Load support structure

• US 20090102268A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millerknoll Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Herman Miller Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zwick, Roland Rolf Otto, Schmitz, Johann Burkhard, Zwick, Carola Eva Marianne, Plikat, Claudia, Hector, Andrew Keith, Aldrich, John Fredric
• Granted Patent: US 7,926,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.190
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03277 with bar or leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03288 with resilient blocks
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03294 slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 11/005 having multiple separate seats
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/12 with shell-shape seat and back-rest unit, e.g. having arm rests
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 5/12 of plastics, with or without reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/02 Seat parts adaptation of seats to mounting in tubular chairs A47C5/06; such parts not restricted to chairs A47C23/00; removable upholstered units or cushions A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/025 Springs not otherwise provided for in A47C7/22 - A47C7/35
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/14 of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261; elastically-mounted back-rests or backrest-seat units in the base frame A47C7/44
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/44 with elastically-mounted back-rest or backrest-seat unit in the base frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/443 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/445 with bar or leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/462 adjustable by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/54 Supports for the arms
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/543 movable to inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49867 of skin on frame member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming

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.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. 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;

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

a flexible membrane coupled to and extending between said first and second beams, wherein said flexible membrane defines a body support surface.

42. The load support structure of claim 41 wherein said first material is more rigid than said second material.

43. The load support structure of claim 42 wherein said second material is an elastomeric material.

44. The load support structure of claim 43 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.

46. The load support structure of claim 41 wherein at least some of said linking members have at least an upper or lower curved portion.

47. The load support structure of claim 46 wherein said at least some of said linking members have an upper and lower curved portion.

55. The load support structure of claim 41 wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion.

56. The load support structure of claim 55 wherein an upper end of each of said upright portions are directly joined without any space therebetween.

57. The load support structure of claim 56 wherein said first and second beam members are integrally formed as a single component.

58. The load support structure of claim 55 wherein said gap is formed at least in part between said upright portions of said first and second beams.

59. The load support structure of claim 55 wherein said gap is formed at least in part between said horizontally extending portions of said first and second beams.

60. The load support structure of claim 47 wherein said beams each comprise a recess and wherein said membrane is connected to said beams with a carrier member inserted in said recesses.

71. The load support structure of claim 41 wherein said flexible membrane comprises a stretchable material.

45. (canceled)

48-54. -54. (canceled)

61. 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

a plurality of linking members bridging said gap and having first and second end portions interconnected and in-molded with said interior portions.

62. 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; 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.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein said first material is more rigid than said second material.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said second material is an elastomeric material.

65. The method of claim 64 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.

66. The method of claim 62 further comprising coupling a flexible membrane to said first beam member, wherein said flexible membrane defines a body support surface.

67. The method of claim 62 wherein at least some of said linking members have at least an upper or lower curved portion.

68. The method of claim 62 wherein said first and second beam members each have a horizontally extending portion and an upright portion.

69. The method of claim 68 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.

70. The method of claim 62 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.