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:
Mar. 09, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2002
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);
Eric Cammenga, Holland, MI (US);
Herman Miller, Inc., Zeeland, MI (US);
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.