Patent Publication Number: US-2006007152-A1

Title: Computer finger mouse

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-PRIOR ART  
      Many software programs use movable cursors for selecting data and objects or drawing on a display monitor. The cursors are generally controlled by a manually manipulated pointing device connected to a computer. Common pointing devices include the mouse, trackball, touch pad, and digitizing tablet.  
      The mouse is the most popular pointing device. It includes a housing that is slidably moved about on a flat, stationary surface. The housing contains a motion sensor on its bottom side for tracking its movement, one to three buttons on its front edge, and electronic circuitry for communicating with an attached computer. When the mouse is moved about, the cursor moves in corresponding directions; and when the buttons are pressed, certain actions can be performed, depending on the software application using the mouse. The internal parts, and electrical and software operations of computer mice are well known in the art.  
      Most mice, such as the one shown in U.S. Pat. No. D302,426 to Bradley et al., are substantially wider than they are tall, and have generally symmetrical sides so that they can be used by either the right or the left hand. Some mice are specially shaped for providing an optimal fit for a user&#39;s right hand. The mouse shown in U.S. Pat. No. D328,597 to Clouss, and sold under the trademark “MouseMan” by Logitech Inc. in Fremont, Calif., has a slightly angled but generally horizontal top surface for supporting the fingers and palm of a right hand. The Microsoft Mouse, Version 2, sold by Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Wash., includes a concave left side for closely engaging the base of the thumb and palm of a right hand. The mouse shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,165 to Gart includes a surface for supporting some fingers in substantially curled positions. Some ergonomic mice, including the Logitech MouseMan™, are also made in left-handed versions.  
      All prior art mice have a generally horizontal, primary supporting surface for supporting a hand in a horizontal position, as exemplified by the drawing figures of U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,381 to Cheng, and the drawings in the user&#39;s manual of the Microsoft Mouse. The mice in the prior art require using both thumb and the fingers of a hand to hold the edges of left and right side of the mouse. Because the prior art mice require be hold on the both edges of left and right sides, therefore prior art mice force the hand, wrist, and forearm to be twisted out of their natural and relaxed positions, and require constant muscular force to be applied to the hand, wrist, and forearm to maintain their positions. For a three-button mouse, the fore, middle, and ring fingers must be kept in constant tension to prevent them from resting too heavily on the buttons and depressing them inadvertently. To avoid twisting the wrist when holding a computer mouse, an ergonomic computer mouse shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,733 to Lo has chosen a bell-like shape. The hand holds the mouse within a loose fist and is in an upright position: the little finger side of the hand rests on the desk, and the fingers and palm generally define a vertical plane. This position eliminates the deviation of a wrist when the hand holds the mouse in a static state. But this position can not take advantage the flexibility and mobility of fingers and their joints. It also shortens the distance between the mouse and the wrist. The wrist and the forearm have to swing to left or right, move forward or backward harder to produce needed mouse movement.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-OBJECT AND SUMMARY  
      Accordingly the primary object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic computer mouse which is shaped to allow a hand holding and manipulating it to remain in a natural, untwisted, and relaxed position. Another object of the invention is to provide an ergonomic computer finger mouse which minimizes or eliminates fatigue, discomfort, and pain even after prolonged and continuous use. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. These and other objects are achieved with an unique computer finger mouse having a concave finger-supporting structure for holding the mouse on a flat surface by using the fingertips of a hand only without needing help from the thumb.  
      This method of holding and manipulating a computer mouse fully takes advantage of the flexibility and mobility of human fingers. A computer mouse is moved forward or backward by stretching out or curling the fingers, respectively. This makes handling computer mouse a relaxation than a stress. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the computer finger mouse in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a top plane view of the computer finger mouse of  FIG. 1 , and  
       FIG. 3  is a top plane view of a user&#39;s hand engaging with the computer finger mouse of  FIG. 1 , and  
       FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of the computer finger mouse of  FIG. 1 , and  
       FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view of the computer finger mouse of  FIG. 1  with an alternative extra button added, and  
       FIG. 6  is a front side elevational view of the computer finger mouse taken from line  6  of  FIG. 2 , and  
       FIG. 7  is a rear side elevational view of the computer finger mouse taken from line  7  of  FIG. 2 , and  
       FIG. 8  is a vertical sectional view of the computer finger mouse taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 2 , and  
       FIG. 9  is a vertical sectional view of the computer finger mouse taken along the line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 2 , and  
       FIG. 10  is a vertical sectional view of the computer finger mouse taken along the line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the computer finger mouse in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 12  is a top plane view of the computer finger mouse of  FIG. 11 , and  
       FIG. 13  is a top plane view of the computer finger mouse in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 14  is a left side elevational view of the computer finger mouse of  FIG. 13 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to  FIG. 1  in which is seen a computer finger mouse  10  having a upper body with generally oval shaped contour, a concave structure across middle portion of the upper body laterally, several buttons, a scroll wheel, and a horizontal flat bottom surface.  
