Abstract:
The invention discloses a mouse structure with click force adjustable function, which comprises a shell, a circuit board module, and at least one adjustable mechanism. The adjustable mechanism is setting inside the shell, and comprises a supporting body, an adjustable plate and an adjustable component. The adjustable mechanism is adjusted via the adjustable component, so that the place the free-end of the adjustable plate touching the key portion is changed, and the force the adjustable plate clicking the switch module is accordingly changed, which provides function that the user can adjust the click force finely to a suitable one.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a computer input, indexing, other manual input device including a mouse device or structure, especially a mouse structure feasible for users to adjust the clicking force depending on the users&#39; habits or preference. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The mouse and the keyboard are indispensable input devices for the computer. An important function of the mouse is to control the cursor. One input method of the mouse is through the “click”. Especially in the series of AUTOCAD or PRO/E or other environment of graphic software, or in the operating environment of the multi-media, the user generally depends on a mouse, or it&#39;s functional equivalent to operate the cursor and point at the target. The user operates program functions through the mouse by clicking one or more buttons or keys on the mouse. 
         [0005]    However, the force necessary to affect a click of a traditional mouse, which amounts to a specific value, is designed by the designer. That force (click, or clicking force) exerted by the user should exceed or at minimum equal the force designed by the designer, such that the movable button or key portion of the mouse can move to be effective. Therefore, it is not feasible for users to adjust the clicking force depending on the users&#39; habit. At the same time, with interactive electronic products becoming more widely used, the populations of users are becoming more varied. Children and the elderly are joining the ranks of mouse-clickers. 
         [0006]    However, for the elderly and children, as well as others less able to exert the clicking force others who are more able to exert the required force. Possibilities also exist for repetitive stress damage, particularly in instances in which a user clicks the mouse for a long period of time, the wrist of that user may experience muscular pains. With this in mind, particularly for children, their growth and development may be jeopardized for the computer game player, long periods of time spent clicking the mouse has a similar potential for still causing similar muscular pain as well. For the white collar worker using the mouse for a long time, it will be useful or necessary for him or her to adjust the click force depending on personal habits or preferences. 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is at least useful and possibly necessary, for the present circumstances, to provide a mouse feasible for different users to adjust the click force depending on the users&#39; habits or preferences. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is to provide a mouse feasible or available for users to adjust the click force depending on the users&#39; habits or preference. To solve the problems considered above, the present invention provides the following structure: A mouse structure with adjustable click force function, comprising: a shell including a key portion; a circuit board module located in the shell; and at least one adjustable mechanism, located in the shell, electrically connected with the circuit board module, the adjustable mechanism including: a supporting body, corresponding to the key portion and having a switch module, the switch module transmitting information of clicking to the circuit board; an adjustable plate, one end of the adjustable plate pivotally connected with the supporting body, letting the key portion and the switch module located/corresponding on different positions of the adjustable plate; 
         [0009]    an adjustable component, movable and arranged in the shell, the adjustable component moving the adjustable mechanism, changing the different position/portion of the adjustable plate corresponding to the key portion, for adjusting/changing the strength of the force applied to the switch module. 
         [0010]    In the preferred example, the number of the key portions is two, and one of the key portions is in vicinity of/adjacent to another, the two key portions are corresponding to the two adjustable mechanisms, each switch module of the adjustable mechanism is further electrically connected with the circuit board module corresponding to the adjustable mechanism. 
         [0011]    In the preferred example, the switch module includes a switch element and a trigger element, the trigger element is clicked to turn on or turn off the switch element. 
         [0012]    In the preferred example, the adjustable component includes a force transfer piece and a guiding groove located on the shell, and the force transfer piece includes a bump, located and movable in the guiding groove. 
         [0013]    In the preferred example, the bottom or inner surface of the key portion of the shell extends a contact portion, and the contact portion is corresponding to the free-end of the adjustable plate. 
         [0014]    In the preferred example, the shell has a recess, the adjustable component includes a base which has an extending portion, the base supports the supporting body and the circuit board module, the base is located above the recess and the extending portion is located in the recess, such that the adjustable mechanism can move along with the recess. 
