Computer input device

Abstract

To provide a computer input device.SOLUTION: A trackball 10, which is a computer input device, includes a housing 14 that includes a top side part and a second side part 22 spaced from the top side part, and a ball 12 that is partially disposed within the housing 14 and rotatable relative to the housing 14. At least a portion of the ball 12 extends through an opening part 42 that extends through the top side part. The computer input device also includes a user operable actuator (plunger 150) that is accessible from the second side part 22 of the housing 14 and configured to eject the ball 12 from the housing 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to computer input devices, and more particularly to trackballs for use with computer systems. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0002] In one aspect, a computer input device includes a housing including a first side and a second side spaced from the first side, and a ball partially disposed within the housing and rotatable relative to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the ball extends through an opening in the first side. The computer input device also includes a user-operable actuator accessible from the second side of the housing and configured to eject the ball from the housing.

[0003] In another aspect, a computer input device includes a housing including a first side and a second side spaced from the first side; a ball partially disposed within the housing and rotatably disposed relative to the housing, with at least a portion of the ball extending through an opening in the first side. The computer input device also includes an actuator including a first end extending through the housing and accessible through the second side and a second end selectively engaging the ball, the actuator being movable relative to the housing such that the second end engages the ball to remove the ball from the housing.

[0004] In yet another aspect, a method for removably coupling a ball to a computer input device is disclosed. The computer input device in the method includes a housing having a first side portion and a second side portion spaced from the first side portion, and at least a portion of the ball extends through the first side portion. The method includes providing an actuator extending through the housing, the actuator including a first end accessible through the second side portion and a second end selectively engageable with the ball. The method further includes moving the actuator relative to the housing such that the second end engages the ball to remove the ball from the housing.

[0005] Further, other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent by considering the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Before any aspect of the present disclosure is described in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the detailed construction and arrangement of the components described in the following description or shown in the following drawings. The present disclosure can support other aspects and can be implemented or carried out in various ways. Also, it should be understood that the terms and phrases used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Terms of degree such as "substantially", "about", "nearly", etc. are understood by those skilled in the art to refer to a reasonable range outside the given range of values, for example, the general tolerances associated with the manufacture, assembly, and use of the described aspects.

[0008] Figures 1-5 show a computer input device 10 shown as a trackball configured to be used with a computer system. The trackball 10 has a ball 12 that is movable (e.g., rotatable) to communicate with a monitor of the computer system. The trackball 10 includes a housing 14 that supports the ball 12. The housing 14 includes a longitudinal axis A, a first side 18 (e.g., a top side), a second side 22 (e.g., a bottom side) spaced from the first side 18, a third side 26 (e.g., a right side), and a fourth side 30 (e.g., a left side) spaced from the third side 26. The top side 18 and the bottom side 22 are disposed between the left and right sides 26, 30. The top side 18 defines a plane 34 and includes a recess 38 and an aperture 42 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) disposed within the recess 38 and extending through the top side 18. The bottom side 22 is configured to support the trackball 10 on a support surface (e.g., a desk, etc.) and has a surface that defines a plane 46 parallel to the support surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the plane 34 of the top side 18 is disposed at an angle (e.g., an oblique angle) that is not parallel to the support surface. In other embodiments, the plane 34 may be parallel to the support surface. In still other embodiments, the plane 34 may be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the support surface. Further, the bottom side 22 includes a power switch 50, a WIFI button 54, and a dots per inch (DPI) button 58. Both the left side 30 and the right side 26 extend obliquely from both the top side 18 and the bottom side 22. The right side 26 includes a first button 62 (e.g., a right click button) and a second button 66 (e.g., a left click button) on both sides of a rotatable wheel 70. The housing 14 also includes additional buttons 74, 78 disposed between the right side 26 and the top side 18 and between the left side 30 and the top side 18. In other embodiments, the trackball 10 may have other types and / or numbers of buttons, and the buttons may be disposed in different configurations on the housing 14. The right side 26 is configured to receive a portion of the user's hand, and the top side 18 is configured to receive another portion of the user's hand.In particular, the right side portion 26 is sized, shaped, and contoured to comfortably support the palm and fingers of the user, and the top side portion 18 is sized, shaped, and contoured to comfortably receive the thumb of the user.

