Ergonomic hand support with a pressure relief surface for use with a computer pointing device

Abstract

A hand support device for use with a computer pointing device relieves repetitive motion stress and includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter surface connecting the top surface and the bottom surface. The top surface includes: a palm support region, that is an inclined planar surface; a little finger support portion extending from the palm support region; a thumb support region extending from the palm support region; a front index positioned on a side of the palm support region, and between the little finger and thumb support regions; and a side index adjacent to and extending from the palm support and thumb support regions. The bottom surface facilitates sliding of the hand support device on a work surface. The hand support device reduces stress and risk of injuries resulted from repetitive motions by encouraging the user of a computer pointing device to employ two fields of motion to control the pointing device. The user engages the fingers, the hand, and the wrist to make fine movements while holding the hand support device stationary. The user moves the computer pointing device and the hand support device in unison with the arm and shoulder when making coarse movements.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hand support device for use with a computer pointing device comprising: 
 a palm support region;    a little finger support region extending from said palm support region; and    a thumb support region extending from said palm support region 
 wherein said thumb support region and said little finger support region define an opening positioned between said thumb support and little finger support regions wherein a position of said thumb support region and a position of said little finger support region are selected to provide a size of said opening to permit said computer pointing device to be moved within said opening.  
   
     
     
         2 . The hand support device of    claim 1    wherein said palm support region has a slope in a direction from said little finger support region to said thumb support region.  
     
     
         3 . The hand support device of claims  1  or  2  further comprising: 
 a front index extending from a portion of said palm support region between said little finger support region and said thumb support region.  
 
     
     
         4 . The hand support device of    claim 3    further comprising: 
 a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.  
 
     
     
         5 . The hand support device of claims  1  or  2  further comprising: 
 a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.  
 
     
     
         6 . The hand support device of    claim 1    wherein a part of said palm support region is textured.  
     
     
         7 . A hand support device for use with a computer pointing device comprising: 
 a first surface having a thumb support region, a little finger support region, and a palm support region extending from said thumb support region and said little finger support region; 
 wherein said thumb support region and said little finger support region define an opening positioned between said little finger and thumb support regions; and further wherein a position of said thumb support region and a position of said little finger support region are selected to provide a size of said opening to permit said computer pointing device to be moved within said opening.  
   
     
     
         8 . The hand support device of    claim 7    further comprising: 
 a second surface opposite and removed from said first surface;  
 a perimeter surface connecting said first surface to said second surface.  
 
     
     
         9 . The hand support device of    claim 8    wherein said palm support region has a slope in a direction from said little finger support region to said thumb support region.  
     
     
         10 . The hand support device of claims  8  or  9  further comprising: 
 a front index extending from a portion of said palm support region between said little finger support region and said thumb support region.  
 
     
     
         11 . The hand support device of claims  8  or  9  further comprising: 
 a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.  
 
     
     
         12 . The hand support device of    claim 8    further comprising: 
 a pressure relief edge surface extending from a portion of said palm support region opposite and removed from said opening to a portion of said perimeter surface, wherein said pressure relief edge surface is a convex surface.  
 
     
     
         13 . The hand support device of    claim 8    with said second surface having a plurality of rails affixed thereto.  
     
     
         14 . The hand support device of    claim 7    wherein a part of said palm support region is textured.  
     
     
         15 . A hand support device for use with a computer pointing device comprising: 
 a first surface having a thumb support region, a little finger support region, and a palm support region extending from said thumb support region and said little finger support region;    a second surface opposite and removed from said first surface; and    a perimeter surface connecting said first surface to said second surface, and extending between said little finger support region and said thumb support region to define a control surface of an opening positioned between said little finger support region and said thumb support region; 
 wherein said first surface extends over said control surface between said thumb support region and said little finger support region to create a computer pointing device cavity.  
   
     
     
         16 . The hand support device of    claim 15    wherein said palm support region has a slope in a direction from said little finger support region to said thumb support region.  
     
     
         17 . The hand support device of claims  15  or  16  further comprising: 
 a front index extending from a portion of said palm support region between said little finger support region and said thumb support region.  
 
     
     
         18 . The hand support device of    claim 17    further comprising: 
 a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.  
 
     
     
         19 . The hand support device of claims  15  or  16  further comprising: 
 a side index extending from said thumb support region and said palm support region.  
 
     
     
         20 . The hand support device of    claim 15    with said second surface having a plurality of rails affixed thereto.  
     
     
         21 . The hand support device of    claim 15    further comprising: 
 a pressure relief edge surface extending from a portion of said palm support region opposite and removed from said opening wherein said pressure relief edge surface is a convex surface.  
 
     
     
         22 . The hand support device of    claim 20    wherein each of said plurality of rails comprises a sliding surface and a beveled edge surface, said beveled edge surface surrounds said sliding surface and extends from said sliding surface to said second surface.  
     
     
         23 . The hand support device of    claim 15    wherein a part of said palm support region is textured.  
     
     
         24 . The hand support device of    claim 15    further comprising an attachment cable connecting a surface of said hand support device to a work surface.