Haworth, Inc.

Merged Materials LLC

Randolph Woellper

Anthony McConnell

Ronald H Brown

Bryan R Gingrich

Robert L Tuttle

X Shawn Yu

Harold R Wilson

Ross S Johnson

Steffen Lipsky

Landan Jacobs

Angela Hupcik

Kevin Hirdes

A composite panel exhibiting high flexural strength while reducing mass as compared with conventional composite panels is provided. The improved panel includes a rigid frame having outer edges defining a perimeter of the panel and inner edges defining a perimeter of a structural filler chamber, wherein the frame has a thickness at its outer edges that is narrower than at its inner edges; first and second sheet-like material layers bonded to opposite sides of the rigid frame to define, together with the inner edges of the rigid frame, a volume of the structural filler chamber; and a structural filler disposed in the chamber to provide compressive strength between the sheet-like material layers.

Layered panels

The present invention provides a structural laminate component that includes first and second panels formed of a sheet material, the top and bottom edges and the lateral sides combining to form an outer perimeter edge. A core is sandwiched between the first and second panels, the core having an outer peripheral edge spaced inwardly from the outer perimeter edges of the first and second panels. An adhesive is applied between the first and second panels, the adhesive directly joining the inner surface of the first panel with the inner surface of the second panel in an area extending around and adjacent to the outer perimeter edge to form an integral frame that provides aesthetics and structure to the component.

Structural laminate component

Layered panel

An apparatus and process for causing excess covering material at a workpiece corner to be gathered, folded and secured to a back side of the panel. A corner tucking apparatus includes a gathering plate positioned adjacent a positioning structure, and moves inwardly across the back side of the workpiece, from the corner, to gather and fold the corner flap. The gathering plate has a generally V-shaped notch which causes excess material to be gathered together as the plate moves inwardly. The gathered material upon reaching the apex of the notch is folded downwardly into contact with the back side of the workpiece. A securing structure which is carried inwardly with the gathering plate is then activated to fixedly secure the folded flap to the pad or workpiece.

Process and apparatus for corner tucking a covering sheet of an upholstered article

A floor tile for a raised floor. The floor tile is defined by a shallow upwardly-opening metal pan defining a shallow compartment in which a main preformed one-piece concrete block is secured. The main concrete block is preferably formed from a plurality of one-piece preformed concrete sub-blocks which are adhesively adhered in sideward abutting relationship to define a plan profile corresponding to the main concrete block. The main concrete block is then adhesively secured within the compartment of the metal pan.

Manufacturing process and system for floor tile

Manufacturing process for a floor tile

A manufacturing apparatus and process to effect substantial automatic wrapping of the edges of a covered article, namely, the wrapping of cover sheet flaps around the edges of a substrate and the adhesive securement of the cover sheet flaps to the back side of the substrate, to form an upholstered article such as a pad or panel in a highly automated process which eliminates significant manual manipulations.

Process and apparatus for edge wrapping upholstered articles

Floor tile with adhesively joined concrete sub-blocks

Cover pads for use on upright walls, wherein the pad provides an improved internal support which is of simplified construction, for example the center support and the surrounding frame being made of a one-piece monolithic support structure which permits a flexible covering to be attached to the center support and the exterior side surfaces of the edge frame while the covering and support structure are in a flat and planar condition, following which the edge frame is folded and secured into position around the center support. The internal support structure for the pad, when in a flat condition, has voids at the corners so that the covering can be tucked into the corners prior to the edge frame being folded into its frame-defining position.

Pad for wall panel and forming process

A cover pad for an upright wall having an improved support for simplifying attachment of a flexible covering such as fabric. The support includes a flat substrate sized to closely conform to the assembled cover pad. A ringlike frame defined by frame elements extend along edges of the substrate. Each frame element has a first elongate part engaged with the respective edge of the substrate, and a second elongate part joined to the first part by a lengthwise hinge. The second part functions as a hinging flange which is initially in an open position generally aligned with a front face of the substrate so that a flexible covering can be secured, as by adhesive, to an exposed surface of the flange while maintaining the fabric positioned across the face of the substrate. The hinging flanges of the frame elements are folded inwardly to overlie respective edges of the substrate, thereby securing the fabric across the face of the substrate and wrapped around the edges thereof.

Covered pad for wall panel and manufacturing process

Cover pads for use on upright walls, wherein the pad provides an improved internal support which is of simplified construction, for example the center support and the surrounding frame being made of a one-piece monolithic support structure which permits a flexible covering or fabric to be attached to the center support and the exterior side surfaces of the edge frame while the fabric and support structure are in a flat and planar condition, following which the edge frame is folded and secured into position around the center support. The internal support structure for the pad, when in a flat condition, has voids at the corners so that the fabric can be easily tucked into the corners prior to the edge frame being folded into its closing or frame-defining position.

Growing community of inventors

Hudsonville, MI, United States of America

Randolph Woellper