did you read the patent? it says: "Priority date Aug 30, 1999" and the first sentence of the description is: "[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/386,103, filed on Aug. 30, 1999."

which is: https://www.google.com/patents/US6851467 and was indeed filed on Aug 30 1999.

Which is almost a year before the Thermaltake Golden Orb.

Besides, he actually has his name on a number of patents: https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&hl=en&tbm=pts&q=ininv...