Patents by Inventor Donald J. Hall

Donald J. Hall 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: 8434832
    Abstract: A lock for a computer device comprises a lever operable to be positioned in a locked position and comprising at least one flange, a locking base slidably coupled to a device housing and attached to the lever, and a spring coupled to the locking base and to the device housing and operated upon by the lever, where in the locked position the at least one flange slides in a first corresponding at least one notch formed on the device housing, and where the locking base slides into a corresponding second notch formed on the device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John E. Calloway, Juan M. Perez, Donald J. Hall
  • Patent number: 6934162
    Abstract: A screwless technique for mounting a circuit board in a computer chassis is provided in which circular portions of keyhole-shaped mounting openings in the circuit board body are first moved downwardly over notched chassis mounting bosses. The circuit board is then forwardly moved transversely to the bosses to move opening edge portions of the circuit board body into the boss notches in a manner releasably preventing the circuit board from being lifted off the bosses. A retaining bracket is placed adjacent a body edge of the installed circuit board to block the board against rearward releasing movement relative to the chassis bosses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Juan M. Perez, Jeffrey A. Lambert, Donald J. Hall
  • Patent number: 6912765
    Abstract: A clip is disclosed which is capable of applying significant retention force via a rotatable cam arm while being easily removable due to the cam arm and a separate removal arm. A method of using the clip is also disclosed which uses the advantages of the clip, particularly in the context of computer design and construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Franke, Donald J. Hall, Jeffrey A. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20040134639
    Abstract: A clip is disclosed which is capable of applying significant retention force via a rotatable cam arm while being easily removable due to the cam arm and a separate removal arm. A method of using the clip is also disclosed which uses the advantages of the clip, particularly in the context of computer design and construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory C. Franke, Donald J. Hall, Jeffrey A. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20040125569
    Abstract: A clip is disclosed which is capable of applying significant retention force via a rotatable cam arm while being easily removable due to the cam arm and a separate removal arm. A method of using the clip is also disclosed which uses the advantages of the clip, particularly in the context of computer design and construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory C. Franke, Donald J. Hall, Jeffrey A. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20040064924
    Abstract: A clip is disclosed which is capable of applying significant retention force via a rotatable cam arm while being easily removable due to the cam arm and a separate removal arm. A method of using the clip is also disclosed which uses the advantages of the clip, particularly in the context of computer design and construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory C. Franke, Donald J. Hall, Jeffrey A. Lambert
  • Patent number: 6668431
    Abstract: A clip is disclosed which is capable of applying significant retention force via a rotatable cam arm while being easily removable due to the cam arm and a separate removal arm. A method of using the clip is also disclosed which uses the advantages of the clip, particularly in the context of computer design and construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Franke, Donald J. Hall, Jeffrey A. Lambert
  • Patent number: 6618247
    Abstract: A computer may be easily user re-configured between desktop and tower housing orientations, with the computer's front side drive units being horizontally disposed in each orientation, using specially designed drive unit support and a reconfigurable front bezel. A square opening is formed in the front exterior wall of the housing, and the support apparatus includes spaced apart channel structures extending inwardly into the housing from the four sides of the wall opening, with opposing pairs of the channel structures being adapted to slidably receive corresponding projections on opposite side edge portions of the drive units. In this manner, each front side drive unit can be supported at the opening in a first orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a desktop orientation, or a second orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a tower orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventors: Francis A. Felcman, Donald J. Hall
  • Publication number: 20030110603
    Abstract: A clip is disclosed which is capable of applying significant retention force via a rotatable cam arm while being easily removable due to the cam arm and a separate removal arm. A method of using the clip is also disclosed which uses the advantages of the clip, particularly in the context of computer design and construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory C. Franke, Donald J. Hall, Jeffrey A. Lambert
  • Patent number: 6545870
    Abstract: A technique is provided for the insertion and removal of a motherboard and a heatsink from a computer chassis without the use of tools or threaded fasteners. The technique allows the heatsink to be supported by the chassis and not the motherboard thereby preventing damage to the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Franke, Donald J. Hall, Jeffrey A. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20020089829
