Patents by Inventor CURTIS S. GERMAN

CURTIS S. GERMAN 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: 11045903
    Abstract: A device for distributing gas near a weld location includes a cap, a funnel, an inlet, and an aperture. The cap includes a sidewall and an annular lip, and defines a reservoir between the sidewall and the annular lip. The annular lip includes a proximal-most edge. The cap defines an opening, and defines a longitudinal axis. The funnel is disposed adjacent a distal end of the cap. The inlet is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the cap. The aperture is disposed through the sidewall of the cap and is in fluid communication with the inlet. The aperture is disposed distally of the proximal-most edge of the annular lip. Gas is configured to flow through the inlet, through the aperture and into the reservoir. The reservoir is configured to allow the gas to uniformly overflow the proximal-most edge of the annular lip and flow distally through the opening defined by the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Curtis S. German, James J. Crawford, Michael T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20190168338
    Abstract: A device for distributing gas near a weld location includes a cap, a funnel, an inlet, and an aperture. The cap includes a sidewall and an annular lip, and defines a reservoir between the sidewall and the annular lip. The annular lip includes a proximal-most edge. The cap defines an opening, and defines a longitudinal axis. The funnel is disposed adjacent a distal end of the cap. The inlet is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the cap. The aperture is disposed through the sidewall of the cap and is in fluid communication with the inlet. The aperture is disposed distally of the proximal-most edge of the annular lip. Gas is configured to flow through the inlet, through the aperture and into the reservoir. The reservoir is configured to allow the gas to uniformly overflow the proximal-most edge of the annular lip and flow distally through the opening defined by the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: CURTIS S. GERMAN, JAMES J. CRAWFORD, MICHAEL T. PIKE
  • Patent number: 9318144
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a spindle motor attached to a disk drive base. The spindle motor includes a hub that rotates about a spindle rotation axis. An annular disk is mounted on the hub. A clamp is attached to the hub. The clamp has a body portion that is stamped from a metal sheet. The clamp also includes an annular rib that protrudes from the stamped sheet metal body portion towards the annular disk. The annular rib includes an annular contact surface that may be lapped to enhance flatness and that contacts the annular disk. The annular rib also includes inner and outer side walls that are each normal to the annular contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Brause, Curtis S. German
  • Patent number: 8717706
    Abstract: Described herein is a balance plug for a disk drive. The balance plug includes a body defining a substantially spherical outer surface and a plurality of ribs along the spherical outer surface and defining at least three meridians along the outer surface of the sphere. The at least three meridians can reside in at least two transverse planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis S. German, Andrew A. Lucas, Brian L. Rappel
  • Patent number: 8488270
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a spindle motor attached to a disk drive base. The spindle motor includes a hub that rotates about a spindle rotation axis. An annular disk is mounted on the hub. A clamp is attached to the hub. The clamp has a body portion that is stamped from a metal sheet. The clamp also includes an annular rib that protrudes from the stamped sheet metal body portion towards the annular disk. The annular rib includes an annular contact surface that may be lapped to enhance flatness and that contacts the annular disk. The annular rib also includes inner and outer side walls that are each normal to the annular contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Brause, Curtis S. German
  • Patent number: 8437101
    Abstract: Described herein is a balance plug for a disk drive. The balance plug includes a body defining a substantially spherical outer surface and a plurality of ribs along the spherical outer surface and defining at least three meridians along the outer surface of the sphere. The at least three meridians can reside in at least two transverse planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis S. German, Andrew A. Lucas, Brian L. Rappel
  • Publication number: 20120300344
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a spindle motor attached to a disk drive base. The spindle motor includes a hub that rotates about a spindle rotation axis. An annular disk is mounted on the hub. A clamp is attached to the hub. The clamp has a body portion that is stamped from a metal sheet. The clamp also includes an annular rib that protrudes from the stamped sheet metal body portion towards the annular disk. The annular rib includes an annular contact surface that may be lapped to enhance flatness and that contacts the annular disk. The annular rib also includes inner and outer side walls that are each normal to the annular contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID D. BRAUSE, CURTIS S. GERMAN