Office Components, Seating Structures, Methods of Using Seating Structures, And Systems of Seating Structures

• US 20080211684A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Herman Miller
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated
• Inventors: Beck, Robert L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/667
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0242 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/24 with vertical spindle
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/004 for chairs or stools with central column, e.g. office chairs

Abstract

Office components are described that include a base, a seat supported by the base. a microprocessor, and a load sensor electrically coupled with the microprocessor and mechanically coupled with the seat and, based on movement thereof, operative to detect occupancy of the seat and provide a signal to the microprocessor indicative thereof. The load sensor may be a strain gauge, a piezo device or combination thereof.

Claims

1. A seating structure comprising:

a base;

a seat supported by the base;

a microprocessor; and

a load sensor electrically coupled with the microprocessor and mechanically coupled with the seat and, based on movement thereof, operative to detect occupancy of the seat and provide a signal to the microprocessor indicative thereof.

2. The seating structure of claim 1, wherein the load sensor comprises at least one of a strain gauge, a piezo device or combination thereof.

3. The seating structure of claim 1, wherein the load sensor is further operative to detect a presence of an entity.

4. The seating structure of claim 1, wherein the load sensor is further operative to detect a previous user rising from the seat.

5. The seating structure of claim 1, wherein the load sensor is further operative to detect a user first occupying the seat.

6. A method of detecting occupancy, the method comprising:

providing a base and a seat supported by the base;

providing a microprocessor;

providing a load sensor electrically coupled with the microprocessor and mechanically coupled with the seat; and

detecting movement of the seat using the load sensor and providing a signal indicative thereof to the microprocessor; and

determining occupancy of the seat based on the signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the load sensor comprises at least one of a strain gauge, a piezo device or combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the movement of the seat is indicative of the presence of an entity.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the signal indicates a previous user rising from the seat.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the signal indicates a user first occupying the seat.

11. A seating structure comprising:

a base;

a seat supported by the base; and

means for detecting occupancy of the seat based upon movement thereof.

12. The seating structure of claim 11, wherein the means for detecting further comprises means for sensing a load upon the seat.

13. The seating structure of claim 11, wherein the means for detecting further comprises means for detecting a presence of an entity.

14. The seating structure of claim 11, wherein the means for detecting further comprises means for detecting a previous user rising from the seat.

15. The seating structure of claim 11, wherein the means for detecting further comprises means for detecting a user first occupying the seat.