Patents by Inventor Charles A. Seiber
Charles A. Seiber 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).
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Patent number: 6079173Abstract: A knock-down portable partition includes a rigid panel frame having a central portion. The partition includes at least one cover panel covering at least a portion of the central portion of the rigid panel frame. Connectors detachably mount the cover panel on the panel frame to facilitate assembly and removal of the cover panel on the panel frame. The rigid panel frame includes at least two vertical posts having an upper end, a lower end, and opposite side faces. The opposite faces have at least two beam connection ports thereon positioned adjacent the upper and lower ends of the associated one of the posts. The panel frame also includes upper and lower beams extending generally horizontally between the vertical posts adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and interconnecting the vertical posts adjacent the connection ports. The panel frame includes quick-disconnect connectors such as movable lock members positioned on one of the posts and the beams adjacent the connection ports.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1999Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Waalkes, Marcus K. Pressnell, Mark T. Slager, Michael Robert Shields, Brian Joseph Kane, Robin Christopher, Dennis J. Boyle, Peter N. Skillman, Charles A. Seiber, Joseph Chang
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Patent number: 6044612Abstract: A freestanding portable partition panel system is provided for open office spaces and the like. Each panel includes a skeleton-like frame having two vertical uprights positioned adjacent opposite side edges thereof, and at least two pairs of horizontal stringers attached to the outer faces of the uprights in a vertically spaced apart relationship to rigidly interconnect the same. One or more horizontal rows of slots are defined in each of the stringers. Cover panels are detachably mounted thereon to provide ready access to the frame. The cover panels permit access to the slots, and special off-module connectors with hooks for engaging the slots are provided for interconnecting adjacent panels in off-module positions. The hooks of the connectors are engaged with selected slots to hold a first partition panel perpendicular to a second partition panel in an off-module position on its face.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.Inventors: David A. Shipman, Benjamin G. Shaw, Charles A. Seiber, Don S. Minami, David D. McClanahan, Robert J. Luchetti, Christopher O. Lada, Phillip M. Hobson, James B. Eldon, III, Gregg R. Draudt
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Patent number: 5979118Abstract: An expandable/contractible furniture component is configured for attachment to a partition system to provide an adjustable structure adapted to adjust with the partition system as the partition system is adjusted to provide different office sizes. The furniture component includes a corner shelf attached to the partition system, and in-line shelves also attached to the partition system. The in-line shelves are telescopingly adjustable into the corner shelf so that the plan dimensions of the shelves are adjustable concurrently with the partition systems to provide storage surfaces and shelves that extend and completely fill at least one dimension of the office. An in-line telescoping straight shelf construction and a two-way telescoping corner shelf construction are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 1997Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Gortsema, Thomas B. Eich, David P. Churchill, Charles A. Seiber, Frank Freidman, Jonathan J. King, Douglas G. Lyon, Douglas B. MacDonald
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Patent number: 5950386Abstract: A wall construction for subdividing building space includes a pair of interconnected frames forming a rectangular arrangement, the interconnected frames having abutting vertical side edges and non-abutting vertical side edges, and a removable cover for covering a portion of the interconnected frames, the cover including cover vertical side edges, the cover being removably supported on the interconnected frames. In one form, the cover spans the abutting vertical side edges of the interconnected frames with at least one of the cover vertical side edges being located between the non-abutting vertical side edges. In another form, the cover vertical side edges are both located between the non-abutting vertical side edges of the interconnected frames, and further both are misaligned with the abutting vertical side edges.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1998Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: David A. Shipman, Robert J. Luchetti, Gregg R. Draudt, Charles A. Seiber, Phillip M. Hobson, Benjamin G. Shaw, James B. Eldon, III, David D. McClanahan
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Patent number: 5899036Abstract: A freestanding portable partition assembly and related system are provided for open office spaces and the like. Each partition system includes a floor channel having an aperture defined therein; a partition frame having a downwardly projecting leg assembly received in said aperture; and a locking plate slidably engaging the floor channel and having a slot receiving a portion of the downwardly projecting leg assembly therein for releasably coupling the partition frame to the floor channel. With this construction, the partition frames may be quickly and easily connected to the floor channels, and the entire assembly may be shipped with the floor channel attached without fear of damage. Moreover, the resulting assembly resists damage from catastrophic events, such as earthquakes.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1996Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Seiber, Benjamin G. Shaw, Christopher O. Lada, Phillip M. Hobson, Robert P. Poppe, David A. Shipman, Robert J. Luchetti, Gregg R. Draudt, James B Eldon, III, David D. McClanahan
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Patent number: 5899035Abstract: A knock-down portable partition includes a panel frame having a central portion. The partition includes at least one cover panel covering at least a portion of the central portion of the panel frame. Connectors detachably mount the cover panel on the panel frame to facilitate assembly and removal of the cover panel on the panel frame. The panel frame includes at least two vertical posts having an upper end, a lower end, and opposite side faces. The opposite faces have at least two beam connection ports thereon positioned adjacent the upper and lower ends of the associated one of the posts. The panel frame also includes upper and lower beams extending generally horizontally between the vertical posts adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof. The upper and lower beams interconnect the vertical posts adjacent the connection ports. The panel frame includes quick-disconnect connectors such as movable lock wedges positioned on one of the posts and the beams adjacent the connection ports.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1997Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Waalkes, Mark T. Slager, Brian Joseph Kane, Marcus K. Pressnell, Michael Robert Shields, Robin Christopher, Dennis J. Boyle, Charles A. Seiber, Peter N. Skillman, Joseph Chang
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Patent number: 5746035Abstract: A freestanding portable partition panel and related system are provided for open office spaces and the like. Each panel includes a skeleton-like frame having two vertical uprights positioned adjacent opposite side edges thereof. A foot extends downwardly from the bottom of the frame to abuttingly support the panel freestanding on a floor surface. Two pairs of horizontal stringers are attached to the outer faces of the uprights in a vertically spaced apart relationship to rigidly interconnect the same, and define therebetween two horizontal raceway cavities which open to the opposite side faces of the frame, and extend continuously between the opposite side edges thereof. Hence, when like panels are interconnected side-by-side, the open ends of adjacent raceway cavities are aligned and communicate.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1995Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Seiber, Benjamin G. Shaw, Christopher O. Lada, Phillip M. Hobson, Robert P. Poppe, David A. Shipman, Robert J. Luchetti, Gregg R. Draudt, James B. Eldon, III, David D. McClanahan
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Patent number: 5740650Abstract: A freestanding portable partition panel and related system are provided for open office spaces and the like. Each panel includes a skeleton-like frame having two vertical uprights positioned adjacent opposite side edges thereof. A foot extends downwardly from the bottom of the frame to abuttingly support the panel freestanding on a floor surface. Two pairs of horizontal stringers are attached to the outer faces of the uprights in a vertically spaced apart relationship to rigidly interconnect the same, and define therebetween two horizontal raceway cavities which open to the opposite side faces of the frame, and extend continuously between the opposite side edges thereof. Hence, when like panels are interconnected side-by-side, the open ends of adjacent raceway cavities are aligned and communicate.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1995Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Charles A. Seiber, Benjamin G. Shaw, Christopher O. Lada, Phillip M. Hobson, Robert P. Poppe, David A. Shipman, Robert J. Luchetti, Gregg R. Draudt, James B. Eldon, III, David D. McClanahan
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Patent number: D419799Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1998Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.Inventors: Jonathan J. King, Kurt P. Dammerman, Thomas B. Eich, Frank Freidman, Thomas Overthun, Jochen P. Backs, George J. Simons, Charles A. Seiber