Abstract: A chair base and post assembly for an office chair in which the base is formed of one piece of injection molded plastic. The base includes a central tubular hub and integral base arms which extend from the hub. A partially tapered socket extends vertically through the hub. A steel post tube is positioned in the socket and is supported to extend above the hub by a ring welded to the outside of the post tube, which ring rests on the top of the hub. A steel sleeve located in the socket near the top thereof and an internal surface formed as an internal surface of the socket at the bottom thereof provide annular surfaces which engage the post tube to stabilize it vertically. A plastic guide bushing fits inside the steel post tube at its top and receives the pneumatic lift cylinder to stabilize and guide it during its extensions and retractions.

Abstract: A seat and back construction for an ergonomic office chair. An ergonomically functioning inner shell is mounted on a chair structure in a manner that does not interfere with the flexible characteristics of the inner shell. An outer rigid shell is provided to transfer static and dynamic loads applied to the back portion of the inner shell by an occupant directly to the chair structure without interfering with the flexible characteristics of the inner shell.

Abstract: An open office system partition panel assembly including a panel having an outwardly opening wire raceway channel on top with a removable cap to permit wires to be laid in the top raceway channel. End wire raceway channels open away from the core of the panel and each has a panel connector support rail closing its opening. The wire raceway channels form a steel frame of box section strength for the panel and all metal-enclosed, non-snagging wire raceways from the top to the base of the panel. Legs formed as part of the panel base support the panel connector support rails. Wire passageways extend from the panel base to the end wire raceway channels. The panel base has an end section fastened to and supported on each leg. Upper panel connectors facilitate the connection of panels, improve the rigidity of the connection between panels and provide positive locking for the panel connection, both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: An open office system partition panel assembly including a panel having an outwardly opening wire raceway channel on top with a removable cap to permit wires to be laid in the top raceway channel. End wire raceway channels open away from the core of the panel and each has a panel connector support rail closing its opening. The wire raceway channels form a steel frame of box section strength for the panel and all metal-enclosed, non-snagging wire raceays from the top to the base of the panel. Legs formed as part of the panel base support the panel connector support rails. Wire passageways extend from the panel base to the end wire raceway channels. The panel base has and end section fastened to and supported on each leg. Upper panel connectors facilitate the connection of panels, improve the rigidity of the connection between panels and provide positive locking for the panel connection, both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: An open office system partition panel assembly including a panel having an outwardly opening wire raceway channel on top with a removable cap to permit wires to be laid in the top raceway channel. End wire raceway channels open away from the core of the panel and each has a panel connector support rail closing its opening. The wire raceway channels form a steel frame of box section strength for the panel and all metal-enclosed, non-snagging wire raceways from the top to the base of the panel. Legs formed as part of the panel base support the panel connector support rails. Wire passageways extend from the panel base to the end wire raceway channels. The panel base has an end section fastened to and supported on each leg. Upper panel connectors facilitate the connection of panels, improve the rigidity of the connection between panels and provide positive locking for the panel connection, both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: An open office system partition panel assembly including a panel having an outwardly opening wire raceway channel on top with a removable cap to permit wires to be laid in the top raceway channel. End wire raceway channels open away from the core of the panel and each has a panel connector support rail closing its opening. The wire raceway channels form a steel frame of box section strength for the panel and all metal-enclosed, non-snagging wire raceways from the top to the base of the panel. Legs formed as part of the panel base support the panel connector support rails. Wire passageways extend from the panel base to the end wire raceway channels. The panel base has an end section fastened to and supported on each leg. Upper panel connectors facilitate the connection of panels, improve the rigidity of the connection between panels and provide positive locking for the panel connection, both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: A base assembly for an open office partition panel. The base assembly is formed in sections, namely, end sections and a center section. An end section is fastened to and supported on each leg. The center section, which fastens to and is supported on the end sections, may be omitted when electrical wiring is not installed in the panel base. Each section is formed of a pair of elongated, channel-shaped housings which are fastened to each other back to back to form a housing section having a center dividing wall and open sides. A snap-in divider separates each channel-shaped housing of the panel base section into upper and lower wire conduits.

