Abstract:
A mouse has a storable hook module, which is stored within the main body of the mouse in most circumstance. In a case that the notebook computer is carried to another place, the hook module should be protruded from the main body of the mouse and then secured onto lock hole at a side wall of the notebook computer, so that the mouse is attached onto the notebook computer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a mouse having a storable hook module, and more particularly to a mouse having a storable hook module such that the mouse is attachable to a notebook computer. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In modern society, notebook computers are increasingly used because they are portable and convenient. For most notebook computers, a touch pad is used as the input device. 
   Furthermore, in order to comply with the user&#39;s habit, a mouse is also served as the input device of the notebook computer. Especially when the notebook computer is used in the office, the mouse becomes an essential peripheral device. 
   In a case that the notebook computer needs to be used in other places, for example in a conference room, the user should carry a mouse at the same time. In other words, since the mouse and the notebook computer are separate components, the probability of falling down the mouse is increased during the process of carrying the notebook computer along with the mouse. 
   For a purpose of solving such a problem, a mouse attachable to the notebook book is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,870, entitled “Portable computer system including detachable peripheral device and combined mouse/joystick for use with same”. Please refer to  FIG. 1 . The notebook computer having a detachable mouse as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,784,870 comprises a notebook computer 10, a mouse body 20 and a coupling mechanism 30. By means of the coupling mechanism 30, the mouse body 20 is attached to the notebook computer 10. 
   Another design for attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer is disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Gazette No. 398642, entitled “Device for storing a mouse within the casing of a computer”. Please refer to  FIG. 2 . As shown in Taiwanese Patent Gazette No. 398642, the notebook computer 40 has a receptacle 50 for storing the mouse 60 therein. 
   However, in the mentioned prior art, for attaching the mouse to the notebook, the notebook and mouse must have corresponding coupling mechanism to match with each other. In other words, different types of mice fail to be attached onto a same type of notebook computer, and thus the coupling mechanism is not user-friendly. 
   In views of the above-described disadvantages resulted from the prior art, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop a mouse having a storable hook module according to the present invention through wholehearted experience and research. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a mouse having a storable hook module such that the mouse is attached onto most notebook computers. 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mouse having a storable hook module. The mouse comprises a casing and a hook module. The casing comprises a surface including first and second perforations and a retaining recess disposed within the casing. The hook module is disposed within the casing, and comprises an operating member, a hooking member and a spring. The operating member comprises a cover plate and an operating rod, wherein a portion of the operation rod is aligned with the first perforation. The hooking member is accommodated within the retaining recess and includes a hooking part in one end and a connecting part in the other end, wherein the hooking part is aligned with the second perforation. The spring is arranged in the retaining recess and sustained between the cover plate and the hooking member. 
   In an embodiment, the operating rod and the cover plate are integrally formed. 
   In an embodiment, the operating rod includes a resilient part and a stop part. 
   In an embodiment, the connecting part of the hooking member includes a circular disc. 
   In an embodiment, the hook module further comprises a universal joint between the spring and the hooking member, wherein the universal joint has a first circular indentation structure for accommodating one end of the spring and a second circular indentation structure for accommodating the circular disc of the hooking member. 
   The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a notebook computer having an attachable mouse according to prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of another notebook computer having an attachable mouse according to prior art; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a mouse having a storable hook module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating that the hook module is stored within the main body of the mouse; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating that the hooking part of the hook module is protruded from the casing of the mouse; and 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating that the hooking part of the hook module is hooked onto the lock hole of a notebook computer. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exploded view of a mouse having a storable hook module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. 
   The mouse of the present invention comprises a casing  100  and a hook module  200 . The casing  100  has a lower surface  101  and a retaining recess  102 . The lower surface  101  has a first perforation  103  and a second perforation  104 . The hook module  200  comprises an operating member  201 , a hooking member  202 , a spring  203  and a universal joint  204 . 
   The operating member  201  comprises a cover plate  2011  and an operating rod  2012 . The operating rod  2012  includes a resilient part  2012 A and a stop part  2012 B. One end of the hooking member  202  has a hooking part  2021  and the other end of the hooking member  202  is a connecting part  2022 . The hooking part  2021  and the connecting part  2022  are hot-melted into one piece. The connecting part  2022  further comprises a circular disc  2022 A. The universal joint  204  comprises a first circular indentation structure  2041  and a second circular indentation structure  2042 . 
   A lock hole  300 , which is commonly arranged in a notebook computer as a standard accessory, is also shown in  FIG. 3 . The lock hole  300  is referred as a “Kensington lock hole”. In a case that a lock is attached to the lock hole  300 , the notebook will be fixed to any immovable object such as a desk, thereby preventing the notebook being stolen. Generally, notebook computers exhibited in the computer center or the exhibition place are locked in these lock holes. According to the present invention, the hook module  200  is secured onto the notebook computer by hooking the hooking part  2021  on the lock hole  300 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the hook module  200  is assembled together and stored within the casing of the mouse. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , by screwing for example, the cover plate  2011  is fixed on the retaining recess  102 . An end of the spring  203  is sustained against the cover plate  2011  and the other end of the spring  203  is accommodated within the first circular indentation structure  2041  of the universal joint  204 . The circular disc  2022 A of the connecting part  2022  of the hooking member  202  is accommodated within the second circular indentation structure  2042  of the universal joint  204 . The second circular indentation structure  2042  of the universal joint  204  allows 360-degree rotation of the hooking member  202 . 
   In the case that the hooking member  202  is stored within the retaining recess  102 , the spring  203  is kept in the compressive state and stopped by the stop part  2012 B of the operating member  201  to stop the hooking member  202 . 
   For a purpose of attaching the mouse onto the notebook computer, the hooking member  202  should be protruded from the lower surface  101  of the mouse  100 . In response to a pushing force applied on the operating rod  2012  through a first perforation  103  of the casing  100 , the resilient part  2012 A of the operating rod  2012  allows disengagement of the stop part  2012 B from the hooking member  202 . Meanwhile, due to the elastic force of the spring  203 , the hooking part  2021  of the hooking member  202  is protruded from the lower surface  101  of the mouse through the second perforation  104 , as is seen in  FIG. 5 . 
   Under this circumstance, as shown in  FIG. 6 , after the hooking part  2021  is hooked on the lock hole  300 , the mouse is attached onto the notebook computer. 
   After the mouse is detached from the notebook computer, another pushing force is applied on the operating rod  2012  through the first perforation  103  such that the stop part  2012 B is disengaged from the hooking member  202 . Subsequently, the hooking part  2021  is pushed upwardly to be stored within the casing  100 . When the pushing force is released, the spring  203  will be kept in the compressive state and stopped by the stop part  2012 B of the operating member  201 . 
   As known, the Kensington lock hole is oval-shaped and may be disposed in different orientation of the notebook computer. Due to the universal joint  204 , the hooking part may comply with the Kensington lock hole in each orientation. 
   From the above description, the hook module of the present invention may facilitate a mouse to be attachable onto a notebook when complying with the Kensington lock hole. By using the mouse having the hook module according to the present invention, no additional coupling mechanism is required to be included in the notebook computer because the Kensington lock hole is a common accessory of the notebook computer. 
   While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.