Hand Operated Computer Input Device With Palm Heel Support

Abstract

A hand operated computer input device comprising a main body with a flat support surface for the entire palm heel is provided. The new support surface is not for the palm, metacarpals, MCP joints, proximal and intermediate finger segments, or wrist. Only a user's palm heel and finger tips touch the horizontal input device. The entire palm heel supports the weight of a users hand and arm. There is no compression of the median nerve at the wrist or in the hand.

The hand maintains a neutral position and there is no angle at the wrist. The height between the top of the palm heel support surface and the top surface of the buttons, wheels, multi-touch surface, etc. places the hand in a neutral, relaxed position.

The present invention seeks to prevent repetitive strain injury (RSI) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome while using a horizontal or vertical hand operated computer input device.

Claims

1. A hand operated input device for a computer system, comprising: a housing that includes an upper casing and a lower casing coupled to the upper casing; wherein a flat horizontal support surface for an entire palm heel is integral to the upper casing and parallel to a bottom surface of the input device, whereby in use a hand of a human user is in a relaxed, neutral position wholly on top of the input device and a wrist is generally stretched out flat and relaxed, wherein there is no pressure or compression placed on a median nerve in the hand, there is no tension or stress on a muscle in the hand, and there is no angle at the wrist to prevent a repetitive strain injury; and there is no support surface for an upper or a middle palm area of the hand, and no support surface for a metacarpal bone, a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint, a proximal finger segment, or an intermediate finger segment of the hand; therefore the upper and middle palm, metacarpal bones, MCP joints (knuckles), and proximal and intermediate finger segments do not touch the input device.

2. The input device of claim 1, whereby in use, the hand is not flat across or rolled inward over the input device, because there is no support surface for the palm of the hand and the hand is on top of the input device in the neutral relaxed cupped position, while maintaining the flat relaxed wrist position to prevent the repetitive strain injury.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the palm heel support surface is configured such that the wrist is generally stretched out in the relaxed position and makes no contact with the input device, a desktop, a tabletop, or a mouse pad surface to eliminate pressure and rubbing against the wrist of the user's hand.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the palm heel support surface is configured such that all of a weight of the user's hand and arm is supported only by the user's entire palm heel, whereby in use, because of a natural thickness of a thenar and hypothenar eminence muscles on each side of the median nerve in the palm heel, the weight and pressure from the user's hand and arm is not placed on the median nerve, or shared between the palm, metacarpals, proximal and intermediate finger segments, palm heel, wrist, or a forearm of the user; but the pressure and weight of the user's hand and arm is focused on the thicker, fleshy, palm heel of the user found in nature on each side of the median nerve.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured for manual movement by both the hand and arm of the user as one unit across a surface so as to permit a corresponding movement of a screen object on a display of the computer, wherein a lateral motion at the wrist of the user's hand created when moving a typical computer mouse by keeping a forearm of the user's hand stationary and moving just the hand is reduced.

6. The hand operated input system of claim 1, wherein a measurement from the top of the palm heel support surface to the bottom surface of the computer input device is between approximately 1.5 inches and approximately 2.5 inches high, notwithstanding this measurement can vary in height; wherein the user's hand still maintains the neutral, relaxed position on top of the input device, while the palm heel is not at an angle to a work surface, and the palm heel, wrist, and forearm of the user are still parallel to the bottom surface of the computer input device, and an associated shoulder and upper arm of the user's hand are in a relaxed comfortable position; not flexed up or down, and not in a stressed position.

7. The hand operated input system of claim 1, wherein a measurement of the palm heel support surface is between approximately 2.0 inches and approximately 3.0 inches wide, notwithstanding the palm heel support surface or the entire computer input device can vary in width to support different sizes of the human hand, wherein the user can still depress, scroll, and manipulate a pointing device portion while the hand remains in the relaxed cupped position.

