Patents Assigned to Herman Miller, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10202992
    Abstract: A workstation includes a working surface, a channel within the working surface, a rail positioned within the channel, and a clamp mechanism having an accessory and an actuator operable to removably couple the clamp mechanism to the rail. The actuator includes a first side that has a first manually engageable surface and a second side that has a second manually engageable surface. The actuator is movable to a first position in which the clamp mechanism disengages the rail when a force is exerted on the first manually engageable surface, and is movable to a second position in which the clamp mechanism engages the rail when a force is exerted on the second manually engageable surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: John Matthai, Jeremy Laarman, Michael Katje
  • Publication number: 20190029412
    Abstract: A method of operating a desk including receiving, at a desk controller, a message from a chair, and determining a position of a user based on the message. The message includes an indication of a sensed rotation of the chair. The method also includes generating, via the desk controller, a control signal for a motor based on the position of the user. The motor is coupled to a support framework of the desk. The method further includes changing a height of the support framework of the desk according to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Gibson, Christopher Hoyt, Nicolas Milani, Kurt Dykema, Dave Moelker, Jared Thomas
  • Patent number: 10143308
    Abstract: A seating device includes a base and a seat post extending from the base. The seat post has a first end adjacent the base, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end. The seating device further includes a seat supported by the seat post above the base and a first rocking assembly coupled to the base and the first end of the seat post. The first rocking assembly is operable to angularly displace the seat post relative to the base. The seating device further includes a second rocking assembly coupled to the seat and the second end of the seat post. The second rocking assembly is operable to angularly displace the seat relative to the seat post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Walker, Mark Goetz
  • Patent number: 10132078
    Abstract: A screen assembly includes a first screen, a second screen, and a connector. Each screen includes a panel with a recess and a receiver positioned within the recess. The receiver has a locking member and an actuator. The actuator is operable to move the locking member relative to the receiver. The connector includes a body, a first contact extending from the body in a first direction, and a second contact extending from the body in a second direction. The first contact is received in the receiver of the first screen and has a first opening through which the first locking member extends. The second contact is received in the receiver of the second screen and has a second opening through which the second locking member extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Parr, Paul Gartland, Larry Kallio
  • 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: 9987949
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a base, a seat, a backrest connected to the seat, and an electronic circuit supported by the base. The seat or the backrest includes a carrier and a suspension material secured to the carrier and spanning across an opening formed by the carrier. The suspension material includes a plurality of electrostatic discharge fibers. The electronic circuit is coupled to the electrostatic discharge fibers. The electronic circuit includes an electronic processor and a sensor. The sensor is configured to generate an output signal indicative of an electrical parameter of one of the electrostatic discharge fibers. The electronic processor is configured to apply a drive signal to one of the plurality of electrostatic discharge fibers, receive the output signal from the sensor, and determine a state of the seating structure based on the output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew James Lilley, Adam James Daley-Fell
  • Patent number: 9907398
    Abstract: A furniture docking system includes a dock and various dock supports, including freestanding and non-freestanding dock supports. The dock includes an upper rail having a primary channel and a pair of auxiliary channels opening upwardly from an upper surface of the upper rail, and a pair of side channels opening outwardly from opposite sides of the upper rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dame, Michael J. Katje, Sheryl Knoll
  • Patent number: D819375
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Zaccai, Mark Bates, Alex Broerman, John Costello
  • Patent number: D830741
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Nourie
  • Patent number: D830747
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Laura Harvey
  • Patent number: D832017
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Don Chadwick, Jeffrey Koffman
  • Patent number: D832260
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Hutton, Ayako Takase, Robert Roth
  • Patent number: D832609
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Kimberlee Colin, Philipp Von Lintel, Ippei Matsumoto
  • Patent number: D833764
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anastassiades, Kurt Nielsen
  • Patent number: D839010
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anastassiades, Kurt Nielsen
  • Patent number: D839639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin Nourie
  • Patent number: D840177
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Philipp Von Lintel
  • Patent number: D841340
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Chadwick, Jeffrey Koffman
  • Patent number: D841380
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Zaccai, Mark Bates, Alex Broerman, John Costello
  • Patent number: D844358
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Chadwick, Jeffrey Koffman