Patents by Inventor Marc A. Gierz
Marc A. Gierz 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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Patent number: 7004543Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2004Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6877813Abstract: An adjustable armrest for a chair includes a housing having a cavity defined by a wall and a latch member slideably mounted in the cavity. The latch member includes a wedge shaped portion having a first and second surface forming a oblique angle between them. One of the first and second surfaces engages the wall of the housing at least when the latch is in the engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20050017557Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2004Publication date: January 27, 2005Inventors: Jerome Caruso, Steven Caruso, Bruce Gezon, Marc Gierz, Jack Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20040104611Abstract: An adjustable armrest for a chair includes a housing having a cavity defined by a wall and a latch member slideably mounted in the cavity. The latch member includes a wedge shaped portion having a first and second surface forming a oblique angle between them. One of the first and second surfaces engages the wall of the housing at least when the latch is in the engaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6598937Abstract: An adjustable backrest for a seating structure includes an upright having a rack. The backrest is moveably mounted on the upright. A pawl is pivotally mounted to the backrest about a pivot axis and is pivotable between an engaged position, wherein the pawl is engaged with the rack, and a disengaged position, wherein the pawl is disengaged from the rack. The pawl is further translatably mounted to the backrest, wherein the pawl is translatable relative to the backrest between at least a disabled position and an operative position. A spring biases the pawl into the engaged position when the pawl is in the operative position. A method of adjusting the height of the backrest is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2002Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20020195856Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6386636Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6367876Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20010040399Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2001Publication date: November 15, 2001Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Publication number: 20010011840Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2001Publication date: August 9, 2001Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6250715Abstract: A tiltable chair including a housing, a back support pivotally attached to the housing about a first horizontal axis and a seat support pivotally attached to the housing about a second horizontal axis. A leaf spring includes a first end engaging the housing and a second end biasing the back support and seat support in an upward direction. A fulcrum member is moveably supported in the housing and engages a bottom surface of the spring intermediate the first and second ends of the spring. The chair also include an adjustable backrest and armrests slideably mounted on the back support, and a seat slideably mounted on the seat support. A tilt limiter is provided to limit the rearward tilting of the chair. A selector member includes indicia that indicates the setting of the tilt limiter so as to apprise the user of maximum available rearward tilt position of the chair.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
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Patent number: 6250718Abstract: A chair including a seat, a support member, an outwardly extending projection and a chair back. A support member extends upward adjacent a rear portion of the seat. An outwardly extending projection is attached the support member. The chair back includes front, back, top and bottom surfaces. The chair back has a cavity opening downwardly toward the bottom surface and an aperture is the back surface. The aperture extends in a direction from the cavity to the back surface and communicates with the cavity. The top portion of the support member extends into the cavity and the projection extends into the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Marc A. Gierz
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Patent number: 6227615Abstract: An operational guide mounted to an adjustable chair as well as a chair including an operational guide. The operational guide includes a card having a pictorial guide for operating the adjustable chair located on the top side of the card. The operational guide also includes a device for mounting the card to the bottom of the seat of the chair. The mounting device is adapted to allow the card to move between an extended position wherein the pictorial guide is visible to an occupant of the chair and a retracted position wherein the pictorial guide is not visible to the occupant of the chair. Also, the mounting device holds the card so that the orientation of the pictorial guide corresponds to the orientation of the controls for adjusting the chair when the card is in the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Marc A. Gierz, Richard C. Weise
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Patent number: 6109696Abstract: A chair having a support member secured to a chair back without fastening devices. The support member having a top portion extends upward from a rear portion of the seat. The projecting surface is attached to the top portion of the support member. The chair back includes front, back, top and bottom surfaces. A cavity opens downwardly toward the bottom surface of the chair back. An aperture communicating with the cavity is located within one of the front and back surfaces of the chair back. The top portion of the support member extends into the cavity with the projecting surface extending into the aperture. The top portion of the support member may also include an insert member.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1998Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Marc A. Gierz
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Patent number: RE36928Abstract: An operational guide mounted to an adjustable chair as well as a chair including an operational guide. The operational guide includes a card having a pictorial guide for operating the adjustable chair located on the top side of the card. The operational guide also includes a device for mounting the card to the bottom of the seat of the chair. The mounting device is adapted to allow the card to move between an extended position wherein the pictorial guide is visible to an occupant of the chair and a retracted position wherein the pictorial guide is not visible to the occupant of the chair. Also, the mounting device holds the card so that the orientation of the pictorial guide corresponds to the orientation of the controls for adjusting the chair when the card is in the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1998Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Herman Miller Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Newhouse, Marc A. Gierz, Richard C. Weise