8. The hand operated input system of claim 1, wherein a measurement of the palm heel support surface is between approximately 0.8 inch and approximately 1.75 inches long, notwithstanding the palm heel support surface or the entire computer input device can vary in length to support different sizes of the human hand, wherein the user can still depress, scroll, and manipulate a pointing device portion while the hand remains in the relaxed cupped position, and the wrist remains stretched out and relaxed.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the palm heel support surface is flat and does not pivot or move in any direction other than any flexibility in the material used for the palm heel support surface which keeps the palm heel, wrist, and a forearm parallel to a work surface while a corresponding shoulder and upper arm are relaxed and not stressed or flexed up or down.

10. The hand operated input system of claim 1, further comprising a neck portion with a measurement between approximately 2.0 inches and approximately 3.0 inches long, integrally extended between a pointing-device portion and the palm heel support surface to establish the neutral, relaxed cupped hand position wherein; the neck portion is not a support surface for any part of the hand therefore, a shape of the neck portion is only a cosmetic choice and may not be generally concave.

11. The hand operated input system of claim 10, wherein a top surface is configured with the aesthetically shaped concave neck portion that integrally extends to slope generally upwards to form the support surface for the entire palm heel.

12. The input device of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the palm heel support is positioned at a higher elevation or equal to the highest elevation of any other top surface along the upper casing, wherein a measurement between the top of the palm heel support surface and the top surface of a pointing-device portion is between approximately 0.75 inches and approximately 1.75 inches in height notwithstanding this measurement can vary in height to establish the relaxed cupped hand position on top of the input device.

13. The input device of claim 12, wherein a modification to provide the palm heel support surface is adaptable to a low profile mouse and is generally adaptable to hand operated computer input devices.

14. The input device of claim 1, whereby in use only a width of the user's palm heel and distal finger segments or finger tips touch the input device.

15. The input device of claim 14, whereby the user's fingers are allowed to freefall down on to the input device to use the finger tips or distal finger segments to more easily select a button, wheel, ball, multi-touch surface, knob, and other control surfaces on the computer input device because; the user's palm, metacarpals, MCP joints, and proximal and intermediate finger(s) segments do not touch the computer input device, and the palm heel of the user's hand is elevated to a highest or equal to the highest surface on a top surface of the input device.

16. The input device of claim 15, whereby in use, the fingers from a MCP joint (knuckles) forward are freely leveraged downward eliminating any strain to press, scroll, or otherwise select widgets on the computer input device surface whereby: the user's hand is in a neutral relaxed cupped position on top of the computer input device, an angle between the user's palm heel and a work surface is eliminated, and the palm heel is on or equal to the highest point on the top surface of the computer input device.

17. The hand operated input system of claim 16, when applied to the input device with a tracking ball, a height of the flat horizontal palm heel support surface relative to the top surface of the tracking ball; allows the hand of the user to be in the relaxed cupped position on top of the input device, wherein the tracking ball is moved with the user's distal finger segments, while maintaining the palm heel parallel to the work surface, and the stretched out relaxed wrist position.

18. The input device of claim 1 when applied to a vertical computer input device, wherein the horizontal support surface is only for a blade edge, ulnar edge side of the palm and palm heel, adjacent to a fifth digit of the user's hand to prevent pressure or rubbing the side edge of the user's hand, wrist, and forearm along a work surface or mouse pad.

19. The input device of claim 18 wherein a weight of the user's hand and arm is supported on the blade edge side of the user's palm and palm heel; and the horizontal support surface does not support a palmar side of the hand, a pinky finger, the finger segments, or the wrist of the user's hand, and may be symmetrical and centered around a pointing-device portion, or asymmetrical and more to one side of the pointing-device portion.

20. The input device of claim 18 wherein a measurement of the support surface for the ulnar edge side of the user's palm and palm heel is between approximately 2.25 inches and approximately 4.0 inches long, notwithstanding this support surface can vary in length to support different sizes of the human hand, wherein the user's wrist and forearm are not touching any surface.

21. The input device of claim 18 wherein a measurement of the support surface for the ulnar edge side of the user's palm and palm heel is between approximately 1.0 inch and approximately 1.75 inches wide, and between approximately 0.5 inches and approximately 1.25 inches in height, notwithstanding this support surface can vary in width and height to support different sizes of the human hand, wherein the user's corresponding shoulder remains in an ergonomically aligned position; not stressed up or down.

