IP Library Granted Patent US 12,215,445
Granted Patent B2
US 12,215,445 · App. 17/390,396 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

System and method of manufacturing suspension member

Inventor: Ethan McGraw (Holland, MI)
Assignee: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
D03D15/587A47C7/32D03D1/00D06C7/00D10B2505/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,215,445
App. No.
17/390,396
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of manufacturing a suspension member including providing a first set of yarns and a second set of yarns, combining the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns to form the suspension member, and at least partially bonding a portion of the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns together by heating the suspension member to form a first zone of the suspension member having a first tension.

Claims (14)

1. A method of manufacturing a suspension member, the method comprising:

providing a first set of yarns and a second set of yarns;

combining the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns to form the suspension member;

tensioning a first portion of the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns to a first tension;

tensioning a second portion of the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns to a second tension that is different than the first tension; and

at least partially bonding the first portion of the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns together by heating the suspension member to form a first zone of the suspension member having the first tension; and

at least partially bonding the second portion of the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns together by heating the suspension member to form a second zone of the suspension member having the second tension.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combining the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns includes feeding the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns through a loom and weaving the second set of yarns through the first set of yarns.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising tensioning a portion of the first set of yarns before the combining the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising tensioning a portion of the first set of yarns during the combining the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein bonding the first and second portions includes applying different amounts of heat to the first zone of the suspension member and to the second zone of the suspension member.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein bonding the first and second portions includes heating the suspension member in a continuous manner.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein bonding the first and second portions includes heating the suspension member in a discontinuous manner.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein bonding the portion of the first set of yarns and the second set of yarns together includes moving a heating element towards and away from the suspension member to control an amount of heat applied to the suspension member.

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 072342/0529 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2025
From: MILLERKNOLL, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071473/0729 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
To: MILLERKNOLL, INC.
Reel/Frame 059360/0500 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: MCGRAW, ETHAN
To: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
Reel/Frame 057762/0634 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,616,306