      As further seen in  FIG. 2  in which is seen the computer finger mouse  10  including a front upper body  16  having surface  17 , a rear upper body  12  having surface  13 . A concave structure includes three finger spaces, finger space  21 , finger space  23  and finger space  25 . Finger space  21  having surface  22 , finger space  23  having surface  24 , and finger space  25  having surface  26  are disposed across the middle of the upper body laterally, between the front upper body  16  and rear upper body  12 . Finger space  22  and finger space  23  is separated by member  40 . Finger space  23  and finger space  25  is separated by member  41 . Scroll wheel  36  is located at the middle of front upper body  16 . Buttons  31  is located on left side of front upper body  16  extended between the upper-left edge of  16  and the edge of finger space  21 . Buttons  32  is located on right side of front upper body  16  extended between the upper-right edge of  16  and the edge of finger space  25 . Button  33  is located on the left edge of rear upper body  12 . Button  34  is located on the right edge of rear upper body  12 . The upper body, the buttons, and the scroll wheel and the mouse bottom surface can be manufactured using the same materials and processes as those of the conventional prior art computer mice.  
       FIG. 3  demonstrates the preferred mode of using the computer finger mouse  10 . The right-handed user(s) insert the index fingers  51  into finger space  21 , the middle finger  53  into finger space  23 , and the ring finger  55  into finger space  25 , respectively. The small finger can rests wherever users like. All the fingers are curled naturally with the fingertips nearly perpendicular to the surface on which the finger mouse is rested. The thumb is bent naturally and rested on the same surface on which the finger mouse is rested. In this position, the fingers, the hand, and the forearm are aligned. All the joints of fingers, thumb and wrist are in the comfortable neutral states without any biased twist applied. To manipulate the finger mouse, with slight downward pressure from the fingertips, the mouse  10  can be moved forward by stretching out the fingers and moved backward by curling the fingers further without moving any other body part. The above stretching and curling the fingers are the most easy and natural movements of human body. It is more like a relaxation than a stress. The lateral movement of finger mouse  10  can be realized by swing the hand and the forearm to the left or to the right, respectively. The distance from the wrist to the fingertips is longer than the distances from the wrist to the thumb tip or center of palm. To swing a finger mouse hold by the fingertips will require less movement of wrist and forearm than the prior art mice which are hold between thumb and fingers or hold in the palm. Less movement for the wrist and the forearm means less stress, less fatigue and less damage. When it is necessary, the thumb can move inward to press the button(s) disposed at the edge of the rear upper body. Because of the symmetrical structure and shape of mouse  10  along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 2 , the left-handed users can use the mouse the same way as the right-handed users. Although the above mode of using the mouse is preferred, user can choose holding the mouse between the thumb and fingers and manipulating it the same way as using the conventional prior art mice.  
      In the left elevational view of  FIG. 4  finger space  21  with part of surface  22  can be seen. Finger space  23  is hiding behind member  40 . The button  31  is extended at the edge of finger space  21  and can be easily reached by stretching out the index finger just like using the prior art mice. Button  33  is located at the left edge of rear body and can be easily reached by moving the thumb inward. And this movement of thumb is natural and with little stress. The scroll wheel  36  can be seen at middle of front body  16 .  
       FIG. 5  is the left elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. An extra button  37  is added next to button  33  as shown. If button  33  serves as the left-click button of a conventional computer mouse, button  37  can serve as the right-click button, and vise versa Similarly, an extra button  38  can be added next to the button  34 , opposite to button  37 .  
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  depict the symmetrical shape and structure of finger mouse  10  from both front and rear side elevational views.  