22. A hand operated input device for a computer system, whereby a bottom surface may be continuously flat or may have at least one concave portion to reduce friction against a floor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with references to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0048] FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional mouse in comparison to the shape and length of the computer input device according to the present invention that provides a horizontal support surface for a users entire palm heel;

[0049] FIG. 2(a) is an angled view of a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIGS. 2(b) and (c) are side views. FIGS. 2(a) and (b) show the sides of the palm heel support with rounded edges vs. more squared edges as shown in FIG. 2(c). FIG. 2(b) also shows a steeper slope at the front of the pointing device portion. These embodiments are shown with an upper and lower casing however, the palm heel support could be integral to multiple casings or a single casing;

[0050] FIG. 3(a) is a side view of a first embodiment according to the present invention showing the user's entire palm heel parallel to the bottom surface of the input device, and supported on top of the input device at the highest point on the top surface with the buttons and wheel sloped downwards, wherein a users palm, metacarpal bones and joints, middle and proximal finger segments, wrist, and forearm are shown not touching any surface;

[0051] FIG. 3(b) is a side view of a user's hand over a computer input device according to prior art wherein there is a palm support surface that places the palm heel at an angle to the bottom surface of the input device, which creates an angle at the wrist while the wrist and forearm are on a tabletop; such as US Patent D340923;

[0052] FIG. 4 is a top view of a first embodiment showing a stationary, horizontal support surface for the palm heel parallel to the bottom surface of the input device according to the present invention;

[0053] FIG. 5 is a top half and bottom half view of a first embodiment wired computer input device according to the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment according to the present invention showing the scroll wheel on the left side of the input device for right handed operators;

[0055] FIG. 7 is an angled view of a third embodiment with a horizontal palm heel support according to the present invention showing a tracking ball used to select, move, or modify objects on a display;

[0056] FIG. 8 is a side view of a fourth embodiment with a horizontal palm heel support according to the present invention showing a tracking ball and a button used to position a mouse cursor to select, move, or modify objects on a display;

[0057] FIG. 9 is an angled view of a fifth embodiment with a horizontal palm heel support showing a typical ball used to position objects and text for multi-dimensional CAD (Computer Aided Design) drawings according to the present invention. In place of the ball could be a joystick, knob, or some other control used to affect objects on a display.

[0058] FIG. 10 is a top view of a sixth embodiment applied to Contour Design's ShuttlePRO v2®. This sketch is intended only as a replica of the ShuttlePRO v2®. The sketch adds depth and height for an integral palm heel support similar to FIG. 2(a) of this present invention;

[0059] FIG. 11 has multiple views of a seventh embodiment showing a right handed vertical mouse with an integrated horizontal support surface for the ulnar edge side of a palm and palm heel adjacent to the fifth digit of a user's hand where the support surface does not go around the entire pointing device portion, and the fingers are not supported vertically stacked according to the present invention.

[0060] FIG. 12 is a side view of an eighth embodiment showing a right handed vertical mouse with a horizontal support surface for the ulnar edge side of a palm and palm heel according to the present invention. Like FIG. 11, the support surface does not surround the entire pointing device portion and does not support a user's fingers or wrist. While the fingers and/or thumb touch the pointing device portion, the hand and arm are supported entirely by the ulnar edge side of a user's palm and palm heel. The addition of an integrated palm heel support applies to any wired or wireless vertical mouse such as the Logitech MX® Vertical Mouse, Anker 2.4G® Wireless Mouse, J-Tech Digital Scroll Endurance® Wireless Mouse, Adesso iMouse E90 ®, or the Evoluent VerticalMouse®. The support for the ulnar edge side of the palm and palm heel may be symmetrical or asymmetrical since a user's hand is mostly on just one side of the input device. As with a horizontal computer input device, the added palm heel support for a vertical input device may be of any length, width, height, or comfortable materials without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

[0061] FIG. 13 is a palm view of a hand of a user. The shaded area shows where the hand makes no contact with a horizontal computer input device according to the present invention.

[0062] FIG. 14 is a palm side view of a hand of a user illustrating protection of the median nerve by the natural structure of the palm heel.

[0063] FIGS. 15(a) and (b) are illustrations of a multi-touch mouse surface with a palm heel support per the present invention. FIGS. 15(c) and (d) illustrate a different design of a standard mouse per the present invention; FIG. 15(c) is a front view and FIG. 15(d) is an angular top view.

[0064] FIG. 16 is a bottom side view illustrating two locations where a concave portion prevents the mouse from continuously touching a table top or mouse pad. This creates less friction allowing the mouse to move more freely across a surface. However, the bottom surface may be flat with no concave portions as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0065] A computer input device (100) with a horizontal support (10) for the palm heel that is parallel to the bottom surface of the input device, primarily consists of a typical mouse housing portion (90), as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2(a) that includes an upper casing (15) and a lower casing (20) coupled to the upper casing (15), however the back of the upper casing (15) is not sloped down like the portion (25), in FIG. 1, especially as shown in (50) U.S. Pat. No. 7,304,636B2, but is extended like the portion (30) to provide a seat or support surface for the palm heel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(a).

[0066] FIG. 2(c) shows height (h) between the top of the pointing device portion and the top of the palm heel support surface used along with the neck portion length (l) shown in FIG. 6 to create a neutral relaxed hand position (see FIG. 3(a)).

[0067] FIG. 3(a) is a side view of a first embodiment according to the present invention showing a flat, relaxed wrist (160), a relaxed cupped hand with a bend at the Proximal Interphalangeal (PIP) joints (165), and at the Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (170), and the user's entire palm heel (1) is parallel to the bottom surface of the input device, and supported on top of the input device at the highest point on the top surface. When the hand is in a neutral relaxed position, the fingers bend “naturally” in the shape of a cup although there is no tension or stress on the muscles in the hand that may be present when intentionally forming a cup. Since the entire palm heel is on top of the I/O device (FIG. 3(a)), rather than behind the I/O device (FIG. 3(b)), the weight of the arm is placed wholly on the entire palm heel instead of the palm, middle and proximal finger segments, wrist, or forearm, and the user's hand does not have to roll inward to grip the I/O device. Nothing touches the user's palm, metacarpal bones and joints, middle and proximal finger segments, wrist, or forearm. This eliminates pressure and rubbing against the palm, metacarpal bones and joints, wrist, middle and proximal finger bones, and forearm of a user.

[0068] FIG. 4 is a top view showing a palm heel support (35), primary (40) and secondary (45) depressible buttons, and a top scroll wheel (50). The upper casing (15) in FIG. 5A has a concave shape (55) just aft of the main depressible buttons, then slopes up (60) to provide a support surface (35) at the highest point on the top surface for the palm heel. This concave shape (55) is not required to provide the palm heel support surface; it is merely a cosmetic selection. The operator does not have to strain a wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm or even a shoulder to minimize or alleviate pressure on the wrist while using a computer input device. The back edge (65) of the input device is straight down as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 rather than sloped like a standard mouse shown in FIG. 1. The user can move the computer input device in any direction on the table top by applying slight pressure to a palm heel while moving the same hand. This causes the input device, palm heel, wrist, and forearm to move as one unit. There is no RSI to the wrist because of the tendency to keep the forearm stationary while gripping the input device and moving just a hand to position the screen object to various points on the display. Moving as one unit reduces the lateral motion (RSI) and twisting at the wrist.

[0069] In FIG. 5(b), the lower casing (20) contains the required circuitry (70) to select and control objects on a display (not shown). The span (75) shows the extended length of the lower casing (20) to mate to the upper casing (15) for the palm heel support (35). The present invention applies to wired and wireless computer input devices. A lower casing (20) may include but is not limited to a roller ball, optical tracking, laser tracking, or any technology known in the art that processes the movement of a user's hand with the input device to update the position of a cursor on a display.

