Ergonomic stylus storable in the pen slot of a personal...

Details Ergonomic stylus storable in the pen slot of a personal... Ergonomic stylus storable in the pen slot of a personal...

2003-09-08

2004-11-16

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...

For electronic systems and devices

C345S179000, C401S258000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06819557

ABSTRACT:

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a stylus for a Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”), a tablet personal computer (“Tablet PC”) and other computers with pen-based interfaces. The invention relates more particularly to an ergonomic stylus that is more convenient, more comfortable and ergonomically superior to styli known in the art, and which is storable in the pen slot of a pen-based computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today many people are in pursuit of high efficiency, causing them to change from conventional diaries, personal computers and notebook computers to more portable computer devices. Among these portable computer devices, the PDA is extremely popular. This is because the PDA is light-weight, easy to start, highly expandable and has a complete range of accessories allowing the users to install various kinds of application software to meet their needs. With a typical PDA, users can arrange schedules, search for contact information, browse outstanding appointments, take immediate memos, receive and send emails, play games and perform other tasks. Some PDAs are Internet-enabled and still others are combined with a cellular telephone. The latter type of a PDA is commonly referred to as a “smart phone.”
The Tablet PC is another type of popular pen-based portable computer device. Tablet PCs can be used to perform the same functions performed by the PDA, as described above. Because the PDA is the most popular of these portable computers, this patent application most frequently refers to PDAs. However, it is understood that the invention disclosed herein is equally and likewise applicable to PDAs, Tablet PCs and other computers with a pen-based interface.
FIG. 1
a
shows a three-dimensional block diagram of a conventional PDA. The PDA
100
in
FIG. 1
a
includes a base unit
105
, a display panel
110
and control buttons
115
.
Because the display panel
110
may be quite small and compact, it follows that the each of the microswitches on the panel is quite small and may be crowded quite closely together. Successfully entering a command into the PDA is dependent upon having a suitable instrument for contacting the screen in a limited area in a manner that will operate a selected microswitch, but will not operate other, adjacent microswitches inadvertently. Typically, computers with pen-based interfaces are sold with a stylus that is held in the user's hand and that may be placed in contact with the screen at a selected position to operate a microswitch to carry out a particular command.
FIG. 1
b
shows such a prior art stylus
120
being held by a hand of a user. Users operate the PDA
100
by lightly touching the stylus
120
to the display panel
110
.
The prior art stylus
120
(
FIG. 1
b
) is stored in the base unit
105
by the user sliding it into the pen slot
130
along with the direction of an arrow
135
shown in
FIG. 1
a
. Storing the pen thusly lessens the risk of the stylus being lost, makes the stylus readily accessible to the PDA user and provides for efficient storage of the stylus. The Tablet PC and other computers with pen-based interfaces have like pen slots that are identical in use and function as that described here in relation to the PDA.
As noted above, the PDA
100
is currently used for many different tasks. Also, as PDA technology continues to develop, people will become more reliant on their PDA and will use their PDA to perform a greater number of tasks. This will require the user to spend a greater amount of time operating their PDA
100
.
Depending on the particular PDA, pen slots
130
range in internal circumference from {fraction (2/16)} of an inch to {fraction (3/16)} of an inch. Since prior art styli
120
must fit into the pen slot
130
, they are narrower than {fraction (2/16)} of an inch to {fraction (3/16)} of an inch (see
FIG. 1
b
). This results in styli too small to be comfortable to be held by the user for a prolonged period of time. When holding the stylus
120
, the point of support for the user's hand is at the place grasping the stylus
120
with the fingers. The smaller the point of support, the greater pressure the user must apply to hold the stylus
120
. The greater the pressure, the more strain and discomfort the user experiences in his or her hand. Therefore, holding the prior art stylus
120
requires a clenched hand position that is uncomfortable over prolonged periods, particularly for children, the elderly and persons with arthritis or handicaps. Moreover, such clenched positions can lead to various physical and neurological maladies, pain and discomfort, even in healthy people.
It is generally understood that wider points of support for the hand are healthier and more ergonomic. In addition to the prior art stylus
120
shown in
FIG. 1
b
, ink pen/styli combination instruments are also known in the art. (E.g., Robb, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 9/805,617). While these devices tend to be wider than prior art styli, they are not designed for and are too large to fit within a pen slot
130
. Because of this, such devices have the disadvantage of having to be stored outside the PDA, where they are more easily lost and forgotten. These devices also must be stored apart from the PDA, which is inefficient and inconvenient for the user.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the current invention to provide personal digital assistant users, and users of other pen-based computers, with a single device which is both comfortable for use over a prolonged period and which is storable in the pen slot of a PDA or other pen-based computer.
According to the invention, an ergonomic stylus for a personal digital assistant, a tablet PC and other pen-based computer, is disclosed in the below-mentioned embodiments. Because of its novel design, users find the ergonomic stylus disclosed herein to be more convenient, more comfortably and healthier because the digits of the hand are more relaxed than with styli known in the art. At the same time, the current invention is convenient, efficient and less likely to be lost or forgotten because it is storable in the pen slot of the pen-based computer.


REFERENCES:
patent: 336540 (1886-02-01), Wyttenbach
patent: 4127338 (1978-11-01), Laybourne
patent: 5885018 (1999-03-01), Sato
patent: 6225988 (2001-05-01), Robb
patent: 6626598 (2003-09-01), Schneider
patent: 6637962 (2003-10-01), Roche et al.

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