Patents by Inventor Steven J. Caruso
Steven J. Caruso 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: 7856756Abstract: Systems for the construction of a variety of planting configurations are disclosed. Some of the disclosed embodiments may be equally applicable for products such as shelving systems. The systems may include various shaped troughs and support surfaces and various methods of assembling the same. The various components and resulting configurational possibilities disclosed provides the user with functionality and aesthetic possibilities never before available, and is well suited for both commercial and residential applications.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2008Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Inventor: Steven J. Caruso
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Patent number: 7373753Abstract: Systems for the construction of a variety of planting configurations are disclosed. Some of the disclosed embodiments may be equally applicable for products such as shelving systems. The systems may include various shaped troughs and support surfaces and various methods of assembling the same. The various components and resulting configurational possibilities disclosed provides the user with functionality and aesthetic possibilities never before available, and is well suited for both commercial and residential applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2004Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Inventor: Steven J. Caruso
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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: 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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Publication number: 20040068831Abstract: A caster assembly including a housing including a first side portion and a second side portion. The first side portion and the second side portion each have an opening. An axle extends between the first side portion and the second side portion and includes two end portions. The first side portion includes a first snap element and the first end of the axle includes a second snap element in a snap fit arrangement with the first snap element. The second side portion of the housing includes a third snap element and the second end of the axle includes a fourth snap element in a snap fit arrangement with the third snap element. A wheel disposed between the first side portion and the second side portion, with the axle positioned in a central axial opening in the wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso
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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: 6206469Abstract: A stackable chair that is capable of being ganged with a further like chair in side-by-side relationship, including an upper frame adapted to receive and support a seating platform, and a backrest platform for supporting a user seated on the chair. The upper frame is attached to a lower frame having a left and right sides, each said having a pair of leg members connected underneath the lower frame, each of the leg members having a lower end to engage the supporting surface for the chair, and having an upper end. The right legs connect to a right frame member attached to the lower frame right side. The left legs connect to a left frame member attached to the lower frame left side. A left side and a right side coupling support extend respectively on top of left and right frame members. The left side coupling support includes a left extension having a coupling hook extending outward.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1999Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Shelby Willliams Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso
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Patent number: 6106061Abstract: A vertical stacking leg-over-leg ganged chair is attachable side-by-side and includes an upper frame adapted to receive and support a seating platform, and a lower frame supporting the upper frame, and a backrest for supporting a user seated in the chair. The ganged chair includes a front pair of legs angled frontward, and a rear pair of legs angled rearward, each pair connected underneath the lower frame. The right legs are connected to a right frame member, and the left legs to a left frame member, with the left frame member being of a lesser length than the right frame member. In a side-by-side ganged setup, the wider spaced apart right legs of one ganged chair fit over the left legs of a second like chair, forming a single width leg unit on either side of the ganged chairs. Each upper portion of the left legs includes an elongated slot that accepts an elongated lug on the upper portion of each right leg, for connective support when chairs are attached horizontally.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Shelby Williams Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso