Patents by Inventor Alan E. Rheault

Alan E. Rheault 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).

  • Publication number: 20080284293
    Abstract: A freestanding workstation includes a desk assembly and a supported hutch assembly, wherein the desk assembly includes a privacy screen that is telescopingly adjustable, thereby allowing adjustment of the overall length thereof and use within desk assemblies of varying lengths. The hutch assembly includes a drop-in tackboard extending along a rear wall thereof, and wire routing assemblies extending along support members for supporting a storage bin, and for housing communication and electrical lines associated with the workstation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, Alan E. Rheault, Daniel R. Van Dyk, David C. Eberlein, Mark A. Groenheide
  • Patent number: 6533019
    Abstract: A partition panel for office systems includes a rigid panel frame having a generally rectangular perimeter and a generally rectangular opening therethrough. The panel frame has a base configured to abuttingly support the panel frame freestanding on a floor surface. The panel frame includes a row of openings configured to support hang-on accessories. The partition panel also includes at least four H-shaped connectors, each of which is secured to said panel frame adjacent each side of the rectangular opening. A rigid sheet is secured to the frame by the connectors, and spans at least a substantial portion of the rectangular opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan J. King, Alan E. Rheault, John S. Malnor, Joel T. Ruiter
  • Patent number: 6481163
    Abstract: A partition frame includes vertically spaced apart upper and lower horizontal frame members. The partition frame also has a pair of horizontally spaced apart vertical frame members extending between and interconnecting the upper and lower frame members to form a generally rectangular frame. The vertical frame members have a vertical row of openings configured to support hang-on accessories, and the upper frame member includes a horizontal row of openings configured to support hang-on accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan J. King, Alan E. Rheault, John S. Malnor, Daniel R. VanDyk, Michael L. Waalkes, Errol S. Pearsons, Bruce W. DuVall, Jr., William K. Hofman, Daniel N. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6447080
    Abstract: A telescopingly adjustable furniture article is provided for filling an office space where the footprint dimensions of the office space are not known ahead of time or are likely to be periodically changed to different sizes. The furniture article includes a desk having a worksurface with ends, a support for supporting one of the ends, and a foot on the other end. A storage unit or cabinet having a top is provided. The foot adjustably rests on the top, so that the top supports the other end of the worksurface, but so that the furniture unit is horizontally adjustable to different locations partially under the worksurface. A Z-bracket interconnects the worksurface to the top of the cabinet to secure the relationship of the cabinet and the desk. The furniture article can advantageously be used by itself or in combination with a building wall or demountable architectural wall, or in combination with a partition system to define a plurality of non-uniformly dimensioned offices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Alan E. Rheault, Mark W. Chamberlin, Samuel J. Ellison, George J. Simons
  • Patent number: 6363663
    Abstract: A screen assembly is adapted to connect to a partition of the type having at least one upright frame member with openings in opposite side faces thereof to receive support hooks of hang-on accessory units. The screen assembly includes a sheet member defining at least one side edge, and a bracket is connected to the sheet member adjacent the side edge. The bracket includes a first member configured to extend around at least a portion of a first side of the upright frame member. The first member includes a connector adapted to engage the openings in the first side face of the upright frame member. The bracket also includes a second member configured to extend around at least a portion of a second side of the upright frame member. The second member includes a connector adapted to engage openings in a second side face of the upright frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Kane, Alan E. Rheault
  • Patent number: 6364416
    Abstract: An article of furniture is disclosed. The article of furniture includes a multi-purpose article of furniture for use by at least one worker in a work environment having a horizontal support surface such as a floor and at least one vertical support surface such as a wall. The article includes a core formed by a first core section coupled to a second core section at an angular displacement and a cover configured to fit around the core. The core can be oriented in a first position for a first purpose and a second position for a second purpose. The article may be stored adjacent another article of furniture in a first arrangement and in use adjacent another article of furniture in a second arrangement. The article may also be a pocket for storing items attached to a covering skin. The covering skin may include a marking identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Alan E. Rheault, Robert M. Scheper, George J. Simons
  • Patent number: 6330773
    Abstract: An extension panel for connection to a lower panel of the type having vertical uprights defining upper ends and including a utilities passageway extending along an upper edge of the lower panel for receiving utility conduits therein. The extension panel includes a pair of space-apart upright posts, and at least one beam extending between the posts and rigidly interconnecting the same. A pair of structural members extend downwardly from the lower ends of the posts to engage the lower panel and rigidly interconnect the extension panel and the lower panel. The structural members are laterally spaced-apart to define a downwardly-opening utilities opening therebetween. The utilities opening is positioned in alignment with the utilities passageway of the lower panel to permit utilities conduits to pass through the utilities opening when the extension is secured to the lower panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas B. MacDonald, Jonathan J. King, Steven E. Sanders, Alan E. Rheault, James R. Dykstra, Michael L. Waalkes, David A. Walz, Patricia A. Williams, Donald P. Gravel, Joseph Chang
  • Patent number: 5947569
    Abstract: A telescopingly adjustable furniture article is provided for filling an office space where the footprint dimensions of the office space are not known ahead of time or are likely to be periodically changed to different sizes. The furniture article includes a desk having a work surface with ends, a support for supporting one of the ends, and a foot on the other end. A storage unit or cabinet having a top is provided. The foot adjustably rests on the top so that the top supports the other end of the work surface, but so that the furniture unit is horizontally adjustable to different locations partially under the work surface. A Z-bracket interconnects the work surface to the top of the cabinet to secure the relationship of the cabinet and the desk. The furniture article can advantageously be used by itself, in combination with a building wall or demountable architectural wall, or in combination with a partition system to define a plurality of non-uniformly dimensioned offices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Alan E. Rheault, Mark W. Chamberlin, Samuel J. Ellison, George J. Simons
  • Patent number: D449455
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Alan E. Rheault, Robert M. Scheper
  • Patent number: D579676
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Alan E. Rheault, Matthew Heinig