[Brock Walker, John C. Groelsma, John F. Aldrich] US MI Okemos A backrest includes a shell having a first, forwardly facing support surface being more pronounced along upper and lower portions of a central, spine region relative to a middle portion of the central spine region and relative to side regions adjacent the central, spine region. A cushion is disposed over the first support surface. In one aspect, the cushion has a second, forwardly facing support surface being free of any corresponding pronounced portions overlying the pronounced upper and lower portions of the central, spine region of the underlying shell. In another aspect, a chair includes a backrest as disclosed. Methods of use and assembly also are provided.

[John C. Groelsma, John F. Aldrich, Eileen M. LaMore, Timothy P. Coffield] US MI Jenison A suspension seating structure having a body support assembly which includes a membrane formed from at least one strap spanning across an opening. Each strap is coupled to a frame member through a retaining structure. The retaining structure is coupled with or forms part of each frame member and provides a structurally secure body support assembly. A cushion material encapsulates the membrane, where the cushion material contains relief channels to permit the membrane to respond more freely in response to a load.

[GROELSMA, John, C., ALDRICH, John, F., LAMORE, Eileen, M., COFFIELD, Timothy, P.] 855 East Main Avenue P.O. Box 302 Zeeland, MI 49464;2467 Pinewood Street Jenison, MI 49428;3014 Tansy Trail Grandville, MI 49418;13247 Ravine View Drive Grand Haven, MI 49417;7156 Oran Street Grand Rapids, MI 49546 A suspension seating structure having a body support assembly (10) which includes a membrane (11) formed from at least one strap spanning across an opening. Each strap is coupled to a frame member through a retaining structure (26). The retaining structure is coupled with or forms part of each frame member and provides a structurally secure body support assembly. A cushion material (72) encapsulates the membrane, where the cushion material contains relief channels (74) to permit the membrane to respond more freely in response to a load.

[John C. Groelsma, John F. Aldrich, Christopher C. Hill, Craig A. Ulman] US MI Jenison A chair includes a base and a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position. A foot support is disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure. The foot support is rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base. A control mechanism is operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seat. The control mechanism includes a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure. The control handle rotates with the seating structure when the seating structure is rotated and moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position.

[Brock Walker, John C. Groelsma, John F. Aldrich] US MI Okemos A backrest includes a shell having a first, forwardly facing support surface being more pronounced along upper and lower portions of a central, spine region relative to a middle portion of the central spine region and relative to side regions adjacent the central, spine region. A cushion is disposed over the first support surface. In one aspect, the cushion has a second, forwardly facing support surface being free of any corresponding pronounced portions overlying the pronounced upper and lower portions of the central, spine region of the underlying shell. In another aspect, a chair includes a backrest as disclosed. Methods of use and assembly also are provided.

[VANDERIET, Douglas, M., HILL, Christopher, C., KURRASCH, Andrew, J., ALDRICH, John, F., HOOGLAND, Timothy, WEBER, Jeffrey, A., HOLT, Jason, BRILL, Ryan, S.] 855 East Main Avenue Zeeland, MI 49464;2198 N. Bristol St. Holland, MI 49424;P.O. Box 3265 Holland, MI 49422;904 Allegan St. Saugatuck, MI 49453;3014 Tansy Trail Grandville, MI 49418;9417 Northwind Drive Zeeland, MI 49464;2614 Vincent Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55411;1830 Hayes Street N.E. Apt. 11 Minneapolis, MN 55418;12338 Joshua Court Allendale, MI 49401 Support elements (100) and support structures (108) form the basis of ergonomic body supports for chairs, mattresses and other structures. The support elements may be individually designed according to their location and body support function. Thus, the structures that include the support elements may provide point-tailored support for any part of the body to enhance comfort, fit, and proper anatomical support.

[ANDREW J. KURRASCH, Andrew Squires, John F. Aldrich] US MI Saugatuck A biasing mechanism between two portions of a chair, such as the seat and back components, where the biasing mechanism can position the back component in an infinite number of recline positions between a first, or fully upright, position and a second, or fully reclined, position, where the biasing mechanism consists of a leaf spring and a cylinder in a parallel configuration.

[Jeffrey A. Weber, Jason Holt, John F. Aldrich, Timothy A. Hoogland, Robert W. Roth, Robert M. Seeley] US MN Golden Valley An adjustable armrest includes a base member pivotable about a first horizontal axis in a side-to-side direction. An arm support member is connected to the base member. A first latch member includes a plurality of notches, while a second latch member includes a pawl shaped to releasably engage at least one of the plurality of notches. One of the first or second latch members is mounted on the base member, with the second latch member being moveable relative to the first latch member between at least one engaged position and a release position. In another aspect, a chair includes a pair of adjustable armrests. In another aspect, a method of adjusting the lateral position of an armrest is provided.

[ALDRICH, John, F., BRILL, Ryan, S., HILL, Christopher, C., VANDERIET, Douglas, M., CASTRO, Elinda, G., Jr., ROARK, Troy, SLAGH, James, D., WEBER, Jeffrey, A.] 855 East Main Avenue P.O. Box 302 Zeeland, MI 49464-0302;3014 Tansy Trail Grandville, MI 49418;12338 Joshua Court Allendale, MI 49401;10320 Fillmore Street Zeeland, MI 49464;2230 Eagle Boulevard Holland, MI 49424;2639 Picadilly Drive Sw Wyoming, MI 49418;9120 Hiawatha Drive West Olive, MI 49460;5240 143rd Avenue Holland, MI 49423;1200 Angelo Drive Golden Valley, MN 55422 A seating structure has an articulated seat and back. A rear portion of the seat is automatically pivotable relative to a forward portion of the seat as the seat is tilted between upright and reclined tilt positions. An upper portion of the back is pivotable relative to the lower portion between a neutral position and an extended position, with the upper portion being pivotable relative to the lower portion independent of the tilt position of the back. In one aspect, an adjustment mechanism is coupled between lower and upper back support members and pivots the upper support member between at least first and second support positions. A seat with an adjustable seat depth is also provided, along with various methods for operating the different aspects and embodiments of the seating structure.

[BRILL, Ryan, S., HILL, Christopher, C., SLAGH, James, D., ALDRICH, John, F., COFFIELD, Timothy, P., HARTMANN, Andrew, B., WASHBURN, Kelly, E., STANTON, Michael, D., Sr.] 855 East Main Avenue P.O. Box 302 Zeeland, MI 49464-0302;12338 Joshua Court Allendale, MI 49401;10320 Filmore Street Zeeland, MI 49464;5240 143rd Avenue Holland, MI 49423;3014 Tansy Trail Grandville, MI 49418;2747 Cascade Springs Grand Rapids, MI 49546;2281 Blodgett Street Muskegon, MI 49441;2164 114th Avenue Allegan, MI 49010;340 Glenwoods Court N.E. Rockford, MI 49341 A multi-layered support structure provides ergonomic, adaptable seating support. The multi-layered support structure includes multiple cooperative layers to maximize global comfort and support while enhancing adaptation to localized variations in a load, such as in the load applied when a person sits in a chair. The cooperative layers each include elements such as pixels, springs, support rails, and other elements to provide this adaptable comfort and support. The multi-layered support structure also uses aligned material to provide a flexible yet durable support structure. Accordingly, the multi-layered support structure provides maximum comfort for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.