Abstract: A health care chair includes a base and a seating portion attached to the base. A lift assist mechanism connects the base and seating portion and assists in moving the seating portion from a first reclined position to a second inclined position without electrical power. The chair also includes moveable arms attached to the seating portion that rotate between a first substantially horizontal position and a second substantially vertical position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 4, 2008
Date of Patent:
January 25, 2011
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
Brett W. Kooistra, Benjamin B. Edinger, David Ritch, Mark Saffell, Gary L. Cruce, David E. Simon, Todd Ireland
Abstract: The invention relates to a body support structure (1), such as a piece of furniture (1), in particular a piece of furniture for sitting on or a piece of furniture for lying on, such as, for example, chair (3), armchair, stool, bed or sofa, a seat (7) of the piece of furniture (1) being supported by a spring mechanism (SM), and the spring mechanism (SM) being capable of being set to a weight force (40) with which a person acts on the seat (7).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 22, 2007
Date of Patent:
December 28, 2010
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
Abstract: A tiltable chair including a base, a fulcrum member having a curved support surface, a back support pivotally connected to the base at a pivot axis and pivotable between at least an upright position and a rearward tilt position, and at least one leaf spring having first and second ends, with the first end being restrained by the base. The at least one leaf spring engages the curved support surface of the fulcrum member at a first contact point when the back support is in the upright position and at a second contact point when the back support is in the rearward tilt position, wherein the second contact point is positioned rearwardly on the at least one leaf spring relative to the first contact point. A link member is pivotally connected to the back support at a first pivot location and is pivotally connected to the at least one leaf spring at a second pivot location. The link member defines a vector between the first and second pivot locations and the first pivot location and the pivot axis define a plane.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 16, 2008
Date of Patent:
November 30, 2010
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Nicolai Neubert, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
Abstract: A system for defining a plurality of work zones within an otherwise open area. The system includes a framework formed from a plurality of spaced apart poles extending upward from a base surface. The poles are interconnected by a plurality of crossbeams at a height substantially above a standing user. At least some of the poles are adapted to provide a raceway for the delivery of utilities. The framework is capable of being arranged in a plurality of substantially non-linear patterns and includes an at least partially open area between adjacent poles.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 2001
Date of Patent:
November 9, 2010
Assignee:
Herman Miller Inc.
Inventors:
Robert L. Beck, Ayse Birsel, Andrew J. Kurrasch, Robert A. Oren, Henry A. Thenikl, Jeffrey Clark, Richard DeHaan, III
Abstract: A body support structure includes a support frame having at least first and second opposite side portions and defining an opening therebetween. A molded elastomeric member is connected to the first and second side portions and suspended over the opening. The molded elastomeric member includes a mechanical structure decoupling the molded elastomeric member in first and second directions such that the molded elastomeric member has different load bearing characteristics in the first and second directions, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction. A method for forming a load bearing structure is also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 5, 2008
Date of Patent:
September 14, 2010
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
Jerome Carmel Caruso, Steven Jerome Caruso
Abstract: A suspended pixelated seating structure provides ergonomic, adaptable seating support. The suspended pixelated seating structure includes multiple cooperative layers to maximize global comfort and support while enhancing adaptation to localized variations in a load, such as in the load applied when a person sits in a chair. The cooperative layers each use independent elements such as pixels, springs, support rails, and other elements to provide this adaptable comfort and support. The suspended pixelated seating structure also uses aligned material to provide a flexible yet durable suspended seating structure. Accordingly, the suspended pixelated seating structure provides maximum comfort for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 12, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 22, 2010
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
Ryan S. Brill, Douglas M. VanDeRiet, John F. Aldrich, Christopher C. Hill, Andrew J. Kurrasch, James D. Slagh, Matthew Parkinson, Matthew P. Reed, Jeffrey A. Weber, Timothy P. Coffield
Abstract: A computer workstation includes a worksurface horizontally moveable from a first worksurface position to a second worksurface position. At least a portion of the worksurface rotates about a horizontal axis as the worksurface is moved from the first worksurface position to the second worksurface position. A monitor support is moveable horizontally and vertically and moveably coupled to the worksurface. The worksurface or the monitor support is moveable in response to a movement of the other of the worksurface and the monitor support.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 25, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 25, 2010
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Seeley, Joel R. Dral, Jeffrey A. Weber, John F. Aldrich, Douglas M. VanDeRiet
Abstract: A computer workstation includes a worksurface moveable a first distance between first and second worksurface positions and a monitor support coupled to the worksurface. At least one of the worksurface and the monitor support is automatically moveable in response to a movement of the other of the worksurface and the monitor support. The monitor support is moveable a second distance between first and second monitor positions as the worksurface is moved the first distance between the first and second worksurface positions, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. A method of adjusting the position of a monitor support on a computer workstation is also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 10, 2004
Date of Patent:
April 6, 2010
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert L. Beck, Joel R. Dral, John C. Groelsma, Jeffrey A. Weber
Abstract: A piece of furniture, for example, a table, having a frame, supported on legs and carrying a table top, embodied with two parallel separate longitudinal profiles and at least two connected transverse struts and which has hollow recesses, accessible from an underside thereof, for the upper end sections of the legs. A simple and stable leg fixing is thus achieved, whereby coil-section shaped contact elements are arranged on circumferential inner surfaces in the recesses, and contact elements, cooperating with the above for a play-free fixing of the legs, are arranged on the external surface of the end sections, or conversely the spiral section shaped contact elements are embodied on the end sections and the contact elements are embodied in the recesses.
Abstract: A chair includes a control housing, a seat and a back support including an upwardly extending upright portion and a link portion extending forwardly from a lower portion of the upright portion. The link portion is pivotally connected to the control housing about a first pivot axis. The seat is connected to the link portion and is pivotable relative thereto. A linkage is coupled to the seat and is pivotally connected to the control housing at a second pivot axis positioned rearwardly and downwardly from the first pivot axis.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 24, 2005
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2009
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
William E. Stumpf, Rodney C. Schoenfelder, Donald Chadwick, Carolyn Maalouf, Timothy P. Coffield, Randy J. Sayers, Jeffrey W. Bruner, Eric Cammenga
Abstract: A chair includes a base and a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position. A foot support is disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure. The foot support is rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base. A control mechanism is operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seat. The control mechanism includes a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure. The control handle rotates with the seating structure when the seating structure is rotated and moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 12, 2009
Assignee:
Herman Miller, Inc.
Inventors:
John C. Groelsma, John F. Aldrich, Christopher C. Hill, Craig A. Ulman