Pointing device with improved pivot

A computer command apparatus for entering commands into a computer resting on a work surface, comprising:

• a housing;
• an input device supported by the housing and including a rotatable ball and encoding members adapted to generate electrical signals translatable into commands to the computer;
• a coupling member selectively, mechanically attachable to and detachable from the computer;
• a pivot assembly, pivotally coupling the housing and the coupling member together for selected pivoting movement of the housing relative to the coupling member, the pivot assembly including a first hinge member positioned within the housing and attached to the coupling member and a second hinge member positioned within the housing and attached to the housing, the second hinge member being rotatable relative to the first hinge member about a fixed axis of rotation located within the housing to allow selective movement of the housing between a plurality of possible user-selected angular orientations of the housing relative to the coupling member;
• and
• a locking member selectively, single-handedly operable by a user to lock the housing in the angular orientation relative to the coupling member selected by the user from the plurality of possible angular orientations, and to unlock the housing and allow adjusting angular movement of the housing by the user.

A computer command apparatus for entering commands into a computer comprising:

• a housing;
• pointing device means, including a rotatable ball and encoding means, supported by the housing, for generating electrical signals translatable into commands to the computer;
• coupling means attached to the computer;
• pivot means for pivotally coupling the housing and the coupling means together and for permitting selected pivoting movement of the housing relative to the coupling means about a fixed axis of rotation located within the housing to allow selective movement of the housing between a plurality of possible user-selected angular orientations of the housing relative to the coupling means;
• and
• selectively operable locking means for permitting a user to selectively, single-handedly lock the housing in the angular orientation relative to the coupling means selected by the user from the plurality of possible angular orientations, and to unlock the housing and allow adjusting angular movement of the housing by the user.

A peripheral device for a computer comprising:

• a housing;
• communication means supported by the housing adapted for communication with the computer;
• coupling means attached to the computer;
• pivot means for pivotally coupling the housing and the coupling means together and for permitting selected pivoting movement of the housing relative to the coupling means about a fixed axis of rotation located within the housing to allow selective movement of the housing between a plurality of possible user-selected angular orientations of the housing relative to the coupling means;
• and
• selectively operable locking means for permitting a user to selectively, single-handedly lock the housing in the angular orientation relative to the coupling means selected by the user from the plurality of possible angular orientations, and to unlock the housing and to allow adjusting angular movement of the housing by the user.