Patents Assigned to Herman Miller, Inc.
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Publication number: 20140028061Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Yves Behar, Bret Recor, Naoya Edahiro, Qin Li, Andrew J. Kurrasch, Christoher C. Hill, John Matthai, Brock Walker
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Publication number: 20140026788Abstract: A workstation includes a base having at least one vertically adjustable leg adjustable to a plurality of vertical leg positions and a worksurface member including a display. The display defines at least in part a worksurface of the worksurface member. The worksurface member is pivotally coupled to the base about a fixed rotational axis and is pivotable between at least a horizontal orientation wherein the worksurface of the display is substantially horizontal, at least one draft orientation wherein the worksurface of the display forms an acute angle relative to horizontal and vertical planes and a vertical orientation wherein the worksurface of the display is substantially vertical. The worksurface member is vertically adjustable to a plurality of vertical worksurface positions corresponding to the plurality of vertical leg positions when the worksurface member is positioned in any one of the horizontal, draft or vertical configurations. A method of using the workstation is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence Kallio, III, Daniel Grabowski, Mike Johnson
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Patent number: 8602501Abstract: A backrest includes a shell having a first, forwardly facing support surface being more pronounced along upper and lower portions of a central, spine region relative to a middle portion of the central spine region and relative to side regions adjacent the central, spine region. A cushion is disposed over the first support surface. In one aspect, the cushion has a second, forwardly facing support surface being free of any corresponding pronounced portions overlying the pronounced upper and lower portions of the central, spine region of the underlying shell. In another aspect, a chair includes a backrest as disclosed. Methods of use and assembly also are provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Brock Walker, John C. Groelsma, John F. Aldrich
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Patent number: 8577711Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to transparent and/or non-disruptive systems and methods for monitoring and analyzing actual space utilization, and in particular, analyzing space utilization over time and/or in real time to accurately understand and report the utilization of the space. In particular, the disclosed embodiments analyze data representative of occupancy of the space, the data being autonomously determined based on the likelihood that occupants are present within the space. The data is periodically determined and automatically reported to an automated collection system which collects the data and forwards it to a central repository for analysis. The data is then analyzed to provide meaningful reports regarding occupancy of the space or otherwise contextualize the utilization of the space. Further, the data collected from different spaces may be anonymized, aggregated, or otherwise combined, and analyzed to contextualize a given space's utilization, provide utilization forecasts, etc.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Steven A. Korecki, Robert L. Beck, Gary Gifford, Robin M. Ellerthorpe
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Publication number: 20130239486Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: 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
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Patent number: 8469454Abstract: A seating structure includes a central spine and an upper back structure having a pair of arms extending upwardly and outwardly from the central spine. The upper back structure is pivotally connected to the central spine about a first horizontal axis. A back support structure is pivotally connected to the spine about a second horizontal axis and is pivotally connected to the ends of each of the arms about a third horizontal axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jason Holt, John F. Aldrich, Douglas M. VanDeRiet
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Publication number: 20130147252Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: JOHANN BURKHARD SCHMITZ, Claudia PLIKAT, Carola E.M. ZWICK, Roland R.O. ZWICK, Andrew J. KURRASCH
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Patent number: 8449037Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Yves Behar, Bret Recor, Naoya Edahiro, Qin Li, Andrew J. Kurrasch, Christopher C. Hill, John Matthai, Brock Walker
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Patent number: 8419133Abstract: An upper portion of the back is pivotable relative to the lower portion between a neutral position and an extended position, with the upper portion being pivotable relative to the lower portion independent of the tilt position of the back. In one aspect, an adjustment mechanism is coupled between lower and upper back support members and pivots the upper support member between at least first and second support positions.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jason Holt, Jeffrey A. Weber, Christopher C. Hill, John F. Aldrich, Douglas M. VanDeRiet
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Patent number: 8414073Abstract: The invention relates to a seating arrangement (1) having a substructure (3), in which the seating arrangement (1) comprises at least one carrying arm (7, 8), and the carrying arm (7, 8) comprises an upper, first carrier (7a, 8a) and a lower, second carrier (7b, 8b).Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
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Patent number: 8371237Abstract: A portable workstation configured for use with a primary worksurface includes a monitor support adapted to be moveably supported by the primary worksurface and an auxiliary worksurface pivotally connected to the monitor support about a horizontal axis. The auxiliary worksurface is automatically moveable with the monitor support and pivots downwardly from a first worksurface position to a second worksurface position. In one embodiment, a pivotable link member connects a base and a front portion of a worksurface. A method of configuring the workstation is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Weber
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Patent number: 8333038Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 8282172Abstract: A seating structure including a base, a pair of laterally spaced support arms each having a seat portion and a backrest portion and a transition portion joining the seat portion and backrest portion, wherein the support arms are coupled to the base. A body support member extends between and is connected to the support arms and includes at least a seat portion and a backrest portion. A support element is coupled to the base and includes a central support arm extending upwardly along a centerline of the backrest portion of the body support member. The central support arm is spaced rearwardly from the backrest portions of the support arms and further includes a pair of laterally extending struts connecting the central support arm and the laterally spaced support arms.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
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Patent number: 8282169Abstract: A load support member includes spaced apart beam members, a linking member and a stop member. In another aspect, the beam includes a support surface defining first and second landing regions, which are in contact with and support a membrane. In another aspect, a brace member is secured between laterally spaced beams, with the brace member having a greater height than width at the end thereof and a greater width than height at the middle thereof. In another aspect, a pair of armrests are joined to a cross member and a pair of spaced apart beams in a releasable engagement. In yet another aspect, a pair of beam members are fixedly joined with a cross member, which is pivotally connected to a link pivotally connected to the beams. A method of assembling a load support structure is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
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Patent number: 8262162Abstract: A seating structure includes a leaf spring and a body support structure biased by the leaf spring. One of the leaf spring and the body support structure has a cam with a concave cam surface, while the other of the leaf spring and body support structure has a cam follower with a convex cam surface. The cam follower engages the cam.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Elindo G. Castro, Jr., Christopher C. Hill
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Patent number: 8260471Abstract: An energy management system (400) includes a series of smart devices (404) connected through a network system communications bus (402). The smart devices (404) are connected to loads (408) and include energy monitor boards (448) and a core board (450) for monitoring energy consumption of the loads (408) and transmitting the energy consumption data to a gateway (410).Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Randy S. Storch, Scott M. Kordik, Joe B. Doran, Matthew Banach
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Patent number: 8210611Abstract: A seat with an adjustable seat depth is also provided, along with various methods for operating the different aspects and embodiments of the seating structure. In one embodiment, a seating structure includes a support structure and a carriage moveably supported by the support structure. The carriage is moveable relative to the support structure in opposite first and second longitudinal directions. A flexible body support member has a first portion coupled to the support structure, a second portion coupled to the carriage, and a third curved portion positioned between the first and second portions. The third portion is moveable toward and away from the support structure as the carriage is moved relative to the support structure in the first and second directions respectively.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Ryan S. Brill, James D. Slagh, Jeffrey A. Weber
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Patent number: D665196Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Zwick, Roland Zwick
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Patent number: D683159Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Zwick, Roland Zwick
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Patent number: D698564Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Yves Behar, Qin Li, Erik Kreider, Naoya Edahiro, Noah Murphy Reinhertz, Casey Lewis