Steelcase Inc.

Marvin C. Knauf

Marvin C Knauf

Mark T Slager

John Richard Hamilton

Kurt R Heidmann

Karl Jahn Mead

Bradley D Youngs

Allen C Hager

Michael J Feldpausch

Ryan Geister

Daniel Phillips

Thomas G Feldpausch

Steven Keith Meek

Jonathan Jay King

Robert E Jeffers

Randall P Nelsen

Jamie Payne

Scott Michael Miller

William K Hofman

Gary S Juhlin

Thomas R Maas

Steven J Throndset

Linda M Parker

Karl Heinz Müeller

Ryan Pauly

Helen A Buckley

Brian L Bultsma

John C Fuhs

Bruce A Preston

Beverly Jo Sugarbaker

An office work system includes a first and second table assemblies each including a first work surface having first and second ends, and leg arrangements coupled to the work surfaces and configured to support the work surfaces above a floor surface, a beam arrangement that includes an upwardly-facing surface, a first end, a second end, and a pair of channels extending between the first and second ends, the channels coextending with one another and being located at the same vertical height, wherein the first table and second table assemblies are coupled to the beam arrangement, a work tool positioned above the beam arrangement, and a connector assembly connecting the work tool to the beam arrangement, where the connector assembly is coupled to the work tool and engages the pair of channels of the beam arrangement such that the work tool may be repositioned along a length of the beam arrangement.

Partition assembly

A partition assembly for subdividing a floor plan area that includes a beam assembly including a beam member including an upper wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, first and second ends, and a pair of channels extending between the first and second ends, each of the channels positioned closer to one of the pair of side walls than to a longitudinally-extending center line of the beam member, a lower frame member located below the beam member, and vertical frame members extending between the beam member and the lower frame member, a work tool positioned above the beam assembly, and a connector assembly connecting the work tool to the beam assembly, where the connector assembly is coupled to the work tool and engages the pair of channels of the beam member.

A method of installing a panel member on a frame assembly includes the steps of providing a panel member having inner and outer surfaces and providing one or more positioning assemblies on the inner surface of the panel. The positioning assemblies each having an adjustable positioning member adapted to engage a portion of the frame assembly. The method further includes setting the positioning members to determine a registration point for the panel member along the frame assembly. One or more driving assemblies are then provided on the inner surface of the panel, each having a biasing member adapted to engage a portion of the frame assembly to drive the panel member towards the registration point on the frame assembly.

Floor-to-ceiling partition wall assembly

An office work system comprises a first furniture unit having a first laterally-extending channel, and a second furniture unit having a second laterally-extending channel, the second channel being disposed substantially parallel to and at least substantially the same vertical height as the first channel, such that at least a portion of the first and second channels coextend. The office work system further comprises a work accessory and a connector assembly to connect the work accessory to the first and second furniture units along the coextending portions of the channels, the assembly including a pair of engagement members adapted to engage the first and second channels.

Beam assembly

A window assembly for partition walls. The window assembly includes a plurality of connector assemblies that are configured to be connected to a partition frame around an opening through the partition frame. Each connector assembly includes a base structure and at least one movable retainer that is biased towards an engaged position. The window assembly also includes a subframe including two pairs of elongated subframe members having opposite ends that are rigidly interconnected to define a generally rectangular central opening. The subframe further defines oppositely facing inner and outer side faces. The subframe includes a connecting portion protruding away from the inner side face and engaging the movable retainer to connect the subframe to the connector assemblies. The window assembly further includes at least one sheet of light-transmitting material secured to the subframe and extending across the central opening.

Transparent panel system for partitions

A reversible door assembly for use in a panel wall system includes a door frame assembly having first and second door jamb assemblies which are adapted to receive vertical slider members in a channel disposed along a length of the door jamb assemblies. The slider members are vertically adjustable within the channels and may include hinge mechanism such that either door jamb assembly can hingedly support a door member therefrom. As one door jamb assembly supports the door member between open and closed positions, the opposite door jamb assembly includes a vertically adjustable latch striker plate for engaging a door latch mechanism.

Reversible door assembly for partition wall

A beam assembly for subdividing a floor plan area comprises a horizontally-extending beam member including an interiorly-facing surface, a bottom wall having at least one aperture extending therethrough, and at least one horizontally-extending lower frame member located below the beam member. The beam assembly further comprises at least one vertical frame member extending between and coupled with the beam member and the at least one lower frame member, wherein the at least one vertical frame member extends through the at least one aperture and the bottom wall of the beam member and interferingly engages the interior-facing surface of the beam member.

