Steelcase Inc.

Christopher J Norman

Bruce M Smith

Nickolaus William Charles Deevers

Kurt R Heidmann

James N Ludwig

Gordon J Peterson

Mark McKenna

Russell T Holdredge

Glen Oliver Löw

Timothy D Swieter

Ryan E Schmidt

Thomas Overthun

Kara W Johnson

Luke Neil Pearson

Mark James Dinneweth

Todd Quigley

Robert M Scheper

Fredric James Biddle

Carl V Forslund, Iii

Rob Scheper

Caroline Kelly

Robert J Battey

Gary L Karsten

Glen Oliver Low

Thomas B Eich

Jeffrey A Hall

Steven James Beukema

Brian H Root

Renard G Tubergen

Jonathan B Hadley

Mark Dinnewith

Luke Person

A method and system for temperature control of a microclimate device are disclosed. The temperature control can be integrated into a reservation system for the microclimate device. A user interface can receive a user input of a temperature control setting. The user interface can be integrated into the microclimate device. A processor can receive the user input and control a heating and/or cooling device to execute the temperature control setting.

Microclimate control systems and methods

A seating support arrangement includes a seating frame, a cover member supported by the seating frame, the cover member having a first elastic modulus in a first direction, the cover member having an outer surface area and a support area that is less than the outer surface area and is configured to support a user, and a polymer film surface layer attached to the support area of the cover member such that the combination of the cover member in the support area and the surface layer has a second elastic modulus in the first direction that is greater than the first elastic modulus.

Seating components with laminated bonding material

An office system including a first component and a second component moveable relative to the first component. A distance and/or force multiplier is disposed between and coupled to the first and second components. The distance and/or force multiplier includes a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material is contractible between at least a non-energized state and an energized state in response to an application of energy. The distance and/or force multiplier moves the second component relative to the first component when the shape memory material is contracted to the energized state.

Office systems with shape memory materials

According to the present invention a back for a seating unit is provided. The back comprises a plurality of flexible finger elements. Each of the plurality of flexible finger elements has a distal end. The back further comprises a retainer connecting at least two of the flexible finger elements proximate their distal ends. When a load is applied to a flexible finger element, the retainer distributes at least a portion of the load to at least one adjacent flexible finger element.

Conforming back for a seating unit

A chair back assembly includes a frame assembly including a pair of slots extending through the frame assembly, a first location positioned between the pair of slots, and a pair of second locations located outward of an outer periphery of the frame assembly, and a vertically adjustable lumbar assembly configured to support a lumbar area of a seated user and including a central portion and a pair of end portions slidably engaging the central portion, the central portion located in the first location and the end portions located in the second locations, wherein the pair of end portion are slidably moveable within the slots between a first position and a second position that is different than the first position.

Chair construction

A seating structure includes a body support member having laterally spaced opposite sides and longitudinally spaced ends. The body support member has a curvature in least one of the lateral and longitudinal directions, wherein the curvature is changeable between at least first and second configurations. The body support member includes a shape memory material extending in at least one of the lateral and longitudinal directions, wherein the shape memory material is attached to the body support member at two spaced apart locations. The shape memory material is contractible between at least a non-energized state and an energized state in response to an application of energy. The shape memory material biases the flexible body support member between the first and second configurations when the shape memory material is contracted to the energized state. Other office systems incorporating shape memory materials are also provided.

A seating support arrangement includes a seating frame arrangement, a flexible cover member supported by the frame arrangement and configured to support a seated user, a surface layer covering at least a portion of the cover member and including a first surface facing the cover member and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface of the surface layer includes first portions attached to the cover member interspaced with second portions that are not attached to the cover member, and an elastically resilient control arrangement supported by the frame arrangement and positioned between the cover member and one of the second portions such that the control arrangement is free to move with respect to the cover member and the surface layer, wherein elastic deformation of the control arrangement changes the geometrical configuration of the cover member.

A chair component assembly includes a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user and including a shell member having an outer peripheral edge, the support component further including at least one coupler having an interior and an opening facing the outer peripheral edge of the shell member, and at least one tab member located substantially proximate the opening of the at least one coupler, and an upholstery cover assembly wrapped about at least a portion of the support component and including an edge that is retained within the interior of the at least one cupler by the at least one tab member.

A chair back assembly includes a substantially rigid peripheral frame defining a central opening, and a substantially flexible back shell coupled to the peripheral frame and spanning at least a portion of the central opening, wherein a first portion of the back shell is fixed with respect to the frame at a first position, a second portion of the back shell is fixed with respect to the frame at a second position that is different than the first position, a third portion of the back shell is constrained with respect to the frame in at least one direction of motion at a third position located between the first position and the second position, and wherein a fourth portion of the back shell is free from constraint with respect to the frame at a fourth position located between the third position and the second position.

Handle apparatus

Chair

Growing community of inventors

Middleville, MI, United States of America

Christopher J Norman