Patents by Inventor Ronald A. Dykstra

Ronald A. Dykstra 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: 5899025
    Abstract: An integrated prefabricated furniture system is provided for fitting-out a building room of the type having a generally open plan interior and having at least one utility source. The furniture system includes a plurality of horizontal beam segments interconnected in an end-to-end fashion to form a rigid overhead framework configured to be positioned above the floor surface. A plurality of overhead support columns each have an upper portion rigidly connected with the overhead framework, and a lower portion shaped to support the overhead framework on a floor in a freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation above average user height. Each of the overhead support columns includes an interior support structure in a generally X-shaped plan-form defining vertical raceways between adjacent legs of the cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Casey, Ronald A. Dykstra, Carl V. Forslund, III, Peter C. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 5826385
    Abstract: A partition construction for subdividing a building space includes a partition frame having an open interior and defining a front side, a first cover covering a section of the partition frame with apertures for providing utility access, and a second cover slidably supported on the partition frame proximate the first cover. The second cover is slidable parallel the front side between a closed position covering the open interior and an open position providing access to utilities in the open interior. The second cover is semi-flexible so that it can be simultaneously slid along the partition frame and flexed away from the partition frame to a disengaged/removed position, thus allowing it to be removed even when the second cover is "trapped" on the partition frame by a furniture component attached to or positioned in front of the partition frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, Russell P. Whitaker, Michael D. Elsholz
  • Patent number: 5628441
    Abstract: A container is provided for a support having an upper that is generally flat, such as in a van console or an armrest. The container holder includes a pair of offset overlapping recesses which have different diameters and depths, such that one of the recesses is adapted to receive a coffee mug having a handle with the handle extending into the second recess, and the second recess is configured to support a smaller diameter soda can or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald A. Dykstra
  • Patent number: 5297709
    Abstract: A container holder is operably mounted to the front of an instrument panel for minimal intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The container holder includes a housing having a slot therein with an elongate width, and a drawer operably mounted in the slot and sequentially movable between a retracted position for storage adjacent the instrument panel, an extended position aligned with the slot, and a lowered use position extending outwardly into the vehicle passenger compartment. The housing includes a notch adapted to engage a mating lip on the instrument panel for positioning and supporting the container holder thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, Michael M. Warsaw
  • Patent number: 5297767
    Abstract: A container holder selectively allows the compact storage of the container support assembly including overlapping sections for allowing use of the container holder selectively for one or two containers. The assembly occupies a relatively small space for compact storage in a vehicle armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon Miller, Ronald Dykstra, David Spykerman, Joseph Buonodono
  • Patent number: 5271661
    Abstract: A container holder for a vehicle is integrated in an armrest which is operably mounted adjacent a seat. The container holder is rotatably mounted to the front end and includes an aperture for receiving and holding a container. The container holder is rotatable between a use position in which the aperture faces vertically so that the aperture can operably receive and hold a container, and a second position in which a surface of the container holder mates with the top of the armrest so that a person can comfortably rest their arm on the armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gould, Ronald A. Dykstra
  • Patent number: 5195711
    Abstract: A container holder selectively allows the compact storage of the container support assembly including overlapping sections for allowing use of the container holder selectively for one or two containers. The assembly occupies a relatively small space for compact storage in a vehicle armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon Miller, Ronald Dykstra, David Spykerman, Joseph Buonodono
  • Patent number: 5182675
    Abstract: A mirror is mounted to the roof of a vehicle by a pivot arm assembly for pivotally coupling the mirror to a vehicle for movement from side to side and for movement between a raised stored position and a lowered use position. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot arm has one end pivotally mounted to a housing for storably receiving the mirror and an opposite end coupled to the mirror using both a hinge and a ball joint to allow compact storage of the mirror in the housing and full adjustability for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Arbisi, Ronald A. Dykstra, Gordon J. Stannis
  • Patent number: 5087008
    Abstract: A container holder selectively allows the compact storage of the container support assembly including overlapping sections for allowing use of the container holder selectively for one or two containers. The assembly occupies a relatively small space for compact storage in a vehicle armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon Miller, Ronald Dykstra, David Spykerman, Joseph Buonodono
  • Patent number: 4934802
    Abstract: A relatively small convex mirror is retractably mounted to a housing, located at the roof-line of a vehicle at the center windshield area for movement between a use position extended from the housing to permit a front seat occupant to view the face of a rear seat occupant and a stored position retracted within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Prince
    Inventors: William J. Fluharty, Ronald A. Dykstra, Pat Binish
  • Patent number: 4858982
    Abstract: A multiplex visor includes a plurality of nested panels which can be moved with respect to one another to provide sun blocking and other functions of a multiple visor installation using a single visor. In one embodiment, a duplex visor is longitudinally split on a center curvilinear plane extending between the front and rear of the visor to provide a single visor having independently movable halves or panels for providing front and side window sun blocking protection. In another embodiment of the invention, a triplex visor includes three separately movable nested panels with a first panel being pivoted from a nested position within a second panel and including a vanity mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, William J. Fluharty
  • Patent number: 4824159
    Abstract: A vanity mirror can be extended from the vehicle headliner and upon extension, can be pivoted about a generally vertical axis such that a single vanity mirror can be used by any of the rear seat passengers. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle roof includes a recess for receiving an illuminated vanity mirror assembly which is pivotally mounted at one edge to the recess for movement between a stored position substantially flush with a vehicle roofline to a lowered use position substantially orthogonal to the vehicle roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Fluharty, Ronald A. Dykstra, Mark W. Hawks
  • Patent number: 4818017
    Abstract: A container holder for a vehicle is stored in an armrest and can be moved to a use position exposing a container supporting element. The container supporting element includes an aperture with adjustable dimensions for engaging the sides of different diameter containers and a movable floor permitting compact storage and improved stability for holding containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, James H. Hoeve
  • Patent number: 4792184
    Abstract: A container holder for a vehicle is stored in an armrest and can be moved to a use position exposing a container supporting element. The container supporting element includes an aperture with adjustable dimensions for holding different sized containers. The aperture may include inwardly projecting resilient or pivoted sectors. In one embodiment the aperture is defined by spaced vertically extending rods which pivot toward and away from each other to provide support for different sized containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Lindberg, Ronald A. Dykstra, Danny B. Larsen
  • Patent number: 4759584
    Abstract: A beverage container holder for a vehicle includes a housing having a recess for receiving a container holder member for storage. The container holder member includes foldable members which unfold to define the holder member when the holder member is extended from the housing for use. In another embodiment, the beverage container holder includes a support having a well formed therein with a vertically movable platform located in the well. A control structure is provided which extends between the support and the platform for controlling the motion of the platform as a container is placed therein to provide a vertically adjustable support floor for the container placed in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, Carl W. Flowerday
  • Patent number: 4756572
    Abstract: A beverage container holder for a vehicle includes a housing having a recess for receiving a container holder member for storage. The container holder member includes foldable members which unfold to define the holder member when the holder member is extended from the housing for use. In another embodiment, the beverage container holder includes a support having a well formed therein with a vertically movable platform located in the well. A control structure is provided which extends between the support and the platform for controlling the motion of the platform as a container is placed therein to provide a vertically adjustable support floor for the container placed in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Dykstra, Carl W. Flowerday
  • Patent number: D496525
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Dykstra
  • Patent number: D375481
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald A. Dykstra
  • Patent number: D407501
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Shipman, Karl J. Mead, Ronald A. Dykstra, Daniel Grabowski, Gregg A. Draudt, Robert J. Luchetti
  • Patent number: D408355
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Welsh, Ronald A. Dykstra