         [0015]    The present invention, compared with the prior art, exists merits as follows: 
         [0016]    1. Concise structure: the present invention arranges the adjustable mechanism in the shell of the mouse. The adjustable mechanism is electrically connected with the circuit board module. The present invention ingeniously applies leverage principles. The user can adjust the adjustable component to further move the adjustable mechanism. Therefore, the contact portion of the key portion is corresponding to the different portion of the adjustable plate, in order to change the force of pivoting arm exerted from the contact portion and to further change the magnitude of torque to trigger the switch module, such that the mouse is available to adjust the clicking force. 
         [0017]    2. Easy to operate: The adjustable component is used for moving the adjustable mechanism. The adjustable component includes a force transfer piece and a guiding groove. The bump of the force transfer piece cooperates with the guiding groove. The bump moves along with the guiding groove to further move the adjustable mechanism. Therefore, it is easy and convenient for the user to move the adjustable mechanism. In the process to operate the mouse, the user can change the clicking force anytime. 
         [0018]    3. Slightly adjustable mouse suitable for wide range of people: With the electronic products more widely used, the populations of the user become more various. Children and elder people are also part of the users of the mouse. If the users click the mouse for a long time, the wrist of the users will have muscular pains. Therefore, the present invention ingeniously uses the leverage principles between the adjustable plate and the supporting body to let the clicking force of the mouse adjustable. The mouse can be widely used in those groups. 
         [0019]    The present invention can not only be freely adjusted the clicking force depending on the uses&#39; needs or habits, but also suitable for two or three key portions mouse, optical or scroll mouse, wire or wireless mouse. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the mouse structure with adjustable click force function; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a partial enlargement view of A portion in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the adjustable mechanism in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a using-state view of the mouse structure with adjustable click force function; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the mouse structure with adjustable click force function proceeding adjustment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a partial enlargement view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the adjustable mechanism in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the mouse structure with adjustable click force function,  FIG. 2  is a partial enlargement view of A portion in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the adjustable mechanism in  FIG. 1 . Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . The present invention, the mouse structure with adjustable click force function, comprises a shell  10 , a circuit board module  20 , and an adjustable mechanism  30 . 
         [0030]    There is a key portion, or button  103  located in the front of the outside of the shell  10 . In the embodiment the number of the key portions or buttons  103  is two, and one of the key portions  103  is in the vicinity of/adjacent to another. The circuit board module  20  includes a main printed circuit board  21  and two printed circuit boards  22 . The circuit board module  20  is located in the shell  10  and on the bottom, for example, thereof. The two printed circuit boards  22  are electrically connected with the main printed circuit board  21 . The adjustable mechanism  30  is located in the shell  10 . The position of the adjustable mechanism  30  is corresponding to the position of the key portion  103 . The adjustable mechanism  30  is further electrically connected with the printed circuit boards  22  of the circuit board module  20 . The invention, by adjusting the position of the adjustable mechanism  30 , lets the position of the key portion  103  correspond to different positions of the adjustable mechanism  30  and adjusts the force of pivoting arm of the adjustable mechanism  30  which is pressed by the key portion  103 . Therefore, the torque resulting from the click force could be further changed and the user can adjust the strength of the click force depending on his/her personal preferences or habits. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 3 , the adjustable mechanism  30  includes a supporting body  301 , an adjustable plate  302 , and an adjustable component  303 . The adjustable plate  302  and the adjustable component  303  are located on the supporting body  301 . It is available in a manner such that the user can push the adjustable component  303  to further move the adjustable mechanism  30 . 
         [0032]    The supporting body  301  includes an accommodating chamber  3011 , and a switch module  3012 . The accommodating chamber  3011  is located at the place where the supporting body  301  is corresponding to the key portion  103 , and the accommodating chamber  3011  is used for the switch module  3012 . The switch module  3012  includes a switch element  3013  and a trigger element  3014 . The trigger element  3014  is located above the switch module  3012  and the free end of the trigger element  3041  projects outside the accommodating chamber  3011 . The trigger element  3041 , as result of pressing/clicking, can ascend or descend to turn on or turn off the switch element  3013 . Further, the switch element  3013  is further connected with the circuit board module  20  such that the information of clicking can be transmitted to the circuit board module  20 . 
         [0033]    The adjustable plate  302  is located below, for example, the key portion  103 , and one side of the adjustable plate  302  extends toward the supporting body  301  to form an extending piece  3021  which is bent. By the extending piece  3021 , the adjustable plate  302  is pivotally connected with the supporting body  301 . The pivot is O. In such arrangement, the key portion  103  and the switch module  3012  are located/corresponding at different positions of the adjustable plate  302 , letting the adjustable plate  302  be substantially horizontal and located above the switch module  3012 . When the user clicks the key portion  103 , the adjustable plate  302  will be pressed by the pressure from the key portion  103 , and thus the adjustable plate  302  will further press the trigger element  3014 , and then contact to the switch element  3013  in used. The clicking information will be transmitted to the circuit board module  20 . 
         [0034]    The following introduce the adjustable component  303  which moves the adjustable mechanism  30 . The adjustable component  303  is movable and arranged in the shell  10 . The adjustable component  303  can move the adjustable mechanism  30 , further change the different position/portion of the free-end of the adjustable plate  302  of the adjustable mechanism  30  corresponding to the key portion  103 , and adjust the magnitude of the force from the adjustable plate  302  applied to the switch element  3013 . The adjustable component  303  includes a force transfer piece  3031  connected with the supporting body  301 , and a guiding groove  104  located on the shell  10 . The guiding groove  104  can set up on the upper surface or the bottom surface of the shell  10 . In this embodiment, the guiding groove  104  is located on the upper surface of the shell  10  (for example,  FIG. 4  is shown a guiding groove  104  located on the side of the shell  10 ). The force transfer piece  3031  is located on the side of the supporting body  301 . There is a bump  3033  included/located on the force transfer piece  3031 . The bump  3033  passes through the guiding groove  104  and partially exposed to the outside of the shell  10 . When the invention is operated to adjust, pushing the bump  3033  can further move the whole adjustable mechanism  30 . The force transfer piece  3031  and the bump  3033  of the adjustable component  303  mentioned above are use for explanation but not for limitation. The structure of the present invention can be changed as in actual needs. 
         [0035]    In the present invention, the adjustable component  303  includes a base  305  which has an extending portion  304  protruding from the bottom of the base  305 . The supporting body  301  of the adjustable mechanism  30  is located on the printed circuit board  22 , and the printed circuit board  22  is located on the base  305 . The base  305  supports the supporting body  301  and the printed circuit board  22 . All the elements mentioned above can move with the adjustable mechanism  30 . The printed circuit board  22  is electrically connected with the switch element  3013  and the main printed circuit board  21 . After the switch element  3013  turned off, the clicking information is transmitted to the printed circuit board  22 , and then the clicking information is transmitted to the main printed circuit board  21 . The base  305  is made of wear-resisting material, especially with low-friction. The main reason to use the chosen material of the base  305  is to enhance the degree of wear-resisting of the adjustable mechanism  30 , such that the printed circuit board  22  will not be damaged because of friction. 
         [0036]    The shell  10  is assembled from, portions which entirely enclose sensitive parts needing protection, a bottom shell  11  and a cover shell  12  which is corresponding to the bottom shell, in order to form a receiving space. The upper surface of the bottom shell  11  has a recess  111  which is either: a, or rectangular in shape. The base  305  is located above the recess  111  and the extending portion  304  is located in the recess  111 . The length and width of the recess  111  is larger than the length and width of the extending portion  304  but smaller than those of the base  305 . Therefore, the adjustable mechanism  30  can move along with the recess  111  without shift. The structures of the base  305  and the recess  111  mentioned above are use for example but not for limitation and they can be changed as in actual needs. For example, it is available to use a rolling wheel to replace the base  305 . The rolling wheel directly fixes under the supporting body  301  and the printed circuit board  22 . The present invention is movable by the rolling wheel rolling in the recess  111 . 