A vertically adjustable door assembly for use in a modular wall assembly includes a door opening defined by first and second door jamb assemblies which are adapted to receive vertical slider members in a channel disposed along a length of the door jamb assemblies. The slider members are vertically adjustable within the channels and include hinge mechanism such that either door jamb assembly can support a door member therefrom. Another aspect of the invention includes a vertically adjustable header assembly providing an aesthetically pleasing uniform appearance between the door assembly and the modular wall assembly.

Vertically adjustable partition wall door

An office furniture unit has an outer face with slotted hangers, and a removable storage unit assembly including a bottom panel positioned in a generally horizontal orientation along the office furniture unit, and a top panel disposed above and generally parallel with the bottom panel. First and second panels are disposed at opposite ends of the top and bottom panels and are connected therewith to define a rigid, box-shaped case having an open back portion. The first and second end panels have rear portions with multiple vertically spaced slots. First and second hanger brackets have a rear portion with first hooks selectively received in the slotted hangers of the office furniture units, and a forward portion with second hooks selectively received in the slots in the rear portions of the first and second end panels to detachably support the case against the outer face of the office furniture unit.

Furniture storage unit

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.

Furniture post top cap attachment and trim registry

A freestanding privacy screen comprises a plurality of like panels shaped to be positioned in a side-by-side relationship. Each panel includes a frame on which an insert panel can be mounted, and hollow side members or uprights. A pair of hinge rods are positioned in the hollow uprights of the frame for axial rotation therein, and have first key members positioned adjacent opposite ends thereof. Panel connectors interconnect adjacent panels in a mutually vertically aligned relationship. Each panel connector has a two-part body construction interconnected by a removable fastener to capture associated end portions of adjacent hinge rods therebetween. The connectors have second key members that mate with the first key members on the hinge rod ends which rotationally interconnect adjacent hinge rods, such that when the privacy screen panels are pivoted, the hinge rods retain adjacent panels in their vertically aligned relationship.

Freestanding privacy screen

A portable partition panel is provided for open office plans, and the like, and includes a panel frame and removable cover panels that removably attach thereto. Clips on the cover panels releasably engage side frame segments of the panel frame, and hooks on the bottom of the panel frame releasingly engage mating apertures on the cover panel to form a detachable interconnection therebetween. A top cap includes a catch which pulls the cover panels against the panel frame as the cap is installed to assist in securely, yet removably attaching the cover panels to the panel frame. Connectors on the cover panels can be removed and reinstalled, so that the cover panels can be installed in a second orientation to hide mars upholstery tears, and the like. Also, the panel frame includes an upwardly open channel for receiving articles such as wires in a raceway. The upper segment of the panel frame further includes a reduced cross-section that allows cables to be routed from the utility channel into the interior of the partition panel. Also, the side clips have a unique design which causes them to remain on the cover panel during removal and also controls the releasing motion of the panels.

Partition panel

A modular powerway is provided for electrifying office furniture units and the like, such as freestanding partition panels, systems furniture elements, and modular furniture units of the type having a utility raceway associated therewith. The powerway includes a housing shaped for reception within the utility raceway of the office furniture unit and electrical conductors mounted in the housing. At least one power tap or receptacle supplies electrical power from the powerway to electrical appliances, such as computers, typewriters and other similar devices. A power terminal is mounted in one end of the housing, and includes a set of quick-disconnect power connectors. A flexible flag connector has one end mounted in the opposite end of the housing, and includes a flag terminal at its free end with a set of quick-disconnect power connectors that separably mate with the quick-disconnect power connectors on the power terminal of an adjacent powerway to electrically interconnect the powerways.

Modular powerway for office furniture and the like

A quick mounting arrangement detachably mounts a light fixture or the like in an overhead cabinet of a furniture article. Front and rear mounting ledges are located in the lower portion of the cabinet and are oriented to generally face one another. Two mounting pins protrude from the rear side of the light fixture, and at least one latch protrudes from the front side of the light fixture. Each latch includes a spring loaded slide pin, with a thumb tab to manually shift the slide pin from a normally extended position to a retracted position. During installation of the light fixture, the mounting pins are positioned on the rear ledge, each slide pin is retracted, and the front side of the light fixture is pivoted upwardly into the bottom of the cabinet. Each slide pin is then released to engage the front ledge to quickly and securely mount the light fixture in the cabinet without requiring any tools.

Growing community of inventors

Conklin, MI, United States of America

Marvin C Knauf