outward beyond said shell and extends above said bottom periphery of said housing, each of said plurality of control buttons extends though a respective one of said plurality of openings in said housing; a shell made of a precious metal selected from the group consisting of: gold, silver, gold alloy, silver alloy, stone, high-gloss plastic, and acrylic covering an outer surface of said housing and affixed to said outer surface of said housing, said shell having a plurality of openings corresponding to the openings in said housing, said base is made of a non-precious material; and each of said plurality of control buttons is comprised of a support and a surface overlay, said surface overlay covering a side and upper surfaces of said support and being affixed to said support, said surface overlay being made of a material selected from the group consisting of: gold, silver, gold alloy, silver alloy, stone, high-gloss plastic, and acrylic.