[0009] With reference to FIGS. 6-7, within the interior 82 of the housing 14, a power source 86, a printed circuit board (not shown), a ball support 90, and an ejection mechanism 94 are disposed. In the illustrated embodiment, the power source 86 includes one or more batteries that supply power to the trackball 10. The batteries are removable from the housing 14 and are replaceable through an aperture 102 that extends through the bottom side portion 22. The aperture 102 is selectively closed by a cover 106 coupled to the bottom side portion 22. In additional or alternative embodiments, the trackball 10 can be coupled to the housing 14 and an input port of a computer system and powered by a cord extending therebetween. The printed circuit board enables communication between the trackball 10 and the computer system. For example, the printed circuit board may include a chip for wireless communication with the computer system via Bluetooth® or other suitable wireless protocol.

[0010] Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 6-7, the ball support 90 is coupled to the top side 18 of the housing 14 and extends inwardly from the top side 18 of the housing 14. The ball support 90 has an arcuate body 110 that defines a recess 114. The recess 114 has a closed end positioned within the interior 82 and an open end positioned adjacent to the top side 18 and concentrically positioned with the aperture 42 of the top side 18 of the housing 14. A plane 118 defined at the open end of the ball support 90 is disposed at a non-perpendicular and non-parallel angle (i.e., an oblique angle) with respect to the plane 46 of the bottom side 22 and is substantially parallel to the plane 34 of the top side 18. The recess 114 and the aperture 42 of the ball support 90 within the top side 18 of the housing 14 are configured to movably receive (e.g., rotatably receive) the ball 12. That is, the ball 12 is rotatably supported within the recess 114 of the ball support 90 such that a portion of the ball 12 extends and is accessible from the top side 18 of the housing 14. The ball support 90 further includes an aperture 122 that extends through the body 110. An axis B defined through the aperture 122 is positioned at a non-perpendicular and non-parallel angle (i.e., an oblique angle) with respect to the plane 118 of the ball support 90 but is perpendicular to the plane 46 of the bottom side 22. A flange 126 is integrally coupled to the body 110 around the aperture 122.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the discharge mechanism 94 includes an actuator (e.g., a plunger) 150 and an actuator housing 154 (e.g., a plunger housing). The plunger 150 has a first end 158 that defines an operating surface 162, a lip 166 extending from the first end 158, and an extension member 170 extending from the first end 158 to a second end 174. A bias member (e.g., a spring) 178 is supported by the first end 158. As will be described below, the first end 158 and its operating surface 162 are accessible through an opening 180 in the bottom side 22. In other embodiments, the operating surface 162 may be accessible on another side of the housing 14. The longitudinal axis C of the plunger 150 extends along its length. With respect to FIG. 8, the plunger 150 also has a retaining mechanism 182. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining mechanism 182 includes a pair of hooks extending parallel to the axis C from the lip 166. As will be described in more detail below, each of the hooks has an engaging surface 186. Each of the engaging surfaces 186 engages a stop surface 190 within the housing 14 to limit the movement of the plunger 150.

[0012] In the illustrated embodiment, the plunger housing 14 includes a first portion 194 (FIG. 6) extending from an inner surface 198 (FIG. 8) of a bottom side 22 of the housing 14, and a second portion 202 (FIG. 6) extending from the first portion 194. As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the first portion 194 includes a substantially cylindrical and vertical wall 204 extending from the inner surface 198 into the housing 14, and a top wall 208 connected to the vertical wall 204. The vertical wall 204 receives a first end 158 and defines an opening 180 having a first diameter D1. The first portion 194 is dimensioned and shaped to movably receive the first end 158 of the plunger 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical wall 204 is integrally formed with the bottom side 22, but in other or additional embodiments, the vertical wall 204 may otherwise be coupled to the inner surface 198 of the bottom side 22. The top wall 208 is spaced from the bottom side 22. An aperture 212 extends through the top wall 208, and a pair of apertures 214 are disposed on opposite sides of the aperture 212 and extend through the walls 204, 208. In the illustrated embodiment, an edge 216 of each aperture 214 defines a stop surface 190. The second portion 202 (FIG. 6) includes a hollow cylindrical body 218 (FIG. 8) with an aperture 222 extending therethrough. The aperture 222 is smaller than the first diameter D1 (FIG. 6) and is sized and shaped to receive and guide an extension member 170 of the plunger 150 and has a second diameter D2 (FIG. 6). The second portion 202 is coupled to and supported by a flange 126 (FIG. 6). The apertures 122, 212, 222 of the ball support 90, the first portion 194, and the second portion 202 are aligned with each other along an axis B.

