IP Library Granted Patent US 8,025,334
Granted Patent B2
US 8,025,334 · App. 12/958,798 · Granted Sep 27, 2011

Piece of furniture

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,025,334
App. No.
12/958,798
Granted
Sep 27, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A body support structure, such as a piece of furniture, in particular a piece of furniture for sitting on or a piece of furniture for lying on, such as, for example, chair, armchair, stool, bed or sofa, a seat of the piece of furniture being supported by a spring mechanism, and the spring mechanism being capable of being set to a weight force with which a person acts on the seat.

Claims (30)

1. A body support structure comprising:

a spring mechanism operable to support a body support member;

a weighing mechanism comprising a height adjustment device, an axial bearing coupled to the height adjustment device and a spring element supporting the axial bearing, wherein the height adjustment device is moveable against the biasing force of the spring element in response to an application of a body force to the body support member independent of a height adjustment of the height adjustment device; and

a movement converter coupled between the weighing mechanism and the spring mechanism, wherein a biasing force of the spring mechanism is adjustable in response to a movement of the height adjustment device against the biasing force of the spring element.

2. A body support structure comprising:

a spring mechanism operable to support a body support member;

a weighing mechanism comprising a height adjustment device, an axial bearing coupled to the height adjustment device and a spring element supporting the axial bearing, wherein the height adjustment device is moveable against the biasing force of the spring element in response to an application of a body force to the body support member independent of a height adjustment of the height adjustment device; and

a movement converter coupled between the weighing mechanism and the spring mechanism, wherein a biasing force of the spring mechanism is adjustable in response to a movement of the height adjustment device against the biasing force of the spring element, wherein the movement converter comprises a cable coupled between the weighing mechanism and the spring mechanism.

3. A body support structure according to claim 2 wherein the movement converter further comprises a coupling arranged on the pressure tube, and wherein the cable comprises a first cable coupled between the weighing mechanism and the coupling, and a second cable coupled between the coupling and the spring mechanism.

4. A body support structure according to claim 3 wherein the coupling is adapted to permit relative rotation about a vertical axis between the weighing mechanism and the spring mechanism.

5. A body support structure according to claim 4 wherein the coupling comprises an upper ring vertically and non-rotatably moveable relative to a lower ring.

6. A body support structure according to claim 5 further comprising an inner ring rotatably moveable relative to the upper ring.

7. A body support structure according to claim 6 wherein the inner ring is rotatable with the spring mechanism relative to the upper and lower rings, which are non-rotatable relative to the weighing mechanism.

8. A body support structure according to claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the weighing mechanism is arranged in a housing.

9. A body support structure according to claim 8 wherein the housing comprises a counterbearing for a guide housing the cable.

10. A body support structure according to claim 1 wherein the height adjustment device comprises a pneumatic spring having a pressure tube and a piston rod moveable in the pressure tube.

11. A body support structure according to claim 10 wherein the piston rod is coupled to the axial bearing.

12. A body support structure comprising:

a spring mechanism operable to support a body support member;

a weighing mechanism comprising a height adjustment device and a spring element supporting the height adjustment device, wherein the height adjustment device is moveable against the biasing force of the spring element in response to an application of a body force to the body support member independent of a height adjustment of the height adjustment device; and

a movement converter coupled between the weighing mechanism and the spring mechanism, wherein a biasing force of the spring mechanism is adjustable in response to a movement of the height adjustment device against the biasing force of the spring element, wherein the movement converter comprises a rotor system operable to permit relative rotation between the weighing mechanism and the spring mechanism about a vertical axis.

13. A body support structure according to claim 12 wherein the movement converter comprises at least one cable coupled between the weighing mechanism and the spring mechanism.

14. A body support structure according to claim 12 wherein at least a portion of the weighing mechanism is arranged in a housing.

15. A body support structure according to claim 12 wherein the height adjustment device comprises a pneumatic spring having a pressure tube and a piston rod moveable in the pressure tube.

16. A body support structure according to claim 12 wherein the rotor system comprises at least a first ring rotatable relative to a second ring, and wherein the movement converter further comprises a first cable coupled between the weighing mechanism and the first ring, and a second cable coupled between the second ring and the spring mechanism.

17. A body support structure according to claim 16 wherein the first ring comprises a first lower ring and a first upper ring.

18. A body support structure according to claim 17 wherein the first upper and lower rings are vertically and non-rotatably moveable relative to each other.

19. A body support structure according to claim 18 wherein the first cable is coupled to the first upper ring, and a cable guide is coupled to the first lower ring.

20. A body support structure according to claim 19 wherein the first cable is coupled to the height adjustment device.

21. A body support structure according to claim 20 wherein the first cable is coupled to an axial bearing supporting the height adjustment device.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Aug 8, 2025
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 072342/0380 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
To: MILLERKNOLL, INC.
Reel/Frame 059360/0500 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2021
From: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057452/0241 →