Abstract: A wall panel includes a peripheral metal frame which may be free-standing or part of an open office partition system, and a removable acoustical insert. The acoustical insert is formed of pressed glass fiber and includes an integral border of substantially greater density than the main body portion of the insert to add rigidity to the insert and provide a stiffened portion for mounting clips which are used to removably secure the acoustical insert to the peripheral metal frame so that the border is in register with the frame.

Abstract: A row construction for a telescoping seating system includes a rear riser beam having a continuous horizontal slot receiving and encapsulating the rear edge of the footrest panel and a nose beam having a similar slot encapsulating the front edge of the footrest panel. The nose beam is then secured to support members which are mounted to the rear riser such that assembly of these members forces the footrest panel under compression into the opposing slots on the front and rear structural beams. Thus, the footrest panel, the front and rear structural beams and the support members form a horizontal truss. The truss construction is extended to corresponding rows of laterally adjacent sections by extending the footrest panel to bridge the joint between these adjacent sections.

Abstract: Improvements for office chairs are described which include a cam control mechanism having two operative positions under control of the occupant. In the first position the cam actuates a first pneumatic cylinder to adjust the height of the seat over a continuous range. In the second position, the cam independently actuates a second pneumatic cylinder for adjusting the postural attitude of the backrest over a continuous range about a pivot located at the sacral level of the occupant. In the postural adjustment mode, the cam may be positioned to actuate the backrest adjusting cylinder continuously so that the backrest provides a floating support or dynamic cushioning to the back of the occupant. The backrest cushion assembly is mounted to its support by means of a pair of laterally spaced cushion mounts which provide lesser resistance and support to body motions in a fore-and-aft plane but greater support to laterally backward motion, as when the occupant is reaching for something.

Abstract: An improved panel wall system is disclosed with means for interconnecting the panels in any desired angular relationship while providing a sight barrier through the joint. As many of the panels may be connected as are desired; and they may be placed in any desired configuration. Each panel includes an insert assembly to provide its exterior face; and these may be removed and changed, if desired. A full line of shelving and cabinets may be assembled to the panels with a limited number of interchangeable components. The cabinets include a flipper door which will not rack when opened or closed, and which slides beneath the top of the cabinet in the open position, yet has its edges flush with the top and bottom of the cabinet in the closed position.

Abstract: Power drive apparatus is adapted for mounting beneath the forward or lower row of a telescopic seating system. The drive apparatus includes a frame which is adapted to be connected to the forward row of the seating system and extend beneath it. A reversible electric motor is mounted centrally of the frame with its axis transverse of the direction of travel of the unit. First and second rollers (as distinguished from wheels or endless track) are mounted to the frame for rotation about respective horizontal forward and rear axes extending transverse of the direction of movement of the rows between the use and storage positions. Each roller has an exterior covering of compressible, resilient material, preferably synthetic rubber. The rollers are preferably located in front of and behind the motor respectively to provide a four-wheel-drive effect. The apparatus fits beneath the deck of the lowest row in the seating system and can easily be retrofitted to an existing system.

Abstract: A foldable transportation seat includes a seat support, a seat having a bench portion, a pivot pin pivotally mounting the bench portion to the seat support, a bumper support member extending generally outwardly from the seat support adjacent a side of the seat bench and a bumper carried by the bumper support member. The bumper is non-rotatably secured to an elongated rod which is rotatably mounted on the bumper support member. A lever secured to the pivot pin and rotatable therewith is connected to the elongated rod by a cable which is wrapped around the rod. Pivotable movement of the seat bench rotates the bumper from a stored position to an operative position. A seat back is pivotally supported to the seat support and linked to the bench so as to assume an angled position from vertical when the seat bench is in a horizontal position.

Abstract: An improved panel wall system is disclosed with means for interconnecting the panels in any desired angular relationship while providing a sight barrier through the joint. As many of the panels may be connected as are desired; and they may be placed in any desired configuration. Each panel includes an insert assembly to provide its exterior face; and these may be removed and changed, if desired. A full line of shelving and cabinets may be assembled to the panels with a limited number of interchangeable components. The cabinets include a flipper door which will not rack when opened or closed, and which slides beneath the top of the cabinet in the open position, yet has its edges flush with the top and bottom of the cabinet in the closed position.

