Abstract:
A combination mouse pad and computer disk holder includes a pad which comprises a body having a top surface and a bottom surface joined by an edge of a selected thickness. The pad further has a pocket therein of dimension sufficient to receive a computer disk. Preferably, the pocket is open to the edge of the pad to allow access to a computer disk that may be stored in the pad.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to mouse pads and to storage for computer disks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Computers are used by more and more people every day for use at home and at the office. Computers are used not only by more people, but also for new and different applications. One piece of computer equipment that can be found next to most computers is a mouse. Under every mouse is a mouse pad to provide a reliable flat surface on which the mouse can effectively operate. 
     Mouse pads come in different shapes and sizes. In order to be effective, the mouse pad must have a flat top surface. Typically, the top surface is made of a pliant but stiff material such as vinyl. The mouse pad as a whole must be relatively thin in order to be comfortable for the user of the mouse. The bottom of the mouse pad generally has some kind of nonskid material such as foam rubber to keep the pad from sliding during use. 
     Mouse pads are also a venue for marketing and advertising, especially by various computer service companies such as software manufacturers or online access providers. These companies often use techniques to give away novelty items such as mouse pads displaying their logos, as well as other items to make sure their name is in front of customers and potential customers. Other types of mouse pads may display, for instance, school, sports teams or television logos. 
     Computer disks of varying shapes and sizes are also commonly used for storing and transferring information. In addition to being mere depositories of input information, the disks contain a wide range of programs. Common types of computer disks include cd&#39;s, 3 ½″ disks, zip disks, 5 ¼″ diskettes, plus others. These disks may be stored in files or drawers. Unfortunately, they are often misplaced or even lost. Still other times, a disk may not be labeled or may be mislabeled. Still further times, a disk may be separated from its packaging and instructions regarding use may be lost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the claimed invention to provide a single unit that acts as a computer disk holder and a mouse pad. Further objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the accompanying drawings and of the description of exemplary preferred embodiments given below and of the accompanying claims. 
     The invention is directed to a pad for supporting a computer mouse, the pad comprising a body having a top surface and a bottom surface joined by an edge of a selected thickness. The pad further has a pocket therein of dimensions sufficient to receive a computer disk. 
     In a further aspect, the invention is directed to a combination of a pad having a surface for supporting a computer mouse and a computer disk of a selected diameter wherein the pad includes a pocket for receiving the computer disk therewithin. 
     In another aspect, the invention is directed to a pad for both supporting a computer mouse and for storing a computer disk. The pad comprises a substantially flat top surface and a bottom surface. There is a side edge about the periphery of the pad between the top and bottom surfaces having a thickness greater than the thickness of a computer disk. The pad further has a pocket through its thickness in substantially the shape of a computer disk wherein the pocket has an opening to a portion of the periphery of the pad. In this way, a computer disk is stored in the pocket within the pad. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the claimed mouse pad. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the claimed mouse pad. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the mouse pad in FIG. 1 wherein the top layer of the mouse pad is transparent. 
     FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  are side, cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of the claimed invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 displays a top view of a mouse pad  10 . The periphery  11  of the pad  10  is generally rectangular in shape having rounded corners  12 . There is also shown a notch  13  which allows a person to easily grasp a computer disk  14  that may be stored within the pad. The top surface  15  of the pad  10  is smooth and flat. In a preferred embodiment, the top surface  15  is made of a stiff vinyl material that provides a reliable surface for a mouse to effectively operate on. If the top surface  15  is not substantially flat, then a mouse (not shown) cannot be reliably rolled over the pad to give uniform movement. Therefore, an uneven top surface is not effective as a mouse pad. While mouse pads are generally flexible, the top surface  15  of the pad  10  must be rigid enough to allow the mouse to operate when it is rolled over the top surface of the pad. 
     FIG. 2 displays the bottom surface  16  of the mouse pad. The notch  13  and rounded corners  12  are shown on the periphery  11  in this bottom view of the pad  10  similar to the top view in FIG.  1 . The bottom surface  16  of the pad is made of a rubber non-skid material. Other non-skid materials may be used as well. The non-skid feature of the bottom surface  16  prevents the mouse pad  10  from sliding about in an unwanted manner as the mouse is rolled around on the top surface  15  of the pad. 
