Patents by Inventor Bruce Fifield

Bruce Fifield has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10893752
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20190216224
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 10172465
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 10064493
    Abstract: A lumbar support of a chair includes a crossbar member and a first flex member. The crossbar member has a first end and a second end. The first flex member includes a first front portion coupled to the first end, a first back portion coupled to the chair, and a first web portion interconnecting the first front portion and the first back portion. The crossbar member supports a back of a user and the first flex member flexes upon engagement of the crossbar member by the back of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20160353896
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 9504331
    Abstract: A chair back according to embodiments of the present invention includes a rigid support member for reclinable attachment to a base, a flexible frame member having a flexible frame and a mesh, the mesh at least partially spanning the frame, and a seat attachment member moving in synchronization with the rigid support member at a different rate than the rigid support member during reclining of the rigid support member, wherein a first portion of the flexible frame member is affixed to the rigid support member, wherein a second portion of the flexible frame member flexes freely, wherein the seat attachment member contacts at least part of the second portion of the flexible frame member, wherein the first portion moves with the rigid support member and the second portion moves with the seat attachment member such that a curvature of the second portion increases as the rigid support member reclines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Corey Susie, Bruce Fifield, Federico Ferretti, Allessandro Sgotto, Dagmara Siemieniec, Martin Broen
  • Patent number: 9332851
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20150296989
    Abstract: A lumbar support of a chair includes a crossbar member and a first flex member. The crossbar member has a first end and a second end. The first flex member includes a first front portion coupled to the first end, a first back portion coupled to the chair, and a first web portion interconnecting the first front portion and the first back portion. The crossbar member supports a back of a user and the first flex member flexes upon engagement of the crossbar member by the back of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20130169014
    Abstract: A chair back according to embodiments of the present invention includes a rigid support member for reclinable attachment to a base, a flexible frame member having a flexible frame and a mesh, the mesh at least partially spanning the frame, and a seat attachment member moving in synchronization with the rigid support member at a different rate than the rigid support member during reclining of the rigid support member, wherein a first portion of the flexible frame member is affixed to the rigid support member, wherein a second portion of the flexible frame member flexes freely, wherein the seat attachment member contacts at least part of the second portion of the flexible frame member, wherein the first portion moves with the rigid support member and the second portion moves with the seat attachment member such that a curvature of the second portion increases as the rigid support member reclines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Corey Susie, Bruce Fifield, Federico Ferretti, Allessandro Sgotto, Dagmara Siemieniec, Martin Broen
  • Patent number: 8251448
    Abstract: A chair back according to embodiments of the present invention includes a rigid support member for reclinable attachment to a base, a flexible frame member having a flexible frame and a mesh, the mesh at least partially spanning the frame, and a seat attachment member moving in synchronization with the rigid support member at a different rate than the rigid support member during reclining of the rigid support member, wherein a first portion of the flexible frame member is affixed to the rigid support member, wherein a second portion of the flexible frame member flexes freely, wherein the seat attachment member contacts at least part of the second portion of the flexible frame member, wherein the first portion moves with the rigid support member and the second portion moves with the seat attachment member such that a curvature of the second portion increases as the rigid support member reclines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Corey Susie, Bruce Fifield, Federico Ferretti, Alessandro Sgotto, Dagmara Siemieniec, Martin Broen
  • Publication number: 20080272636
    Abstract: A chair back according to embodiments of the present invention includes a rigid support member for reclinable attachment to a base, a flexible frame member having a flexible frame and a mesh, the mesh at least partially spanning the frame, and a seat attachment member moving in synchronization with the rigid support member at a different rate than the rigid support member during reclining of the rigid support member, wherein a first portion of the flexible frame member is affixed to the rigid support member, wherein a second portion of the flexible frame member flexes freely, wherein the seat attachment member contacts at least part of the second portion of the flexible frame member, wherein the first portion moves with the rigid support member and the second portion moves with the seat attachment member such that a curvature of the second portion increases as the rigid support member reclines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Corey Susie, Bruce Fifield, Federico Ferretti, Alessandro Sgotto, Dagmara Siemieniec, Martin Broen
  • Publication number: 20050155319
    Abstract: A machine structure, in particular for the processing of fluid products, including a loadbearing frame with vertical uprights (12) connected by two horizontal plates (14, 15) at a distance from each other. Between the uprights are located one or more removable covering panels (13) which cover the zone housing the machine components. The machine structure is strong but light, not very bulky and easy to assemble even by non-specialist personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Guldo Greco, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20050141341
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing fluid products, in particular paints and the like, comprising a main structure (11) which defines a housing space (15) having an access opening (16), door means (17) which are coupled to the main structure (11) and which can be selectively moved from a closed position to an open position of at least part of the access opening (16), and vice versa, and support means (20, 22, 50) for at least one container of fluid products to be processed, which support means are housed in the main structure (11) and can be moved from an operating processing position to a position for loading/unloading the at least one container. The door means (17) comprise movement means (22, 17, 74) which mechanically interact with the support means (22, 50) in order to move them from the operating processing position to the loading/unloading position as a result of selective opening of the door means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Guido Greco, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: D463811
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Wook Jin, Young Mihn Kim, Bruce Fifield, Gianluca Giordano, Edoardo Arslan, Giulio Simeone
  • Patent number: D273149
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Inventor: Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: D731833
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ALLSTEEL INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Fifield, Christopher Knox