US7926879B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 1.9 years remaining
Load support structure
Assignee: MillerKnoll Inc
•
Filing: 2008-09-18
•
Granted: 2011-04-19
•
Expires: 2028-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A load support member includes spaced apart beam members, a linking member and a stop member. In another aspect, the beam includes a support surface defining first and second landing regions, which are in contact with and support a membrane. In another aspect, a brace member is secured between laterally spaced beams, with the brace member having a greater height than width at the end thereof and a greater width than height at the middle thereof. In another aspect, a pair of armrests are joined to a cross member and a pair of spaced apart beams in a releasable engagement. In yet another aspect, a pair of beam members are fixedly joined with a cross member, which is pivotally connected to a link pivotally connected to the beams. A method of assembling a load support structure is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Johann Burkhard Schmitz
- 👤 Claudia Plikat
- 👤 Carola Eva Marianne Zwick
- 👤 Roland Rolf Otto Zwick
- 👤 Andrew Keith Hector
- 👤 John Fredric Aldrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:22
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/36; A47C7/40; A47C7/44; A47C7/445; A47C1/00; A47C1/02; A47C1/031; A47C1/032; A47C1/03255; A47C1/03261; A47C1/03277; A47C1/03288; A47C1/03294; A47C11/00; A47C11/005; A47C3/00; A47C3/12; A47C5/00; A47C5/12; A47C7/02; A47C7/025; A47C7/14; A47C7/443; A47C7/46; A47C7/462; A47C7/54; A47C7/543; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49867; Y10T29/49908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A load support structure comprising: a pair of laterally spaced beams each comprising first and second beam members spaced apart in a vertical plane and forming a gap therebetween, wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion, said upright portions defining a backrest support and said horizontally extending portions defining a seat support, said first and second beam members comprising a first material, wherein each of said first and second beam members experience elastic deformation through bending as said beams are moved between an upright position and a reclined position; a plurality of linking members bridging said gap and having first and second end portions coupled to said first and second beam members, wherein at least some of said plurality of linking members comprise a second material different than said first material, and wherein said at least some of said plurality of linking members are put in tension as said beams are moved from said upright position to said reclined position; and a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said first and second beams, wherein said flexible membrane defines a body support surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A load support structure comprising: a pair of laterally spaced beams each comprising first and second beam members spaced apart in a vertical plane and forming a gap therebetween, wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion, said upright portions defining a backrest support and said horizontally extending portions defining a seat support, said first and second beam members comprising a first material, wherein each of said first and second beam members experience elastic deformation through bending as said beams are moved between an upright position and a reclined position; a plurality of linking members bridging said gap and having first and second end portions coupled to said first and second beam members, wherein at least some of said plurality of linking members comprise a second material different than said first material, and wherein said at least some of said plurality of linking members are put in tension as said beams are moved from said upright position to said reclined position; and a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said first and second beams, wherein said flexible membrane defines a body support surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The load support structure of claim 1 wherein said first material is more rigid than said second material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The load support structure of claim 2 wherein said second material is an elastomeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The load support structure of claim 3 wherein said first material is selected from the group consisting of glass-filled nylon, unfilled nylon, glass filled polypropylene, unfilled polypropylene, polycarbonate, polycarbonate/ABS blend and acetal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The load support structure of claim 1 wherein an upper end of each of said upright portions are directly joined without any space therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The load support structure of claim 5 wherein said first and second beam members are integrally formed as a single component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The load support structure of claim 5 wherein said upper ends of said first and second beam members rotate away from said horizontally extending portion in response to forces applied to said beam by a user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The load support structure of claim 1 wherein said gap is formed at least in part between said upright portions of said first and second beams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The load support structure of claim 1 wherein said gap is formed at least in part between said horizontally extending portions of said first and second beams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The load support structure of claim 1 wherein said flexible membrane comprises a stretchable material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The load support structure of claim 1 wherein an entirety of said upright portion rotates in the same direction in response to forces applied to said beams by a user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
A load support structure comprising: a pair of laterally spaced beams each comprising first and second beam members spaced apart in a vertical plane and forming a gap therebetween, said first and second beam members comprising a first material, wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion, said upright portions defining a backrest support and said horizontally extending portions defining a seat support; a plurality of linking members bridging said gap and having first and second end portions coupled to said first and second beam members, wherein at least some of said plurality of linking members comprise a second material different than said first material wherein at least some of said linking members have at least an upper curved portion or a lower curved portion when said beams are in a non-loaded position, and wherein said upper or lower curved portions straighten out as said beams are moved to a loaded position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
A load support structure comprising: a pair of laterally spaced beams each comprising first and second beam members spaced apart in a vertical plane and forming a gap therebetween, said first and second beam members comprising a first material, wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion, said upright portions defining a backrest support and said horizontally extending portions defining a seat support; a plurality of linking members bridging said gap and having first and second end portions coupled to said first and second beam members, wherein at least some of said plurality of linking members comprise a second material different than said first material wherein at least some of said linking members have at least an upper curved portion or a lower curved portion when said beams are in a non-loaded position, and wherein said upper or lower curved portions straighten out as said beams are moved to a loaded position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The load support structure of claim 12 wherein said at least some of said linking members have an upper and lower curved portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The load support structure of claim 13 wherein said beams each comprise a recess and further comprising a membrane connected to said beams with a carrier member inserted in said recesses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The load support structure of claim 12 wherein said at least some of said linking members become completely straight as said beams are moved to said loaded position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
A load support structure comprising: a beam comprising first and second beam members spaced apart in a vertical plane and forming a gap therebetween, said first and second beam members each comprising an exterior portion formed from a first material and an interior portion formed from a second material, wherein said first material is different than said second material, and wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion, said upright portions defining a backrest support and said horizontally extending portions defining a seat support; and a plurality of linking members bridging said gap and having first and second end portions interconnected and in-molded with said interior portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
116 words
A load support structure comprising: a beam comprising first and second beam members spaced apart in a vertical plane and forming a gap therebetween, said first and second beam members each comprising an exterior portion formed from a first material and an interior portion formed from a second material, wherein said first material is different than said second material, and wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion, said upright portions defining a backrest support and said horizontally extending portions defining a seat support; and a plurality of linking members bridging said gap and having first and second end portions interconnected and in-molded with said interior portions.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of making a load support structure comprising: molding first and second beam members from a first material, wherein said first and second beam members are spaced apart within a plane and form a gap therebetween, wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion, said upright portions defining a backrest support and said horizontally extending portions defining a seat support; and overmolding a plurality of linking members from a second material on said first and second beam members, wherein said linking members bridge said gap and have first and second end portions coupled to said first and second beam members, wherein said second material is different than said first material.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of making a load support structure comprising: molding first and second beam members from a first material, wherein said first and second beam members are spaced apart within a plane and form a gap therebetween, wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion, said upright portions defining a backrest support and said horizontally extending portions defining a seat support; and overmolding a plurality of linking members from a second material on said first and second beam members, wherein said linking members bridge said gap and have first and second end portions coupled to said first and second beam members, wherein said second material is different than said first material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said first material is more rigid than said second material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said second material is an elastomeric material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said first material is selected from the group consisting of glass-filled nylon, unfilled nylon, glass filled polypropylene, unfilled polypropylene, polycarbonate, polycarbonate/ABS blend and acetal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising coupling a flexible membrane to said first beam member, wherein said flexible membrane defines a body support surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 wherein at least some of said linking members have at least an upper or lower curved portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 17 wherein molding said first and second beam members comprises connecting an end portion of each of said upright portions and thereby forming a single integrally molded beam member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said molding said first and second beam members comprises molding an exterior portion of each of said first and second beam members from said first material and overmolding an interior portion of each of said first and second beam members from said second material on said exterior portions, wherein said interior portions interconnect said plurality of said linking members.
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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) | 2014-04-18 | 2014-10-18 | 2015-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2018-04-18 | 2018-10-18 | 2019-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2022-04-18 | 2022-10-18 | 2023-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |