Carolyn M Keller

US Patent:

6386634, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Nov 17, 1995

Appl. No.:

08/347475

Inventors:

William E. Stumpf - Minneapolis MN
Rodney C. Schoenfelder - Minneapolis MN
Donald Chadwick - Los Angeles CA
Carolyn Keller - Holland MI
Timothy P. Coffield - Grand Rapids MI
Randy J. Sayers - Belding MI
Jeffrey W. Bruner - Greensboro NC
George A. Miles - West Olive MI
Eric Cammenga - Holland MI
Philip Crossman - Grand Rapids MI

Assignee:

Herman Miller, Inc. - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

A47C 1031

US Classification:

2973004, 2973002, 297316, 2973847, 297322

Abstract:

A tiltable chair including a base member ( ), a seat ( ), a back ( ), and a linkage assembly ( ) adapted to allow the seat and back to tilt downwardly and rearwardly and to allow pivotal movement of the seat about a pivot axis ( ) in substantial alignment with the hip joints of a user. Other aspects of the invention are to provide a vertically adjustable column ( ) for supporting the seat of the chair, a support assembly including a frame member ( ) having a central opening therethrough and a receptacle formed around the perimeter thereof, a carrier member adapted to fit inside the receptacle, and a membrane of elastic material ( ) covering the central opening, and a pair of armrests ( ) adapted to be mounted to the chair to allow pivotal movement thereof.

US Patent:

6588842, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

May 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/859694

Inventors:

William E. Stumpf - Minneapolis MN
Rodney C. Schoenfelder - Minneapolis MN
Donald Chadwick - Los Angeles CA
Carolyn Keller - Holland MI
Timothy P. Coffield - Grand Rapids MI
Randy J. Sayers - Belding MI
Jeffrey W. Bruner - Greensboro NC
Eric Cammenga - Holland MI

Assignee:

Herman Miller, Inc. - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

A47C 702

US Classification:

2972844, 29745264

Abstract:

A backrest for a chair comprising a frame, a membrane and a back support member. The membrane, at least a portion of which is transparent, is attached to the frame and has a first body-contacting surface and an opposite second surface. The back support member is attached to the frame and has a support surface. At least a portion of the support surface contacts the second surface of the membrane, and at least a portion of the back support member is visible through the membrane from the first body-contacting surface thereof. In another aspect, a backrest for a chair comprises a frame having a pair of side members, wherein each of the side members has a lower section and an upper section. The upper section extends rearwardly and outwardly from the lower section so as to form a bowed section therewith. A flexible membrane is attached to and extends between the side members, and has a bowed section corresponding to the bowed section of the side members. The membrane has a first body-contacting surface and an opposite second surface.

US Patent:

6702390, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Sep 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/256125

Inventors:

William E. Stumpf - Minneapolis MN
Rodney C. Schoenfelder - Minneapolis MN
Donald Chadwick - Los Angeles CA
Carolyn Keller - Holland MI
Timothy P. Coffield - Grand Rapids MI
Randy J. Sayers - Belding MI
Jeffrey W. Bruner - Greensboro NC
Eric Cammenga - Holland MI

Assignee:

Herman Miller, Inc. - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

A47C 702

US Classification:

29745256

Abstract:

A seating structure includes a support assembly for supporting the body of a user. The support assembly includes a frame member defining an opening and having a channel formed around at least a portion of a perimeter of the opening and an expandable carrier member expandable between at least a first and second configuration. The carrier member is inserted into the channel when expanded to the second configuration. A membrane of elastic material covers the central opening. The membrane has an edge, at least a portion of which is attached to the carrier member. The membrane is stretched a desired amount as the carrier member is expanded between the first and second configurations. A method of assembling a seating structure is also provided.

US Patent:

6722741, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

Sep 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/256671

Inventors:

William E. Stumpf - Minneapolis MN
Rodney C. Schoenfelder - Minneapolis MN
Donald Chadwick - Los Angeles CA
Carolyn Keller - Holland MI
Timothy P. Coffield - Grand Rapids MI
Randy J. Sayers - Belding MI
Jeffrey W. Bruner - Greensboro NC
Eric Cammenga - Holland MI

Assignee:

Herman Miller, Inc. - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

A47C 702

US Classification:

2974523, 29745256, 2973002

Abstract:

A seating structure includes a support structure, a seat supported by the support structure and a backrest pivotally connected to the support structure. The seat includes a front and rear. The backrest is positioned adjacent the rear of the seat. The backrest includes a frame having a pair of bow-shaped side members. Each of the side members has a lower section and an upper section. The upper sections extend from the lower sections so as to form a pair of first bowed sections at substantially a lumbar region of the backrest. A flexible membrane is attached to and extends between the side members. The flexible membrane has a second bowed section corresponding to the first bowed sections of the side members. A method of using the seating structure is also provided.

