Textured Sensory Device

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/656,829, titled “Textured Sensory Device,” filed on May 7, 2024; and this application incorporates the entire contents of the foregoing application herein by reference.

Various implementations relate generally to textured sensory devices. Some implementations relate to textured palm or wrist rests that may be used with portable computing devices.

Some students and other users of computing devices may be anxious or easily distracted. For some such students, having a textured or contoured surface may minimize anxiety and bring about greater levels of focus.

Described herein are implementations of a textured sensory device with various surfaces and raised elements that may provide tactile and auditory feedback to a user. For example, various surfaces may provide a user with different tactile sensations when touched, and some surfaces may provide auditory feedback when manipulated.

A sensory device may include a bottom surface, a perimeter wall extending upward from the bottom surface to a perimeter height, and a plurality of projections extending upward from the bottom surface to a projection height. The plurality of projections may include a first set of first projections, a second set of second projections, and a third set of third projections. Each of the first projections in the first set may have a similar first structure, each of the second projections in the second set may have a similar second structure, and each of the third projections in the third set may have a similar third structure. The first structure, the second structure, and the third structure may be distinct from each other, and each set of projections may be selected from (a) projections being generally cylindrical in shape, (b) projections having a substantially uniform width and substantially uniform height and being disposed in a linear manner, (c) projections having a substantially uniform width and substantially uniform height and being disposed as a plurality of concentric circular segments, or (d) projections having a substantially uniform width and substantially uniform height and being disposed as a plurality of coupled linear segments. Each linear segment in the plurality of coupled linear segments may be disposed at a fixed angle relative to an adjacent linear segment in the plurality of coupled linear segments.

In some implementations, the fixed angle is about 120 degrees. In some implementations, the fixed angle is between 75 and 150 degrees. The sensory device may include one or more contoured surfaces. Each projection in the plurality of projections may be made of an elastic, resilient material. In some implementations, the elastic, resilient material is silicone. The silicone may have a Shore A durometer of 30-65.

The sensory device may be a three-dimensional palm or wrist rest configured for use with a keyboard associated with a portable computing device. A height of the three-dimensional rest relative to the bottom surface may vary along a width, such that a height along one long edge has a first value, and a height along a second long edge opposite the first long edge has a second value, which second value may be greater than the first value. In some implementations, the three-dimensional rest includes a first portion, a second portion, and a connecting region that couples the first portion to the second portion. The connecting region may include an opening that is configured to reveal a track pad associated with the portable computing device.

Described herein are implementations of a sensory device with various textured surfaces and raised elements that may provide tactile and auditory feedback to a user. For example, various surfaces may provide a user with different tactile sensations when touched, and some surfaces may provide auditory feedback when manipulated.

is a perspective view of an exemplary sensory device(e.g., a palm or wrist rest), disposed adjacent a keyboardassociated with a portable computing device. In the implementation shown, the sensory deviceincludes a left portion, a right portion, and a connecting region, which may include an opening(e.g., to expose a track pad regionof the computing device). Other implementations may include only the left portion, or the right portion; and still other implementations may include both the left portionand the right portionbut omit the connecting region. In implementations that are configured to be disposed adjacent the keyboard, an adhesive may be provided on the back of the sensory device, or a surface that is configured to contact the computing devicemay have a sticky or high-friction surface that releasably couples the sensory deviceto the computing device.

is a perspective view showing additional detail of the exemplary sensory deviceof. As shown, the deviceincludes a bottom surfaceand a perimeter wallthat extends upward from the bottom surfaceto a height. Within the perimeter wall, on each of the left portionand the right portion, the deviceincludes various projections and surfaces that are arranged in sets or groups. For example, in the implementation that is shown, the deviceincludes a first set of projectionson both the left portionand the right portion, a second set of projections, a third set of projections, a first contoured surface, a fourth set of projections, a fifth set of projections, a second contoured surface, and a third contoured surface.

In some implementations, as shown, one or more sets of projections may be repeated (e.g., projections, which appear on both the left portionand the right portion). In other implementations, sets of projections and contoured surfaces may be arranged differently; but in general, implementations include a plurality of sets of different projections (e.g., sets of projections that are substantially similar within a set but distinct from other sets), or a plurality of different contoured surfaces.

In some implementations, one or more of the various projections (e.g., projections,,,, and), or one or more of the contoured surfaces (e.g., surfaces,, and), may be made from an elastic and resilient material that enables the projections to be translated relative to the bottom surface(or relative to an axis extending through the projection and normal to the bottom surface, such as the longitudinal axisshown in) or the contoured surfaces to be deformed temporarily relative to their nominal shape. In such implementations, a user may contact or manipulate the projections or contoured surfaces in various ways to provide different tactile sensations. For example, a user may drag his or her finger, fingernail, thumb, or knuckle across projections or contoured surfaces to produce particular tactile sensations; and the user may touch or push on projections or contoured surfaces to produce other tactile sensations. Different projections or contoured surfaces may evoke different, unique tactile sensations, and these different tactile sensations may evoke curiosity or satisfaction or bring about a calming or centering effect in some users. Moreover, manipulation of some projections (e.g., forceful translation and release of projections) may produce auditory feedback, and such auditory feedback may differ between each set of projections, depending on the geometry of those projections. These instances of different auditory feedback also may evoke curiosity or satisfaction or bring about a calming or centering effect.

For some users (e.g., users who have difficulty focusing or who are easily distracted), being able to touch or manipulate the projections or contoured surfaces to produce different tactile sensations (and in some implementations, produce different auditory feedback) may increase focus on other tasks and minimize other distractions. While this may be counterintuitive on its face-providing projections and contoured surfaces that are configured for interaction, which may themselves be seen as distractions-the tactile sensations and auditory feedback produced may become familiar to a user, and they may be interesting and engaging enough to the user that other less familiar and more random distractions in the environment may be minimized-increasing focus and providing a calming effect for some users.

illustrate various projections and contoured surfaces in more detail.illustrates an exemplary first contoured surface. In some implementations, the first contoured surfacemay comprise wavy undulations that are smooth but of varied height relative to the bottom surface. Additional texture may be provided, such as localized bumps, ridges, pits, or other textural discontinuities. For some users of the device, moving their fingers along the first contoured surface, or pressing into and deforming portions of the surface, may produce therapeutic, calming, or other positive tactile sensations.

illustrate an exemplary first setof projections. As shown, the projectionsmay include cylinders having a substantially uniform diameteror width and heightand being disposed in a repeating pattern. (As used herein, “about” “approximately” or “substantially” may mean within 1%, or 5%, or 10%, or 20%, or 50%, or 100% of a nominal value.) The cylinders may include rounded tops or other regular tops, and they may be made from an elastic and resilient material that enables the projectionsto be translated relative to a longitudinal axis. When a user manipulates such projections(e.g., by dragging his or her finger across the projections), a unique tactile sensation may be evoked. In some implementations, depending on the elasticity, resilience, and stiffness of the projections, translation and subsequent release of the projectionsmay produce audible feedback as well (e.g., a tone or sound whose frequency may depend on how fast the projectionsare translated and released).

further illustrates a second set of projections, which, as shown, may include a series of coupled linear segments-where each linear segment has a substantially uniform width and height and is coupled to and disposed relative to an adjacent segment at a fixed angle. In some implementations, the angle may be about 120 degrees; in other implementations, the angle may range between about 75 and about 150 degrees. The precise angle is not important, but by disposing adjacent linear segments at an angle relative to each other, each joined segment may resist translation more so than the projections. Accordingly, a tactile sensation may be produced in a user, when the user contacts or translates the projections, different from that produced when the user translates the projections. In addition, in some implementations, auditory feedback may also be produced, which audible feedback may be different from that produced by contact with or translation of the projections.

illustrates a third set of projections. As shown, the third set of projectionsmay include projectionshaving a substantially uniform width and substantially uniform height and being disposed as concentric circles or arc segments. Because of the shape of these projections, they may provide further unique tactile sensations to a user who contacts them (e.g., by touching them or dragging his or her finger, fingernail, thumb, or knuckle across them); further, in some implementations, contact with or manipulation of the projectionsmay produce other unique auditory feedback.

further illustrates a fourth set of projections, and a fifth set of projections. As shown, the fourth set of projectionsmay include projectionsthat are configured as linear segments having a substantially similar width and height. In some implementations, the projectionsare regularly spaced parallel to each other; in other implementations, the projectionsmay be spaced differently (e.g., not parallel to each other, not at regular intervals, etc.). As with other projections, manipulation or translation of the projectionsmay produce unique tactile sensations or auditory feedback.

