Patents by Inventor Samuel J. Ellison
Samuel J. Ellison 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).
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Patent number: 6447080Abstract: A telescopingly adjustable furniture article is provided for filling an office space where the footprint dimensions of the office space are not known ahead of time or are likely to be periodically changed to different sizes. The furniture article includes a desk having a worksurface with ends, a support for supporting one of the ends, and a foot on the other end. A storage unit or cabinet having a top is provided. The foot adjustably rests on the top, so that the top supports the other end of the worksurface, but so that the furniture unit is horizontally adjustable to different locations partially under the worksurface. A Z-bracket interconnects the worksurface to the top of the cabinet to secure the relationship of the cabinet and the desk. The furniture article can advantageously be used by itself or in combination with a building wall or demountable architectural wall, or in combination with a partition system to define a plurality of non-uniformly dimensioned offices.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1999Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Steelcase Development CorporationInventors: Alan E. Rheault, Mark W. Chamberlin, Samuel J. Ellison, George J. Simons
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Patent number: 5947569Abstract: A telescopingly adjustable furniture article is provided for filling an office space where the footprint dimensions of the office space are not known ahead of time or are likely to be periodically changed to different sizes. The furniture article includes a desk having a work surface with ends, a support for supporting one of the ends, and a foot on the other end. A storage unit or cabinet having a top is provided. The foot adjustably rests on the top so that the top supports the other end of the work surface, but so that the furniture unit is horizontally adjustable to different locations partially under the work surface. A Z-bracket interconnects the work surface to the top of the cabinet to secure the relationship of the cabinet and the desk. The furniture article can advantageously be used by itself, in combination with a building wall or demountable architectural wall, or in combination with a partition system to define a plurality of non-uniformly dimensioned offices.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Alan E. Rheault, Mark W. Chamberlin, Samuel J. Ellison, George J. Simons
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Patent number: 5718492Abstract: A desk includes a worksurface supported by supports defining a knee space under the worksurface and an access opening to the knee space under an edge of the worksurface. A courtesy panel is removably mounted to the furniture structure for movement between a closed position for covering the knee space for privacy and an open position to facilitate access to the knee space by repairment. A first bracket is attached under the worksurface above the courtesy panel, and a second bracket is slidably attached to a top of the courtesy panel for engaging the first bracket. The two brackets include mating apertures, and a thumb screw comprising polymeric material extended downwardly through the second bracket mateably into the first bracket to retain the assembly together.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1996Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventor: Samuel J. Ellison
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Patent number: 5709442Abstract: A lock system for casegoods, such as desks, cabinets, storage units, wardrobes and the like, includes an elongated, flexible tape or lock member having a plurality of spaced lock studs positioned thereon. A lock actuator moves the tape between unlocked and locked positions. Catches are mounted on the drawers, doors and the like of the article. When the flexible tape is moved to the locked position, the lock studs block or prevent opening movement of the drawers or doors due to contact with the catches. The flexible tape is routed through channels or other mounting structure formed in panels and tops of the article of furniture. An interlock mechanism, which may be integrated with the lock member, includes a lock lever, a cable attached to the lock lever and a plurality of interlock cams. Control members on the drawers rotate the cams to take up the cable causing the interlock lever to pivot and engage the lock member, thereby moving the lock member to a locked position.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1996Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Feldpausch, Phillip D. Carino, Frederick S. Faiks, David M. DeBoer, Samuel J. Ellison, Daniel N. Siegrist
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Patent number: 5690403Abstract: An insert is provided for selectively filling a utility access opening in furniture where the access opening is formed in a panel in the furniture, but where the panel has a thickness that may be one of two different dimensions. The insert includes a sleeve having a stop for engaging a first surface on the panel, short retainers configured to frictionally engage an opposing surface in opposition to the stop when the panel defines a first relatively thin dimension, and long retainers configured to frictionally engage the opposing surface in opposition to the stop when the panel defines a second relatively thick dimension. A port mateably frictionally engages the insert to close the sleeve. The port is frictionally held in the sleeve by detents, and engages the retainers to hold them securely in engagement with the panel. The short retainers can be broken off so that they do not interfere with positioning the port into the sleeve when the sleeve is engaged with a relatively thick panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1995Date of Patent: November 25, 1997Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Samuel J. Ellison, Daniel N. Siegrist
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Patent number: 5533798Abstract: A lock system for casegoods, such as desks, cabinets, storage units, wardrobes and the like, includes an elongated, flexible tape or lock member having a plurality of spaced lock studs positioned thereon. A lock actuator moves the tape between unlocked and locked positions. Catches are mounted on the drawers, doors and the like of the article. When the flexible tape is moved to the locked position, the lock studs block or prevent opening movement of the drawers or doors due to contact with the catches. The flexible tape is routed through channels or other mounting structure formed in panels and tops of the article of furniture. An interlock mechanism, which may be integrated with the lock member, includes a lock lever, a cable attached to the lock lever and a plurality of interlock cams. Control members on the drawers rotate the cams to take up the cable causing the interlock lever to pivot and engage the lock member, thereby moving the lock member to a locked position.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1993Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Feldpausch, Phillip D. Carino, Frederick S. Faiks, David M. DeBoer, Samuel J. Ellison, Daniel N. Siegrist
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Patent number: 5451101Abstract: A desk, credenza, return and the like article of furniture includes a horizontal worksurface or top and vertical support panels. Access openings are provided in the vertical panels and in the top. A plurality of wire management supports are cantilevered from or positioned adjacent vertical panels of the article to support wires, cables, conduit and the like within the interior of the article. Openable or removable covers are provided to close the access openings in the furniture. Rear panels of the article may be removable to provide access to the interior of pedestals and the like for routing wire through the interior of the furniture.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1993Date of Patent: September 19, 1995Assignee: Steelcase Inc.Inventors: Samuel J. Ellison, John VanKammen, Daniel Grabowski, Bruce Finlayson