Patents Assigned to Herman Miller, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9907404
    Abstract: A convertible sofa includes a seat and a backrest moveable between a first configuration, in which the backrest is positioned along a back of the seat, and a second configuration, in which the backrest overlies an upper support surface of the seat. The sofa also includes a side wall positioned adjacent a side of the seat to define a recess that forms a leg opening. The sofa further includes a worksurface moveable between a first position, in which the worksurface is disposed within the recess and substantially aligned with a plane defined by the upper support surface of the seat, and a second position, in which the worksurface is spaced above the plane defined by the upper support surface of the seat. At least a portion of the worksurface is covered by the backrest when the worksurface is in the first position and the backrest is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Jess Sorel, David Simon, Jon LeFors, Howard Kaney, Gary Cruce
  • 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: 9833076
    Abstract: Novel sit-stand seating devices, more particularly, to sit-stand seats or stools that can tilt forward to provide balanced support for seated to near-standing postures and methods of their use are disclosed. The sit-stand devices are useful, inter alia, to provide stabilized worker positioning to carry out a task for a range of sitting through standing postures in an environment associated with a task for a worker in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Walker, Mark Goetz
  • Patent number: 9741270
    Abstract: A display board system includes a first display board, a second display board, a first clip, and a second clip. The first clip is coupled to the first display board and includes a body and a top portion coupled to the body generally above an upper edge of the first display board. The top portion has an upwardly facing cavity and a downwardly extending tab. The second clip is coupled to the second display board and includes a body and a top portion coupled to the body generally above an upper edge of the second display board. The top portion has an upwardly facing cavity and a downwardly extending tab. The tab of the second clip is receivable in the cavity of the first clip to support the second display board on the first display board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Zaccai, Mark Bates, Alexander Broerman, Kyle Madison
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9635941
    Abstract: A wall assembly includes at least one horizontally extending rail having a rear surface adapted to engage the wall. A plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending stiles are coupled to the rail, with the stiles disposed forwardly of the rear surface of the rail. A plurality of interface components are coupled to the plurality of stiles. In various embodiments, the stiles may be interconnected to draw together adjacent interface components. The interface components also may include overlapping upper and lower edges. The stiles may be vertically and/or horizontally (laterally and longitudinally) adjustable relative to the rail. A lock member may be provided to secure at least one of the stiles to the rail. Various systems and methods of assembly and use are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Bates, Andrew J. Boyce, Chul Min Kang, Michael J. Katje, Susan R. Lyons, Kurt E. Porter, Jeffrey D. Roetman, Perry L. Sellers, Gianfranco Dino Zaccai
  • Patent number: 9629467
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-layered support structure provides ergonomic, adaptable seating support. The method providing 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 include elements such as pixels, springs, support rails, and other elements to provide this adaptable comfort and support. The method for manufacturing the multi-layered support structure uses aligned material to provide a flexible yet durable support structure. Accordingly, the method provides a multi-layered support structure, which provides maximum comfort for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Brill, Christopher C. Hill, James D. Slagh, Andrew B. Hartmann, Timothy P. Coffield, Kelly E. Washburn, John F. Aldrich, Michael D. Stanton, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9614338
    Abstract: A power receptacle module for a work surface having multiple power receptacles includes a mounting frame configured to be received within an aperture in the work surface, a pivoting receptacle assembly pivotally mounted in the mounting frame and configured to pivot between a first orientation and a second orientation, relative to the mounting frame. The pivoting receptacle assembly has a flat face plate and a plurality of power receptacles fixedly mounted below the flat face plate. When the pivoting receptacle assembly is in the first orientation, the flat face plate is flush with a top surface of the work surface, and the plurality of power receptacles are hidden below the work surface. When the pivoting receptacle assembly is in the second orientation, the flat face plate is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the work surface, and the plurality of power receptacles are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Alexander, Peter Keyzer, Michael Johnson, Lawrence W. Kallio, III, Jeffrey L. Clark
  • 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: 9474367
    Abstract: A pull-out tray assembly includes a pull-out tray moveable between a closed position and an open position. A front of the tray moves downwardly and a rear of the tray moves upwardly as the tray is moved from the closed to the open position. Likewise, a front cavity is opened and a rear cavity is closed as the pull-out tray is moved from the closed position to the open position. In one embodiment, the pull-out tray assembly includes a slide mechanism pivotally supporting the pull-out tray at a first location on the tray and a track guiding the tray at a second location on the tray. In various embodiments, at least one of a power outlet and communication port is coupled to the pull-out tray. A worksurface assembly incorporating the pull-out tray is also provided, together with a method of using the pull-out tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: John Matthai, Leon Ransmeier
  • 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: 9427083
    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: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dame, Michael J. Katje, Sheryl Knoll
  • Patent number: D764839
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Philipp Von Lintel
  • 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: D777435
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Kimberlee Colin, Philipp Von Lintel, Ippei Matsumoto
  • Patent number: D777474
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Qin Li, Naoya Edahiro, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Diana Chang, Matthew Malone, Casey Doran Lewis
  • Patent number: D783284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Kimberlee Colin, Philipp Von Lintel, Ippei Matsumoto
  • Patent number: D783285
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Kimberlee Colin, Philipp Von Lintel, Ippei Matsumoto
  • Patent number: D785954
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Linder, Christopher Morlock
  • Patent number: D804833
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Kimberlee Colin, Philipp Von Lintel, Ippei Matsumoto