Abstract: An apparatus includes a ceiling channel, an elongated transom frame member, and an adapter configured to mateably engage both the ceiling channel and the transom frame member. Specifically, the adapter includes an upper end with horizontal and angled flanges shaped to engage mating wall sections on the ceiling channel, in a manner providing stability to the connection and also providing alternative attachment sites for receiving a screw fastener. A lower end of the adapter telescopingly engages a top end of the frame member, and includes a pair of spaced-apart flanges and a spreader screw that can be adjusted to flex the flanges and frictionally bind the flanges against mating wall sections on the transom frame member in a selected telescoped position on the frame member. The ceiling channel has down flanges defining a longitudinally extending recess for receiving an upper edge of a cover panel. Safety clips attached to the upper edge of the cover panel engage the ceiling channel.

Abstract: A workspace display comprises a sidewall partition defining a workspace with a portal opening and a door partition to selectively close the portal. A first display screen is disposed on the interior side of the door partition for individual viewing from inside the workspace. A second display screen is disposed exterior of the sidewall partition and positioned a spaced apart distance in general alignment therewith, without substantial interference with user ingress and egress through the portal opening. A video device is positioned overhead in optical communication with the first display screen when the door partition is in its fully closed position to support individual activities. The video device is in optical communication through the portal opening with the second display screen when the door partition is in its fully open position to support group activities. An image on the second display screen can be viewed on either the interior or exterior screen surfaces.

Abstract: A chair control is provided for use with a chair having a base assembly including a base frame, a back frame pivoted to the base frame for movement between upright and reclined positions, and a seat slidably supported on the base frame and pivoted to the back frame so that the seat moves forwardly and its rear moves forwardly and downwardly with the back frame upon recline. The chair control includes a novel energy mechanism comprising a control housing, a transverse spring positioned transversely in the housing, and a lever pivotally engaging a side of the housing to form a fulcrum with one end of the lever engaging the spring and another end of the lever engaging a synchronized seat and back arrangement. A moment arm shift adjuster is provided for adjusting the spring tension on the back frame. The moment arm shift adjuster is readily adjustable and includes an overtorque device to prevent damage to components of the energy mechanism.

Abstract: A mobile screen having a "T"-shape for use on a ground surface is disclosed. The screen includes a base section having at least one panel providing a first surface having a first surface treatment and a second surface having a second surface treatment. The screen may also include an end section having at least one panel providing a first surface having a first surface treatment and a second surface having a second surface treatment. The base section is rigidly coupled to the end section to form the "T"-shape. At least one surface treatment of the base section or the end section is a functional surface treatment intended to selectively provide for the display of information. The screen may include a base section having a vertical frame member and at least one base panel extending therefrom and an end section having a pair of vertical frame members with at least one end panel extending therebetween. The mobile screen may also be provided with a handle or a tray.

Abstract: A paint system includes a plurality of supply tanks that can be selected for supplying powder paint to a spray site, each having a supply line connected to the supply tank and having an end section, a spray gun, and a purge air supply. Each end section is configured for selective connection to the spray gun to spray powder paint from the supply tank and also for connection to the purge air supply to blow residue powder paint in the supply line back into the supply tank. A control device operably connects a fluidizing air supply to each supply tank. The control device is configured to fluidize the powder paint in each tank at a low standby pressure when the supply tank is not in use, and to fluidize the powder paint in the tank at a higher operating pressure when the supply tank is selected for use. Methods related to the above cause the color change to be very efficient and quick, with low waste of powder paint.

Abstract: An integrated furniture system for subdividing a building space includes an overhead framework system and a furniture-supporting partition system integrated to be used together, separately, or in a partially overlapping arrangement. The overhead framework system is constructed to provide a relatively open meeting area, and includes at least one horizontally extending beam and posts supporting the beam overhead. The beam and posts are interconnected to form a space below the beam and between the posts, with the space having known height and width dimensions. The furniture-supporting partition system is constructed to subdivide the building space into an arrangement of physically separated offices. The furniture-supporting partition system includes side surfaces defining second width and height dimensions. The partition includes at least a portion positioned in the space under the beam and is potentially positioned completely under the beam in the space. The partition may or may not completely fill the space.

Abstract: An adjustable support for a data input device and the like including a base attached to an associated worksurface, a platform shaped to support the data input device thereon and having a front portion and a rearward portion, and a support arm having one end pivotally joined with the base, and an opposite end pivotally joined to the rearward portion of the platform. Also included is a locking member fixed to the support arm, and an elongate brake element wrapped around the locking member, and having one end coupled to the base and a second end connected with the platform at a point spaced from the opposite end of the arm such that rotation of the tray about the coupling at the second end of the support arm releases the brake element and permits changes in the elevation of the support with respect to the base, and the moment of the platform and any associated input device tenses the braking element against the locking member and locks the platform in its selected position.

Abstract: A chair includes a base, a seat operably supported on the base for depth adjustment, and a back operably supported by an upright that extends from the base for recline. The back includes a structural back support, a rear cover covering a rear side of the back support, and a front/lower concave cover covering the upright between a rear of the seat and below the back support to provide a one-piece back and seat appearance. The concave cover defines a concavity shaped to receive a rear of the seat to facilitate depth adjustment, but so that the one-piece back and seat appearance is maintained. The concave cover further includes upwardly extending tabs that engage a lower marginal edge of the back support to facilitate assembly.