[0013] The first end 158 of the plunger 150 and the biasing mechanism 178 are positioned within the first portion 194 of the plunger housing 154. The extension member 170 extends from the first end through the openings 212, 222 in the first and second portions 194, 202 of the plunger housing 154 such that the second end 174 is disposed inside or adjacent to the opening 122 in the ball support 90. Accordingly, the longitudinal axis C of the extension member 170 is aligned with the axis B of the opening 122 of the ball support 90. Also, the longitudinal axis C of the plunger 150 is perpendicular to the plane 46 of the bottom side 22 and is disposed at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the planes 34, 118 of the top side 18 and the ball support 90. The plunger 150 is selectively movable within the housing 14 along the axis C.

[0014] The plunger 150 is movable between a first retracted position (FIG. 6) and a second extended position (FIG. 7) for removing the ball 12 from the housing 14. In the retracted position (FIG. 6), the biasing mechanism 178 biases the plunger 150 such that the first end 158 seats within the opening of the bottom side 22, the actuating surface 162 is in the same plane (or substantially the same plane) as the surface of the bottom side 22, and the second end 174 is positioned within or adjacent to the opening 122 of the ball support 90 and spaced from the ball 12. As shown in FIG. 6, in the retracted position, the first end 158 of the plunger 150 is spaced from the top wall 208 of the first portion 194 of the plunger housing 154. In other embodiments, the first end 158 of the plunger 150 may be in a plane (or substantially the same plane) as the top wall 208 of the plunger housing 154 while in the retracted position. With respect to FIG. 8, the engaging surface 186 of the retaining mechanism 182 engages the edge 216 of the opening 214 within the plunger housing 154 when the plunger 150 is in the retracted position.

[0015] In the extended position (FIG. 7), the first end 158 and the actuating surface 162 are positioned within the first portion 194 and the second end 174 is positioned within the recess 114 of the ball support 90. Also, in the extended position, the first end 158 is adjacent to the top wall 208 and the lip 166 may abut against the wall 208.

[0016] In operation, the user moves the plunger 150 from the retracted position to the extended position by applying a force to the actuating surface as indicated by the direction of arrow F. This force is parallel to axes B, C and perpendicular to the plane 46 of the bottom side 22. The force on the actuating surface 162 overcomes the bias of the biasing mechanism 178, whereby the plunger 150 moves in the direction of the force and the second end 174 engages the ball 12 to eject or remove the ball 12 from the recess 114 (as shown in FIG. 7). When the force is released, the biasing mechanism 178 returns the plunger 150 to the retracted position (FIG. 6). When the ball 12 is removed from the housing 14, the ball 12 can be cleaned before being reinserted into the recess 114. The ball 12 can be returned to the housing 14 by pushing the ball into the recess 114 with sufficient force (or a replacement ball can be inserted into the housing 14).

[0017] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to specific preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the disclosed present disclosure. The various features and advantages of the present disclosure are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A computer input device comprising: A housing including a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart from the first side portion, the second side portion being configured to support the housing on a support surface; A ball partially disposed inside the housing and rotatably disposed with respect to the housing, at least a portion of the ball extending through an opening in the first side portion; and An actuator extending through the housing and accessible through the second side portion, the actuator including a first end portion and a second end portion selectively engaging the ball; Including The actuator is movable in a direction toward the opening such that the second end portion engages the ball and pushes the ball out of the housing. A computer input device.

