Patents by Inventor Stephen P. LeClair

Stephen P. LeClair 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: 7379265
    Abstract: A base support member for a disc drive is provided. The base support member includes a disc support cavity configured to house and support a spinning disc, and a filter support cavity configured to house and support a filter. The base support member also includes at least one surface that defines an airborne filtering channel that is generally disposed within the filter support cavity of the base support member. The airborne filtering channel has an inlet opening positioned in a first location proximate the disc support cavity and an outlet opening positioned in a second location proximate the disc support cavity. The airborne filtering channel is configured to receive a flow of air from the spinning disc at the inlet opening, pass the flow of air through the filter cavity and to discharge the flow of air at the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: (Peter) Fei Wang, Stephen P. LeClair, Steven D. Knopp, Robert W. Mead
  • Patent number: 6882500
    Abstract: A base support member for a disc drive is provided. The base support member includes a disc support cavity configured to house and support a spinning disc, and a component support cavity configured to house and support a set of electrical and mechanical disc drive components. The base support member also includes at least one surface that defines an airflow channel that is generally disposed within the component support cavity of the base support member. The airflow channel has an inlet opening positioned in a first location proximate the disc support cavity and an outlet opening positioned in a second location proximate the disc support cavity. The airflow channel is configured to receive a flow of air from the spinning disc at the inlet opening and to discharge the flow of air at the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Wang, Stephen P. LeClair, Jackson W. Nichols
  • Patent number: 6697213
    Abstract: A cover for a disc drive assembly including multiple damped cover plates. The multiple damped cover plates include a first cover plate and a second cover plate. Each of the first and second cover plates includes a damped structure, such as a viscoelastic damping layer, to damp vibration of the cover to reduce acoustic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Paul D. Lofstrom, Stephen P. LeClair, David D. Koester, Michael D. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20030137769
    Abstract: A base support member for a disc drive is provided. The base support member includes a disc support cavity configured to house and support a spinning disc, and a filter support cavity configured to house and support a filter. The base support member also includes at least one surface that defines an airborne filtering channel that is generally disposed within the filter support cavity of the base support member. The airborne filtering channel has an inlet opening positioned in a first location proximate the disc support cavity and an outlet opening positioned in a second location proximate the disc support cavity. The airborne filtering channel is configured to receive a flow of air from the spinning disc at the inlet opening, pass the flow of air through the filter cavity and to discharge the flow of air at the outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Stephen P. LeClair, Steven D. Knopp, Robert W. Mead
  • Publication number: 20030081350
    Abstract: A base support member for a disc drive is provided. The base support member includes a disc support cavity configured to house and support a spinning disc, and a component support cavity configured to house and support a set of electrical and mechanical disc drive components. The base support member also includes at least one surface that defines an airflow channel that is generally disposed within the component support cavity of the base support member. The airflow channel has an inlet opening positioned in a first location proximate the disc support cavity and an outlet opening positioned in a second location proximate the disc support cavity. The airflow channel is configured to receive a flow of air from the spinning disc at the inlet opening and to discharge the flow of air at the outlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Peter F. Wang, Stephen P. LeClair, Jackson W. Nichols
  • Patent number: 6504672
    Abstract: A housing structure for a disc drive including a rigid housing having opposed inner and outer surfaces and a spindle opening. A spindle cap is sized to fit in the spindle opening and includes opposed inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface of the spindle cap is raised above or spaced from the inner surface of the rigid housing for spindle clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Peter R. Janik, David D. Koester, Stephen P. LeClair
  • Publication number: 20010028525
    Abstract: A cover for a disc drive assembly including multiple damped cover plates. The multiple damped cover plates include a first cover plate and a second cover plate. Each of the first and second cover plates includes a damped structure to damp vibration of the cover to reduce acoustic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Paul D. Lofstrom, Stephen P. LeClair, David D. Koester, Michael D. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5089922
    Abstract: A specially designed disc mounting spindle hub having a disc mounting flange protruding frm a substantially cylindrical hub portion. The disc mounting flange has a raised area about the periphery of the flange upon which a disc rests. The remainder of the discs are alternately stacked with spacer rings upon the first disc. A clamping ring is attached to the substantially cylindrical hub portion opposite the disc mounting flange and, working cooperatively with the flange, imparts a force upon the disc and spacer ring stack to hold the discs in place. The maximum force applied to the stack is in line with the raised peripheral ara that the first disc rests upon. Additionally, the force bends the disc mounting flange. However, the first disc pivots upon the raised area maintaining its parallel orientation with respect to the other discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. LeClair