Kay LeRoy Ruggles (June 5, 1932 - May 16, 2012) was an American inventor and designer known for UMBO shelving and furniture,[1][2] invention of the tubular water slide,[3] and the invention of the integral sink/countertop out of cultured marble.[4] Ruggles also has many patents[5][6][6][7] and designs related to window coverings. Kay has designed things in many different industries including manufacturing,[8][9][10][6][11] bathroom fixtures,[12][13] automotive, space, furniture, and musical instruments.
Kay LeRoy Ruggles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Kay Leroy Ruggles June 5, 1932 Pocatello, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | May 16, 2012 (aged 79) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Education | BS Industrial Design - University of Utah |
| Occupation(s) | Inventor, businessman |
| Spouse |
Beverly Jane Dallimore
(m. 1952–2012) |
| Children | Cary Leroy Ruggles (1954) Mark Bryant Ruggles (1957-1959) Nancy Kay Ruggles (1960) Carolyn Ruggles (1962) Bryan K Ruggles (1964) Lisa Marie Ruggles (1966) Bret K Ruggles (1968) |
| Parent(s) | Virgil LeRoy Ruggles (1907-1973) Emma Lucille Cazier (1912-1998) |
On Kay's 21st birthday, he was commissioned as an ensign to the U.S. Navy and was later appointed to the position of Lt. Jg USN Gunnery Officer on a destroyer. Kay worked on interesting projects throughout his life. He worked as a project engineer on the first fiberglass Corvette bodies at Molded Fiberglass and as a design engineer on Minuteman missiles at Hercules and Thiokol. He was partner at Associated Design Company which was later purchased by American Standard.
Kay was born June 5, 1932, to Virgil LeRoy Ruggles and Emma Lucille Cazier in Pocatello, Idaho. Kay graduated from South High School in 1949 on his 17th birthday; he later graduated from the University of Utah in 1953 with a BS in Industrial Design. As a student at the University of Utah, on September 20, 1952, he married Beverly Jane Dallimore and was later sealed to her in the Salt Lake City Temple on January 12, 1966.
References
edit- ^ http://www.stardustmoderndesign.com/2013/01/modern-shelving-solutions-and-organizers.htm[permanent dead link]
- ^ "US3826206A - Modular furniture or like articles and modular units therefor". July 30, 1974 [Filed October 12, 1972]. Publication number US3826206A. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ Jarvik, Elaine (March 24, 1995). "PLASTICS WIZARD SETS SIGHTS ON RED EYE NO WAIT WAITER SYSTEM". Deseret News. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
- ^ "USD210827S - Integral sink and vanity top or similar article". April 23, 1968 [Filed July 29, 1966]. Publication number USD210827S. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c "EP0607280A1 - Method and apparatus for fabricating honeycomb insulating material". July 27, 1994 [Filed September 30, 1992]. Publication number US5670008A. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ "EP0409486A1 - Vertical louver venetian blind having contoured longitudinal edge louvers". January 23, 1991 [Filed July 12, 1990]. Publication number EP0409486A1. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ "USD218671S - Punch". September 15, 1970 [Filed August 13, 1969]. Publication number USD218671S. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ "US3570068A - Apparatus for manufacturing sink and vanity top combinations". March 16, 1971 [Filed January 21, 1969]. Publication number US3570068A. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ "US3585094A - Method of making molded multi-ply flexible laminates". June 15, 1971 [Filed July 2, 1968]. Publication number US3585094A. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ "US3496612A - Apparatus for bonnet molding of sinks". February 24, 1970 [Filed May 2, 1967]. Publication number US3496612A. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ "US3524203A - Water closet enclosure". August 18, 1970 [Filed December 12, 1967]. Publication number US3524203A. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.
- ^ "USD213958S - Figure". April 29, 1969 [Filed December 12, 1967]. Publication number USD213958S. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 – via Google Patents.