Patents by Inventor William Eugene Gadau

William Eugene Gadau 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).

  • Over-center latch apparatus for a portable computing device
    Patent number: 7742294
    Abstract: A portable computing device, including a latch apparatus and system, may include a rotatable high wear plastic oversnapping arm, a pivot portion on the portable computing device, and an enclosure door with a geometric mating feature. The oversnapping arm may be configured to rotate 90° about the pivot portion to snap over the geometric mating feature and secure the enclosure door in a closed, latched position. As the oversnapping arm is rotated downward, its progress may be frictionally impeded by the geometric mating feature. Applying downward pressure on the oversnapping arm towards the physical interference may cause the oversnapping arm to bend over the interfering feature and snap into a closed, geometrically interlocked position. In the closed, latched position, the oversnapping arm may apply a positive pressure against the enclosure door. The positive pressure on the enclosure door increases the environmental sealing capabilities by putting additional pressure on the existing environmental seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: General Dynamics Itronix Corporation
    Inventors: William Eugene Gadau, Neal Stanley Clark
  • OVER-CENTER LATCH APPARATUS FOR A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20090256364
    Abstract: A portable computing device, including a latch apparatus and system, may include a rotatable high wear plastic oversnapping arm, a pivot portion on the portable computing device, and an enclosure door with a geometric mating feature. The oversnapping arm may be configured to rotate 90° about the pivot portion to snap over the geometric mating feature and secure the enclosure door in a closed, latched position. As the oversnapping arm is rotated downward, its progress may be frictionally impeded by the geometric mating feature. Applying downward pressure on the oversnapping arm towards the physical interference may cause the oversnapping arm to bend over the interfering feature and snap into a closed, geometrically interlocked position. In the closed, latched position, the oversnapping arm may apply a positive pressure against the enclosure door. The positive pressure on the enclosure door increases the environmental sealing capabilities by putting additional pressure on the existing environmental seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: General Dynamics Itronix Corporation
    Inventors: William Eugene GADAU, Neal Stanley Clark