IP Library Granted Patent US 11,236,506
Granted Patent B2
US 11,236,506 · App. 16/172,998 · Granted Feb 1, 2022

Screen assembly

Inventors: Joe Parr (Grand Rapids, MI); Paul Gartland (Holland, MI); Larry Kallio (Grand Haven, MI)
Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
E04B2/7425E06B9/24E04B2/7427E04B2002/749E04B2002/7479E04B2002/7483
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,236,506
App. No.
16/172,998
Granted
Feb 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A screen assembly includes a screen including a panel having a recess and a receiver positioned within the recess. The receiver includes a locking member having a cantilevered finger, and a cantilevered actuator. The screen assembly also includes connector having a body and a contact extending from the body. The contact is received in the receiver between the cantilevered finger and the cantilevered actuator. The contact has an opening through which the locking member extends. The cantilevered actuator is movable toward the locking member to move the locking member out of the opening.

Claims (30)

1. A screen assembly comprising:

a screen including a panel having a recess and a receiver positioned within the recess, the receiver including

a locking member having a cantilevered finger, and

a cantilevered actuator; and

a connector including a body and a contact extending from the body, the contact being received in the receiver between the cantilevered finger and the cantilevered actuator, the contact having an opening through which the locking member extends;

wherein the cantilevered actuator is movable toward the locking member to move the locking member out of the opening, and wherein the cantilevered actuator is resiliently constructed to be biased away from the locking member without a separate biasing element.

2. The screen assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receiver includes a first half and a second half, wherein the first half includes the locking member and the second half includes the cantilevered actuator.

3. The screen assembly of claim 2 , wherein the receiver further includes a slot positioned between the first half and the second half, wherein the contact is insertable into the receiver through the slot.

4. The screen assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receiver further includes a cavity that receiver the connector, and wherein the locking member projects across the cavity.

5. The screen assembly of claim 4 , wherein the locking member is biased into the cavity.

6. The screen assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is pivotable about a first axis of the receiver, wherein the cantilevered actuator is pivotable about a second axis of the receiver.

7. The screen assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking member further includes a flat portion that contacts the cantilevered actuator.

8. A screen assembly comprising:

a screen including an inner panel having a face and an outer layer arranged on and covering the face of the inner panel, the inner panel having a recess in the face and a receiver positioned within the recess, the receiver including a locking member and an actuator; and

a connector including a body and a first contact extending from the body, and a second contact extending from an opposite side of the body, each of the first and second contacts having an opening through which the locking member can extend, wherein the receiver is configured to engage either the first contact or the second contact

wherein the actuator is hidden behind the outer layer of the screen such that the actuator is not visible from an exterior of the screen, but is exposed through the face of the inner panel.

9. The screen assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first contact or the second contact is received in the receiver between the locking member and the actuator.

10. The screen assembly of claim 9 , wherein the actuator further includes an angled face to disengage the locking member from the connector.

11. The screen assembly of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is operable to move the locking member out of the opening.

12. The screen assembly of claim 8 , wherein the actuator includes a cantilevered push button.

13. A screen assembly comprising:

a screen including a panel having a face and a side edge perpendicular to the face and intersecting with the face at a corner, the panel also having a recess formed in the face, in the side edge, and in the corner and having a receiver positioned within the recess and substantially flush with the panel, wherein the receiver includes a locking member, an actuator, and a slot positioned along an edge of the receiver; and

a connector including a body and a contact extending from the body, the contact having an opening through which the locking member extends;

wherein the contact is insertable into the receiver through the slot without actuating the actuator, wherein the contact is removable from the receiver by actuating the actuator to move the locking member out of the opening; and wherein the actuator is configured to engage the locking member through the opening.

14. The screen assembly of claim 13 , wherein the locking member includes a cantilevered finger and the actuator includes a cantilevered push button.

15. The screen assembly of claim 13 , wherein the receiver includes a first half and a second half, wherein the first half includes the locking member and the second half includes the actuator.

16. The screen assembly of claim 13 , wherein the receiver further includes a cavity that receives the connector, and wherein the locking member projects across the cavity.

17. The screen assembly of claim 16 , wherein the locking member is biased into the cavity.

18. The screen assembly of claim 13 , wherein the actuator further includes an angled face to disengage the locking member from the connector.

19. The screen assembly of claim 13 , wherein the contact is received in the receiver between the locking member and the actuator.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: PARR, JOE; GARTLAND, PAUL; KALLIO, LARRY
To: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
Reel/Frame 047336/0367 →