Patents by Inventor Travis J. Crowell

Travis J. Crowell 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: 20240122354
    Abstract: A compliant chair backrest assembly includes a back frame (58) having a first frame side (58a), a second frame side (58b), a lower portion (581) and an upper portion (58u) that extends from the lower portion (581). The upper portion (581) of the back frame is configured to engage with a back of a user and the lower portion (581) includes a first flexural member (70) and a nexus (74). The first flexural member (70) defines a first lower contact surface (90a) and has a flexural rigidity. The lower portion (581) also includes a reinforcement support (62) including a first brace (100) defining a first upper contact surface (110a) and having a flexural rigidity that is greater than the flexural rigidity of the first flexural member (70).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Travis J. Crowell, Christopher J. Davis
  • Patent number: 10893752
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20190216224
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 10172465
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 10064493
    Abstract: A lumbar support of a chair includes a crossbar member and a first flex member. The crossbar member has a first end and a second end. The first flex member includes a first front portion coupled to the first end, a first back portion coupled to the chair, and a first web portion interconnecting the first front portion and the first back portion. The crossbar member supports a back of a user and the first flex member flexes upon engagement of the crossbar member by the back of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20160353896
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Patent number: 9332851
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20150296989
    Abstract: A lumbar support of a chair includes a crossbar member and a first flex member. The crossbar member has a first end and a second end. The first flex member includes a first front portion coupled to the first end, a first back portion coupled to the chair, and a first web portion interconnecting the first front portion and the first back portion. The crossbar member supports a back of a user and the first flex member flexes upon engagement of the crossbar member by the back of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Jesse Hahn, Travis J. Crowell, Bruce Fifield
  • Publication number: 20140265493
    Abstract: A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Travis J. Crowell
  • Patent number: 8322794
    Abstract: A seat damper assembly for a chair includes a rubber element having a through hole and a bracket seat having a major surface with a raised portion around a perimeter of the major surface. A support bracket is configured to be coupled with the bracket seat such that the raised portion abuts an outer edge of the support bracket. A side of the support bracket opposite the bracket seat is shaped to receive a portion of a chair frame assembly. A fastener, disposed in the through hole in rubber element, is configured to couple with a seat pan to secure the seat damper relative to the seat pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Brown, Travis J. Crowell, Aaron Michael Ickes, Jay R. Machael, Phillip D. Minino
  • Publication number: 20100038946
    Abstract: A seat damper assembly for a chair includes a rubber element having a through hole and a bracket seat having a major surface with a raised portion around a perimeter of the major surface. A support bracket is configured to be coupled with the bracket seat such that the raised portion abuts an outer edge of the support bracket. A side of the support bracket opposite the bracket seat is shaped to receive a portion of a chair frame assembly. A fastener, disposed in the through hole in rubber element, is configured to couple with a seat pan to secure the seat damper relative to the seat pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Matthew C. BROWN, Travis J. CROWELL, Aaron Michael ICKES, Jay R. MACHAEL, Phillip D. MININO
  • Patent number: D704944
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus C. Koepke, Travis J. Crowell