Patents by Inventor Robert J. Tench

Robert J. Tench 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: 9536571
    Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTRI-PLEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Adam D. Sutton, David M. Erlach, Frederic C. Petersen, Ryan J. Schmidt, Paul W. Smith, Robert J. Tench
  • Publication number: 20160247546
    Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Adam D. Sutton, David M. Erlach, Frederic C. Petersen, Ryan J. Schmidt, Paul W. Smith, Robert J. Tench
  • Patent number: 9361929
    Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: INTRI-PLEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: David M. Erlach, Frederic C. Petersen, Ryan J. Schmidt, Paul W. Smith, Adam D. Sutton, Robert J. Tench
  • Publication number: 20140139950
    Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Intri-Plex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Erlach, Frederic C. Petersen, Ryan J. Schmidt, Paul W. Smith, Adam D. Sutton, Robert J. Tench
  • Patent number: 8675306
    Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intri-Plex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Sutton, David M. Erlach, Frederic C. Petersen, Ryan J. Schmidt, Paul W. Smith, Robert J. Tench
  • Publication number: 20130272107
    Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Intri-Plex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Erlach, Frederic C. Petersen, Ryan J. Schmidt, Paul W. Smith, Adam D. Sutton, Robert J. Tench
  • Patent number: 5461907
    Abstract: Instrumentation and techniques to image small objects, such as but not limited to individual human chromosomes, with nanometer resolution, to cut-off identified parts of such objects, to move around and manipulate such cut-off parts on the substrate on which they are being imaged to predetermined locations on the substrate, and to remove the cut-off parts from the substrate. This is accomplished using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and by modification of the conventional cantilever stylus assembly of an AFM, such that plural cantilevers are used with either sharp-tips or knife-edges thereon. In addition, the invention can be utilized for measuring hardness of materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert J. Tench, Wigbert J. Siekhaus, Mehdi Balooch, Rodney L. Balhorn, Michael J. Allen