Patents by Inventor Ethan McGraw
Ethan McGraw 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: 20250163615Abstract: A suspension member includes a first plurality of yarns forming a first zone having a first tension and a second plurality of yarns forming a second zone having a second tension that is different from the first tension, wherein at least some of the yarns in the first zone are fused together.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2025Publication date: May 22, 2025Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Patent number: 12215445Abstract: A method of manufacturing a suspension member including providing a first set of yarns and a second set of yarns, combining the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns to form the suspension member, and at least partially bonding a portion of the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns together by heating the suspension member to form a first zone of the suspension member having a first tension.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Patent number: 12070132Abstract: An article of furniture includes a frame defining an opening, and a suspension material spanning over the opening and having a weft knit construction. The suspension material is configured to support a user, and the suspension material includes at least one multifilament forming a jersey knit structure which has a plurality of courses extending in a course direction and a plurality of wales extending in a wale direction, and at least one monofilament corresponding to and being inlaid in a respective one of the courses. The suspension material has, in the course direction, a ratio of machine gauge, in needles per mm, to course stiffness, in N per mm, between 0.02 and 0.2 and has, in the wale direction, a ratio of machine gauge, in needles per mm, to wale stiffness, in N per mm, between 0.07 and 1.4.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2023Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: MILLERKNOLL, INC.Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20240156265Abstract: A seating structure including a frame, a suspension member, and a support pad. The frame defines an opening. The suspension member is coupled to the frame and spans over the opening. The suspension member is configured to engage a user and has a three-dimensional topography independent of the frame and relative to a straight reference line that extends between opposing sides of the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2023Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20240081537Abstract: An article of furniture includes a frame defining an opening, and a suspension material spanning over the opening and having a weft knit construction. The suspension material is configured to support a user, and the suspension material includes at least one multifilament forming a jersey knit structure which has a plurality of courses extending in a course direction and a plurality of wales extending in a wale direction, and at least one monofilament corresponding to and being inlaid in a respective one of the courses. The suspension material has, in the course direction, a ratio of machine gauge, in needles per mm, to course stiffness, in N per mm, between 0.02 and 0.2 and has, in the wale direction, a ratio of machine gauge, in needles per mm, to wale stiffness, in N per mm, between 0.07 and 1.4.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Patent number: 11825957Abstract: A body support structure including a backrest, a seat connected to the backrest, and a suspension material connected to the backrest or the seat. The suspension material includes elastomeric filaments with monofilaments and multifilaments. The suspension material further includes a first zone with a first stiffness, a second zone with a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and a transition zone positioned between the first zone and the second zone.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: MILLERKNOLL, INC.Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Brock Walker, Jeff Bruner, Adwait Bhagwat, Ethan McGraw, Don Chadwick
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Patent number: 11813787Abstract: A method of manufacturing suspension seating includes providing a blank to be used in a suspension member. The blank has a non-visible marker. The method also includes illuminating the non-visible marker with an excitation source. The non-visible marker becomes detectable when illuminated by the excitation source. The method further includes sensing the non-visible marker with a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect the non-visible marker when illuminated by the excitation source. The method also includes determining, by a controller, a characteristic of the blank using the non-visible marker. The controller is in communication with the sensor and configured to receive information related to the non-visible marker from the sensor. The method further includes adjusting the blank to achieve the desired characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: MILLERKNOLL, INC.Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20220034006Abstract: A method of manufacturing a suspension member including providing a first set of yarns and a second set of yarns, combining the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns to form the suspension member, and at least partially bonding a portion of the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns together by heating the suspension member to form a first zone of the suspension member having a first tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20210339456Abstract: A method of manufacturing suspension seating includes providing a blank to be used in a suspension member. The blank has a non-visible marker. The method also includes illuminating the non-visible marker with an excitation source. The non-visible marker becomes detectable when illuminated by the excitation source. The method further includes sensing the non-visible marker with a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect the non-visible marker when illuminated by the excitation source. The method also includes determining, by a controller, a characteristic of the blank using the non-visible marker. The controller is in communication