Patents by Inventor Drew G. Petitclerc

Drew G. Petitclerc 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).

  • Method for minimizing contamination in hard disk drive assembly
    Patent number: 9418709
    Abstract: A removable tool for reducing contamination in a cleanroom assembly environment during assembly of a hard disk drive may include a handle assembly and a positive locking assembly. The handle assembly may define a proximal and distal end such that, in use, the proximal end is further away from the hard disk drive being assembled than is the distal end. The positive locking assembly may be configured to lock onto a portion of an upper perimeter of a Motor Base Assembly (MBA) of a hard disk drive and onto a corresponding portion of a lower perimeter of the MBA. The handle assembly and the positive locking assembly may be further configured to enable free access to an interior of the MBA during subsequent assembly steps. The positive locking assembly may be further configured to be selectively releasable without touching the MBA, to thereby enable the removal of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Methe, Drew G. Petitclerc, Charles D. Flanigan
  • Methods and apparatus for minimizing contamination in hard disk drive assembly processes
    Patent number: 8650716
    Abstract: A removable tool for reducing contamination in a cleanroom assembly environment during assembly of a hard disk drive may include a handle assembly and a positive locking assembly. The handle assembly may define a proximal and distal end such that, in use, the proximal end is further away from the hard disk drive being assembled than is the distal end. The positive locking assembly may be configured to lock onto a portion of an upper perimeter of a Motor Base Assembly (MBA) of a hard disk drive and onto a corresponding portion of a lower perimeter of the MBA. The handle assembly and the positive locking assembly may be further configured to enable free access to an interior of the MBA during subsequent assembly steps. The positive locking assembly may be further configured to be selectively releasable without touching the MBA, to thereby enable the removal of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Methe, Drew G. Petitclerc, Charles D. Flanigan