Patents by Inventor David C. Eberlein

David C. Eberlein 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: 8689705
    Abstract: A furniture kit including first and second spaced apart leg members including front and rear end portions and a frame space between facing surfaces, a first furniture assembly including a first rigid furniture component having first and second ends and having front and rear portions, wherein (i) a first furniture configuration is configurable that includes the first furniture assembly supported between the leg members and generally within the frame space with the front and rear portions of the first furniture assembly adjacent the front and rear end portions of the leg members, respectively, and (ii) a second furniture configuration is configurable that includes the first furniture assembly supported between the leg members and generally within the frame space with the front and rear portions of the first furniture assembly adjacent the rear and front end portions of the leg members, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C Eberlein
  • Patent number: 8667908
    Abstract: A furniture assembly comprising a frame for supporting an article of furniture, the frame including first and second spaced apart frame members, each frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the first and second frame members forming first and second substantially oppositely facing bearing surfaces along at least a portion thereof wherein the oppositely facing bearing surfaces are angled away from each other when moving from the top toward the bottom ends, at a first height, the oppositely facing bearing surfaces defining a first width dimension and a storage unit forming an opening defined by an opening rim including at least first and second substantially opposed bearing surfaces, the first and second opposed bearing surfaces defining a first length dimension that is similar to the first width dimension, wherein, the storage unit can be mounted to the frame by passing at least upper portions of the first and second frame members through the opening so that the first and second opposed bearing surface
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20130312642
    Abstract: A furniture assembly comprising a first frame structure having front and rear portions and including at least a first leg member and a first rail member supported by the at least a first leg member where the first rail member has a first length dimension, second rail member supported by the at least a second leg member spaced apart from the first rail member wherein an assembly space includes the space between the first and second rail members, a first furniture sub-assembly having first and second ends, having a first depth dimension and a second furniture sub-assembly having first and second ends, a second depth dimension, wherein the combined first and second depth dimensions are less than the first length dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C. Eberlein, Fredric Biddle
  • Patent number: 8534752
    Abstract: A hood assembly for use with furniture, the hood assembly comprising a frame structure including at least first and second rigid elongated frame members that are spaced apart by at least a first brace member and a fabric sock cover member that forms a passage that is open on at least one end, wherein the frame structure is slid into the passage to stretch the sock cover member over the frame structure and form an architectural structure including portions of the fabric sock cover member on either side of the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20120037049
    Abstract: A hood assembly for use with furniture, the hood assembly comprising a frame structure including at least first and second rigid elongated frame members that are spaced apart by at least a first brace member and a fabric sock cover member that forms a passage that is open on at least one end, wherein the frame structure is slid into the passage to stretch the sock cover member over the frame structure and form an architectural structure including portions of the fabric sock cover member on either side of the frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C. Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20110297053
    Abstract: A table assembly comprising first and second spaced apart leg members, the first and second leg members forming first and second facing surfaces, an elongated channel member supported at opposite ends by the leg members, the channel member including front and rear sides and forming a wire management channel along the length of the channel member, an elongated first trough member supported and located adjacent the front side of the channel member and between the facing surfaces of the leg members, the trough member forming an upwardly opening cavity along at least a portion of the length of the trough member and a first table top member supported between the first and second leg members and located adjacent a side of the first trough member opposite the channel member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C. Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20110297052
    Abstract: A table assembly comprising at least a first leg member that forms a leg opening and a first support surface and a rigid elongated channel member that forms a channel that extends between first and second ends, at least the first end forming a wire passing opening suitable to pass wires into and out of the channel, the first end supportable by the first support surface in at least first and second different locations, wherein, when the channel is supported by the support surface at either of the first and second different positions, the wire passing opening is aligned with the leg opening so that wires can pass through the leg opening and into the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C. Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20110297056
    Abstract: A furniture assembly comprising a frame for supporting an article of furniture, the frame including first and second spaced apart frame members, each frame member having a top end and a bottom end, the first and second frame members forming first and second substantially oppositely facing bearing surfaces along at least a portion thereof wherein the oppositely facing bearing surfaces are angled away from each other when moving from the top toward the bottom ends, at a first height, the oppositely facing bearing surfaces defining a first width dimension and a storage unit forming an opening defined by an opening rim including at least first and second substantially opposed bearing surfaces, the first and second opposed bearing surfaces defining a first length dimension that is similar to the first width dimension, wherein, the storage unit can be mounted to the frame by passing at least upper portions of the first and second frame members through the opening so that the first and second opposed bearing surface
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C. Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20110297051
