Patents by Inventor Kelly K. Smith

Kelly K. Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20030052581
    Abstract: A track assembly, adapted to be mounted in a housing, having first and second rail members aligned with one another and allowed limited relative longitudinal movement with respect to the other. The joined first and second rail members have a mounting bracket attached to distal ends of the rail members. A spring, positioned between the rail members, provides a force extending the distance between the distal ends of the rail members. A locking mechanism interacts with the rail members and has a locked position resisting inward movement of the distal ends. The method of installing the track assembly in a rack is accomplished by compressing the track assembly to reduce its overall length prior to positioning it between opposing rack members. The track assembly is released to securely engage the opposing rack members and locked in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Karl J. Dobler, Kelly K. Smith, Robert J. Hastings
  • Publication number: 20030052580
    Abstract: A snap-on sliding track assembly and method including a rail assembly and a slide assembly adapted to be securely mounted to each other without loose hardware and tools. The rail assembly has a latch and a plurality of standoffs. The slide assembly has a latch receptacle adapted to engage the latch and a plurality of standoff openings. The slide assembly includes a standoff opening for each corresponding standoff. The sliding track assembly is assembled by positioning the slide assembly standoff openings onto the standoffs of the rail assembly. The slide assembly is slid relative to the rail assembly to secure the slide assembly to the rail assembly. A lock mechanism is automatically engaged upon the sliding action of the slide assembly relative to the rail assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Karl J. Dobler, Kelly K. Smith
  • Patent number: 5933322
    Abstract: A computer docking station is provided which, in a disclosed embodiment thereof, includes multiple security features. The security features are operable to prevent access to interior portions of the docking station, prevent access to a card bay of the docking station, prevent ejection of a disk drive from a disk drive module of the docking station, and prevent operation of the disk drive module. Operation of the security features may be simultaneously and conveniently initiated by rotating a keyed lock mechanism to thereby rotate a cam mounted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Mark H. Ruch, Steven S. Homer, Kelly K. Smith, Jason Q. Paulsel, Greangsak Jongolnee
  • Patent number: 5847922
    Abstract: A portable computer docking station has a molded plastic housing within the interior of which are a ported speaker structure operative at low, mid and high frequencies, and a nonported speaker structure operative only at mid-to-high frequencies. The ported speaker structure has a ported enclosure section formed integrally with an exterior wall portion of the housing and having an open side. A first speaker is mounted on a lid member at an opening therein, with the lid member being secured to the ported enclosure section over the open side thereof with a seal member being sandwiched between the lid member and the enclosure section, and a sound absorbing structure being disposed within the enclosure section under the first speaker. The nonported speaker structure includes a second speaker supported on a second wall portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Kelly K. Smith, Mitchell A. Markow, David E. Gough
  • Patent number: 5724226
    Abstract: The housing of a portable computer docking station has an exterior wall with an opening formed therein through which a PC card may be inwardly passed for operative insertion into a PC card ejection mechanism disposed within the housing in a facing, inwardly spaced relationship with the exterior wall opening. A molded plastic access door member has a pair of outwardly projecting pin portions which are releasably snap fitted into socket structures formed on interior housing mounting walls to thereby support the door for pivotal movement between closed and open positions in which the door respectively blocks and unblocks the exterior wall opening. Complementarily sloped surfaces on the pins and the sockets are engageable in a manner resiliently deforming the door as it approaches either of its closed and open positions and then permitting the door to return to its original shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Mark H. Ruch, Kelly K. Smith
  • Patent number: 5694292
    Abstract: A docking station has a removable guide and support shelf along which a portable computer may be slid into operatively coupled engagement with the docking station. By using a vertical side portion of the shelf as a horizontal computer guide, and appropriately positioning the computer docking connector relative to the corresponding guided computer surface, the shelf enables the same docking station to be used with portable computers having different geometric configurations. Alternatively, a differently configured portable computer may be operatively coupled to the docking station by replacing the shelf with a differently configured guide and support shelf. The removable shelf is provided with a mounting latch structure for removably retaining it on the docking station, and a security latch structure that automatically engages the computer during its docking movement. When docked, the computer rests atop three mutually spaced vertical projections formed on the top side of the base wall portion of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Q. Paulsel, Kelly K. Smith, Mark H. Ruch