Patents by Inventor Joseph D. Ruedinger

Joseph D. Ruedinger 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: 7044425
    Abstract: An integrated keyboard platform and document support includes a base and a keyboard support member having an upper surface. The keyboard support member is movably mounted to the base to provide adjustment through a plurality of positions of the keyboard support member. An integral document holder includes a groove having a curved shape in plan view and located in the upper surface of the keyboard support member. The groove defines an engagement surface engagable with a bottom edge of the document and defining a plane of engagement. The plane of engagement is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the support surface, and is inclined substantially level or rearwardly downward throughout the plurality of positions whereby a document may be held substantially vertical or inclined rearwardly in the curved groove throughout the plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Jones, Joseph D. Ruedinger
  • Patent number: 6877707
    Abstract: An integrated keyboard platform and document support includes a base and a keyboard support member having an upper surface. The keyboard support member is movably mounted to the base to provide adjustment through a plurality of positions of the keyboard support member. An integral document holder includes a groove having a curved shape in plan view and located in the upper surface of the keyboard support member. The groove defines an engagement surface engagable with a bottom edge of the document and defining a plane of engagement. The plane of engagement is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the support surface, and is inclined substantially level or rearwardly downward throughout the plurality of positions whereby a document may be held substantially vertical or inclined rearwardly in the curved groove throughout the plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Jones, Joseph D. Ruedinger
  • Patent number: 6874736
    Abstract: A keyboard support platform including a keyboard support member adapted to support a keyboard and having a front edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a user. The keyboard support member includes first and second opposite side edges defining a width therebetween. A first mouse support surface is movably mounted to the keyboard member and movably positioned adjacent the first side edge to provide adjustment of the first mouse support surface. A second mouse support surface is movably mounted to the keyboard support member and movably positioned adjacent the second side edge of the keyboard support member to provide adjustment of the second mouse support surface. A palm rest is adjustably mounted to the keyboard support member adjacent the front edge and repositionable between a first position wherein at least a portion of the palm rest extends in front of the first mouse support surface, and a second position wherein at least a portion of the palm rest extends in front of the second mouse support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Jones, Joseph D. Ruedinger, Jason E. Begin
  • Publication number: 20030189393
    Abstract: A furniture accessory kit is designed to support portable computers in office partition systems of the type having slat wall panels on which detachable office amenities, such as paper trays, etc. can be hung. A horizontal shelf accessory supports a portable computer thereon, and includes a connector that detachably mounts the shelf to an associated slat wall panel in a cantilevered horizontal orientation. The shelf has a wire trough to mange wiring associated with the portable computer. A sleeve-shaped accessory unit with a hollow interior for retaining computer accessories therein is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel directly above the shelf. A wire management device to retain wires associated with the portable computer is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel near the shelf and the accessory unit. A security devices for securing the portable computer to the slat wall and which is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel near the shelf and the accessory unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Gregg R. Draudt, William C. Stewart, Andrew H. Carlson, Russell P. Whitaker, Mark D. Swets, Joseph D. Ruedinger
  • Patent number: 6578498
    Abstract: A furniture accessory kit is designed to support portable computers in office partition systems of the type having slat wall panels on which detachable office amenities, such as paper trays, etc. can be hung. A horizontal shelf accessory supports a portable computer thereon, and includes a connector that detachably mounts the shelf to an associated slat wall panel in a cantilevered horizontal orientation. The shelf has a wire trough to mange wiring associated with the portable computer. A sleeve-shaped accessory unit with a hollow interior for retaining computer accessories therein is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel directly above the shelf. A wire management device to retain wires associated with the portable computer is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel near the shelf and the accessory unit. A security devices for securing the portable computer to the slat wall and which is configured to be hung on the slat wall panel near the shelf and the accessory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg R. Draudt, William C. Stewart, Andrew H. Carlson, Russell P. Whitaker, Mark D. Swets, Joseph D. Ruedinger
  • Patent number: 6554218
    Abstract: A cable management spool for storing a length of cable includes first and second rigid outer members that are movable relative to each other and define a gap of variable size therebetween. An intermediate member has at least one flexible flap, and the intermediate member is disposed between the first and second rigid outer members. The spool includes a spooling portion between the first and second outer members, wherein the spooling portion is adapted to have a length of cable wound about the spooling portion. The intermediate member is movable relative to at least one of the first and second rigid outer members, and the at least one flap substantially occupies the gap and is adapted to substantially conceal the length of cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Buyce, Joseph D. Ruedinger, Jason E. Begin
  • Publication number: 20030010862
    Abstract: A cable management spool for storing a length of cable includes first and second rigid outer members that are movable relative to each other and define a gap of variable size therebetween. An intermediate member has at least one flexible flap, and the intermediate member is disposed between the first and second rigid outer members. The spool includes a spooling portion between the first and second outer members, wherein the spooling portion is adapted to have a length of cable wound about the spooling portion. The intermediate member is movable relative to at least one of the first and second rigid outer members, and the at least one flap substantially occupies the gap and is adapted to substantially conceal the length of cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas D. Buyce, Joseph D. Ruedinger, Jason E. Begin
  • Patent number: 6349915
    Abstract: A combination keyboard support tray and removable document support for use in offices and other similar environments. A keyboard support tray has a base adapted to secure the keyboard support tray to a worksurface. The keyboard support tray has an upper surface adapted to support a keyboard and defining a perimeter having a front edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a user and a rear edge adapted to be positioned away from a user. A document support has at least one clip removably securing the document support to the perimeter of the keyboard support tray. A document support includes upwardly-opening document support groove having a curved shape in plan view to retain a document in an upwardly-extended configuration wherein the document can be readily viewed by a user of the keyboard support tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Jones, Joseph D. Ruedinger