Patents by Inventor Rodney L. Cooper

Rodney L. Cooper 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: 6571454
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for attaching a disc drive cover member to a disc drive base member. A fixture comprises a base and a stop guard, cradle and guide rails supported by the base. The disc drive base member is operatively receivingly engaged in the cradle adjacent the guide rails. The disc drive cover member is operatively abuttingly engaged at one end against the stop guard and pivoted toward the disc drive base member. Any substantial misalignment of the disc drive cover member with the disc drive base member causes the disc drive cover member to engage at least one of the guide rails and therefore be urged into proper alignment, preventing adverse contact between the disc drive cover member and the disc drive base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventors: Michael D. Haney, Rodney L. Cooper, Don C. Yarbrough, Michael G. Roper, Thanh V. Huynh, Steven F. Knecht, Tony T. Thongham
  • Patent number: 5730191
    Abstract: A pin straightening tool for aligning a pin in a multi-pin connector. The pin straightening tool includes an electrically conductive handle having a beveled end and a hollow recess extending longitudinally into the beveled end. An alignment tip is connected to the end of the handle and used to align the pin. The alignment tip includes a shaft which is inserted into the recess of the beveled end of the handle and a tube which extends longitudinally from the shaft and away from the handle. The tube has a hollow recess having an inner diameter sized for receipt of the pin and the outer diameter of the tube is sized for placement of the tube between adjacent pins in the multi-pin connector. Engagement means is provided between the alignment tip and the handle so that the alignment tip can be engaged and subsequently removed from the handle. A pocket clip is attached to the handle for clipping the pin straightening tool when the pin straightening tool is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Cooper, Randall D. Wakely, Darin D. Just, Larry E. Goodman, Dana R. Fricke, Ira M. Bailey, Issac Varkey, John W. Hankins, Michael D. Pham, William G. Guzanich, Bryan DiMambro