Ambidextrous upright computer mouse

6,072,471

08/932,115

September 17, 1997

An ambidextrous upright computer mouse includes a relatively upright finger engaging side on one side, and a thumb engaging side on an opposite side. Two sets of buttons are positioned at opposite ends of the finger engaging side. The mouse is symmetrical about a vertical transverse medial plane. When the finger engaging side is on the right side, the mouse can be grasped by a right hand. When the mouse is rotated so that the finger engaging side is on the left side, it can be grasped by the left hand. There is always a set of buttons at the forward end of the mouse, regardless of its orientation. Only one set of buttons is enabled at any time. The sets of buttons are alternately enabled and disabled by moving a selector switch. Ambidexterity is provided without compromising feel and comfort for either hand.

Lo, Jack (Daly City, CA)

I claim

1. An ambidextrous computer mouse, comprising

a generally horizontal bottom;

a finger engaging side positioned between about 40-90 degrees relative to said bottom for supporting a palm and a set of fingers of a hand in a position upright enough to substantially improve comfort and reduce the possibility of injury, said finger engaging side having opposite ends aligned along a longitudinal direction;

a thumb engaging side opposite said finger engaging side for engaging a thumb of said hand;

a right-handed button arranged at one of said ends of said finger engaging side; and

a left-handed button arranged at another one of said ends of said finger engaging side;

so that when said mouse is oriented to position said finger engaging side toward a right side of a user, said end of said finger engaging side with said right-handed button is a front of said mouse, said right-handed button is thus at said front of said mouse for being activated by a fingertip of a right hand, and when said mouse is oriented to position said finger engaging side toward a left side of said user, said end of said finger engaging side with said left-handed button is said front of said mouse, said left-handed button is thus at said front of said mouse for being activated by a fingertip of a left hand.

2. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 1, further including an undercut arranged along a lower edge of said finger engaging side for engaging a top of a little finger and enabling said mouse to be lifted.

3. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 1, further including a groove arranged on said bottom and extending between opposite longitudinal ends thereof, and a cable extending into said bottom through said groove, said cable being recessed into said groove so that said cable may extend from either one of said ends of said bottom.

4. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 1, further including a selector switch movable between at least two positions, said selector switch enabling said right-handed button and disabling said left-handed button in one of said positions, and enabling said left-handed button and disabling said right-handed button in another one of said positions.

5. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 1, further including a rotatable member arranged on one of said sides of said mouse and rotatable between at least two positions about an axis generally perpendicular thereto, and a cable extending from said rotatable member, a proximal end of said cable being generally parallel to said longitudinal direction, said rotatable member positioning said cable toward said right-handed button in one of said positions, and toward said left-handed button in another one of said positions.

6. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 1, further including a rotatable member arranged on one of said sides of said mouse and rotatable between at least two positions about an axis generally perpendicular thereto, and a cable extending from said rotatable member, a proximal end of said cable being generally parallel to said longitudinal direction, said rotatable member positioning said cable toward said right-handed button and enabling said right-handed button and disabling said left-handed button in one of said positions, said rotatable member positioning said cable toward said left-handed button and enabling said left-handed button and disabling said right-handed button in another one of said positions.

7. An ambidextrous computer mouse, comprising

a housing including a finger engaging side with opposite ends aligned along a longitudinal direction, and a thumb engaging side opposite said finger engaging side;

a cable attached to said housing, said cable being selectively securable to said housing to extend longitudinally from adjacent either one of said ends of said finger engaging side so as to avoid interfering with a hand of a user;

so that when said mouse is oriented to position said finger engaging side toward a right side of a user, said end of said finger engaging side with said right-handed button is a front of said mouse, said right-handed button is thus at said front of said mouse for being activated by a fingertip of a right hand, and said cable is selected to be secured at said front of said mouse, and when said mouse is oriented to position said finger engaging side toward a left side of said user, said end of said finger engaging side with said left-handed button is said front of said mouse, said left-handed button is thus at said front of said mouse for being activated by a fingertip of a left hand, said cable is selected to be secured at said front of said mouse.

8. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 7, further including an undercut arranged along a lower edge of said finger engaging side for engaging a top of a little finger and enabling said mouse to be lifted.

9. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 7, further including a bottom attached to a lower edge of said finger engaging side, said bottom having opposite longitudinal ends, said cable extending into said bottom, said cable being attachable to either one of said ends of said bottom.

10. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 7, further including a selector switch movable between at least two positions, said selector switch enabling said right-handed button and disabling said left-handed button in one of said positions, and enabling said left-handed button and disabling said right-handed button in another one of said positions.

11. An ambidextrous computer mouse, comprising

a finger engaging side with opposite ends aligned along a longitudinal direction, said finger engaging side for engaging a set of fingers of a hand;

a cable attached to said thumb engaging side so as to avoid interfering with said fingers;

12. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 11, further including an undercut arranged along a lower edge of said finger engaging side for engaging a top of a little finger and enabling said mouse to be lifted.

13. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 11, further including a selector switch movable between at least two positions, said selector switch enabling said right-handed button and disabling said left-handed button in one of said positions, and enabling said left-handed button and disabling said right-handed button in another one of said positions.

14. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 11, further including a rotatable member arranged on said thumb engaging side and rotatable between at least two positions about an axis generally perpendicular thereto, said cable extending through said rotatable member, a proximal end of said cable being generally parallel to said longitudinal direction, said rotatable member positioning said cable toward said right-handed button in one of said positions, and toward said left-handed button in another one of said positions.

15. The ambidextrous computer mouse of claim 11, further including a rotatable member arranged on said thumb engaging side of said mouse and rotatable between at least two positions about an axis generally perpendicular thereto, said cable extending through said rotatable member, a proximal end of said cable being generally parallel to said longitudinal direction, said rotatable member positioning said cable toward said right-handed button and enabling said right-handed button and disabling said left-handed button in one of said positions, said rotatable member positioning said cable toward said left-handed button and enabling said left-handed button and disabling said right-handed button in another one of said positions.

345/163; 345/165; 345/167; 341/20

G09G 508

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