Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Newhouse

Thomas J. Newhouse 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: 5212918
    Abstract: A support panel base cover is used with a support panel and a wall panel system. The support panel is mounted to a wall panel and has a bottom edge spaced apart from a floor. At least one vertically adjustable leg is adapted to cooperate with the support panel and the floor to support said panel on the floor. The support panel also is adapted to receive a cover internally therein. The cover is moveable relative to the support panel and the leg and is adapted to rest on the floor. In addition, the cover has a height sufficient to substantially conceal the space between the bottom edge of the support panel and the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Paul G. Dame
  • Patent number: 5154126
    Abstract: In a work environment system, a desk (10) comprises a top (16) supported by a pair of legs (18), each leg (18) formed by a pair of supports (22) mounted together in back-to-back opposing relationship and having a first channel (56) between the supports (22). The desk top (16) includes a pair of second channels (98) extending inwardly from edges (100) of the top (16) adjacent the second channels (56). The first and second channels (56, 98) manage wiring (60) of work accessories (62, 105) supported by the top (16). An apron (20) is mounted to and below the top (16) and comprises third channel (218) in registry with the first channel (56) and also adapted to receive wiring (60) from the second channels (98) through outer and inner slots (114, 116) in the top (16). A work accessory support (222) is removably mountable to the desk (10 ) by a bracket (224) securable to a leg (18) within a first channel (56) on one side of the desk (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Donald D. Goeman, Duane G. McClung
  • Patent number: 5083512
    Abstract: A spacer is provided in a workstation for connecting two desks together in spaced relationship. The spacer is generally wedge-shaped and comprises a horizontal member with an upper surface which is substantially coplanar with the work surfaces of the adjoining desks. A vertical leg depends from the horizontal member and a flange extends at an angle from the vertical leg. The vertical leg and the flange partially define a wiring channel so that electrical wiring can be passed from the work surface of one desk through the channel to the work surface of the adjoining desk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Donald D. Goeman, Duane G. McClung
  • Patent number: 4914873
    Abstract: A work environment system, for product assembly, repair, storage and packaging, comprises a plurality of freestanding rigid rectangular frame modules (32) formed of vertical frame members (36) and upper and lower horizontal frame members (38, 40). The modules (32) can be securely connected together in end-to-end relationship at a number of angles by connectors (100) to form work stations (10,12,14,16,20,22) of various size and geometric configuration. The work stations (30) can be equipped with a variety of functional components to be utilized in product assembly, repair, storage and packaging, such functional components including work surfaces (242), shelves (244) and storage cabinets (246), all of which are connected to the freestanding modules (32). The work environment system further includes various transport carts (446) for transporting products and tools between work stations and which can be assembled substantially from the vertical and horizontal frame members (36,38,40) of the modules (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: 4884513
    Abstract: In a work environment system, a desk (10) comprises a top (16) supported by a pair of legs (18), each leg (18) formed by a pair of supports (22) mounted together in back-to-back opposing relationship and having a first channel (56) between the supports (22). The desk top (16) includes a pair of second channels (98) extending inwardly from edges (100) of the top (16) adjacent the second channels (56). The first and second channels (56, 98) manage wiring (60) of work accessories (62, 105) supported by the top (16). An apron (20) is mounted to and below the top (16) and comprises third channel (218) in registry with the first channel (56) and also adapted to receive wiring (60) from the second channels (98) through outer and inner slots (114, 116) in the top (16). A work accessory support (222) is removably mountable to the desk (10 ) by a bracket (224) securable to a leg (18) within a first channel (56) on one side of the desk (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Donald D. Goeman, Duane G. McClung
  • Patent number: 4861122
    Abstract: A cabinet (10) comprises a housing (12) and a drawer (14) slidably mounted to the housing (12). The drawer includes a shroud (52), a drawer front (56) mounted at a front portion (59) of the shroud (52) and a back panel (60) mounted at a rear portion (57) of the shroud (52). The drawer front (56) and back panel (60) extend between first and second lateral sides (49, 51) of the drawer (14). The drawer further includes a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal support rails (16) removably mounted to and between the drawer front (56) and the back panel (60) at one of the first and second sides (49, 51) of the drawer (14). The rails (16) are adapted to support work tools (18) at a plurality of vertical and horizontal positions in the drawer (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Lynne M. Allen, Donald D. Goeman
  • Patent number: 4784446
    Abstract: A cabinet (10) comprises a housing (12) and a drawer (14) slidably mounted to the housing (12). The drawer includes a shroud (52), a drawer front (56) mounted at a front portion (59) of the shroud (52) and a back panel (60) mounted at a rear portion (57) of the shroud (52). The drawer front (56) and back panel (60) extend between first and second lateral sides (49, 51) of the drawer (14). The drawer further includes a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal support rails (16) removably mounted to and between the drawer front (56) and the back panel (60) at one of the first and second sides (49, 51) of the drawer (14). The rails (16) are adapted to support work tools (18) at a plurality of vertical and horizontal positions in the drawer (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D302914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D305708
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D306105
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D306240
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D309839
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D311833
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D312738
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D318385
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D321102
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D321447
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D321866
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D335590
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D335779
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse