WO2000034941A1 - Computer mouse pad - Google Patents

Computer mouse pad Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000034941A1
WO2000034941A1 PCT/US1999/026216 US9926216W WO0034941A1 WO 2000034941 A1 WO2000034941 A1 WO 2000034941A1 US 9926216 W US9926216 W US 9926216W WO 0034941 A1 WO0034941 A1 WO 0034941A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
mouse
grooves
pad
mouse pad
ball
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1999/026216
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert C. Perry
Original Assignee
Perry Robert C
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/209,050 external-priority patent/US6143395A/en
Application filed by Perry Robert C filed Critical Perry Robert C
Priority to AU19096/00A priority Critical patent/AU1909600A/en
Publication of WO2000034941A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000034941A1/en
Priority to US09/655,988 priority patent/US6500522B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
    • G06F3/039—Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
    • G06F3/0395—Mouse pads

Definitions

  • a computer mouse is widely used as a pointing device for a personal computer, for controlling movement of a cursor over the display screen of the computer's monitor.
  • the common form of computer mouse has a mouse body for gripping in the user's hand, the mouse body having a bottom wall which slides over a mouse pad.
  • the bottom wall of the mouse body is formed with an opening which affords access to a cavity containing a mouse ball and a movement encoding mechanism.
  • the mouse ball typically has a diameter of about 13/16 inch.
  • a retainer plate formed with a circular hole is fitted removably in the opening in the bottom wall of the mouse body.
  • the diameter of the circular hole in the retainer plate is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the mouse ball, so the mouse ball is held captive in the cavity in the mouse body but protrudes through the hole in the retainer plate.
  • the mouse ball rolls against the movement encoding mechanism, which detects the rolling movement of the mouse ball and generates an electrical pulse signal in response thereto.
  • the pulse signal is supplied to the computer's system unit and is used by the system unit to control movement of the cursor over the computer's monitor screen.
  • the computers that are used in schools are frequently equipped with mouses. If foreign matter, such as a dust particle, is present on the mouse pad, it might adhere to the mouse ball when the mouse moves over the particle. In this event, the particle might be carried by the mouse ball into the cavity of the mouse body and be transferred to the movement encoding mechanism. There is then a possibility that operation of the movement encoding mechanism will be impaired. This may lead to erratic movement of the cursor.
  • foreign matter such as a dust particle
  • a typical mouse pad is made of a resilient material, such as rubber.
  • the upper surface of the mouse pad, on which the mouse slides, is smooth except for a layer of fabric which is glued to the upper surface of the mouse pad in order to provide frictional engagement with the mouse ball.
  • a mouse pad having a lower surface for resting on a support structure and an upper surface for supporting a mouse, the upper surface of the mouse pad being formed with grooves of width substantially smaller than the diameter of the mouse ball, whereby particles that fall in the grooves do not adhere to the mouse ball when the mouse is moved over the mouse pad.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first mouse pad in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II in FIG. 1.
  • the mouse pad 10 shown in FIG. 1 is designed for use with a mouse 12 having a ball about 13/16 inch (2.06 cm) in diameter.
  • the mouse pad is made of a semisoft rubber material .
  • the rubber material has a durometer which is typically in the range 30-40 and is preferably about 35. This is comparable to the durometer of the rubber used in manufacture of conventional mouse pads .
  • the pad is molded to provide a pattern of narrow grooves 14, each typically about 1/32 inch (0.08 cm) wide and at a spacing of about 3/16 inch (0.48 cm), in its upper surface.
  • the grooves are about 1/16 inch (0.16 cm) deep. The upper corners of the grooves, where the grooves meet the upper surface of the pad, are sharp.
  • the effective surface area of the mouse pad is reduced by about one-seventh. Approximately one-seventh of the dust particles that are precipitated on the mouse pad will fall in one of the grooves. Once a dust particle has fallen into a groove, it will remain in the groove until it is removed, e.g. by shaking the mouse pad or by vacuuming, and will not be picked up by the mouse ball and contaminate the movement encoding mechanism. Further, since the effective surface area of the mouse pad is reduced, the area of the mouse pad from which a particle can be picked up by the mouse ball during movement of the mouse is reduced. Moreover, if a particle of dust is picked up by the mouse ball and carried by the mouse ball while the ball rotates, there is a possibility that the particle will fall from the mouse ball into a groove .
  • the bottom wall of the conventional mouse body is formed with gliders 16 which rest on the upper surface of the mouse pad. These gliders serve to sweep a foreign particle that settles on the land between two grooves toward the next groove along the path of movement of the mouse, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the particle may either fall into the groove as the glider advances across the groove or be wiped from the glider by the sharp edge 20 at the far side of the groove so that the particle then falls into the groove.
  • the width of the grooves is substantially less than the diameter of the mouse ball (only about one-twenty fifth of the diameter of the mouse ball in the case of the example) , the grooves do not adversely affect the smoothness with which the ball rolls over the mouse pad and hence the smoothness with which the mouse slides over the mouse pad.
  • the rubber that is used in manufacture of conventional mouse pads is somewhat sticky or gummy. This does not affect the performance of the mouse because the conventional pad has a covering of fabric, as mentioned above. However, when there is no covering, the gliders on the bottom of the mouse do not slide smoothly over the mouse pad, and foreign particles on the mouse pad tend to stay in place and are not readily swept over the mouse pad by the gliders of the mouse. It is therefore preferred that the mouse pad in accordance with the invention not be made of the same type of rubber material as is used in manufacture of conventional mouse pads but that the composition of the rubber material be formulated so that it is not gummy or sticky. It has been found that a suitable material is thermal plastic rubber. In particular, the material sold under the designation SANTOPRENE, grade 103-40 is suitable. In accordance with another possibility, the mouse pad may be made of a semirigid polypropylene material, which is considerably harder than the semisoft rubber currently used for many mouse pads .
  • the pattern of grooves is made up of narrower concentric arcuate grooves 14 and a slightly wider peripheral groove 22 along the four edges of the mouse pad, surrounded by a margin strip. Some of the arcuate grooves intersect the peripheral groove.
  • the width of the peripheral groove is greater than the possible error in position of an end of one of the arcuate grooves that intersect the peripheral groove, so that when the die for molding the pad is made, one can be assured that each arcuate groove that intersects the peripheral groove will open into the peripheral groove and will not encroach on the margin strip of the pad.

