U.S. patent application number 09/339606 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-16 for ergonomic computer mouse.
Invention is credited to BOUDREAU, DALE E., REID, JAMES J..
Application Number | 20020057258 09/339606 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23329809 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020057258 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
REID, JAMES J. ; et
al. |
May 16, 2002 |
ERGONOMIC COMPUTER MOUSE
Abstract
In a manually movable computer mouse with a mouse movement
sensing system for providing mouse movement signals, and at least
one user finger operable control switch, for providing control
signals for a graphic user interface, the mouse has a boomerang
shaped body ergonomically shaped to fit and support the user's hand
in a naturally relaxed curled hand position, with a main body
portion and a narrower neck portion extending at an angle of about
45 degrees to 90 degrees to the main body narrow enough to be
interposeable between the thumb and first finger, and with an
integral mouse movement control fin or tab extending above the
mouse body and being thinly shaped to fit in the relaxed space
between the first and second fingers (and to also provide an
alternate pen-like grip between the thumb and first finger) to
orient the mouse to the users hand and move the mouse with user arm
movements. An integral wrist support may be provided extending from
the wrist end of the mouse. The movement sensing system is adjacent
that same end.
Inventors: |
REID, JAMES J.; (ROCHESTER,
NY) ; BOUDREAU, DALE E.; (ROCHESTER, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN E BECK
XEROX CORPORATION
XEROX SQUARE 20A
ROCHESTER
NY
14644
|
Family ID: |
23329809 |
Appl. No.: |
09/339606 |
Filed: |
June 24, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/163 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/03543 20130101;
G06F 2203/0334 20130101; G06F 2203/0333 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/163 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a user hand movable computer mouse with a mouse movement
sensing system for providing mouse movement signals, and at least
one user finger operable control switch, for providing control
signals for a graphic user interface, the improvement in said
computer mouse comprising: a mouse body ergonomically shaped to fit
and support said user hand, including the thumb and first finger
thereof, in a naturally relaxed curled hand position, wherein said
mouse body has a main body portion and a narrower outer extending
neck portion, said extending neck portion extending at an angle of
between approximately 45 degrees to 90 degrees to said main body
portion into a position in which said extending neck portion is
interposed between said thumb and first finger of said user
hand.
2. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said
extending neck portion is between approximately 2 to 4 cm in
width.
3. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said
extending neck portion has said at least one control switch on at
least one side thereof adapted to be actuated by said narrow
extending neck portion being squeezed between the thumb and first
finger.
4. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said
main body portion has an attached extending wrist support trailer
member opposite from said extending neck portion.
5. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said
mouse movement sensing system is positioned in said main body
portion adjacent one end thereof spaced from said extending neck
portion.
6. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said
mouse has an overall boomerang shape as viewed from above.
7. The user hand movable computer mouse of claim 1, wherein said
mouse movement sensing system is positioned in said main body
portion adjacent the end thereof opposite from said extending neck
portion.
Description
[0001] Cross-referenced are the same inventors U.S. utility and
design Patent Applications Nos. ______ and ______, filed on the
same date as this application, with the same assignee, the same
title, and respectively having Attorney Docket Numbers D/99112 and
DS/99112.
[0002] The use of a "mouse" as a manually moveable and operated
graphic user interface (GUI) to control computers has become so
widespread as to be nearly universal. ["Trackballs", "track pads",
"joy sticks", "soft buttons" "mouse-pens", "light pens" and other
GUI positioning or pointing systems are also well known, especially
for laptop PC's, but proportionally less common]. The use of a
mouse normally requires, of course, frequent two axis movement of
the mouse by the hand, wrist and/or arm, and finger operation of
integral or associated switches. Many millions of people are now
moving and operating computer mice for many hours a day. Thus, it
has become increasingly important to provide ergonomically improved
mice designed to reduce user stress, fatigue, and/or injury,
especially carpal tunnel syndrome or other such repetitive motion
induced ergonomic problems.
