Patents by Inventor Charles William Piper

Charles William Piper has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8023263
    Abstract: A latch apparatus and method to facilitate leveraged insertion of a component into a component bay to an interfaced position, securing of the component in the component bay when the component interfaces with a host computer, leveraged dislodgement of the component from its interfaced position for removal of the component from the component bay, and proper positioning of the latch apparatus upon insertion of the component housing to ensure proper engagement of the latch apparatus with the component bay for leveraged insertion and removal. One latch apparatus comprises a frame adapted to be secured to a proximal end of a component housing, a handle pivotally secured to the frame, and an extendable arm slidably secured to a distal end of the handle and biased toward an extended position, wherein the distal end of the extendable arm has a distally extending latch key for engaging a slot in the component bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Joseph Crippen, Brian Michael Kerrigan, Charles William Piper, Brian Alan Trumbo
  • Patent number: 7881052
    Abstract: An improved carrier comprises a tray, an EMC component, and a bezel. The EMC component comprises a top spring set and a bottom spring set. Each spring set comprises a plurality of spring biased contacts connected by a plate and a bar so that each spring set moves in unison when depressed or released. Each tray has a first flange and a second flange and each of the flanges has a cut out portion. When an improved carrier is moved out of an array enclosure, the flanges depress the top spring of the EMC component of the carrier below. When the improved carrier is moved into the array enclosure, the flanges depress the top spring set of the carrier below until the top spring set of the carrier below is released by the cut-out portions of the flanges. When released, the top spring set of the carrier below contacts the bottom spring set of the carrier above to form a continuous EMC shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Joseph Crippen, David George Lund, Charles William Piper, Brian Alan Trumbo
  • Publication number: 20100149746
    Abstract: An improved carrier comprises a tray, an EMC component, and a bezel. The EMC component comprises a top spring set and a bottom spring set. Each spring set comprises a plurality of spring biased contacts connected by a plate and a bar so that each spring set moves in unison when depressed or released. Each tray has a first flange and a second flange and each of the flanges has a cut out portion. When an improved carrier is moved out of an array enclosure, the flanges depress the top spring of the EMC component of the carrier below. When the improved carrier is moved into the array enclosure, the flanges depress the top spring set of the carrier below until the top spring set of the carrier below is released by the cut-out portions of the flanges. When released, the top spring set of the carrier below contacts the bottom spring set of the carrier above to form a continuous EMC shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Joseph Crippen, David George Lund, Charles William Piper, Brian Alan Trumbo
  • Publication number: 20090279244
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a disk drive assembly and a disk drive cage for selectively receiving the disk drive assembly. The disk drive assembly includes first and second side rails secured to opposing sides of a disk drive, wherein the first side rail includes a distal end having a distally-opening slot configured to receive a rigid structure, such as a bent portion of the cage, fixedly extending from the disk drive cage. The slot in the first side rail enables the disk drive assembly to distally advance to a fully installed position within the disk drive cage. Incompatible disk drive assemblies do not include such a slot and are prevented from reaching the fully installed position. Preferably the distal end of first side rail extends beyond the distal end of the disk drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Joseph Crippen, Brian Michael Kerrigan, Charles William Piper, Brian Alan Trumbo
  • Publication number: 20090279249
    Abstract: A latch apparatus and method to facilitate leveraged insertion of a component into a component bay to an interfaced position, securing of the component in the component bay when the component interfaces with a host computer, leveraged dislodgement of the component from its interfaced position for removal of the component from the component bay, and proper positioning of the latch apparatus upon insertion of the component housing to ensure proper engagement of the latch apparatus with the component bay for leveraged insertion and removal. One latch apparatus comprises a frame adapted to be secured to a proximal end of a component housing, a handle pivotally secured to the frame, and an extendable arm slidably secured to a distal end of the handle and biased toward an extended position, wherein the distal end of the extendable arm has a distally extending latch key for engaging a slot in the component bay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Joseph Crippen, Brian Michael Kerrigan, Charles William Piper, Brian Alan Trumbo
  • Patent number: 6956745
    Abstract: A handling system for use with a blade is disclosed. The blade is within a computer system. The handling system comprises a chassis for holding the blade and a first handle member coupled to the chassis. The handling system includes a second handle member coupled to the chassis and being oppositely disposed to the first handle member. Finally, the handling system includes a latching mechanism which holds the first and second handle member in a retracted position when engaged therewith. The latching member when activated causes the first and second handle members to spring out to a point where the first and second handle members can be used to remove the chassis from the computer system. A method and system in accordance with the present invention limits the handling system profile dimensionally by providing a spring-loaded latching mechanism for the handle members. In so doing, a blade server system is provided that has a smaller footprint than conventional server systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Michael Kerrigan, Gerard Francis Muenkel, Charles William Piper, Brian Alan Trumbo
  • Publication number: 20040264146
    Abstract: A handling system for use with a blade is disclosed. The blade is within a computer system. The handling system comprises a chassis for holding the blade and a first handle member coupled to the chassis. The handling system includes a second handle member coupled to the chassis and being oppositely disposed to the first handle member. Finally, the handling system includes a latching mechanism which holds the first and second handle member in a retracted position when engaged therewith. The latching member when activated causes the first and second handle members to spring out to a point where the first and second handle members can be used to remove the chassis from the computer system. A method and system in accordance with the present invention limits the handling system profile dimensionally by providing a spring-loaded latching mechanism for the handle members. In so doing, a blade server system is provided that has a smaller footprint than conventional server systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Michael Kerrigan, Gerard Francis Muenkel, Charles William Piper, Brian Alan Trumbo
  • Patent number: D496039
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Michael Kerrigan, Gerard Francis Muenkel, Charles William Piper