Patents by Inventor David G. Fitzgerald

David G. Fitzgerald 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).

  • Enclosures, devices with a friction stir weld, precursors thereof, and related methods
    Patent number: 10870167
    Abstract: Described are enclosures that include a friction stir weld, including electronic device enclosures, and precursors thereof, that contain a base and a cover that in an assembled condition form a joint at which a friction stir weld can be produced, as well as methods for producing a friction stir weld at a joint of such an assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Thomas Coffey, Samuel Edward Severson, David G. Fitzgerald, Jeffrey L. Bruce, David R. Lapp, Darrel R. Culver
  • Method and apparatus with multiple cavities
    Patent number: 10679680
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards dual cavity apparatus and related methods involving hermetically sealing the cavities by evacuating and atmosphere therein, filling the cavity with a gas, and sealing the gas in the cavities. This evacuation and fill approach is carried out through openings that provide access to the cavities. During evacuation of at least one of the cavities through one of the openings, one or more spacers prevent the cavity from collapsing in response to the vacuum force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David G. Fitzgerald, David Ray Lapp, Jeffrey James Croxall, Robert M. Gibbs
  • ENCLOSURES, DEVICES WITH A FRICTION STIR WELD, PRECURSORS THEREOF, AND RELATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20200038990
    Abstract: Described are enclosures that include a friction stir weld, including electronic device enclosures, and precursors thereof, that contain a base and a cover that in an assembled condition form a joint at which a friction stir weld can be produced, as well as methods for producing a friction stir weld at a joint of such an assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jerome Thomas Coffey, Samuel Edward Severson, David G. Fitzgerald, Jeffrey L. Bruce, David R. Lapp, Darrel R. Culver
  • Enclosures, devices with a friction stir weld, precursors thereof, and related methods
    Patent number: 10399177
    Abstract: Described are enclosures that include a friction stir weld, including electronic device enclosures, and precursors thereof, that contain a base and a cover that in an assembled condition form a joint at which a friction stir weld can be produced, as well as methods for producing a friction stir weld at a joint of such an assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Jerome Thomas Coffey, Samuel Edward Severson, David G. Fitzgerald, Jeffrey L. Bruce, David R. Lapp, Darrel R. Culver
  • Methods and devices for sealing hard drives
    Patent number: 9823692
    Abstract: A hard drive includes a base deck and process cover that define a cavity for housing data storage components. The hard drive further includes a final cover that is placed over the process cover and is coupled to the base deck. The final cover and process cover are directly coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David G. Fitzgerald, Jerome Thomas Coffey, Samuel Edward Severson, David R. Lapp
  • METHODS AND DEVICES FOR SEALING HARD DRIVES
    Publication number: 20170330601
    Abstract: A hard drive includes a base deck with sidewalls to define a cavity. The hard drive further includes a weld lip that is positioned along and extends from the sidewalls. The weld lip includes a thermal choke that is configured to reduce heat transfer from the weld lip to the sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: David R. Lapp, Neal F. Gunderson, Wolfgang Rosner, Robert M. Gibbs, Kok Chai Low, Edward J. Seibert, David G. Fitzgerald, Sonia Marrero, Jeffrey James Croxall
  • Methods and devices for sealing hard drives
    Patent number: 9818453
    Abstract: A hard drive includes a base deck with sidewalls to define a cavity. The hard drive further includes a weld lip that is positioned along and extends from the sidewalls. The weld lip includes a thermal choke that is configured to reduce heat transfer from the weld lip to the sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David R. Lapp, Neal F. Gunderson, Wolfgang Rosner, Robert M. Gibbs, Kok Chai Low, Edward J. Seibert, David G. Fitzgerald, Sonia Marrero, Jeffrey James Croxall
  • METHODS AND DEVICES FOR SEALING HARD DRIVES
    Publication number: 20170308114
    Abstract: A hard drive includes a base deck and process cover that define a cavity for housing data storage components. The hard drive further includes a final cover that is placed over the process cover and is coupled to the base deck. The final cover and process cover are directly coupled to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: David G. Fitzgerald, Jerome Thomas Coffey, Samuel Edward Severson, David R. Lapp
  • Disc drive apparatus with hermetically sealed cavity
    Patent number: 9754631
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a disc drive apparatus. A base deck and a cover are joined to one another by a friction-stir weld along a lip of the cover that extends along a periphery of the cover and over a surface of the base deck. The base deck and cover enclose a cavity, which is hermetically sealed by the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Edward Severson, David G. Fitzgerald, David Ray Lapp, Jerome Thomas Coffey, Robert M. Gibbs
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE CAVITIES
    Publication number: 20170101202
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards dual cavity apparatus and related methods involving hermetically sealing the cavities by evacuating and atmosphere therein, filling the cavity with a gas, and sealing the gas in the cavities. This evacuation and fill approach is carried out through openings that provide access to the cavities. During evacuation of at least one of the cavities through one of the openings, one or more spacers prevent the cavity from collapsing in response to the vacuum force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: David G. Fitzgerald, David Ray Lapp, Jeffrey James Croxall, Robert M. Gibbs
  • Disc Drive Apparatus with Hermetically Sealed Cavity
    Publication number: 20170062019
    Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a disc drive apparatus. A base deck and a cover are joined to one another by a friction-stir weld along a lip of the cover that extends along a periphery of the cover and over a surface of the base deck. The base deck and cover enclose a cavity, which is hermetically sealed by the weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Samuel Edward Severson, David G. Fitzgerald, David Ray Lapp, Jerome Thomas Coffey, Robert M. Gibbs