Patents by Inventor Roland Rolf Otto Zwick

Roland Rolf Otto Zwick 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: 11812866
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes first and second side frame members and first and second cross frame members forming a closed loop and defining an opening therebetween. The frame also includes a plurality of first attachment features on an outer perimeter of the frame. The carrier includes first and second side carrier members and first and second cross carrier members that form a closed loop. The carrier also includes a plurality of second attachment features on an inner perimeter of the carrier. The plurality of second attachment features engages 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 to define a continuous seat and backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MILLERKNOLL, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, James Slagh, Brent Tracy, Michael D. Stanton, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20230091684
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes first and second side frame members and first and second cross frame members forming a closed loop and defining an opening therebetween. The frame also includes a plurality of first attachment features on an outer perimeter of the frame. The carrier includes first and second side carrier members and first and second cross carrier members that form a closed loop. The carrier also includes a plurality of second attachment features on an inner perimeter of the carrier. The plurality of second attachment features engages 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 to define a continuous seat and backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, James Slagh, Brent Tracy, Michael D. Stanton, SR.
  • Patent number: 11510502
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes first and second side frame members and first and second cross frame members forming a closed loop and defining an opening therebetween. The frame also includes a plurality of first attachment features on an outer perimeter of the frame. The carrier includes first and second side carrier members and first and second cross carrier members that form a closed loop. The carrier also includes a plurality of second attachment features on an inner perimeter of the carrier. The plurality of second attachment features engages 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 to define a continuous seat and backrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MillerKnoll, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, James Slagh, Brent Tracy, Michael D. Stanton, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11330905
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: MILLERKNOLL, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
  • Publication number: 20210037977
    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: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
  • Patent number: 10856662
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    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: 20200345153
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a frame, a carrier, and a suspension material. The frame includes first and second side frame members and first and second cross frame members forming a closed loop and defining an opening therebetween. The frame also includes a plurality of first attachment features on an outer perimeter of the frame. The carrier includes first and second side carrier members and first and second cross carrier members that form a closed loop. The carrier also includes a plurality of second attachment features on an inner perimeter of the carrier. The plurality of second attachment features engages 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 to define a continuous seat and backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard SCHMITZ, Carola Eva Marianne ZWICK, Roland Rolf Otto ZWICK, James SLAGH, Brent TRACY, Michael D. Stanton, SR.
  • Patent number: 10820706
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20160309893
    Abstract: A partition system includes various accessories that may be associated with a wall or base element. The accessories include without limitation a power strip, an adjustable shelf, various backdrops and a worksurface assembly. The wall element may be curved or linear in various embodiments. The wall element may include an upstanding wall or a channel, either or both of which are engaged by one or more accessories. In some embodiments, the accessories may be co-located at a single location, with one or more accessories accommodating the others with an expansion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Janja Maidl
  • Patent number: 9474366
    Abstract: A partition system includes various accessories that may be associated with a wall or base element. The accessories include without limitation an adjustable shelf. The wall element may be curved or linear in various embodiments. The wall element may include an upstanding wall or a channel, either or both of which are engaged by one or more accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Janja Maidl
  • Patent number: 9457499
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    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