Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including variation in thickness
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-07
2001-07-10
Loney, Donald J. (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including variation in thickness
C428S081000, C248S346010, C248S918000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06258444
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a mouse pad, on the surface of which a mouse for use with computers for input operation is manipulated to run.
BACKGROUND ART
A mouse is a box-shaped input device including a ball arranged therein to expose from the bottom side, and is used primarily with personal computers. The mouse is manipulated to run on the surface of a desk or the like when used. A mouse pad is also often employed to make the mouse run in a more stable manner and to achieve accurate input operation. As shown in
FIG. 5
, a conventional mouse pad B is formed of a plate being substantially uniform in thickness, and is made of vinyl chloride or the like.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
However, because the conventional mouse pad is formed of a plate being substantially uniform in thickness, there have been such problems that a mouse is not satisfactorily easy to manipulate and the user's wrist is fatigued. More specifically, as shown in
FIG. 5
, the wrist is bent inward (downward) from the normal state during manipulation of the mouse. An angle Q (see
FIG. 5
) between the arm and the hand is larger than the normal angle. This means that the user manipulates the mouse while the wrist is in the unnatural state. As a result, the mouse is not satisfactorily easy to manipulate and the wrist is fatigued. In particular, continuing manipulation of the mouse for a long time, while the wrist is in the unnatural state, makes the wrist much fatigued.
It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a mouse pad which enables a mouse to be manipulated more easily and gives less fatigue to the wrist.
The present invention has been accomplished with the view of solving the problems set forth above. According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a mouse pad for use in manipulating a mouse, the mouse pad has a mouse running surface on the front side on which the mouse runs, and a back surface on the back side brought into contact with a set surface on which the mouse pad is placed, the mouse running surface being inclined relative to the rear surface of the mouse pad.
In use of the mouse pad according to the first aspect, the mouse is placed on the mouse running surface and then manipulated. Since the mouse running surface is inclined relative to the back surface of the mouse pad, the user can manipulate the mouse with the wrist kept in the natural state. Therefore, the mouse is easier to manipulate and the wrist is less fatigued. In other words, the so-called “slope effect” can be developed from the ergonomic point of view.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a mouse pad for use in manipulating a mouse, the mouse pad has a mouse running surface on which the mouse runs, the mouse running surface being inclined relative to a set surface on which the mouse pad is placed.
In use of the mouse pad according to the second aspect, the mouse is placed on the mouse running surface and then manipulated. Since the mouse running surface is inclined relative to the set surface, the user can manipulate the mouse with the wrist kept in the natural state. Therefore, the mouse is easier to manipulate and the wrist is less fatigued. In other words, the so-called “slope effect” can be developed from the ergonomic point of view.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the mouse pad according to the first or second aspect, the mouse pad is triangular or trapezoidal in sectional shape.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the mouse pad according to any one of the first to third aspects, the mouse running surface is substantially rectangular and planar.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the mouse pad according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the mouse pad comprises a surface portion having the mouse running surface, and a thick base portion having the back surface brought into contact with the set surface on which the mouse pad is placed, the surface portion being made of vinyl chloride or a leather material, the thick base portion being made of a shock absorbing material.
In the mouse pad according to the fifth aspect, the mouse pad comprises the surface portion and the thick base portion, the surface portion being formed of vinyl chloride or a leather material, thick base portion being formed of a shock absorbing material. Therefore, the mouse is able to run on the mouse pad with stability.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5492298 (1996-02-01), Walker
patent: 5678800 (1997-10-01), Markussen
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Kitajima Craft LTD
Loney Donald J.
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