Computer input device with digit support and natural position actuators
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsHugh E. McLoone, Steven W. Fisher, Carl J. Ledbetter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mouse has sufficient width to support the distal phalanges of a user's ring finger and little finger while the user's middle finger is positioned over a secondary button of the mouse. The mouse also provides at least one side button positioned so that it is not contacted by the user's thumb during “pinching” of the mouse but is easily accessible by the user's thumb. In addition, the mouse provides a wheel with a large number of ribs that increase friction between the user's finger and the wheel.
Claims8
A mouse input device for a computer system, the mouse capable of being moved across a working surface to move a displayed object on a computer display, the mouse comprising:
- an upper casing;
- a bottom surface designed to face the working surface;
- a thumb pinching area located on a side of the mouse proximate the bottom surface;
- a primary button;
- a secondary button;
- and
- at least two side buttons located above the thumb pinching area in a direction away from the bottom surface, wherein the two side buttons comprise a forward button and a rear button, a majority of the forward button being closer to the front of the mouse than a majority of the rear button.
A mouse for a computer system, the mouse comprising:
- a thumb gripping position located on a side of the mouse;
- a primary button positioned so as to be capable of being actuated by a user's index finger when the user's thumb is located on the thumb gripping position;
- and
- two side buttons positioned so that a gap between the user's thumb and the user's index finger is reduced when the user's thumb is moved from the gripping position to actuate a side button while the user's index finger remains fixed on the primary button, wherein the thumb gripping position comprises a surface that is substantially level with a surface of the one two side buttons along a boundary between the gripping position and the two side buttons, and wherein the two side buttons comprise a forward button and a rear button, the majority of the forward button being closer to the front of the mouse than a majority of the rear button.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.