Abstract: A vandal proof and inexpensive crash pad for a transportation vehicle seat is provided that meets Department of Transportation Head Injury Criterion. The crash pad is designed for use on a vehicle seat having a rigid rail frame. A seat back formed of a sheet of flexible material having a high surface hardness is mounted on the rigid rail frame. The top portion of the seat back includes an integrally formed flexible energy absorbing bubble. The energy absorbing bubble extends substantially the length of the seat back and is disposed at the top of the seat back for cushioning the impact of a passenger's head during an impact or rapid maneuver. The energy absorbing bubble can encompass a flexible energy absorbing brace, having an L-shaped cross section, that is cantilevered from the rigid rail frame.

Abstract: An upper suspended cantilevered public transportation vehicle seat is provided including a passive restraint for absorbing the impact energy of a passenger during an accident or rapid maneuver. The vehicle seat includes a bench and an upstanding back portion, both the seat bench and back portions being supported by a sidewall of the vehicle. The seat bench is securely mounted to the sidewall of the vehicle. The upstanding seat back includes top and bottom portions, the bottom portion of the back depending from the seat bench. The top portion of the back is slidably, or pivotably and slidably mounted to the sidewall of the vehicle. This mounting arrangement allows the back of the cantilevered seat to deflect about the bench to absorb the impact energy of a passenger and prevent or reduce serious injury to the passenger during an accident or rapid maneuver.

Abstract: An acoustical wall panel has a core of a plurality of layers of glass fiber pressed together and having a density ranging from approximately two pounds per cubic foot at the front surface to approximately six pounds per cubic foot at the rear surface. A plurality of cavities are formed on the front surface of the core. The front of the panel is covered with fabric, and the rear is covered with a septum to provide a barrier to the transmission of sound pressure waves. The cross-sectional area, depth and spacing of the cavities are selected to improve absorption of sound in the intelligence range of speech while having less absorption in the lower frequency range to permit a desirable background or ambient noise to exist. The spacing and shape of the cavities also provides a smooth, continuously changing curvature in the cavity side walls to increase the surface area and enhance the capacity of the panel to absorb sound at flanking angles of incidence.

Abstract: A transportation seat primarily adapted for use by an operator of a vehicle is disclosed. The seat includes an air suspension base supporting a tubular seat frame to which seat back and bench cushions are attached. A track support frame is slidably mounted on the base for stepwise fore and aft adjustment. The seat frame is secured to the track support frame by an antislap mechanism which isolates the seat frame from jarring movement of the vehicle. A side saddle adjustment mechanism supports the seat frame on the track support frame permitting stepwise transverse adjustment of the seat frame relative to the base.

Abstract: In a telescoping seating system, handrail support posts are mounted at the sides of the telescoping rows. Upper and lower handrail members are releasably clamped to the posts by a clamp assembly which includes a locking bolt received in an associated post, and a clamp nut received on an associated locking bolt and including means preventing rotation of the nut relative to the post. A quarter-turn motion of the bolt cams the clamp nut to securely hold the rail against the post, while a reverse quarter-turn motion of the bolt loosens the clamp nut and permits removal of the rail members only.

Abstract: Seating for a telescoping row system or the like includes a chair back and seat mounted to a frame which automatically raises and lowers as the rows are opened and closed respectively. A pair of hinge mechanisms are clamped to the frame at the side of each chair for mounting the seats and backs while permitting them to rotate about a common axis which extends along the intersection of the hip and lumbar region of the occupant. The hinge mechanisms include one spring which normally biases the seat of the chair to the three-quarters fold position when it is unoccupied, but permits it to be lowered for an occupant or moved to the fully raised position for passing. In one embodiment, a second spring biases the back of each chair to the use position when the chair is raised. When the chair is folded for storage, the back and seat are rotated toward each other to a fully closed position.

Abstract: In a telescoping seating system having a number of rows which may be moved between an extended or use position and a retracted or storage position, chairs or other seating is mounted on stanchions which are pivotally mounted to the rear of the deck in each row. The stanchions are pivoted to an upright position when the system is extended for use and folded to a horizontal position when the system is retracted for storage by means of an actuator mechanism mounted to the forward portion of the next higher row and operative in response to relative movement between adjacent rows. In this manner, the height of the seats is independent of the rise of the system for more comfortable seating. A torsion rod assembly is mounted beneath the seating to counterbalance at least some of the weight of the seating in the storage position. Locking members engage the stanchions in the use position to secure the seating in the raised position.

Abstract: A chair is formed from two side frame sections each including a tubular frame and leg assembly with expanded metal secured to it. The side sections are encapsulated in foam which adheres to and completely encompasses the expanded metal. A seat cushion and foamed front skirt are added to the foamed side frame sections. A flat skirt is provided to completely follow the periphery of the chair just above the floor; and two chairs may be joined at any desired orientation relative to each other by a doubly-grooved joinder member coupling the lower peripheral metal skirts together.