with the sensor and configured to receive information related to the non-visible marker from the sensor. The method further includes adjusting the blank to achieve the desired characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Patent number: 11097462Abstract: A method of manufacturing suspension seating includes providing a blank to be used in a suspension member. The blank has a non-visible marker. The method also includes illuminating the non-visible marker with an excitation source. The non-visible marker becomes detectable when illuminated by the excitation source. The method further includes sensing the non-visible marker with a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect the non-visible marker when illuminated by the excitation source. The method also includes determining, by a controller, a characteristic of the blank using the non-visible marker. The controller is in communication with the sensor and configured to receive information related to the non-visible marker from the sensor. The method further includes adjusting the blank to achieve the desired characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20210045534Abstract: A body support structure including a backrest, a seat connected to the backrest, and a suspension material connected to the backrest or the seat. The suspension material includes elastomeric filaments with monofilaments and multifilaments. The suspension material further includes a first zone with a first stiffness, a second zone with a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and a transition zone positioned between the first zone and the second zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Brock Walker, Jeff Bruner, Adwait Bhagwat, Ethan McGraw, Don Chadwick
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Patent number: 10874220Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Brock Walker, Jeff Bruner, Adwait Bhagwat, Ethan McGraw, Don Chadwick
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Patent number: 10208479Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide composite roofing strips that may be attached to a roofing membrane for aesthetic and/or functional purposes and method of attaching the same. According to one embodiment, a composite roofing strip may include a longitudinally extending body having a base and a lateral member extending from the base, and may also include an insert extending partially or fully along the body and coupled therewith. The insert may be formable so as to allow the composite roofing strip to be adjusted to have a desired profile and to maintain the desired profile of the composite roofing strip post adjustment.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Johns ManvilleInventors: Zebonie Sukle, Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20170355129Abstract: A method of manufacturing suspension seating includes providing a blank to be used in a suspension member. The blank has a non-visible marker. The method also includes illuminating the non-visible marker with an excitation source. The non-visible marker becomes detectable when illuminated by the excitation source. The method further includes sensing the non-visible marker with a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect the non-visible marker when illuminated by the excitation source. The method also includes determining, by a controller, a characteristic of the blank using the non-visible marker. The controller is in communication with the sensor and configured to receive information related to the non-visible marker from the sensor. The method further includes adjusting the blank to achieve the desired characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventor: Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20160319547Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide composite roofing strips that may be attached to a roofing membrane for aesthetic and/or functional purposes and method of attaching the same. According to one embodiment, a composite roofing strip may include a longitudinally extending body having a base and a lateral member extending from the base, and may also include an insert extending partially or fully along the body and coupled therewith. The insert may be formable so as to allow the composite roofing strip to be adjusted to have a desired profile and to maintain the desired profile of the composite roofing strip post adjustment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Zebonie Sukle, Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20160206102Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: John F. Aldrich, Brock Walker, Jeff Bruner, Adwait Bhagwat, Ethan McGraw
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Patent number: 9388578Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide composite roofing strips that may be attached to a roofing membrane for aesthetic and/or functional purposes and method of attaching the same. According to one embodiment, a composite roofing strip may include a longitudinally extending body having a base and a lateral member extending from the base, and may also include an insert extending partially or fully along the body and coupled therewith. The insert may be formable so as to allow the composite roofing strip to be adjusted to have a desired profile and to maintain the desired profile of the composite roofing strip post adjustment.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Johns ManvilleInventors: Zebonie Sukle, Ethan McGraw
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Publication number: 20150096255Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide composite roofing strips that may be attached to a roofing membrane for aesthetic and/or functional purposes and method of attaching the same. According to one embodiment, a composite roofing strip may include a longitudinally extending body having a base and a lateral member extending from the base, and may also include an insert extending partially or fully along the body and coupled therewith. The insert may be formable so as to allow the composite roofing strip to be adjusted to have a desired profile and to maintain the desired profile of the composite roofing strip post adjustment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: Johns ManvilleInventors: Zebonie Sukle, Ethan McGraw