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. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to trackballs for use with computer systems.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0002] In one aspect, a computer input device includes a housing including a first side portion and a second side portion spaced from the first side portion, and a ball partially disposed within the housing and rotatable relative to the housing. At least a portion of the ball extends through an opening in the first side portion. The computer input device also includes a user-operable actuator accessible from the second side portion 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 portion and a second side portion spaced from the first side portion; a ball partially disposed within the housing and rotatably disposed relative to the housing; At least a portion of the ball extends through an opening in the first side portion. The computer input device also includes an actuator including a first end extending through the housing and accessible through the second side portion and a second end selectively engaging the ball; the actuator is movable relative to the housing such that the second end engages the ball to remove the ball from the housing.

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

[0005] Furthermore, other aspects of this disclosure will become apparent by considering the detailed description and accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A front perspective view of a computer input device according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 2] Another front perspective view of the computer input device shown in Figure 1 is presented. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows a rear perspective view of the computer input device. [Figure 4] Another rear perspective view of the computer input device shown in Figure 1 is presented. [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows a bottom view of the computer input device. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the computer input device shown in Figure 1, along line 6-6. [Figure 7] This is another cross-sectional view of the computer input device in Figure 1, along line 6-6 in Figure 5, showing the ball ejection mechanism. [Figure 8] Figure 5 shows another cross-sectional view of the computer input device shown in Figure 1, along line 8-8. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] Before any aspect of this disclosure is described in detail, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited in its application to the detailed configuration and arrangement of components described in the following description or shown in the following drawings. This disclosure may support other aspects and may be implemented or carried out in various ways. It should also be understood that the terms and vocabulary used herein are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting. Terms of degree such as “substantially,” “about,” and “approximately” will be understood by those skilled in the art to refer to a reasonable range outside the given range of values, for example, a general tolerance relating to the manufacture, assembly, and use of the described aspects.

[0008] Figures 1 to 5 show a computer input device 10, shown as a trackball configured for use with a computer system. The trackball 10 has a ball 12 that is movable (e.g., rotatable) for communicating with the 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 apart 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 apart from the third side 26. The top side 18 and the bottom side 22 are located between the left and right sides 26, 30. The top side 18 defines a plane 34 and includes a recess 38 and an opening 42 (see Figures 6 and 7) located within the recess 38 and extending through the top side 18. The bottom portion 22 is configured to support the trackball 10 on a support surface (e.g., a desk) and has a surface defining a plane 46 parallel to the support surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the plane 34 of the top portion 18 is positioned at an angle (e.g., oblique angle) not parallel to the support surface. In other embodiments, the plane 34 may be parallel to the support surface. In yet another embodiment, the plane 34 may be perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the support surface. Furthermore, the bottom portion 22 includes a power switch 50, a WIFI button 54, and a dots per inch (DPI) button 58. The left portion 30 and the right portion 26 both extend obliquely from both the top portion 18 and the bottom portion 22. The right portion 26 includes a first button 62 (e.g., a right-click button) and a second button 66 (e.g., a left-click button) on either side of a rotatable wheel 70. The housing 14 also includes additional buttons 74, 78 positioned 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, which may be arranged on the housing 14 in different configurations. The right side 26 is configured to accommodate part of the user's hand, and the top side 18 is configured to accommodate another part of the user's hand.In particular, the right side portion 26 is sized, molded, and contoured to comfortably support the user's palm and fingers, and the apical portion 18 is sized, molded, and contoured to comfortably accommodate the user's thumb.

[0009] With respect to Figures 6 and 7, the interior 82 of the housing 14 houses a power supply 86, a printed circuit board (not shown), a ball support 90, and an ejection mechanism 94. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply 86 comprises one or more batteries that supply power to the trackball 10. The batteries are removable from the housing 14 and replaceable through an opening 102 extending through the bottom side 22. The opening 102 is selectively closed by a cover 106 coupled to the bottom side 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 between them. 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 respect to Figures 6 and 7, the ball support 90 is coupled to the top side 18 of the housing 14 and extends inward from the top side 18 of the housing 14. The ball support 90 has an arc-shaped 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 respect to the opening 42 of the top side 18 of the housing 14. The plane 118 defined at the open end of the ball support 90 is positioned at a non-perpendicular and non-parallel angle (i.e., 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 opening 42 of the ball support 90 within the top side 18 of the housing 14 are configured to movably (e.g., rotatably) receive the ball 12. In other words, the ball 12 is rotatably supported within a recess 114 of the ball support 90, thereby extending a portion of the ball 12 and making it accessible from the top side 18 of the housing 14. The ball support 90 further includes an opening 122 extending through the body 110. The axis B defined through the opening 122 is positioned at a non-perpendicular and non-parallel angle (i.e., oblique angle) with respect to the plane 118 of the ball support 90, but perpendicular to the plane 46 of the bottom side 22. The flange 126 is integrally coupled to the body 110 around the opening 122.

[0011] As shown in Figures 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 defining 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 described below, the first end 158 and its operating surface 162 are accessible through an opening 180 on the bottom side 22. In other embodiments, the operating surface 162 may be accessible from another side of the housing 14. The longitudinal axis C of the plunger 150 extends along its length. With respect to Figure 8, the plunger 150 also has a retaining mechanism 182. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining mechanism 182 includes a pair of hooks extending from the lip 166 parallel to axis C. As will be described in more detail below, each hook has an engaging surface 186. Each of the engaging surfaces 186 engages with a stop surface 190 in the housing 14 to restrict the movement of the plunger 150.

