US20020113188A1

US20020113188A1 - Mouse pad

Info

Publication number: US20020113188A1
Application number: US10/080,029
Authority: US
Inventors: Behrouz Kawarizadeh
Original assignee: COLUMBUS MICRO SYSTEMS Inc
Current assignee: COLUMBUS MICRO SYSTEMS Inc
Priority date: 2001-02-22
Filing date: 2002-02-21
Publication date: 2002-08-22

Abstract

A computer mouse interaction device that comprises a mouse interaction portion and a support surface interaction portion. The device further comprises a storage section formed based on coupling the mouse interaction portion and the support surface interaction portion to the device, the storage section being accessible from a side of the computer mouse interaction device and visible substantially only from the side. The device further comprises separate storage areas within the storage section.

Description

FIELD

The embodiments are directed towards computer mouse pads with a storage section.

BACKGROUND

Almost every person in a company now has a personal computer at their desk. In order to work most software stored on the computer, a computer mouse is connected to the personal computer and used to control a cursor on a computer monitor by rolling the computer mouse around on a mouse pad. When using the computer in a business environment, a person usually needs to know one or more passwords to get into the different software packages. Aside from this information, most people also need to know numerous phone numbers for either often used services or often called clients. Further, people might need to know several office phone and facsimile numbers that need to be given out to clients or other callers.

In order to have this above-mentioned information more readily available, a lot of it is on information sheets or business cards. Two basic designs for storage areas of mouse pads have been developed to store these sheets and business cards: (1) mouse pads storage areas that are accessed by lifting a “door,” which is a top layer of the mouse pad, or (2) mouse pad storage areas that are formed in between layers of the mouse pad, which require physically taking the mouse pad apart to get to the compartment. Both of these configurations require removing the mouse from the mouse pad and burdensomely opening or taking apart the mouse pad to get to the information stored within the mouse pad.

Therefore, an aspect of the instant embodiments provides a mouse pad with a storage section for frequently used informational items that does not require the removal of the computer mouse from the mouse pad surface or any manipulation of the mouse pad to access the storage areas.

SUMMARY

Several embodiments provide a computer mouse interaction device. The device comprises a mouse interaction portion and a support surface interaction portion. The device further comprises a storage section formed based on coupling the mouse interaction portion and the support surface interaction portion to the device, the storage section being accessible from a side of the computer mouse interaction device and visible substantially only from the side. The device further comprises separated storage areas within the storage section.

Other embodiments provide a computer mouse interaction device. The device comprises a first portion comprising a friction surface that receives a mouse, a second portion coupled to the first portion, and a third portion coupled to the second portion and comprising a friction surface that interacts with a surface supporting the device. The device further comprises a storage section formed via the coupling of the first, second, and third portions together, the storage section being only visible from a side.

Still other embodiments provide a computer mouse interaction device. The device comprises a first portion comprising a friction surface that receives a mouse and a second portion comprising a friction surface that interacts with a surface supporting the computer mouse interaction device. The device further comprises adhesive areas on the first and second portions that receive adhesive material used to couple the first and second portions together. The device further comprises a storage section defined between the adhesive areas after the first and second portions are coupled, the storage section being accessible from a side of the device.

Still other embodiments provide a computer mouse interaction device. The device comprises a first portion comprising flexible material and friction surface that receives a mouse, a second portion comprising rigid material coupled to the first portion, a third portion comprising a rigid material and first, second, and third elongated, parallel extensions, the third portion being coupled to the second portion, and a fourth portion comprising flexible material and a friction surface that interacts with a surface supporting the device, the fourth portion being coupled to the third portion. The device further comprises a storage section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the embodiments relate from reading the following specification and claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0009]
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a mouse pad with a storage section according to several instant embodiments; [0010]
FIGS. 2A an exploded view of a mouse pad with a storage section according to several instant embodiments; [0011]
FIG. 2B is top view of an alternative embodiment of the mouse pad in FIG. 2A; [0012]
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a mouse pad with a storage section according to a several instant embodiments; and [0013]
FIG. 3B is a top view of the mouse pad with storage in FIG. 3A. [0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

