Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing electrical outlets in a wall panel assembly. The wall panel includes an open frame structure and front and rear panel inserts removably attached to front and rear faces of the frame structure. The rear panel insert is removed from the rear face of the frame structure, a cutout is formed in the front panel insert at a desired location for the outlet, a bracket is secured at one end thereof to the frame structure with another end thereof positioned proximate the cutout in the front panel insert, the outlet is positioned in the cutout in the front panel insert and secured to the other end of the bracket, and the rear panel is replaced against the rear face of the frame structure.

Abstract: A wall panel assembly for use in providing an open plan system to define separate areas. An L shaped connector bracket is utilized to join two panels together in an L configuration, three panels together in a T configuration, or four panels together in an X configuration. In each case one leg of the bracket is secured to an end edge of the first wall panel and the other leg of the bracket is secured to the end edge of a second panel. Where only two panels are being joined in an L configuration, a ball end edge of an L shaped trim post is positioned at one end edge in a socket groove defined by the connector bracket and rotated to bring another ball end edge of the trim panel into snapping coaction with a socket groove defined on another end edge of the connector bracket.

Abstract: An improved seat assembly for mass transit vehicles and an improved methodology for providing seating in mass transit vehicles. The seat assembly includes a universal seat frame which is formed of aluminum extrusions welded together and which is usable in combination with a variety of support bracketry so that a single common seat frame may be utilized to provide a variety of seating positions and seating attitudes within the vehicle. The seat frame includes side rails and cross rails extending between the side rails. Each cross rail includes an upper tube portion and a lower track portion formed integrally with the bottom wall of the upper tube portion and defining a groove. A slot in the bottom wall of the track portion communicates with the groove.

Abstract: A compactible, storable seating apparatus of the type which yields way to accommodate a wheelchair user. The apparatus has a seat bottom and seat back which rotate about a common axis to compact in a vertical position. The seat bottom and back are mounted to a common cantilevered beam which is pivotal about a single stanchion. The seating apparatus can be used in a conventional manner or can be easily pivoted about the stanchion to yield way to a wheelchair user.

Abstract: A self-aligning fastener system incorporates a stud member fastened to a first member and a female member attached to a second panel member for fastening the first member to the panel member. The female member includes a head portion which spans an aperture of the panel and has an aperture therethrough, the head portion includes leg portions which depend from the head portion which extend through the panel aperture and are engaged by a clip on the opposite side of the panel for retaining the female fastener in the aperture. The panel aperture and leg spacing are dimensioned such that the female fastener is adapted to move along a first axis of said aperture thereby allowing the female fastener to accommodate any alignment errors between itself and the stud fastener along the first axis. The leg portions of the female fastener have a pair of linear engagement surfaces arranged perpendicular to the first axis whereby the leg portions can engage and retain the stud member anywhere along their length.

Abstract: A U-shaped frame has opposite pivoted jaws adapted to move to and from a position closing the frame gap. A releasable locking member is pivoted to the frame in half-bearings, and is held in place by a cover plate that similarly retains the journals of an actuator plate responsible for closing the jaws around an entered wheel. The locking member is rotated out of locking position by forces on a handle that cause the chair to be pushed out of the retainer coupling. Placement of the locking member in the release position causes warning projections to appear above the housing, and these retract into the housing when the unit is in locked condition.

Abstract: A file-drawer cabinet with a retracting panel normally covering the top drawer opening has cut-out areas on the front flanges of the cabinet corner members. These flanges are partially overlapped by the side edges of the lower drawers. The top drawer cover panel retracts through the cut-out areas, making the top panel width equal to the width of the lower drawers.

Abstract: A vandal resistant upholstered seat or seat insert comprises a substrate formed of a hard material such as plastic, fiberglass, steel or the like; a vertical pile fabric having a non-coated backing covering the outer surface of the seat insert, with the vertical pile fabric including a plurality of generally upright fibers embedded in a backing material, with the fibers and the backing material being formed such that the backing and vertical fibers are accessible to a liquid adhesive applied to the underside of the backing material; and a layer of high-strength adhesive permeating the backing material from the underside and bonding securely the backing material and upright fibers to the substrate, the adhesive providing a fabric to substrate bond that exceeds the tensile strength of the fabric itself or has a peeling strength of at least twenty-five (25) pounds per inch width of fabric.

Abstract: A chair comprises an elongated one-piece seat-and-back support bent so as to form a lower substantially U-shaped seat support and an upper substantially upright back support. The seat support includes lower and upper leg portions and a bight portion intermediate the same. The bight portion is resilient thereby enabling the upper leg portion to deflect downwardly relative to the lower leg portion, and the back support to move downwardly and rearwardly, in response to a downward force exerted on the upper leg portion. In addition, the chair comprises a stabilizer mounted between the upper and lower leg portions of the seat support and for providing stability to the same during downward relative deflection of the upper leg portion. The chair further comprises resilient stiffening member and a tension control mechanism. The stiffening member is mounted to and between the seat support upper and lower leg portions and functions to increase resistance to relative deflection of the upper leg portion.

