ERGONOMIC POINTING DEVICE

Abstract: The present invention concerns hand held manipulation devices comprising a base and a generally rounded mound portion rising from said base, said base and mound portion being arranged such that in use the palm of the hand and wrist of a user are held at a mid-position between pronation and supination. In particular it concerns computer "mouses".

Description: ERGONOMIC POINTING DEVICE The present invention concerns improved hand-held control devices such as a mouse for a computer, together with systems for effecting fatigue relief of users of same. "Mouse" devices are widely used in conjunction with computers to provide input means, controlling for example an on-screen cursor. Mouse devices are typically provided with at least one button. Conventional mouse devices comprise a housing having a flat underside which rests on e.g. a desk, and a rounded upper portion. The rounded upper portion is typically arcuate such that in use, a user's hand is placed with the palm facing downwards and contacting the rounded upper portion. This results in the user's hand and forearm being held in a prone position whereby the user's wrist is forced out of alignment with the rest of the arm, causing muscular and nervous tension. Manipulation of the mouse, particularly over a prolonged period of time, causes the wrist and forearm to work at an extreme range and can result in serve muscular and nervous fatigue. Furthermore, the conventional mouse provides no support for the part of the hand which is adjacent wrist. The weight of the arm results in the muscle work required to maintain the position of the hand and arm being increased, and simultaneously the ligaments are put on maximum stretch. Using the mouse for extended periods of time can therefore cause pain, and inflammation in the supporting structures of the arm, for example, the wrist, elbow, forearm and neck. Similar problems are encountered with other hand-held manipulation devices such as "joysticks" which are also held with the hand and forearm in a prone position. The present invention overcomes the prior art disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a hand-held manipulation device comprising a base and a generally rounded mound portion rising from said base, said base and mound portion being arranged such that in use the palm of the hand and wrist of a user are held at a mid-position between pronation (i.e. palm of the hand facing downwards) and supination (i.e. palm of the hand facing upwards).. This position is considered a "natural" position. The hand of the user may be outstretched (i.e. not clenched) when using the device. In particular, the base and mound portion may be arranged such that the little finger of the user rests on the base and the thumb and other fingers rest on and around the mound portion. The device may be arranged such that the lateral aspect of the hyperthena eminence of the user's hand (the pad of flesh extending at the side of the hand from the bottom of the little finger towards the wrist) rests on the base. In use, the devices of the present invention cause the hand and wrist, and therefore the forearm, to be aligned in a natural, comfortable position, which does not result in the excessive fatigue and possible pain and injury encountered when using prior art devices, and which allows an increase in the length of time for which the devices may be used when compared to e.g. conventional "mouse" devices. The devices also provide the additional advantage of allowing the most comfortable position to be attained by the user in a minimal work space. The device may have at least one input means positioned on the mound portion. Such input means may be positioned such that in use the fingers or thumb of the user would rest over them. The manipulation device may comprise a "mouse" for use with a computer and may for example have a set of three switches positioned on the mound portion such that each of the user's fingers (other than the little finger) is positioned over a switch. Alternative input means such as a rotating wheel may be used in the device, for example by the thumb, or a mini-joystick type device may be positioned for manipulation by the thumb. Mouse devices of the present invention, which in use are translated across a surface whilst maintaining the positioning of the hand, wrist and forearm, contrast with e.g. computer joysticks which require a user's hand to be clenched and require wide- ranging movement of the wrist and hand. As well as having a mound portion rising from it, the base may additionally be provided with a side wall or side walls which act to provide support for the little finger, wrist and/or thumb of the user, thereby preventing slippage from the device. The side wall(s) also help to ensure that the device can only be held in a correct fashion. The device may additionally comprise wrist or arm support means. For example, wrist support means may comprise an extension to the base of the device. Arm support means may be separate from the main body (i.e. base) of the device but used simultaneously. In the case of a mouse for use with a computer, it may additionally be provided with an underside for contacting a surface in use. The underside may have an aperture through which protrudes a roller ball device for determining the movement of the device. The mouse may comprise the circuitry necessary to translate the movement of the mouse and the operation of the input means into a signal suitable for a computer. Such circuitry is widely used and will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, a mouse may be connected to a computer by a wire or it may be a "wireless" device, communicating with the computer using radio waves. The device may have a detachable portion containing data storage means, for example a flash-RAM memory device. The detachable portion may for example comprise part of the upper mound portion. The data storage means may, like any removable drive, store any desired data for example word processor documents. Thus a user may work on a document with a first device attached to a computer at the office, detach the mound portion of the device, on which is stored the document, take the mound portion home and attach it to a second device attached to a home computer and continue to work on the document. The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of the Figures: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a mouse according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the mouse of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 shows a rear view of the mouse of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows a front view of the mouse of Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows a side view of the mouse of Figure 1. A manipulation device according to the present invention comprises mouse 10 having base 20 and mound portion 30 formed from a single piece plastic moulding. Side walls 40 and 50 provide support for the wrist, little finger and the lateral aspect of the hyperthena eminence of a user (not shown), ensuring that mouse 10 is correctly held and preventing slippage from it. Mound 30 is generally teardrop shaped so that the hand of a user (not shown) will surround it, fingers (other than the little finger) contacting rotatable wheel 61 and switches 62, 63, the whole of the hand being outstretched and open, and the palm resting on mound 30 at a general angle of about 90° from horizontal. Mouse 10 also has roller ball 70 which is used to determine its movements on the surface it is used on. Mound position 30 contains the electronic circuitry necessary to detect rotation of roller ball 70, convert it and input from wheel 61 and switches 62, 63 into an electrical signal and transmit it as a radio signal to be received by a computer (not shown). Low friction pads (not shown) are provided on the underside of mouse 10 in order to assist in its movement across a surface. In use, the hand and wrist readily come to rest in a natural position on mouse 10 and the muscles of the arm are very relaxed when compared to holding a conventional mouse. Mound portion 30 has a detachable section (not shown) containing flash- RAM memory and which is accessible to a computer (not shown) to which it is attached as a removable drive, allowing the storage of computer files on the detachable section. Mouse 10 is arranged with base 20, mound 30, side walls 40 and 50, and input means 61-63 such that it is suitable for use in the right hand. A device suitable for use in the left hand is simply provided by arranging those parts (above) in a mirror image to those shown in the Figures. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A hand-held manipulation device comprising a base and a generally rounded mound portion rising from said base, said base and mound portion being arranged such that in use the palm of the hand and wrist of a user are held at a mid- position between pronation and supination 2. A hand-held manipulation device according to claim 1, the hand of the user being outstretched. 3. A hand-held manipulation device according to either one of the preceding claims, the base and mound portion being arranged such that the little finger of the user rests on the base and the thumb and other fingers rest on and around the mound portion. 4. A hand-held manipulation device according to any one of the preceding claims, being arranged such that the lateral aspect of the hyperthena eminence of the user's hand rests on the base. 5. A hand-held device according to any one of the preceding claim, having at least one input means positioned on the mound position. 6. A hand-held manipulation device according to any one of the preceding claims, the base additionally having at least one side wall. 7. A hand-held manipulation device according to any one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising wrist or arm support means. 8. A hand-held manipulation device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a computer mouse or joystick. 9. A hand-held manipulation device according to claim 8, comprising a computer mouse, additionally comprising an underside for contacting a surface.

Inventors: HAINES MARTIN, NEWELL TEDROY, HAINES, MARTIN, NEWELL, TEDROY
Applicants: HAINES MARTIN, NEWELL TEDROY, HAINES, MARTIN, NEWELL, TEDROY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G06K11
IPC codes: G06F3