Patents Assigned to Herman Miller, Inc.
  • Suspension chair, modular furniture arrangement and modular furniture kit
    Patent number: 9414673
    Abstract: A suspension chair includes a first and second back support portion having first and second suspension elements extending in first and second substantially perpendicular directions respectively. The first and second suspension elements are tensioned so as to provide first and second normal biasing forces to the first and second body support portions. In one embodiment, the chair includes a fixed support defining an upper portion and a pivotable side support. A fabric layer covers at least a portion of the fixed support and a front surface of the side support. Various furniture arrangements and modular furniture kits incorporating one or more chairs, desks and/or tables are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Qin Li, Naoya Edahiro, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Diana Chang, Erik Kreider, Casey Doran Lewis, Andrew J. Kurrasch, Elindo G. Castro, Jr.
  • ZONED SUSPENSION SEATING STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20160206102
    Abstract: A body support structure includes a backrest and a seat connected to the backrest. A suspension material is connected to the backrest or the seat. The suspension material has a first zone with a first stiffness and a second zone with a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness. Also included are methods of creating different zones in the suspension material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Brock Walker, Jeff Bruner, Adwait Bhagwat, Ethan McGraw
  • Partition system and accessories for use therewith
    Patent number: 9380867
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Janja Maidl
  • Bi-level headrest, body support structure and method of supporting a user's cranium
    Patent number: 9352675
    Abstract: A method of supporting a user's cranium includes directly supporting at least a portion of a first user's T1-T6 vertebrae with a primary support and directly supporting a junction between the first user's occipital bone and C1 vertebrae with a secondary support spaced from the primary support. The positions of the primary and secondary supports may be independently adjusted relative to each other. Various body support structures and headrest structures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Walker, John F. Aldrich, Robert W. Insalaco
  • Seating structure with a contoured flexible backrest
    Patent number: 9301615
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a backrest member having an upper edge, opposite side edges and a lower edge. The backrest member has a forwardly facing convex shape formed along a vertical centerline thereof between the upper and lower edges. The lower edge has a forwardly facing concave shape. The lower edge has outer portions positioned forwardly of an entirety of the upper edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Bret Recor, Naoya Edahiro, Qin Li, Andrew J. Kurrasch, Christopher C. Hill, John Matthai, Brock Walker
  • Partition system
    Patent number: 9303401
    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: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Reconfigurable table
    Patent number: 9271569
    Abstract: A table includes a vertical support column and a base. The base includes a first floor engaging portion disposed on a first side of a vertical axis and a second floor engaging portion disposed on an opposite second side of the vertical axis. The first and second floor engaging portions are weighted such that the base has a center of gravity spaced from the vertical axis on the second side of the vertical axis. A worksurface member is supported by the vertical support column and is vertically spaced from the base. The worksurface member is rotatable relative to the base. In one aspect, the worksurface member has an overall length greater than the overall length of the base. In another aspect, a stop limits rotation of the worksurface member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Gianfranco Zaccai, Kevin Young, Peter Bates, John F. Aldrich, Andrew J. Kurrasch, Robert M. Seeley
  • Screen assembly
    Patent number: 9255440
    Abstract: A screen assembly includes a core having an edge and first and second opposite side surfaces. A retainer, or edge treatment, is coupled to the edge of the core and extends outwardly from the core. The retainer includes first and second resilient limbs having respective edge portions defining a mouth. First and second cover portions overly the core and exterior surfaces of the retainer. The first and second cover portions wrap around the first and second limbs and are disposed through the mouth such that the edges of the first and second cover portions are retained by the limbs. Various screen supports and accessory interface members also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Alexander, Yves Behar, Adwait Bhagwat, Jeffrey A. Book, Elindo G. Castro, Jr., Noel Carrillo, Diana Chang, Joel R. Dral, Naoya Edahiro, Michael J. Katje, Bronwyn L. Krohn, Eileen M. LaMore, Casey Doran Lewis, Qin Li, John T. Matthai, John Moroney, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz
  • Composite body support member and methods for the manufacture and recycling thereof
    Patent number: 9211014
    Abstract: A body support structure includes a molded polymeric support grid having a three-dimensional molded contour. The support grid includes a body support region having a plurality of through openings separated by a plurality of lands. In one embodiment, an area of the openings is greater than an area of the lands. In another embodiment, the ratio of a surface area of the lands relative to an area defined by an outer peripheral edge is less than or equal to 0.74. A fabric layer is bonded to the plurality of lands and covers the plurality of openings. Methods of manufacturing and recycling the body structure are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick, Andrew J Kurrasch
  • Chair
    Patent number: D743712
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Qin Li, Naoya Edahiro, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Diana Chang, Matthew Malone, Casey Doran Lewis
  • Cart
    Patent number: D744187
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Qin Li, Erik Kreider, Naoya Edahiro, Noah Murphy Reinhertz, Diana Chang, Casey Lewis
  • Partition
    Patent number: D746621
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Storage component
    Patent number: D752865
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Kimberlee Colin, Philipp Von Lintel, Ippei Matsumoto
  • Chair
    Patent number: D752893
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Qin Li, Naoya Edahiro, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Diana Chang, Matthew Malone, Casey Doran Lewis
  • Workstation
    Patent number: D752903
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Philipp Von Lintel
  • Workstation
    Patent number: D752904
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Hecht, Philipp Von Lintel
  • Partition
    Patent number: D758770
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Chair with desk
    Patent number: D761029
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Qin Li, Naoya Edahiro, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Diana Chang, Matthew Malone, Casey Doran Lewis
  • Chair
    Patent number: D761048
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves Behar, Qin Li, Naoya Edahiro, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Diana Chang, Matthew Malone, Casey Doran Lewis
  • Chair
    Patent number: D763612
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Goetz