HAND POSITIONER FOR COMPUTER MOUSE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device which is associated with a computer mouse to cause a user's hand and wrist to be in ergonomically correct positions relative to each other during use of the mouse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A computer workstation that is not ergonomically suited to a user's shape, size and capabilities may hinder the user's performance. It is important that the user's posture, including hand and arm positioning with respect to the computer mouse, where a traditional mouse is used, is such to avoid awkward alignment of the hand and arm. Otherwise, repetitive motion injuries (RMI) may arise, affecting the user's muscles, and tissues connecting bones, such as tendons and ligaments. Inadequate computer workstation design may generate a fixed awkward wrist position, thus contributing to RMI.

[0003] One of the most publized types of RMI is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), in which tendons, passing through a narrow tunnel in the wrists, become inflamed and put pressure on the median nerve of the hand. This causes a tingling sensation in the thumbs and adjacent fingers, and a burning sensation in the palms.

[0004] Ideally, an ergonomically correct position for a user at a computer workstation has the wrist of the hand controlling the mouse in a neutral position, with no bending, the hand being relaxed and in straight alignment with the associated forearm. In operation, there should be no bending of the user's wrist and fingers should fall naturally downward over the controls of the mouse. The user should be able to move the mouse with a full arm movement, keeping the wrist straight and in line with his or her shoulder.

[0005] In order to reduce and minimize RMI for computer users, a palm support is often placed in front of the keyboard to provide support for the palm of the hand during brief pauses from keying. Such a palm support provides a rounded upper surface.

[0006] A good technical description of the problems confronting users of computer mice is set out in U.S. Patent No. 5,414,445 of Kaneko et al., issued May 9, 1995. This patent is directed to an ergonomically designed mouse which assists in keeping the user's arm, wrist and hand within a biomechanically neutral zone achieved when the flexors and extensors of the user's hand and wrists are in equilibrium, and static loads on the forearm muscles and other large muscle groups are minimized.

[0007] Hand and wrist supports for computer mice have been developed with a view to reducing RMI and preventing CTS, such as those described and illustrated in Martin et al. U.S. Patent No. 5,340,067 issued August 23, 1994 and Tajiri U.S. Patent No. 5,581 ,277 issued December 3, 1996 which illustrate working surface supported hand supports. A wrap around support block is described and illustrated by Martin et al., and a spherical attachment by Tajiri, in both cases to receive the palm of a user's hand and thereby support the hand and wrist in an appropriate, biomechanically neutral position. U.S. Patent No. 6,193,196 of Hesley issued February 27, 2001 , describes and illustrates a working surface supported hand support in the form of an inclined planar surface which is seated beside and in front of the mouse. Again, the support surface is in the palm region of the user's hand. The bottom surface of the support permits sliding of the support device in tandem with the mouse.

[0008] Kravtin et al. U.S. Patent Nos. 6,157,370 issued December 5, 2000 and 6,396,478 issued May 28, 2002 describe and illustrate an ergonomic extension to a computer mouse, for facilitating use of the mouse by a user with the user's arm, wrist and hand in an ergonomically appropriate position. The extension is fixed to the computer mouse by way of an arm and a mechanism is provided for locking the arm in a variety of positions relative to the mouse. The extension itself provides an upper surface that conforms to a human palm, elevating the palm to a desired position with respect to the mouse during use.

[0009] Other patents of general background interest teaching hand and/or forearm supports, for mouse users include U.S. Patent No. 5,203,845 of Moore issued April 20, 1993, U.S. Patent No. 5,944,289 of Speece issued August 31 , 1999, U.S. Patent No. 5,833,180 of Baranowski issued November 10, 1998 and U.S. Patent No. 6,585,198 of Dillon issued July 1 , 2003.

[0010] Many of these prior art devices provide support for the user's hand through the palm (i.e. that part of the hand extending from the heel of the hand to the base of the fingers). Others provide support for the forearm and palm. These constructions often restrict the relative movement of the user's hand and wrist and provide oftentimes cumbersome solutions to the problem of RMI and CTS.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective, versatile alternative to such prior art devices which will cause a user's hand and wrist to be in an ergonomically correct position during use of a computer mouse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a mechanical device to be cooperatively associated with a computer mouse to cause proper positioning of a user's hand and wrist when using the mouse. The device comprises a support surface to be positioned both longitudinally and height-wise with respect to the mouse so as to support the heel of the user's hand so that the user's hand and wrist are in an ergonomically correct position relative to each other during use of the mouse. - A -

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support surface is a rounded, convex surface in the shape of the back of a bowl of a spoon, and is secured to the mouse for example by means of a resilient extension which provides some give to the support surface when a user's hand and wrist first come in contact with it, yet during subsequent use of the mouse, which maintains the support surface at an appropriate height relative to the mouse.

[0014] The support surface device of the present invention is simple to construct and is extremely effective in supporting a user's hand, wrist (and arm) in an ergonomically correct position when using the computer mouse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:

[0016] FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a computer mouse to which is attached a support surface in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] FIGURES 2 and 3 are respectively side and end views of the mouse and support surface of Figure 1 ;

[0018] FIGURE 4 is a side view of the mouse and support surface of Figures 1-3 with a user's hand shown in position on the mouse and support surface;

[0019] FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the mouse and support surface of Figure 4; [0020] FIGURE 6 is a side view of a conventional mouse without a support surface according to the present invention, showing a user's hand in position;

[0021] FIGURE 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a support surface in accordance with the present invention, clipped onto the base of a conventional mouse;

[0022] FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of the attachable support surface of Figure 7;

[0023] FIGURE 9 is a top view of the attachable support surface of Figures 7 and 8;

[0024] FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of support surface in accordance with the present invention;

[0025] FIGURES 11 , 12 and 13 are partial schematic perspective views of further alternative embodiments of the support surface in accordance with the present invention;

[0026] FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of yet a further embodiment of support surface in accordance with the present invention; and

[0027] FIGURES 15, 16 and 17 are respectively perspective, side and front views of a further embodiment of the support surface of the present invention.

[0028] While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.

[0030] Turning to Figures 1 , 2 and 3 there is illustrated a conventional computer mouse 2 having a rear 4, front 6 and sides 8. A support surface 10 is secured in appropriate position spaced longitudinally from the front 6, as illustrated, at an appropriate distance from, and located at an appropriate height relative to, the top surface 11 of mouse 2, to support the heel of a user's hand, behind the user's palm and in front of the user's wrist, as seen in Figure 4 and 5 so that the user's hand and wrist are in an ergonomically correct position relative to each other, when the user is operating the mouse. More particularly, the upper portion of support surface 10 has a rounded surface in the shape of the back of the bowl of a spoon. This shape facilitates longitudinal pivoting of the user's hand with respect to the wrist, as well as lateral pivoting of the hand and wrist adding the comfort and flexibility of the support surface of the present invention.

[0031] A resilient extension 12 attaches support surface 10 to mouse 2. That extension may be integrally formed with the body of mouse 2. It is important that support surface 10 be provided with some "give" when a user's hand, wrist and forearm go into position with respect to mouse 2, for use, as well as during use, and that support surface 10 returns back to its original, starting position, or a position close thereto. Thus, support surface 10 will normally be maintained at its proper, ergonomic height during use. This resiliency enables both comfort to the user and, during prolonged sessions using mouse 2, prevents tiredness occurring as would be the case if the user's hand, wrist and forearm were kept in precisely the same position over a long period of time.

[0032] As can be seen in Figure 2, means (as will be described in more detail hereinafter) may be provided to permit longitudinal adjustment of support surface 10 towards and from front 6 of mouse 2 for proper positioning of support surface 10 with respect to mouse 2 and adjustment for different sizes of hands.

