Patents by Inventor Johann Burkhard Schmitz

Johann Burkhard Schmitz 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).

  • Patent number: 10743677
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes first and second side frame members spaced apart in a first direction and defining an opening therebetween. The first and second side frame members have an inner portion facing the opening and an outer portion facing away from the opening, the outer portion including a plurality of first attachment features facing away from the first and second side frame members in the first direction. The carrier includes first and second side carrier members. The first and second side carrier members include a plurality of second attachment features facing the first and second side frame members in the first direction, the plurality of second attachment features engaging the plurality of first attachment features to attach the carrier to the frame. The suspension material is attached to the carrier and extends over the opening in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, James Slagh, Brent Tracy, Michael D. Stanton, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20200138195
    Abstract: A body support structure includes a frame and a membrane attached to the frame. The membrane includes elastomeric filaments. The membrane includes different regions with different stiffness. The membrane may form a part of a seat or a backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
  • Patent number: 10624457
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chair (1) which comprises a support (6), a seat element (5), a back element (4), a leg element (3), a spring mechanism and a weight-controlled working adjusting element for the spring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Zwick, Roland Zwick
  • Patent number: 10531738
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical assembly (2), said mechanical assembly (2) comprising, in addition to a leaf spring, at least one further spring element, the elastic restoring force of the at least one further spring element and the elastic restoring force of the one or more leaf springs supporting the seat shell (S) with a total restoring force, and/or the mechanical assembly (2) comprising at least two leaf springs and at least two supports, each support being associated with one of the leaf springs, and at least two supports being displaceable beneath the leaf springs by means of an adjustment mechanism and being displaceable on their trajectories by different extents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Zwick, Roland Zwick
  • Patent number: 10383446
    Abstract: A chair includes a base, a support element and a torsion element. The support element is coupled to the base and includes a seat region, a backrest region and a transition region connecting the seat region and the backrest region. The backrest region is reclinable relative to the seat region by way of elastic deformation of the support element. The torsion element is coupled to the base and to the backrest region. The torsion element controls the reclining of the backrest region relative to the seat region. The support element is exclusively connected to the torsion element above a lumbar region, wherein the backrest region can be inclined and/or twisted in relation to the seat region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
  • Publication number: 20190038033
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chair (1) which comprises a support (6), a seat element (5), a back element (4), a leg element (3), a spring mechanism and a weight-controlled working adjusting element for the spring mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Zwick, Roland Zwick
  • Patent number: 10165862
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes front, rear, and side portions that define a continuous outer periphery of the frame. The frame further includes a cross portion extending between the side portions. The frame also includes openings in the front and rear portions, with the cross portion between the openings. The cross portion includes stiffening ribs. The carrier includes a suspension material connected to the outer periphery of the frame. The frame and carrier have respective first and second attachment features that engage to lock the carrier onto the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
  • Publication number: 20180317658
    Abstract: A body support structure includes a frame and a membrane attached to the frame. The membrane includes elastomeric filaments. The membrane includes different regions with different stiffness. The membrane may form a part of a seat or a backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
  • Publication number: 20180310721
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes first and second side frame members spaced apart in a first direction and defining an opening therebetween. The first and second side frame members have an inner portion facing the opening and an outer portion facing away from the opening, the outer portion including a plurality of first attachment features facing away from the first and second side frame members in the first direction. The carrier includes first and second side carrier members. The first and second side carrier members include a plurality of second attachment features facing the first and second side frame members in the first direction, the plurality of second attachment features engaging the plurality of first attachment features to attach the carrier to the frame. The suspension material is attached to the carrier and extends over the opening in the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard SCHMITZ, Carola Eva Marianne ZWICK, Roland Rolf Otto ZWICK, James SLAGH, Brent TRACY
  • Patent number: 10016060
    Abstract: A body support structure includes a frame and a membrane attached to the frame. The membrane includes elastomeric filaments. The membrane has a first region with a first stiffness and a second region with a second stiffness. The second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. The membrane may form a part of a seat or a backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
  • Publication number: 20180153306
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanical assembly (2), said mechanical assembly (2) comprising, in addition to a leaf spring, at least one further spring element, the elastic restoring force of the at least one further spring element and the elastic restoring force of the one or more leaf springs supporting the seat shell (S) with a total restoring force, and/or the mechanical assembly (2) comprising at least two leaf springs and at least two supports, each support being associated with one of the leaf springs, and at least two supports being displaceable beneath the leaf springs by means of an adjustment mechanism and being displaceable on their trajectories by different extents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Zwick, Roland Zwick
  • Patent number: 9840840
    Abstract: A partition system includes a plurality of wall elements merging one into another, wherein at least one wall element is designed as a stepped element, and wherein at least one wall element is designed as a corner element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Patent number: 9668580
    Abstract: A body support structure including a pair of laterally spaced apart supporting arms defining a gap therebetween, wherein each of the supporting arms includes an upper support having an upwardly extending upright and a forwardly extending seat support defining a seat part, and a lower support having an upwardly extending upright spaced apart from the upright of the upper support in a vertical plane. The uprights of the upper and lower supports define a backrest part. A pair of armrests each includes an upwardly extending portion connected to a respective one of the forwardly extending seat supports and a forwardly extending portion pivotally connected to the backrest part. A cross brace extends between and is coupled to the supporting arms proximate the pivotal connection. A flexible membrane extends between and is coupled to the supporting arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John F. Aldrich
  • Publication number: 20170112287
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes front, rear, and side portions that define a continuous outer periphery of the frame. The frame further includes a cross portion extending between the side portions. The frame also includes openings in the front and rear portions, with the cross portion between the openings. The cross portion includes stiffening ribs. The carrier includes a suspension material connected to the outer periphery of the frame. The frame and carrier have respective first and second attachment features that engage to lock the carrier onto the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola E.M. Zwick, Roland R.O. Zwick
  • Publication number: 20170079439
    Abstract: A chair includes a base, a support element and a torsion element. The support element is coupled to the base and includes a seat region, a backrest region and a transition region connecting the seat region and the backrest region. The backrest region is reclinable relative to the seat region by way of elastic deformation of the support element. The torsion element is coupled to the base and to the backrest region. The torsion element controls the reclining of the backrest region relative to the seat region. The support element is exclusively connected to the torsion element above a lumbar region, wherein the backrest region can be inclined and/or twisted in relation to the seat region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola E.M. Zwick, Roland R.O. Zwick
  • Publication number: 20170015026
    Abstract: A mold for forming an element molded from a particle foam, including for example expanded polypropylene foam, includes at least one visible exterior surface defined by the particle foam. The visible exterior surface is textured having a roughness depth of less than or equal to 1.00 mm and a plurality of vent interfaces each having a maximum width of less than or equal to 0.4 mm. Methods of molding the element, together with a mold and a method of making the mold, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Janja Maidl, Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick
  • Patent number: D776468
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Patent number: D874202
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Roland Zwick, Carola Zwick
  • Patent number: D874860
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Roland Zwick, Carola Zwick
  • Patent number: D887158
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Zwick, Roland Zwick