Patents by Inventor Bruce R. Gezon
Bruce R. Gezon 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).
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Patent number: 7004543Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2004Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6877813Abstract: An adjustable armrest for a chair includes a housing having a cavity defined by a wall and a latch member slideably mounted in the cavity. The latch member includes a wedge shaped portion having a first and second surface forming a oblique angle between them. One of the first and second surfaces engages the wall of the housing at least when the latch is in the engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20040104611Abstract: An adjustable armrest for a chair includes a housing having a cavity defined by a wall and a latch member slideably mounted in the cavity. The latch member includes a wedge shaped portion having a first and second surface forming a oblique angle between them. One of the first and second surfaces engages the wall of the housing at least when the latch is in the engaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6598937Abstract: An adjustable backrest for a seating structure includes an upright having a rack. The backrest is moveably mounted on the upright. A pawl is pivotally mounted to the backrest about a pivot axis and is pivotable between an engaged position, wherein the pawl is engaged with the rack, and a disengaged position, wherein the pawl is disengaged from the rack. The pawl is further translatably mounted to the backrest, wherein the pawl is translatable relative to the backrest between at least a disabled position and an operative position. A spring biases the pawl into the engaged position when the pawl is in the operative position. A method of adjusting the height of the backrest is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2002Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20020195856Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6386636Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6367876Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20010040399Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2001Publication date: November 15, 2001Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20010011840Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2001Publication date: August 9, 2001Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6250715Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 5129835Abstract: A power panel for use with wall panels of a space-divider system includes a lightweight frame structure having vertically extending end plates and a central web. Front and rear spaces are defined on either side of the web to accommodate electrical and communication wiring and receptacles on both the front and the back of the panel. A rib, extending from the web, divides the front and rear areas and provides physical separation between electrical power and communication wiring. The portion of the web on one side of the rib has an offset curved section to accommodate electrical wiring conduits extending vertically from the top to the bottom of the power panel. The power panel includes an upper area, with a removable cover, above the upper edge of the frame structure to accommodate wiring to and from, and between wall panels adjoining the power panel. A U-shaped cover is removably attached to the lower edge of the frame structure to accommodate wiring to and from, and between, panels adjoining the power panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1990Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerry A. DeFouw, James H. Nienhuis, Jeffrey L. Clark, Bruce R. Gezon
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Patent number: 5116235Abstract: A power panel for use with wall panels of a space-divider system includes a lightweight frame structure having vertically extending end plates and a central web. Front and rear spaces are defined on either side of the web to accommodate electrical and communication wiring and receptacles on both the front and the back of the panel. A rib, extending from the web, divides the front and rear areas and provides physical separation between electrical power and communication wiring. The portion of the web on one side of the rib has an offset curved section to accommodate electrical wiring conduits extending vertically from the top to the bottom of the power panel. The power panel includes an upper area, with a removable cover, above the upper edge of the frame structure to accommodate wiring to and from, and between wall panels adjoining the power panel. A U-shaped cover is removably attached to the lower edge of the frame structure to accommodate wiring to and from, and between, panels adjoining the power panel.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1991Date of Patent: May 26, 1992Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: James H. Nienhuis, Jeffrey L. Clark, Bruce R. Gezon
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Patent number: 4718716Abstract: A reclining chair (10) having a seat (12), backrest (14), side supports (16) and a reclining mechanism which includes a backrest bracket (34) rigidly affixed to the backrest (14) and pivotably mounted to a side support bracket (18), the side support bracket (18) being rigidly affixed to a side support (16). A seat support bracket (30) is rigidly affixed to the seat (12) and pivotably mounted to a side support bracket (18). A coupler link (40) has one end pivotably connected to the backrest bracket (34) and a second end pivotably connected to the seat support bracket (30). The axis of rotation of the backrest (14) is located so as to pass approximately through the hips of a chair occupant. Further, the linkages are so selected and arranged that the reclining motion and return motion take place by a horizontal translation of the center of gravity of the occupant to minimize the effort required to operate the reclining mechanism through its range of movement.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1986Date of Patent: January 12, 1988Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: William E. Stumpf, Donald T. Chadwick, Bruce R. Gezon