[0003] Numerous prior efforts in this regard are noted in the
patent literature, including U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 381,970;
5,648,798; 5,576,733; and 5,355,147. Also, a (differently
configured) "Anir" mouse by AnimaX International ASA of Norway.
[0004] Noted as of particular interest for hand and wrist support
devices for use in association with a computer mouse intended to
reduce or eliminate carpal tunnel syndrome are U.S. Pat. No.
5,570,112 issued Oct. 29, 1996 to Calvin H. A. Robinson; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,340,067 issued Aug. 23, 1994 to Teresa A. Martin et al; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,365 issued Feb. 9, 1999 to William P. Hesley
and assigned to Ergo Devices Corporation and their related U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,865,404 and 5,865,405.
[0005] By way of background, although a mouse with a conventional
rotatable ball mouse movement signal generator is illustrated, the
present invention is not limited thereto. It will be appreciated by
those in the art that various mouse movement sensing system
alternatives are well known and available, such as mice with
optical sensors for sensing mouse movements (changed mouse
positions) relative to patterned mouse-pads.
[0006] Disclosed in the embodiment herein is an improved computer
mouse providing several advantageous features and differing in
several respects from the above-cited prior patents.
[0007] By way of further background, a reported cause of
carpal-tunnel syndrome is improper use of a computer mouse pointer.
With a conventional such mouse the users can develop bad habits
that may predispose them to development or aggravation of
carpal-tunnel syndrome. These bad habits can include using
excessive wrist angles to position the mouse pointer instead of
using the forearm and fingers, such as placing the wrist flat on
the desk surface with the wrist bent back at an angle greater than
fifteen degrees, and pronation (inward rotation) of the wrist past
a normal angle with fingers spread to reach around the mouse body
and then gripping the mouse tightly. With the hand in any of these
positions, finger motion (clicking) is believed to potentially
irritate the tissues and nerves in the carpal-tunnel.
Indiscriminate use of wrist or arm braces can exacerbate the
effects.
[0008] In contrast, the disclosed embodiment of a new mouse design
in the example below induces a more natural and better hand and
wrist position, provides easy and natural operation, provides
optional wrist support, discourages severe wrist deviation, and
encourages good hand and finger movement habits. Alternatively,
this disclosed computer mouse embodiment can provide the user with
the ability to hold and control the mouse in more than one way, so
that alternate hand positions can be used to relieve discomfort, if
desired.
[0009] This is accomplished in the disclosed embodiment by a
simple, low cost, mouse which is comfortable, intuitive and can
reduce repetitive stress problems such as those described above and
in the above-cited patents. It does not require such a radical
departure from the grip and operation of a normal mouse as to be
unintuitive and/or require retraining to regain positional control
dexterity.
[0010] A more specific feature of the specific embodiments
disclosed herein is to provide a user hand movable computer mouse
with a mouse movement sensing system for providing mouse movement
signals, and at least one user finger operable control switch, for
providing control signals for a graphic user interface, the
improvement in said computer mouse comprising; a mouse body
ergonomically shaped to fit and support said user hand, including
the thumb and first finger thereof, in a naturally relaxed curled
hand position, wherein said mouse body has a main body portion and
a narrower outer extending neck portion, said extending neck
portion extending at an angle of between approximately 45 degrees
to 90 degrees to said main body portion into a position in which
said extending neck portion is interposed between said thumb and
first finger of said user hand.
[0011] Further specific features disclosed herein, individually or
in combination, include those wherein said extending neck portion
is between approximately 2 to 4 cm in width; and/or wherein said
extending neck portion has said at least one control switch on at
least one side thereof adapted to be actuated by said narrow
extending neck portion being squeezed between the thumb and first
finger; and/or wherein said main body portion has an attached
extending wrist support trailer member opposite from said extending
neck portion; and/or wherein said mouse movement sensing system is
positioned in said main body portion adjacent one end thereof
spaced from said extending neck portion; and/or wherein said mouse
has an overall boomerang shape as viewed from above; and/or wherein
said mouse movement sensing system is positioned in said main body
portion adjacent the end thereof opposite from said extending neck
portion.
