Patents by Inventor Claudia Plikat
Claudia Plikat 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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Publication number: 20130099548Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: April 25, 2013Inventors: 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: 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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Publication number: 20130082499Abstract: A chair includes a base, a support element and a torsion element. The support element is coupled to the base and includes a seat region, a backrest region and a transition region connecting the seat region and the backrest region. The backrest region is reclinable relative to the seat region by way of elastic deformation of the support element. The torsion element is coupled to the base and to the backrest region. The torsion element controls the reclining of the backrest region relative to the seat region. The support element is exclusively connected to the torsion element above a lumbar region, wherein the backrest region can be inclined and/or twisted in relation to the seat region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola E.M. Zwick, Claudia Plikat, Roland R.O. Zwick
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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: 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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Publication number: 20120159869Abstract: The invention relates to a partition system (10) comprising a plurality of wall elements (1) merging one into another, wherein at least one wall element (1) is designed as a stepped element (150), and wherein at least one wall element (1) is designed as a corner element (250).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhardschmitz, Carola E.M. Zwick, Rolan R.O. Zwick
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Publication number: 20110291453Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: JOHANN BURKHARD SCHMITZ, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
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Patent number: 8025334Abstract: A body support structure, such as a piece of furniture, in particular a piece of furniture for sitting on or a piece of furniture for lying on, such as, for example, chair, armchair, stool, bed or sofa, a seat of the piece of furniture being supported by a spring mechanism, and the spring mechanism being capable of being set to a weight force with which a person acts on the seat.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
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Patent number: 7992936Abstract: A seat comprising an underframe and a seat element wherein the seat element comprises a front seat part, a rear seat part, a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part wherein the seat element can be displaced from a basic position into a reclined position, and wherein the seat element comprises at least one supporting arm composed of at least one upper support and at least one lower support having an arcuate profile in a transitory region between the rear seat part and the lower backrest part, and wherein the upper support and the lower support are connected at an upper backrest part. At least one guide element guiding the upper support in a front region of the seat part, and at least one connecting link positioning the upper support and the lower support with respect to each other. The front seat pan: being capable of being pulled back by the upper support when the backrest parts are loaded by an individual leaning against them.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
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Patent number: 7992937Abstract: A body support structure includes a body support member and a base having an upper component coupled to the body support member and a lower component adapted to be supported on a floor. An adjustable spring mechanism biases the body support member. A weighing mechanism is coupled to the adjustable spring mechanism. The weighing mechanism includes a height adjustment device disposed between the upper and lower components of the base. The height adjustment device includes a pneumatic spring having a pressure tube coupled to the lower component and a piston rod extending upwardly from and moveable relative to the pressure tube. A housing is disposed around the pneumatic spring and is coupled to the upper component. An adapter is coupled to the piston rod. A weighing spring is disposed between the adapter and the housing, with the housing moveable relative to the adapter between first and second weighing positions.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Robert Friedrich Laux
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Publication number: 20110175423Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Inventors: 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: 7926879Abstract: 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: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: 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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Publication number: 20110067931Abstract: A body support structure, such as a piece of furniture, in particular a piece of furniture for sitting on or a piece of furniture for lying on, such as, for example, chair, armchair, stool, bed or sofa, a seat of the piece of furniture being supported by a spring mechanism, and the spring mechanism being capable of being set to a weight force with which a person acts on the seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
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Patent number: 7857390Abstract: The invention relates to a body support structure (1), such as a piece of furniture (1), in particular a piece of furniture for sitting on or a piece of furniture for lying on, such as, for example, chair (3), armchair, stool, bed or sofa, a seat (7) of the piece of furniture (1) being supported by a spring mechanism (SM), and the spring mechanism (SM) being capable of being set to a weight force (40) with which a person acts on the seat (7).Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
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Patent number: 7841666Abstract: A tiltable chair including a base, a fulcrum member having a curved support surface, a back support pivotally connected to the base at a pivot axis and pivotable between at least an upright position and a rearward tilt position, and at least one leaf spring having first and second ends, with the first end being restrained by the base. The at least one leaf spring engages the curved support surface of the fulcrum member at a first contact point when the back support is in the upright position and at a second contact point when the back support is in the rearward tilt position, wherein the second contact point is positioned rearwardly on the at least one leaf spring relative to the first contact point. A link member is pivotally connected to the back support at a first pivot location and is pivotally connected to the at least one leaf spring at a second pivot location. The link member defines a vector between the first and second pivot locations and the first pivot location and the pivot axis define a plane.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Nicolai Neubert, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
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Publication number: 20100289308Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2007Publication date: November 18, 2010Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Claudia Plikat
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Patent number: D628831Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2010Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
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Patent number: D628832Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2010Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
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Patent number: D659417Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
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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