     FIG. 3 displays a top view of the mouse pad  10  wherein the top layer  25  is a transparent material. The body  20  of the pad  10  defines a U-shaped aperture  21 . The body  20  is that portion of the pad  10  which is beneath the transparent top layer  25 . The aperture  21  has an end wall which is arcuate and parallel side walls with the space between the parallel walls being sufficient to accommodate a common computer disk  14  known as a cd. There is also shown in dotted lines  22  a rectangular space where a different type of computer disk, for instance a 3 ½″ disk is also shown to be able to fit within the aperture  21 . The aperture is open all the way to the side edge  23  of the pad  10 . When a computer disk  14  is placed within the aperture  21  in the pad  10 , it protrudes into the notch  13  where it is easily grasped by a user because the distance between the bottom of the notch and the arcuate end wall of the aperture is less than the diameter of the disk. The specific shape of the aperture  21  is preselected based on the specific type of computer disk that is intended to be stored within the pad. In any case, the portion of the aperture  21  open to the side edge  23  of the pad  10  is at least as wide as the widest diameter of the computer disk selected to be stored within the pad  10 . 
     FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  are side cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of the mouse pad  10  described herein wherein the pad  10  is fabricated as a lamination. 
     FIG. 4 a  displays a three-layer mouse pad. The top layer  25  has a smooth, flat vinyl surface. The bottom layer  27  has a rubber, non-skid bottom surface. The middle layer  26  is made of plastic material and makes up the body  20  of the pad  10 . The thickness  28  of the side edge  29  of the pad  10  is the total thickness of the top  25 , middle  26  and bottom  27  layers. The thickness  28  is selected to be greater than the thickness of a computer disk  10  that may be stored within the pad  10 . The side edge  29  is defined by the periphery of the pad  10 . As shown, the side edge  29  is perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of the pad. There is a pocket  30  shown in FIG. 4 a  which is formed by the aperture  21  in the middle layer  26  that is sandwiched between the top  25  and bottom  27  layers of the pad. The specific dimensions of the pocket are selected based on the dimensions of the specific type of computer disk to be stored. The top, middle and bottom layers are laminated together with an adhesive that will be known to one of skill in the art. 
     FIG. 4 b  displays a four-layer mouse pad having a top  40  with a flat and smooth vinyl surface and a bottom  41  with a rubber non-skid surface. The two middle layers  42 ,  43  have defined apertures  44 ,  45  of different size and make up the body  20  of the pad  10 . Therefore, the pocket  46  that is seen in this side cross-sectional view has two different diameters and/or sets of dimensions. In this way, more than one type of computer disk may be stored within the mouse pad. The preselected thickness of each of the middle layers  42 ,  43  will depend upon the thickness of the computer disks intended to be stored within the mouse pad  10 . The thicknesses of the middle layers are chosen to be the same as the thickness of the computer disks  14  to be stored. In this way, when the computer disks  14  are placed within the mouse pad  10 , the top surface of the mouse pad is still substantially flat and smooth and allows for free movement of the mouse across the top of the pad. 
     The top layer  25  of the mouse pad  10  may be made of a transparent material. In this way, the computer disk  14  is visible through the top layer  25  of the mouse pad  10  when the disk is in the pocket inside the mouse pad. This can be used as an effective marketing tool where the design or indicia on the computer disk may blend in or compliment the design printed upon the mouse pad. 
     The mouse pad  10  illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is made of a combination of plastic and/or rubber material where the pocket  21  is formed in the body of the pad. Additional materials that could comprise the different layers of the pad and/or the entire pad include injected plastic, foam products, wood or metal materials. The pad  10  may be a single unitary piece or it may comprise a plurality of pieces or layers. 
     The illustrated embodiments disclose a single pocket  30  or a pocket having space for multiple disks  14  layered on top of each other. Alternative embodiments include mouse pads having dimensions large enough to contain two or more different and separate pockets for the storage of a plurality of computer disks. A further embodiment includes a pad that also serves as a surface beneath a keyboard. In this way, a plurality of computer disks could be readily available to a user of a computer. 
     While the invention has been described with particular reference to specific embodiments, in the interest of complete definiteness, it will be understood that it may be embodied in a variety of forms diverse from those specifically shown and described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It is intended that all such embodiments shall fall within the scope of protection provided by the claims attached hereto.