As seen in FIG. 1, a computer mouse interaction device [0015] 10 according several instant embodiments is shown. The computer mouse interaction device 10 may be a mouse pad with a storage section 50. The mouse pad 10 is comprised of a first portion 12, a second portion 14, and a third portion 16. Adhesive material may be used to couple the first 12, second 14, and third 16 portions together.
With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the [0016] first portion 12 comprises a friction surface 18, an adhesive receiving surface 20, two side surfaces 22, and two end surfaces 24. The friction surface 18 may receive and engage a computer mouse. Two cut-out sections 26 may be located Ad in and proximate to the two end surfaces 24. The cutout sections 26 may be half-circle shaped, although other shapes are contemplated within the invention. These cutout sections 26 are utilized for easy access to the storage section 50 once the mouse pad 10 is assembled. The first portion 12 may be made from a foam or functionally similar material that is coated or formed to comprise the friction surface 18 and adhesive receiving surface 20.
Again, with reference to FIG. 1, the [0017] second portion 14 comprises first through third elongated extensions 28, 30, and 32, respectively, extending from a surface 34. The first and third extensions 28 and 32 are positioned adjacent first and second side edges 36 and 38, respectively, of the surface 34. The third extension 30 runs proximate a central axis of the surface 34 parallel to the first and third extensions 28 and 32, respectively. Optionally, as shown in dashed lines, either one or both fourth and fifth extensions 40 and 42, respectively, may be positioned on the surface 34. The fourth extension 40 may be positioned along a second central axis of surface 34 and normal to the first and second extensions 28 and 30. Similarly, the fifth extension 42 may be positioned along the second central axis of surface 34 and normal to the second and third extensions 30 and 32. The second portion 14 may be made from a molded plastic, cardboard, or similar rigid material. Alternatively, extensions 28, 30, 32, 40, and 42 may be adhered directly to the third portion 16 on the surface 34. Also, extensions 28, 30, 32, 40, and 42 may be support devices.
With further reference to FIG. 1, the [0018] third portion 16 comprises an adhesive surface 44 and a friction surface 46. The friction surface 46 may interact with a top surface of a table (not shown), or the like. The third portion 16 may be made from a rubber, foam, or functionally similar flexible material.
Accordingly, the [0019] storage section 50 is formed between the first through third extensions 28-32, respectively, the adhesive receiving surface 20, and the adhesive receiving surface 44 when the mouse pad 10 is assembled. The adhesive receiving surfaces 20 and 44 may be attached with any known adhesive material to the second portion 14, such that the mouse pad 10 is securely assembled. It is to be understood that connection devices may be used in place of adhesive materials, which are contemplated within the embodiments. The storage section 50 can be utilized to store any elongated items (not shown) with easy access to those items, whether or not the mouse pad 10 is being used. Hence, there is no need to remove the computer mouse (not shown) from the mouse pad 10 or manipulate the mouse pad 10 in any way in order to access the stored materials.
Now turning to FIGS. [0020] 2A-B, a computer mouse interaction device 110 according to other instant embodiments is shown. All elements similar to FIG. 1 contain similar element numbers, with the exception of a 110 designation, and will not be further discussed. A difference between the embodiments in FIGS. 1 and 2A is the addition of a fourth portion 113, which is positioned between the first portion 112 and the second portion 114. The fourth portion 113 comprises two adhesive receiving surfaces 115 and 117. Also, the fourth portion 113 may be a rigid material, maybe a cardboard or plastic. With regards to a difference between FIGS. 2A and 2B, alternative configurations are shown where either one optional extension 140 or both optional extensions 140 and 142 are included in the device 110. In other alternative configurations, only optional extension 142 may be included in the device 110. In other alternative embodiments, there may be no cutout sections 126 in one or both of the first and fourth portions 112 and 113, respectively, which may also be the case for the mouse pad 10 shown in FIG. 1.
Now with reference to FIG. 3A-B, a computer [0021] mouse interaction device 200, which may be a mouse pad, with a storage section 202 according to still other instant embodiments is shown. The mouse pad comprises first and second sections 204 and 206. The first section 204 is comprised of a flexible material, which may be a foam like material, and comprises a friction surface 208 and an adhesive receiving surface 210. The second section 206 is comprised of a somewhat rigid material, which may be a cardboard like material or the like, and comprises an adhesive receiving surface 212 and a friction surface 214. In this embodiment the storage section 202 is established through a predetermined positions of adhesive areas 216. Thus, where there is no adhesive there is the storage section 202, as can be seen in FIG. 3B. This figure shows one possible configuration of the storage section 202, as seen by the outline of the dashed lines, where many alternative configurations are contemplated within this and all other embodiments.
The embodiments have been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, but it will be apparent that numerous variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the following claims. [0022]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A computer mouse interaction device, the device comprising:

