Patents by Inventor John R. Koch

John R. Koch 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: 9572432
    Abstract: A chair system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a base comprising a seat for a user and one or more support legs, a back, and a flexible back support element rigidly coupled to the back and to the base, the flexible back support element comprising a flex zone, the flex zone comprising one or more notches, wherein the back is reclinable from an upright position to a reclined position, wherein the one or more notches are configured to narrow as the back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position, and wherein the one or more notches are open in the upright position and closed in the reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HNI Corporation
    Inventors: Wolfgang Deisig, Nils Koehn, Corey J. Susie, John R. Koch, Phillip D. Minino
  • Patent number: 8820835
    Abstract: A reclining chair has a base coupled to a chair back. The chair back is adapted to recline from an upright position to a reclined position. To accommodate that reclining motion, the chair back includes a flex zone formed with notches extending through an inner portion of the flex zone. Those notches narrow as the chair back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position. The flex zone also includes an outer portion that is separated from the inner portion by a gap, the outer portion having one or more notches extending through the outer portion. Those notches also narrow as the chair back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip David Minino, John R. Koch, Marcus Curtis Koepke, Corey John Susie, Martin Calvin Koepke
  • Publication number: 20140183915
    Abstract: A chair system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a base comprising a seat for a user and one or more support legs, a back, and a flexible back support element rigidly coupled to the back and to the base, the flexible back support element comprising a flex zone, the flex zone comprising one or more notches, wherein the back is reclinable from an upright position to a reclined position, wherein the one or more notches are configured to narrow as the back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position, and wherein the one or more notches are open in the upright position and closed in the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: HNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wolfgang DEISIG, Nils KOEHN, Corey J. SUSIE, John R. KOCH, Philip D. MININO
  • Publication number: 20140062154
    Abstract: A reclining chair has a base coupled to a chair back. The chair back is adapted to recline from an upright position to a reclined position. To accommodate that reclining motion, the chair back includes a flex zone formed with notches extending through an inner portion of the flex zone. Those notches narrow as the chair back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position. The flex zone also includes an outer portion that is separated from the inner portion by a gap, the outer portion having one or more notches extending through the outer portion. Those notches also narrow as the chair back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: HNI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Phillip David Minino, John R. Koch, Marcus Curtis Koepke, Corey John Susie, Martin Calvin Koepke
  • Patent number: 8567864
    Abstract: A chair system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a base comprising a seat for a user and one or more support legs, a back, and a flexible back support element rigidly coupled to the back and to the base, the flexible back support element comprising a flex zone, the flex zone comprising one or more notches, wherein the back is reclinable from an upright position to a reclined position, wherein the one or more notches are configured to narrow as the back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position, and wherein the one or more notches are open in the upright position and closed in the reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: HNI Corporation
    Inventors: Wolfgang Deisig, Nils Koehn, Corey J. Susie, John R. Koch, Phillip D. Minino
  • Publication number: 20130038110
    Abstract: A chair system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a base comprising a seat for a user and one or more support legs, a back, and a flexible back support element rigidly coupled to the back and to the base, the flexible back support element comprising a flex zone, the flex zone comprising one or more notches, wherein the back is reclinable from an upright position to a reclined position, wherein the one or more notches are configured to narrow as the back reclines from the upright position to the reclined position, and wherein the one or more notches are open in the upright position and closed in the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: HNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wolfgang DEISIG, Nils KOEHN, Corey J. SUSIE, John R. KOCH, Phillip D. MININO
  • Publication number: 20110031793
    Abstract: An adjustable reclining chair including a seat configured to support a user, a chair back, a base and a control mechanism mounted on the base. The control mechanism coupling the chair back to the seat with the chair back located generally adjacent to the user's back when the user is seated upon the seat. The control mechanism including a resistance adjustment mechanism for varying the control mechanism's resistance to a reclining force applied by the user to the chair back in order to move the chair back rearward from an upright position. The resistance adjustment mechanism activated by the weight of the user when seated in the chair, such that easy adjustment of the resistance is facilitated with the chair in an upright position. The resistance adjustment mechanism including a resilient member placed under a load during reclining of the chair to provide resistance to the reclining force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jay R. MACHAEL, John R. KOCH, Marcus C. KOEPKE
  • Patent number: 7837265
    Abstract: An adjustable reclining chair including a seat configured to support a user, a chair back, a base and a control mechanism mounted on the base. The control mechanism coupling the chair back to the seat with the chair back located generally adjacent to the user's back when the user is seated upon the seat. The control mechanism including a resistance adjustment mechanism for varying the control mechanism's resistance to a reclining force applied by the user to the chair back in order to move the chair back rearward from an upright position. The resistance adjustment mechanism activated by the weight of the user when seated in the chair, such that easy adjustment of the resistance is facilitated with the chair in an upright position. The resistance adjustment mechanism including a resilient member placed under a load during reclining of the chair to provide resistance to the reclining force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: HNI Corporation
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, John R. Koch, Marcus C. Koepke
  • Publication number: 20070222265
    Abstract: An adjustable reclining chair including a seat configured to support a user, a chair back, a base and a control mechanism mounted on the base. The control mechanism coupling the chair back to the seat with the chair back located generally adjacent to the user's back when the user is seated upon the seat. The control mechanism including a resistance adjustment mechanism for varying the control mechanism's resistance to a reclining force applied by the user to the chair back in order to move the chair back rearward from an upright position. The resistance adjustment mechanism activated by the weight of the user when seated in the chair, such that easy adjustment of the resistance is facilitated with the chair in an upright position. The resistance adjustment mechanism including a resilient member placed under a load during reclining of the chair to provide resistance to the reclining force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: HNI Corporation
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, John R. Koch, Marcus C. Koepke
  • Patent number: D250663
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John R. Koch, Mitchell J. Cohen, Richard T. Powers
  • Patent number: D707477
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: HNI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip David Minino, John R. Koch, Marcus Curtis Koepke, Corey John Susie, Martin Calvin Koepke