Patents by Inventor Ron K. Watson

Ron K. Watson 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: 8480171
    Abstract: A chair having a seat rotatably attached to a tilt spring portion of a tilt mechanism such that the tilt spring is activated by movement of the seat. A backrest and/or the seat can be rotatably connected to the tilt mechanism by parallel arm arrangements which permit the seat and backrest to tilt relative to each other. A tilt limiter can have a magnetic member which facilitates full movement of the tilt limiter between free and locked positions, and which creates an audible indication of full movement of the tilt limiter. The seat/backrest can be made from a flexible mesh material secured to a rigid overmolding which surrounds and is attached to an inner frame of the seat/backrest wherein an outer surface of the overmolding forms an outer surface of the seat/backrest frame and attachment of the overmolding causes the inner frame to stretch the mesh to a final condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Knoll, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald T. Chadwick, Arkady Golynsky, Robert A. Melhuish, Hendrik R. van Hekken, Ron K. Watson
  • Patent number: 7887131
    Abstract: A chair having a seat rotatably attached to a tilt spring portion of a tilt mechanism such that the tilt spring is activated by movement of the seat. A backrest and/or the seat can be rotatably connected to the tilt mechanism by parallel arm arrangements which permit the seat and backrest to tilt relative to each other. A tilt limiter can have a magnetic member which facilitates full movement of the tilt limiter between free and locked positions, and which creates an audible indication of full movement of the tilt limiter. The seat/backrest can be made from a flexible mesh material secured to a rigid overmolding which surrounds and is attached to an inner frame of the seat/backrest wherein an outer surface of the overmolding forms an outer surface of the seat/backrest frame and attachment of the overmolding causes the inner frame to stretch the mesh to a final condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Knoll, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald T. Chadwick, Arkady Golynsky, Robert A. Melhuish, Hendrik R. van Hekken, Ron K. Watson
  • Publication number: 20100141000
    Abstract: A chair having a seat rotatably attached to a tilt spring portion of a tilt mechanism such that the tilt spring is activated by movement of the seat. A backrest and/or the seat can be rotatably connected to the tilt mechanism by parallel arm arrangements which permit the seat and backrest to tilt relative to each other. A tilt limiter can have a magnetic member which facilitates full movement of the tilt limiter between free and locked positions, and which creates an audible indication of full movement of the tilt limiter. The seat/backrest can be made from a flexible mesh material secured to a rigid overmolding which surrounds and is attached to an inner frame of the seat/backrest wherein an outer surface of the overmolding forms an outer surface of the seat/backrest frame and attachment of the overmolding causes the inner frame to stretch the mesh to a final condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Knoll, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald T. Chadwick, Arkady Golynsky, Robert A. Melhuish, Hendrik R. van Hekken, Ron K. Watson
  • Patent number: 5393125
    Abstract: A height adjustable chair arm assembly includes an inner tube joined to an arm support of a chair, an elongated lock plate disposed within the inner tube and a lock tube assembly including an upper lock release housing and an elongated guide tube telescopingly disposed within the inner tube. The elongated lock plate defines a plurality of vertically spaced sockets or lock indentations. An elongated lock rod is movably disposed within the lock tube. A ball lock element, disposed within the lock tube, is engaged by the lock rod. The rod is movable from a locked position wherein the rod holds the lock element within one of the indentations and an unlocked position wherein the lock element may move out of the indentation and the lock tube assembly may telescope with respect to the inner tube. An armrest or arm cap is fixed to an upper end of the lock tube assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Ron K. Watson, James M. Mancewicz