a first portion comprising a friction surface that receives a mouse;

a second portion coupled to the first portion;

a third portion coupled to the second portion and comprising a friction surface that interacts with a surface supporting the device; and

a storage section formed via the coupling of the first, second, and third portions together, the storage section being only visible from a side.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises:

first and second parallel extensions extending from first and second opposite edges of the second portion; and

a third extension extending from a central, symmetrical axis of the second portion, the

third extension being parallel to the first and second extensions;

wherein the first, second, and third extensions are utilized to form the storage section.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second portion further comprises a fourth extension that is perpendicular to and between the first and third extension.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second portion further comprises a fourth extension that is perpendicular to and between the second and third extension.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the second portion further comprises:

a fourth extension that is perpendicular to and between the first and third extensions; and

a fifth extension that is perpendicular to and between the second and third extensions.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises:

a first extension running along a first central axis of symmetry from a first to a second opposite edge; and

a second extension running along a second central axis of symmetry from a third edge to the first extension, wherein the first and second extensions are perpendicular.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion further comprises:

a second extension running along a second central axis of symmetry from a third to a fourth opposite edge, wherein the first and second extensions are perpendicular.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cutout section in the first portion proximate and edge of the first portion and proximate the storage section utilized to access the storage section.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third portions are coupled with adhesive material.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a foam material.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a plastic material.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a cardboard material.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the third portion comprises a rubber material.

14. A computer mouse interaction device, the device comprising:

a first portion comprising a friction surface that receives a mouse;

a second portion comprising a friction surface that interacts with a surface supporting the computer mouse interaction device;

adhesive areas on the first and second portions that receive adhesive material used to couple the first and second portions together; and

a storage section defined between the adhesive areas after the first and second portions are coupled, the storage section being accessible from a side of the device.

15. A computer mouse interaction device, the device comprising:

a first portion comprising flexible material and friction surface that receives a mouse;

a second portion comprising rigid material coupled to the first portion;

a third portion comprising a rigid material and first, second, and third elongated, parallel extensions, the third portion being coupled to the second portion;

a fourth portion comprising flexible material and a friction surface that interacts with a surface of a support device, the fourth portion being coupled to the third portion; and

a storage section.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth portions are coupled with adhesive material.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the storage section is formed by the coupling of the second, third, and fourth portions.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the first and second extensions run proximate opposite edges of the third portion and the third extension runs along a central axis of the third portion.

19. A computer mouse interaction device, the device comprising:

a mouse interaction portion;

a support surface interaction portion; and

a storage section formed based coupling the mouse interaction portion and the support surface interaction portion to the device, the storage section being accessible from a side of the computer mouse interaction device and visible substantially only from the side.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the storage section is comprised of a plurality of separate storage areas.