Abstract

The upper surface of a mouse pad (10) is formed with grooves (14) of width substantially smaller than the diameter of the mouse (12) ball, whereby particles that fall in the grooves (14) do not adhere to the mouse (12) ball when the mouse (12) is moved over the mouse pad (10).

Description

COMPUTER MOUSE PAD
Background of the Invention This invention relates to a computer mouse pad. A computer mouse is widely used as a pointing device for a personal computer, for controlling movement of a cursor over the display screen of the computer's monitor. The common form of computer mouse has a mouse body for gripping in the user's hand, the mouse body having a bottom wall which slides over a mouse pad. The bottom wall of the mouse body is formed with an opening which affords access to a cavity containing a mouse ball and a movement encoding mechanism. The mouse ball typically has a diameter of about 13/16 inch. A retainer plate formed with a circular hole is fitted removably in the opening in the bottom wall of the mouse body. The diameter of the circular hole in the retainer plate is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the mouse ball, so the mouse ball is held captive in the cavity in the mouse body but protrudes through the hole in the retainer plate. As the user slides the mouse over the mouse pad, the mouse ball rolls against the movement encoding mechanism, which detects the rolling movement of the mouse ball and generates an electrical pulse signal in response thereto. The pulse signal is supplied to the computer's system unit and is used by the system unit to control movement of the cursor over the computer's monitor screen.
The computers that are used in schools are frequently equipped with mouses. If foreign matter, such as a dust particle, is present on the mouse pad, it might adhere to the mouse ball when the mouse moves over the particle. In this event, the particle might be carried by the mouse ball into the cavity of the mouse body and be transferred to the movement encoding mechanism. There is then a possibility that operation of the movement encoding mechanism will be impaired. This may lead to erratic movement of the cursor.
Although efforts are made to keep school computer labs clean, the computer mouse is frequently in need of cleaning to remove dirt from the ball and from the movement encoding mechanism.
A typical mouse pad is made of a resilient material, such as rubber. The upper surface of the mouse pad, on which the mouse slides, is smooth except for a layer of fabric which is glued to the upper surface of the mouse pad in order to provide frictional engagement with the mouse ball.
Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention there is provided a mouse pad having a lower surface for resting on a support structure and an upper surface for supporting a mouse, the upper surface of the mouse pad being formed with grooves of width substantially smaller than the diameter of the mouse ball, whereby particles that fall in the grooves do not adhere to the mouse ball when the mouse is moved over the mouse pad.
Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first mouse pad in accordance with the present invention, and
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II in FIG. 1.
Detailed Description The mouse pad 10 shown in FIG. 1 is designed for use with a mouse 12 having a ball about 13/16 inch (2.06 cm) in diameter. The mouse pad is made of a semisoft rubber material . The rubber material has a durometer which is typically in the range 30-40 and is preferably about 35. This is comparable to the durometer of the rubber used in manufacture of conventional mouse pads . There is no layer of fabric attached to the upper surface of the pad. On the contrary, the pad is molded to provide a pattern of narrow grooves 14, each typically about 1/32 inch (0.08 cm) wide and at a spacing of about 3/16 inch (0.48 cm), in its upper surface. The grooves are about 1/16 inch (0.16 cm) deep. The upper corners of the grooves, where the grooves meet the upper surface of the pad, are sharp.
By forming the grooves in the upper surface of the pad, the effective surface area of the mouse pad is reduced by about one-seventh. Approximately one-seventh of the dust particles that are precipitated on the mouse pad will fall in one of the grooves. Once a dust particle has fallen into a groove, it will remain in the groove until it is removed, e.g. by shaking the mouse pad or by vacuuming, and will not be picked up by the mouse ball and contaminate the movement encoding mechanism. Further, since the effective surface area of the mouse pad is reduced, the area of the mouse pad from which a particle can be picked up by the mouse ball during movement of the mouse is reduced. Moreover, if a particle of dust is picked up by the mouse ball and carried by the mouse ball while the ball rotates, there is a possibility that the particle will fall from the mouse ball into a groove .
The bottom wall of the conventional mouse body is formed with gliders 16 which rest on the upper surface of the mouse pad. These gliders serve to sweep a foreign particle that settles on the land between two grooves toward the next groove along the path of movement of the mouse, as shown in FIG. 2. The particle may either fall into the groove as the glider advances across the groove or be wiped from the glider by the sharp edge 20 at the far side of the groove so that the particle then falls into the groove.
Since the width of the grooves is substantially less than the diameter of the mouse ball (only about one-twenty fifth of the diameter of the mouse ball in the case of the example) , the grooves do not adversely affect the smoothness with which the ball rolls over the mouse pad and hence the smoothness with which the mouse slides over the mouse pad.
The rubber that is used in manufacture of conventional mouse pads is somewhat sticky or gummy. This does not affect the performance of the mouse because the conventional pad has a covering of fabric, as mentioned above. However, when there is no covering, the gliders on the bottom of the mouse do not slide smoothly over the mouse pad, and foreign particles on the mouse pad tend to stay in place and are not readily swept over the mouse pad by the gliders of the mouse. It is therefore preferred that the mouse pad in accordance with the invention not be made of the same type of rubber material as is used in manufacture of conventional mouse pads but that the composition of the rubber material be formulated so that it is not gummy or sticky. It has been found that a suitable material is thermal plastic rubber. In particular, the material sold under the designation SANTOPRENE, grade 103-40 is suitable. In accordance with another possibility, the mouse pad may be made of a semirigid polypropylene material, which is considerably harder than the semisoft rubber currently used for many mouse pads .
As shown in FIG. 1, the pattern of grooves is made up of narrower concentric arcuate grooves 14 and a slightly wider peripheral groove 22 along the four edges of the mouse pad, surrounded by a margin strip. Some of the arcuate grooves intersect the peripheral groove. The width of the peripheral groove is greater than the possible error in position of an end of one of the arcuate grooves that intersect the peripheral groove, so that when the die for molding the pad is made, one can be assured that each arcuate groove that intersects the peripheral groove will open into the peripheral groove and will not encroach on the margin strip of the pad.
It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment that has been described, and that variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

