Patents by Inventor Karl J. Mead

Karl J. Mead 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: 20040020137
    Abstract: A partition system includes an internally-open partition frame having permanent and removable frame members forming multiple vertical and horizontal wireways, with both lay-in and feed-through wire routing. Utility support brackets are attachable for good wire management. The partition frame supports a wide variety of customizable and functional surface components, including a markerboard wall surface, a slatwall, a colored/covered wall surface, a wall surface including utility outlets, a transparent window. The partition frame includes continuous horizontal and vertical rows of slots that flexibly and adjustably support furniture accessories, such as a worksurface, at selected heights and locations along the partition system. Covers are provided that maintain a very high-quality appearance with uniform lines and gaps. Some covers include adjustable edge-mounted light seals for eliminating light leaks and unsightly areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: David J. Battey, Roy W. Fink, Richard Scott Hand, Joshua W. Hoekstra, Robert E. Jeffers, Michael P. Kelley, Douglas B. MacDonald, Gaylan M. McColley, Karl J. Mead, F. Javier Olivera, William H. Palermo, Todd Pelman, Micah E. Roberts, Mark T. Slager, Steven J. Throndset
  • Publication number: 20030182872
    Abstract: A partition includes a partition frame having a face and a cavity behind the face, and a covering attached to the partition frame that aesthetically covers the face. The covering includes an access slit through which the cavity can be accessed, and is sufficiently flexible so that the slit can be opened to access the cavity. A pouch can be attached to the covering material along the slit, so that a purse-like pouch is created for holding personal items and/or excess electrical wiring. A zipper or closure device can be used on the access slit. In one form, the skin is releasably attached with hook-and-loop material, so that a corner of the skin can be pulled loose for accessing the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: David M. Gresham, James N. Ludwig, Karl J. Mead, Karl Heinz Mueller
  • Publication number: 20030182885
    Abstract: A partition and wall system includes a partition with trim piece(s) securely attached to a top edge and vertical side edges of the partition. One or both of the trim piece(s) have a T-slot running along their length, to which accessories can be secured by use of T-fasteners that extend into the slot and engage blind surfaces at a bottom of the slot. The accessories include such things as screens, hooks, lights, panels, shelves, wire managers, utility-using devices, and the like, and can be easily arranged by office workers in optimal and customized arrangements, thus improving efficiency and adding function and value to the office arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: David M. Gresham, James N. Ludwig, Karl J. Mead, Karl Heinz Mueller
  • Publication number: 20030182871
    Abstract: A prefabricated system for outfitting a building space includes an architectural product (such as a full-height permanent building wall, a post-and-beam product with overhead frame, and a drywall-covered wall), a furniture product (such as a partial-height wall, a partition, and a desking system), and a plurality of accessories. The architectural product includes a structural member with horizontal and vertical accessory-mounting T-slots, and the furniture product includes structural trim pieces with identical vertical and horizontal accessory-mounting T-slots. The plurality of accessories are constructed to stably engage any of the accessory-mounting slots at a selected location along the slots. Some accessories can be attached to and extend between the two products, such as an accessory screen that extends between a post of a post-and-beam system and an end of a partition system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: David M. Gresham, James N. Ludwig, Karl J. Mead, Karl Heinz Mueller, Dale T. Kelley
  • Publication number: 20030183349
    Abstract: A partition includes a top edge and vertical end edges covered by trim pieces. One or more of the trim pieces include an elongated base member made of durable material, such as metal, with side flanges defining a longitudinal channel. A strip insert is positioned in the channel where it is protected by the side flanges. When both top and end edges of a partition are covered, the end of one protrudes across an end of the other, with the side flanges of the protruding portion being radiused to prevent formation of a sharp corner. The insert can be aesthetic, such as wood, brushed metal, painted sheet, plastic, or light-transmissive glass or plastic, or the insert can be functional, such as tackable material, erasable markerboard material, a light-transmissive “light-pipe” material, or a mating “U” channel defining a hidden passageway on the base member for wire management.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: David M. Gresham, James N. Ludwig, Karl J. Mead, Karl Heinz Mueller
  • Patent number: 6415567
    Abstract: A partition for spatially dividing open building space and the like including a plurality of frames having adjacent frame ends interconnected by vertically spaced connector brackets to define a post-simulating joint and a trim system for the plurality of frames. The trim system includes a locator bracket and at least one side trim strip. The locator bracket is shaped to be attached to one of the connector brackets and includes upstanding side walls with outward extending upper tabs. The at least one side trim strip is shaped to enclose an associated open side of the post-simulating joint and includes at least one inwardly protruding top tab, each top tab mating and abutting at least one of the upper tabs of the locator bracket to positively locate the at least one side trim strip with respect to the adjacent frame ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Karl J. Mead, Marvin C. Knauf, Thomas R. Maas
  • Patent number: 6230459
    Abstract: A wall start panel for knock-down portable partition systems of the type having a plurality of panels, each having standard width posts interconnected by structural members in a spaced-apart relationship to define a standard panel width. The wall start panel includes at least one structural member and a standard width post having a unitary construction and including a connection port. The standard width post also has opposite side faces defining a standard post width therebetween. The wall start panel further includes a wall start post having a connection port and having opposite side faces defining a width therebetween substantially less than the standard post width. The structural member spans between and releasably interconnects the standard width and wall start posts in a spaced-apart relationship. The wall start panel has a substantially standard panel width, such that the wall start post can be secured to an existing wall without use of a trim piece to close off the wall start panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Jeffers, Michael D. Elsholz, Richard S. Hand, Karl J. Mead, Todd M. Ostrander, Fredrick M. Brickley
