Background Art The potentially therapeutic, healing, preventative, health effect and biological effects of the application of numerous types and magnitudes of magnetic and/or electro-magnetic fields have been studied and are the subject of numerous prior patents, such as U. S. Patent Nos: 5,002,068 (each of which are incorporated herein by reference). Exposing part or all of the human body to certain magnetic fields is believed to alleviate and remove pain, increase the circulation of the blood in the area in which the magnetic field (for instance) is imposed, in addition to other benefits.

Similarly, the adverse health effects of working on computer keyboards and with computer mouses has also been studied and known for many years. The cost in human and financial terms of carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive stress syndrome are very high, and some are related to the use of computer keyboards and of a computer mouse.

Despite the long felt need, there has not heretofore been an adequate system for using a magnet to produce a magnetic field with a potential health effect, at an area above a wrist or hand rest for a computer keyboard or a computer mouse, or above a keyboard or portable computer.

There has been a long felt, but heretofore unrealized need for such a magnetic therapeutic system, and this invention satisfies this need with the advantages and features described herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention are described belo-with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below.

Figure 1 is a top view of one embodiment of computer mouse pad contemplated by this invention; Figure 2 is side section view 2-2 of the computer mouse pad version of this invention shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is side section view of an alternative or ergonomic computer mouse pad embodiment contemplated by this invention; Figure 4 is a top view of one embodiment of the wrist rest for a computer keyboard, as contemplated by this invention; Figure 5 is a side section view of a computer keyboard wrist rest embodiment as contemplated by this invention; Figure 6 is a top view of a computer keyboard wrist rest as contemplated by this invention, in combination with a computer keyboard; Figure 7 is a top view of one embodiment of a computer keyboard with a magnetic insert therein; Figure 8 is a top view of one embodiment of a laptop or notebook computer, with a magnetic insert system therein; Figure 9 is a side view of an embodiment of a wrist rest embodiment contemplated by this invention, wherein the magnet is attached to the top of the wrist rest; Figure 10 is a top view of one embodiment of a laptop or notebook computer, with a magnetic insert applied thereon; Figure 11 is the side view of the embodiment of a laptop or notebook computer shown in Figure 10, with a magnet applied thereon; and Figure 12 is a side view of the embodiment of a mouse pad such as shown in Figure 2, only with the magnet applied thereon.

Best Modes for Carrving Out the Invention and Disclosure of Invention Many of the fastening, connection, manufacturing and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention described, their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a person skilled in the art or science, and they will not therefor be discussed in significant detail. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be varied or altered as anticipated by this invention and the practice of a specific application of any element may already be widely known or used in the art or by persons skilled in the art or science and each will not therefor be discussed in significant detail.

The terms"a","an"and"the"as used in the claims herein, are used in conformance with longstanding claim drafting practice and not in a limiting way.

Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms"a","an"and"the"are not limited to one of such, but instead mean"at least one".

The term wrist rest is used herein to refer not only to a device or component on which the mouse or keyboard operator places or rests his/her wrist, but also such a device or component on which the user places or rests the portion of the hand near his or her wrist.

The term"one or more magnets"as used herein is intended to be interpreted broadly to include magnetic material used or intended to be used to impart a magnetic field at a position where the operator's hands and/or wrists will be placed during operation. The magnetic field may be positioned for any one of numerous reasons, including without limitation, for therapeutic, preventative, health care, productivity and/or biological effects.

The terms magnet and magnetic material may include any type or kind of magnet or magnetic material with no one in particular being required to practice this invention. By way of providing some, but not an exhaustive list of examples, this may include without limitation, permanent magnets, magnetic materials which create a changing magnetic field, ferromagnetic components, and others. The magnets or magnetic material may be fluxing, fixed, moving or otherwise, within the contemplation of this invention, and may create pulsed, changing, fluxing, modulating, and/or fixed/constant magnetic, waved or energy fields (as a few examples) within the contemplation of this invention. They may including alternating poles, north poles, south poles, or combinations thereof, all within the same magnet, within the contemplation of this invention.

One such example of a therapeutic magnetic sheet is set forth in U. S. Patent No. 5,304,111, which is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

The term magnetic shield as used herein is any device, shield, material or mechanism which provides, without limitation, an offset, insulation, isolation or other shielding of the magnetic fields produced. This may include a magnetic isolating shield, a magnetic isolating body, a ferrous or other special material for magnetic shielding. No particular shape or type of shielding is required to practice this invention.

Magnetic shielding may be utilized to protect or reduce the effect of the magnetic field on part or all of the mouse, keyboard or computer, or to affect the magnetic field created to further the purpose (s) of the invention (which may include affecting the characteristics, distribution, focus or properties of the magnetic field).

When it is referred to herein that there may be a magnetic shield interposed between the one or more magnets and some other component, such as the mouse, keyboard or the distal end of the computer, the shield being interposed may be wholly or partially interposed within the scope of this invention.

The terms proximate end and distal ends as used herein in reference to a mouse pad, a wrist rest, a computer keyboard and a portable computer, are intended to reference the respective end relative to the user or operator of the mouse, keyboard or portable computer.

When the phrase"positioned within or on"in reference to the mouse pad body, the wrist rest, the keyboard and the portable computer, it is also meant to include or cover direct and indirect attachments to the component to which it refers.

This invention contemplates that a therapeutic wave source may also be positioned within or on the mouse pad body, wrist rest, keyboard housing or portable computer, said therapeutic wave source directs therapeutic waves to a position at or above the mouse pad body, the wrist rest, the keyboard and the portable computer. Such therapeutic waves may include any form or type of waves or energy which currently or is later learned to have a therapeutic, healing, preventative, health or biological effect on the operator of the device (mouse pad, wrist pad, etc.). This invention contemplates that later epidemiological studies or discoveries may made which have a therapeutic effect on the operator of the device, in the form of therapeutic waves or energy.