      As further seen in  FIG. 8 , the finger space  23  has a nearly V shaped vertical sectional view. Small circumstance at the bottom of finger spaces is for embracing the fingertips and big circumstance at top is to make the fingertips comfortable when the fingers are stretched out or curled. The surface of finger space  22  can be covered with tiny goose bump or wove paper like structures to make it coarse. And those structures can be made of same material as the finger mouse body or soft rubber, plastics or fibers. The vertical sectional views of finger space  21  and finger space  25  have the same shapes as that of finger space  23 . The surfaces of finger space  21  and  25  also have same shapes and features as those of finger space  23 . A scroll wheel  36  is located at middle of front body surface  17 .  
       FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  further depict the shapes and positions of finger space  21 ,  23 , and  25 . Round shapes at bottoms of finger space  21 ,  23 , and  25  accommodate the shape of users fingertips. Elevated member  40  and  41  will make holding and manipulating the mouse more secure.  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the computer finger mouse  100  in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention. The computer finger mouse  100  including a front upper body  116 , a rear upper body  112 . A concave structure includes four finger spaces, finger space  121 , finger space  123 , finger space  125  and finger space  127 . Finger space  121 , finger space  123 , finger space  125  and finger space  127  are disposed across the middle of the upper mouse body laterally, between the front upper body  116  and rear upper body  112 . Button  133  is located on the left edge of rear upper body  112 . Button  134  is located on the right edge of rear upper body  112 . Button  135  is located on the lower middle edge of rear upper body  112 . Scroll wheel  137  is located at the middle of rear upper body  112 . The mouse body, the concave structure, the buttons, and the scroll wheel can be manufactured using the same materials and processes as those of the conventional prior art computer mice and computer finger mouse  10  in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 12  is the top plane view of computer finger mouse of  FIG. 11 . The four finger spaces have the similar shapes and features of finger spaces on finger mouse  10  in  FIG. 1 . They can be made of same material as that of upper body or can be made of soft, flexible material for better fingertips embracing. The four finger spaces can be arranged and shaped for right-handed users or left-handed users only. They also can be made symmetrical for both right-handed and left-handed users. The way to hold and manipulate finger mouse  100  is similar to that of finger mouse  10 . For right-handed users, if button  133  is treated as left button, then button  135  will be treated as right button and vase versa. For left-handed users, button  134  and button  135  will be used as right and left button combination. All the buttons on finger mouse  100  are designed for the thumbs only. So is the scroll wheel  17 .  
       FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  give the top plane view and left elevational view of the computer finger mouse  200  in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention. Finger mouse  200  is almost identical to finger mouse  10  except the shape of finger spaces. Instead of having separated finger spaces, finger mouse  200  has a concave structure containing a narrow and continuous finger space for all fingers. The concave structure is made of soft and flexible material for better embracing the fingertips. The concave structure of finger mouse  200  can be made symmetrical for both right-handed and left-handed users. It also can be made for right-handed or left-handed users only. Finger mouse  200  is handled the same way as that of finger mouse  10 .  
      Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope  
      Accordingly the concave structure of the computer finger mouse, in all embodiments, allows the finger mouse to be held and manipulated mainly by the fingertips of a hand only. The hand remains in a relaxed and naturally curled position. It eliminates the substantial twisting of the hand, wrist, and forearm that are common to users of prior art mice. The naturally curled position hand distributes its weight between its fingertips and lower palm ( FIG. 3 ), which eliminates the pressure sores on the wrist that prior art mice can cause. As a result, fatigue, discomfort, and pain are minimized or eliminated even after a long period of continuous use.  
      The present invention only relates to the ergonomic aspects of a computer mouse. It can employ any electronic communication and motion sensing technologies well known in the art, or any that may arise in the future.  
      Although the above descriptions are specific, they should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention, but only as examples of the embodiments shown. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, the structure for embracing fingertips can have different shape, size and location; different number of finger spaces can be provided; and the number of buttons and their positions an also be varied. The mouse can be easily adapted for use with a digitizing tablet by providing it with a cross-hair and suitable electronics well known in the art. The separations between the finger spaces can be shaped to allow the finger mouse to be picked up without slipping by closing the fingertips. The rear body can also be shaped to allow the finger mouse be picked up by moving the thumb toward the fingertips. The overall dimensions of the mouse can be changed for accommodating different hand size and shapes. Therefore, the scope of the invention should not be determined by the examples given, but only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.