Abstract: A knock-down portable partition including a panel frame having a central portion. At least one cover panel covers at least a portion of the central portion of the panel frame. Connectors detachably mount the cover panel on the panel frame to facilitate assembly and removable of the cover panel on the panel frame. The panel frame includes at least two vertical posts each having an upper end, a lower end and opposite faces with at least two beam connection ports thereon positioned adjacent the upper and lower ends of the associated one of the posts. The panel frame also includes upper and lower beams extending generally horizontally between the vertical posts adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and interconnecting the same adjacent the connection ports. Movable lock members having a flexible extension are positioned on one of the posts and the beams adjacent the connection ports, and are movably mounted thereon for shifting between an unlocked position and a locked position.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a floor channel having a floor-engaging flange and a raised flange with an aperture. A partition has a leveler assembly including a threaded leveling glide that can be rotated for adjusting the height of the partition relative to a floor surface. The leveling glide includes a shaft that extends through the aperture and further includes a head positioned below the raised flange that is larger than the aperture so that the head cannot be pulled through the aperture. The leveling glide also includes an upper end section positioned above the floor channel, and each of the head, the shaft, and the upper end section have non-circular cross sections shaped so that they can be engaged by tools to rotate and adjust the leveling glide.

Abstract: A worksurface unit includes a worksurface defining a lower surface, a front edge shaped to be positioned adjacent a seated user, and a rear edge disposed opposite said front edge. The rear edge includes a substantially straight portion and a concave cut-out portion. The worksurface includes at least two legs, each having an upper end operably connected with the worksurface adjacent the rear edge, and a lower end shaped to support the worksurface on a floor. A panel is connected with and extends between the legs, and has an upper edge spaced-apart from the lower surface of the worksurface to define a passageway. The panel upper edge is sloped downwardly towards the front edge of the worksurface such that utility lines can be routed through the cut-out portion of the rear edge, through the passageway and over the sloped upper edge of the panel.

Abstract: A bracket is provided for attaching an end of a first partition to a face of a second partition at a selected location intermediate vertical side edges of the second partition, where the second partition includes a horizontal frame member having a horizontal row of slots. The bracket includes an L-shaped rigid member stamped from rigid sheet metal having a first horizontal leg and a first vertical leg, with the first horizontal leg having hooks each with a notch configured to securely engage selected slots on the second partition. The bracket further includes an L-shaped interlock member stamped from spring steel having a second horizontal leg and a second vertical leg. The second horizontal and vertical legs lay on the first horizontal and vertical legs, respectively, and the second horizontal leg has an interlock tab that extends to and overlaps a rear of one of the hooks.

Abstract: A back construction for a chair includes a back shell having a plurality of horizontal bands defining a flexible lumbar section, with the back shell including non-parallel guides defined along its edges. A vertically adjustable lumbar support includes a panel body located at the flexible lumbar section, a bent wire member that engages the panel body and that is stretchable laterally, and opposing handles attached to ends of the bent wire member that engage the non-parallel guides. The opposing handles slidingly follow the guides and are movable between a first position where the bent wire member is flexed to a first width dimension, and a second position where the bent wire member is flexed to a second width dimension different than the first width dimension. Slots in the panel body retain the bent wire member to the panel body, but permit the bent wire member to be stretched horizontally during vertical adjustment of the lumbar support.

Abstract: A knock-down portable partition includes a rigid panel frame having a central portion. The partition includes at least one cover panel covering at least a portion of the central portion of the rigid panel frame. Connectors detachably mount the cover panel on the panel frame to facilitate assembly and removal of the cover panel on the panel frame. The rigid panel frame includes at least two vertical posts having an upper end, a lower end, and opposite side faces. The opposite faces have at least two beam connection ports thereon positioned adjacent the upper and lower ends of the associated one of the posts. The panel frame also includes upper and lower beams extending generally horizontally between the vertical posts adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and interconnecting the vertical posts adjacent the connection ports. The panel frame includes quick-disconnect connectors such as movable lock members positioned on one of the posts and the beams adjacent the connection ports.

Abstract: An optical access system is shown for use in an office setting including a workstation providing for communication between a network and a computing device, the workstation having a worksurface and at least one network access point coupled to an optical network port. The computing device has a device access point coupled to an optical device port for direct optical communication with the optical network port. The optical access system includes an access station containing the optical network port so that the optical network port is selectively adjustable in a vertical direction by manually repositioning with respect to the computing device and the worksurface. Direct optical communication between the optical network port and the optical device port can be maintained notwithstanding the presence of objects that may obstruct direct optical communication. The optical access system may include a portable computer having a base and a covering lid to which the optical device port is mounted.

Abstract: A partition panel system including a partition frame with vertically spaced horizontal frame members defining first discrete attachment locations, a pair of horizontally spaced blades adjustably attached to selected ones of the first discrete attachment locations, the blades including opposing inner surfaces defining vertically spaced second discrete attachment locations, and shelves adjustably attached to selected ones of the second discrete attachment locations. This allows the shelves to be horizontally and vertically adjustably supported on the partition frame in a selected one of a variety of positions. At least one shelf has a front portion with edges that extend partially around in front of the blades, thus providing increased surface area. The shelves are supported on the blades by shelf supports. Connectors on the ends of the shelves are movable between engaged and disengaged positions for securely engaging the shelf supports.