Patents by Inventor Kurt R. Heidmann

Kurt R. Heidmann 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: 10219627
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a shell having a central portion, opposite outer peripheral edges laterally spaced from opposite sides of the central portion, and at least one biasing array disposed between each of the opposite sides of the central portion and a respective outer peripheral edge. Each of the biasing arrays includes a plurality of spaced apart support members and at least one connector connecting adjacent support members within each array. The biasing array may include a plurality of biasing arrays, with at least one connector connecting adjacent biasing arrays. A second shell may be connected to the outer peripheral edges of the first shell, with an open space defined there between. Each of the opposite outer peripheral edges is independently deflectable in response to a load being applied to the second shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: STEELCASE INC.
    Inventors: Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Patent number: 10206507
    Abstract: A chair control assembly includes a base structure having first and second pivot points spaced from one another, a seat support structure coupled to the first pivot point, a back support structure coupled to the second pivot point and adapted to move between first and second positions, wherein the base structure does not move as the back support structure moves between the first and second positions, and a control link pivotably coupled to the seat support structure for rotation about a third pivot point and pivotably coupled to the back support structure for rotation about a fourth pivot point, wherein the third pivot point is rearward of the fourth pivot point when the back support structure is in the upright position, and the third pivot point moves forward relative to the fourth pivot point as the back support structure moves from the upright to reclined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Todd T. Andres, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon Jay Peterson, Todd David Krupiczewicz
  • Patent number: 10194750
    Abstract: A seating arrangement includes a seat arrangement that includes first, second, third and fourth link members coupled to one another, a back arrangement movable between an upright position and a reclined position and coupled to the seat arrangement such that the first link member moves between forward and rearward positions as the back arrangement is moved between the upright and reclined positions, and a stop arrangement including a stop link coupled to at least one of the first link member, the third link and the fourth link member such that the stop link moves with the associated link member as the back assembly moves between the upright and reclined positions, wherein travel of the stop link is limited with respect to the second link member thereby limiting a rearward movement of the back arrangement toward the reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Ludwig, Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt R. Heidmann, William Thomas Johnson, Bruce M. Smith, Mark William Spoelhof
  • Publication number: 20180352961
    Abstract: A seating arrangement includes a base member, and an integrally formed support member coupled to the base member and supporting a seat moveable from an upright position to a reclined position, wherein a first portion of the support member positioned rearwardly of the base member is bendable such that an upper layer of the first portion is put in tension, and wherein a second portion of the support member positioned forwardly of the base member is bendable such that a lower layer of the second portion is put in tension, wherein the upper layer of the first portion and the lower layer of the second portion are reinforced with at least one tensile substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt R. Heidmann, Michael J. Kemen
  • Publication number: 20180160813
    Abstract: A chair control assembly includes a base structure having first and second pivot points spaced from one another, a seat support structure coupled to the first pivot point, a back support structure coupled to the second pivot point and adapted to move between first and second positions, wherein the base structure does not move as the back support structure moves between the first and second positions, and a control link pivotably coupled to the seat support structure for rotation about a third pivot point and pivotably coupled to the back support structure for rotation about a fourth pivot point, wherein the third pivot point is rearward of the fourth pivot point when the back support structure is in the upright position, and the third pivot point moves forward relative to the fourth pivot point as the back support structure moves from the upright to reclined positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Todd T. Andres, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon Jay Peterson, Todd David Krupiczewicz
  • Publication number: 20180084914
    Abstract: A seating structure includes a shell having a central portion, opposite outer peripheral edges laterally spaced from opposite sides of the central portion, and at least one biasing array disposed between each of the opposite sides of the central portion and a respective outer peripheral edge. Each of the biasing arrays includes a plurality of spaced apart support members and at least one connector connecting adjacent support members within each array. The biasing array may include a plurality of biasing arrays, with at least one connector connecting adjacent biasing arrays. A second shell may be connected to the outer peripheral edges of the first shell, with an open space defined there between. Each of the opposite outer peripheral edges is independently deflectable in response to a load being applied to the second shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: NICKOLAUS WILLIAM CHARLES DEEVERS, Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Publication number: 20180080225
    Abstract: An office work system includes a first and second table assemblies each including a first work surface having first and second ends, and leg arrangements coupled to the work surfaces and configured to support the work surfaces above a floor surface, a beam arrangement that includes an upwardly-facing surface, a first end, a second end, and a pair of channels extending between the first and second ends, the channels coextending with one another and being located at the same vertical height, wherein the first table and second table assemblies are coupled to the beam arrangement, a work tool positioned above the beam arrangement, and a connector assembly connecting the work tool to the beam arrangement, where the connector assembly is coupled to the work tool and engages the pair of channels of the beam arrangement such that the work tool may be repositioned along a length of the beam arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Feldpausch, Marvin C. Knauf, Bradley D. Youngs, Mark T. Slager, Kurt R. Heidmann, John R. Hamilton, Ryan Geister, Daniel Phillips
  • Patent number: 9918552
    Abstract: A control assembly for a chair includes a base structure having a first pivot point and a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point, a seat support structure having a forward portion pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the first pivot point, a back support structure having a forward portion pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the second pivot point, wherein the back support structure is adapted to move between upright and reclined positions, and wherein the seat support structure reclines rearwardly as the back support structure moves from the upright to reclined positions, and a control link having a first end pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the seat support structure for rotation about a third pivot point, and a second end pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the back support structure for rotation about a fourth pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Todd T. Andres, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Publication number: 20180073249
    Abstract: A partition assembly for subdividing a floor plan area that includes a beam assembly including a beam member including an upper wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, first and second ends, and a pair of channels extending between the first and second ends, each of the channels positioned closer to one of the pair of side walls than to a longitudinally-extending center line of the beam member, a lower frame member located below the beam member, and vertical frame members extending between the beam member and the lower frame member, a work tool positioned above the beam assembly, and a connector assembly connecting the work tool to the beam assembly, where the connector assembly is coupled to the work tool and engages the pair of channels of the beam member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. Feldpausch, Marvin C. Knauf, Bradley D. Youngs, Mark T. Slager, Kurt R. Heidmann, John R. Hamilton, Ryan Geister, Daniel Phillips
  • Publication number: 20180042384
    Abstract: A chair back assembly includes a substantially rigid back frame assembly, a back shell member operably supported by the back frame assembly and including a laterally extending top portion, a laterally extending bottom portion and a pair of longitudinally extending side portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion and cooperating therewith to define an open space therebetween, wherein the pair of side portions are substantially rigid in a lateral direction, and wherein the back shell member is substantially rigid in a lateral direction and substantially flexibly resilient in a fore-to-aft direction, and a cover having a first surface adapted to support a seated user and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the cover is positioned over the back shell member to cover at least a portion of the open space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Gordon J. Peterson, Kurt R. Heidmann, Todd T. Andres, Todd David Krupiczewicz
  • Publication number: 20180027973
    Abstract: A seating arrangement includes a seat arrangement that includes first, second, third and fourth link members coupled to one another, a back arrangement movable between an upright position and a reclined position and coupled to the seat arrangement such that the first link member moves between forward and rearward positions as the back arrangement is moved between the upright and reclined positions, and a stop arrangement including a stop link coupled to at least one of the first link member, the third link and the fourth link member such that the stop link moves with the associated link member as the back assembly moves between the upright and reclined positions, wherein travel of the stop link is limited with respect to the second link member thereby limiting a rearward movement of the back arrangement toward the reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Ludwig, Nickolaus William Charles Deevers, Kurt R. Heidmann, William Thomas Johnson, Bruce M. Smith, Mark William Spoelhof
  • Patent number: 9861201
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a base structure defining upper and lower portions, and a support structure, a seat support structure having a forward portion pivotably connected to the upper portion of the base structure for rotation about a first pivot point and a rearward portion, a back support structure having a forward portion pivotably connected to the lower portion of the base structure for rotation about a second pivot point that is located below and rearward of the first pivot point, and an upwardly extending back portion that moves rearwardly and downwardly as the back support structure pivots and the back portion moves, and a control link pivotably coupled to the seat support structure for rotation about a third pivot point and to the back support structure for rotation about a fourth pivot point each located rearward of the first and second pivot points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Steelcase, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Richard N. Roslund, Jr., Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Todd D. Krupiczewicz, Nathan R. Brock, Jeffrey A. Hall, Gordon J. Peterson, Todd T. Andres
  • Patent number: 9844267
