COMPUTER MOUSE WITH RETRACTABLE CABLE

摘要

A computer mouse (10) with retractable cable (17) includes a retraction system (30) for extending and retracting a cable (17) into and out of a conventional mouse housing (12). The retraction system (30) includes a housing with first (301) and second (302) retention sections, wherein the first retention section (301) retains a first cable section (305) and the second retention section (302) retains a second retractable cable section (306). A rotatable spindle (309) passes through a common wall of the two retention sections. It includes a slot (308) for retaining a transition section (307) of the cable passing from the first retention section (301) to the second retention section (302). The first cable section (305) is decoupled from the second retention section (302) in a manner that permits the first cable section (305) to wind about a spindle (309) while retained in the first retention section (301), while the second cable section (306) moves into and out of the second retention section (302) without stress on the cable itself or the coupling of the cable to the internal circuit board (50). The first retention section (301) is preferably designed to be large enough to allow the first cable section (305) to expand and contract with rotation of the spindle (309) without causing that section to reverse the course of its rotation. The retractable cable (17) terminates at the end opposite from the internal circuit board in a standard terminal (18). An optional adapter may be used to convert the terminal from serial to parallel and vice-versa, with a switching mechanism (21) deployed on the mouse (10) housing to ensure appropriate circuit board interfacing.