Patents Assigned to Howe Furniture Corporation
  • Patent number: 5934201
    Abstract: A folding table has a top which is supported on two C-leg assemblies. Extending beneath the top and along its back edge is a wire tray having an access door accessible from beneath the table top. The vertical leg portion of at least one of the two C-leg assemblies carries a tubular wire housing having a vertical access opening. The opening is closed by the projecting flap portion of an elongated resilient member which is clamped between the vertical leg portion and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 5749121
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for the tubular end of the horizontal member of an inverted T-shaped table leg comprises a cylindrical housing which plugs into the tubular end. A recess in the housing opens through its cylindrical wall at an opening which subtends an angle of less than 180.degree.. A wheel is mounted within the recess on an axle pin which is parallel to, and displaced from, the longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Loescher
  • Patent number: 5640912
    Abstract: A combined wire manager and modesty panel for a folding gate leg table is detachably secured to the ends of the table beam. The modesty panel is formed by a cover which engages the wire manager tray by means of a novel clip arrangement which allows entry to the tray without the need for completely removing the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 5560302
    Abstract: A bridge interconnects two table tops and is supported solely by the table tops themselves, employing connector bars which normally serve to gang tables together. Alignment pins on the bottom surface of the bridge engage openings in the connector bars. A separate slidable locking bar on the bridge engages each pair of connector bars to attach the bridge to the two table tops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventors: Niels Diffrient, Julia Wilkins
  • Patent number: 5507204
    Abstract: An adjustment crank is mountable to the underside of a table top by a bracket in which it is both rotatable and translatable. The crank includes a tube which carries internal splines. An adjustment shaft extends into the tube and carries mating splines. The crank is translatable between an adjustment position wherein the two sets of splines engage and a stowage position wherein the splines are disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 5490466
    Abstract: A table top is provided with a vertically adjustable keyboard support platform which is suspended on a parallel linkage assembly. The parallel linkage rotates about a pair of rotatable pivot rods carried by the underneath side of the platform. A gas spring is connected to the linkage to block its rotation when the platform is in a desired lowered position and to aid in returning the platform to a position flush with the table top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 5490467
    Abstract: A mechanism for folding the T-leg of a table is contained within a tubular housing carried by the end of the pedestal portion of the leg. Spring-loaded cams at each end of the housing slide in slotted frames mounted to the underside of the table. A locking shoulder at one end of each slot retains its cam in a locking position and a lever associated with each cam unlocks it and allows the leg to fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 5447099
    Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for a table top generally comprises two leg assemblies each having a base and two vertical columns, a slidable post assembly on each leg assembly with the slidable post, assemblies supporting the table top, and a drive for raising and lowering the leg assemblies and supported table top. The slidable post assemblies have opposed covers which frictionally engage the vertical posts to hold the table top at an adjusted height. The drive is a lack screw and jack nut in each leg/slidable post assembly, wherein the jack screws are connected by a chain and sprocket drive and are driven by a crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventors: Alan J. Adams, Robert J. Ferraro, Richard M. LaCouture, Donald H. Eckloff
  • Patent number: 5345881
    Abstract: An exceptionally rigid and compact folding mechanism for a table employs hollow rail members which support the mechanism therebetween. A pair of legs are mounted to the ends of a stretcher member to form a folding unit. This unit is translationally and rotationally connected to the rail members by an over center cam mechanism operated by a lock bar. The lock bar bends to exert locking force in both the unfolded and folded positions of the table legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Loescher
  • Patent number: 5337657
    Abstract: A folding table system is designed primarily for use with computers and in computer training. It includes tables that are readily folded for storage and unfolded for use. The tables include a variety of optional wire storage capabilities and are so designed that they may be interconnected with one another and with bridging elements and storage devices. Accordingly, a customized arrangement may be readily assembled from a selection of standardized components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 4986195
    Abstract: A tilting table top mechanism includes a chassis member which is secured to the underside of a table top and a base plate which is secured to the top of a table leg. Exceptional rigidity is achieved by a dual pivot mechanism. The pivots employ novel bearing elements which are easily removed and replaceable. Pivot tabs on the base plate are insertable into recesses, or slots, in the bearing elements. At a given angle of rotation of the table top to the leg, the chassis member and base plate are readily detached. A dual locking mechanism maintains the table top in its normal horizonal position but is manually disengaged with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 4867610
    Abstract: The invention comprises a quick disconnect apparatus for locking a tubular table leg to a table top. An insert plug extends downwardly below the table top and carries an annular resilient member which is inserted into the table leg. An actuator has a camming surface and is movable between two positions. In one position, it pulls the resilient member into forceful engagement with a ramped lower extension of the plug, causing the resilient member to expand and frictionally engage the inner surface of the leg, locking it in place. In its other position, the actuator releases the resilient member, causing it to relax and disengage from the leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: 4827850
    Abstract: A folding modesty panel on the edge of a table surface is maintained in either an extended, vertical, position or a folded, horizontal, position by a single spring or set of springs. The panel may be utilized as a wire manager by the provision of a flexible mesh trough connected between the bottom of the panel and the underside of the table top. An access cover on the front of the panel permits access to the contents of the trough and conceals its contents when closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: D314299
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: D322729
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: D324145
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: D324615
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: D329554
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: D333058
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Niels Diffrient
  • Patent number: D391841
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Loescher