Patents by Inventor Larry A. Speet

Larry A. Speet 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: 4814941
    Abstract: A power receptacle and nested line conditioner arrangement is provided for office partition systems and the like of the type having electrical power incorporated therein. The arrangement includes a power receptacle having a modular construction with a quick-disconnect that enables the same to be mounted at selected locations throughout the office partition system, and provide either conditioned or unconditioned power. The arrangement also includes a line conditioner having a quick-disconnect to couple the same with an associated receptacle. The line conditioner has a housing in which selected circuitry is encased, with a substantially C-shaped side elevational configuration comprising a web and opposite flanges defining a channel therebetween. The channel is shaped to closely receive an associated portion of the receptacle therein, such that the line conditioner nests around the rear face, and upper and lower walls of the receptacle, wholly within the ends of the receptacle, for increased space efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Speet, Bruce A. Rentz, Jan G. Wienczkowski
  • Patent number: 4754364
    Abstract: The specification discloses a static dissipative chair providing an electrically grounded path of controlled resistance between the upholstery fabric and the floor. The upholstery fabric has an electrical resistivity in the range of 10.sup.5 ohms per square to 10.sup.9 ohms per square to provide the controlled resistance in the grounded path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Speet, Alex Berman
  • Patent number: 4703386
    Abstract: A receptacle for use in a modular office panel power supply system includes a plurality of outlets at least one of which can be selectively electrically isolated from the remaining outlets for filtering of the isolated outlet. In one embodiment, the system includes a line conditioner having a cam which, when mechanically and electrically coupled to the receptacle, couples a surge protection circuit in parallel with each of the outlets of the receptacle and a line conditioning R.F.I./E.M.I. filter only in series with the isolated outlet for supplying power to a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Speet, Bruce A. Rentz
  • Patent number: 4429934
    Abstract: The specification discloses a hard wired, free standing movable room divider panel system in which wiring is provided for two separate circuits, one of which is especially adapted for connecting to panel mounted lighting through an internal quick disconnect connector. This is referred to as the lighting circuit. The second circuit is adapted only for mounting conventional outlet receptacles via quick disconnect connectors. The wiring terminates in connectors which provide terminals for connecting into the lighting circuit, terminals for connecting into the power circuit and terminals for connecting into both circuits which facilitate electrically connecting adjacent panels through a panel power connector. In one embodiment of the invention, conventional outlets receptacles can optionally be connected to the lighting circuit as well. However, the two types of conventional outlets cannot be inadvertently connected to the wrong circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Harold L. VandenHoek, Larry A. Speet, Robert G. Mohr
  • Patent number: 4376561
    Abstract: The specification discloses a hard wired, free standing movable room divider panel system in which wiring is provided for two separate circuits, one of which is especially adapted for connecting to panel mounted lighting through an internal quick disconnect connector. This is referred to as the lighting circuit. The second circuit is adapted only for mounting conventional outlet receptacles via quick disconnect connectors. The wiring terminates in connectors which provide terminals for connecting into the lighting circuit, terminals for connecting into the power circuit and terminals for connecting into both circuits which facilitate electrically connecting adjacent panels through a panel power connector. In one embodiment of the invention, conventional outlets receptacles can optionally be connected to the lighting circuit as well. However, the two types of conventional outlets cannot be inadvertently connected to the wrong circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Harold L. Vanden Hoek, Larry A. Speet, Robert G. Mohr
  • Patent number: 4308418
    Abstract: The specification discloses an arrangement for hard wiring movable room divider panels, comprising enclosed raceways adapted to mount electrical appliances therein, and being connected with and extending generally between the legs of the panels. A panel-to-panel wiring connector extends between and is attached to the ends of adjacent raceways, and includes a protective outer shell with a longitudinally extending interior cavity therethrough in which electrical wires are received. The wiring connector has a split body for longitudinally opening the outer shell, laying the wires in the interior cavity, and closing the outer shell about the wires, and includes opposed open ends which communicate with the adjacent raceways, whereby the raceways and channels form an uninterrupted shield for the wires, so as to economically hard wire the panels by hand without requiring a conventional conduit type of installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk J. Van Kuik, Larry A. Speet
  • Patent number: 4230900
    Abstract: The specification discloses a power pole assembly for bringing wiring through a hollow power pole from above and through a suspended grid supported ceiling is secured to a crossbar which in turn can be joined to spaced grid rails at any points along their length and at any angle with respect thereto by means of grid mounting clamps which can be releasably and movably joined to the rails and which are pivotally, movably and releasably secured to the crossbar. In this way, the power pole can be located at any position and at any angle relative to adjacent intersecting or parallel grid rails of the ceiling grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.,
    Inventor: Larry A. Speet
  • Patent number: 4203639
    Abstract: The specification discloses a hard wired, free standing movable room divider panel system in which wiring is provided for both a lighting circuit and a power circuit. The wiring terminates in connectors which provide terminals for connecting into the lighting circuit, terminals for connecting into the power circuit and terminals for connecting into both circuits which facilitate electrically connecting adjacent panels through a panel power connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold L. VandenHoek, Larry A. Speet, Robert G. Mohr