JP3317864B2 - Mouse device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a mouse device, and more particularly to a mouse device suitable for a portable computer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of portable computers and word processors, a mouse device as an input device that is suitable for carrying is demanded. As a conventional mouse device for a portable computer, a mouse device is built in or attached to a main body of a portable personal computer or the like so that the mouse device can be carried and used without impairing portability. Is known (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
-152417).

[0003]

The first problem of the above-mentioned conventional device is that the size of the mouse body is reduced because the mouse is built in or attached to the body of the portable personal computer. The optimal size of the mouse for the operator is such that it fits in the hand, but if the size of the mouse is smaller than that, the portability will be improved but the operability will be poor.

[0004] A second problem is that the conventional technique assumes that the mouse cable is wireless. Since wireless has no cable, portability is excellent, but accuracy is poor and operability is poor.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve portability of a mouse device without impairing its operability.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a housing for accommodating a mouse function component such as a trackball and a contractible or foldable structure are provided adjacent to the housing. The mouse device was constituted by the grip portion.

[0007] For example, the holding portion can be constituted by a plurality of plate members joined by using a hinge member, and further, the bottom surface or side surface of the holding portion can be constituted by an elastic member.

As described above, the size of the mouse itself during operation is the same as that of a normal mouse, so that the operability does not deteriorate. In addition, when carrying, by contracting the grip portion, the size becomes much smaller (for example, about 1/3) than when the operation is performed. Further, the cable may be stored inside the main body, so that portability is further improved.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a mouse device 1 according to the present invention, FIG. 2A is a plan view when a mouse is used, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view when a mouse is used, and FIG.
FIG. 3A is a partially enlarged view, FIG. 3A is a plan view when folded (when contracted), and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view when folded.

The mouse device 1 includes a housing 2 for accommodating mouse functional components (components for functioning as a mouse) such as a trackball, a switch button, and an electronic circuit, and a foldable grip adjacent to the housing 2. And a unit 3. In the housing 2, a mouse function component such as a track ball 2a, a left button 2b, a right button 2c, a cable 2d for connection to the outside, an electronic circuit, and the like are attached.

The grip 3 is a portion that is gripped by the palm when the mouse is used. The upper surface of the grip portion 3 is formed by covers 31 and 32 made of a plate material, the left side surface is formed by side covers 33 and 34, the right side surface is formed by side covers 35 and 36, and the rear end surface is formed by the cover 3.
7 and the bottom surface of the mouse is formed by the bottom cover 39. The inside of the holding part 3 is hollow. The side covers 33 and 35 and the cover 37 are made of a plate material, and the side covers 34 and 36 and the bottom cover 39 are elastic members (elastic members), and are made of a material such as rubber, which is rich in elasticity and hard. desirable. Further, the plate material of the covers 31, 32, 33, 35, 37 is desirably light and hard such as plastic. The bottom cover 39 is attached between the housing 2 and the cover 37, and the side covers 34, 36 are attached between the side cover 33 and the cover 37 and between the side cover 35 and the cover 37, respectively.

The cover 31 and the cover 32 are foldably connected by a hinge member 38. As shown in FIG. 4A, the hinge member 38 includes plate members 38a and 38a.
b The receiving portions 38c formed at the respective ends are alternately aligned, and coupled to the through holes formed in the receiving portions 38c through the shafts 38d as shown in FIG. 4B, and as shown in FIG. 4C. Axis 3
It is made rotatable around 8d. Similarly, the housing 2 and the hinge member 38 are rotatably connected as shown in FIG.

The contact portion between the housing 2 and the cover 31
As shown in FIG. 1A, concave and convex shapes are formed on each of them, and these are fitted and locked. The housing 2 and the side cover 33 are fastened as shown in FIG. That is, a pin 2f is provided on the housing 2 side, while a stop plate 33b that opens and closes around a hinge 33a is attached to the side cover 33 side.
b is locked to the pin 2f, so that the side cover 33
To the housing 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the cover 31 and the cover 32 have irregularities formed at each end, and the ends are fitted by the irregularities.

