Abstract:
An adjustable computer input device includes a body having a recess for adjustable receiving a supporting unit. A user can adjust a height the supporting unit relative to body so that the supporting unit more comfortably fits the user&#39;s hand.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a computer input device, and in particular to a height-adjustable input device for supporting a user&#39;s hand.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Due to advances in technology, one almost cannot live without connecting to a computer. Unfortunately, frequent use of a computer input device can cause various injuries to the user&#39;s back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist or finger. As a result, a number of so-called “ergonomic designs” have been developed to avoid injuries such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) or Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD).  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows one such ergonomic design, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,527, in which the shape of body A is transformed by the pressing of a user&#39;s hand  5  such that the surface C can fully contact with hand  5 . In addition, the button D can be randomly moved to a desired position on the body A, so as to be compatible with different palm sizes.  
         [0006]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show another design, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,064,371, in which the upper housing F is pivotally coupled to lower housing H via a round support G contained in the recess  1 . That design enables a user to move the upper housing F forward, backward, or to the left or right side.  
         [0007]     However, neither of these known ergonomic designs can resolve the essential problem caused by the height of the input device relative to the plane of a working surface.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer input device, in which the height of the device may be adjusted relative to the plane of a working surface, thereby enabling a user to apply a proper grasping force to the input device and minimize stress on the user&#39;s back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist or finger.  
         [0009]     To accomplish the virtues described above, the present invention includes a body having a recess for containing a supporting unit. A user can adjust the height of the supporting unit relative to the body so that the supporting unit fits and supports the user&#39;s hand perfectly. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a prior art input device.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are side and rear views of another prior art input device.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3A  is an exploded isometric view of an input device constructed in accordance with the principles of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a isometric view showing the bottom of the input device of the first embodiment.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are isometric views showing a second embodiment preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are isometric views showing a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     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.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. A computer input device, such a mouse  1 , has a body  11  and a base  112  forming a hollow portion to contain various components. The body  11  has several buttons  3 , a roller  4 , and a recess  114 . The base  112  also has a threaded member in the form, for example, or socket  118  with an internally threaded opening  116 .  
         [0018]     The input device has a supporting unit  2 , which further has a surface  21  and a fixing portion in the form, for example, of a bolt  24  or similar threaded member extending from a bottom surface of the supporting unit. The socket  118  can be screwed onto the bolt  24  by rotating a knob  119 . A user may rest his hand over the surface  21  to operate the mouse  1 . If the height of the supporting unit  2  does not feel proper to the user, the user may rotate the knob  119  to adjust the height of the supporting unit  2 . The socket  118  is secured to the base  112  and can only be turned when knob  119  is rotated by a user. Once the user turns the knob  119 , the supporting unit  2  will eventually move upward or downward correspondingly.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the user adjusts the height of the supporting unit by simply choosing a supporting unit  2  of appropriate thickness to be wedged into the recess  114  to thereby adjust or modulate the height of the supporting unit  2  relative to the body  11  so as to fit the user&#39;s hand  5  comfortably.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , in a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting unit  2  has a fixing portion in the form of an externally threaded portion  22 , and the recess  114  has a corresponding internally threaded portion  115 . Thus, the supporting unit  2  can be screwed into the recess  114 . A user may adjust the height of the supporting unit  2  to the body  11  by rotating the supporting unit  2  to a desired position.  
         [0021]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the supporting unit  2  can be made of various materials, such as plastic, metal, gel, rubber, etc. Also, the supporting unit  2  can be transparent, translucent, or even opaque. If a light source, such as a LED, is located within the body  11  and the supporting unit  2  is transparent or translucent, a logo, pattern, or text on the surface  21  will be illuminated as light is emitted by the light source. The light source can be an extra-added LED light, or an optical coordinate detecting module.  
         [0022]     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.