EP0818725A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ergonomic housing for a micro computer
Assignee: Hand Held Products Inc
•
Filing: 1997-07-11
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-07-11
Abstract
Abstract An ergonomic housing (12) for a micro computer (11) has an upper surface (14) for positioning interface components (18,20,22) thereon and a lower surface (16) having a front portion (24) and a rear portion (26). A finger saddle (28) is defined between the front portion (24) and the rear portion (26) for receiving an operator's finger therein and enabling the micro computer housing to be comfortably held in an operator's hand when the operator's hand is in its naturally relaxed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin J. Ahearn
- 👤 Lawrence R. Ober
- 👤 Michiel Reinier Ausems
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10881; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/02; G06F15/0216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
An ergonomic housing for a micro
computer comprising: an upper surface and a lower surface having a front portion and a
rear portion defining therebetween a recessed finger
saddle for receiving an operator's finger therein,
enabling said housing to be comfortably held in an
operator's hand when the operator's hand is in its
naturally relaxed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A housing according to Claim 1 wherein
said finger saddle comprises a channel separating said
front portion and said rear portion of said housing and
being generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis
thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A housing according to Claim 2 wherein
said finger saddle comprises a generally U-shaped
configuration, said finger saddle being sufficiently
recessed to maintain said housing in position with
respect to an operator's finger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A housing according to Claim 1 wherein
said finger saddle has a generally U-shaped
configuration generally perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of said housing, and a generally U-shaped
configuration in a second direction generally
parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing
conforming to the natural contour of an operator's
relaxed finger to thereby limit unwanted relative
movement between the finger positioned therein and said
housing when said housing is held in an operator's
hand.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A housing according to Claim 1 wherein at least
one of said front portion and said rear portion include a
generally planar lower surface forming a base enabling said
housing to rest in a stable position on a substantially
planar surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A housing according to any preceding claim,
including at least one interface component on said upper
surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A housing according to Claim 1 wherein said
interface component comprises an activation switch for the
micro computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A housing according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein said
interface component comprises an electrical interface for
connecting electronic components thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A housing according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein said
interface component comprises a mechanical interface for
mechanically connecting a component thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim
including an activation switch positioned on said upper
surface in general axial alignment with said finger saddle
so as to allow activation of said activation switch by
natural movement of an operator's thumb.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim
comprising an activation switch positioned on said lower
surface within said finger saddle so as to allow activation
of said activation switch by natural movement of an
operator's finger within said finger saddle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim wherein
said finger saddle is positioned adjacent a center portion
of said housing so as to receive an operator's finger.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim
comprising at least a pair of generally parallel finger
saddles located intermediate said front portion and said
rear portion along said lower surface of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim wherein
said upper surface comprises a generally planar
configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim
comprising an aperture defined in said front portion at a
downwardly diverging angle transverse to the longitudinal
axis of said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A housing according to Claim 15 wherein said
aperture is recessed within said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A housing according to Claim 16 or 17 wherein said
downwardly diverging angle approaches 45° from the
horizontal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim
comprising a display located on said upper surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim
comprising a keypad located on said upper surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim
comprising a selectively interchangeable accessory module
connected to said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A housing according to Claim 20 wherein said
accessory module comprises an expanded memory, a pistol
grip, an auxiliary battery and/or an expanded keypad.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim wherein
said front portion of said upper surface and said lower
surface cooperatively comprise a bulbous configuration
enabling said housing to easily be guided into one of a
pocket and a holster and providing an unobstructed view of
a desired target.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim wherein
said upper surface further comprises a peripheral rib
defining a recess for protectively retaining at least one of
a display and said at least one interactive component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim wherein
said upper surface further comprises a thumb rest for
retaining an operator's thumb adjacent said at least one
interactive component.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A housing according to Claim 20 or 21 including a
removable portion for selectively receiving the accessory
module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A housing according to any preceding Claim wherein
said housing comprises a clam-shell configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A housing according to Claim 26 wherein the clam-shell
configuration at least includes a top cover and a
bottom cover.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A housing according to Claim 25 comprising at
least a pair of generally parallel finger saddles located
intermediate said front portion and said rear portion along
said lower surface of said housing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
77 words
A housing according to any preceding claim 5 to 28
wherein said finger saddle has a generally U-shaped
configuration in a first direction generally perpendicular
to a longitudinal axis of said housing, and a generally U-shaped
configuration in a second direction generally
parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing, for
receiving therein an operator's finger, enabling said
housing to be comfortably held in an operator's hand when
the operator's hand is in its naturally relaxed position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
An ergonomic housing for a micro computer
comprising an upper surface for positioning at least one
interface component thereon, and a lower surface having a
front portion and a rear portion defining therebetween a
recessed finger saddle for receiving an operator's finger
therein, enabling said housing to perch on the operator's
finger when said housing is held within an angle of between
0° and 50° from the horizontal, and thereby allowing the
operation of said at least one interface component without
requiring the housing to be firmly squeezed by the remaining
fingers of the operator's hand.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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