Abstract: A chair control for a pedestal chair having a knee-tilt seat. An elastomeric torsion spring is offset rearwardly from the tilting axis of the seat. The seat and torsion spring are operatively connected by a cam surface and a cam follower which effectively reduce the restoring force exerted by the torsion spring against the seat as the rearward tilt of the seat increases. A mechanism to adjust the initial restoring torque of the torsion spring provides a large angular twist of the torsion spring with a minimum linear movement of the mechanism. The chair control provides the chair seat with a less than conventional seat angle relative to the horizontal when the chair is unoccupied. A mechanism is provided to enable the occupant to adjust the chair seat to a more conventional seat angle in its unoccupied condition.

Abstract: A wire management assembly for mounting on a wall or panel of a work station or office for supporting and concealing communication wires, power plug-in cords and extension cords of electrical equipment and devices. It consists of an extruded aluminum housing having a downwardly facing opening for receiving wires to be supported in the housing. Metal clips connect to the aluminum housing and in turn are connected to brackets which mount in slots formed in standards located at the ends of the panels. A cover is provided for mounting on the aluminum housing and to extend downwardly to the work surface to conceal wires and equipment located on the work surface below the aluminum housing. The cover has a hook that fits into a groove formed in the aluminum housing to hingedly lock the cover to the housing.

Abstract: A hollow table leg assembly for supporting a tabletop having a vertical passage extending therethrough. The assembly includes a top plate which is fastened to the underside of the tabletop at the vertical passage. A downwardly-extending, circular protuberance is formed in the top plate and defines a recess beneath the vertical passage in the tabletop. A downwardly-facing annular lip is formed on the protuberance below the recess. A plurality of wire passages are formed in the protuberance around a central passage. Three downwardly-projecting ribs are formed on the underside of the top plate and extend radially inwardly of the annular lip. A base member having legs and a centrally located, vertically-extending passage with an upwardly-facing, annular recessed shoulder is formed around the passage. A tab extends across the shoulder. A cylindrical tube extends between the top plate and the base member. The top end of the tube and the bottom end of the tube is seated on the recessed shoulder of the base member.

Abstract: A decorative telescoping cap, sleeve and base cover for an office chair center post and base. A tubular plastic sleeve surrounds the upper portion of the height adjustment mechanism cylinder extending above the hub of the metal base. The tubular plastic sleeve has an outwardly flaring shoulder at its lower end which engages and rests upon the central tubular hub of the metal base of the chair. A plastic cylindrical cap telescopes over the tubular plastic sleeve, with the height adjustment mechanism rod of the chair extending through a central opening in the top wall of the cap to engage the cylindrical cap to raise and lower its relative to the tubular plastic sleeve as the height adjustment rod is raised and lowered. A plastic cover is provided for the metal base of the chair, with the cover having a central hub portion which fits over the central tubular hub of the metal base of the chair and arms which fit over the arms of the metal base.

Abstract: A fire resistive cabinet for storing easily damageable electronic data storage materials such as floppy discs to protect them against the deleterious effects of high temperature and high humidity. The cabinet includes an outer housing of fire resistive construction and an insulated inner container. A combined infrared barrier and vapor barrier is formed as a bag which contains the inner insulated container. An endothermic phase transformation material is carried in the double walls of a moisture proof bag and fits inside the polyurethane foam insulation of the inner container. An insulated removable cover closes an opening into the inner insulated container. The width and height of the container are identical so that the container can be inverted to provide either a right hand or a left hand swing for the insulated door of the fire resistive cabinet.

