Z-encoder mechanism

A computer mouse comprising:

• (a) a housing having an upper surface;
• (b) left and right mouse buttons on the upper surface of the housing;
• (c) a rotatable wheel button protruding from the upper surface of the housing between the left and right mouse buttons;
• (d) an axle supported within the housing by a pair of axle supports, the axle supports supporting the axle at spaced-apart locations on the axle, the rotatable wheel button being fixed to the axle between the spaced-apart locations, the axle supports supporting the axle so as to allow the axle to rotate with the rotation of the wheel button and so as to allow a first end only of the axle to move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the axle so that the axle tilts within the housing when the wheel button is depressed;
• (e) a spring mounted within the housing and arranged to apply a force generated by the spring to a spring contacting surface of the axle so as to return the axle to its original position when the wheel button is released;
• (f) a microswitch mounted within the housing;
• (g) a switch engaging surface on the axle configured to depress the microswitch when the wheel button is depressed, the switch engaging surface being distinct from the spring contacting surface;
• (h) an optical encoding wheel on the axle;
• (i) a light source and a light sensor within the housing for detecting the movement of the optical encoding wheel;
• and
• (j) a detent wheel in the form of a cylindrical longitudinally grooved surface on the axle engaging a dimple on a detent spring mounted in the housing to provide a segmented feel to the rotation of the wheel button.

A computer input device comprising:

• an axle having first and second thrust collars;
• a rotatable wheel/button supported on the axle at a location between the first and second thrust collars;
• a housing having an outer surface;
• a spring within the housing positioned as to apply a force, directed toward the outer surface of the housing, to a location on the axle;
• a first axle support having a round recess extending therethrough, the axle extending through the round recess and the first thrust collar abutting the first axle support so as to prevent the axle from moving in a first longitudinal direction;
• a second axle support having an oblong recess extending therethrough, the axle extending through the oblong recess and the second thrust collar abutting the second axle support so as to prevent the axle from moving in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction, the first and second axle supports supporting the axle within the round and oblong recesses such that an edge of the rotatable wheel/button protrudes beyond the outer surface of the housing and such that the axle pivots in the round recess while sliding within the oblong recess when the protruding edge of the rotatable wheel/button is depressed toward the outer surface of the housing, wherein the round and oblong recesses each have an opening oriented toward the outer surface of the housing beyond which the wheel/button protrudes, and the two axle supports are each formed of a resilient material, whereby the axle may be snapped into the recesses during assembly or repair of the computer input device, but is retained securely in the recesses when the protruding edge of wheel/button is depressed toward the outer surface of the housing.