US5287090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination mouse and track ball unit
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-09-30
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Granted: 1994-02-15
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Expires: 2012-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A combined mouse and track ball are contained within an ergonomically designed housing or shell. The shell is curved to fit comfortably within the palm of the hand of an operator so that the forefinger and thumb are opposed to each other in a prehensile position. A single shell is operable by a left-handed or right-handed operator by rotation of a switch to change the alignment of the sensor pickups engaging the roller ball of the combined mouse and track ball. At least one switch plate extends across an upper surface of the shell for depression by a forefinger of the operator. The switch plate is pivoted about a central fulcrum so as to have a cursor shifted to a position above an icon located on a computer screen for depression of the switch plate and initiation of the computer function indicated.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan H. Grant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03541; G06F3/03543; G06F3/03549; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/033; G06F2203/0333
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A cursor control unit comprising: a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell, said roller ball extending through two openings in said shell, and shift means for elevating and lowering said shell so that said shell is usable as a mouse in a first position of said shift means and said shell is usable as a track ball in a second position of said shift means, two pickup sensors in contact with said roller ball with one of said two pickup sensors being movable, said one pickup sensor being movable between a first position for use of the shell as a track ball, a second position for use of the shell as a mouse with left-handed operators, and a third position for use of the shell as a mouse with right-handed operators.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A cursor control unit comprising: a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell, said roller ball extending through two openings in said shell, and shift means for elevating and lowering said shell so that said shell is usable as a mouse in a first position of said shift means and said shell is usable as a track ball in a second position of said shift means, two pickup sensors in contact with said roller ball with one of said two pickup sensors being movable, said one pickup sensor being movable between a first position for use of the shell as a track ball, a second position for use of the shell as a mouse with left-handed operators, and a third position for use of the shell as a mouse with right-handed operators.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A cursor control unit according to claim 1, wherein said shell includes at least one switch plate extending substantially across an entire width of said shell with said at least one switch plate being usable by a left or right-handed operator by contacting different portions of said at least one switch plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A cursor control unit according to claim 2, wherein said shell is shaped to align a hand of an operator cradling said shell in their palm so that the fingers are located adjacent to said at least one switch plate and the thumb is adjacent to one of said two openings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in a prehensile position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
A combined mouse and track ball unit comprising: a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell and extending through two openings in said shell, shift means for shifting use of said roller ball between use as a mouse and use as a track ball, and two pickup sensors contacting said roller ball and being movable dependent upon use of said roller ball as a mouse or as a track ball, said shell being shaped symmetrically to align either hand of an operator cradling said shell in their palm so that the fingers are located on top of said shell and the thumb is located adjacent to one of said two openings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in a prehensile position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
A combined mouse and track ball unit comprising: a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell and extending through two openings in said shell, shift means for shifting use of said roller ball between use as a mouse and use as a track ball, and two pickup sensors contacting said roller ball and being movable dependent upon use of said roller ball as a mouse or as a track ball, said shell being shaped symmetrically to align either hand of an operator cradling said shell in their palm so that the fingers are located on top of said shell and the thumb is located adjacent to one of said two openings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in a prehensile position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combined mouse and track ball unit according to claim 4, wherein said shell includes at least one switch plate extending substantially across an entire width of said shell with said at least one switch plate being usable by a left or right-handed operator by contacting different portions of said at least one switch plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combined mouse and track ball unit according to claim 4, wherein said shell includes means for elevating and lowering said shell with respect to a planar surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
A cursor control unit comprising: a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell, said roller ball extending through two openings in said shell, and shift means for elevating and lowering said shell so that said shell is usable as a mouse in a first position of said shift means and said shell is usable as a track ball in a second position of said shift means, at least one switch plate extending substantially across an entire width of said shell with said at least one switch plate being usable by a left or right-handed operator by contacting different portions of said at least one switch plate, and said shell being symmetrically shaped to align either hand of an operator cradling said shell in their palm so that the fingers are located adjacent to said at least one switch plate and the thumb is adjacent to one of said two openings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in a prehensile position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A cursor control unit comprising: a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell, said roller ball extending through two openings in said shell, and shift means for elevating and lowering said shell so that said shell is usable as a mouse in a first position of said shift means and said shell is usable as a track ball in a second position of said shift means, at least one switch plate extending substantially across an entire width of said shell with said at least one switch plate being usable by a left or right-handed operator by contacting different portions of said at least one switch plate, and said shell being symmetrically shaped to align either hand of an operator cradling said shell in their palm so that the fingers are located adjacent to said at least one switch plate and the thumb is adjacent to one of said two openings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in a prehensile position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cursor control unit according to claim 7 wherein said roller ball contacts two pickup sensors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cursor control unit according to claim 8, wherein one of said two pickup sensors is movable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A cursor control unit according to claim 9, wherein said one pickup sensor is movable between a first position for use of the shell as a track ball, a second position for use of the shell as a mouse with left-handed operators, and a third position for use of the shell as a mouse with right-handed operators.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
149 words
A cursor control unit comprising: a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell, said roller ball extending through two openings in said shell, and shift means for elevating and lowering said shell so that said shell is usable as a mouse in a first position of said shift means and said shell is usable as a track ball in a second position of said shift means, at least one switch plate on said shell with said at least one switch plate being usable by a left or right-handed operator, and said shell being symmetrically shaped to align either hand of an operator cradling said shell in their palm so that the fingers are located adjacent to said at least one switch plate and the thumb is adjacent to one of said two openings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in a prehensile position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
149 words
A cursor control unit comprising: a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell, said roller ball extending through two openings in said shell, and shift means for elevating and lowering said shell so that said shell is usable as a mouse in a first position of said shift means and said shell is usable as a track ball in a second position of said shift means, at least one switch plate on said shell with said at least one switch plate being usable by a left or right-handed operator, and said shell being symmetrically shaped to align either hand of an operator cradling said shell in their palm so that the fingers are located adjacent to said at least one switch plate and the thumb is adjacent to one of said two openings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in a prehensile position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cursor control unit according to claim 11, wherein said roller ball contacts two pickup sensors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cursor control unit according to claim 11, wherein one of said two pickup sensors is movable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A cursor control unit according to claim 13, wherein said one pickup sensor is movable between a first position for use of the shell as a track ball, a second position for use of the shell as a mouse with left-handed operators, and a third position for use of the shell as a mouse with right-handed operators.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-14 | 1997-08-16 | 1998-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-14 | 2001-08-16 | 2002-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-14 | 2005-08-16 | 2006-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |