Brian L Rappel from 1043 Kiowa Rd, Lyons, CO 80540, age 65, Phone: (303) 823-5580

Cartridge For A Data Storage Disk

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US Patent:

D488817, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

May 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

29/160536

Inventors:

Edwin Wadsworth - Longmont CO
Stephen A. Misuta - Superior CO
Brian L. Rappel - Lyons CO
Joseph Paul Manes - Arvada CO
Shane Nowell - Longmont CO

Assignee:

DPHI Acquisitions, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

1402

US Classification:

D14478

Method For Aligning Actuator Assembly To A Base In A Miniature Optical Disk Drive

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US Patent:

6826138, Nov 30, 2004

Filed:

Sep 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/946075

Inventors:

Scott D. Abrahamson - Longmont CO
Robert D. Freeman - Erie CO
Edmund Harbuz - Longmont CO
Brian Lee Rappel - Lyons CO
Peter J. Raymond - Erie CO

Assignee:

DPHI Acquisitions, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G11B 2108

US Classification:

369 5325, 369222, 3602545

Abstract:

Disclosed is a method for aligning a rotating device such as an actuator assembly to a base of, for example, a disk drive. The device is rotatably mounted to the base about the pivot pin. The method may involve adjusting the angular position of the pivot pin relative to the base unless or until the actuator assembly rotates in a first plane parallel to a second plane containing a surface of the data storage disk. In one embodiment, the data storage disk is mounted for rotation on a disk rotation motor. The disk rotation motor, in turn, is mounted to a base. With the device positioned between the base and the data storage disk, the device is rotated about the pivot pin. While the device is rotated about the pivot pin, electrical current is provided to the device. The magnitude of the electrical current is proportional or inversely proportional to a distance D separating the device from the data storage disk. The electrical current is monitored as the device rotates about the pivot pin.

Data Cartridge Load/Unload Mechanism For Disk Drive

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US Patent:

6829120, Dec 7, 2004

Filed:

Sep 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/946845

Inventors:

Glade N. Bagnell - Longmont CO
Robert D. Freeman - Erie CO
Joseph P. Manes - Arvada CO
Stephen A. Misuta - Superior CO
Shane G. Nowell - Longmont CO
Brian L. Rappel - Lyons CO
Edwin J. Wadsworth - Longmont CO

Assignee:

DPHI Acquisitions, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G11B 1704

US Classification:

360 9906

Abstract:

A disk drive includes a housing, a cartridge tray, and a cam plate. The cartridge tray is adapted to hold a cartridge that includes a data storage disk. The housing has a pair of vertical cartridge tray pin slots which hold tray pins that are part of the cartridge tray. The cam plate includes a pair of cam slots formed at an oblique angle to the cartridge tray pin slots. The tray pins extend through the cam slots into the cartridge tray pin slots. Movement of the cam plate back and forth causes the tray pins and cartridge tray to move vertically between a loaded position, where data can be read from or written to the data storage disk, to an unloaded position. The use of two cartridge tray pins allows the cartridge tray to rotate about an axis defined by the tray pins, and this action assists in locating the cartridge precisely in a repeatable position, in contact with a plurality of datums, when it is fully loaded.

Mechanism And Method For Positioning Data Cartridge In Disk Drive

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US Patent:

6906892, Jun 14, 2005

Filed:

Sep 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/947004

Inventors:

Glade N. Bagnell - Longmont CO, US
Robert D. Freeman - Erie CO, US
Joseph P. Manes - Arvada CO, US
Stephen A. Misuta - Superior CO, US
Shane G. Nowell - Longmont CO, US
Brian L. Rappel - Lyons CO, US
Edwin J. Wadsworth - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

DPHI Aquisitions, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G11B017/08
G11B021/02

US Classification:

360 9908, 720675

Abstract:

A data storage cartridge is positioned in a disk drive. The cartridge is positioned in the X and Y dimensions by contact between an alignment opening in the cartridge and an XY alignment pin in the disk drive and in the theta (rotational) dimension by contact between an edge of the cartridge and a theta datum in the disk drive. The cartridge is positioned in the Z dimension by contact between the cartridge and at least three Z datums.

Ramp Arrangements For A Disk Drive And Method

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US Patent:

7593192, Sep 22, 2009

Filed:

Mar 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/385955

Inventors:

Brian L. Rappel - Lyons CO, US
Chad A. Bogacz - Broomfield CO, US
David D. Brause - Longmont CO, US

International Classification:

G11B 5/54

US Classification:

360255

Abstract:

A digital storage apparatus includes a housing defining a housing interior and defining a ramp support surface. A disk is supported for rotation in the housing. A head gimbal assembly is supported for use in pivotally accessing the disk in performing one or more data accesses and for moving to an unloaded position from an access position. A ramp arrangement receives the head gimbal assembly in the unloaded position. The ramp arrangement includes at least three feet for sliding engagement with the ramp support surface for use in at least partially establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement. In one aspect, the housing defines a first surface and a second surface, which are in a transverse relationship with respect to one another. The ramp arrangement engages the first surface and the second surface for establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement in the housing interior.

Flexible Electrical Interconnection With Ends Urged Into Engagement With Curved Surfaces Of A Support And Hub In A Miniature Hard Disk Drive And Method

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US Patent:

7667931, Feb 23, 2010

Filed:

Mar 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/385573

Inventors:

David D. Brause - Longmont CO, US
Brian L. Rappel - Lyons CO, US
Chad A. Bogacz - Broomfield CO, US

International Classification:

G11B 5/55

US Classification:

3602642

Abstract:

A head stack assembly of a disk drive has a hub including a side margin defining a channel for carrying VCM conductors at least partially around an angular offset such that the conductors are contained within a peripheral outline of the hub and the conductors can extend completely within an overmolding thickness. A first portion of a flexible interconnection biases against a side margin of the hub such that a rotation of the HSA causes a length of the first portion to change. A floating portion of length of the flexible extension follows a semicircular path between a first contact position on the hub and a second contact position on the support surface such that a floating loop diameter is defined between the contact positions. The hub and the support surface can be configured for changing the floating loop diameter with rotation to vary resilient biasing torque to the HSA.

Ramp Arrangement For A Disk Drive And Method

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US Patent:

7817380, Oct 19, 2010

Filed:

Jul 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/507297

Inventors:

Brian L. Rappel - Lyons CO, US
Chad A. Bogacz - Broomfield CO, US
David D. Brause - Longmont CO, US

International Classification:

G11B 5/54

US Classification:

360255

Abstract:

A digital storage apparatus includes a housing defining a housing interior and defining a ramp support surface. A disk is supported for rotation in the housing. A head gimbal assembly is supported for use in pivotally accessing the disk in performing one or more data accesses and for moving to an unloaded position from an access position. A ramp arrangement receives the head gimbal assembly in the unloaded position. The ramp arrangement includes at least three feet for sliding engagement with the ramp support surface for use in at least partially establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement. In one aspect, the housing defines a first surface and a second surface, which are in a transverse relationship with respect to one another. The ramp arrangement engages the first surface and the second surface for establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement in the housing interior.

Apparatus And Method For Sealing A Hard Drive Enclosure

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US Patent:

7821735, Oct 26, 2010

Filed:

Mar 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/385574

Inventors:

Chad A. Bogacz - Broomfield CO, US
David D. Brause - Longmont CO, US
Brian L. Rappel - Lyons CO, US

International Classification:

G11B 33/14

US Classification:

360 9702

Abstract:

A disk drive housing, base assembly for use as part of the housing and associated method are disclosed. The base assembly is configured for receiving a cover. In one feature, a base housing serves to define a housing interior in cooperation with the cover for receiving a plurality of components therein as part of the disk drive and the base housing includes a peripheral edge configuration. A molding surrounds and sealingly engages the base housing such that the molding defines a peripheral sealing surface for use in sealing the cover to the base assembly. In another feature, accommodating one or more given components within a given base housing outline, which would not otherwise be accommodated, is described by outsetting a peripheral sidewall of the base housing, adjacent to the given component.