Body support structure having a molded elastomeric member
AssigneeHerman Miller, Inc.
InventorsJerome Carmel Caruso, Steven Jerome Caruso
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A body support structure includes a support frame having at least first and second opposite side portions and defining an opening therebetween. A molded elastomeric member is connected to the first and second side portions and suspended over the opening. The molded elastomeric member includes a mechanical structure decoupling the molded elastomeric member in first and second directions such that the molded elastomeric member has different load bearing characteristics in the first and second directions, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction. A method for forming a load bearing structure is also provided.
Claims22
A body support structure comprising:
- a support frame having at least first and second opposite side portions and defining an opening therebetween;
- and
- a molded elastomeric member connected to said first and second side portions and suspended over said opening, said molded elastomeric member comprising a plurality of nodes and a mechanical structure, said mechanical structure comprising a plurality of first connectors connecting said nodes in a first direction, wherein said plurality of first connectors are sequentially positioned in and along only said first direction, and a plurality of second connectors connecting said nodes in a second direction, wherein said plurality of second connectors are sequentially positioned in and along only said second direction, wherein said first and second pluralities of connectors provide said molded elastomeric member with different load bearing characteristics in said first and second directions, wherein said first direction and said second direction are perpendicular.
A body support structure comprising:
- a support frame having at least first and second opposite side portions and defining an opening therebetween;
- and
- a molded elastomeric member connected to said first and second side portions and suspended over said opening, said molded elastomeric member comprising a plurality of nodes and a mechanical structure, said mechanical structure comprising a plurality of first connectors connecting said nodes in a first direction, wherein said plurality of first connectors are sequentially positioned in and along said first direction, and a plurality of second connectors connecting said nodes in a second direction, wherein said plurality of second connectors are sequentially positioned in and along said second direction, wherein said first and second pluralities of connectors provide said molded elastomeric member with different load bearing characteristics in said first and second directions, wherein said first direction is different than said second direction, and wherein said first connectors have a W-shaped configuration.
A method for forming a load bearing structure comprising:
- molding an elastomeric member, wherein said molding comprises forming a plurality of nodes that are interconnected by a plurality of first connectors sequentially positioned in and along only a first direction and a plurality of second connectors sequentially positioned in and along only a second direction, wherein said first direction and said second direction are perpendicular, and wherein said plurality of said first and second connectors provide said elastomeric member with different load bearing characteristics in said first and second directions.
A method for forming a load bearing structure comprising:
- molding an elastomeric member, wherein said molding comprises forming a plurality of nodes that are interconnected by a plurality of first connectors sequentially positioned in and along a first direction and a plurality of second connectors sequentially positioned in and along a second direction, wherein said first direction is different than said second direction, and wherein said plurality of said first and second connectors provide said elastomeric member with different load bearing characteristics in said first and second directions, and wherein said first connectors have a W-shaped configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.