[0012] As to specific components of the subject apparatus, or
alternatives therefor, it will be appreciated that, as is normally
the case, some such components are known per se in other apparatus
or applications which may be additionally or alternatively used
herein, including those from art cited herein. All references cited
in this specification, and their references, are incorporated by
reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of
additional or alternative details, features, and/or technical
background. What is well known to those skilled in the art need not
be described here.
[0013] Various of the above-mentioned and further features and
advantages will be apparent from the specific apparatus and its
operation described in the specific examples below. Thus, the
present invention will be better understood from this description
of these specific exemplary embodiments, including the drawing
figures (approximately to scale) wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an overhead perspective view of one embodiment of
the subject improved ergonomic computer mouse;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front (to the user) view thereof;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a right side view thereof;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a left side view thereof;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a top view thereof; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a bottom view thereof;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a top view thereof in operative connection with a
conventional computer, and with exemplary internal electrical
components shown in phantom;
[0022] FIG. 9, labeled "prior art", is a schematic top view of the
operation of a conventional mouse, with an exemplary tracking ball
position and exemplary operator hand and wrist movements relative
thereto illustrated in phantom lines;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a similar view to that of FIG. 9 illustrating the
difference in the operator hand and wrist positions for the
exemplary ergonomic mouse of FIGS. 18; and
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative, "pencil grip", hand or
grip position compared to that of FIG. 10 for the exemplary
ergonomic mouse of FIGS. 1-8 and 10.
[0025] Described now in further detail, with reference to the
FIGS., is one exemplary embodiment of the subject improved
ergonomic computer mouse. There is shown in FIGS. 1-8 and 10-11 one
example of a computer mouse 10 incorporating several ergonomic and
other advantages and features. The subject mouse may have some or
various combinations of these disclosed features, i.e., they are
not all essential to the claimed invention. It will also be
appreciated that a right-handed operator or user mouse 10 is shown,
and that a left-handed user version of this mouse could have an
opposite or mirror image basic configuration.
[0026] The improvements to be further described herein relate to
this exemplary mouse 10 per se. As noted above, the GUI functions
of a mouse, the electronic components and their hardware and
software interface between a manually operated computer mouse and
various connecting PC's or other computers, and/or various graphic
user interface displays therefore, are well known and may vary and
need not be re-described in detail here. Likewise as to the
internal circuitry of the mouse, which may also be of various known
or conventional types.
[0027] However, especially for background and reference purposes,
FIG. 8 here is provided showing one example of possible internal
electrical components of the mouse 10 operatively connected to an
exemplary conventional computer 100 having a GUI display 102 and
keyboard 103. In FIG. 8 the mouse 10 is shown with conventional
exemplary internal circuitry 104 in phantom lines, with outputs
connecting by cable 12 to the computer 100, including conventional
mouse ball 13 movement tracking sensors 105 and 106, and finger
switches 107A, 108A, 109A, and 110A, respectively actuatable by
illustrated variously positioned external buttons 107, 108, 109,
and 110 by way of examples, but not limited thereto. Also exemplary
illustrated in FIG. 8 as connected to circuitry 104 for cable
output 12 is a scroll input signal generator 111A operable by a
thumb-wheel scroll input 111. These or various other alternative
suitable sensors and switches are well known per se and need not be
described in further detail herein. The connecting cable 12 can, of
course, be replaced by various IR or other wireless interfaces, as
is well known.
[0028] Further by way of background, FIG. 9 here illustrates one
example of the undesirable wrist movement or deviation and hand
position of a conventional computer mouse.