Next, the operation of contracting the grip 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the mouse is used. When the grip is contracted from this state,
As shown in (b), the hinge portion of the hinge member 38 is pushed up, the left end of the cover 31 is detached from the housing 2, and then, as shown in (c), the left end of the cover 31 is slightly raised, and The member 38 is bent down and the cover 31 is slid sideways so as to overlap the housing 2.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the storing operation of the cover 32. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the mouse is used. When the grip is contracted from this state, the hinge of the hinge member 38 is pushed upward as shown in FIG.
2 is removed from the cover 31, and then the left end of the cover 32 is raised slightly upward as shown in FIG.
8 is bent down and the cover 32 is slid to cover 31
On top of.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the storing operation of the side cover 33. FIG. 7A shows a state when the mouse is used. When the grip is contracted from this state, the hinge of the hinge member 38 is pushed outward (downward in the figure) as shown in FIG. 33, the left end of the side cover 33 is separated from the housing 2, and then the left end of the side cover 33 is slightly pushed outward (downward in the figure) as shown in FIG. To

Bottom cover 39, side covers 34, 36
When the mouse is used, the cover 31, 35, 33, 35, 37 expands as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and when the gripper contracts, as shown in FIG. To function as a close contact with the housing 2.

Further, when the grip is contracted, the cable 2d
Take up. The mechanism is shown in FIG. In the housing 2, a reel 4 for winding the cable 2 d is rotatably mounted on a shaft 5, and a gear 6 is fixed to the reel 4.
Is engaged with the gear 7. In the gear 7, a spring 8 for urging the gear 7 in the winding direction of the cable 2d is attached. A through hole is formed in the side plate 2e of the housing, and a hole 4a is formed in the side surface of the reel 4. The rotation of the reel 4 is stopped by inserting the lock pin 9 into the hole 4a through the through hole.

When using the mouse, the lock pin 9 is pulled out and the cable 2d is pulled out. Then, the rotation of the reel 4 rotates the gear 7, and the mainspring 8
Is stored in the cable winding direction. When the cable is pulled out to an appropriate length, the lock pin 9 is inserted into the hole 4a of the reel, and the reverse rotation of the reel 4 is stopped. When the lock pin 9 is pulled out, the reel 4 is rotated by the force of the mainspring 8, and the cable 2d is wound.

As described above, when using the mouse,
Since the grip portion can be formed in an optimal size and shape for using the mouse, the operability of the mouse is not impaired. Further, when carrying, each cover is overlapped on the upper surface and the side surface of the housing 2 and the grip portion is contracted, so that the size is about one-third of that in use in the above example, and the portability is improved. By forming the side surface or the bottom surface of the grip portion with an elastic member such as rubber, a lightweight grip portion having a high shrinkage ratio can be configured. By winding the cable, portability is further improved.

In the above example, the holding portion is formed by a plurality of plate members, and the plate members are overlapped on the upper surface of the housing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is also good. Further, the gripper may be configured using a detachable block, or the gripper may be configured so that the interior is hollow and inflated with air or the like by a member such as a balloon.
In short, the structure is such that the grip portion has a normal size when the mouse is used, and the grip portion contracts when the mouse is not used. Alternatively, the gripping portion may be a structure that can be folded.

[0022]

According to the present invention, when a mouse is used, the size of the mouse is the same as that of a normal mouse, and the size can be reduced when the mouse is carried. Therefore, the portability can be improved without impairing the operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an example of a mouse device according to the present invention.

2A is a plan view of the mouse device, FIG. 2B is a sectional view, and FIG. 2C is a partially enlarged view.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the mouse device when it is contracted, and FIG.
Is a sectional view.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a structure and an attachment structure of a hinge member.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a housing operation of the cover.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a housing operation of another cover.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a storage operation of the side cover.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a cable winding mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mouse apparatus 2 Housing 3 Grasping part 31, 32 Cover 38 Hinge member

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housing for accommodating a component having a function of a mouse, and a holding portion formed with the housing to form an outer shape of the mouse and to be held by a palm, wherein the holding portion is the housing. A mouse device characterized by being folded over. 2. The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion has the same or similar shape as the shape of the housing when folded over the housing. 3. The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion includes a side surface portion overlapping a side surface of the housing and an upper surface portion overlapping an upper surface of the housing. 4. A housing for accommodating a component having the function of a mouse, and first and second covers, wherein the first and second covers are arranged continuously and in line with the housing, and are gripped by a palm. A grip portion formed in a shape to be formed; a first member for positioning the first cover at a position covering the housing; and a second member for positioning the second cover at a position overlapping the first cover. And a mouse device. 5. A housing having at least one surface and accommodating a part having a function of a mouse, and a holding part formed together with the housing to form an outer shape of the mouse and to be held by a palm. A mouse device, wherein a part of the grip portion is folded on the one surface of the housing.