Patents by Inventor Jess Sorel

Jess Sorel 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: 20050140184
    Abstract: A furniture system particularly adapted for informal collaboration and presentations includes lounge seating units for team members and a podium seating unit for a seated presenter. An information display panel is attached to a rear of the podium seating unit and extends vertically with its front surface being reachable over a back of the podium seating unit. The back terminates below a presenter's lumbar, but is deep enough to discourage the presenter from leaning rearwardly against the screen. By this arrangement, the seated presenter maintains level eye contact with group members in an informal setting while discussing and pointing to information. Accessories are provided to enhance use of the system, such as a paper-and-drink tray for resting on the seat cushion, an erasable board attachable to the screen, bridge tables positionable between seating units, and table-attached screens for promoting privacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Otto Williams, Jess Sorel, Joe Nobles, Todd Sorel
  • Publication number: 20050126446
    Abstract: A screening apparatus includes a screen panel having an aperture and a bent wire screen support which includes a top leg extending through the aperture for supporting the screen panel around an edge of a table top. The screen support also includes a pair of vertical wire sections which extend downwardly from the top leg in a manner supporting a rear surface of the screen panel, and further includes forwardly extending bottom legs that extend through a bottom edge of the screen panel and that attach to a screen-supporting furniture unit, such as a table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Joe Nobles, Todd Sorel, Otto Williams, Jess Sorel
  • Publication number: 20050016080
    Abstract: A free-standing, partition-type furniture system adapted to subdivide an open space of a room, comprising a plurality of first partition panels, each including a first body portion having a pair of side edges, and a first screen member operably coupled to the first partition panel and laterally shiftable with respect to the first partition panel such that the first screen member extends from one of the side edges of the first body portion. The furniture system also includes a plurality of second partition panels each including a second body portion having an upper edge, and a second screen member operably coupled to the second partition panel and vertically shiftable with respect to the second partition panel such that the second screen member extends from the upper edge of the second body portion. The plurality of first and second partition panels are operably coupleable and arrangeable so as to subdivide the open space of a room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Otto Williams, Joe Nobles, Todd Sorel, Jess Sorel, Bryan White, Christopher Luomanen, Max Williams, David Simon, Jon Lefors
  • Patent number: 6447067
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seating unit, and a pair of legs. The legs each engage and support a bottom of the seating unit, and include a protruding attachment member that slides mateably into a pocket in a rear of the seating unit. When the fasteners are installed, the protruding attachment member cannot be removed from the pocket. By this arrangement, the protruding attachment member and pocket form part of a retaining structure for retaining the leg to the seating unit. A back screen releasably fits between the leg and the back, and is retained by the protruding attachment member against the back. The screen can be shipped disassembled from the seating unit, and assembled on site to provide a privacy function while complimenting the chair's architectural appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Otto N. Williams, Jon H. LeFors, Jess A. Sorel
  • Patent number: D476819
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Otto N. Williams, Jess A. Sorel, Paul B. Siebert
  • Patent number: D480883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Otto N. Williams, Jess A. Sorel, Paul B. Siebert
  • Patent number: D482535
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Otto N. Williams, Jess A. Sorel, Paul B. Siebert
  • Patent number: D482536
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Otto N. Williams, Jess A. Sorel, Paul B. Siebert