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a seat support structure, a back support structure, a back tensioning assembly adjustable between low and high tension positions, an actuator assembly adapted to adjust the back tensioning assembly between the low and high tension positions, a control input assembly actuable by rotating the portion of the control input assembly, and a control link assembly operably coupling the control input assembly with the actuator assembly to adjust the back tensioning assembly between the low and high tension positions upon rotation of the portion of the control assembly by a seated user, wherein a number of rotations of the portion of the control input assembly is not limited by the control link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Todd T. Andres
  • Patent number: 9826839
    Abstract: A chair back assembly includes a back shell member including laterally extending top, bottom and side portions cooperating to define an open space therebetween, where a portion of the back shell member is located in a lumbar region, a cover having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the cover covers at least a portion of the open space, and a back frame assembly operably supporting the back shell member and movable between upright and reclined positions, wherein the back frame assembly causes the back shell to flex in a fore-to-aft direction as the back frame assembly is moved between the upright and reclined positions independent of an external force being exerted on the back shell member, and where the lumbar portion of the back shell member remains spaced from the back frame as the back frame is moved between the upright and reclined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Gordon J. Peterson, Kurt R. Heidmann, Todd T. Andres, Todd David Krupiczewicz
  • Patent number: 9706845
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a seat support structure having a seat surface pivotable about a first pivot point between first and second positions, and a back support assembly coupled to the seat support structure, movable between upright and reclined positions and pivotable about a second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point is located at a position along a first line perpendicular to a second line tangential to the seat surface and at a forward most portion of a back surface, forward between along a third line parallel with the second line, down to the second line along a fourth line perpendicular with the second line, up the fourth line such that the second pivot point is located within a given radius from the first pivot point when the back support assembly is in the upright and reclined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon J. Peterson, Todd T. Andres
  • Patent number: 9611641
    Abstract: An office work system comprises a first furniture unit having a first laterally-extending channel, and a second furniture unit having a second laterally-extending channel, the second channel being disposed substantially parallel to and at least substantially the same vertical height as the first channel, such that at least a portion of the first and second channels coextend. The office work system further comprises a work accessory and a connector assembly to connect the work accessory to the first and second furniture units along the coextending portions of the channels, the assembly including a pair of engagement members adapted to engage the first and second channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Hamilton, Marvin C. Knauf, Bradley D. Youngs, Mark T. Slager, Kurt R. Heidmann, Daniel Phillips, Helen A. Buckley, Ryan Pauly
  • Publication number: 20170007022
    Abstract: A chair assembly includes a seat support structure, a back support structure, a back tensioning assembly adjustable between low and high tension positions, an actuator assembly adapted to adjust the back tensioning assembly between the low and high tension positions, a control input assembly actuable by rotating the portion of the control input assembly, and a control link assembly operably coupling the control input assembly with the actuator assembly to adjust the back tensioning assembly between the low and high tension positions upon rotation of the portion of the control assembly by a seated user, wherein a number of rotations of the portion of the control input assembly is not limited by the control link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Todd T. Andres
  • Patent number: 9526339
    Abstract: A control assembly for a chair including a base structure including a first pivot point and a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point, and a seat support structure directly pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the first pivot point, a back support structure pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the second pivot point, wherein the back support structure is adapted to move between a first and second position, a control link having a first end operably coupled to the seat support structure, and a second end operably coupled to the back support structure, and a biasing assembly exerting a biasing torque about the second pivot point that biases the back support structure from the second position toward the first position, wherein the biasing torque is adjustable between first and second magnitudes when the back support structure is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Gary L. Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann, Todd T. Andres
  • Publication number: 20160367029
    Abstract: A control assembly for a chair includes a base structure having a first pivot point and a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point, a seat support structure having a forward portion pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the first pivot point, a back support structure having a forward portion pivotably coupled to the base structure for rotation about the second pivot point, wherein the back support structure is adapted to move between upright and reclined positions, and wherein the seat support structure reclines rearwardly as the back support structure moves from the upright to reclined positions, and a control link having a first end pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the seat support structure for rotation about a third pivot point, and a second end pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the back support structure for rotation about a fourth pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Battey, Todd T. Andres, Gary Lee Karsten, Kurt R. Heidmann
  • Patent number: D802952
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: James Nolan Ludwig, Bruce Michael Smith, Jessie Michele Storey, Kurt R. Heidmann