WO2001045076A1 - Apparatus for covering a hand-operated peripheral computer control device - Google Patents
Apparatus for covering a hand-operated peripheral computer control device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001045076A1 WO2001045076A1 PCT/US2000/032190 US0032190W WO0145076A1 WO 2001045076 A1 WO2001045076 A1 WO 2001045076A1 US 0032190 W US0032190 W US 0032190W WO 0145076 A1 WO0145076 A1 WO 0145076A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- mouse
- hand
- control device
- window
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/039—Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
- G06F2203/033—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/033
- G06F2203/0333—Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an accessory for a hand- operated peripheral computer control device, sucn as a mouse.
- Mouse covers have been known, but they either (a) must be removed before use, or (b) involve some variation on a lever mechanism m order to activate the underlying buttons.
- a cover with a lever mechanism requires that the user have a mouse with a button configuration to which a lever mecnanism can conform.
- Such covers are known, they cannot address all possible joutton configurations, and none allow the user to use a scrolling wheel mechanism. Furthermore, none permit the user to directly access the button configuration or the scrolling wheel mecnanism.
- the present invention relates to a cover configured to receive a hand-operated peripheral computer control device, such as a mouse .
- the cover may preferably include a window.
- the window of the cover can be configured to allow a user to directly access control mechanisms of the hand-operated peripheral computer control device, such as a mouse button or scrolling mechanism.
- a mouse button or scrolling mechanism such as a mouse button or scrolling mechanism.
- An advantage of the present invention is that the window can Joe configured to allow the user to access a wide range of button configurations, as well as scrolling wheels which are now included on many new computer mice.
- the cover may have an ergonomic shape to adjust the shape of a traditional computer mouse to a more pleasing ergonomic shape.
- An advantage of the present invention is that the ergonomic shaped cover provides an element of comfort to an otherwise hard-shell computer mouse.
- the cover may be configured to not affect the functionality of the mouse by nor contacting the surface upon which the mouse rests.
- the cover may also nave a window no allow tne user to directly access control mechanisms of the mouse.
- the cover may be made with a flexible material, such as a material from the elastomer group.
- the flexible material enables the cover to be adaptable to virtually any computer mouse shape.
- Figure 1 shows a first view of an exemplary embodiment of a cover according to the present invention.
- Figure 3 shows a third view of the exemplary embodiment of the cover of Figure 1.
- Figure 4 shows a fourth view of the exemplary embodiment of the cover of Figure 1.
- Figure 5 shows a fifth view of the exemplary embodiment of the cover of Figure 1.
- a cover configured to receive a hand-operated peripheral computer control device can be illustrated by Figures 1-5, which depict an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- the cover 1 may be configured to receive a computer mouse 2.
- the cover 1 may be configured to cover a surface 9 on the mouse 2.
- the cover 1 preferably has a window 12 that is configured to reveal a surface 10 on the mouse 2.
- the surface 10 revealed can include control mechanisms 6 on the mouse 2, which can include any number of button configurations 13, a scrolling wheel 14, or other mechanisms or means (not shown) by which the user sends an electrical impulse to the computer (not shown) m order to activate a function or respond to an event.
- An advantage of the window 12 is that the cover 1 can cover a top surface 15 on the mouse 2 while exposing the control mechanisms 6 to provide a user with direct access to and use of the control mechanisms 6. For example, the scrolling wheel 14, would not be accessible to a user if covered.
- the cover 1 may have an ergonomic shape 16 to adjust the shape 17 of the mouse 2 ' to a more pleasing ergonomic shape.
- the cover 1' may preferably also have a window 12 ' to allow a user to directly access control mechanisms 6' of the mouse 2'.
- the mouse 2 may have an elliptical shape 18.
- the cover 1 may have a cavity 3 of an approximately convex shape 19 with an elliptical perimeter 20.
- One advantage of the present invention is that the cavity 3 may receive the mouse 2 even if the mouse 2 has an interior curvature 4 m its footprint 21.
- the elliptical perimeter 20 can secure the cover 1 to the mouse 2 by engaging a perimeter 22 of the mouse 2 when the cover 1 is placed on the mouse 2.
- an edge 23 of a wall 5 of cover 1 can be varied to include a recess 8 m order to accommodate an outer surface 24 of a mouse cord 7 connecting the mouse 2 to a computer system (not shown) .
- the walls 5 of cover 1 can have a thickness 25 of approximately one-quarter of an inch.
