Patents by Inventor Brett Tomky

Brett Tomky 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: 11917780
    Abstract: The description relates to hinged devices. One example relates to a device that has a first portion hingedly secured along a spine and a second portion hingedly secured along the spine. The example can also include a first spine cover secured relative to the spine and extending into the first portion and a second spine cover secured relative to the spine and extending into the second portion. An extent to which the first spine cover extends into the first portion and the second spine cover extends into the second portion is controlled by an angular orientation of the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Devin Caplow-Munro, Denys Yaremenko, Brett Tomky, Luke Schwartzel, Anne Pirie, Errol Mark Tazbaz
  • Publication number: 20230315160
    Abstract: Hinged computing devices often connect two components via one or more hinges, using either a door-hinge style or other conventional hinge style. Presenting a continuous visual impression of the computing device to the user, with any gaps covered, provides protection to internal components and suggests a higher overall quality of the computing device to the user. Using conventional hinges, achieving a 360-degree range of motion is difficult, and often requires a pair of hinges connected by a spine to accommodate the respective thicknesses of the two hinged components in all orientations. However, using a pair of conventional hinges connected by a spine to achieve a 360-degree range of motion can yield a variable gap between the spine and the hinged components. The presently disclosed technology is directed to mechanically deterministic sliding covers that conceal these variable gaps, while still maintaining a 360-degree range of motion of the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Luke SCHWARTZEL, Brett TOMKY, Devin Samuel Jacob CAPLOW-MUNRO, Denys YAREMENKO, Errol Mark TAZBAZ, Anne Maristella PIRIE
  • Publication number: 20230292455
    Abstract: The description relates to hinged devices. One example relates to a device that has a first portion hingedly secured along a spine and a second portion hingedly secured along the spine. The example can also include a first spine cover secured relative to the spine and extending into the first portion and a second spine cover secured relative to the spine and extending into the second portion. An extent to which the first spine cover extends into the first portion and the second spine cover extends into the second portion is controlled by an angular orientation of the first and second portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Devin CAPLOW-MUNRO, Denys YAREMENKO, Brett TOMKY, Luke SCHWARTZEL, Anne PIRIE, Errol Mark TAZBAZ
  • Patent number: 10620672
    Abstract: The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices. One example can include a first portion and a second portion that are rotatably coupled by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly can include a hinge frame secured to the first portion and a hinge arm secured to the second portion. The hinge frame can be rotatably secured to the hinge arm by a band extending between a guide pin retained in the hinge frame and a friction pin secured to the hinge arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brett A. Tomky, Daniel C. Park, Nicholas Wendt, Katherine M. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20190179376
    Abstract: The description relates to hinged devices, such as hinged computing devices. One example can include a first portion and a second portion that are rotatably coupled by a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly can include a hinge frame secured to the first portion and a hinge arm secured to the second portion. The hinge frame can be rotatably secured to the hinge arm by a band extending between a guide pin retained in the hinge frame and a friction pin secured to the hinge arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Brett A. TOMKY, Daniel C. PARK, Nicholas WENDT, Katherine M. BAILEY
  • Patent number: 9843137
    Abstract: An electronic connector includes a base, an extension protruding from the base, and a nose forming a terminal end of the extension. The extension includes first and second connection faces and ground electrical contacts located along the first and second connection faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Duane Martin Evans, Brett Tomky
  • Publication number: 20150325953
    Abstract: An electronic connector includes a base, an extension protruding from the base, and a nose forming a terminal end of the extension. The extension includes first and second connection faces and ground electrical contacts located along the first and second connection faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Duane Martin Evans, Brett Tomky
  • Publication number: 20150325952
    Abstract: An electronic connector includes a base, a tapered extension protruding from the base, and a nose forming a terminal end of the tapered extension. The tapered extension includes first and second connection faces tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a first symmetry plane. The tapered extension further includes first and second flank surfaces that form respective opposing sides of the tapered extension between the first and second connection faces. The first and second flank surfaces may taper toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a second symmetry plane. The tapered extension further includes power and ground electrical contacts located along the first and second connection faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Duane Martin Evans, Brett Tomky
  • Patent number: 9178316
    Abstract: An electronic connector includes a base, a tapered extension protruding from the base, and a nose forming a terminal end of the tapered extension. The tapered extension includes first and second connection faces tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a first symmetry plane. The tapered extension further includes first and second flank surfaces that form respective opposing sides of the tapered extension between the first and second connection faces. The first and second flank surfaces may taper toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a second symmetry plane. The tapered extension further includes power and ground electrical contacts located along the first and second connection faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Duane Martin Evans, Brett Tomky
  • Patent number: 9017092
    Abstract: An electronic connector includes a base, a tapered extension protruding from the base, and a nose forming a terminal end of the tapered extension. The tapered extension includes first and second connection faces tapering toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a first symmetry plane. The tapered extension further includes first and second flank surfaces that form respective opposing sides of the tapered extension between the first and second connection faces. The first and second flank surfaces may taper toward each other from the base to the nose symmetrically about a second symmetry plane. The tapered extension further includes a set of electrical contacts located along the first and second connection faces. The electronic connector may further include one or more magnetically attractable elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Andrew McCracken, Duane Martin Evans, Brett Tomky