[0070] Reference U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,398B2 “The mouse circuit mechanism for a wired mouse is typically supplied power by a computer. The mouse circuit mechanism for a wireless mouse is typically supplied power by a battery. Since the computer mouse is well known technology, no further detailed description is provided about the housing and the circuit mechanism.” All current and future technology to select and control objects on a display using a hand operated computer input device may be applied to the casing described in this present invention.

[0071] A second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 applies the palm heel support casing (35) of this present invention to a hand operated computer input device with a side scroll wheel (80). Neck portion length (l) is used along with height (h) in FIG. 2(c) to establish a neutral relaxed hand position. The scroll wheel is moved from the top of the input device to the side of the input device. The scroll wheel is operated by a users thumb, reference US Patent 20030137490A1. The side scroll wheel (80) in FIG. 6 of a second embodiment can use, but is not limited to Tilt Wheel Technology™ to allow scrolling in four different directions, reference US Patent 20040150623A1. The standard convention of this embodiment is a thumb activated scroll wheel on the left side of the input device for right hand operators. An alternate embodiment is a thumb activated scroll wheel on the right side of the input device for left hand operators. A thumb activated scroll wheel (80) is not a new feature and may include both a side and top scroll wheel. However, the most popular hand operated computer input devices place the scroll wheel on the top side of the device. The upper casing concaves (90) just aft of the depressible buttons, then rises to provide a support surface (95) at the highest point on the upper casing for the palm heel according to the present invention. The lower casing (85) provides a cutaway (88) for a side scroll wheel (80) as shown in FIG. 6. The cutaway (88) for the side scroll wheel (80) may be provided on either or both sides of the upper and lower casings (85), and is not the main focus of this present invention.

[0072] A third embodiment in FIG. 7 applies the present invention to a mouse with a tracking ball (105) used to position a cursor or select an object on a display. Height (h) between the top of the pointing device portion and the top of the palm heel support surface along with neck portion length (l) shown in FIG. 6 creates a neutral relaxed hand position. This application is to show the palm heel support can be applied to any hand operated computer input device. The upper casing provides a stationary support (120) for the palm heel integral to and not externally attached to the computer input device according to the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment with a tracking ball (115) and a side button (47) used to position a cursor or screen object on a computer display seated lower than the palm heel support surface (120) according to this present invention. In keeping with the spirit and scope of this invention, the best ergonomic position is to place the palm heel support surface high enough relative to the top of the tracking ball to where a user's distal finger segments can drop down and spin the ball without creating an angle at the wrist.

[0074] FIG. 9 is a fifth embodiment showing a computer input device used to position objects and text for multi-dimensional drawings such as the SpaceBall® or SpaceExplorer™ by 3D Connexion with a palm heel support (120) according to this present invention.

[0075] FIG. 10 is a sixth embodiment applied to Contour Design's multimedia controller ShuttlePRO v2® and could also be applied to their ShuttleXpress®. These computer input devices would benefit from an integrated palm heel support surface (120) higher than the pointing device portion according to this present invention.

[0076] FIG. 11 is a seventh embodiment illustrating a vertical mouse with support surface (121) for the ulnar edge side of a user's palm and palm heel. FIGS. 11(a), (b), and (c) are different views of the same vertical mouse; (a) is a top view, (b) is a left side view, and (c) is a right side view of the support surface according to the present invention.

[0077] FIG. 12 is an eighth embodiment showing a vertical computer input device with built-in support (121) for the ulnar edge side of a user's palm and palm heel according to the present invention;

[0078] FIG. 13 is the palm side of a human hand. The shaded area shows where the hand makes no contact with a computer input device according to the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 14 is a palm side view of the hand, whereby providing a support surface for the entire palm heel (1) per the present invention as shown in FIG. 3(a), protects where the median nerve enters the hand (5), because of the protruding thickness of the thenar eminence muscle (150) and the hypothenar eminence muscle (155) found naturally in the palm heel.

