They Invented What? (No. 127)

U.S. Pat. No. 6,650,315:  Mouse device with a built-in printer.

 

What is claimed is:

1. A mouse device for use as an input device of a computer, said mouse device comprising: a housing in which recording paper is loadable; and a printer unit provided within the housing for printing on the recording paper print information received from the computer; wherein said printer unit comprises: a paper loading section in which the recording paper is loaded; feeding means for feeding the recording paper loaded in the loading section; a print head for printing on the recording paper fed by said feeding means; and a discharge port through which the recording paper is discharged by said feeding means out of the housing after printing by said print head.

2. The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein: the discharge port is provided extending vertically so that the printed recording paper is discharged taking a substantially vertical attitude out of the housing.

3. The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein: the discharge port is provided at a position on a side of the housing where discharge of the recorded paper is free from being hindered by a user’s fingers that hold the housing when the mouse device is manipulated.

4. The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein: the recording paper loading section has an open end through which the recording paper is loadable in the loading section; and a cover is provided for closing the open end of the loading section openably.

5. The mouse device according to claim 4, further comprising: print head moving means, responsive to closing and opening of said cover, for moving said print head to a print position and a non-print position, respectively.

6. The mouse device according to claim 4, further comprising: a window provided on said cover for externally confirming that the recording paper is loaded in the loading section.

7. The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein: the recording paper comprises a roll of recording tape.

8. The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein: the recording paper has a rectangular shape.

9. The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein: said print head comprises a thermal head; and the recording paper comprises heat-sensitive paper that is colored by heat produced by said thermal head.