Patents Assigned to Herman Miller, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6068041
    Abstract: A portable adjustable partition is provided. The partition includes a first base barrier member and a second base barrier member wherein the first base barrier member is pivotably connected to the second base barrier member. First and second slidable barrier members are connected to the first base barrier member and the second base barrier member, respectively. A first glide member is connected to the first telescoping barrier member and a second glide member is connected to the second telescoping barrier member. A pivot limiter is attached to one of the first base barrier member and the second base barrier member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventors: George Miles, Eric Chan
  • Patent number: 6059368
    Abstract: A support assembly for supporting the body of a user in a chair including a frame member having a channel. A prestretched membrane comprising an elastic material is attached to a carrier member, which is inserted in the channel. A method is also provided for manufacturing a chair including a frame member, a membrane and a carrier member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Stumpf, Rodney C. Schoenfelder, Donald Chadwick, Carolyn Keller, Timothy P. Coffield, Randy J. Sayers, Jeffrey W. Bruner, Eric Cammenga
  • Patent number: 6053588
    Abstract: A workplace is suggested that has work surfaces and especially desk surfaces in a body which can be opened up. To attain a spacious interior, two opposing side walls (3, 4) are connected via hinges (15, 16) to a transverse wall (5) to allow the body to be unfolded as a workplace with a large area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Franz Biggel, Burkhard Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6048044
    Abstract: A collapsible workstation, a collapsible service unit, a system of workstations, and a system and method for providing work environments is disclosed. The workstation has a first and second side wall and a third side wall hingedly attached to the first and second wall. A first worksurface is attached to one of the walls. A second worksurface moves between a vertical and a horizontal orientation, extending beyond the space within the side walls. A transportable and collapsible service unit comprises at least one device shared by a plurality of workstation users. A system of workstations comprises workstations and a service unit having a device shared by a plurality of the workstation users. A system and method for providing work environments at remote locations includes maintaining an inventory of workstations adapted to be arranged with other workstations to define a work environment. An order specifies a remote location and the workstations requested. A transporting means transports the workstations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventors: Franz Biggel, Burkhard Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6042206
    Abstract: A vertical support for supporting a drawer slide mechanism in a cabinet. The vertical support includes a support member that has an opening and a resilient tab member that extends into the opening. The resilient tab member releasably engages the slide mechanism as it is disposed in the opening. Alternatively, a resilient tab member is attached to the slide mechanism and is adapted to releasably engage an opening in the front vertical support member. A method is also provided for assembling a drawer support assembly in a cabinet. The method comprises the steps of providing a cabinet housing, a slide mechanism that has a forward and rear portion, and a front vertical support member that has an opening and a resilient tab member extending into the opening. The front vertical support is attached to the housing and the forward portion of the slide mechanism is secured to the front vertical support member such that the resilient tab member releasably engages the forward portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Bowyer, Herman Smeetz, Alan Wright
  • Patent number: 6035901
    Abstract: A membrane for a seating structure including a plurality of groups of at least two adjacent and parallel strands of multifilament yarn and a plurality of monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands. The monofilaments weave alternatively above and below the adjacent strands in each group. A plurality of pairs of the monofilaments hold the groups of strands in place by having the monofilaments in each pair cross over between each group of strands. In one aspect, the membrane is attached to a frame member such that the plurality of groups of strands are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the frame member and the monofilaments are oriented in the lateral warp direction of the frame member. In another aspect, the seating structure includes the frame member and attached membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Stumpf, Rodney C. Schoenfelder, Donald Chadwick, Carolyn Keller, Timothy P. Coffield, Randy J. Sayers, Jeffrey W. Bruner, Eric Cammenga
  • Patent number: 6019331
    Abstract: A cantilever bracket assembly for attaching horizontal components to a side of a vertical wall. The bracket assembly comprising a bracket member and a support member having a rear portion adapted to releasably engage the wall and a substantially vertical web attached to the rear portion. The web has a first and second side and a top edge. A plurality of upwardly extending tab members are attached to one of the bracket member and the web, wherein the tab members are laterally offset from at least one of the first and second sides of the web when attached to the web. The bracket member is provided with a top portion adapted to engage the horizontal component. The bracket member has one of a plurality of hanger members and tab members adapted to receive the other of plurality of tab members and hanger members attached to the web. The bracket member is mounted on the support bracket by disposing the tab members in the hanger members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Hoogland, Eugene L. Karn, Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: 5997080
    Abstract: An operational guide mounted to an adjustable chair as well as a chair including an operational guide. The operational guide includes a card having a pictorial guide for operating the adjustable chair located on the top side of the card. The operational guide also includes a device for mounting the card to the bottom of the seat of the chair. The mounting device is adapted to allow the card to move between an extended position wherein the pictorial guide is visible to an occupant of the chair and a retracted position wherein the pictorial guide is not visible to the occupant of the chair. Also, the mounting device holds the card so that the orientation of the pictorial guide corresponds to the orientation of the controls for adjusting the chair when the card is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Marc A. Giez, Richard C. Weise
  • Patent number: 5902011
    Abstract: An inflatable lumbar support system that includes a plurality of thermoplastic layers sealed together to form at least two laterally spaced bladders. A resiliently flexible face panel is disposed between the back of the user and the inflatable chambers. The panel is composed of form stable outer portions overlying the laterally spaced bladders and a medial portion therebetween of substantially greater yieldability than the outer portions of the panel. The inflatable lumbar support system is incorporated within a chair having a one-piece shell with a backrest that is cantilevered from the top of the backrest. The lumbar support system is carried by a mounting plate that includes a pair of mounting hooks that attach to and can slide vertically along the side edge of the cantilevered portion of the backrest. The lumbar support system can be slid vertically along the cantilevered backrest and can be inflated and deflated by a person setting in the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Scott Hand, Robert W. Pekar, Jeffrey A. Weber
  • Patent number: D408161
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome C. Caruso
  • Patent number: D409861
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Newhouse
  • Patent number: D412406
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Stumpf, Jean Francois Gomree, Jeffrey A. Weber
  • Patent number: D412625
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar B. Montague, III, William E. Stumpf, Barry Lynn Mahal
  • Patent number: D413212
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Dame, Eric P. Chan
  • Patent number: D414953
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Goetz
  • Patent number: D416721
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: William Frederick Schacht, Lynda Elizabeth Chesser
  • Patent number: D417572
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: William Frederick Schacht, Lynda Elizabeth Chesser
  • Patent number: D418611
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.
    Inventor: Edgar B. Montague, III
  • Patent number: D419798
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: William Frederick Schacht, Lynda Elizabeth Chesser
  • Patent number: D420523
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Stumpf, Rodney C. Schoenfelder, Donald Chadwick, Carolyn Keller Maalouf