Abstract: An adjustable chair scat with a locking mechanism that is torque limiting and resistant to loosening. The chair includes a seat pan, a seat plate, a rotatable fastener and two rings. The seat pan and seat plate have openings for receiving the fastener. The fastener includes a cup handle and a threaded insert. The threaded insert is engaged with the seat pan through an opening in the seat pan while the seat plate is sandwiched between the seat pan and the fastener. When being rotated, the cup handle slips relative to the threaded insert after a predetermined resistance is reached so as to cease the application of torque to the threaded insert. One of the rings is keyed to rotate with the fastener and the other ring is keyed to remain non-rotatable. The first ring includes an array of cantilevered teeth where each tooth has a first surface disposed at a smaller angle from a horizontal reference plane and a second surface which is disposed at a greater angle from the horizontal reference plane.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive and reliable chair adjustment mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a base which is fastened to a chair support, a slide attached to an assembly to be adjusted, such as a back or a seat or arms, and a spring device cradled by the base for engaging one of a series of spaced ramps integral with the slide. The slide also includes ramps for pushing the spring device into an out-of-the-way position secured to two hooks on the base so that at the end of the slide's extension it may be returned to a retracted position in one easy movement. When reaching the retracted position, other ramps push the spring device out of the engagement with the hooks so that the spring device extends through a space between the base and the slide to again selectively engage the series of spaced ramps.

Abstract: A number of wall panel apparatuses are disclosed. In one embodiment the wall panel apparatus includes a rectangular frame, two oppositely disposed metal tiles, each tile having a number of attachment and mounting clips whereby mounting of the tiles to opposite sides of the rectangular frame is easily accomplished by locating mounting clips attached to the lower edge portions of the tiles to a bottom frame member and pivoting the upper portion of the tiles so that the attachment clips which are resilient snap into place. A glass wall panel apparatus includes the same rectangular frame, however, top and bottom channels cover the top and bottom frame members of the rectangular frame, each of the channels having hook portions for engaging the top and bottom edges of the glass panes. Also included are side shroud channels and tensioning screws to adjust the channels in relation to the glass panes.

Abstract: A front loading lock system for office furniture including a lockheader having two openings, a reinforcing channel member attached to the lockheader and also having an opening and a bracing lip, a plastic lock housing which is snap fitted into one of the openings in the lockheader and a lock which is axially inserted into the other of the openings in the lockheader, and into an opening in the lock housing, where the lock is supported by both the lock housing and braced by the bracing lip.

Abstract: A height and pivot-adjustable office chair arm assembly with an arm rest that can be raised to different vertical positions by actuation of a gas cylinder and having a shroud surrounding and vertically movable with respect to at least a portion of an arm support that is hollow and surrounds the gas cylinder such that the shroud is vertically movable in relation to at least a portion of the arm support. The shroud is connected to the gas cylinder at an upper end for vertical movement by the gas cylinder. An arm rest pivot support is attached only to the shroud and receives the arm rest assembly and enables the arm rest assembly to pivot in a horizontal plane thereby allowing the arm rest assembly to assume any selected rotational position.

Abstract: An ergonomic chair includes a four-bar linkage arrangement wherein a lower frame member is provided with a rigid front support and a rigid rear support with a seat member pivotably connected to the front support. A back rest has an upper support pivotably connected at an upper end of the rear support of the lower frame member. A link member pivotably connects at a first end to a rear support of the seat member and at second end to a lower support of the back rest. This novel arrangement permits tilting movement of the backrest rearwardly relative to the lower frame member causing elevation of a rear portion of the seat member, permitting the feet to remain on the floor and alleviating pressure on the user's thighs, while rotation occurs closely coincident with the pivot axis of the user's hips and while maintaining a generally uniform gaze line.

Abstract: An acoustic ceiling compression strut system and method to help a suspended office building ceiling withstand an earthquake. The system includes two elongated tubes in a telescoping relationship and an adjustable locking connector placed between the two tubes and having a U-shape with two legs and a base. One tube is placed to abut a deck of the office building while the connector abuts the bottom of the tube. Thereafter, the second tube is lowered to abut a grid and the legs are bent around the top of the second tube thereby locking the two tubes and the connector and causing them to become a rigid strut.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the polymerization process of olefinic hydrocarbons in an inert solvent which provides continuous control of Mooney viscosity and molecular weight distribution of the obtained polymer. In the disclosed method, means (4, 5) are included for measuring the temperature of a polymer solution in different parts of a reactor (1) provided with agitation (2), as well as means (6) for measuring the dynamic or kinematic viscosity of the polymer solution and means (7) for measuring the polymer concentration in the solution. A valve (8) mounted on the catalyst feed line controls the catalyst flow rate. A computer (9) is used to control the entire process by calculating the Mooney viscosity from the dynamic viscosity and polymer concentration and adjusting the process parameters as necessary to achieve a pre-set Mooney viscosity.

Abstract: A furnace system is described having a rotatable table with five stations, a loading station, a preheating station, a heating station, a cooling station and an unloading station. A furnace having three compartments, a preheating compartment, a heating compartment and a cooling compartment is vertically movable so that a steel charge to be annealed located on the rotatable table may be moved from one station to another when the furnace is lifted out of contact with the table. Air ducts are provided to transfer heated air from the cooling station to the preheating station. The system is very efficient for, when one charge is cooling a succeeding charge is being heated while the next succeeding charge is being preheated. At the same time a charge can be loaded and another charge can be unloaded. Thus, five steps of an annealing cycle can be accomplished simultaneously allowing an annealed charge to be completely cycled during each step.