[0029] Turning now to the subject ergonomic exterior configuration
of the mouse 10, as shown in all the FIGS. 1-8 and 10-11, as will
be further described, the mouse 10 is generally a generally
horizontally extending smooth integral outer shape, which is
somewhat "boomerang" or angularly shaped with an angled neck
portion 14 extension at its outer or rear end (the end facing away
from the operator in use). Intermediately extending from the mouse
10 adjacent the angled neck portion 14 is a thin and substantially
vertically upstanding tab or fin 16. This fin 16 is shaped to
comfortably extend in between the relaxed first 18 and second 19
fingers of the operator as shown in FIG. 10. (Or, alternately, be
readily grasped between the operator's thumb 20 and first finger 18
in the alternate operating position of FIG. 11.). Using the fin 16,
the user can easily guide the mouse without griping it, as in FIG.
10. The fin 16 can also be grasped like a pencil, as in FIG. 11.
The front end of the mouse 10 has an extending integral or
attachable "trailer" wrist support 22.
[0030] The mouse 10 per se (not including the detachable wrist
support 22), i.e., the integral unit of the main body of the mouse
and its neck portion 14, has the general shape defined by the
pocket formed by a relaxed human right hand. Thus, as gripped, the
main body of the mouse 10 is aligned with the axis of the user
forearm and the neck portion 14 of the mouse is off-axis or at an
angle to the main body of the mouse and the user forearm by
approximately 45 to 90 degrees. As will be further described, that
novel arcuate configuration of the mouse 10 might tend to rotate
which its control buttons are pressed if it were not for its other
features, specifically the fin 16.
[0031] The illustrated mouse 10 embodiment has diagonal touch
points, a side button operation, and a built-in wrist support, as
identified above and in the drawings. These features provide
ergonomic benefits, as will be further discussed. The button
placements, unique shape, and anatomic support provided combine to
provide such benefits. The diagonal touch points provide low impact
operation.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 11, this mouse 10 also incorporates
features that allow it to be alternatively hand-held more like a
writing pen for a high degree of positional control with an
alternative ergonomically correct pencil-like grip. Unlike a
"mouse-pen", however, the mouse 10 can be left standing in the
same, normal, stable position on any conventional mouse-pad.
[0033] Many prior ergonomic mouse designs have concentrated on
prevention by providing a modified hand grip position. However most
of such prior designs do not adequately encourage or keep a user
from using the mouse incorrectly. That is, do not adequately
encourage correct or improved hand, finger and wrist positioning
and movement. Although the mouse 10 can provide some of the
benefits of a wrist brace, it does not artificially restrict the
motion of the hand and wrist.
[0034] Turning to these disclosed features of the exemplary mouse
10, briefly, the trailer or wrist support 22 moves integrally with
the mouse 10 to support the wrist and to reduce wrist-hand angle
front to back, and to limit side-to-side wrist motion. The shape of
the mouse 10 provides an improved grip shape that allows and
induces the user's fingers to wrap around the mouse body in a
relaxed, natural, hand position. The mouse ball 13 or other mouse
movement sensor is positioned under where the palm of the hand is
positioned by the mouse 10. That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the
mouse ball 13 is adjacent the user or front edge of the main body
of the mouse, adjacent the trailer or wrist support 22, unlike
conventional mice where the ball is typically more centrally
located. That makes the mouse 10 ineffective to deviate the wrist,
since such a wrist action would essentially pivot the mouse around
the ball 13 rather than move the ball 13. That is, the undesired
prior art user wrist movement illustrated in the prior art example
of FIG. 9 is effectively discouraged by the configuration of the
mouse 10.
[0035] The mouse 10 operating or click buttons illustrated include
dual (either is operative) left click buttons 109 and 107 on the
near right side and the far right side (out on the angled neck
portion 14) ends of the mouse. The button 109 is on the outside of
the angled neck portion 14. The button 107 is near the wrist
support 22. In the mouse 10 hand grip or hand position mode of FIG.
10 the button 109 can be used for first (index) finger 18
operation--i.e., the well known "left-click" button action commonly
provided on a mouse, and most often used. The user can click button
109 with the index finger or click by squeezing the mouse between
the thumb and index finger. Alternatively, especially in the
pencil-grip hand position mode of FIG. 11, the alternative
little-finger button 107 can be used as the left click button.
