Patents by Inventor Peter Andrew Smith

Peter Andrew Smith 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: 6362416
    Abstract: A hot swap tray having a housing adapted to be slidably inserted in a rack. The tray includes an electromagnetic shield member mounted for rotation about an axis traversing the sliding direction of the tray. The shield has a resting state in which the shield presents a first dimension in a plane traversing the sliding direction and a deflected state in which the shield presents a second dimension in the plane, the first dimension being greater than the second dimension. The shield is actuated on insertion of the tray into the rack to move from the resting state to the deflected state so that the shield clears adjacent shields located within the rack and from the deflected state to the resting state so that the shield engages the adjacent shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ian McFarlane Denny, Peter Andrew Smith, Gavin Wright
  • Patent number: 6250932
    Abstract: A connector for use in a computer is arranged so as to accept an adapter card and a card insulator. The adapter card is inserted into one or more first openings. The card insulator is inserted into one or more second openings. The connector has an insulating molding common to the first and second openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Andrew Smith, Cynthia Michelle Grosser
  • Patent number: 6227630
    Abstract: A mounting for a computer accessory such as a hard disc drive comprises a tray (2) for accommodating the accessory (1) which can be inserted into a mounting bay in the computer against the bias of a pair of springs (4). The tray (2) carries a bezel member (7) movable along the insertion path independently of the tray to latch or unlatch the tray in place, using latching members (6) in association with latching tracks formed in the bezel, by way of a push-push action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fraser Brown, Ian McFarlane Denny, Peter Andrew Smith, Gavin Wright
  • Patent number: 6172036
    Abstract: There is provided a rinse aid composition containing an amino tricarboxylic acid or its salts or complexes. The pH of said composition as a 1% solution in distilled water at 20°C. is preferably less than 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Graeme Duncan Cruickshank, Peter Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 6146179
    Abstract: A first movable connector part and a second fixedly positioned connector part form a connector. The second fixedly positioned connector part has at least two catch members separately positioned at spaced apart locations. The first connector part is adapted to be moved in a first direction toward the second connector part in response to a predetermined insertion force until the first connector part and the second connector part are connected. The first connector part has at least two movable latches separately supported at spaced apart locations on the first connector part, each of the latches being associated with a respective one of the catch members. Each of the catch members are adapted for engaging a respective one of the movable latches. A flexible linking bar connects the movable latches. On application of a predetermined extraction force, the linking bar flexes so as to cause the movable latches to be released from the catch members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ian McFarlane Denny, Peter Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 5961352
    Abstract: Personal computer motherboards commonly have connectors located on them for the insertion of plug-in adapter cards. Disclosed is a connector having a first opening in which a PCI adapter card may be inserted and a second opening in which an adapter card of a second type, such as an ISA or EISA card may be inserted. The connector has an insulating moulding common to the first and second openings. By using such a connector, the spacing between slots may be reduced from that required when separate PCI and ISA or EISA connectors are used. This allows either a lower profile for a personal computer or for more connection slots to be incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ian McFarlane Denny, Peter Andrew Smith