Herman Miller, Inc.

George A Miles

William E Stumpf

Donald T Chadwick

Rodney C Schoenfelder

Timothy P Coffield

Jeffrey W Bruner

Randy J Sayers

Philip E Crossman

Carolyn Keller

Eric Cammenga

Michael L De Pree

Dean D Achterhof

Geoff A Hollington

Eric P Chan

Stewart D Reed

Steven B Panse

Charles E Bailey

James M Schaddelee

Cecil P Craycraft

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.

Chair with a linkage assembly

A chair, or other office furniture device, includes a first and second support member. The first support member has a longitudinal extent and a fluid passageway formed within at least a portion thereof. A first piston, having a first and second end, is moveably disposed in the fluid passageway. The second support member is coupled to the first end of the first piston. A fluid supply is disposed in the fluid passageway and communicates with the second end of the first piston. A pressure is applied to the fluid supply. A fluid flow controller controls a flow of the fluid supply and is operable between at least an open and closed position, wherein the fluid supply is allowed to flow when the controller is in the open position and wherein the fluid supply is not allowed to flow when the controller is in the closed position. In one preferred embodiment, the fluid supply comprises a magneto-rheological fluid, and the controller comprises a magnet moveable between at least a first and second position, wherein the magnet applies a magnetic field to the fluid supply when in the first position. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the fluid supply comprises a hydraulic fluid, and the controller comprises a valve moveable to an open position to allow the fluid supply to flow between the first and second positions. A method for moving a chair component is provided, along with a method for moving a support member on an office furniture device.

Fluid control system for an office furniture device

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.

Office chair

A support assembly for supporting an object on a floor. The support assembly includes a leg member and a heel member mounted on said leg member. The heel member is adapted to engage the floor. A foot member is pivotally attached to the leg member. The foot member is adapted to pivot between an upright storage position and a lateral support position. When in the lateral support position, the foot member is adapted to engage the floor at a point spaced apart from the heel member. In a preferred embodiment, a cover is provided to conceal the foot member when placed in the upright storage position. In a preferred embodiment, the heel member comprises a height adjustable glide device that includes a base portion and a stem portion extending upwardly from the base portion. A shaft is disposed in the stem portion and operable engages an actuator disposed in a cavity formed in the base portion. The shaft operably engages the leg member to provide vertical adjustment of the leg member. In a preferred embodiment, the support assembly also includes a support bracket releasably mounted to the leg member. The support bracket and leg member are adapted so as to permit the support bracket to be rotated between at least three positions relative to the leg member.

Height adjustable glide device

Support assembly with a storable foot support

A portable adjustable partition is provided. The partition includes a first base barrier member and a second base barrier member wherein the first base barrier member is pivotably connected to the second base barrier member. First and second slidable barrier members are connected to the first base barrier member and the second base barrier member, respectively. A first glide member is connected to the first telescoping barrier member and a second glide member is connected to the second telescoping barrier member. A pivot limiter is attached to one of the first base barrier member and the second base barrier member.

Adjustable partition assembly

An apparatus for controlling the tilt range of a chair and the resistance to tilting of the chair including a torsion spring mounted to an axle, a tilt rate adjustment mechanism, a forward tilt limiter and a rearward tilt limiter. The tilt rate adjustment mechanism includes an outer sleeve member mounted to the spring. An arm extends radially outward from the sleeve and operably engages a block member threadably attached to a screw. A first and second gear member are actuated to rotate the screw so as to move the block member which thereby moves the arm a desired amount to adjust the initial return torque of the spring. The forward tilt limiter includes an arm extending outwardly from the axle. The arm operably engages a pivot member pivotally attached to a tilt control housing. The rearward tilt limiter also includes an arm extending outwardly from the axle. The arm operably engages a cam member pivotally attached to the tilt control housing.

Tilt control mechanism for a chair

A vertically adjustable column for supporting a seat of a chair. The column includes an outer guide tube mounted to a support stand, an intermediate telescoping tube slidably positioned with the guide tube and an inner telescoping tube slidably positioned within the intermediate tube. An upper portion of the inner telescoping tube is connected to the seat. A gas spring includes a cylinder mounted within the inner tube, a piston rod extending outwardly from the cylinder and a control pin assembly mounted to an upper portion of the cylinder. The piston rod is connected to the guide tube and is extensible between a collapsed position in which the cylinder and inner tube are substantially within the intermediate tube and the intermediate tube is substantially within the guide tube, and a raised position in which a portion of the cylinder and inner tube extend outwardly from the intermediate tube and a portion of the intermediate tube extends outwardly from the outer guide tube.

Pneumatic support colunm for a chair

A seat back adjustment unit including a seat attaching plate which is fixedly secured to the seat of a chair and a back mounting plate which will have mounted thereon the customary seat back. The seat attaching plate has an upwardly and rearwardly curved portion on which there is mounted an adjustment unit. The adjustment unit in turn carries a lower generally horizontal portion of the back mounting plate. The adjustment unit includes a housing which is guidedly mounted on the curved rear portion of the seat attaching plate while the same housing has guidedly received therein the lower portion of the back mounting plate. The adjustment unit includes within the housing thereof a reduction gear drive unit which includes two driven member interlocked by pin and slot connections to the seat attaching plate and the back mounting plate for selective relative movement between the plates and the housing of the adjustment unit. A single actuator is selectively positionable to drive a selective half of the reduction gear drive unit to adjust either the tilt or the position of the seat back.

Growing community of inventors

West Olive, MI, United States of America

George A Miles