FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to computer mice and trackballs, and particularly to wearable devices that facilitate the use of computer mice and trackballs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A computer mouse is a common computer input device. Most desktop surfaces do not provide a surface that is ideal for working with a computer mouse. The surface can be too slippery, or can be non-uniform, or both. Consequently, many computer users place a mouse pad on the desktop when using a computer mouse. The top surface of the mousepad works better than desktop, by providing more friction than the desktop, and a more uniform surface, so that the ball under the mouse has uniform traction in all directions of mouse movement.

Some computer games can receive input from a computer mouse. Playing a computer game often requires more dynamic and energetic motions than using word processing software or spreadsheet software. Accordingly, some computer game players find that wearing a gaming glove can help improve game performance. However, most gaming gloves do not slide easily over a mouse pad due to friction between the material of the gaming glove and the material of the mouse pad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fingerless computer input glove of the invention allows for longer game play or longer work sessions using computer input devices, such as a computer mouse or a trackball, without discomfort or fatigue to the hand. The fingerless computer input glove of the invention includes various sizes and numbers of glides to enable each user to customize the fingerless computer input glove according to one’s individual style of use. Thus, PC mouse users and trackball users will benefit from the fingerless computer input glove of the invention. For example, office users who use a computer mouse at their desk eight hours per day will particularly have less fatigue. PC gamers using a PC mouse or a trackball will reach new levels of performance.

A general aspect of the invention is a fingerless computer input glove for enhancing the use of a computer mouse or a trackball. The fingerless computer input glove includes: a palm panel configured to cover a palm of a hand, the palm panel having a glove attachment surface; a back panel configured to cover a back of a hand, the back panel joined to the palm panel; a thumb opening portion configured to permit a thumb to extend out of a thumb opening in the thumb opening portion, the thumb opening portion joined to both the palm panel and to the back panel; and a wrist portion, the wrist portion having wrist covering portion and a wrist securement strap, the wrist covering portion joined to the palm panel and to the back panel, the wrist covering portion including a patch of hook/loop closure material, the wrist securement strap having a cooperative patch of hook/loop closure material.

In some embodiments, the fingerless computer input glove further includes: at least one glide having a glide surface and an attachment surface configured to be attachable to the glove attachment surface of the palm panel.

In some embodiments, the glide surface of at least one glide is made from polytetrafluoroethylene.

In some embodiments, the glide attachment surface of at least one glide includes a patch of hook/loop closure material.

In some embodiments, the at least one glide is a glide that substantially covers the glove attachment surface.

In some embodiments, the at least one glide is one of four glides that are all of a size that allows the four glides to be attached to the glove attachment surface in positions selected by a user.

In some embodiments, the fingerless computer input glove further includes: a neoprene rubber pad with a gripping front surface and hook material backing that attaches to loop material of the glove attachment surface.

In some embodiments, the palm panel further includes comfort padding.

In some embodiments, the palm panel, the back panel, the thumb opening portion, and the wrist portion of the glove are made from machine-washable materials.

Another general aspect of the invention is a fingerless computer input glove for enhancing the use of a computer mouse. This fingerless computer input glove includes: a palm panel configured to cover a palm of a hand, the palm panel having a glove attachment surface; a back panel configured to cover a back of a hand, the back panel joined to the palm panel; a thumb opening portion configured to permit a thumb to extend out of a thumb opening in the thumb opening portion, the thumb opening portion joined to both the palm panel and to the back panel; a wrist portion, the wrist portion having wrist covering portion and a wrist securement strap, the wrist covering portion joined to the palm panel and to the back panel, the wrist covering portion including a patch of hook/loop closure material, the wrist securement strap having a cooperative patch of hook/loop closure material; and at least one glide having a glide surface and an attachment surface configured to be attachable to the glove attachment surface of the palm panel.

In some embodiments, the palm panel further includes comfort padding.

In some embodiments, the glide surface of at least one glide is made from polytetrafluoroethylene.

In some embodiments, the glide attachment surface of at least one glide includes a patch of hook/loop closure material.

In some embodiments, the at least one glide is a glide that substantially covers the glove attachment surface.

In some embodiments, the at least one glide is one of four glides that are all of a size that allows the four glides to be attached to the glove attachment surface in positions selected by a user.

In some embodiments, the palm panel, the back panel, the thumb opening portion, and the wrist portion of the glove are made from machine-washable materials.

In some embodiments, the at least one glide is one of a plurality of glides of different thicknesses so that a user can select glides of a thickness that provides a preferred palm rest angle.

Yet another general aspect of the invention is a fingerless computer input glove for enhancing the use of a trackball. This fingerless computer input glove includes: a palm panel configured to cover a palm of a hand, the palm panel having a glove attachment surface; a back panel configured to cover a back of a hand, the back panel joined to the palm panel; a thumb opening portion configured to permit a thumb to extend out of a thumb opening in the thumb opening portion, the thumb opening portion joined to both the palm panel and to the back panel; a wrist portion, the wrist portion having wrist covering portion and a wrist securement strap, the wrist covering portion joined to the palm panel and to the back panel, the wrist covering portion including a patch of hook/loop closure material, the wrist securement strap having a cooperative patch of hook/loop closure material; and a neoprene rubber pad with a gripping surface and pad attachment surface configured to attach to the glove attachment surface.

In some embodiments, the palm panel further includes comfort padding.