[0036] For the "right click" function the squeeze button 108 is
provided centrally of the far right hand side of the mouse 10, to
the right of the button 109. I.e., more or less aligned with or
along the central axis of the mouse, the wrist-rest 22, and the
mouse ball 13, and in front of the fin 16. Squeezing this
side-mounted outer-end mouse button 108 between the thumb and the
second or middle finger 19 and/or the third or ring finger provides
the "right-click" button action commonly provided on a "two-button"
mouse.
[0037] To repeat, as to the disclosed control buttons, this
particular exemplary mouse 10 has left-click buttons on both ends.
One left-click mouse button 109 is positioned under the index
finger. The same left-click button function is repeated in a button
107 that is located here under the base of the little finger, at
the prominence created by the joint between the proximal phalanx of
the little finger and the distal head of the metacarpal bone (the
phalangeal-metacarpel joint). With these click buttons in both
these positions the user can click with the index finger or click
by squeezing the mouse between the thumb and little finger. The
muscles that control the squeezing action do not pass through the
carpal-tunnel. This motion is a simple closing of the hand, which
will increase the carpal arch, opening the tunnel. The fin 16
assures that the users hand is in the correct position to use this
feature.
[0038] The side-mounted button 108 that falls under the fingertips
of the middle and ring fingers provides the right-click function.
Squeezing the mouse between the thumb and these fingers provides
the right-click action. The finger motion occurs at the second
finger joint instead of the knuckle. The ligaments that control
this action do not pass through the carpal-tunnel. The squeezing
action will also increase the carpal arch, opening the tunnel.
[0039] For maximum benefit in use, the heel of the palm of the hand
should desirably rest on the trailer wrist support 22 with the
fingers wrapped loosely around the mouse body, as shown in FIG. 10.
In that preferred mode or grip of FIG. 10, the fin 16 is positioned
between (extends up between) the index or first or index finger 18
and the middle or second finger 19. With the palm of the hand in
this FIG. 10 position on the mouse 10, some user wrist movement is
possible, but limited, and weight is resting primarily on the wrist
support 22. The user will thus move the mouse 10 with shoulder and
forearm muscles for gross X-Y coordinate GUI pointer positioning.
The fingertips, and only moderate wrist movement, can then provide
fine positioning.
[0040] A key feature of this illustrated design for proper
functioning is the presence, and outer-central location, of the
vertically extending fin 16 on top of the main body of the mouse
10. With the mouse fin 16, the mouse 10 orientation is fixed
relative to the user's hand. The user, without any conscious
effort, will guide and position the mouse 10 using the fin 16 and
his or her engaging distal and middle finger joints. The
low-profile power-grip shape of the mouse 10 would also be less
practical without the fin 16 because the mouse could turn in the
users hand. Note that the fin 16 is relatively thin in width and is
elongated in the forward direction generally along the central axis
of the main body of the mouse 10. The fin 16 has a width
approximating a normal natural spacing between the index and middle
fingers, and is held within that space in the handgrip mode of FIG.
10. This prevents unintended rotation of the mouse. The fin 16 also
automatically aligns and holds the user's hand (the fingers in
particular) in the correct position and orientation relative to the
respective mouse finger control buttons 108, 109, 110, and/or 111,
since these finger control buttons are in fixed positions relative
to the fin 16 position, with preset spacings from the fin 16
position proportional to normal finger sizes.
[0041] The side pressure (squeeze) button controls would also be
less practical without the fin 16, because applying side pressure
could cause the mouse to turn in the users hand. The wrist trailer
22 would also be less practical without the fin 16, because, with
the wrist relatively immobilized, fin 16 guidance of the mouse 10
with middle and distal joint finger motion is used for mouse
positioning. The under-palm ball 13 utilizes fin 16 hand guidance
for fine positioning of the mouse 10 instead of wrist
deviation.