- the thickness 25 and size 26 of cover 1 can be set to ensure that the cover 1 does not contact the resting or operating surface 11 used by the mouse 2.
- the cover 1 can be free of contact from the resting or operating surface 11 if a bottom surface 27 of the mouse 2 does not contact the cover 1.
- the cover 1 can be designed to not contact the bottom surface 2 "7 by ensuring that a height 28 at any point along a contour 29 of the cavity 3, such as point 30, is less than a height 31 at a corresponding point 32 of the mouse 2.
- An advantage of the present invention is that the cover 1 does not affect the functionality of the mouse 2 by not contacting the resting or operating surface 11.
- the cover 1 may rest atop the mouse 2 such that there is relatively consistent contact between the top surface 15 of the mouse 2 and a roof 33 of the cavity 3.
- the degree of contact between the cover i and mouse 2 may vary depending on a contour 34 of the mouse 2 and a contour 35 of the cover 1.
- the degree of contact may be impacted by the material used to construct the cover i .
- the cover I may be flexible and may be made from an elastomer material from the group including, but not limited to, rubber, latex, and polyurethane .
- the inherent elastic and frictional nature cf elastomer material increases the degree of contact between the cover 1 and the mouse 2, and creates a friction which secures the cover 1 to the mouse 2 where the material contacts the mouse 2, without requiring any additional securement means.
- cover 1 may be secured to the mouse 2 by a tension created m the edge 23 when the cover 1 is stretched to be placed on the mouse 2.
- the cover 1 may also be made with an elastomer skin from the group including, but not limited to, rubber, latex, and nylon.
- the elastomer skin can be on an outer surface 36 of the cover 1, or otherwise surround and enclose the cover 1.
- An advantage cf the present invention is that the cover 1 can be easily molded into any desired shape if made cf an elastomer material.
- the outer surface 36 of the cover 1 may also be decorated or otherwise altered in shape or size as desired without impacting the functionality of the mouse 2.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00980731A EP1240641A1 (en) | 1999-12-14 | 2000-11-22 | Apparatus for covering a hand-operated peripheral computer control device |
AU17953/01A AU1795301A (en) | 1999-12-14 | 2000-11-22 | Apparatus for covering a hand-operated peripheral computer control device |
CA002394314A CA2394314A1 (en) | 1999-12-14 | 2000-11-22 | Apparatus for covering a hand-operated peripheral computer control device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US46046199A | 1999-12-14 | 1999-12-14 | |
US09/460,461 | 1999-12-14 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001045076A1 true WO2001045076A1 (en) | 2001-06-21 |
Family
ID=23828802
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2000/032190 WO2001045076A1 (en) | 1999-12-14 | 2000-11-22 | Apparatus for covering a hand-operated peripheral computer control device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1240641A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU1795301A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2394314A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001045076A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6896948B1 (en) * | 2002-07-30 | 2005-05-24 | Matthew L. Griswold | Computer mouse cover |
AT525385A1 (en) * | 2021-09-13 | 2023-03-15 | Solumics Gmbh | mouse cover |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5473344A (en) * | 1994-01-06 | 1995-12-05 | Microsoft Corporation | 3-D cursor positioning device |
US5851623A (en) * | 1996-10-03 | 1998-12-22 | Tarulli; Daniel J. | Protective cover for a hand operated computer control device |
-
2000
- 2000-11-22 WO PCT/US2000/032190 patent/WO2001045076A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2000-11-22 CA CA002394314A patent/CA2394314A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-11-22 EP EP00980731A patent/EP1240641A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2000-11-22 AU AU17953/01A patent/AU1795301A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5473344A (en) * | 1994-01-06 | 1995-12-05 | Microsoft Corporation | 3-D cursor positioning device |
US5851623A (en) * | 1996-10-03 | 1998-12-22 | Tarulli; Daniel J. | Protective cover for a hand operated computer control device |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6896948B1 (en) * | 2002-07-30 | 2005-05-24 | Matthew L. Griswold | Computer mouse cover |
AT525385A1 (en) * | 2021-09-13 | 2023-03-15 | Solumics Gmbh | mouse cover |
WO2023036941A1 (en) | 2021-09-13 | 2023-03-16 | Solumics Gmbh | Mouse cover |
AT525385B1 (en) * | 2021-09-13 | 2023-05-15 | Solumics Gmbh | mouse cover |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1240641A1 (en) | 2002-09-18 |
AU1795301A (en) | 2001-06-25 |
CA2394314A1 (en) | 2001-06-21 |
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