Patent ID: 7345674

Claim:
A mouse input device for a computer system, the mouse capable of being moved across a working surface to move a displayed object on a computer display, the mouse comprising: an upper casing having a highpoint; a bottom surface designed to face the working surface; a thumb pinching area located on a side of the mouse proximate the bottom surface; a primary button; a secondary button; and at least two side buttons located above the thumb pinching area on the side of the mouse in a direction away from the bottom surface such that the distance from the bottom surface to a position on the buttons closest to the bottom surface is at least thirty-six percent of the height of the mouse at the highpoint of the upper casing; wherein the at least two side buttons comprise two outer surfaces and the upper casing comprises an outer surface, the outer surfaces of the at least two side buttons being substantially level with the outer surface of the upper casing at all points along a boundary between the at least two side buttons and the casing; and wherein the at least two side buttons together form a shaped button assembly that substantially conforms to a shape of a space between a user's thumb and a user's index finger when the user's thumb is positioned on the thumb pinching area and the user's index finger is positioned on the primary button.