         [0037]    In the present invention, the bottom (inner) surface of the key portion  103  of the shell  10  extends a contact portion  1031 . The structure of the contact portion  1031  is shaped in column or piece. The contact portion  1031  is perpendicularly arranged above the adjustable plate  302 . The contact portion  1031  is corresponding to the free-end of the adjustable plate  302 , and one end of the contact portion  1031  contact the adjustable plate  302 . When the key portion  103  is pressed, the contact portion  1031  which is pressed together with the key portion  103  will move to press the adjustable plate  302 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is used to shown another adjustable component  303 ′. In this embodiment, a guiding groove  104 ′ is located on the bottom shell  11 . A force transfer piece  3031 ′ is located under the printed circuit board  22 . The force transfer piece  3031 ′ protrudes a bump  3033 ′. The force transfer piece  3031 ′ is located above the guiding groove  104 ′ and the bump  3033 ′ is located in the bump  3033 ′. The length and width of the recess  104 ′ is larger than the length and width of the bump  3033 ′ but smaller than those of the force transfer piece  3031 ′. Therefore, the adjustable mechanism  30  can move along with the guiding groove  104 ′ without shift (with a regular route). At the same time, the height of the bump  3033 ′ is smaller than the thickness of the bottom shell  11 , such that the bottom shell  11  can be stably settled. The adjusting method of this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment. When the user tries to adjust the adjustable mechanism  30 , he/she can push the bump  3033 ′ to further move the adjustable mechanism  30 . The others elements in this embodiment are the same as the first embodiment, and they are not depicted for conciseness. 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the mouse structure with adjustable click force function proceeding adjustment.  FIG. 7  is a partial enlargement view of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the adjustable mechanism in  FIG. 6 , that is, a schematic view of the adjustable mechanism after sliding to the front of the mouse. Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 8 , it is understandable that the distance L between the trigger element  3014  and O is resistance arm, that when the trigger element  3014  contact the adjustable plate  302 , resistance force R applied toward the adjustable plate  302  will be created. Therefore, based on the leverage principles, if the trigger element  3014  is needed to be triggered, the torque must be over R*L.  FIG. 3  (or  FIG. 5 ), the contact portion  1031  to the adjustable plate  302 , shows the force of the pivoting arm L 1  and force F 1 . Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the force of the pivoting arm the contact portion  1031  of the contact portion  1031  toward the adjustable plate can be adjusted to L 2 , L 3  . . . L X . The force is F X . Apparently, L 1 &gt;L x . 
         [0040]    Therefore, based on leverage principles, it is derived: 
         [0000]        R*L=L   1   *F   1   =L   X   *F   X ; 
         [0041]    The value of R*L is a constant; 
         [0042]    L 1 &gt;L X ; 
         [0043]    So, F 1 &lt;F X . 
         [0044]    Therefore, the user can adjust the adjustable mechanism  30  to change the contact location between contact portion  1031  and adjustable plate  302 , and further to change the strength of force clicking/pressing the key portion  103  of the mouse. In the embodiment, the more closed the adjustable mechanism  30  to the front of the shell  10  (the place F X  exerts), the more force to click the mouse; vise versa, it would save force. 
         [0045]    Aside from, regarding to the embodiment of the structure of the adjustable mechanism  30  mentioned above, the user can slightly adjust the adjustable component  303 . Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the user can also use the whorl  1041  of the guiding groove  104  corresponding to the guiding groove  104  for slight adjustment. 
         [0046]    To sum up, the present invention, the mouse structure with adjustable click force function ingeniously applies leverage principles, adds an adjustable mechanism, and changes the location between the contact portion of the key portion and the adjustable mechanism, that is, change the force of pivoting arm to change the torque. The present invention changes the clicking force via changing the force of pivoting arm force. 
         [0047]    The above-mentioned descriptions represent merely the preferred embodiment of the present invention, without any intention to limit the scope of the present invention thereto. Various equivalent changes, alternations or modifications based on the claims of present invention are all consequently viewed as being embraced by the scope of the present invention.