Patent Document

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application is the subject of provisional application Ser. No. 60/376,877 filed May 2, 2002 and entitled ERGONOMICALLY SHAPED COMPUTER POINTING DEVICE. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to computer pointing devices, specifically to an ergonomically shaped computer mouse. 
   2. Prior Art 
   The mouse is a common computer pointing device that allows the user to move the cursor on a computer screen by moving the pointing device on a surface, momentarily click one of the buttons for effecting certain programmed command, click and hold one of the buttons for certain dragging operations, and turn an optional scroll wheel for conveniently scrolling certain windows. 
   There have been many attempts in offering a mouse that is ergonomic and alleviates Repetitive Strain Injury, or RSI. 
   U.S. Patent Application Publication US2001/0010515 A1, Aug. 2, 2001 by Gordon, proposes an ergonomic mouse that allows gripping with a pinching action between the thumb and opposing fingers while the mouse is in the U-shaped opening formed in the hand when in a neutral and unflexed condition with the little finger and the heel of the palm opposite the thumb resting upon a work surface. 
   3M Renaissance Mouse (http://www.3m.com/cws/renmouse.html) has a shape of a slanted stick with dual-buttons positioned at the top of the stick. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,811 Mar. 26, 2002 Ergonomic Computer Mouse by Edwards et al proposes slanting the mouse surface by about 50 degrees from the horizontal plane. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,733 Nov. 19, 1996 Ergonomic Computer Mouse by Lo also proposes a slanted mouse surface. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,715 Jul. 17, 2001 Ergonomic Computer Mouse by Sawyer proposes an upstanding base with arm extensions for effecting button-clicking. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,303 Apr. 13, 1999 Computer Mouse and Shell Therefore by Barr proposes a shape that is to be held like a twisted cup. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides superior ergonomic features over the prior art ergonomic mice by providing full support for all fingers, inner palm surface, and bottom palm surface, with fingers in their naturally curled positions. The invention also allows easy lifting by the combined hooking action of the thumb and index finger. 
   The buttons and scroll wheel are designed with protrusions from the general surface, such that they are contacted by the inner finger joint surfaces, instead of the surfaces of the finger tips in prior art. When the fingers click the buttons or turn the scroll wheel, the invention allows the fingers an inward hooking motion towards the palm. 
   In addition, the invention allows the thumb or other fingers to turn the scroll wheel with a sideway rubbing action of the inside of the joint. 
   The invention allows the little finger and the base of the palm to be comfortably half resting on the work surface and half pressed against the base of the device. 
   Overall, the invention provides flexible fitting to a wide range of hand or palm sizes. 
   All the advantages shown provide full ergonomic computer pointing operation for the user, leading to a long-term injury-free usage. 
   Summarizing, the salient features of the shape include: 1) A near oval base with the long axis of the oval in general alignment with the direction of the forearm, 2) A cone rising above the base that fits the palm when held, 3) A top tip that tilts towards the front, 4) Buttons and scroll wheel that are located conveniently close to the joints of the user&#39;s fingers. 
   The shape promotes ergonomic computer pointing operations, in ways including: 1) allowing the hand to maintain a natural upright position, 2) allowing all five fingers to be naturally curved inward while the whole palm is holding the device, 3) allowing the little finger and the base of the palm to be half resting on the work surface and half pressed against the base of the device, 4) effecting button-clicking and scroll-wheel-turning by the outermost joints of the thumb and fingers, 5) the thumb turning the scroll wheel with a sideway rubbing action of the inside of the knuckle, 6) clicking the buttons and turning the scroll wheel promoting an inward hooking of the fingers towards the palm, 7) easy lifting by a natural hooking-hold by the thumb and the index finger, 8) flexible fitting and support for all five fingers and the palm surfaces for a wide range of hand or palm sizes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent when considered with the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of the ergonomically shaped computer pointing device. 
       FIG. 2  is a left side view of the ergonomically shaped computer pointing device. 
       FIG. 3  shows a hand holding the ergonomically shaped computer pointing device. 
       FIG. 4  is a right side view of hand holding the ergonomically shaped computer pointing device. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of hand holding the ergonomically shaped computer pointing device. 
       FIG. 6  is a right side view of a mirrored version of the ergonomically shaped computer pointing device for left hand operation. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of a mirrored version of the ergonomically shaped computer pointing device for left hand operation. 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the ergonomically shaped computer pointing device. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The ergonomically shaped computer pointing device incorporating the present invention is shown at various angles and with or without showing the operator&#39;s hand from  FIG. 1  to FIG.  8 . Electrical functions of the invention as a computer pointing device is the same as those of the modern-day computer mouse, which allows the user to move the cursor on the monitor or display (not shown), turn the scroll wheel, and click the various buttons as necessary actions for interacting with the computer; and hence, it is not necessary to describe these electrical aspects. 
