Patents Assigned to Steelcase Development, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6250029
    Abstract: A partition wall system providing for lay-in of cables, includes a plurality of interconnected panel sections. Each panel section has a base surface and a plurality of protrusions extending from the base surface and a plurality of covering skins. At least one of the covering skins is attached to each of the panel sections so that a passage is formed between the covering skin and the base surface of the panel section to allow the cables to travel through each panel section and between interconnected panel sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Jeffers, Karl Jahn Mead, Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Charles Anthony Seiber
  • Patent number: 6247272
    Abstract: A combination door assembly and partition system includes a plurality of partition panels configured to be abuttingly supported on a floor surface and detachably interconnected to form a workspace having an opening of sufficient size to permit user ingress and egress therethrough. The shape and size of the workspace in plan view can be readily varied. The door assembly includes a curved support panel having a curved bilinear plan shape. The curved support panel is interconnected with the partition system adjacent the opening of the partition system adjacent the opening of the workspace. A curved door having a curved bilinear plan shape is slidably interconnected with the curved support panel and defines a lower edge. At least one roller is mounted adjacent to the lower edge of the curved door for movably supporting the curved door on a floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Shipman
  • Patent number: 6230445
    Abstract: A wall system includes a wall section, such as a section of a partition, having a horizontal frame defining a horizontal row of attachment sites, such as a row of slots. An adjustable bracket includes a pair of vertical blades constructed to engage selected ones of the attachment sites, and further includes at least one telescoping horizontal support spanning between and supported by the pair of vertical blades, and still further includes universal connector brackets for engaging the telescoping horizontal support. The horizontal spacing of the blades can be adjusted to accommodate a component, and the telescopingly adjustable horizontal support can be adjusted to reach between the blades. The universal connectors adjustably engage the horizontal support and include slots to facilitate attachment to connectors on a back, a bottom, or sides of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Arko, Scott Klinker, Heather Andrus, James Yurchenko
  • Patent number: 6230459
    Abstract: A wall start panel for knock-down portable partition systems of the type having a plurality of panels, each having standard width posts interconnected by structural members in a spaced-apart relationship to define a standard panel width. The wall start panel includes at least one structural member and a standard width post having a unitary construction and including a connection port. The standard width post also has opposite side faces defining a standard post width therebetween. The wall start panel further includes a wall start post having a connection port and having opposite side faces defining a width therebetween substantially less than the standard post width. The structural member spans between and releasably interconnects the standard width and wall start posts in a spaced-apart relationship. The wall start panel has a substantially standard panel width, such that the wall start post can be secured to an existing wall without use of a trim piece to close off the wall start panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Jeffers, Michael D. Elsholz, Richard S. Hand, Karl J. Mead, Todd M. Ostrander, Fredrick M. Brickley
  • Patent number: 6227635
    Abstract: A storage apparatus includes a storage unit defining a front opening, and a door configured to cover the front opening. The door is operably attached to the storage unit for movement between opened, intermediate, and closed positions. The storage apparatus further includes a handle that is isolated from the door but operably connected to the door for selectively manually moving the door between the opened, intermediate, and closed positions. The handle is conveniently located at a front center of the storage unit, under a bottom thereof, such that the handle can be easily grasped and operated by a seated person, such as a wheelchair-bound person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Developments Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Teppo, Harold Halvorson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6224155
    Abstract: A chair includes a base having a vertically extendable gas spring with an upwardly disposed release button movable horizontally/laterally between a vertically oriented locked position where the gas spring is lock and non-extendable, and a laterally shifted actuated position where the gas spring is released and extendable. A seat is mounted on the gas spring and includes an actuator constructed to selectively move the release button between the locked position and the actuated position with a sideways movement. The actuator includes a link slidably mounted to a control housing under the seat for horizontal movement, and a lever that is pivoted to a side of the control housing for operating the link. The link includes an aperture with angled side surfaces configured to facilitate downward assembly of the link onto the release button, but so that the side surfaces will actuate the release button when the link is moved laterally by the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Larry DeKraker, Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Patent number: 6220661
    Abstract: A chair includes a base, a back upright operably supported on the base for movement between an upright position and a reclined position, and a back construction. The back construction includes a back support shell attached to the back upright, and further includes a cushion assembly attached to the back support shell with quick-attach top and bottom connectors. Specifically, the back support shell includes top apertures, and the cushion assembly includes hooks for drop-in attachment to the top apertures. The back support shell also includes a molded bottom section defining a horizontally extending recess, and the back cover includes a stiffened edge flange configured to frictionally engage the recess to retain the back cover to the back support along the bottom section of the back construction. The cushion assembly includes a cover assembly that includes an upholstered front panel, and a rear panel forming a sock that can be pulled upwardly onto a cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6216398
    Abstract: A selectively reconfigurable wall system for use in a work environment is disclosed. The work environment provides at least a first work space and a second work space. The wall system is configured to control access to the work spaces and is adapted for association with a frame system having a plurality of floorstanding posts and overhead beams. The wall system includes an articulating partition adapted for mounting to a vertical member and for selective positioning between a first position and a second position. The articulating partition in the first position increases the relative level of privacy provided by the first work space, and the articulating partition in the second position increases the relative level of privacy provided by the second work space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: David Allan Shipman, Michael Damien Luyckx, Adam Alan Luedke, Errol Stafford Pearsons
  • Patent number: D441224
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Scheper, William R. Easton, Barry E. Vitale
  • Patent number: D441563
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Q. Chau, Brian J. Kane, Kevin J. Longhurst
  • Patent number: D441566
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt D. Martin, William B. Bennie
  • Patent number: D441572
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Deimen, Robert L. Stewart, Frank A. Friedman, David M. Webster, Kristine R. Chan-Lizardo, James R. Yurchenco, Annetta M. Papadopoulos, Diego A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: D442400
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Simons, Jr., David C. Jenkins, Arnold B. Dammermann, Thomas B. Eich, Thomas Overthun, Kurt R. Heidmann, David S. Teppo
  • Patent number: D442790
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Simons, Jr., Thomas Overthun, Thomas B. Eich, Ronda R. Simons, Gordon J. Peterson
  • Patent number: D442791
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Simons, Jr., David C. Jenkins, Arnold B. Dammermann, Thomas B. Eich, Thomas Overthun, Kurt R. Heidmann, David S. Teppo
  • Patent number: D442792
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventor: Kirt Dean Martin
  • Patent number: D443440
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Deimen, Robert L. Stewart, Frank A. Friedman, David M. Webster, Kristine R. Chan-Lizardo, James R. Yurchenco, Annetta M. Papadopoulos, Diego A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: D443776
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Deimen, Robert L. Stewart, Frank A. Friedman, David M. Webster, Kristine R. Chan-Lizardo, James R. Yurchenco, Annetta M. Papadopoulos, Diego A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: D444008
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Simons, Jr., Thomas Overthun, Thomas B. Eich, Alan M. Vale
  • Patent number: D444262
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Eberlein, Douglas D. Buyce, Michael W. Welsh, Jonathan J. King, Michael C. Andrusiak, Royal A. Kent