Patents by Inventor Joe Willette

Joe Willette 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: 9538849
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad that includes a plurality of support rings disposed one inside of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Publication number: 20150015052
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad that includes a plurality of support rings disposed one inside of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Patent number: 8845024
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. The chair back also includes a pelvic support pad which is disposed vertically adjacent to the lumbar support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Patent number: 8313143
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. The chair back also includes a pelvic support pad which is disposed vertically adjacent to the lumbar support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Publication number: 20120274119
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. The chair back also includes a pelvic support pad which is disposed vertically adjacent to the lumbar support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: HAWORTH INC.
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Patent number: 8132860
    Abstract: An armrest for a chair is provided which has an improved anti-rotation and mechanical connection between an armrest body and a frame tube of the chair. The end of the frame tube is mechanically deformed or is shaped so as to have a non-circular profile with a central opening defined by inwardly projecting arcuate surfaces of the frame tube. The armrest includes a cooperating, non-circular socket which fits onto the frame tube wherein a suitable fastener is threaded downwardly into direct, self-threading engagement with an upper opening formed in the end of the frame tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Fookes, Joe Willette, Steve Simpson
  • Publication number: 20110140497
    Abstract: An armrest for a chair is provided which has an improved anti-rotation and mechanical connection between an armrest body and a frame tube of the chair. The end of the frame tube is mechanically deformed or is shaped so as to have a non-circular profile with a central opening defined by inwardly projecting arcuate surfaces of the frame tube. The armrest includes a cooperating, non-circular socket which fits onto the frame tube wherein a suitable fastener is threaded downwardly into direct, self-threading engagement with an upper opening formed in the end of the frame tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Tim Fookes, Joe Willette, Steve Simpson
  • Publication number: 20100007190
    Abstract: An office chair (10) is provided-having a contoured back assembly (24) comprising a back frame (23) and a suspension fabric (26). The fabric is attached to the back frame through a spline (58) wherein the back frame has a three-dimensional contoured shape formed by overlapped frame rings with the fabric being joined thereto by a spline. The back frame has a split upright section to increase the ability of the left and right halves of the frame to articulate relative to each other. Further, a bayonet connection is provided between the back frame and a support upright which bayonet connection holds together the upper ends of two separate uprights of a tilt control mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Johnson, Steve Gager, Wesley D. Mersman, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson
  • Publication number: 20090256407
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. The chair back also includes a pelvic support pad which is disposed vertically adjacent to the lumbar support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Patent number: 7484802
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. The chair back also includes a pelvic support pad which is disposed vertically adjacent to the lumbar support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Publication number: 20080179929
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. The chair back also includes a pelvic support pad which is disposed vertically adjacent to the lumbar support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Patent number: 7347495
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. The chair back also includes a pelvic support pad which is disposed vertically adjacent to the lumbar support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete J. Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Patent number: 7318286
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. A testing apparatus and method are used to optimize the support pressure characteristics of the lumbar pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Willette, Larry A. Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Publication number: 20080005917
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. A testing apparatus and method are used to optimize the support pressure characteristics of the lumbar pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Joe Willette, Larry Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Publication number: 20070057550
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a back assembly which is configured to provide supplemental support to the back of a chair occupant in addition to the support provided by the primary support surface of the chair back. The chair back includes a lumbar support unit having a lumbar support pad wherein asymmetric support is provided to the left and right halves of the lumbar pad. As such, the asymmetric support loads are independently adjustable to more comfortably support a chair occupant. The chair back also includes a pelvic support pad which is disposed vertically adjacent to the lumbar support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Pete Beyer, Joe Willette, Larry Wilkerson, Teresa Bellingar
  • Patent number: 6908158
    Abstract: A support arm for a chair includes a base component and a support body interconnected therewith wherein opposite ends of the support body are movable longitudinally and laterally. The opposite ends may be displaced simultaneously in opposite lateral directions to permit angular displacement of the support body. The connector arrangement which interconnects the support body to the base component includes two sets of locking formations wherein the first set include longitudinally elongate parallel slots and the second set include an array of lateral rows and longitudinal columns of openings. The holes define the lateral and longitudinal position of one end of the support body while the slots define the lateral position of the opposite end of the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Willette, Eric J. Boone
  • Publication number: 20040130200
    Abstract: A support arm for a chair includes a base component and a support body interconnected therewith wherein opposite ends of the support body are movable longitudinally and laterally. The opposite ends may be displaced simultaneously in opposite lateral directions to permit angular displacement of the support body. The connector arrangement which interconnects the support body to the base component includes two sets of locking formations wherein the first set include longitudinally elongate parallel slots and the second set include an array of lateral rows and longitudinal columns of openings. The holes define the lateral and longitudinal position of one end of the support body while the slots define the lateral position of the opposite end of the support body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Joe Willette, Eric J. Boone
  • Patent number: D545076
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Joern Dallmann, Larry A. Wilkerson, Joe Willette, Michael W. Welsh, Pete Beyer
  • Patent number: D562574
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Joern Dallmann, Larry A. Wilkerson, Joe Willette, Michael W. Welsh, Pete Beyer
  • Patent number: D587942
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Joern Dallmann, Larry A. Wilkerson, Joe Willette, Michael W. Welsh, Pete Beyer