    Abstract: A furniture kit including first and second spaced apart leg members including front and rear end portions and a frame space between facing surfaces, a first furniture assembly including a first rigid furniture component having first and second ends and having front and rear portions, wherein (i) a first furniture configuration is configurable that includes the first furniture assembly supported between the leg members and generally within the frame space with the front and rear portions of the first furniture assembly adjacent the front and rear end portions of the leg members, respectively, and (ii) a second furniture configuration is configurable that includes the first furniture assembly supported between the leg members and generally within the frame space with the front and rear portions of the first furniture assembly adjacent the rear and front end portions of the leg members, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C. Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20110068242
    Abstract: A mounting bracket for removably mounting an accessory on a partition panel includes first and second side bracket members having a plurality of hooks configured for close reception in the vertical hanger slots of an associated panel frame. A back member extends between and operably connects the first and second side bracket members. The first and second side flanges each have a forward portion with a plurality of vertical support slots configured to receive and detachably retain therein a hanger portion of an associate accessory to detachably support the accessory on the mounting bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: David C. Eberlein, Daniel R. Van Dyk, Michael L. Waalkes, Davinder S. Dhanoa
  • Patent number: 7818932
    Abstract: An off-module connector system for a partition system detachably connects a first partition with a second partition in a non-parallel, angular relationship at a location on the first partition between the opposite side members thereof. The off-module connector system includes a top connector bracket which engages the attachment slots on the panel frames and a bottom connector bracket which engages an associated rack to securely, yet removably, mount the two partition panels in an off-modular relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Eberlein, Daniel R. Van Dyk, Michael L. Waalkes, Davinder S. Dhanoa
  • Patent number: 7806481
    Abstract: An armrest structure includes a tubular support, and an armrest having a tubular end telescopingly engaging the tubular support. A support plate engages bottom walls of the tubular support and the tubular end in a laminar arrangement. A clamping bolt slides through a top hole and into aligned holes in the laminar arrangement, with its head abutting the aligned holes. A clamping handle on a bottom of the bolt is rotatable between a clamping position tensioning the bolt to secure the arrangement, and a release position de-tensioning the bolt. By this arrangement, remaining walls of the tubular support and the tubular end are not deformed even when the clamp is clampingly pressing the adjacent sidewall sections together. An adjustable back with actuator handles at a lower edge of the back, and a seat assembly with fingers that retain an upholstery cover tight against concave areas are also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20100064597
    Abstract: An off-module connector system for a partition system detachably connects a first partition with a second partition in a non-parallel, angular relationship at a location on the first partition between the opposite side members thereof. The off-module connector system includes a top connector bracket which engages the attachment slots on the panel frames and a bottom connector bracket which engages an associated rack to securely, yet removably, mount the two partition panels in an off-modular relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: David C. Eberlein, Daniel R. Van Dyk, Michael L. Waalkes, Davinder S. Dhanoa
  • Publication number: 20090282663
    Abstract: A furniture assembly kit including at least a first support structure, a plurality of furniture components, each component including a base structure having a component width dimension and a component length dimension, a sub-structure supported by the support structure and having a substantially flat support surface defined by a circumferential edge including first and second lateral edges, the sub-structure forming a lip member along at least portions of the first and second lateral edges, the lip member having a distal upper edge, the space adjacent the support surface and between the lip members being a furniture receiving space and wherein different subsets of the plurality of components can optionally be positioned with the base structures supported by the support surface and with the base structures of the component subsets substantially covering the sub-structure support surface, each different subset including at least two of the plurality of components where at least one of the furniture components i
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C. Eberlein, Daniel Edward Waugh
  • Patent number: 7603821
    Abstract: An off-module connector system for a partition system detachably connects a first partition with a second partition in a non-parallel, angular relationship at a location on the first partition between the opposite side members thereof. The off-module connector system includes top and bottom connector brackets, which engage the attachment slots on the panel frames to securely, yet removably, mount the two partition panels in an off-modular relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Eberlein, Daniel R. Van Dyk, Michael L. Waalkes, Davinder S. Dhanoa
  • Patent number: 7527335
    Abstract: An armrest structure includes a tubular support, and an armrest having a tubular end telescopingly engaging the tubular support. A support plate engages bottom walls of the tubular support and the tubular end in a laminar arrangement. A clamping bolt slides through a top hole and into aligned holes in the laminar arrangement, with its head abutting the aligned holes. A clamping handle on a bottom of the bolt is rotatable between a clamping position tensioning the bolt to secure the arrangement, and a release position de-tensioning the bolt. By this arrangement, remaining walls of the tubular support and the tubular end are not deformed even when the clamp is clampingly pressing the adjacent sidewall sections together. An adjustable back with actuator handles at a lower edge of the back, and a seat assembly with fingers that retain an upholstery cover tight against concave areas are also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Eberlein, Kirt D. Martin, James D. Houda, David J. Dekker
  • Patent number: D596874
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt D. Martin, Daniel Waugh, David C. Eberlein
  • Patent number: D599137
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt D. Martin, Daniel E. Waugh, David C. Eberlein
  • Patent number: D602701
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt D. Martin, David C. Eberlein
  • Patent number: D675459
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Kirt Martin, David C. Eberlein