Integrated mouse tray and mouse for portable computer having cavity therefore

A method of deploying and stowing of:

• a computer input device, comprising the steps
• extending a mousepad movably mounted to a chassis of said computer from a stowed position to a deployed position whereby said mousepad extends substantially out of said chassis footprint, said chassis containing components of said computer, said components including an input circuit for receiving signals from a mouse;
• placing a mouse coupled to said input circuit on a substantially planar surface of said mousepad, said mouse having a first height and free to move along said substantially planar surface on said mousepad to produce signals for transmission to said input circuit;
• and
• retracting said mousepad into said stowed position whereby said mousepad is located substantially within said chassis footprint, said mousepad having a protection of a second height thereon for retaining said mouse in a cavity in said chassis when said mousepad is in said stowed position, said second height shorter than said first height.

A portable computer, comprising:

• a chassis having a footprint and containing components of said computer, said components including an input circuit for receiving signals from a mouse;
• a mouse electrically coupled to said input circuit and removable from a cavity in said chassis, said mouse having a first height and free to move along a substantial plane to produce signals for transmission to said input circuit;
• a display screen hingedly mounted to said chassis;
• a keyboard mounted to a surface of said chassis, said display screen covering said keyboard when said display screen is in a closed position;
• and
• a mousepad member slidably mounted to said chassis and capable of assuming a deployed position whereby said mousepad extends substantially out of said chassis footprint, a substantially planar surface of said mousepad providing an area on which said mouse is free to move to produce said signals, said mousepad member further capable of assuming a stowed position whereby said mousepad is retracted substantially to within said chassis footprint, said mousepad member having a lip of a second height thereon for retaining said mouse in said cavity when said mousepad member is in said stowed position mouse, said second height shorter than said first height.

A method of deploying and stowing a computer input device, comprising the steps of:

• opening a display screen hingedly mounted to said chassis, said display screen exposing a keyboard mounted to a surface of said chassis when said display screen is in a closed position;
• extending a mousepad slidably mounted to a chassis of said computer from a stowed position to a deployed position whereby said mousepad extends substantially out of said chassis footprint, said chassis containing components of said computer, said components including an input circuit for receiving signals from a mouse;
• removing a mouse from a cavity in said chassis, said mouse coupled to said input circuit;
• placing said mouse on a substantially planar surface of said mousepad, said mouse having a first height and free to move along said substantially planar surface on said mousepad to produce signals for transmission to said input circuit;
• retracting said mousepad into said stowed position whereby said mousepad is located substantially within said chassis footprint, said mousepad member having a lip of a second height thereon for retaining said mouse in said cavity when said mousepad member is in said stowed position, said second height shorter than said first height;
• and
• closing said display screen.