Patents by Inventor Nancy Funk
Nancy Funk 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: 20090091228Abstract: A pedestal system includes a cabinet having a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a rear wall that cooperate to define a forwardly-opening aperture that slidably receives a plurality of drawer assemblies therein. The pedestal system further includes interchangeable face plates for covering the drawer assemblies, an attachment system for attaching a drawer lock/interlock assembly that locks the drawer assemblies in a closed position and prevents multiple drawer assemblies from being simultaneously opened, and a drawer divider for segmenting an interior space of each drawer assembly. The drawer lock/interlock system includes a cam assembly that allows a constant force to be applied to each drawer assembly while opening each drawer and activating the lock/interlock assembly. The pedestal system further includes an attachment system for attaching the pedestal system to a free-standing partition system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: April 9, 2009Inventors: Paul L. Tupper, Peter J. Battey, John Hanna J. Hasbany, Marcus J. Cole, Theodore M. Haan, Bruce W. DuVall, JR., John L. McCrackin, Nancy A. Funk, David J. Battey, Angela Simon
-
Patent number: 7469979Abstract: A pedestal system includes a cabinet having a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a rear wall that cooperate to define a forwardly-opening aperture that slidably receives a plurality of drawer assemblies therein. The pedestal system further includes interchangeable face plates for covering the drawer assemblies, an attachment system for attaching a drawer lock/interlock assembly that locks the drawer assemblies in a closed position and prevents multiple drawer assemblies from being simultaneously opened, and a drawer divider for segmenting an interior space of each drawer assembly. The drawer lock/interlock system includes a cam assembly that allows a constant force to be applied to each drawer assembly while opening each drawer and activating the lock/interlock assembly. The pedestal system further includes an attachment system for attaching the pedestal system to a free-standing partition system.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Paul L. Tupper, Peter J. Battey, John Hanna J. Hasbany, Marcus J. Cole, Theodore M. Haan, Bruce W. DuVall, Jr., John L. McCrackin, Nancy A. Funk, David J. Battey, Angela Simon
-
Publication number: 20060191885Abstract: A system configured to provide food storage, preparation, and delivery in a finished cooked state includes a computer control interface, a freezer/refrigeration module, a food transport mechanism, a heating/cooking module, and a delivery area. The meal system is configured to provide food storage, preparation, and delivery in a finished cooked state. The system may be configured in the form of an independent unit or in the form of a combination of separate modules. The computer control interface, freezer/refrigeration module, food transport mechanism, heating/cooking module, and delivery area may be communicatively interconnected wirelessly or non-wirelessly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2005Publication date: August 31, 2006Inventors: Michael Near, Nancy Funk
-
Publication number: 20050204646Abstract: A pedestal system includes a cabinet having a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, and a rear wall that cooperate to define a forwardly-opening aperture that slidably receives a plurality of drawer assemblies therein. The pedestal system further includes interchangeable face plates for covering the drawer assemblies, an attachment system for attaching a drawer lock/interlock assembly that locks the drawer assemblies in a closed position and prevents multiple drawer assemblies from being simultaneously opened, and a drawer divider for segmenting an interior space of each drawer assembly. The drawer lock/interlock system includes a cam assembly that allows a constant force to be applied to each drawer assembly while opening each drawer and activating the lock/interlock assembly. The pedestal system further includes an attachment system for attaching the pedestal system to a free-standing partition system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2004Publication date: September 22, 2005Inventors: Paul Tupper, Peter Battey, John Hasbany, Marcus Cole, Theodore Haan, Bruce DuVall, John McCrackin, Nancy Funk, David Battey, Angela Simon
-
Patent number: 6849227Abstract: A method of manufacturing a furniture component includes steps of molding a panel component of a flexible compliant plastic, the panel component having a continuous perimeter flange and further having flexible strips extending between portions of the perimeter flange that are shaped to flex to comfortably support a human body part. The method further includes molding a tubular perimeter frame of a reinforced structural plastic different than the flexible compliant plastic onto the panel component, the step of molding the perimeter frame including integrally bonded the perimeter frame to the perimeter flange to stiffen the perimeter flange and support the panel component and further including a gas assist process.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2002Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Steelcase Development CorporationInventors: Nancy A. Funk, Robert J. Battey, James J. Betcher, Kurt R. Heidmann, Michael J. Kemen