Claims 1. A mouse pad having a lower surface for resting on a support structure and an upper surface for supporting a mouse, the upper surface of the mouse pad being formed with grooves of width substantially smaller than the diameter of the mouse ball, whereby particles that fall in the grooves do not adhere to the mouse ball when the mouse is moved over the mouse pad.
2. A mouse pad according to claim 1, wherein the grooves are in a pattern of concentric arcs .
3. A mouse pad according to claim 1, wherein the grooves are in two sets, the grooves of each set being mutually parallel and being inclined at an acute angle to the grooves of the other set.
PCT/US1999/026216 1998-12-09 1999-11-05 Computer mouse pad WO2000034941A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU19096/00A AU1909600A (en) 1998-12-09 1999-11-05 Computer mouse pad
US09/655,988 US6500522B1 (en) 1998-12-09 2000-09-06 Pointing device including a computer mouse pad

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/209,050 US6143395A (en) 1998-12-09 1998-12-09 Computer mouse pad
US09/209,050 1998-12-09
US27023099A 1999-03-15 1999-03-15
US09/270,230 1999-03-15

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/209,050 Continuation-In-Part US6143395A (en) 1998-12-09 1998-12-09 Computer mouse pad

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000034941A1 true WO2000034941A1 (en) 2000-06-15

Family

ID=26903767

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1999/026216 WO2000034941A1 (en) 1998-12-09 1999-11-05 Computer mouse pad

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1909600A (en)
WO (1) WO2000034941A1 (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4485919A (en) * 1982-08-12 1984-12-04 Dan Sandel Sterilizable foam support tray for medical instruments
US5508084A (en) * 1991-08-28 1996-04-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Repositionable articles having a microstructured surface, kits for producing same, and methods of use

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4485919A (en) * 1982-08-12 1984-12-04 Dan Sandel Sterilizable foam support tray for medical instruments
US5508084A (en) * 1991-08-28 1996-04-16 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Repositionable articles having a microstructured surface, kits for producing same, and methods of use

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1909600A (en) 2000-06-26

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