[0012] In the illustrated embodiment, the plunger housing 14 includes a first portion 194 (Figure 6) extending from the internal surface 198 (Figure 8) of the bottom side 22 of the housing 14, and a second portion 202 (Figure 6) extending from the first portion 194. As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the first portion 194 includes a substantially cylindrical vertical wall 204 extending from the internal 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 molded to movably receive the first end 158 of the plunger 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical wall 204 is formed integrally with the bottom side 22, but in other or additional embodiments, the vertical wall 204 may be coupled to the internal surface 198 of the bottom side 22, otherwise. The top wall 208 is spaced apart from the bottom side 22. An opening 212 extends through the top wall 208, and a pair of openings 214 are located on the opposite side of the opening 212 and extend through walls 204, 208. In the illustrated embodiment, the edges 216 of each opening 214 define a stop surface 190. The second portion 202 (Figure 6) includes a hollow cylindrical body 218 (Figure 8) through which an opening 222 extends. The opening 222 has a molded second diameter D2 (Figure 6) that is smaller than the first diameter D1 (Figure 6) and sized to receive and guide the extension member 170 of the plunger 150. The second portion 202 is coupled to and supported by a flange 126 (Figure 6). The openings 122, 212, 222, the first portion 194, and the second portion 202 of the ball support 90 are aligned with each other along axis B.

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

[0014] The plunger 150 is movable between a first retracted position (Figure 6) and a second extended position (Figure 7) for removing the ball 12 from the housing 14. In the retracted position (Figure 6), a biasing mechanism 178 biases the plunger 150 so that the first end 158 seats within the opening of the bottom side 22, the working surface 162 is coplanar (or nearly coplanar) with the surface of the bottom side 22, and the second end 174 is located within or near the opening 122 of the ball support 90 and spaced away from the ball 12. As shown in Figure 6, in the retracted position, the first end 158 of the plunger 150 is spaced away 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 plane (or nearly coplanar) with the top wall 208 of the plunger housing 154 while in the retracted position. With respect to Figure 8, the engaging surface 186 of the retaining mechanism 182 engages with the edge 216 of the opening 214 in the plunger housing 154 when the plunger 150 is in the retracted position.

[0015] In the extended position (Figure 7), the first end 158 and the working 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 be in contact with the wall 208.

[0016] During operation, the user moves the plunger 150 from the retracted position to the extended position by applying force to the working surface as indicated by the direction of arrow F. This force is parallel to axes B and C and perpendicular to the plane 46 of the bottom side 22. The force on the working surface 162 overcomes the bias of the bias mechanism 178, thereby moving the plunger 150 in the direction of the force, causing the second end 174 to engage with the ball 12 and eject or remove the ball 12 from the recess 114 (as shown in Figure 7). When the force is released, the bias mechanism 178 returns the plunger 150 to the retracted position (Figure 6). Once 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] While this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent embodiments of the disclosed disclosure. Various features and advantages of this disclosure are described in the following claims.

Claims

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

2. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is movable between a first position in which the second end is separated from the ball and a second position in which the second end engages with the ball and pushes the ball out of the housing.

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

4. The computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator further includes a retaining mechanism that engages with a stop surface within the housing to prevent the actuator from being removed from the housing.

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

6. The computer input device according to claim 1, further comprising a bias mechanism for biasing the second end of the actuator so as to move it away from the ball.

7. The computer input device according to claim 6, wherein the actuator is movable toward the opening by applying force to the first end of the actuator in order to overcome the bias of the bias mechanism.

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 of the housing.

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

10. A computer input device: A housing comprising a first side portion and a second side portion spaced apart from the first side portion, wherein the second side portion is configured to support the housing on a support surface; A ball partially disposed inside the housing and rotatably disposed relative to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the ball extends through the opening of the first side; and A user-operable actuator accessible from the second side of the housing and defining an axis perpendicular to the second side of the housing, configured to move in a direction parallel to the axis of the user-operable actuator and perpendicular to the second side of the housing to eject the ball from the housing; Computer input devices including...

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

12. The computer input device according to claim 11, wherein the first end of the actuator supports the bias mechanism in 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 is separated from the ball and a second position in which the second end is engaged with the ball and pushes the ball out of the housing, and the bias mechanism biases the actuator toward the first position.

14. The computer input device according to claim 13, wherein the actuator is movable from a first position to a second position by applying force to the working 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 the plane defined by the first side portion.

16. A computer input device: 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, wherein the plunger housing has an opening located on the second side and a wall located inside the housing on the opposite side of the opening; A ball partially disposed inside the housing and rotatably disposed relative to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the ball extends through the opening of the first side; and A plunger comprising a first end disposed within the plunger housing and movable relative to the plunger housing, and an extension member extending into the housing through the wall within the plunger housing from the first end to a second end, wherein the first end defines an operating surface accessible through the opening; Includes, A computer input device wherein the force applied to the working surface moves the plunger between a first position in which the second end is separated from the ball and a second position in which the second end engages with 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 working surface and the second side 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 engaging surface that engages with the stop surface of the plunger housing in the first position to restrict the movement of the plunger.

19. The computer input device according to claim 18, wherein the plunger further includes a second engaging surface that engages with the wall of the plunger housing in 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 of the plunger, wherein the bias mechanism biases the plunger to the first position.

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