WO2004003835A2

WO2004003835A2 - Ergonomic support cum pointing device

Info

Publication number: WO2004003835A2
Application number: PCT/IN2003/000212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vineet Shankar; Johannes Te Maarssen
Original assignee: Vineet Shankar
Priority date: 2002-06-26
Filing date: 2003-06-05
Publication date: 2004-01-08
Also published as: AU2003249580A8; AU2003249580A1; WO2004003835A3

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ergonomic pointing device of the invention for computing devices wherein certain natural physical principles of Yoga are utilized together with findings from medical research on health of computer users such that the user hand and lower arm in use is facilitated to adopt a natural and untwisted posture thereby eliminating or minimizing stress and strain on the musculature of the user body.

Description

ERGONOMIC SUPPORT CUM POINTING DEVICE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an ergonomic support cum pointing device for use with computers and other computing and electronic devices, which require a support or pointing device as a peripheral.

Background of the invention

In today's world, the computer has become an essential part of daily life both for functioning in the office and at the residence. Globally, the sales of computers whether personal computers or lap tops are increasing. One of the commonest features of such computing devices is the presence of a peripheral/input device, which enables an user to select from the various options available on the display unit of the computing system depending on his or her requirement. Such peripheral/input devices are generally built into the keyboard or are an external device. For example, In the case of a laptop computer such pointing devices take the form of a touch sensitive screen or buttons forming part of the computing device itself. Such buttons or touch sensitive screens are built into the housing of the computing devices. In other more general options available, with personal computers and other computing devices, such input devices comprise a set of keys built into the keyboard which when operated enable movement of the cursor appearing on the screen to the desired command/menu/file and transmit the required operation viz. open file, close file, create file, etc. to the computing device.

External input devices, which are used, for selection of commands to be input to the central processing unit of the computing device comprise either a mouse (as in the case of most personal computers) or a joystick. Most standard external mouse devices are generally mouse or heart shaped. This mouse or heart shaped piece is held by the users' hand (palm and fingers) by placing or resting the hand or lower arm on it. In some cases, the wrist or lower arm rests on the surface where the mouse itself is placed. Some of the input units of this type are also provided with a designed palm rest, which is more or less shaped according to the inner surface of the hand or palm. The anterior extremity of the mouse device has two or three buttons, which are used for clicking by the user's fingers to generate and transmit a signal/input to the computer and enable for example selection of the desired option on the display unit. The ventral side of the mouse device has a tracking ball the relative position of which determines the position of the cursor on the display unit. The tracking ball is movable on a preferably flat surface on which the mouse rests. Such prior art devices are usually connected to the computer-processing unit by means of a cable/cord for communication of the input/signals to the processing unit or increasingly communicate through infrared signaling.

Thus as can be seen there is an immediate and urgent need to develop devices by which computer use disorders are minimized if not completely eradicated in order to ensure a healthier work environment and improve productivity.

Intense and very frequent use of pointing devices (mice) is an inevitable part of present day life. Notwithstanding the increased use of computer input devices, ergonomic improvement and renewal has not subsequently progressed since decades. This is partly caused by the natural "inertia", of the design characteristics of such widely used instruments. But also is true that the impact of poorly designed pointing devices for physical and psychological health has been overlooked for a long time.

This situation has dramatically changed since it has become more and more clear that work related complaints of the upper body, including the limbs and extremities, hold well-proven relationships with workload and ergonomic working conditions. This finding is becoming more important after it has appeared that apart from workload and physical work conditions, the physiological stresses aggravate the incidence of RSI complaints. Some attempts have been made in recent years in improving design features of various computer peripherals such as keyboards and pointing devices (mouse) towards ensuring that related stress and strain factors on the users' hands are minimized. Another important reason for such design feature improvements is the huge market potential - presence of people suffering with computer use disorders and dissatisfied with current generation of computer input devices. While several attempts have been made to improve keyboard design to reduce stress and strain on the user's hands, till very recently, the area of improvement in the design or construction of the pointing devices was not paid substantial attention.

A traditional computer mouse has several disadvantages. One of the most important problems is that operating the mouse requires a shift from operating keyboard positions in the center of the working plane to a distal area of the working field with a completely different eye-hand relationship every time the mouse is used.

Another critical problem is that the horizontal layout of the mouse work plane induces a tonic tension of the arm and hand musculature since the arms need to be stabilized against gravity. High frequency of use results in increased tonic tension of the arm and neck musculature. A third major disadvantage of conventional mouse designs is that the traditional mouse requires an extreme pronation of the forearm to move the mouse leading to an increased pressure in the carpal tunnel. The lateral (sideward) movements of the wrist in this position contribute to a significant section of RSI known as carpal tunnel disorders. Yet another problem is that the function of clicking on the mouse with only two fingers as is required by most of the present day pointing devices keep the small muscles of the fingers in constant use and therefore contributes to increased stress in the muscles of the two fingers.

As can be seen, the prolonged use over a period of time of traditional pointing devices such as a mouse or a joystick leads to physical disorders in the user. The situation is similar in respect of other computer peripherals such as a printer, keyboard, or any other peripheral device where prolonged and continuous use is required. In such devices, the use of the hand often results in slow deterioration of the musculature of the wrist and hand.

Prior art

PCT Publication No. WO 01/63590 discloses an ergonomic pointing device designed to provide better comfort to an user by avoiding extreme positions of posture ranges for the fingers and joints of the hand and for the wrist. The device of this publication comprises an upper surface provided with a means to rest the palmar region of the users' palm at the metacarpal-phalangeal joint of the second digit and at least part of the metacarpal - phalangeal joint of the third digit. The device of this publication focuses more on the existing type of pointing devices and retains the essential concept of using buttons on the surface of the device for the user to click in order to select any particular portion of the display.

US Patent 4,862,165 discloses a mouse device with an arched metacarpal- phalangeal support surface. This metacarpal-phalangeal support surface provides support for the anterior surface of the hand. An additional concave thenar pad support surface is provided for supporting the thenar part of the hand. While the overall design of this device is substantially good, it is still based on the conventional mouse shaped pointing device and compels the user's hand to cover the mouse in an unnatural hand position.

US Patent 6,377,245 discloses an ergonomic mouse which is again based on the conventional design but incorporates an additional feature of an grip rod provided on the anterior surface thereof. The grip rod is angled and is intended to support all the fingers and the hand in a naturally curved position.

US Patent 5,726,683 discloses a mouse device with a top surface, a right side and a substantially vertical left side surface. A phalanx support is provided on the top surface due to the negative slope from the front to the rear thereof. Again this mouse is based on the conventional mouse design.

Thus, as can be seen, most of the work on ergonomic pointing devices has taken place while retaining the original concept of the conventional mouse device. Such attempts have not been tremendously successful in relieving the chronic computer user disorders such carpal tunnel syndrome, finger fatigue, and the like. It is therefore imperative to devise a new pointing device, which enables the user to utilize the device with minimal if not non-existent fatigue or stress and strain of the musculature in the hand.

Objects of the invention

Accordingly, the main object of the invention is to provide an ergonomic pointing device for use with computers and other computing and electronic devices which require a pointing device as a peripheral.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic pointing device which utilizes the natural postures of the arm, wrist, hand and fingers while in operation thereby preventing, minimizing or eliminating repetitive strain injury.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ergonomic pointing device which prevents, reduces or eliminates combinational stress and strain on hand and arm musculature and neck and shoulder musculature while in operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ergonomic support and pointing device which enables easy use of computer peripherals while utilizing yogic principles thereby preventing, reducing or eliminating hand and wrist disorders associated with prolonged computer use. It is another object of the present invention to significantly improve the working performance of a user. Since the hands and the body are positioned in a natural position, the user can work more efficiently in terms of speed. Since the accumulation of fatigue and stress is very low, the user can work longer hours. The user is also in a better mental and psychological shape that would enhance the user's work performance.

Summary of the invention

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved by the ergonomic pointing device of the invention for computing devices wherein certain natural physical principles of Yoga are utilized together with findings from medical research on health of computer users such that the user hand and lower arm in use is facilitated to adopt a natural and untwisted posture thereby eliminating or minimizing stress and strain on the musculature of the user body.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an ergonomic support cum pointing device for use with computing devices comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, a flexibility providing means connected at one end thereof to the lower surface of said support means, said flexibility providing means connected at the opposite end to a base.

In one embodiment of the invention, the upper surface of said support means is flat.

In another embodiment of the invention, the upper surface of said support means is curved along the breadth thereof.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the flexibility providing means is selected from the group comprising a vertical rod, a vertically coiled spring, a plurality of springs placed diagonally opposite each other, a rotating ball/sphere, a plurality of bearings/balls provided between two parallel surfaces, a soft tissue like foam/sponge/rubber, a pendulum support, a central fulcrum support etc. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the support means is provided with a connection to connect it with the computing device.

In another embodiment of the invention, a cursor tracking / motion tracking and signal transmission means is provided on the support means, the flexibility providing means or on the base means (anywhere between the proximal end and the distal end of the support device)

In another embodiment of the invention, the click function (as in a normal / conventional mouse) could be provided through one or more sensors integrated within the support such that the detection of a slight movement of part of the hand / wrist / lower arm generates signals to the computer.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the motion tracking means comprises a tracking ball with buttons, which can be clicked to choose the menu option on a display unit provided on the computing device.

In yet another embodiment the tracking means comprises a sensor pad provided which is sensitive to user touch to determine the position of the cursor.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the motion tracking means comprises a touch sensor pad and buttons, which can be clicked to choose the menu option on a display unit provided on the computing device.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the ergonomic pointing device of the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the ergonomic pointing device of the invention shown in an in use position.

Figure 3 is another schematic representation of the ergonomic pointing device of the invention shown in an in use position.

Figure 4 is an alternate embodiment of the ergonomic pointing device of the invention shown in an in use position.

Figure 5 is another alternate embodiment of the ergonomic pointing device of the invention shown in an in use position.

Detailed description of the invention

This pointing device of the invention comprises a completely new positioning of the upper body including hands and arms while use. In this device, certain natural physical principles of Yoga are utilized together with findings from medical research on health of computer users such that the user hand and lower arm in use is facilitated to adopt a natural and untwisted posture thereby eliminating or minimizing stress and strain on the musculature of the user body. The basis of the device of the invention relies on principles of yoga supported by latest RSI recommendations and latest scientific developments. When the hands and arms of the user of the computing device are placed in a natural untwisted position, then the muscles in the neck and shoulder area are also more at ease. The hands and arms are in such a way while working that the thumbs point upwards; palms are in what is best termed a handshake position facing each other at a certain mutual angle (or alternatively; the support allows a more or less horizontal movement while it is supporting the lower part of the hand). The lower arm is in an untwisted position and the upper arm hangs loosely at 90° from the shoulders. Using the pointing device of the invention provides the user a natural body position while working in accordance with recent RSI guidelines and Yogic posture. Muscles not needed for work stay at rest. The body muscles do not need to carry the weight of the hand or the arm. This ensures that the amount of fatigue is reduced considerably if not totally eliminated since due to the flexibility in the support, the same set of muscles are prevented from being used for a long period of time. For example, the click could come from the finger muscles but also from the lower or upper arm. This is especially advantageous since the larger muscles are less sensitive to RSI.

The present invention relates to a support cum pointing device, which is meant to serve as a replacement or as an alternative to the existing conventional mice/pointing devices. It consists of a support for the hand/lower arm/wrist, a flexible part and a base or a fixed part. The base part is meant to fix or stay on a surface (e.g. table). The flexible part allows movement to the support, and in that ways allow the usual mouse function. The support part supports the hand/lower arm/wrist while the hand moves in the allowed movement to work on the computer.

This device has two surfaces connected by a flexible means. The flexibility could be provided through different elements in different ways. The upper surface is meant to support the hand / wrist and lower arm together. It could be flat or curved breadth wise or modified according to the shape of the body part. The lower surface is meant to provide stability, grip to the device. The flexible means is intended to provide the mouse tracking function (the relative movement of the hand / support generating a signal to the computer to create a respective movement in the cursor / pointer on the screen). The free movement on the horizontal axes can be detected easily.

This positioning of the hand/wrist/lower arm can be called a natural handshake position on the basis of the in use appearance. This posture is the most optimal since it positions the hands, neck and shoulders of the user according to the guidelines of RSI recommendations and is also in line with the principles of Yoga. The posture can be described as follows. The upper arm hangs freely from the shoulder at a perfectly (more or less, as much as possible) vertical position. In this situation the large musicales of the upper arm do not have to hold the arm and are completely relaxed as while walking. The lower arm makes an angle of 90° or more at the elbow and is in an untwisted position. These two conditions allow reductions of inter and intra tissue pressure in the arm, which is healthier, and fatigue free. In this natural and untwisted position there is no supination and pronation of the arm. Therefore the muscles in use are mainly relaxed and the tissue pressure is low. Several small muscles or the hand as in the fingers, their work can be substituted by larger muscles of the arm as in tracking function. The smaller muscles have greater changes of fatigue then larger muscles. Also for optimum functioning the muscles of the body need to have alternate cycles of rest and work so that the fluid does not accumulate in the muscle tissue. Alternation and less working of muscles helps in maintaining this condition. The hand is supported therefore the user has to do relatively less effort in keeping the hand in the position to work on the computer. The wrist is in a neutral position and movements of the wrist like extension-flexion and pronation/supination are almost zero. These movements of the wrist are the major sources of CTS, one of the major computer use problem. The thumb is pointing upwards as in a handshake gesture. The palm is vertical and the fingers are in a neutral relaxed and slightly curved position.

The unique feature is that the device has well-designed support incorporated that supports as well as facilitates the function of a pointing device in a relaxed manner. The supports are made in such a way that during the use mainly horizontal planar movement of the hand is allowed. The device only facilitates the user to hold and work with his hands in a position, which is relaxed and natural for the body. Unlike in other devices where the user has to adapt his/her posture according to the device. There is no need to learn this new use as the device automatically allows only the necessary movements needed for the work and facilitates keeping the hand and the body in a relaxed position otherwise. This product normally falls in the category of pointing devices within the computer input devices. In its normal from it is known as a pointing device, mouse or even a joystick. In the other aspect this device is normally known as a hand/arm support for computer input devices and falls in the category of computer accessories. This device is specifically called here as a hand support cum pointing device since it incorporates the features and functions of both the hand support and pointing devices.

The device has an electrical connection through cable, wireless or infrared etc. with the computer which is able to receive signals from the device through various means including infrared transmission of signals and/ or additional software/ programs and works connected to a computer where inputs on the work of the hand / fingers or wrist go through this device in to the computer and the computer executes the action. Every such device or part of the device has a tracking feature and buttons or sensors, which can be touched in a certain manner or pressed to generate a certain input to the computer. One form of execution of this device is where it has minimum means to generate electric signals depending on the movement or position of one of the parts relative to the surface where the device is placed. This signal can be used in many ways to direct the computer at least partially where the signal or position is used in such a way that a cursor/pointer is generated on the screen.

The device can be placed next to the computer, kb or on a base on the lap of the user etc. The support parts are movable through the flexible part in a certain direction - horizontal or upward downward movement through a hinge, telescopic, hydraulic, parabolic etc. The support parts can also be made that there is a vertical equilibrium that when a bigger force is made downwards then it is able to move. This feature can be used to facilitate the "clicking of a mouse button" function.

One of the features of the device is flexibility of use in several modifiable positions/versions. In this way the device can be adjusted to the wishes or posture of the individual user. The forms could be a rotating foam / rubber form, a vertical spring, a sling, a handle bar, with bearings, parabolic etc. Various users can change the device in such a way, which is most optimal and least harmful to them.

The device can be made with a flexible material. The device can be made with various elements - foam, metal, plastic, wood etc. The device is designed in a way that there is less wear of the parts used. The support can also have a sling / swing form. This has advantage that they can give support in a better way due to pendulum action. Also a glove-form or part of that can be used as a support.

The movement of the support through the flexible part can be done in such a way that the support automatically (springs) comes back to its central position giving iess effort in using it. A parabolic form also can achieve this. Also the sling or pendulum form facilitates this feature. The support will have the tendency to keep the hand in a central position and also brings it back to his position each time the hand moves away from it. This reduces the work of the hand by half.

There could be explanations, information, and software to make the use of such a device complete without much difference from current manners of use and for small adaptations. The user and the computer can work in an easy way without many changes. The whole unit can be made from one or more individual parts. Also the whole unit can consist of one or more individual units. The function keys can be executed as normal mechanical keys, touch keys and signals generated by sensors in the support induced through the movement of a part of the hand of the user.

The pointing device primarily consists of a support for the hand/wrist, a flexibility provider and, if needed, a base piece. The support is preferably from below the hand jointly supporting the base of the hand/palm, the wrist and the part of the lower arm adjoining the wrist. In this manner the supports facilitates the minimization of the wrist movements to almost zero, (see figure no 2 and 3) The support can be flat or curved breadth wise. The flexible piece provides flexibility to the hand/support in a 2 dimensional plane in order to provide the pointing device/mouse function as in the manner a normal mouse functions. The flexibility could be provided intelligently through a practically feasible manner like a vertical rod (as in gear rod of an auto), a vertically coiled spring, several diagonally opposite placed springs, a rotating ball/sphere, several bearings/balls between 2 parallel surfaces, a soft tissue like foam/sponge/rubber construction, a pendulum support, a centrally fulcrum support (as in a bike handle). See drawing for clarity. The flexibility is provided in such a way that it renders another facilitation. In a normal conventional mouse/joystick the hand has to work in moving away from a central reference point and also bringing it back. In this case the flexible movement always tends to bring the hand back to the central reference point so that the muscles have to do only half of what they work normally. The click function of the mouse could be incorporated in a (vertical) movement (of a part) of this support or as keys on the keyboard or on the keyboard as in a laptop. The hand movement on this support cum mouse generates a signal through a sensor that detects the respective movement. The computer interprets the signal in the normal manner. The only difference is that in a normal conventional mouse the sensor is connected to the tracking ball. In this case it is connected to the flexible part or support part. The sensor detects movements of the flexible or the support part.

The invention will now described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the device of the invention wherein the support means (1) is provided with an upper surface (2) that is contoured to be capable of accommodating the natural curvature of the users hand. The support means (1) is also provided with a lower surface (3) which is provided with means to enable fixing of the flexibility providing means (4). The user's hand rests on the upper surface of the support means (shown in figures 2 and 3) in the position described hereinabove. The other end of the flexibility providing means is connected to a base means (5) which is provided with a motion tracking means (not shown in figure). In the alternative embodiments of the invention, the motion tracking means can also be provided on the flexibility providing means in combination with signal transmission means.

The base unit should preferably rest on any flat surface. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. It is possible to rest the base unit on the lap of the user for example.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of another version of the mouse device of the invention wherein the base unit (41) comprises a flexible column with a fixed platform (42). The flexible base unit can be for example a foam column, which is cylindrical in shape. One end of the base unit is fixedly connected to a fixed platform and the other end (43) opposite the fixed end of the base unit forms a support and contact means for the user's hand (as shown in Figure 4). The other end (43) of the base unit (41) is provided with motion tracking means (44) to continuously detect and measure 3-d position as well as relative movement of the hand thereon. The body of the base unit is provided with horizontal column motion and position detection means (45), which in turn is connected, to the control unit such as a computer. The horizontal column motion detection means as well as the motion tracking means (44) are both connected to the computer so that signals are automatically transferred directly to the computer (not shown).

Figure 5 shows an alternate embodiment wherein instead of the hand resting on a single base unit, the base unit comprises a flat platform (52) provided on a plurality of flexible legs ( 51 ). A distance sensor ( 53) is provided to ascertain the horizontal position of the flat surface relative to the platform. The legs of the base unit are provided with vertical motion tracking sensors (55) which enable the relative movement of the tracking unit to be communicated to the processing device ( not shown in figure) to be ascertained. The signals are transmitted to the computer (tracking unit) through conventional means. The advantage of the device or the present invention is that the motion tracking means whether a tracking ball or a position sensor and the signal transmission means (such as buttons which can be clicked) can be provided on either the support means, the flexibility means or the base means or on the type device.

Claims

1. An ergonomic support cum pointing device for use with computing devices comprising a support means comprising two surfaces- an upper surface and a lower surface, connected by a flexible means, connected at one end thereof to the lower surface of said support means, said flexibility providing means connected at the opposite end to a base.

2. An ergonomic support cum pointing device for use with computing devices as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower surface is attached with another more or less flat surface through a fixed attachment or a grip.

3. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said support means is flat.

4. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said support means is curved along the breadth thereof or modified to the shape of the hand/ wrist/ palm.

5. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein a motion tracking (or cursor tracking) and signal transmission means is provided on the support means, the flexibility providing means or on the base means or the distal end of the device.

6. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexibility providing means is selected from the group comprising a vertical rod, a vertically coiled spring, a plurality of springs placed diagonally opposite each other, a rotating ball/sphere, a plurality of bearings/balls provided between two parallel surfaces, a soft tissue like foam/sponge/rubber, a pendulum support and a central fulcrum support etc.

7. An ergonomic support cum pointing device for use with computing devices as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible means has the mouse tracking function (the relative movement of the hand / support generating a signal to the computer to create a respective movement in the cursor / pointer on the screen).

8. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the support means is provided with a connection to connect it with the computing device.

9. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the motion tracking means comprises a tracking ball and buttons which can be clicked to choose the menu option on a display unit provided on the computing device.

10. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the tracking means comprises a sensor pad/ screen provided which is sensitive to user touch to determine the position of the cursor.

1 1. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the tracking means comprises a sensor pad/ screen and buttons which can be clicked to choose the select/ drag/ menu/ scroll option on a display unit provided on the computing device.

12. An ergonomic support cum pointing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the tracking means comprises a set of sensors in any part of the device that detects the movements of the hand/wrist or lower arm to determine the position of the cursor and a set of sensors to detect a different movement of the hand/wrist to choose the select/ drag/ menu/ scroll option on a display unit provided on the computing device.

3. An ergonomic support cum pointing device substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to the accompanying drawings.