Abstract:
A mouse device includes a case, a click operating area mounted on the case, a key inputting area mounted on the case, and a key lock moveably attached to the case. The click operating area performs selection and/or scrolling within an active window or graphical user interface. The key inputting area includes a plurality of keys. The key lock is moveable between a first position where the keys are unlocked and a second position where the keys are locked.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to mouses, and, more particularly, to a mouse combined with input keys. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Due to unceasing development and research of information products, computer technology has enjoyed considerable progressing function and speed. However, the methods for computer operation and document editing have not had any obvious improvement. 
   In general, the present method for computer operation or document editing requires the user to remember many special key combinations to accomplish special tasks or to use a mouse to select a function item. Users have to frequently move their hands between the mouse and the keyboard, which is inconvenient. 
   Accordingly, a need exists for an improved mouse device resolving the above problem in the industry. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect, a mouse device includes a lower case, a circuit board mounted to the lower case, an intermediate plate mounting a plurality of keys thereon, a switching plate positioned on the key plate, and an upper case coupled to the lower case. The circuit board includes a plurality of contact switches. The keys are corresponding to the contact switches, and each of the keys defines a notch therein. The switching plate is moveable on the intermediate plate to enter the notches or escape from the notches to lock or unlock the keys. The upper case defines a plurality of holes to allow the keys to extend therethrough. 
   According to another aspect, a mouse device includes a case, a click operating area mounted on the case, a key input area mounted on the case, and a key lock moveably attached to the case. The click operating area performs selection and/or scrolling within an active window or graphical user interface. The key input area includes a plurality of keys. The key lock is moveable between a first position where the keys are unlocked and a second position where the keys are locked. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present hooking device will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present apparatus, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Many aspects of the present mouse device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a mouse device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the mouse device including a lower case, an intermediate plate, a switching plate, an upper case, and a key lock; 
       FIG. 2  is an inverted, isometric view of the intermediate plate of  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, isometric view of the key lock of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an assembled, isometric view of the mouse device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled, isometric view of the mouse device, the upper case being removed, keys being unlocked; and 
       FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but with the keys being locked. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the preferred embodiments of the present mouse device, in detail. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a mouse device  100 , which is a hand-operated electronic device controlling movement of a cursor on a computer screen by movement of the mouse  100  on a supporting surface, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is illustrated. The mouse device  100  includes a lower case  10 , an intermediate plate  20 , a switching plate  30 , an upper case  40 , and a key lock  50 . The intermediate plate  20  is received in the lower case  10 . The switching plate  30  is located on the intermediate plate  20 . The upper case  40  is coupled to the lower case  10 , thus encasing the intermediate plate  20  and the switching plate  30 . 
   The lower case  10  includes a side wall  11 , an operating area  12 , and a bottom board  13 . The side wall  11  surrounds the bottom board  13 , and the operating area  12  is at a front of the bottom board  13 . A receiving housing  14  is formed on an inner surface of the side wall  11 . A circuit board  15  with a plurality of contact switches  152  is fixed to the bottom board  13  by a screw. A securing post  16  extends upward at a back of the bottom board  13 . The securing post  16  defines a second through hole  162  therein for allowing a screw  60  to extend therethrough. 
   The operating area  12  includes a pair of juxtaposed click switches  121  and a rolling wheel  123  between the click switches  121 . The click switches  121  are resiliently pressable. The click switches  121  are respectively called a “left click button” and a “right click button”. The rolling wheel  123  is rotated to scroll a cursor up or down within an active window or GUI (graphical user interface) element. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  together with  FIG. 1 , the intermediate plate  20  includes a key board  21  and a mounting board  23  superposed over the key board  21 . The key board  21  mounts a plurality of cylindrical keys  213  thereon, corresponding to the contact switches  152  on the circuit board  15 . Each of the keys  213  forms a contact protrusion  217  at a bottom thereof for pressing the corresponding contact switch  152  to generate an electric signal. A first through hole  215  is defined in a back of the key board  21 . The key board  21  is attached to the mounting board  23 , with the keys  213  protruding from the mounting board  23 . Each of the keys  213  defines a notch  214  at a bottom of a side thereof. The notches  214  are slightly higher than an upper surface of the mounting board  23 . A pair of clasping blocks  233  is formed at an end surface  231  of the mounting board  23 . The clasping blocks  233  are claspable to the operating area  12 . A screw hole  235  is defined at a back of the mounting plate  23  corresponding to the second through hole  162  in the securing post  16 . The intermediate plate  20  is mounted to the lower case  10  with the screw  60 . A cutout  236  is defined at an edge of a lateral side of the mounting board  23 , an opening  238  is defined adjacent to the cutout  236  at the lateral side, and a fixing bar  237  is thus formed between the cutout  236  and the opening  238 . A first recess  2372  and a second recess  2374  are defined, in a bottom of the fixing bar  237 , at two different positions along the lateral side respectively. A guiding rib  239  having an inverted-L shaped cross section is formed at the other lateral side of the mounting board  23 . 
   The switching plate  30  defines a plurality of first holes  33  therein, corresponding to the keys  213  on the intermediate plate  20 . Each of the first holes  33  has a profile slightly larger than that of the corresponding key  213 . The keys  213  can extend through the first holes  33 . An engaging strip  35  is bent down from a lateral side of the switching plate  30 . The engaging strip  35  is receivable in the opening  238 , and defines a groove  352  therein. 
   The upper case  40  defines a plurality of second holes  44  in a top board, corresponding to the keys  213 . A gap  42  is defined in a front of the top board for receiving the operating area  12 . An indentation  472  is defined at a lateral wall  47  of the upper case  40 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the key lock  50  forms a main portion  51 , and a pushing portion  53  and an engaging tongue  55  respectively extend from opposite sides of the main portion  51 . The pushing portion  53  is used to apply an external force thereon. The engaging portion  55  is receivable in the groove  352  in the engaging strip  35 . A slot  56  is defined in the main portion  51 , above the engaging portion  55 . A projection  57  protrudes from a top of the main portion  51 . The projection  57  is receivable in the first recess  2372  or the second recess  2374 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the switching plate  30  is superposed over the intermediate plate  20  in a first step of assembly. The engaging strip  35  extends through the opening  238 . The key lock  50  is engaged with the switching plate  30 , with the engaging portion  55  inserted into the groove  352  in the engaging strip  35 . The combination of the intermediate plate  20 , the switching plate  30 , and the key lock  50  is positioned on the circuit board  15  of the lower case  10 . The contact protrusions  217  are aligned with the contact switches  152  on the circuit board  15 , and the key lock  50  is partially received in the receiving housing  14 . The screw  60  is screwed into the screw hole  235  via the second through hole  162  and the first through hole  215 . The upper case  40  is finally coupled to the lower case  10 . 
   In use, the mouse device  100  can shift between two different states. In the first state, the keys  213  are unlocked and pressable to input information. In a second state, the keys  213  are locked and unpressable to prevent accidental pressing of the keys  213 . When shifting from the first state to the second state, the pushing portion  53  of the key lock is forced to move along the indentation  472 , and the projection  57  escapes from the first recess  2372  by resilient deformation toward the slot  56 , and enters the second recess  2374  and rebounds from the deformation. The switching plate  30  is moved along the guiding rib  239  together with the key lock  50 , and enters the notches  214  in the keys  213 . Thus, the keys  213  are blocked by the switching plate  30 , and cannot be pressed downward. When shifting from the second state to the first state, the key lock  50  is forced to move along the indentation  472  in a reverse direction. The projection  57  in the second recess  2374  escapes therefrom by resilient deformation toward the slot  56  in the key lock  50 , and enters the first recess  2372  and rebounds from the deformation. 
   The mouse device  100  can perform click selection, wheel scrolling, and key input. The keys  213  can be endued with frequently-used functions, such as numerical input and function input. It is convenient for users to work on a computer without having to frequently move their hands between a keyboard and a mouse. The keys  213  of the mouse device  100  can be locked to avoid accidental pressing of the keys. 
   The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.