Abstract: A clipboard is disclosed for use in holding a plurality of sheets having means along one edge thereof for positioning the sheets on the clipboard. The clipboard includes a base for supporting and positioning the sheets and a clamping member at one edge of the base for holding the sheets on the base. Pivot control mechanisms at the edge of the base are provided to attach the clamping member to the base and to control the pivotal and horizontal movement of the clamping member with respect to the base. Biasing members are provided adjacent the clamping member which urged the clamping member to alternatively pivot toward the base or move horizontally with respect to the base. In addition, a separate ejector mechanism is located underneath the clamping member for ejecting sheets positioned on the base and for further spacing sheets on the base vertically so that an additional sheet can be inserted thereinbetween.

Abstract: An ergonomic support in the nature of chairs, sofas and the like, includes flexible and resilient posterior and lumbar supporting portions having non-planar, contoured shaped surfaces which comfortably conform to the body. The supporting portion is shaped to form a plurality of cantilevers which automatically adjust and conform to body movement without mechanical parts, as opposed to adjusting the body to conform to the supporting portion.

Abstract: An indexing system for file folders of the type having a tab along one edge includes a pattern of variable length fields formed on the tab. Each field carries indicia of a size proportionate to the field length. The indicia are visible along the edge of a folder placed in storage. When a series of folders are juxtaposed the indicia combine to form a visual pattern which directs a user's eye to the proper location for removing or replacing a particular folder. The indicia comprise color-coded bars which readily create the visual pattern.

Abstract: A top assembly for desks, tables, credenzas and similar items having a metal core and an outer covering of a thin hard laminated plastic. The thin hard laminated plastic covers the top surface of the metal core and is wrapped around the side and end walls and the undersurface edges thereof. The side and end walls of the metal core extend generally at right angles to the top surface thereof providing the top assembly with a squared planar appearance. The thin laminated plastic covering is unbroken by seams or metal rims along the side and end edges of the top assembly. The only portions of the laminated plastic covering that are slit or cut are at the corners of the top assembly and these portions are covered by metal caps.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming a top assembly for desks, tables, credenzas and similar items having a core and an outer layer of a thin hard laminated plastic sheet adhered to the core. The thin hard laminated plastic sheet covers the top surface of the core and is wrapped around the side and end walls and undersurface edges thereof. The laminated plastic sheet is unbroken by seams or rims along the side and end edges of the top assembly. In forming the top assembly, a one-piece thin hard laminated plastic sheet is adhered by cement to the top surface of the core and is positioned so that side and end portions of the laminated plastic sheet extend beyond the side and end edges of the top surface. A selected extending side or end portion of the laminated plastic sheet is heated to soften it and make it pliable.

Abstract: A chair control, having a basic mechanism which can be modified slightly for use in swivel tilt, stenographer's and double action posture chairs. The basic chair control mechanism includes a pair of chair seat supporting arms, a screw post cap which mounts on a chair screw post or a lifting cylinder and a spring housing. The spring housing is pivotally connected at its front end to the screw post cap so that the housing can rotate about a generally horizontal axis. Compression springs are carried in the spring housing and engage an adjustably movable wall at the rear end of the housing. A spring retaining member pivotally mounted on the screw post cap for rotation about a horizontal axis engages the front ends of the springs and is biased for upward rotation by said springs.

Abstract: A structure for supporting hanging file folders in a file drawer. The structure includes a pair of wire members which are adapted to be installed in a file drawer in lateral spaced relation to each other. Each wire member includes an elongated generally straight center portion which receives and supports the file folders and a leg positioned at each end of the center portion. Each of the legs is in the shape of an inverted L and includes a horizontally extending portion which connects to the center portion of the wire member. This horizontally extending portion projects at right angles to the center portion. A vertical portion of each leg which connects to the horizontal portion of its leg is adapted to be inserted in supporting bosses. The supporting bosses may be formed in rectangular plates located at each end of the pair of wire members or may be formed in the end panels of the file drawer. The wire members are formed of stock having a transverse cross section of generally rectangular shape.