-
Patent number: 6672670Abstract: A pivoting armrest assembly for a seating unit includes an armrest support having first and second outer flanges and a center rib, wherein the flanges and the rib define a pair of laterally spaced channels. An arm is pivotally attached to the arm support and has first and second outer ribs that are spaced apart from one another. The pivot attachment is designed to eliminate looseness and bias the arm to one side. When the arm rotates from a vertical to a horizontal position, the first and second outer ribs substantially fill the pair of channels and the center rib intermeshes with the outer ribs, thus eliminating voids and creating a no-pinch condition. The arm and arm support have curved interfacing surfaces that create a self-clearing effect to prevent pinching between a bottom surface of the arm and a front surface of the arm support during rotation of the arm.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Steelcase Development CorporationInventors: Nancy A. Funk, Jeffrey A. Hall, Robert J. Battey
-
Patent number: 6669301Abstract: A furniture component, such as a chair back or seat, includes a panel component made of a flexible compliant plastic, and a rigid tubular perimeter frame integrally molded onto and hence bonded to a perimeter flange of the panel component to structurally support the panel component. The panel component includes horizontally extending flexible strips shaped to provide comfortable support for a seated user. The perimeter frame extends continuously around the enlarged show area and is made by gas assist processes, which cause the perimeter frame to be tubular and hollow for increased strength-to-weight ratio. Methods related to the above are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Steelcase Development CorporationInventors: Nancy A. Funk, Robert J. Battey, James J. Betcher, Kurt R. Heidmann, Michael J. Kemen
-
Publication number: 20030164638Abstract: A pivoting armrest assembly for a seating unit includes an armrest support having first and second outer flanges and a center rib, wherein the flanges and the rib define a pair of laterally spaced channels. An arm is pivotally attached to the arm support and has first and second outer ribs that are spaced apart from one another. The pivot attachment is designed to eliminate looseness and bias the arm to one side. When the arm rotates from a vertical to a horizontal position, the first and second outer ribs substantially fill the pair of channels and the center rib intermeshes with the outer ribs, thus eliminating voids and creating a no-pinch condition. The arm and arm support have curved interfacing surfaces that create a self-clearing effect to prevent pinching between a bottom surface of the arm and a front surface of the arm support during rotation of the arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2002Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: Nancy A. Funk, Jeffrey A. Hall, Robert J. Battey
-
Publication number: 20020140276Abstract: A method of manufacturing a furniture component includes steps of molding a panel component of a flexible compliant plastic, the panel component having a continuous perimeter flange and further having flexible strips extending between portions of the perimeter flange that are shaped to flex to comfortably support a human body part. The method further includes molding a tubular perimeter frame of a reinforced structural plastic different than the flexible compliant plastic onto the panel component, the step of molding the perimeter frame including integrally bonded the perimeter frame to the perimeter flange to stiffen the perimeter flange and support the panel component and further including a gas assist process.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2002Publication date: October 3, 2002Inventors: Nancy A. Funk, Robert J. Battey, James J. Betcher, Kurt R. Heidmann, Michael J. Kemen
-
Patent number: 6290191Abstract: A chair base includes a tapered tubular center hub defining a longitudinal centerline and a plurality of radially extending tubular legs. Each leg has top, bottom, and opposing sidewalls defining a rectangular cross section that decreases as the leg extends from the hub. The top and bottom walls each have an arcuately shaped end that is welded to the center hub by top and bottom ring welds. The sidewalls of each leg have enlarged wall sections that are flat and parallel and further have bent flanges adjacent the hub that are angled inwardly from the enlarged wall sections toward the longitudinal centerline. The bent flanges are oriented approximately radially from the centerline to provide optimal structure and to provide clearance between adjacent legs. The clearance prevents interference between adjacent legs despite dimensional variation in the legs from manufacturing and tolerance considerations, thus facilitating assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Steelcase Development CorporationInventors: John L. Hendricks, Nancy A. Funk