US Patent:

6726286, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Oct 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/262912

Inventors:

William E. Stumpf - Minneapolis MN
Rodney C. Schoenfelder - Minneapolis MN
Donald Chadwick - Los Angeles CA
Carolyn Keller - Holland MI
Timothy P. Coffield - Grand Rapids MI
Randy U. Sayers - Belding MI
Jeffrey W. Bruner - Greensboro NC
Eric Cammenga - Holland MI

Assignee:

Herman Miller, Inc. - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

A47C 702

US Classification:

29745264

Abstract:

A seating structure having a fabric with a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user. The fabric includes a plurality of strands of multifilament yarn and a plurality of monofilaments running generally perpendicular to the strands. At least some of the monofilaments are arranged in pairs. The monofilaments in each pair weaving alternatively above and below some adjacent strands and crossing over each other between other adjacent strands.

US Patent:

6733080, May 11, 2004

Filed:

Sep 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/256988

Inventors:

William E. Stumpf - Minneapolis MN
Rodney C. Schoenfelder - Minneapolis MN
Donald Chadwick - Los Angeles CA
Carolyn Keller - Holland MI
Timothy P. Coffield - Grand Rapids MI
Randy J. Sayers - Belding MI
Jeffrey W. Bruner - Greensboro NC
Eric Cammenga - Holland MI

Assignee:

Herman Miller, Inc. - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

A47C 754

US Classification:

29741136, 29745256

Abstract:

A seating structure includes a backrest having a top and bottom and includes a frame. The frame includes a pair of spaced apart side members defining an opening therebetween. Each of the side members has a length. A flexible membrane extends between and is attached to the side members across the opening. An armrest is moveably mounted to each of the side members. Each of the armrests is adjustably moveable along at least a portion of the length of the side members between at least a first position and a second position. The first position is closer to the bottom of the backrest than the second position. A method of adjusting the seating structure is also provided.

US Patent:

6966604, Nov 22, 2005

Filed:

Feb 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/772935

Inventors:

William E. Stumpf - Minneapolis MN, US
Rodney C. Schoenfelder - Minneapolis MN, US
Donald Chadwick - Los Angeles CA, US
Carolyn Keller - Holland MI, US
Timothy P. Coffield - Grand Rapids MI, US
Randy J. Sayers - Belding MI, US
Jeffrey W. Bruner - Greensboro NC, US
George A. Miles - West Olive MI, US
Eric Cammenga - Holland MI, US
Philip Crossman - Grand Rapids MI, US

Assignee:

Herman Miller, Inc. - Zeeland MI

International Classification:

A47C001/024

US Classification:

2973002

Abstract:

A chair includes a control housing, a seat and a back support including an upwardly extending upright portion and a link portion extending forwardly from a lower portion of the upright portion. The link portion is pivotally connected to the control housing about a first pivot axis. The seat is connected to the link portion and is pivotable relative thereto. A linkage is coupled to the seat and is pivotally connected to the control housing at a second pivot axis positioned rearwardly and downwardly from the first pivot axis.

US Patent:

20010028188, Oct 11, 2001

Filed:

May 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/859696

Inventors:

William Stumpf - Minneapolis MN, US
Rodney Schoenfelder - Minneapolis MN, US
Donald Chadwick - Los Angeles CA, US
Carolyn Keller - Holland MI, US
Timothy Coffield - Grand Rapids MI, US
Randy Sayers - Belding MI, US
Jeffrey Bruner - Greensboro NC, US
Eric Cammenga - Holland MI, US

International Classification:

A47C001/02

US Classification:

297/320000

Abstract:

A seat for a chair comprises a frame comprising spaced apart side members with inboard edges defining an opening therebetween. Each of the side members has a support wall extending upwardly from the inboard edges. A membrane extends between and is attached to the side members and covers at least a portion of the opening. At least a portion of the support walls extend upwardly from and are positioned above at least a portion of an upper body-supporting surface of the membrane. In another aspect, the seat has a frame and a flexible membrane secured to the frame, with the membrane and frame defining an upper body-supporting surface comprising substantially concave side portions and a substantially convex front portion. In yet another aspect, the seat comprises a frame comprising a front portion and a flexible membrane connected to the front portion. A cushion is disposed between the front portion of the frame and the membrane.