2. The actuator is movable between a first position where the second end portion is spaced apart from the ball and a second position where the second end portion engages the ball and pushes the ball out of the housing. The computer input device according to claim 1.

3. The actuator defines an axis perpendicular to the second side portion of the housing, and the actuator is movable along the axis between the first position and the second position. The computer input device according to claim 2.

4. The actuator further includes a retaining mechanism that engages a stop surface within the housing to prevent removal of the actuator from the housing. The computer input device according to claim 1.

5. The retaining mechanism includes a hook extending from the first end portion to the second end portion of the actuator, the hook including an engaging surface that engages the stop surface. The computer input device according to claim 4.

6. The computer input device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing mechanism that biases the second end portion of the actuator away from the ball.

7. The actuator is movable toward the opening by applying a force to the first end portion of the actuator to overcome the bias of the biasing mechanism. The computer input device according to claim 6.

8. The computer input device according to claim 7, wherein the force acts in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the actuator and perpendicular to the second side portion of the housing.

9. The computer input device according to claim 1, further comprising a ball support connected to the first side portion of the housing and extending from the first side portion, the ball support being configured to rotatably support the ball, the ball support including an opening for selectively receiving the second end portion of the actuator.

10. A computer input device comprising: A housing including a first side portion and a second side portion spaced from the first side portion, the second side portion being configured to support the housing on a support surface; A ball partially disposed inside the housing and rotatably disposed with respect to the housing, at least a part of the ball extending through an opening in the first side portion; and A user-operable actuator accessible from the second side portion of the housing and defining an axis perpendicular to the second side portion of the housing, the user-operable actuator being configured to move in a direction parallel to the axis of the user-operable actuator and perpendicular to the second side portion of the housing to eject the ball from the housing. A computer input device including the above.

11. The computer input device according to claim 10, wherein the actuator includes a first end portion defining an operating surface disposed within an opening in the second side portion of the housing, and an extension member extending from the first end portion to a second end portion within the housing.

12. The computer input device according to claim 11, wherein the first end portion of the actuator supports a biasing mechanism within the housing.

13. The computer input device according to claim 12, wherein the actuator is movable between a first position in which the second end portion is spaced from the ball and a second position in which the second end portion engages the ball and pushes the ball from the housing, and the biasing mechanism biases the actuator toward the first position.

14. The computer input device according to claim 13, wherein the actuator is movable from the first position to the second position by applying a force to the operating surface of the actuator in order to overcome the bias of the bias mechanism.

15. The computer input device according to claim 10, wherein the axis is at a non-perpendicular angle to a plane defined by the first side portion.

16. A computer input device comprising: A housing including a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart from the first side portion; A plunger housing at least partially defined by the housing, the plunger housing having an opening disposed in the second side portion and a wall disposed within the housing on the opposite side of the opening; A ball disposed partially within the housing and rotatably disposed with respect to the housing, at least a portion of the ball extending through an opening in the first side portion; and A plunger disposed within the plunger housing and movable with respect to the plunger housing, the plunger including a first end portion and an extension member extending from the first end portion through the wall within the plunger housing into the housing to a second end portion, the first end portion defining an operating surface accessible through the opening; comprising A computer input device, wherein a force applied to the operating surface moves the plunger between a first position where the second end portion is spaced apart from the ball and a second position where the second end portion engages the ball and removes the ball from the housing.

17. The computer input device according to claim 16, wherein the extension member defines an axis perpendicular to the operating surface and the second side portion of the housing, and the plunger is movable along the axis between the first position and the second position.

18. The computer input device according to claim 16, wherein the plunger further includes a first engagement surface that engages a stop surface of the plunger housing at the first position to limit movement of the plunger.

19. The computer input device according to claim 18, wherein the plunger further includes a second engagement surface that engages the wall of the plunger housing at the second position.

20. The computer input device according to claim 16, further comprising a bias mechanism disposed between the wall of the plunger housing and the first end portion of the plunger, the bias mechanism biasing the plunger to the first position.

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