   Pointing device  101  is shown as a right-handed version and  113  is shown as a left-handed version. It is also very feasible to design a version that is ambidextrous. That is, a design that can be used by either hand. 
   Scroll wheel  102 , located near the neck of the pointing device on the left side, is to be operated by the thumb using the inner joint  108  as contact and rubbing area. The thumb moves in a sideway motion for rotating the scroll wheel. Buttons  103  and  104 , located along the left side of the pointing device, are designed to be operated by the thumb&#39;s inner joint  108  in a pressing action. Button  104  is optional in a simplified design. The locations of scroll wheel  102  and buttons  103  and  104  may be swapped in different embodiments. 
   Buttons  105  and  106  are located on the front side of the pointing device, possibly slightly away from the center line for convenient right hand (or respectively, left hand) operation. 
   Buttons  105  and  106  are optional in a simplified design. 
   Electrical cord  112  connects the pointing device to the computing system, be it a personal computer or a gaming console or any other electronic device that can utilize a pointing device input. In a wireless embodiment, the cord  112  is not present and its function is substituted by a radio wave, optical, sonic, or any other feasible interface medium. 
   The tip of the pointing device is designed to be tilting forward for its function, allowing easy grip and lifting by the gripping hand, and its form. It is also feasible to vary the shape of the tip, for example like a mushroom head without sacrificing the utility of the pointing device. 
   The base  116 , seen from bottom view as shown in  FIG. 8  of the pointing device, is approximately an oval shape with its long axis in line with the direction of the forearm. More precisely speaking, the shape is a pear-like shape with the smaller end at the front side.  117  is an approximate location at the bottom  116  of the pointing device where a moving ball or an optical sensor can be placed for sensing the X-Y movement. Base edge  107  allows intimate contact to the little finger and the base of the palm, while allowing the little finger and the base of the palm to be contacting and sliding against the work surface at the same time. The hand, including the palm and the fingers, comfortably contacts the pointing device completely as shown in FIG.  3 . Contact area  110  is the contacting area between the pointing device and the U-shape formed by the thumb and the index finger.  108  is the center region of contact between the thumb and the pointing device. Contact area  107  is for the little finger and the base of the palm. The whole inner palm, not shown in the figures, is also in general contact with the pointing device surface. This is a very natural upright and ergonomic position for the hand and the forearm. The main conic surface of the pointing device is forward tilting by approximately 20 to 45 degrees from an absolute upright position with respect to the base  116 . The profile is clearly shown by  FIG. 1  in a front view and  FIG. 2  in a side view.  FIG. 5  shows a top view. 
   FIG.  6  and  FIG. 7  show a left-handed embodiment, with mirrored placement of the buttons, such as  114 , and the scroll wheel  115 . It is entirely feasible to design an embodiment that is ambidextrous. For example, one can make the scroll wheel to be swappable, or have two scroll wheels with one on each side. 
   It is also important that when the scroll wheel and the buttons are activated, the fingers are engaged in a hooking action with the joints bending inward. 
   In summary, the ergonomic aspects of the pointing device include 1) allowing the hand to maintain a natural upright position throughout the operation, 2) allowing all five fingers to be naturally curved inward while the whole palm is holding the device, 3) allowing the little finger and the base of the palm to be half resting on the work surface and half pressed against the base of the device, 4) allowing activation of the buttons and the scroll wheel by the user pressing the first joints of the thumb and fingers instead of the finger tips, 5) activation of the buttons and the scroll wheel promotes an inward hooking of the fingers towards the palm, 6) fitting a wide range of hand or palm sizes. 
   The X-Y movement of the cursor in the computing device is effected by either a standard rolling ball  117  or an optical or gyroscopic sensor  117 A that is mounted in the bottom or interior of the pointing device. The hand effects the X-Y movement while holding the pointing device in a natural and nearly upright position. This is an easy-to-adopt style of operation after an initial familiarization step. 
   It is also possible to implement the pointing device as a wireless input device that allows the user to effect X-Y movement in the free air and without the need to move against a surface. As noted above, it is also possible to use a gyroscope for translating left-right rotation to X-movement and front-back rotation to Y-movement. 
   Extra buttons and scrolling-wheel can be attached to the pointing device for auxiliary usage. 
   For example, the scrolling-wheel can be in front of the pointing device for scrolling with the index finger or middle finger. 
   Another embodiment is a QWERT keyboard that consists of one or a pair of pointing device handles on which the keys are arranged such that fingers type on them while keeping the hand in a natural upright position. A further embodiment is a combination of such keyboard and a pointing device of the invention. 
   While the invention has been described in relation to preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that other embodiments, adaptations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Technology Category: 3