Adjustable Mouse Palm and Thumb Rest for Ergonomic Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mice often fail to provide adequate ergonomic adjustments, leading to discomfort and strain on the hand during prolonged use due to fixed angles that do not accommodate individual hand sizes and shapes effectively.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable mouse design featuring a mechanism that allows the palm rest portion to tilt between 21-degree and 36-degree angles, combined with a thumb adjustment assembly providing multiple axes of freedom, including telescopic and pivoting movements, to customize the fit to a user's hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-angle mouse design is used, then the device structure is simple, but it causes discomfort and strain on the hand due to inability to accommodate individual hand sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the palm rest portion adjustable relative to the base portion through a mechanism that allows tilting between different angles (21-degree to 36-degree). This enables the mouse to adapt to different hand sizes and shapes while maintaining a manageable structure through controlled mechanical movement rather than complete redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the mouse into distinct portions: a base portion and a palm rest portion that can be adjusted independently. The palm rest portion is separated and can be tilted relative to the base portion, allowing customization of the fit without requiring the entire device to be redesigned for each user.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed thumb rest position is used, then the device structure is simple, but it causes cramping and discomfort during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The thumb rest support assembly incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities with telescopic and pivoting movements. The shaft can extend and retract, and the assembly can pivot relative to the base portion, allowing the thumb rest to be positioned optimally for different users and reducing cramping during prolonged use.
Solution Approach 2:
The thumb adjustment assembly uses a telescopic shaft with nested segments that can extend and retract. The shaft is frictionally received within a hub, creating a nested structure that provides multiple positions for the thumb rest while maintaining a compact form when not in use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable design relieves stress on nerves and muscles by accommodating different hand sizes and shapes, enhancing ergonomic efficiency and reducing discomfort and cramping associated with poorly fitted mice.
Implementation Method 1
The shaft may be frictionally received within a hub to extend and retract the thumb rest portion in a telescopic fashion
Implementation Method 2
The pivot post may include a cylindrical shaft and a cylindrical hub configured to frictionally receive the cylindrical shaft therein, with the cylindrical shaft being secured at one end to the bracket with the other end being frictionally received within the cylindrical hub
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable mouse includes a base portion including a flat bottom configured to rest on a flat surface and a curved top, a palm rest portion including a body configured to be contoured to fit a user's hand and a curved bottom that is configured to mate with the curved top of the base portion, and a mechanism configured to secure the palm rest portion to the base portion at a desired angle of tilt. The adjustable mouse further includes a thumb adjustment assembly coupled to the base portion. The thumb adjustment assembly is configured to move a thumb rest portion between a retracted position and an extended position.