A fifth setof projections may include linear segments having a substantially uniform width and height; and such linear segmentsmay further have a substantially uniform length and be arranged at fixed angles relative to adjacent segments (e.g., 120 degrees). In some implementations, as shown, the segmentsmay be arranged as a partial “honeycomb,” with various segments missing to create paths in a mazelike configuration. As with other projections, manipulation or translation of the projectionsmay produce unique tactile sensations or auditory feedback. The projectionsmay further engage a user in another unique way-in particular, a user may be drawn to “trace” different paths through the mazelike configuration (e.g., by running his or her finger along the open path area (e.g., path) between projections, or along the walls of the path created by the projections). Interaction with these projectionsmay involve a different region of a user's brain or activate a kind of thought or imagination different from interaction with other projections.

illustrates a second contoured surface. As shown, the contoured surfacemay include multiple depressions, such as depressions that include cylindrical or spherical surfaces, or segments thereof. As shown, the segments are disposed near a corner of the device, and some segments are truncated relative to others; but the segments may otherwise be uniform or similar in dimension (e.g., depth, radius of curvature, width, spacing, etc.). In some implementations, and for some users, there may be a draw to “trace” the contoured surfaces—thereby creating yet another tactile sensation and point of interest, curiosity, or attention.

illustrates a third contoured surface, which, as shown, may be similar to the second contoured surface. In particular, as shown, the contoured surfacemay be cylindrical in nature with spherical ends. This surface, like the others, may draw users to interact by touching or tracing the surfacewith their fingers. Moreover, depending on a length of the surface, it may facilitate retention of small objects (e.g., the surface may be useful for retaining, or partially retaining, a small pen, marker, pencil, or other object).

In some implementations, various projections may extend up from a bottom surfaceto a substantially similar height, and that height (e.g., a “projection height”) may be similar to the heightof the perimeter wall. In some implementations, as depicted in, the height of the perimeter walland the height of the projections may vary slightly across a width(e.g., from a first height, to a second heightthat is greater than the first height). In such implementations, such minor variation in height (from heightto height, across the width) may facilitate improved closing of a screenof a computing deviceon which the devicemay be disposed. That is, by providing a shorter height, the screenmay be able to close to a greater extent (e.g., a lesser angle), than may be otherwise possible if heightsandwere uniform.

In some implementations, heights of projections (“projection height”) and contoured surfaces are the same as or less than a corresponding height of the perimeter wall. For a system in which that height varies over its width, the height of projections may similarly vary, such that along any line parallel to a length of the device, heights of projections or contoured surfaces along that line are no higher than a corresponding section of the perimeter wall along that same line.

Several implementations have been described with reference to exemplary aspects, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the contemplated scope. For example, some implementations are described as a palm or wrist rest for use with a computing device, but other implementations may be configured for standalone use, apart from a computing device; some implementations include first and second portions, with a connecting region therebetween, while other implementations include only one portion or omit the connecting region; some implementations include multiple projections and contoured surfaces, while other implementations only include multiple projections only or multiple contoured surfaces only; various materials may be employed (e.g., silicone having varying hardnesses (e.g., Shore A durometers ranging from 0 to 80, or between 5 and 40, or between 45 and 65, or between 30 and 60), rubber, polymers, plastics, etc.); in some implementations, different projections or contoured surfaces may be made of different materials; few or many different contoured surfaces or projections may be provided; sets of projections or contoured surfaces may be repeated within a given textured surface; projections and contoured surfaces may be arranged differently than described and illustrated; other projections and contoured surfaces that provide tactile or auditory feedback may be employed; materials may have a single color, or multiple colors may be used to provide visual variation and interest; height may vary across a width, or height may be uniform.

Many other variations are possible, and modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings provided herein without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the scope include all aspects falling within of the appended claims.