Patents by Inventor Donald P. Gravel

Donald P. Gravel 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: 6805185
    Abstract: A partition for open building space and the like having a frame including at least one substantially horizontal surface. A cover member is configured to enclose at least a portion of the frame. The cover member includes attachment members configured to connect the cover member to the frame. A seal is attached to the cover member and includes a resilient flap which engages the substantially horizontal surface of the frame to inhibit the passage of acoustical and/or optical energy through the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Donald P. Gravel, Douglas L. Hancey, Vladimir Zila
  • Publication number: 20030041540
    Abstract: A partition for open building space and the like having a frame including at least one substantially horizontal surface. A cover member is configured to enclose at least a portion of the frame. The cover member includes attachment members configured to connect the cover member to the frame. A seal is attached to the cover member and includes a resilient flap which engages the substantially horizontal surface of the frame to inhibit the passage of acoustical and/or optical energy through the partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Donald P. Gravel, Douglas L. Hancey, Vladimir Zila
  • Publication number: 20020112411
    Abstract: A furniture system including a substantially planar partition panel, a furniture unit and a bracket assembly. The substantially planar partition panel extends in vertical and horizontal directions and has a framework. The framework has at least first and second attachment sites, with the first and second attachment sites being spaced apart. The bracket assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first member is detachably secured to the framework at the first attachment site and has a portion freely extending therefrom relative to the framework. The second member is detachably secured to the framework at the second attachment site and has a portion freely extending therefrom relative to the framework.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Donald P. Gravel, Jared A. Judson, Ela Ben-Ur, Otto D. DeRuntz
  • 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: 6250016
    Abstract: A partition system includes a freestanding partition system having a pocket-defining partition, and a pocket door slidably supported on the partition system for movement into and out of the pocket. The door includes a door frame having a bottom section defining a cavity that opens downwardly, and a stiff plate-shaped light seal is operably positioned in the cavity for vertical movement by gravity between different positions as the light seal engages and rides along a floor surface. The door includes an adjustable door frame having a rectangular shape with generally square corners and straight sides, but a trailing stile of the door frame is longitudinally adjustable such that, when adjusted, the rectangular shape changes to an orthogonal shape where at least one of the sides of the door frame is angularly distorted from the rectangular shape. This allows the door frame to be adjusted to better fit a door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventor: Donald P. Gravel
  • Patent number: 6058655
    Abstract: A partition system includes a freestanding partition system having a pocket-defining partition, and a pocket door slidably supported on the partition system for movement into and out of the pocket. The door includes a door frame having a bottom section defining a cavity that opens downwardly, and a stiff plate-shaped light seal is operably positioned in the cavity for vertical movement by gravity between different positions as the light seal engages and rides along a floor surface. The door includes an adjustable door frame having a rectangular shape with generally square corners and straight sides, but a trailing stile of the door frame is longitudinally adjustable such that, when adjusted, the rectangular shape changes to an orthogonal shape where at least one of the sides of the door frame is angularly distorted from the rectangular shape. This allows the door frame to be adjusted to better fit a door opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventor: Donald P. Gravel
  • Patent number: D578817
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Donald P. Gravel, Jian Hong, John R. Hamilton, Karl J. Mead, Karl Heinz Müeller
  • Patent number: D600483
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Donald P. Gravel, Jian Hong, John R. Hamilton, Karl J. Mead, Karl Heinz Müeller
  • Patent number: D620289
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Donald P. Gravel, Jian Hong, John R. Hamilton, Karl J. Mead, Karl Heinz Müeller, Andre K. Dettler