Patent Application
20130198924
The present invention is in the field of hand warming devices.
Computers are ubiquitous, and people of all ages and walks of life use them. Computers may have different types of human-computer interface (HCI) devices; which may, for example, include mice, trackballs, keyboards, or game controllers.
Some computer users find a hand they use for controlling the computer interface device may get cold. Various reasons may contribute to this issue, including, for example, circulation issues the user may have, or environmental conditions in which the user is using the device, for example an air conditioning vent that blows cold air toward the user. Several approaches to prevent this problem have been tried, including a square of fleece with a mouse and mouse pad tucked inside, a USB-powered heated mouse, and a USB powered blanket pouch with a mouse and mouse pad tucked inside, which acts like a small electric blanket for a user's hand.
A Hand Warmer may help a user keep her hand or wrist warm while using a computer-human interface (HCI) device, such as a mouse, trackball, keyboard, game controller, or other device on a computer. This may improve blood flow and increase comfort and reduce pain related to temperature-related conditions.
A Hand Warmer may be made of sheepskin, leather, textiles, or other materials or combinations of materials, and may help keep a user's hand or wrist warm. The material may have different colors or patterns, and may be tanned and prepared if appropriate. A Hand Warmer may attach to a base of a HCI device and wrap around it, and may create an overarching structure that creates a warm, easy-entry cylinder for the user's hand.
A Hand Warmer may attach to a base of an HCI device using, for example, single or multiple attachment strips such as hook and loop fasteners, which adhere to the HCI device. A base attachment strip may be sewn into a Hand Warmer and may keep a compartment securely fastened to the HCI device. This may enable movement of the HCI device as the user desires without the Hand Warmer impeding operation.
The shape and positioning of the seams in conjunction with the attachment strips may enable the Hand Warmer to wrap around the outside of the HCI device. A cavity and a cylindrical structure may be created by connecting a sizing strip that may double as a wrist-rest. This structure may enable a hand to be easily inserted into the Hand Warmer and the user may operate the HCI device in the comfort of a warm and dry environment above the HCI device.
An optional base-notch may be included in a Hand Warmer, which may enable it to be fastened to HCI devices that have wired connections.
A Hand Warmer may help a user keep her hand or wrist warm while using a computer-human interface (HCI) device, such as a mouse, trackball, keyboard, game controller, or other device on a computer. This may improve blood flow and increase comfort and reduce pain related to temperature-related conditions.
In one embodiment, Hand Warmer 100 is made from sheepskin, with fur inside the Hand Warmer 100, which may provide a soft, warm, and comfortable place for a user to keep a hand warm while using an HCI Device.
In another embodiment, an HCI Device may be fastened inside HCI Device Compartment with hook and loop fasteners, which may prevent it from easily separating from Hand Warmer 100.
In yet another embodiment, a stiff material, such as plastic or metal, by way of example, may be used to shape HCI Device Compartment 120.
In yet another embodiment, a stiff material may be used to shape Hand Opening 110, which may provide an easy way for a user to insert or remove a hand from Hand Warmer 100.
In one embodiment, the HCI Device Compartment 120 is made from at least one piece of material not used in forming the Hand Compartment 130. In another embodiment, the entire hand warmer is made from one piece of material.
Wire Notch 320 may be used to allow Hand Warmer 100 to be used with a wired HCI Device by providing a place for a wire to enter the HCI Device Compartment without simply causing a bottom of the Hand Warmer to bend over the wire.
Hook and Loop Fasteners 330 may be used to couple the Hand Warmer to an HCI Device, such as a mouse.
While the detailed description above has been expressed in terms of specific examples, the examples used should not be construed to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other configurations could be used. The Hand Warmer may be made from many different materials or combinations of materials, including, for example, sheepskin, wool, leather, or may have layers of various materials, which may be natural or synthetic. For example, an outer layer may be made of plastic, which may keep the Hand Warmer dry, while a soft material such as fur or fake fur is used against a user's hand and wrist. An outer layer may also be made of material with a pattern or particular color as desired by a user. A Hand Warmer may be made of one piece of material, or of several sewn or glued together, or attached by some other means.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that various equivalent modifications of the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
