Patents Assigned to HNI Technologies Inc.
  • Patent number: 10455940
    Abstract: Chairs, seating systems, chair sub-assemblies and sub-systems, and associated methods of assembly and use. Aspects relate to chairs and methods of assembling chairs including chair controls of a relatively compact and effective design with desirable synchronous raising and tilting motions. Aspects also relate to tilt lock assemblies for achieving secure and effective tilt securement. Additional aspects relate to forward and rearward adjustment, or extension and retraction, of a seating assembly of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Matthew R. Lindorfer, Brandt M. Heitman, Jesse Hahn
  • Patent number: 10448742
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a chair including a base, a hub, and a seat frame. The hub is supported by the base and includes first and second side mounts and first and second covers. The first side mount is positioned on a first side of the chair and includes a back portion and a bottom portion. The first cover is coupled to the first side mount to define a first channel with the first side mount. The seat frame includes a first lateral member having a lower portion and an upper portion that is pivotally coupled to the back portion of the first side mount and is configured to angulate relative to the lower portion. The lower portion of the first lateral member is slidably received in the first channel such that two sides and a bottom of the lower portion received within the first channel are substantially hidden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Evan T. Aschbrenner, Daniel W. Tracy, Andrew B. Hector
  • Patent number: 10196836
    Abstract: A locking system includes a first wire, a first block, a locking core, and a cam. The first wire includes at least one positioning structure and the first block is attached to the first wire at a first positioning structure of the at least one positioning structure to prevent movement of the first block on the first wire. The locking core rotates between a locked position and an unlocked position, and the cam is secured to the locking core to move the first block between a first position that corresponds to the locked position and a second position that corresponds to the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Tracy, Jr., Trent Busch
  • Patent number: 10172465
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 10064493
    Abstract: A lumbar support of a chair includes a crossbar member and a first flex member. The crossbar member has a first end and a second end. The first flex member includes a first front portion coupled to the first end, a first back portion coupled to the chair, and a first web portion interconnecting the first front portion and the first back portion. The crossbar member supports a back of a user and the first flex member flexes upon engagement of the crossbar member by the back of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 10034539
    Abstract: A connector hub assembly usable as a standalone module or as a component in a work space system. The connector hub assembly optionally includes features for connecting one or more arms of a support frame for supporting a modular workspace system including desk space, cabinet space, view screens, electronic equipment, and/or other workspace system components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Steelman, Daniel Birr, Kelly Bazal, Paul Trieu, Mitchell R. Bakker, Zachary Raven, Cara Danis, Evan Aschbrenner, Karl Youngdahl
  • Patent number: 9980568
    Abstract: Chairs, seating systems, chair sub-assemblies and sub-systems, and associated methods of assembly and use. Aspects relate to chairs and methods of assembling chairs including chair controls of a relatively compact and effective design with desirable synchronous raising and tilting motions. Aspects also relate to tilt lock assemblies for achieving secure and effective tilt securement. Additional aspects relate to forward and rearward adjustment, or extension and retraction, of a seating assembly of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Matthew R. Lindorfer, Brandt M. Heitman, Jesse Hahn
  • Patent number: 9801471
    Abstract: Chairs, seating systems, chair sub-assemblies and sub-systems, and associated methods of assembly and use. Aspects relate to chairs and methods of assembling chairs including chair controls of a relatively compact and effective design with desirable synchronous raising and tilting motions. Aspects also relate to tilt lock assemblies for achieving secure and effective tilt securement. Additional aspects relate to forward and rearward adjustment, or extension and retraction, of a seating assembly of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Matthew R. Lindorfer, Brandt M. Heitman, Jesse Hahn
  • Patent number: 9801470
    Abstract: A molded chair assembly includes a molded chair shell and a plurality of legs coupled to the molded chair shell. The molded chair shell further includes a plurality of individual and separate integrated hollow support members extending along the molded chair shell and providing the same with increased durability and stability, while maintaining flexibility. The integrated hollow support members may be formed in a gas assist injection molding process conducted in association with an injection molding process to form the molded chair shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David Mehaffey, Jeremy Rolfs
  • Patent number: 9743773
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a chair including a base, a hub, and a seat frame. The hub is supported by the base and includes first and second side mounts and first and second covers. The first side mount is positioned on a first side of the chair and includes a back portion and a bottom portion. The first cover is coupled to the first side mount to define a first channel with the first side mount. The seat frame includes a first lateral member having a lower portion and an upper portion that is pivotally coupled to the back portion of the first side mount and is configured to angulate relative to the lower portion. The lower portion of the first lateral member is slidably received in the first channel such that two sides and a bottom of the lower portion received within the first channel are substantially hidden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: HNI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Evan T. Aschbrenner, Daniel W. Tracy, Andrew B. Hector
  • Patent number: 9625149
    Abstract: Burner assemblies including panels (e.g., transparent panels) supported in a substantially parallel, closely-spaced relationship and gaskets and spacers sealing the space between the panels to form a perimeter seal and to define a plenum between the first and second panels with an inlet into the plenum and an outlet out of the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Lyons, Travis P. Betcher, Louis L. Mead
  • Patent number: 9592757
    Abstract: An armrest that includes a mounting plate, a block member, and a link member. The link member has a first end and a second end that opposes the first end. The link member is engaged with the mounting plate at a first pivot toward the first end to pivot the link member at the first pivot and laterally move the second end. The link member is engaged with the block member at a second pivot toward the second end to pivot the block member at the second pivot and laterally move an end of the block member that faces the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Brad Malli
  • Patent number: 9504331
    Abstract: A chair back according to embodiments of the present invention includes a rigid support member for reclinable attachment to a base, a flexible frame member having a flexible frame and a mesh, the mesh at least partially spanning the frame, and a seat attachment member moving in synchronization with the rigid support member at a different rate than the rigid support member during reclining of the rigid support member, wherein a first portion of the flexible frame member is affixed to the rigid support member, wherein a second portion of the flexible frame member flexes freely, wherein the seat attachment member contacts at least part of the second portion of the flexible frame member, wherein the first portion moves with the rigid support member and the second portion moves with the seat attachment member such that a curvature of the second portion increases as the rigid support member reclines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Corey Susie, Bruce Fifield, Federico Ferretti, Allessandro Sgotto, Dagmara Siemieniec, Martin Broen
  • Patent number: 9332851
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 9198514
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a chair including a base, a hub, and a seat frame. The hub is supported by the base and includes first and second side mounts and first and second covers. The first side mount is positioned on a first side of the chair and includes a back portion and a bottom portion. The first cover is coupled to the first side mount to define a first channel with the first side mount. The seat frame includes a first lateral member having a lower portion and an upper portion that is pivotally coupled to the back portion of the first side mount and is configured to angulate relative to the lower portion. The lower portion of the first lateral member is slidably received in the first channel such that two sides and a bottom of the lower portion received within the first channel are substantially hidden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Evan T. Aschbrenner, Daniel W. Tracy, Jr., Andrew B. Hector
  • Patent number: D743180
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David Mehaffey, Jeremy Rolfs
  • Patent number: D759414
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David Mehaffey, Jeremy Rolfs
  • Patent number: D770947
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jerry Zollars, Nathaniel Birks, Conrad M. Marini, Paul Mazzotta
  • Patent number: D784208
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Zollars, Nathaniel Birks, Conrad M. Marini, Paul Mazzotta
  • Patent number: D784210
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Conrad M. Marini, Paul Mazzotta