Patents by Inventor Joel Ruiter

Joel Ruiter 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: 11969081
    Abstract: A connection assembly for securing a support member to a work surface (e.g., a table leg to a table top) that includes an attachment plate, a retainer, and a fitting. The attachment plate connects to a bottom surface of the table top, the fitting connects to an upper end of the table leg, and the retainer exerts a force on the fitting that helps absorb or take up tolerances within the connection assembly so that the support member is securely connected to the work surface. In one example, the retainer is a resilient component that is compressed between the fitting and a receiving portion of the attachment plate to help take up tolerances within the connection assembly, whereas in another example the retainer is a rotatable component that exerts a force against the fitting to address tolerances and the like. A method for providing a connection assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: QUINT WORKSPACES LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Dame, Anthony J. Sall, Joel Ruiter, James E. Moon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11812848
    Abstract: A furniture system includes an elongated chase having a body extending from a first end to a second end. The body has an upper surface and a lower surface. A first leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and a second leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and spaced apart from the first leg. Power cables are positioned within a cavity of the body, the power cables configured to connect to a building's power supply. A modular power unit is coupled to the lower surface of the body. The modular power unit includes a power outlet electrically coupled to the power cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MILLERKNOLL, INC.
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joshua DeWys, Joel Ruiter, Michael Katje, Peter Keyzer, Michael A. Johnson, Taiyoh Afrik
  • Publication number: 20220142361
    Abstract: A furniture system includes an elongated chase having a body extending from a first end to a second end. The body has an upper surface and a lower surface. A first leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and a second leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and spaced apart from the first leg. Power cables are positioned within a cavity of the body, the power cables configured to connect to a building's power supply. A modular power unit is coupled to the lower surface of the body. The modular power unit includes a power outlet electrically coupled to the power cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joshua DeWys, Joel Ruiter, Michael Katje, Peter Keyzer, Michael A. Johnson, Taiyoh Afrik
  • Publication number: 20220125194
    Abstract: A connection assembly for securing a support member to a work surface (e.g., a table leg to a table top) that includes an attachment plate, a retainer, and a fitting. The attachment plate connects to a bottom surface of the table top, the fitting connects to an upper end of the table leg, and the retainer exerts a force on the fitting that helps absorb or take up tolerances within the connection assembly so that the support member is securely connected to the work surface. In one example, the retainer is a resilient component that is compressed between the fitting and a receiving portion of the attachment plate to help take up tolerances within the connection assembly, whereas in another example the retainer is a rotatable component that exerts a force against the fitting to address tolerances and the like. A method for providing a connection assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Paul G. Dame, Anthony J. Sall, Joel Ruiter, James E. Moon, JR.
  • Patent number: 11291302
    Abstract: A furniture system includes an elongated chase having a body extending from a first end to a second end. The body has an upper surface and a lower surface. A first leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and a second leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and spaced apart from the first leg. Power cables are positioned within a cavity of the body, the power cables configured to connect to a building's power supply. A modular power unit is coupled to the lower surface of the body. The modular power unit includes a power outlet electrically coupled to the power cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joshua DeWys, Joel Ruiter, Michael Katje, Peter Keyzer, Michael A. Johnson, Taiyoh Afrik
  • Publication number: 20210068539
    Abstract: A furniture system includes an elongated chase having a body extending from a first end to a second end. The body has an upper surface and a lower surface. A first leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and a second leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and spaced apart from the first leg. Power cables are positioned within a cavity of the body, the power cables configured to connect to a building's power supply. A modular power unit is coupled to the lower surface of the body. The modular power unit includes a power outlet electrically coupled to the power cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joshua DeWys, Joel Ruiter, Michael Katje, Peter Keyzer, Michael A. Johnson, Taiyoh Afrik
  • Patent number: 10842266
    Abstract: A furniture system includes an elongated chase having a body extending from a first end to a second end. The body has an upper surface and a lower surface. A first leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and a second leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and spaced apart from the first leg. Power cables are positioned within a cavity of the body, the power cables configured to connect to a building's power supply. A modular power unit is coupled to the lower surface of the body. The modular power unit includes a power outlet electrically coupled to the power cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joshua DeWys, Joel Ruiter, Michael Katje, Peter Keyzer, Michael A. Johnson, Taiyoh Afrik
  • Publication number: 20190357676
    Abstract: A furniture system includes an elongated chase having a body extending from a first end to a second end. The body has an upper surface and a lower surface. A first leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and a second leg is coupled to the lower surface of the body and spaced apart from the first leg. Power cables are positioned within a cavity of the body, the power cables configured to connect to a building's power supply. A modular power unit is coupled to the lower surface of the body. The modular power unit includes a power outlet electrically coupled to the power cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joshua DeWys, Joel Ruiter, Michael Katje, Peter Keyzer, Michael A. Johnson, Taiyoh Afrik
  • Patent number: 7793367
    Abstract: A rigid furniture post comprises a single piece of extruded material formed into any number of shapes which may serve as a post for furniture. A coupler comprises a piece of thermoplastic containing at least one female side wherein a post may be inserted to facilitate in the linear assembling of post segments into a longer post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: R.T. London Company
    Inventors: Joel Ruiter, Mark Chamberlin, Gregory J. Winer
  • Patent number: 7201107
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an assembly having a movable portion and a fixed portion. At least a portion of the movable portion comprises a work surface. The assembly further includes a storage device having a material holder that moves from a first position in a substantially covered configuration to a second position that uncovers or exposes at least a portion of the material holder so that a user can access the material holder and contents therein. A connection component connects the material holder to the movable portion and moves the material holder from the covered configuration to the uncovered, at least partially accessible, configuration by utilizing a translation of force from the movement of the movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventor: Joel Ruiter
  • Publication number: 20050168707
    Abstract: A convertible projection assembly and method, the assembly including a support structure, a translucent screen member including a viewing front surface and an oppositely facing rear surface, the screen member releasably mountable to the support structure and a reflecting member forming an internal surface and an oppositely facing external surface, the internal surface of the reflecting member at least in part forming a reflecting surface, the reflecting member releasably mounted to the support structure such that the reflecting surface at least in part faces the rear surface of the screen member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Feldpausch, Kirt Martin, Joel Ruiter
  • Patent number: D868509
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joel Ruiter
  • Patent number: D872489
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Joel Ruiter, Joshua DeWys
  • Patent number: D897292
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joel Ruiter
  • Patent number: D903382
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: John Matthai, Joel Ruiter
  • Patent number: D922782
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Thorley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Ruiter, Phil Carpenter, Jared Rosenthal