Abstract: This auditorium seat has a frame preferably formed of bent steel tubing, the ends being brought together to parallelism in a "Y"-shaped configuration to form a pedestal. A seat is pivotally mounted on a spring hinge assembly between the sides of the frame, and includes a transverse saddle platform to which a "U"-shaped rod extends forward from end-receptacles on the platform. Seat-supporting straps are welded to the central portion of the "U"-shaped member to form a complex bending-torsion deflection system in addition to the cushioning effect of a pad interposed between the plates and the saddle. The back of the chair has limited freedom of articulation about horizontal and vertical axis, with a spring cushion providing a biasing action toward a neutral no-load position. A modified form of the invention provides a tablet arm assembly supported by a bracket embracing one side of the frame at a curved portion.

Abstract: Improved automatic seating for a telescopic system includes stancheons for mounting individual chairs. Each stancheon includes forward and rear frame members which are pivotally mounted to a bracket and arranged to pivot between a raised use position when the rows are extended and a lowered storage position when the rows are retracted for storage. A coil spring is connected between the stancheon frame members and biases them to the raised position so that the seating raises automatically when the rows are extended for use. Each stancheon is secured in the raised position by a self-tightening latching mechanism which is actuated independently of all other stancheon latches so as to compensate for tolerances in an individual stancheon assembly and to latch it securely in the use position, whereas all latches are disengaged in unison by movement of the next lower row to its storage position.

Abstract: A seat for mass transportation vehicles includes a bench portion, a back portion and an elongated impact energy absorbing grabrail extending along the upper edge of the back portion. The grabrail is molded as an integral, one-piece member from a plastic material. The grabrail includes an elongated base member having an aisle end and a wall end. The base member defines a plurality of longitudinally spaced attachment apertures. Suitable fasteners extend through these apertures to secure the grabrail to the upper edge of the back portion of the seat. A rail portion is formed integral with the base portion and extends therefrom. The rail portion includes legs which are joined to the upper surface of the base portion. The grabrail is essentially solid and has a transverse cross section in the shape of a polygon. The grabrail resists cutting by vandals and deflects on impact to absorb energy and compartmentalize passengers in the vehicle.

Abstract: A seating assembly in which each of a pair of reclinable back assemblies is attached to the seat frame by way of a pair of mounting brackets, one fixed and one adjustable, the adjustable bracket being releasably locked to the frame when the back seat is in place and with the fixed bracket defining pivot points for the seat back. The recliner mechanism for the seat backs are contained within armrests for the seats, the armrests being cantilever mounted to maximize leg and hip room for occupants of the seats. A pedestal mount supports the seating assembly near the center of the unit. The back seat cushion comprises deep layered foam covered with woven upholstery fabric that is tufted to achieve a "loose pillow" appearance, the cushion construction being accomplished with the use of a grid of wires which control the pillow shape, and a series of pull tabs which create a tufted-button look.

Abstract: A seat module having full perimeter structural interlocking end portions for coupling adjacent modules together when they are assembled and which is particularly adapted for use in a tiered structure, e.g., folding bleachers, is disclosed. The seat module includes a contoured, upper seating surface for an occupant of the seat, an inwardly curved rear surface for increased foot room for an occupant of the next higher row, and a sloped front surface for full leg movement. The individual modules are molded from a single piece of high impact resistant, structural foam and include a single internal load transfer member extending from top to bottom in dividing the interior thereof into two separate chambers and increasing module stability and strength. The lower portion of the seat module is adapted to be mounted by means of a single hardware fitting in the lengthwise slot of an extruded nose beam which is firmly mounted to the seating platform structure.

Abstract: A chair of the type used in theaters or the like includes a seat mounted to a standard by pivot mechanisms which bias the seat to a three-quarter fold position in which the seat is raised to permit row egress. The chair back is pivotally mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis located in the back area of an occupant. A link connects the specially formed seat frame to the lower part of the back frame so that when the seat is in the three-quarter fold position, the top of the chair back is rotated forward so that the chair back assumes a generally vertical disposition thereby increasing egress room for the occupant of the row to the rear. Also, in the three-quarter fold position the link/frame mechanism locks the back panel in that position so that it cannot be displaced should an occupant of the next row to the rear grasp the back panel and use it to steady himself or pull himself out of his seat.

Abstract: A telescoping seating system has a plurality of rows adapted for movement between an extended or use position and a retracted or storage position. Each row is equipped with seating mounted on a frame which, in turn, is mounted to the rear of the deck of a row for pivoting between a raised or use position and a lowered or storage position, where the seating is positioned between the decks of adjacent rows when stored. A latch mechanism for locking the seating frame in the raised position when a row is extended includes a drive rod extending above and along a rear portion of the deck. The drive rod is spring-biased to rotate in one direction toward a locking position in which latch members carried by it engage the seating frame to lock it in place when the frame is raised.