Computer accessory

Abstract

A computer accessory has a low-profile housing that serves as a mouse pad, and a drawer built into the housing. Items such as preprinted sheets of paper or compact disks bearing information are removably held in the drawer with the aid of resilient fasteners integral with the drawer.

1 . A computer accessory, comprising: 
 a) a low-profile housing having an upper platform for supporting a computer input device; and    b) a drawer having a storage compartment and being mounted in the housing for movement between a fully closed position in which the platform overlies and blocks access to the compartment, and a fully open position in which the compartment is spaced away from the platform to permit access to the compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer is mounted for linear sliding movement between the closed and open positions along an axis.  
   
   
       3 . The accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the housing has a base for supporting the housing on a support surface, a pair of side walls extending generally along the axis between the platform and the base, and a back wall extending transversely of the axis between the platform and the base.  
   
   
       4 . The accessory of  claim 3 , wherein the drawer has a front wall extending generally parallel to the back wall.  
   
   
       5 . The accessory of  claim 4 , wherein each wall has a curved contour.  
   
   
       6 . The accessory of  claim 4 , wherein the housing has a recess for enabling finger access to the front wall of the drawer.  
   
   
       7 . The accessory of  claim 2 , wherein the housing has a pair of side channels extending along the axis, and wherein the drawer has a pair of flanges extending along the axis and received in the channels for sliding movement.  
   
   
       8 . The accessory of  claim 7 , wherein the housing has a stop for resisting movement of the drawer past the fully open position.  
   
   
       9 . The accessory of  claim 3 , wherein the base has a plurality of friction-enhancing pads for frictionally engaging the support surface.  
   
   
       10 . The accessory of  claim 1 , and at least one clip on the drawer within the compartment for holding at least one sheet of paper.  
   
   
       11 . The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein there are two clips integral with the drawer for removably holding the at least one sheet of paper.  
   
   
       12 . The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the drawer has a bottom panel, and wherein the clips are integral with the bottom panel along a centerline of the bottom panel.  
   
   
       13 . The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the drawer has a bottom panel and raised side panels, and wherein the clips are integral with the bottom panel adjacent one of the raised side panels.  
   
   
       14 . The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the drawer has a bottom panel lying in a plane and at least one cutout, and wherein each clip has a resilient arm portion extending below the plane into the at least one cutout.  
   
   
       15 . The accessory of  claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of sheets of paper within the compartment, each sheet bearing information, and wherein the platform bears indicia to which the information is relevant.