Side panels made of softer plastic material improve gripability of mouse
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Introduction The sides of a mouse casing are generally vertical
and are made of a plastic material that has a smooth surface.
The user's hand does not securely hold the mouse, which often
results in the mouse dropping out of the hand. The mouse becomes
damaged when it falls upon a hard surface. A method for improving
a mouse’s gripability to make it much more user-friendly is
needed.
Description To improve the gripability of a mouse, the use
of side panels is proposed. Side panels are installed on the
sides of the mouse casing. The side panels are made of a softer
plastic material such as Santoprene. The upper portion of
a side panel has a ridge that facilitates the gripping and
retention of the mouse casing. The soft surface of the side
panels also prevents the gripped mouse from dropping out of
the user's hand. Thus, side panels made of a softer plastic
material improve the gripability of a mouse.
Additional information The proposed casing of the mouse also possesses
drop-resistant features. The buttons of the mouse are recessed
and protected by the upper portion of the mouse casing against
direct impact should the mouse fall. Also, a support assembly
that reinforces the encoder shaft prevents upward popping
of the encoder shaft if the mouse does fall.