Patents by Inventor Hendrik R. van Hekken
Hendrik R. van Hekken 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: 6824218Abstract: An adjustable armrest and height adjustment mechanism. The adjustable arm rest has a fixed member having a housing, a vertically adjustable member having a post slidably disposed in the housing, and a sleeve disposed intermediate the post and the housing. The height adjustment mechanism can include a camming slot formed in the post, an angled slot formed in the sleeve member on opposite sides of the camming slot, a locking pin positioned through each of the camming and angled slots, and a bushing projecting into the angled slot and defining upper and lower regions thereof in which the locking pin can be held. The locking pin is movable between respective notches responsive to upward vertical movement of said post such that the vertically adjustable member is held at a height corresponding to each notch until further upward vertical movement of the post.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Knoll, Inc.Inventor: Hendrik R. van Hekken
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Patent number: 6767019Abstract: A versatile and ergonomic utility cart is provided. The utility cart can be constructed to various heights, depending upon the length of support posts secured between a top and bottom shelf. The cart can be any shape or design: triangular; rectangular; octagonal and so forth. A vertically adjustable tray support arm mounts a support tray in close proximity to the utility cart. The tray support arm includes a vertical member which is inserted through the top shelf and into the support post and is frictionally secured thereto by a spring-loaded wedge assembly. An articulated arm is rotatably mounted to the vertical member at one end and rotatably mounted to a support tray at an opposite end. The interior of the utility cart between the top and bottom shelves may be left exposed and accessible or may be enclosed by a plurality of panels and door assembles.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Knoll, Inc.Inventor: Hendrik R. van Hekken
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Publication number: 20030227150Abstract: A versatile and ergonomic utility cart is provided. The utility cart can be constructed to various heights, depending upon the length of support posts secured between a top and bottom shelf. The cart can be any shape or design: triangular; rectangular; octagonal and so forth. A vertically adjustable tray support arm mounts a support tray in close proximity to the utility cart. The tray support arm includes a vertical member which is inserted through the top shelf and into the support post and is frictionally secured thereto by a spring-loaded wedge assembly. An articulated arm is rotatably mounted to the vertical member at one end and rotatably mounted to a support tray at an opposite end. The interior of the utility cart between the top and bottom shelves may be left exposed and accessible or may be enclosed by a plurality of panels and door assembles.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2002Publication date: December 11, 2003Inventor: Hendrik R. van Hekken
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Patent number: 6076892Abstract: A multi-adjustable armrest assembly for a chair can be adjusted in a variety of different aspects including laterally, vertically, forwards and backwards, and rotationally. Such an armrest assembly can include an armrest base securable to a chair and having a tubular portion, an armrest support having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg slidably disposed in the tubular portion, a shroud slidably disposed on the vertical leg, a post member attached to the shroud, a collar connected to the post, and an armrest connected to the collar. Additionally, the armrest can have a bottom portion slidably connected to the collar and the collar can be rotatably connected to the post. Furthermore, a positive adjustment mechanism can be provided to control each adjustable aspect of such an armrest assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1997Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: Knoll, Inc.Inventors: Hendrik R. van Hekken, Cira V. Conley, Michael S. Garner
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Patent number: 6053578Abstract: A multi-adjustable armrest assembly for a chair can be adjusted in a variety of different aspects including laterally, vertically, forwards and backwards, and rotationally. Such an armrest assembly can include an armrest base securable to a chair and having a tubular portion, an armrest support having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg slidably disposed in the tubular portion, a shroud slidably disposed on the vertical leg, a post member attached to the shroud, a collar connected to the post, and an armrest connected to the collar. Additionally, the armrest can have a bottom portion slidably connected to the collar and the collar can be rotatably connected to the post. Furthermore, a positive adjustment mechanism can be provided to control each adjustable aspect of such an armrest assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1999Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Knoll, Inc.Inventors: Hendrik R. van Hekken, Cira V. Conley, Michael S. Garner
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Patent number: 5791733Abstract: A chair back has a user-positionable lumbar support plate, movable vertically along the back to position the support in an area between a padding panel and a backpan of the chair back. The lumbar support plate is mounted on a pin-and-slot track, and protrudes forwardly to bear against the padding panel to provide a protrusion or relatively harder section in the chair back at the chosen height. Cable-in-conduit control lines are attached to the lumbar plate and to a manual control such as a pivoting handle on the chair seat, in a closed loop whereby the handle positively positions the lumbar plate in a push-pull arrangement. A low friction sheet material is disposed between the lumbar plate and the padding panel for free sliding, and can be attached to the backpan above the range of travel of the lumbar plate. A series of spaced stops are associated with the control handle for fixing the vertical position of the lumbar plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1997Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Knoll, Inc.Inventors: Hendrik R. van Hekken, Gordon L. Branin, Jr.
