CORLETT LINDSAY (ZA)
CORLETT HUGH MARK ANTHONY (ZA)
CORLETT LINDSAY (ZA)
| WO1999008958A1 | 1999-02-25 | |||
| WO1999060556A1 | 1999-11-25 |
| US5340067A | 1994-08-23 | |||
| US4635496A | 1987-01-13 | |||
| GB2288454A | 1995-10-18 |
| 1. | A palm support for use with a computer mouse which inclues a support block for supporting the palm of a user of a computer mouse when manipulating the mouse; a movable bearing means for movably supporting the block on a support surface; and a pair of resilient spaced gripping formations for gripping the mouse between them. |
| 2. | The accessory as claimed in Claim 1, in which the gripping formations are adhesively securable to the mouse, in use. |
| 3. | The accessory as claimed in Claim 2, in which the gripping formations are adhesively securable to the outer surface of the mouse, in use, about an axis parallel to the support surface. |
| 4. | The accessory as claimed in Claim 1, in which the gripping formations grip the mouse with limited movement between the block and the mouse, in use. |
| 5. | The accessory as claimed in Claim 4, in which the gripping formations grip the outer surface of the mouse with relative pivotal movement, in use, about an axis parallel to the support surface. |
| 6. | The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the bearing means has at least one rolling member. |
| 7. | The accessory as claimed in Claim 6, in which the bearing means has three balls. |
| 8. | The accessory as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, in which the bearing means comprises a separate removable unit. |
| 9. | The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a portion of an upper surface of the block supports the palm of a user, in use, and the bearing means underlies it. |
| 10. | The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which an upper surface of the block is shaped to receive the user's palm. |
| 11. | The accessory as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which an upper surface of the block has decorative indicia thereon. |
| 12. | A palm support for use with a computer mouse, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
According to the invention there is provided a palm support for use with a computer mouse which inclues a support block for supporting the palm of a user of a computer mouse when manipulating the mouse; a movable bearing means for movably supporting the block on a support surface; and a pair of resilient spaced gripping formations for gripping the mouse between them.
The gripping formations may be adhesively securable to the mouse or they may grip the mouse with limited movement between the block and the mouse, in use.
The gripping formations may be adhesively securable to the outer surface of the mouse, in use, about an axis parallel to the support surface. In another form of the invention, the gripping formations may grip the outer surface of the mouse with relative pivotal movement, in use, about an axis parallel to the support surface.
The bearing means may have at least one rolling member. Preferably, the bearing means has three balls.
The bearing means may comprise a separate removable unit.
A portion of an upper surface of the block may support the palm of a user, in use, and the bearing means may underlie it.
An upper surface of the block may be shaped to receive the user's palm.
An upper surface of the block may have decorative indicia thereon.
The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a palm support for use with a computer mouse according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a bottom plan view of the palm support; Figure 3 shows a side view of the palm support; Figure 4 shows a rear view of the palm support; Figure 5 shows a front view of the palm support;
Figure 6 shows a section view of the palm support through section VI-VI of Figure 1; Figure 7 shows a top plan view of the palm support with a computer mouse, in use; and Figure 8 shows a side view of the palm support with a computer mouse, in use.
In Figures 1 to 8, a palm support for use with a computer mouse is generally referred to by reference numeral 10.
The palm support 10 includes a support block 12, a movable bearing unit 14 and a pair of resilient spaced gripping formations in the form of arms 16.
The support block 12 supports the palm of a user of a computer mouse 18 when the user is manipulating the computer mouse 18, in use. An upper surface 20 of the block 12 is shaped to receive the user's palm. The surface 20 of the block 12 which supports the user's palm overlies the bearing unit 14. The upper surface 20 of the block 12 may have decorative indicia thereon (not shown).
The arms 16 are integral with the block 12. They are moulded from a suitable synthetic plastics material such as polyurethane.
The bearing unit 14 enables the block 12 to be movably supported on a support surface in two degrees of freedom, i. e. back and forth, and from side to side. The bearing unit 14 is a separate removable unit which has three freely
rotatable balls 24 in a cage 22. The balls 24 are arranged in a triangle, with one of the balls 24 being positioned in the middle and close to the arms 16, and the other two balls 24 being positioned towards the side and closer to the rear end 23 of the block 12.
The arms 16 are used to grip the mouse 18 between them, as is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. In one embodiment, the arms 16 grip the mouse 18 with limited movement allowed between the block 12 and the mouse 18, in use.
The outer surface 26 of the mouse 18 is gripped with relative pivotal movement, in use, about an axis parallel to the support surface.
In another embodiment of the invention, the arms 16 are adhesively securable to the mouse 18, in use. The arms 16 are then adhesively secured to the outer surface 26 of the mouse 18, in use, about an axis parallel to the support surface.
In use, the support 10 supports a person's palm, making use of the mouse 18 more comfortable and less strenuous.