Abstract: A cabinet comprising an enclosure with a front surface in which there is an opening. A tambour door is slidably attached to the enclosure. The tambour door is movable between an open position, in which the opening provides direct access to the enclosure interior, and a closed position in which the opening is closed by the door. The cabinet further includes a rear brake means for exerting a force opposing the movement of the tambour door from the open to the closed position when engaged by the tambour door. The tambour door engages the rear brake means at a first selected distance from the closed position that is sufficiently great so that the rear brake means can exert an adequate opposing force on the tambour door so that the tambour door gently closes.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a hydraulic lifting assembly for supporting articles of furniture. The hydraulic lifting assembly includes a base, a support column secured to the base, a variable volume chamber, a fixed volume chamber and a control valve mechanism. The fixed and variable volume chambers are interconnected by a flexible conduit. The control valve mechanism includes a cam secured to a rotatable rod which is positioned so that, by rotating the rod, the cam will selectively pinch off the flexible conduit and prevent fluid flow therethrough. A spring is provided for normally urging the cam against the flexible conduit to pinch off the conduit. The control may be located in any convenient location due the flexibility of the conduit.

Abstract: A hydraulic lifting mechanism for an article of furniture comprising a pair of sealed chambers interconnected with a hollow conduit and containing hydraulic fluid. One of the chambers is expandable and comprises flexible walls in the form of a rolling diaphragm. The second chamber contains a pressurized gas in addition to a hydraulic fluid. The expandable chamber is located in the supporting base of the article of furniture. A two speed valve is included in the interconnecting conduit for allowing fluid transfer between the chambers at a first rate in one direction and at a second rate in the other direction. As fluid is transferred to the expandable chamber, a support column will be forced upwardly by the expanding chamber at a fast rate and when the fluid transfers from the expandable chamber to the second chamber the support column will move downwardly at a second rate of speed slower than the first rate.

Abstract: A hydraulic lifting mechanism for an article of furniture including a refrigerant containing reservoir. The mechanism includes a flexible bag having a variable volume and fixed volume reservoir including a diaphragm for dividing the reservoir into two chambers. The first chamber contains hydraulic liquid and the second chamber contains a compressed two phase working fluid. The hydraulic liquid may be transferred between the flexible bag and the first chamber. A control valve mechanism is included in the flexible conduit which connects the flexible bag with the first chamber. The mechanism may be used in combination with a chair to provide an adjustable height control for the seat of the chair or in combination with other articles of furniture.

Abstract: A seat adjustment mechanism for adjustably connecting a seat to a chair base is provided wherein a threaded spindle is secured to the seat and rotatably and axially movably received within a column member extending upwardly from the chair base. An adjusting nut is threadedly engaged with the spindle and supported within the column member by a bearing assembly, and which is upwardly urged by a compression spring such that the upper surface of the adjusting nut lockingly engages a downwardly facing engaging surface of a lock cap in the column member when the seat is unoccupied. By rotating the seat and the spindle secured thereto, vertical adjustment of the seat is provided. When the seat is occupied, the adjusting nut is moved downwardly by the spindle and against the bearing assembly to compress the spring and disengage the upper surface of the adjusting nut from the downwardly facing engaging surface. The seat and spindle then may be rotated without being vertically adjusted.