Patents by Inventor Johann Burkhard Schmitz

Johann Burkhard Schmitz 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: 9538848
    Abstract: A piece of seating furniture has a saddle-form seat surface, wherein the seat surface is arranged on a saddle support. The seat surface here is mounted between a front saddle member on a front member support and a rear saddle member on a rear member support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
  • Patent number: 9510684
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
  • Publication number: 20160309893
    Abstract: A partition system includes various accessories that may be associated with a wall or base element. The accessories include without limitation a power strip, an adjustable shelf, various backdrops and a worksurface assembly. The wall element may be curved or linear in various embodiments. The wall element may include an upstanding wall or a channel, either or both of which are engaged by one or more accessories. In some embodiments, the accessories may be co-located at a single location, with one or more accessories accommodating the others with an expansion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Janja Maidl
  • Patent number: 9474366
    Abstract: A partition system includes various accessories that may be associated with a wall or base element. The accessories include without limitation an adjustable shelf. The wall element may be curved or linear in various embodiments. The wall element may include an upstanding wall or a channel, either or both of which are engaged by one or more accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Janja Maidl
  • Patent number: 9457499
    Abstract: An element molded from a particle foam, including for example expanded polypropylene foam, includes at least one visible exterior surface defined by the particle foam. The visible exterior surface is textured having a roughness depth of less than or equal to 1.00 mm and a plurality of vent interfaces each having a maximum width of less than or equal to 0.4 mm. Methods of molding the element, together with a mold and a method of making the mold, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Janja Maidl, Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick
  • Publication number: 20160201321
    Abstract: A partition system includes a plurality of wall elements merging one into another, wherein at least one wall element is designed as a stepped element, and wherein at least one wall element is designed as a corner element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Patent number: 9380867
    Abstract: A partition system includes various accessories that may be associated with a wall or base element. The accessories include without limitation a power strip, an adjustable shelf, various backdrops and a worksurface assembly. The wall element may be curved or linear in various embodiments. The wall element may include an upstanding wall or a channel, either or both of which are engaged by one or more accessories. In some embodiments, the accessories may be co-located at a single location, with one or more accessories accommodating the others with an expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Janja Maidl
  • Patent number: 9303401
    Abstract: A partition system includes a plurality of wall elements merging one into another, wherein at least one wall element is designed as a stepped element, and wherein at least one wall element is designed as a corner element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Patent number: 9211014
    Abstract: A body support structure includes a molded polymeric support grid having a three-dimensional molded contour. The support grid includes a body support region having a plurality of through openings separated by a plurality of lands. In one embodiment, an area of the openings is greater than an area of the lands. In another embodiment, the ratio of a surface area of the lands relative to an area defined by an outer peripheral edge is less than or equal to 0.74. A fabric layer is bonded to the plurality of lands and covers the plurality of openings. Methods of manufacturing and recycling the body structure are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick, Andrew J Kurrasch
  • Publication number: 20150300009
    Abstract: A partition system includes a plurality of wall elements merging one into another, wherein at least one wall element is designed as a stepped element, and wherein at least one wall element is designed as a corner element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: CLAUDIA PLIKAT, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Publication number: 20150238016
    Abstract: A body support structure includes a frame and a membrane attached to the frame. The membrane includes elastomeric filaments. The membrane has a first region with a first stiffness and a second region with a second stiffness. The second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness. The membrane may form a part of a seat or a backrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: JOHANN BURKHARD SCHMITZ, CLAUDIA PLIKAT, CAROLA EVA MARIANNE ZWICK, ROLAND ROLF OTTO ZWICK, ANDREW KEITH HECTOR, JOHN FREDRIC ALDRICH
  • Publication number: 20150231850
    Abstract: A sandwich element includes a top layer made of a material having a high tensile strength, a middle layer made of EPP and a bottom layer made of a material having a high tensile strength, wherein the middle layer forms a core having a high compressive strength which runs between the top layer and the bottom layer, which core protrudes beyond the top layer and the bottom layer in such a manner that it forms first and second marginal regions on the top and bottom sides of the sandwich element. A mold, and method of making a sandwich element, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Publication number: 20150230610
    Abstract: A body support structure including a pair of laterally spaced apart supporting arms defining a gap therebetween, wherein each of the supporting arms includes an upper support having an upwardly extending upright and a forwardly extending seat support defining a seat part, and a lower support having an upwardly extending upright spaced apart from the upright of the upper support in a vertical plane. The uprights of the upper and lower supports define a backrest part. A pair of armrests each includes an upwardly extending portion connected to a respective one of the forwardly extending seat supports and a forwardly extending portion pivotally connected to the backrest part. A cross brace extends between and is coupled to the supporting arms proximate the pivotal connection. A flexible membrane extends between and is coupled to the supporting arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: JOHANN BURKHARD SCHMITZ, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John F. Aldrich
  • Publication number: 20150216297
    Abstract: A partition system includes various accessories that may be associated with a wall or base element. The accessories include without limitation an adjustable shelf. The wall element may be curved or linear in various embodiments. The wall element may include an upstanding wall or a channel, either or both of which are engaged by one or more accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
    Inventors: CLAUDIA PLIKAT, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Janja Maidl
  • Patent number: 9010034
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola E. M. Zwick, Roland R. O. Zwick
  • Patent number: 8967726
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Claudia Plikat, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick, Andrew Keith Hector, John Fredric Aldrich
  • Patent number: D722797
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Patent number: D723851
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Patent number: D746621
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
  • Patent number: D758770
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia Plikat, Johann Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Eva Marianne Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto Zwick