Patents by Inventor Michael L. De Pree

Michael L. De Pree 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: 6349907
    Abstract: A support assembly for supporting an object on a floor. The support assembly includes a leg member and a heel member mounted on said leg member. The heel member is adapted to engage the floor. A foot member is pivotally attached to the leg member. The foot member is adapted to pivot between an upright storage position and a lateral support position. When in the lateral support position, the foot member is adapted to engage the floor at a point spaced apart from the heel member. In a preferred embodiment, a cover is provided to conceal the foot member when placed in the upright storage position. In a preferred embodiment, the heel member comprises a height adjustable glide device that includes a base portion and a stem portion extending upwardly from the base portion. A shaft is disposed in the stem portion and operable engages an actuator disposed in a cavity formed in the base portion. The shaft operably engages the leg member to provide vertical adjustment of the leg member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoff A. Hollington, Dean D. Achterhof, Michael L. De Pree, George A. Miles
  • Patent number: 6308922
    Abstract: A support assembly for supporting an object on a floor. The support assembly includes a support bracket releasably mounted to the leg member. The support bracket and leg member are adapted so as to permit the support bracket to be rotated between at least three positions relative to the leg member. In one preferred embodiment, one of the support bracket and leg member comprise a post member and the other of the support bracket and leg member comprises a socket shaped to receive the post member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoff A. Hollington, Dean D. Achterhof, Eric Cammenga, Michael L. De Pree
  • Patent number: 6119989
    Abstract: A support assembly for supporting an object on a floor. The support assembly includes a leg member and a heel member mounted on said leg member. The heel member is adapted to engage the floor. A foot member is pivotally attached to the leg member. The foot member is adapted to pivot between an upright storage position and a lateral support position. When in the lateral support position, the foot member is adapted to engage the floor at a point spaced apart from the heel member. In a preferred embodiment, a cover is provided to conceal the foot member when placed in the upright storage position. In a preferred embodiment, the heel member comprises a height adjustable glide device that includes a base portion and a stem portion extending upwardly from the base portion. A shaft is disposed in the stem portion and operable engages an actuator disposed in a cavity formed in the base portion. The shaft operably engages the leg member to provide vertical adjustment of the leg member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoff A. Hollington, Dean D. Achterhof, Cecil P. Craycraft, Michael L. De Pree, George A. Miles
  • Patent number: 5562469
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrified wall panel system having a power distribution server locatable within a wall panel unit. The power distribution server has four receptacle module ports oriented in an H-shaped configuration in which a first receptacle port on a first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a first end of the wall panel unit, a second receptacle port on the first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a second end of the wall panel unit, a third receptacle port on a second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the first end of the wall panel unit, and fourth receptacle port on the second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the second end of the wall panel unit. First and second harnesses are each electrically connected at first ends thereof to the power distribution server, extend to opposite ends of the wall panel unit, and include connector ports on the second ends thereof for providing electrical interconnection of adjacent wall panel units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Nienhuis, Jeffrey L. Clark, Michael L. De Pree
  • Patent number: 5214889
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrified wall panel system having a power distribution server locatable within a wall panel unit. The power distribution server has four receptacle module ports oriented in an H-shaped configuration in which a first receptacle port on a first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a first end of the wall panel unit, a second receptacle port on the first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a second end of the wall panel unit, a third receptacle port on a second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the first end of the wall panel unit, and fourth receptacle port on the second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the second end of the wall panel unit. There is also disclosed an electrified wall panel system with wall panel connector interchangeably usable with the interconnection of two, three, and four wall panel units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Nienhuis, Jeffrey L. Clark, Michael L. De Pree, Robert L. Beck
  • Patent number: 5112240
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrified wall panel system having a power distribution server locatable within a wall panel unit. The power distribution server has four receptacle module ports oriented in an H-shaped configuration in which a first receptacle port on a first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a first end of the wall panel unit, a second receptacle port on the first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a second end of the wall panel unit, a third receptacle port on a second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the first end of the wall panel unit, and fourth receptacle port on the second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the second end of the wall panel unit. First and second harnesses are each electrically connected at first ends thereof to the power distributon server, extend to opposite ends of the wall panel unit, and include connector ports on the second ends thereof for providing electrical interconnection of adjacent wall panel units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Nienhuis, Jeffrey L. Clark, Michael L. De Pree, Robert L. Beck
  • Patent number: 5013252
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrified wall panel system having a power distribution server locatable within a wall panel unit. The power distribution server has four receptacle module ports oriented in an H-shaped configuration in which a first receptacle port on a first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a first end of the wall panel unit, a second receptacle port on the first side of the wall panel unit opens toward a second end of the wall panel unit, a third receptacle port on a second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the first end of the wall panel unit, and fourth receptacle port on the second side of the wall panel unit opens toward the second end of the wall panel unit. First and second harnesses are each electrically connected at first ends thereof to the power distribution server, extend to opposite ends of the wall panel unit, and include connector ports on the second ends thereof for providing electrical interconnection of adjacent wall panel units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Nienhuis, Jeffrey L. Clark, Michael L. De Pree, Robert L. Beck