[0042] To summarize, the fin 16 fits into the space between two
fingers (the index and middle fingers, or, alternatively, between
the middle and ring fingers). This feature provides easy repeatable
hand positioning of the mouse 10, that is of high importance. When
held in this position, the user can guide the mouse 10 by the fin
16 without the need to grip the mouse with the fingers. This
floating action encourages the user to relax his/her hand when
using the mouse.
[0043] All of these features contribute to the ergonomic benefits
by supporting the hand and wrist in a selected, relaxed, neutral,
position during active operation.
[0044] The fin 16 can even be hinge-mounted or otherwise be mounted
to fold down or be removable. That will allow the mouse to be
lowered in height or disassembled to pack more easily into a laptop
carrying case, if desired.
[0045] In the alternative "pen" hand grip use or mode of the mouse
10 shown in FIG. 11, the fin 16 can be alternatively used as a
pencil-grip control device, with separate functional enhancements
and ergonomic benefits. As shown, the fin 16 there is gripped
between the thumb and the (flexed) first finger, and the mouse 10
position is controlled thereby. The ability of a user to thereby
alternate between two completely different operative hand positions
and grips on the same mouse 10 can provide further ergonomic and
other user benefits.
[0046] In this alternative grip mode, the mouse 10 can also be
alternatively grasped like a pencil for tasks that require a high
degree of pointer control. That is, very fine movements, such as
for working with very small screen objects or for doing screen
artwork. Muscle movement in general requires moderation by another
muscle. Using one body part to act as a resisting force to another
enhances positional control. Moving a lever with two hands gives
better control than moving it with one. When writing with a pencil
or pen the thumb and fingers resist each other to provide a high
degree of control over the position of the pencil point and
facilitate rapid direction changes. This enhanced control is the
result of a combination of physical forces and the synergistic
effect of propriocepive neurons of opposing body parts. It is also
typically a highly developed motor skill in most adults from years
of writing. The dual function mouse 10 can thus also provide unique
advantages for users with specific conditions, and for children who
have not developed the fine eye-hand coordination of an adult.
[0047] When the fin 16 is being grasped like a pencil, with the
hand in that position, the little-finger will curl under and be
positioned over the little-finger button 107. This feature provides
high positional control, using the small muscles of the fingers
whose ligaments do not pass through the carpal-tunnel. This hand
position is also ergonomically correct. Left-click function is by
rotating the hand outward (supinating) so that the little-finger
presses on the little-finger button. This is a smooth natural
motion that does not alter the pointer position as fingertip
clicking often does. The right-click function can be accomplished
by extending a finger to the button 108. This method has additional
ergonomic benefit, especially where there is median nerve
involvement.
[0048] Another advantage of the mouse 10 over a conventional
mouse-pen, which is particularly enabled by the fin 16, is the
consistent always "standing upright" position of the mouse for
quick acquisition and gripping, with the user using his/her
peripheral vision to locate the device. That is, the mouse 10 does
not fall over when it is not being held, as many mouse-pens do.
[0049] The alternate little finger button 107 is also a contributor
to this alternative mode of operation of FIG. 11. With this grip,
other button actuation types or locations may tend to disturb the
mouse pointer 10 position when clicked, such as a barrel button or
down pressure button of a mouse-pen. An unexpected benefit of the
little-finger button 107 is that, in either mode or grip, the down
pressure of its operation tends to freeze the pointer position,
stopping pointer drift, thereby reducing double-clicking
errors.
[0050] Turning to further ergonomic advantages, the mouse 10 shape
and size allows a user to wrap his/her hand around the mouse body
in a relaxed "powergrip" position. The mouse 10 top contour turns
the hand slightly, so that the hand is not in a highly pronated
position. The long axis of the mouse 10, including its extension
14, is angled approximately 45 to 90 degrees from the axis of a
conventional mouse. This allows the user's fingers to wrap around
the mouse body in a relaxed, natural position. This grip is
described by ergonomists as a "power grip" and is a preferred
ergonomic grip. The thumb end of the mouse is narrow, to promote a
high arch of the hand, thus increasing the carpal arch, opening the
carpal-tunnel. The broader base of the mouse 10 main body provides
support for the palm of the hand.