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Patent number: 5499413Abstract: Disclosed is a composite foam chair cushion and method used to produce the composite chair cushion. The cushion is especially suitable for use in the construction of one and two piece office type chairs. The cushion is comprised of an insert of foamed material of predetermined density and compressibility and bonded to a foamed border material of less density and greater compressibility than that of the insert. Also disclosed is a method for producing the composite foam chair cushion of this invention using a cushion mold and a foamable reaction mixture of a foam material, such as polyurethane.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1994Date of Patent: March 19, 1996Assignee: Westinghouse Electric CorporationInventor: Hendrik R. Van Hekken
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Patent number: 5489145Abstract: Disclosed is a chair cushion and upholstery assembly and method used in the construction of one and two piece office type chairs. A molded plastic cushion liner member having a marginal portion surrounding one or more open portions and adapted to fit within a chair cushion support member is foamed in situ within an inset molding apparatus to fill the open portions of the cushion liner member and bond the foam cushion material to the liner member. Upholstery material covers the foam cushion material with the marginal edges of the upholstery material bonded to a foam-free peripheral or border surface of the cushion liner member with an adhesive or glue.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1994Date of Patent: February 6, 1996Assignee: Westinghouse Electric CorporationInventor: Hendrik R. Van Hekken
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Patent number: 5297851Abstract: A chair fastening device for securing a metal bracket to a seat pan of a chair thereby enabling arms, legs or pedestal bases with or without control mechanisms to be attached to the chair. The fastening device comprises a slab base weld nut which includes a slab base head that is captured and retained by parallel raised ribs formed in the plastic of the seat pan, thereby preventing rotation of the slab base weld nut, and an elongated barrel which is inserted through angled holes in the plastic seat pan and peened over in order to form a rivet connection with the underside of the plastic seat pan. The elongated barrel of the slab base weld nut is counterbored and further includes internal threads adapted to receive a screw or bolt for use in securing a metal bracket to the plastic seat pan without inducing stress fractures in the plastic, thus creating a strong, secure attachment for chair arms, legs or pedestal bases.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1991Date of Patent: March 29, 1994Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventor: Hendrik R. Van Hekken
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Patent number: 5011227Abstract: An adjustable footrest for use on a chair to comfortably accommodate the feet of a user. Defined on the underside of the mounting plate is an elongated hollow housing which receives the essential moving elements of the footrest mechanism. Positioned within the hollow housing is a gas cylinder that contains an actuator pin located on a piston at the upper end of the cylinder. Located near the bottom of the hollow housing is a pair of outwardly projecting legs to which is pivotally mounted an elongated leg. A portion of the leg is positioned within the housing and is pivotally mounted to the connection end of the gas cylinder. The other end of the leg extends away from the hollow housing and terminates in a tranversely positioned footrest. Pulling the handle in an upward direction presses the actuator pin within the gas cylinder, thus releasing the piston. While the user maintains the handle in its top position, the user may then exert a downward force on the footrest.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1990Date of Patent: April 30, 1991Assignee: Knoll International, Inc.Inventors: Hendrik R. van Hekken, Thomas L. Latone
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Patent number: D430973Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1999Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Knoll, Inc.Inventors: Neil P. Frankel, Carl G. Magnusson, Hendrik R. Van Hekken, William T. Shea
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Patent number: D434233Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2000Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Knoll, Inc.Inventors: Neil P. Frankel, Carl G. Magnusson, Hendrik R. Van Hekken, William T. Shea