Abstract:
An adjustement mechanism (16) for adjusting the height of a chair seat (10), table top or the relative position of other items includes an outer support tube (30) and a telescoping, column tube subassembly (32). The column tube subassembly (32) includes an inner support tube (46), a cylinder (62) and a piston (118) and piston rod subassembly (64). The piston rod is connected to the piston at one end and to the outer support tube at the other end. An elastomeric sleeve (68) surrounds the cylinder. A valve (152) controls flow of hydraulic fluid from the interior of the cylinder to and from an expandable chamber defined by the elastomeric sleeve. The piston snap fits onto the piston rod and allows rotation of the column tube subassembly with respect to the outer support tube. A shock-absorbing element (220) is disposed in the cylinder.
Abstract:
A chair (10) with independent control of a lumbar portion of a seat back (18) and a thoracic portion (32) of the seat back, has a seat (14) connected with a base (12) and a control (16) connected with the base, generally under the seat. A first support (76), pivotally connected with the control, extends from the control to the thoracic portion (32) of the seat back. The two supports operate independently and the thoracic and lumbar portions of the seat back rotate independently rearward with respect to the seat (14), providing sympathetic back support for a user. The thoracic portion may rotate laterally to follow twisting movements of a user's thoracic region. The lumbar portion may be connected with the second support to limit lateral rotation of the lumbar portion.
Abstract:
A utility panel system is provided for open office spaces, and the like. Each utility panel (2) has a relatively thick, skeleton-like frame (3), with a foot (4) and opposite sides (5, 6) shaped for interconnection with like panel frames to create a substantially free-standing utility panel system. Cover panels (7) are detachably connected to the opposite faces of each panel frame to enclose the same, and provide ready access to the panel interior. Horizontal utility troughs (8) extend continuously between the opposite sides of each panel frame in a vertically stacked relationship. The utility troughs (8) have open ends located at the opposite panel sides, and are positioned such that when adjacent utility panels are interconnected in a side-by-side relationship, the utility troughs are aligned to form multiple raceways. Panel connectors (10) are provided to connect the utility panels with one or more of a variety of existing partition panels, such that the utility panels act as a spine which supplies utilities to the existing partition panels.
Abstract:
A knock-down portable partition system has cover panels (11, 12) supported on a post and beam framework (2) designed for quick and easy on-site manual assembly. The framework includes vertical posts (20) and structural beams (35) which rigidly, yet detachably, interconnect the vertical posts at the upper and lower portions thereof. Utility troughs (45) shaped to retain wires, cabling, etc. therein have opposite ends (57, 58) shaped to be detachably mounted in horizontally aligned pairs of utility trough ports (40) on the posts (20) while the framework (2) is in its assembled condition.
Abstract:
A system for subdividing a building space into work areas includes interconnectable partition panels (51-53), each having an internal frame with a plurality of horizontal frame members (62-64) located at predetermined heights. The horizontal frame members each have at least one horizontal row of slots (65-68), and at least one of the horizontal frame members is located slightly above an optimal worksurface height for supporting an interactively used datum shelf (54). Furniture components are attachable to the horizontal frame members at selected horizontal positions, including the datum shelf (54), an undershelf storage unit (146), and an upper storage unit (225). A mobile furniture unit (137) having a worksurface located at an optimal worksurface height, the worksurface having a cantilevered edge section that can be extended partially under the datum shelf at a selected optimal depth for coordinated and efficient use of the datum shelf concurrent with using the worksurface. The furniture construction is constructed to maximize floor space and storage within an office area or work area while maintaining a minimum footprint. Further, the furniture construction allows user reconfiguration, and provides for maximum work efficiency and adaptability. Also, the work area defined by the instant construction is noticeably open and spacious, even where the actual work area size is less than traditional office sizes, such as where the work area size is equal to or less than 6 feet by 6 feet.
Abstract:
A furniture system (40) for outfitting a building space, includes a plurality of partition frames (44), each having horizontally spaced apart uprights (46) with opposing sides, and having horizontal frame members (47-51) connecting the uprights (46). A top one of the horizontal frame members is one-piece and attached to a top of the uprights. The top one horizontal frame member (47) includes opposing side faces (66) that are spaced apart a distance greater than the opposing sides and that include cover-supporting connectors (140). Cover panels (73) are provided having frame-engaging connectors (183) extending horizontally beyond an inside surface of the frame. The frame-engaging connectors (183) are configured to releasably engage the cover-supporting connectors (140). This allows the cover panels, when attached to the partition frames, to define an internal cavity in the frame that extends horizontally a width of the frame and vertically substantially the height of the frame. This in turn allows utilities to be flexibly routed vertically and horizontally within the partition frame, and from partition frame to partition frame.
Abstract:
A partition system (80) for subdividing a building space includes a partition panel (100) having a horizontal frame member (107, 108) defining a vertical, longitudinal central plane and including a plurality of apertures (155, 158) each spaced horizontally a unit distance apart. The partition panel further includes opposing faces (210) with outermost vertical surfaces spaced from the central plane (554, 555) that define a horizontal dimension with the central plane that equals an integer multiple of the unit distance (552). Off module connector brackets (169, 190) connect one ofthe ends of the first partition panel off module to one of the opposing faces of the second partition panel in an abutting relationship. Partition panels' opposing faces and ends define a rectangular footprint including boundary lines having an integer multiple relationship. The apertures define point specific attachment locations so that the boundary lines of the first and second partition panels all lie on the gridwork lines (551).
Abstract:
A chair construction (20) and method for building a chair having selected features are provided. The construction includes a plurality of interchangeable different components including different base assemblies (31, 31A, 31B), back assemblies (24, 27, 27A, 27B), seats (26, 27, 27A, 27B), arms (28, 28A, 28B) and chair controls (30, 30A, 30B) that can be selected to provide different features on a "customized" chair. The method includes selecting modules from a menu of interconnectable/interchangeable modules to construct a chair control, and further selecting modules from a menu of interchangeable components to construct a chair having selected features.
Abstract:
A freestanding portable partition panel (4) is provided for open office spaces. Each panel includes a skeleton-life frame having two vertical uprights (10) positioned adjacent opposite side edges. A foot (11) extends downwardly from the bottom of the frame to a floor surface. Two pairs of horizontal stringers (12 and 13) are attached to the outer faces of the uprights in a vertically spaced apart relationship, and define therebetween two horizontal raceway cavities (14). Cover panels (16) enclose at least those portions of the frame side faces disposed between the stringers. The upper ends of the vertical uprights have upwardly extending arms which define yoke shaped receptacles (19) for receiving drop-in wiring.
Abstract:
An integrated prefabricated furniture system is provided for finishing or fitting-out open plan building spaces. A demountable architectural wall system (4) covers the fixed walls of the building room, a portable partition wall system (5) defines the interior space into individual work settings, and a demountable movable wall system (7) forms custom width partitions. The three wall systems are completely compatible and fully integrated in both function and appearance, and provide similar utility raceways at common heights, as well as interchangeable cover panels.