    Abstract: A screwless technique for mounting a circuit board in a computer chassis is provided in which circular portions of keyhole-shaped mounting openings in the circuit board body are first moved downwardly over notched chassis mounting bosses. The circuit board is then forwardly moved transversely to the bosses to move opening edge portions of the circuit board body into the boss notches in a manner releasably preventing the circuit board from being lifted off the bosses. A retaining bracket is placed adjacent a body edge of the installed circuit board to block the board against rearward releasing movement relative to the chassis bosses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: COMPAQ COMPUTER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan M. Perez, Jeffrey A. Lambert, Donald J. Hall
  • Publication number: 20020060901
    Abstract: A computer may be easily user re-configured between desktop and tower housing orientations, with the computer's front side drive units being horizontally disposed in each orientation, using specially designed drive unit support and a reconfigurable front bezel. A square opening is formed in the front exterior wall of the housing, and the support apparatus includes spaced apart channel structures extending inwardly into the housing from the four sides of the wall opening, with opposing pairs of the channel structures being adapted to slidably receive corresponding projections on opposite side edge portions of the drive units. In this manner, each front side drive unit can be supported at the opening in a first orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a desktop orientation, or a second orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a tower orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Francis A. Felcman, Donald J. Hall
  • Patent number: 6385051
    Abstract: A screwless technique for mounting a circuit board in a computer chassis is provided in which circular portions of keyhole-shaped mounting openings in the circuit board body are first moved downwardly over notched chassis mounting bosses. The circuit board is then forwardly moved transversely to the bosses to move opening edge portions of the circuit board body into the boss notches in a manner releasably preventing the circuit board from being lifted off the bosses. A retaining bracket is placed adjacent a body edge of the installed circuit board to block the board against rearward releasing movement relative to the chassis bosses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Juan M. Perez, Jeffrey A. Lambert, Donald J. Hall
  • Patent number: 6362955
    Abstract: A computer may be easily user re-configured between desktop and tower housing orientations, with the computer's front side drive units being horizontally disposed in each orientation, using specially designed drive unit support and a reconfigurable front bezel. A square opening is formed in the front exterior wall of the housing, and the support apparatus includes spaced apart channel structures extending inwardly into the housing from the four sides of the wall opening, with opposing pairs of the channel structures being adapted to slidably receive corresponding projections on opposite side edge portions of the drive units. In this manner, each front side drive unit can be supported at the opening in a first orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a desktop orientation, or a second orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a tower orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Francis A. Felcman, Donald J. Hall
  • Publication number: 20020001174
    Abstract: A computer may be easily user re-configured between desktop and tower housing orientations, with the computer's front side drive units being horizontally disposed in each orientation, using specially designed drive unit support and a reconfigurable front bezel. A square opening is formed in the front exterior wall of the housing, and the support apparatus includes spaced apart channel structures extending inwardly into the housing from the four sides of the wall opening, with opposing pairs of the channel structures being adapted to slidably receive corresponding projections on opposite side edge portions of the drive units. In this manner, each front side drive unit can be supported at the opening in a first orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a desktop orientation, or a second orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a tower orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: FRANCIS A. FELCMAN, DONALD J. HALL
  • Patent number: 6307747
    Abstract: In a computer processor module/heat sink assembly, a spring clip member is used to resiliently hold a heat-generating die portion of the processor against the heat sink. Spaced retaining pins are secured to the processor module and extend through holes in the heat sink, with outer end portions of the retaining pins being captively retained in slots in the spring clip member, and portions of the clip member adjacent the outer pin ends being resiliently deformed toward the outer side of the heat sink to thereby resiliently press the processor die portion against the underside of the heat sink. The clip member may be quickly installed on and removed from the outer pin ends without the use of tools of any sort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur K. Farnsworth, Francis A. Felcman, Donald J. Hall
  • Patent number: 6122173
    Abstract: A computer may be easily user re-configured between desktop and tower housing orientations, with a group of the computer's front side drive units being horizontally disposed in each orientation, using a specially designed drive unit support and latch structures. A square opening is formed in the front exterior wall of the housing, and the support apparatus includes spaced apart channel structures extending inwardly into the housing from the four sides of the wall opening, with opposing pairs of the channel structures being adapted to slidably receive corresponding projections on opposite side edge portions of the drive units. In this manner, each front side drive unit in the group thereof can be supported at the opening in a first orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a desktop orientation, or a second orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a tower orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Francis A. Felcman, Donald J. Hall, Arthur K. Farnsworth