US6035901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Woven fabric membrane for a seating surface
Assignee: MillerKnoll Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 2000-03-14
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A membrane for a seating structure including a plurality of groups of at least two adjacent and parallel strands of multifilament yarn and a plurality of monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands. The monofilaments weave alternatively above and below the adjacent strands in each group. A plurality of pairs of the monofilaments hold the groups of strands in place by having the monofilaments in each pair cross over between each group of strands. In one aspect, the membrane is attached to a frame member such that the plurality of groups of strands are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the frame member and the monofilaments are oriented in the lateral warp direction of the frame member. In another aspect, the seating structure includes the frame member and attached membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 William E. Stumpf
- 👤 Rodney C. Schoenfelder
- 👤 Donald Chadwick
- 👤 Carolyn Keller
- 👤 Timothy P. Coffield
- 👤 Randy J. Sayers
- 👤 Jeffrey W. Bruner
- 👤 Eric Cammenga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:56
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/02; B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/14065; A47C1/00; A47C1/02; A47C1/022; A47C1/03; A47C1/0303; A47C1/031; A47C1/032; A47C1/03205; A47C1/03238; A47C1/03255; A47C1/03261; A47C3/00; A47C3/20; A47C3/30; A47C5/00; A47C5/04; A47C5/06; A47C7/029; A47C7/14; A47C7/28; A47C7/282; A47C7/36; A47C7/40; B29C45/14631; B29K; B29K2713/00; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/44; B29L2031/443; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49867; Y10T29/4998; Y10T29/49998; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32254; Y10T403/32467; Y10T403/32475; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3008; Y10T442/3024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A seating structure having a fabric having a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user on the seating structure, the fabric comprising: a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and a plurality of monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pair of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A seating structure having a fabric having a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user on the seating structure, the fabric comprising: a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and a plurality of monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pair of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The seating structure of claim 1 wherein each of said groups comprises three strands of yarn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The seating structure of claim 1 wherein the monofilaments are made of an elastomeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The seating structure of claim 3 further comprising a frame member having an opening and wherein the monofilaments are prestretched across the opening in the frame member and wherein the fabric is attached to the frame member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The seating structure of claim 4 further comprising a carrier member attached to the fabric, and wherein said frame member comprises a channel, said carrier member inserted in said channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The seating structure of claim 4 wherein the monofilaments are prestretched between 6% and 9%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The seating structure of claim 3 wherein the monofilaments have a greater width than thickness to increase the surface area in contact with a user sitting on the fabric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The seating structure of claim 1 wherein the monofilaments have an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The seating structure of claim 3 further comprising an elastomeric monofilament attached to each strand of yarn.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The seating structure of claim 1 wherein there are about 24-26 monofilaments per inch and about 7-10 strands per inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The seating structure of claim 1 wherein the monofilaments are oriented in a lateral warp direction of a frame member of the seating structure and the strands are oriented in a longitudinal filling direction of said frame member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The seating structure of claim 1 wherein said fabric forms an exposed support surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The seating structure of claim 12 comprising a seat comprising the exposed support surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The seating structure of claim 13 wherein said seat further comprises a seat frame member having an opening therethrough, and wherein said fabric is supported by said frame member across said opening to form said exposed support surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The seating structure of claim 14 wherein said frame member comprises a channel, wherein said fabric is attached to a carrier member, and wherein said carrier member is inserted in said channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The seating structure of claim 14 wherein said fabric is prestreched across said opening of the frame member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The seating structure of claim 16 wherein said fabric is prestreched between 6% and 9% in at least one direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The seating structure of claim 12 comprising a backrest comprising the exposed support surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The seating structure of claim 18 wherein said backrest further comprises a backrest frame member having an opening therethrough, and wherein said fabric is supported by said frame member across said opening to form said exposed support surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The seating structure of claim 19 wherein said backrest frame member comprises a channel, wherein said fabric is attached to a carrier member, and wherein said carrier member is inserted in said channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
124 words
An exposed fabric having a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user in a chair, the fabric comprising: a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn oriented in a longitudinal filling direction of a frame member of the chair, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and a plurality of elastomeric monofilaments prestretched in a lateral warp direction of the frame member and arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pairs of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
124 words
An exposed fabric having a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user in a chair, the fabric comprising: a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn oriented in a longitudinal filling direction of a frame member of the chair, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and a plurality of elastomeric monofilaments prestretched in a lateral warp direction of the frame member and arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pairs of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fabric of claim 21 wherein each of said groups comprises three strands of yarn.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fabric of claim 21 wherein the monofilaments have an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fabric of claim 21 further comprising an elastomeric monofilament attached to each strand of yarn.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fabric of claim 21 wherein there are about 24-26 monofilaments per inch and about 7-10 strands per inch.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
120 words
A chair comprising: a frame member; and an exposed fabric attached to said frame member, said exposed fabric comprising: a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn oriented in a longitudinal filling direction of the frame member, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and a plurality of elastomeric monofilaments prestretched in a lateral warp direction of the frame member and arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pairs of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
120 words
A chair comprising: a frame member; and an exposed fabric attached to said frame member, said exposed fabric comprising: a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn oriented in a longitudinal filling direction of the frame member, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and a plurality of elastomeric monofilaments prestretched in a lateral warp direction of the frame member and arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pairs of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair of claim 26 wherein said frame and said exposed fabric form a seat of the chair.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chair of claim 26 wherein said frame and said exposed fabric form a backrest of the chair.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The chair of claim 26 wherein said frame comprises a channel, and wherein said fabric is attached to a carrier member, said carrier member inserted in said channel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The chair of claim 26 wherein said frame has an opening therethrough, and wherein said fabric is supported across said opening.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The chair of claim 30 wherein said monofilaments are prestreched between 6% and 9%.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The chair of claim 26 wherein each of said groups comprises three stands of yarn.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The chair of claim 26 wherein the monofilaments have an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chair of claim 26 further comprising an elastomeric monofilament attached to each strand of yarn.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
97 words
An exposed fabric having a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user, the fabric comprising: a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and a plurality of elastomeric monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pairs of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
97 words
An exposed fabric having a weave pattern for supporting the body of a user, the fabric comprising: a plurality of groups of parallel strands of multifilament yarn, each group having at least two adjacent strands; and a plurality of elastomeric monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with the strands, said monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent strands in a group, and said groups being held in place by a plurality of pairs of said monofilaments, the monofilaments in each pair crossing over between each group of strands to thereby maintain the position of the groups.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fabric of claim 35 wherein the monofilaments are adapted to be prestretched across an opening in a frame member.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fabric of claim 35 wherein the monofilaments have a greater width than thickness to increase the surface area in contact with a user sitting on the fabric.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fabric of claim 37 wherein the monofilaments have an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fabric of claim 35 further comprising an elastomeric monofilament attached to each strand of yarn.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fabric of claim 35 wherein there are about 24-26 monofilaments per inch and about 7-10 strands per inch.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
83 words
A seating structure having an exposed fabric for supporting the body of a user on the seating structure, the exposed fabric comprising a plurality of generally parallel elastomeric monofilaments having a greater width than thickness to increase the surface area in contact with a user sitting on the fabric, and a second plurality of monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with said first plurality of monofilaments, said second monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent monofilaments of said first plurality of monofilaments.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
83 words
A seating structure having an exposed fabric for supporting the body of a user on the seating structure, the exposed fabric comprising a plurality of generally parallel elastomeric monofilaments having a greater width than thickness to increase the surface area in contact with a user sitting on the fabric, and a second plurality of monofilaments arranged in generally perpendicular interlocking relationship with said first plurality of monofilaments, said second monofilaments weaving alternatively above and below adjacent monofilaments of said first plurality of monofilaments.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-14 | 2003-09-13 | 2004-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-14 | 2007-09-13 | 2008-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-14 | 2011-09-13 | 2012-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |