Patents by Inventor Clark Everett Waterfall

Clark Everett Waterfall 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: 8493740
    Abstract: A component retention mechanism facilitates improved installation, retention and removal of hardware components (e.g., PCI cards) on a personal computer. The retention mechanism includes a locking component, support member, and release mechanism coupled to each other. The locking component can be a steel bar or other stiff item positioned proximate to multiple socket connectors on a circuit board. The locking component moves between unlocked and locked positions that mechanically and simultaneously unlock or lock in place multiple add-in cards inserted into the socket connectors. The support member moves and thereby facilitates movement of the locking component between locked and unlocked positions. The release mechanism facilitates movement of the support member and is actuated when a force is exerted by a user thereto. An associated slider housing coupled to the release mechanism and support member includes a fan, support shelves and a door that provides additional support to oversized PCI cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vinh H. Diep, Giles Matthew Lowe, Peter Russell-Clarke, Phillip Satterfield, Clark Everett Waterfall, Alex Chun lap Yeung
  • Publication number: 20110261530
    Abstract: A component retention mechanism facilitates improved installation, retention and removal of hardware components (e.g., PCI cards) on a personal computer. The retention mechanism includes a locking component, support member, and release mechanism coupled to each other. The locking component can be a steel bar or other stiff item positioned proximate to multiple socket connectors on a circuit board. The locking component moves between unlocked and locked positions that mechanically and simultaneously unlock or lock in place multiple add-in cards inserted into the socket connectors. The support member moves and thereby facilitates movement of the locking component between locked and unlocked positions. The release mechanism facilitates movement of the support member and is actuated when a force is exerted by a user thereto. An associated slider housing coupled to the release mechanism and support member includes a fan, support shelves and a door that provides additional support to oversized PCI cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Vinh H. DIEP, Giles Matthew LOWE, Peter RUSSELL-CLARKE, Phillip SATTERFIELD, Clark Everett WATERFALL, Alex Chun lap YEUNG
  • Patent number: 7995350
    Abstract: A component retention mechanism facilitates improved installation, retention and removal of hardware components (e.g., PCI cards) on a personal computer. The retention mechanism includes a locking component, support member, and release mechanism coupled to each other. The locking component can be a steel bar or other stiff item positioned proximate to multiple socket connectors on a circuit board. The locking component moves between unlocked and locked positions that mechanically and simultaneously unlock or lock in place multiple add-in cards inserted into the socket connectors. The support member moves and thereby facilitates movement of the locking component between locked and unlocked positions. The release mechanism facilitates movement of the support member and is actuated when a force is exerted by a user thereto. An associated slider housing coupled to the release mechanism and support member includes a fan, support shelves and a door that provides additional support to oversized PCI cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vinh H. Diep, Giles Matthew Lowe, Peter Russell-Clarke, Phillip Satterfield, Clark Everett Waterfall, Alex Chun lap Yeung
  • Publication number: 20100088450
    Abstract: A component retention mechanism facilitates improved installation, retention and removal of hardware components (e.g., PCI cards) on a personal computer. The retention mechanism includes a locking component, support member, and release mechanism coupled to each other. The locking component can be a steel bar or other stiff item positioned proximate to multiple socket connectors on a circuit board. The locking component moves between unlocked and locked positions that mechanically and simultaneously unlock or lock in place multiple add-in cards inserted into the socket connectors. The support member moves and thereby facilitates movement of the locking component between locked and unlocked positions. The release mechanism facilitates movement of the support member and is actuated when a force is exerted by a user thereto. An associated slider housing coupled to the release mechanism and support member includes a fan, support shelves and a door that provides additional support to oversized PCI cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Vinh H. DIEP, Giles Matthew LOWE, Peter RUSSELL-CLARKE, Phillip SATTERFIELD, Clark Everett WATERFALL, Alex Chun lap YEUNG