  • Patent number: 6158179
    Abstract: A wall structure for dividing building space includes several different freestanding base panels such as an internally open partition panel, a sound-deadening partition panel, a glass-supporting partition panel, and a doorway-supporting partition panel, and further includes an overhead system comprising a structural expressway construction, a transom subframe, covers for the subframe, and a glass module attachable to the subframe. The structural expressway construction has a torque box bracket for moving support from an inboard location spaced from the vertical side edge of the base panels to the vertical side edge. The transom subframe mounts atop the different base panels, and telescopingly extends into mating engagement with a ceiling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Anne C. Ackerly, David J. Battey, David P. Churchill, James H. Davies, Gregg R. Draudt, Michael D. Elsholz, Roy W. Fink, Steven F. Goodman, Steven C. Gortsema, Peter C. Greenberg, Allen C. Hager, Harold Halvorson, Jr., James D. Houda, Robert E. Jeffers, Gary S. Juhlin, Robert J. Luchetti, Karl J. Mead, Scott H. Russell, Peter J. Schauer, David A. Shipman, Anthony A. Stachowiak, Michael Tingley, Genevieve Wing
  • Patent number: 6111195
    Abstract: A communication cable management and distribution system for use in a modular partitioned workspace environment including a plurality of partition panels defining the workspaces and a consolidation point cabinet mounted on and supported by the partition structure. The cabinet is generally rectangular and includes an interior defined by a top, a bottom, a back, a pair of sides and a front. The cabinet is mounted on the partition structure by mounting brackets which are configured so that the cabinet can only be unmounted from the partition structure by gaining access to the cabinet interior. A back wall in the cabinet interior includes a plurality of apertures which allows cable management elements to be mounted by screws at a plurality of interchangeable locations. One such cable management element is a consolidation point bracket that is pivotable between a first position for storage and a second position offering improved access to the consolidation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: R. Scott Hand, Robert H. Greenhoe, Todd C. Fitzpatrick, James L. Kraft, Jared Alden Judson, Karl J. Mead, Kevin M. Stanley
  • Patent number: 6003273
    Abstract: A floor-to-ceiling partition wall system includes a plurality of partition panels, each having panel frames interconnected along opposite side edges thereof. The partition panels have cover panels mounted on opposite side faces thereof to form a partition wall having substantially planar side surfaces. A utilities infeed panel has an infeed panel frame with opposite vertical side edges that are interconnected with side edges of adjacent partition panel frames such that the infeed panel forms an integral portion of the partition wall. The infeed panel frame defines first and second opposite side faces, and a vertically-extending central space connected to an opening in the ceiling. A first cover panel is connected to the first side face. A second cover panel is removably connected to the second side face of the infeed panel frame, and closes off the central space. The second cover panel permits access to the central space for utilities management upon removal of the second cover panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Elsholz, Robert E. Jeffers, Karl J. Mead
  • Patent number: 5971508
    Abstract: A modular wireway which is adapted to be utilized with easily mountable, demountable and remountable attachments includes an elongate member which is mountable to a support surface and at least one connector which is adapted for mating with a connector on a removably attachable cable management trough or a removably attachable modesty panel, or both. The disclosed elongate member has a generally I-shaped transverse cross-section and includes an upper horizontal flange member configured to be mounted on a support bracket secured to a support surface, a web which depends from the upper horizontal flange member, and a lower attachment flange connected to the lower end of the web. The attachment flange includes one or more connectors which allow attachment of one or more removable closures which together with the elongate member define an enclosed raceway, a rigidly connected auxiliary cable management trough, a hingedly connected cable management trough, and/or a modesty panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Deimen, Subur Tjandra, Erik Nielsen, Karl J. Mead, Robert L. Stewart, Thomas F. Crissler, Ting-Wen Nieh
  • Patent number: 5970662
    Abstract: A system for subdividing a building space into work areas includes interconnectable partition panels, each having an internal frame with a plurality of horizontal frame members located at predetermined heights. The horizontal frame members each have at least one horizontal row of slots, and at least one of the horizontal frame members is located slightly above an optimal worksurface height for supporting an interactively used datum shelf. Furniture components are attachable to the horizontal frame members at selected horizontal positions, including the datum shelf, an undershelf storage unit, and an upper storage unit. A mobile furniture unit is provided having a worksurface located at an optimal worksurface height, the worksurface having a cantilevered edge section that can be extended partially under the datum shelf at a selected optimal depth for coordinated and efficient use of the datum shelf concurrent with using the worksurface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Sean M. Corcorran, Charles Anthony Seiber, Robert P. Arko, Frank Friedman, Leon D. Segal, Jonathan J. King, Karl J. Mead, Paul B. Siebert
  • Patent number: D474287
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Gresham, Karl Heinz Mueller, Karl J. Mead
  • Patent number: D474547
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Mueller, Karl J. Mead, David M. Gresham
  • Patent number: D477153
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Clarkson S. Thorp, David M. Gresham, Karl J. Mead
  • Patent number: D479613
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Mueller, Karl J. Mead, David M. Gresham
  • Patent number: D479883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Gresham, Karl Heinz Mueller, Karl J. Mead
  • Patent number: D480159
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Gresham, Karl Heinz Mueller, Karl J. Mead
  • Patent number: D481466
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Heinz Mueller, Karl J. Mead, David M. Gresham
  • Patent number: D483333
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Gresham, Karl Heinz Mueller, Karl J. Mead