In some embodiments, the palm panel, the back panel, the thumb opening portion, and the wrist portion of the glove are made from machine-washable materials. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood from the following Detailed Description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the fingerless computer input glove for use with a computer mouse, showing a glove attachment surface, a thumb opening, and a wrist securement strap having a patch of hook/loop closure material.

FIG. 2A is a top view of a glide for use with the fingerless computer input glove of FIG. 1, showing the glide attachment surface configured to be attachable to the glove attachment surface.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the glide of FIG. 2A, showing the glide surface and the glide attachment surface of the glide.

FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the glide of FIG. 2A, showing the glide surface of the glide.

FIG. 2D is a side view of an embodiment of a glide that is half the thickness of the glide of FIG. 2B, showing the glide surface and the glide attachment surface of the glide of FIG. 2D.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the fingerless computer input glove of FIG. 1 worn on a right hand, showing the glove attachment surface, showing the thumb extending through the thumb opening, and showing the wrist securement strap secured around the wrist.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the fingerless computer input glove of FIG. 3, showing four glides removably attached to the glove attachment surface of the fingerless computer input glove of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fingerless computer input glove and the four glides of FIG. 4, also showing how the wrist securement strap is secured around the wrist.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a hand of a person wearing and using the fingerless computer input glove of FIG. 5 with a mouse on a mousing surface (e.g., a mouse pad).

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the hand of the person wearing and using the fingerless computer input glove of FIG. 6 with a mouse, showing the four glides removably attached to the attachment surface of the fingerless computer input glove. FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a hand of a person wearing the fingerless computer input glove of FIG. 1, showing one large glide removably attached to the attachment surface of the fingerless computer input glove, also showing how the wrist securement strap is secured around the wrist of the person.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hand of a person using the fingerless computer input glove of FIG. 1 to more effectively and more comfortably use a trackball, showing the neoprene rubber pad that is removably attached to the attachment surface of the glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the fingerless computer input glove 10 for use with a computer mouse is shown. The fingerless computer input glove 10 has a palm panel 12 configured to cover a palm of a hand of a user. The palm panel 12 has a glove attachment surface 14, which can include either hook material or preferably loop material. The input glove 10 also includes a back panel 16 configured to cover a back of a hand, wherein the back panel is joined to the palm panel 12. There’s also a thumb opening portion 18 configured to permit a thumb of the hand to extend out of a thumb opening 20 in the thumb opening portion 18, the thumb opening portion 18 joined to both the palm panel 12 and to the back panel 16.

A wrist portion 22 has a wrist covering portion 24 and a wrist securement strap 26. The wrist covering portion 24 is joined to the palm panel 12 and to the back panel 16. The wrist covering portion 24 includes a patch of hook or loop closure material 28. The wrist securement strap 26 has a cooperative patch of loop or hook closure material 30.

Wth reference to FIG. 2A, a glide 32 is shown for use with the fingerless computer input glove 10 that has a glide attachment surface 34 (e.g. a patch of hook material) configured to be attached to the glove attachment surface 14 (e.g. a patch of loop material).

Referring to FIG. 2B, in addition to the glide attachment surface 34, the glide 32 has a glide surface 36. The glide surface 36 can be made of a material with relatively low sliding friction, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), also known as Teflon®.

FIG. 2C shows the bottom of the glide 32 having the glide surface 36.

FIG. 2D shows an embodiment 38 of a glide that is half the thickness of the glide 32, the glide 38 nevertheless having a glide surface 36 and a glide attachment surface 34. Being able to choose the glide 32, or the thinner glide 38, allows the user to change the angle of the wrist with respect to a mousing surface. For example, the thickness of the glide 32 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C is ¼ inch, whereas the thickness of the glide 38 shown in FIG. 2D is 1/8 inch. Use of a thinner glide reduces the angle or height of the user’s palm over the mousing surface as compared with a thicker glide, thinner glides providing a more glove-less feel, i.e. , the feel of using a mouse without a glove.

Wth reference to FIG. 3, the fingerless computer input glove 10 is shown worn on a right hand 40, showing the glove attachment surface 14, showing the thumb 42 extending through the thumb opening 20, and showing the wrist securement strap 26 secured around the wrist 44.

Referring to FIG. 4, the fingerless computer input glove 10 of FIG. 3 is shown, having four glides 46 removably attached to the glove attachment surface 14 of the fingerless computer input glove 10.

Wth reference to FIG. 5, a side view of the fingerless computer input glove 10 of FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown, with the four glides 46 attached to the glove attachment surface 14, also showing how the wrist securement strap 26 is secured around the wrist 44.

Referring to FIG. 6, the hand 40 of a person wearing and using the fingerless computer input glove 10 is shown, the glides 46 sliding across a mousing surface 60 (e.g., a mouse pad) while the hand 40 controls a mouse 62.

Wth reference to FIG. 7, a bottom view is shown of the hand 40 of the person wearing and using the fingerless computer input glove 10 with the mouse 62, showing the four glides 46 removably attached to the glove attachment surface 14 of the fingerless computer input glove 10.

Referring to FIG. 8, a hand 40 is shown of a person wearing the fingerless computer input glove 10, also showing one large glide 80 removably attached to the attachment surface 14 of the fingerless computer input glove 10, and showing how the wrist securement strap 26 is secured around the wrist of the person.

With reference to FIG. 9, a hand 40 of a person is shown using the fingerless computer input glove 10 to more effectively and more comfortably use a trackball 90, particularly showing the neoprene rubber pad 92 that is removably attached to the attachment surface 14 of the glove 10.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.