The term therapeutic is also used herein to cover and include any such wave or energy source which has a therapeutic, health care or biological effect on the

operator of the device (mouse pad, wrist pad, etc.), including a magnetic field, an electric field, infrared waves, or any others with a therapeutic or health care effect.

For example, it may later be determined that waveforms or energy anywhere in the electromagnetic spectrum provide a therapeutic or health care effect to the operator. For example, if what are commonly known or referred to as laser light waves (which may be in the 630 to 670 nanometer wavelength range) are later found to be therapeutic to the hands or wrists of the operator, they may be placed on or in the mouse pad body, the wrist rest, the keyboard and/or the portable computer, to provide the therapeutic waves to the operator. The source of power to generate the laser for example may be by battery or conductor to the computer or another known source.

Figure 1 illustrates a typical computer mouse pad 1 with a proximal end 2 and a distal end 3. The proximal end 2 of the computer mouse pad 1 is the end nearer the user or operator of the computer mouse. Figure 1 further illustrates the two sides 4 and the top surface 5.

Figure I also includes diagonal lines to symbolize a magnetic field area 6 of the mouse pad, above which a magnetic field, an electric field or therapeutic waves may be created, directed or maintained. The hidden lines show the location of a magnet 9 and a magnetic shield 8 to help shield the mouse from the magnetic field created by the magnet.

The mouse pad I body can be made of one of any number of different materials within the contemplation of this invention, including rubbers, polymers and any other, with no one in particular being required to practice this invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the computer mouse pad 1 invention shown in Figure 1, illustrating the top side 5 of the mouse pad 1, the bottom side 7 of the mouse pad, the proximate end 2, the distal end 3, and a side 4.

Figure 2 also illustrates the magnet 9, magnetic shield 8 and the broken lines above the mouse pad 1 are intended to represent a magnetic field 11.

Figure 3 illustrates what is referred to as an ergonomic computer mouse pad 12, including a top side 5, a bottom side 7, a proximate end 2, a distal end 3 and a side 4. The top side 5 nearest the proximate end 2 includes a raised area which forms a wrist pad 5a (or wrist rest, or hand rest) area.

Figure 3 also illustrates the magnet 9, magnetic shield 8 and the broken lines above the mouse pad 1 are intended to represent a magnetic field 11.

Figure 4 is a top view of an embodiment contemplated by this invention, of a wrist rest 20 for placement adjacent to a computer keyboard. Also shown are sides 22, proximal end 23, distal end 26 and top side 21. The hidden lines illustrate a magnet 25 configured in one of the numerous possible configurations, including with a magnetic shield 24 between the magnet 25 and the distal end which would be nearest the keyboard.

Figure 5 is side section 5-5 from Figure 4, showing a wrist rest 20 for placement adjacent to a computer keyboard. Also shown are proximal end 23, distal end 26 and top side 21. A magnet 25, and a magnetic shield 24 are shown between the magnet 25 and the distal end 26 of the wrist rest 20.

Figure 6 is a top view of one embodiment of a computer keyboard wrist rest 29 as contemplated by this invention, in combination with a computer keyboard 30, with only one computer key 31 being shown. The wrist rest 29 has sides 33, proximate end 35, and distal end 34. Hidden lines illustrate an embedded magnet 37 and magnetic shield 38.

Figure 7 is a top view of one embodiment of a computer keyboard 40 as contemplated by this invention, but only showing one computer key 41 for illustration purposes. The keyboard 40 has a keyboard casing with sides 44, proximate end 42, and distal end 43. Hidden lines illustrate magnet 45 and magnetic shield 46, which are inside the housing or casing of the keyboard.

Figure 8 is a top view of one embodiment of a laptop 59 or notebook computer, with a magnetic insert system contained in the keyboard housing. Laptop computer 59 includes a housing with a proximate end 66, sides 64, upper section 62 with display 60, hinged to lower section 67 by hinges 61. Lower section 67 includes a keyboard (shown with only one key 68), touchpad 65, and click buttons 63. A magnet 65 is shown by the hidden lines to indicate the magnet is within the housing of the laptop computer 59.

Figure 9 is a side view of an embodiment of a wrist rest embodiment contemplated by this invention, similar to Figure 5, only wherein the magnet 50 is attached to the top 51 of wrist rest 20. Figure 9 also illustrates proximal end 23, distal end 26 and top side 52, which is the top side of the magnet 50.

Figure 10 is a top view of yet another embodiment of a laptop 59 or notebook computer, with a magnetic insert applied on the top surface of the lower section 67 of the laptop computer 59. Laptop computer 59 includes a proximate end 66, sides 64, upper section 62 with display 60, hinged to lower section 67 by hinges 61. Lower section 67 includes a keyboard (shown with only one key 68),

touchpad 65, and click buttons 63. A magnet 70 is shown as being on the top surface of the housing of the laptop computer 59.

Figure i I is the side view of the embodiment of a laptop or notebook computer shown in Figure 10, with a magnet 70 applied to the top surface 84 of laptop computer 59. Proximate end 66, bottom side 80 and side 64 are also illustrated.

Figure 12 is a side view of another embodiment of the computer mouse pad I invention shown in Figure 2, only wherein the magnet 90 is attached to the top surface of the mouse pad 1. Figure 12 illustrates the top side 5 of the mouse pad 1, the bottom side 7 of the mouse pad, the proximate end 2, the distal end 3, and a side 4.

Figure 2 also illustrates the magnet 90 and the broken lines above the mouse pad 1 are intended to represent a magnetic field 11.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the Doctrine of Equivalents.