[0051] The mouse ball 13 central positioning under the palm of the
hand position on the mouse 10 makes it ineffective to deviate the
wrist since that action would essentially pivot around the ball 13,
as previously noted. The presence of the trailer 22 can enhance
this feature. The mouse ball central axis position also places the
functional components along the center axis of the main body of the
mouse 10. (To reduce actuation pressures, mouse buttons may be part
of a lever that actuates a remote switch). In this way the
functional internal parts of right and left handed versions of the
mouse 10 may be the same, with different top covers, reducing
manufacturing costs.
[0052] The size and contour of the mouse 10 also allows the users
fingertips to rest lightly on the underlying mouse-pad on which the
mouse moves. Touching the fingertips on the mouse pad desirably
connects the position of the users hand and the mouse pad through
the tactile nerve endings of the fingertips and the proprioceptive
(position sensing) neural receptors in muscles and joints. Without
this tactile connection the position, direction, and speed of mouse
movements relative to the screen pointer position is only through
continuous visual feedback from the mouse pointer or other cursor
on the GUI display screen 102. The advantage of this tactile mouse
movement connection is enhanced by the presence of the fin 16.
Since the nerve-sensitive adjacent inside finger skin surfaces of
the first and second fingers are desirably constantly touching the
respective opposite sides of the fin 16, the mental reference to
the mouse/hand connection becomes a point with a known orientation.
This tactile reference to the mouse fin and the mouse-pad and a
learned relationship between hand motion and visual pointer
movement can reduce the level of conscious discrimination needed
when positioning the mouse screen pointer to a screen 102 target,
and possibly reduce fatigue in long term mouse usage.
[0053] The wrist trailer 22 here can be a simple pad attached to
the base of the mouse 10 that supports the wrist. It has two basic
functions. it supports the wrist to reduce the wrist-hand angle
(dorsiflection). It also prevents severe angular, side-to-side,
deviation of the wrist. When the wrist is in place, the user has
limited ability to deviate the wrist for fine positioning of the
mouse pointer. Instead the user will position the mouse using the
forearm for gross positioning and the fingers tips for fine motion.
The narrow neck and fin of the mouse 10 allow the fingers to move
in motions similar to those used when drawing with a pencil.
[0054] The trailer 22 may be detachable, since those users who
already position the mouse using these motions may not want it in
place. The trailer 22 may be constructed in layers so the user can
customize the height and angle. One method of accomplishing this is
to use hook-and-loop material (Velcro) with the trailer 22
consisting of a stacked plurality of soft "loop" covered foam pads
backed with "hook" material.
[0055] Even without the fin 16, or with alternatives thereto, the
mouse 10 provides several of the above-described and other
ergonomic advantages. As noted, the entire mouse body ergonomically
shaped to fit and support a user hand in the natural relaxed
position of the human hand. That is, with the fingers naturally
curled into a position spaced from and in opposition to the thumb,
around the mouse, with the finger tips adjacent the bottom of the
mouse, and with the first finger tip only spaced about 2 to 4 cm
from the end of the thumb. The neck portion 14, which is extending
at a selected angle to the main body portion of the mouse as
described above is desirably of a narrow corresponding width. Thus
the neck portion 14 fits between the relaxed first finger and
thumb, for improved fine movement control, and, as described above,
improved control switch operation by squeezing the neck portion 14
between the end of the first finger and the thumb.
[0056] As an alternative embodiment, for dual (right or left
handed) users, although less desirable, a mouse with two narrow
extending neck portions instead of one could be provided, i.e., a
"Y" or "T" shaped mouse rather that the boomerang shaped mouse
10.
[0057] As a hand orientation or alignment aid to the mouse, an
elongated finger groove or slot can be provided in the mouse body
instead of or in addition to the fin 16.
[0058] While the embodiments disclosed herein are preferred, it
will be appreciated from this teaching that various alternatives,
modifications, variations or improvements therein may be made by
those skilled in the art, which are intended to be encompassed by
the following claims.
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