[0080] FIG. 15 is a ninth (a) and tenth embodiment (b) showing a computer mouse with a multi-touch surface (130) and a palm heel support surface (120) per the present invention. FIG. 15(b) is a different design for a multi-touch surface illustrating the height difference (h) between the top of the palm heel support surface and the top surface of the pointing-device portion (130). This height (h) helps establish the hand in a neutral, relaxed cupped position. The hand appears cupped because the fingers “naturally” bend when the hand is relaxed although there is no tension or stress on the muscles or tendons of the hand. FIGS. 15(c) and (d) show a design different from FIGS. 2(a) and (b) for a standard computer mouse with a palm heel support surface (120) per the present invention, see also the FIG. 9 support surface.

[0081] FIG. 16 is a bottom side view showing two concave portions (140) to create less friction allowing the mouse to move more freely across a surface. A bottom surface may have one or more concave spots (140) to reduce friction against a floor.

[0082] Although the present invention has been illustrated and explained in at least ten separate embodiments, “it is understood that many ornamental designs, modifications, and variations can be made to provide a support surface for the palm heel or for the side of the palm and palm heel in regards to a vertical computer input device without departing from the spirit and scope of this present invention”, reference U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,398B2.

[0083] The embodiment of a palm heel support according to the present invention is applicable to other types of wired or wireless hand operated devices that create, select, modify, move, delete, or otherwise manipulate objects on a display screen.

[0084] Other than the standard or typical hand operated mouse largely used for gaming, surfing the Internet, selecting, creating, or editing text and objects, the embodiment of this design is also applicable to other types of wired and wireless hand operated devices that as shown in FIG. 7.

[0085] Another aspect of the invention provides a hand operated input device for a computer system.

[0086] The hand operated input system FIG. 2 (100) for a computer system comprises: [0087] a pointing-device portion (110); [0088] a palm heel support portion (120) extending from a neck portion and comprising: [0089] a top surface having a convex portion that generally slopes upwards to a palm heel support surface FIG. 4 (35); [0090] a bottom surface (124); [0091] a first side surface (126) for connecting the top surface and the bottom surface; [0092] a second side surface (127) for connecting the top surface and the bottom surface; and [0093] a rear surface (128) connected to the top, bottom, a first side, and a second side surfaces (122, 124, 126, 127) as shown in FIGS. 2(a), (b), and (c), and FIG. 4.

[0094] The palm heel support portion (120) is configured to support the width of a palm heel of the user comfortably, such that the palm of a user does not touch any surface, and the palm heel, wrist, and forearm are not at an angle to the bottom surface of the input device, wherein a wrist portion of the user is generally stretched in a relaxed fashion and makes no contact with a surface.

[0095] The convex portion of the top surface (122) generally sloping upwards to provide the horizontal palm heel support surface (120) may be configured to support the palm heel of the user snugly.

[0096] The convex portion of the top surface (122) of the palm heel support portion (120) may have a predetermined height from a floor, such that the wrist portion is straightened substantially so as to ease out stress on the wrist portion.

[0097] The palm heel support portion (120) may have a predetermined width so as to support the width of the palm heel of the user comfortably.

[0098] The palm heel support portion (120) may have a predetermined length so as to support the length of the palm heel of a user comfortably.

[0099] The palm heel support portion (120) may comprise a computer mouse flat bottom surface portion (124) well known in the art that has a lowered friction or resistance when moving across a work surface.

[0100] The sliding portion may be disposed so as to be leveled with a bottom portion of the pointing-device portion.

[0101] The sliding portion may comprise one or more roller devices, optical, LED, laser, light speed, or any mouse tracking technology (125) shown in FIG. 2.

[0102] The pointing-device portion (110) may comprise a computer mouse, a tracking ball, a ball, a knob, buttons, wheels, switches, and a joystick.

[0103] The top surface (122) of the palm heel support portion (120) may vary in height in different embodiments as long as a users corresponding shoulder and upper arm maintain a relaxed position and a users palm heel, wrist and forearm remain parallel to the bottom surface of the computer input device.

[0104] The hand operated input system may further comprise a neck portion disposed between the pointing-device portion and the palm heel support portion, and the neck portion may vary in length in different embodiments.

[0105] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions, and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.