Abstract: A seating structure 30 includes spaced housings 34 and 36 between which a seating portion 92 of a platform 60 is located. The platform 60 is also formed with non-seating portions 94a and 94b at opposite sides of the seating portion 92, which are isolated and are within the housings 34 and 36, respectively. The non-seating portions 94a and 94b engage resilient elements 90a through 90h above and below the non-seating portions. When a user sits on the seating portion 92, the resilient elements 90a through 90h provide a buoyant and floating experience for the user. The seating portion 92 is movable relative to the housings 34 and 36 to allow for outward movement and for a rocking action.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing structure is provided, which comprises two generally parallel metal sheets arranged to receive an impacting force against the uppermost sheet and cooperatively prevent an object supported by the uppermost sheet from impacting a basal surface. One metal sheet may be fabricated from expanded metal for its non-isotropic shock-absorbing properties. The other metal sheet may be fabricated from a non-elastic material and arranged to be supported by pins inserted through holes along the perimeter of the sheet, so that when an impacting force is applied, it will resist the force until the force is sufficiently strong so as to shear the pins through the sheet and abruptly release, thus allowing the metal sheet fabricated from expanded metal to absorb the remainder of the impacting force. The invention may find application in vehicles operating in the air, land, or sea.

Abstract: A chair having a synchronously moving seat bottom and seat back includes a frame having a seat bottom support portion and a seatback support portion and a seat assembly having a seat bottom and a seat back interconnected by a flexible intermediate portion. The seat bottom is slidably mounted to side support members in the bottom frame providing forward and aft movement of the seat bottom. The seat back is pivotably engaged to the seat back support portion of the frame. The flexible intermediate portion provides for cooperative movement of the seat bottom and seat back between an upright seating position and a reclined position. Preferably, the seat assembly is a one piece molded plastic shell having a flexible intermediate portion interconnecting the seat bottom and seat back. In one embodiment of the invention, the chair can be provided with legs to enable stacking of the chairs.

Abstract: A molded rectangular plastic body in one embodiment is formed with a shallow depth rectangular chamber in which an insert is inserted. The insert takes up the full width, depth and length of the chamber and comprises a relatively thin molded plastic sheet. A plurality of thin walls upstand from one side of the sheet to form a plurality of chambers with the body. A shackle formed of resilient wire has two legs each with a reversely bent end portion. Each leg is inserted into and lockable in a different chamber. A bar code label or bar code indicia is adhered to or imprinted on a side of the insert opposite the locking chambers and recessed in the insert. The indicia is surrounded by a wall which is welded to the body to seal the indicia. The body is transparent so the bar code is externally readable. The insert may be opaque to provide seal identity classification by color coding the insert.