The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 01, 2019
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2017
Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Christopher Norman, Byron Center, MI (US);
Timothy D. Swieter, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Ryan E. Schmidt, Rockford, MI (US);
Mark Mckenna, East Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Robert Scheper, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Bruce Smith, East Grand Rapids, MI (US);
STEELCASE INC., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
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.