[0033] As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, during use of the mouse, the upper surface of support surface 10 lies under the heel of the user's hand, and is at a height so that the user's hand and wrist are caused to be in the ergonomically correct position relative to each other as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5-unlike the normal, but ergonomically incorrect position of the user's hand as illustrated in Figure 6 where the mouse does not have a support surface 10 associated with it.

[0034] Alternative means of attachment of support surface 10 to mouse 2 are illustrated in Figures 7 to 14. In Figures 7 to 9, support surface 10 and flexible extension 12 are secured to a base 14 which circumscribes the bottom portion of mouse 2 as illustrated, clips 16 releasably securing the base 14 to mouse 2.

[0035] In Figure 10, multiple slots 18 at different heights are provided in the front 6 of mouse 2 to receive, in releasably locking fashion, the base 20 of extension 12. A releasable lock means 22, for example a boss to mateably cooperate with a dimple (not illustrated) within each of slots 18 may be provided. In this manner different heights of support surface 10 relative to the top surface 11 of mouse 2 can be obtained. A similar locking base 20 is illustrated in Figure 11 , but, in this embodiment, support surface 24 has a different configuration: it is elongated, from side to side as illustrated, with a curved upper surface, from rear to front as illustrated. Other conventional bases and releasable locking means may be provided at the base end of extension 12, to cooperate with locking means in one or more slots 18.

[0036] In Figure 12, resilient extension 12 takes the form of a pair of bars 28 of circular cross section which are releasably securable into circular apertures 30, at a selected, appropriate height, in front 6 of mouse 2. [0037] A longitudinally adjustable embodiment of support surface 10 with respect to mouse 2 is illustrated in Figure 13, whereby base 20 of extension 12 is provided with a plurality of aligned bosses 32, to be releasably as seated in appropriate ones of aligned dimples 34 within slot 18. Any other conventional means of releasably locking base 20 within slot 18, to provide longitudinal positioning of support surface 10 may be provided.

[0038] In these ways, appropriate positioning of support surface 10, with respect to both height and longitudinal positioning, relative to mouse 2, dependent on the size of the user's hand, for ergonomically correct positioning of the user's hand and wrist is provided.

[0039] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 15, 16 and 17, support surface 10a also functions as a portable storage unit by the computer, with resilient extension 12 carrying circuitry from the hardware and software contained within support surface 10a down to its free end where appropriate electronic connections meet with appropriate electronic connections in universal serial bus slot 52 in the front 6 of mouse 2.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 14, a body 36, having arms 38 on either side to releasably grip sides 8 of mouse 2, is provided. Arms 38 are preferably pivotally attached to the appropriate position by way of securing means such as screws 40. Body 36 is moveable with mouse 2 on a working surface, a roller ball 42 being secured, as illustrated, beneath support surface 10, to facilitate that movement. The height of support surface 10 with respect to upper surface 11 of mouse 2 is adjustable by changing the positioning of knurled nut 44 on threaded post 46. A spring mechanism 48, associated with the post 46 and an underneath portion of support surface 10 provides resiliency for support surface 10. Support surface 10 is positioned at an appropriate height with respect to upper surface 11 of mouse 2, in this manner. That support surface 10 is positioned at an appropriate distance away from front 6 of mouse 2 for proper, ergonomic positioning of the user's hand, wrist and forearm when using mouse 2. The pivotablθ adjustment feature of body 36, about the longitudinal axis of screws 40, also facilitates an appropriate ergonomic positioning of support surface 10.

[0041] The support surface device of the present invention is simple to construct yet extremely effective in taking the pressure off the user's wrist, when using a mouse, while at the same time ensuring that the wrist is in a completely flat, ergonomically correct position. The adjustable features of the present invention from the standpoint of both height and lateral distance from the front of the mouse, enables the device to be readily adjustable to any size of hand.

[0042] Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a hand positioner for a computer mouse that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.