Abstract:
An input device has a main body having a peripheral edge, and a swinging portion pivotally connected to the main body along a rear portion of the peripheral edge, with the swinging portion pivoting between at least two different positions along the rear portion of peripheral edge. The swinging portion can also be extended and retracted with respect to the main body along the longitudinal axis of the main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an input device, and in particular, to a computer input device whose shape can be adjusted. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Conventional computer input devices, such as computer mice, are usually designed to have straight holding portions so that both right-handed and left-handed users can feel comfortable using them. Other conventional input devices are, however, designed for the comfort of right-handed users, since a majority of the population is right-handed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a shape-adjustable input device which allows for comfortable use by both right-handed and left-handed users. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a shape-adjustable input device which allows for comfortable use by users with large hands and users with small hands. 
         [0007]    In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides an input device having a main body having a peripheral edge, and a swinging portion pivotally connected to the main body along a rear portion of the peripheral edge, with the swinging portion pivoting between at least two different positions along the rear portion of peripheral edge. The swinging portion can also be extended and retracted with respect to the main body along the longitudinal axis of the main body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an input device according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the input device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A-3C  are cross-sectional views illustrating the extension of the swinging portion of the input device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are top plan views illustrating the pivoting of the swinging portion of the input device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the input device  10  of the present invention can be a computer input device such as a mouse, trackball, game controller or the like. The input device  10  has a main body  20  and a swinging portion  30 . The swinging portion  30  is coupled to one end (e.g., the rear end) of the main body  20 . The main body  20  has an upper housing  21  and a lower housing  22  that are secured together, and the swinging portion  30  also has an upper housing  31  and a lower housing  32  that are secured together. A roller  23  is located on the top of the upper housing  21 . The rear end of the main body  20  has a peripheral convex surface  211  while the swinging portion  31  has a peripheral concave surface  311  that is aligned with the convex surface  211 . 
         [0014]    A connector  40  is secured to the lower housing  22 , and is positioned between the main body  20  and the swinging portion  30 . The connector  40  connects the main body  20  to the swinging portion  30  in a manner which allows the swinging portion  30  to be pivoted, and reciprocated in a straight line (i.e., retracted and extended), with respect to the main body  20 . A handle-like fringe  42  extends from the rear of the connector  40  in a manner such that a slot  43  is formed between the connector  40  and the fringe  43 . The swinging portion  30  has a bulge  34  extending upwardly from the lower housing  32 , and the bulge  34  is positioned within the slot  43  as best shown in  FIGS. 3A and 4A . The slot  43  is curved such that the bulge  34  can move along the slot  43  along an arcuate path as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
         [0015]    A first positioning mechanism is located between the connector  40  and the swinging portion  30 . The first positioning mechanism includes a plurality of hemispherical cavities  33  spaced apart on the lower housing  32 , a ball  46 , a spring  45  and a bore  44  provided at about the center of the fringe  42 . Referring to  FIG. 3A , the ball  46  and the spring  45  are firmly secured within the bore  44  in a manner such that the ball  46  will always be retained within one of the cavities  33 . In particular, the spring  45  normally biases the ball  46  out of the bore  44 , but this normal bias can be overcome when the swinging portion  30  is pivoted to the left or the right, with the upper surface of the lower housing  32  (i.e., between adjacent cavities  33 ) pressing the ball  46  upwardly as the lower housing  32  (and the cavities  33 ) are pivoted to the left or the right. As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , as the swinging portion  33  is pivoted to the left or the right, the bulge  34  moves within the slot  43  while the connector  40  is positioned at the same location (i.e., connector  40  does not pivot) as the ball  46  moves from one cavity  33  into an adjacent cavity  33 . This allows the user to adjust the angle of the swinging portion  30  with respect to the main body  20 . In particular, the swinging portion  30  can be pivoted to the left for use by a right-handed user (see  FIG. 4A ), and pivoted to the right for use by a left-handed user (see  FIG. 4B ). 
         [0016]    A second positioning mechanism is located between the lower housing  22  of the main body  20  and the connector  40 . The second positioning mechanism includes a plurality of cavities  41  spaced apart on a straight line along the bottom of the connector  40 , a ball  26 , a spring  25  and a bore  24 , which can be the same as the cavities  33 , ball  46 , spring  45  and bore  44 , respectively. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the ball  26  and the spring  25  are firmly secured within the bore  24  in a manner such that the ball  26  will always be retained within one of the cavities  41 . In particular, the spring  25  normally biases the ball  26  upwardly out of the bore  24 , but this normal bias can be overcome when the swinging portion  30  is extended or retracted along the longitudinal axis of the main body  20  (i.e., when the connector  40  is extended or retracted from the main body  20 ), with the lower inner surface  29  of the connector  40  (see  FIG. 3C ) (i.e., between adjacent cavities  41 ) pressing the ball  26  upwardly as the connector  40  (and the cavities  41 ) is extended or retracted. As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , as the swinging portion  30  is pulled out or pushed in, the ball  26  moves from one cavity  41  into an adjacent cavity  41  to allow the user to position the swinging portion  20  at a desired distance away from the main body  20 . This lateral extension-retraction allows the overall size of the input device  10  to be adjusted to accommodate the size of the user&#39;s hand. 
         [0017]    Both of the main body  20  and the swinging portion  30  are placed on a working surface such that a user can operate it as a computer mouse or a trackball as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 4A . In addition, the swinging portion  30  can be sized and configured to support the base of a user&#39;s palm according to the natural shape of a right or left hand, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
         [0018]    While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.