Patents by Inventor Stephen Hoffman

Stephen Hoffman 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).

  • Publication number: 20130140855
    Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat; a backrest; a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat and backrest, the reclining mechanism configured to move the seating unit between an upright position, in which the seat is disposed above the base and the backrest defines a first backrest angle relative to the seat, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest has reclined relative to the seat to a second backrest angle that exceeds the first backrest angle; a headrest that is positioned above the backrest; and a headrest mechanism attached to the headrest and to the reclining mechanism. The headrest mechanism is configured to move the headrest from a retracted position when the seating unit is in its upright position to an extended position when the seating unit is in its fully reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120286557
    Abstract: A reclining health-care chair includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a frame including a pair of opposed arms; a seat; a backrest; a footrest; a tilting mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, the tilting mechanism attached to the base and to the seat and configured to control movement of the seat relative to the base; a reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, the reclining mechanism attached to the backrest, footrest, seat, frame and tilting mechanism to control relative movement of the backrest, footrest, frame and seat relative to the base; and a power actuating unit attached to the seat and to the tilting mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8297693
    Abstract: A reciprocating and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a reciprocating mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the reciprocating mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to reciprocate relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism, the actuating unit configured to move the chair between an upright position, an intermediate TV position, and a fully reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120153704
    Abstract: A rocking and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a rocker mechanism attached with the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the rocker mechanism configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to experience a longitudinally-directed rocking motion relative to the base unit; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism. The actuating unit is configured to move the chair between an upright position, an intermediate TV position, and a fully reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120146364
    Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a base; a rocker assembly fixed to the base; an arm frame fixed to the rocker assembly, wherein the rocker assembly is configured such that the arm frame experiences rocking motion relative to the base; a generally horizontally-disposed seat; a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat; a footrest unit; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls movement of the seat and the backrest relative to the arm frame between an upright position and a reclined position. The footrest unit comprises at least one footrest and a footrest mechanism that interconnects the footrest with the seat. And is decoupled from the reclining mechanism. When the backrest moves between the upright and reclined positions, the footrest unit moves relative to the arm frame in concert with the seat. In the reclined position, the rocking mechanism prevents the arm frame from rocking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120119547
    Abstract: A reciprocating and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a reciprocating mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the reciprocating mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to reciprocate relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism, the actuating unit configured to move the chair between an upright position, an intermediate TV position, and a fully reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120112518
    Abstract: A gliding-reclining seating unit includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; an arm frame; a gliding mechanism attached to the base and to the arm frame, the gliding mechanism configured to enable the arm frame to reciprocate in a longitudinal direction relative to the base; a generally horizontally-disposed seat; a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat; a footrest unit; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls movement of the seat and the backrest relative to the frame between an upright position and a reclined position. In the upright position, the backrest is generally upright and positioned above the frame, and the seat has a first rearward position relative to the frame. In the reclined position, the backrest is reclined relative to the underlying surface as compared to its disposition in the upright position and the seat has a second forward position relative to the frame that is forward of the first rearward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120112517
    Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a base; a rocker assembly fixed to the base; and an arm frame fixed to the rocker assembly, wherein the rocker assembly is configured such that the arm frame experiences rocking motion relative to the base. The seating unit further comprises: a generally horizontally-disposed seat; a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat; a footrest unit; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls movement of the seat and the backrest relative to the arm frame between an upright position and a reclined position. In the upright position, the backrest is generally upright and positioned above the arm frame, and the seat has a first rearward position relative to the arm frame, and in the reclined position, the backrest is reclined relative to the underlying surface as compared to its disposition in the upright position and the seat has a second forward position relative to the arm frame that is forward of the first rearward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120112519
    Abstract: A gliding and reclining seating unit includes: a base configured to reside on an underlying surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit; and a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20120104827
    Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a frame; a backrest; a seat; main and auxiliary footrests; and a reclining linkage connected between the frame, backrest, seat, main footrest and auxiliary footrest. The reclining mechanism comprises a series of pivotally interconnected links and is configured to move the seating unit between an upright position, a TV position, and a fully reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8123288
    Abstract: A rocking and reclining seating unit includes: (a) an upright position, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which an ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of a seat and a backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases; a reciprocating mechanism configured to enable the seat, the backrest and an associated reclining mechanism to experience a longitudinally-directed reciprocating motion relative to a base unit; and a locking unit that prevents reciprocating of the seating unit while in the TV and fully reclined positions by a locking unit that includes a capture member and a locking link that are configured such that the locking link resides in a corner section of the capture member when the seating unit is in the TV and fully reclined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8113574
    Abstract: A rocking and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a rocker mechanism attached with the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the rocker mechanism configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to experience a longitudinally-directed rocking motion relative to the base unit; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20110304193
    Abstract: A seating unit includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat; a backrest; an ottoman; and a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat, backrest and the ottoman. The reclining mechanism comprises a series of pivotally interconnected links configured and arranged to control the movement of the seating unit between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed and positioned above the base, the backrest defines a first backrest angle relative to horizontal and is positioned above a rear portion of the base, and the ottoman is positioned below the seat and above a forward portion of the base, a TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed and positioned forwardly of the base and the seat, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest defines a second angle relative to horizontal that is less than the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20110291460
    Abstract: A seating unit includes: a base; a frame with arms on opposing sides; a seat; a backrest; at least one ottoman; a reclining mechanism, a lift mechanism and a power unit. The reclining mechanism interconnects the frame, the seat, the backrest, and the at least one ottoman, and comprises a series of pivotally interconnected links and configured to move the seating unit between (a) an upright position, in which the backrest is generally upright and defines a first backrest angle relative to horizontal, the seat is generally horizontal, and the at least one ottoman is retracted below the seat, (b) a TV position, in which the backrest substantially maintains the first backrest angle, and the at least one ottoman is extended in front of the seat, and a fully reclined position, in the at least one ottoman remains extended on front of the seat, and the backrest defines a second backrest angle relative to horizontal that is shallower than the first backrest angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8016348
    Abstract: A reciprocating and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a reciprocating mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the reciprocating mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to reciprocate relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8011034
    Abstract: A sofa-bed includes: a frame with opposed arms; a backrest operatively connected to the frame; a seat; a subseat hinged to the seat and pivotable relative thereto; an extension-assist mechanism attached to the frame and at least one of the seat and the subseat; and a folding-assist mechanism attached to the frame and at least one of the subseat and seat. The frame, backrest, seat and subseat are configured to move between a folded position, in which the backrest is generally upright, the seat is generally horizontal, and the subseat is generally horizontal and positioned beneath the seat in a first inverted orientation, and an unfolded position, in which the backrest, subseat and seat are generally horizontal, and the subseat is positioned between the backrest and the seat in a second non-inverted orientation. The folding-assist mechanism is configured such that the sofa-bed is biased toward the folded position as the sofa-bed moves from the unfolded position toward a first intermediate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: American Leather
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy, Douglas Gasal, Robert Barron Duncan
  • Patent number: 7997644
    Abstract: A gliding and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20110070931
    Abstract: A corn MOG separator for an agricultural combine having a chopper for chopping MOG, the corn MOG separator being located after the chopper in the MOG flow stream and having a separating chamber for receiving the MOG and separating the lighter from the heavier components, the chamber having a mechanical decelerator for mechanically decelerating the corn MOG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Ritter, Daniel Stephen Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20110018331
    Abstract: A rocking and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base unit; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base unit and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, the reclining mechanism configured to move the seating unit between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman are generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases; a
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
  • Patent number: D632057
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen Hoffman, John Hoffman