Abstract: A storage bin includes a door pivoted to the storage bin for movement between open and closed positions, and a biasing device operably connected to the storage bin and the door for biasing the door as the door nears the open and closed positions. The biasing device includes a spring and a T-shaped shifting anchor connected to the spring that translates and changes a torque arm of a linear spring as the door is moved so that the spring creates a force sufficient to close the door during a last portion of door closure movement and so that the spring creates a force sufficient to open the door during a last portion of door opening movement.

Abstract: A furniture system includes a low-height partition having a horizontal row of discrete attachment sites, such as slots on each side, and having a top surface. A binder bin has a continuous horizontal attachment feature, such as an “L” groove, along an upper portion of its rear side. A bracket system attaches the binder bin to the partition in a raised position, and includes a bent-rod top bracket and bottom brackets configured to engage the slots on opposite sides of the partition. The binder bin is initially attached at a desired location along the partition by selectively engaging the brackets with the slots and by engaging the bracket with the groove. The angle of the binder bin is adjustable with respect to the top surface of the partition by threadably finely adjusting a nut on the brackets.

Abstract: A synchrotilt chair includes a base, a back, a seat, and a link(s) pivoted to a rear of the base and to a bottom of the back to form a four-bar linkage arrangement. A spring arrangement includes a resilient member at one of the joints of each link to bias the link and in turn the back and seat toward an upright position, with the back and seat pivoting with a synchronous motion upon recline of the back. In one form, the chairs are nestable and stackable for dense storage. In another form, the chairs are desk-type pedestal chairs. Several of the structural support members of the chair are gas-assisted injection molding to form a hollow tubular shape that is lightweight, strong, and dimensionally-accurate. Armrests are pivoted to the back and have a shape configured to allow nested stacking while also providing excellent comfort, durability, and style. Also, the armrests are movable to remote storage positions to provide unobstructed side access to the seat of the chair.

Abstract: A synchrotilt chair includes a base, a back, a seat, and a link(s) pivoted to a rear of the base and to a bottom of the back to form a four-bar linkage arrangement. In one form, the chairs are nestable and stackable for dense storage. In another form, the chairs are desk-type pedestal chairs. Several of the structural support members of the chair are gas-assisted injection molding to form a hollow tubular perimeter frame that is lightweight, strong, and dimensionally-accurate A flexible panel is integrally molded between opposing sides of the perimeter frame. Armrests are pivoted to the back and have a shape configured to allow nested stacking while also providing excellent comfort, durability, and style. Also, the armrests are movable to remote storage positions to provide unobstructed side access to the seat of the chair.

Abstract: A seating unit includes a seat and back operably supported for synchronized reclining movement. The back includes a back support with separate upper and lower portions pivotally coupled to a back frame at upper and lower connections, respectively. The upper and lower portions combine to define a forwardly-protruding convex shape and include mating structure forming an expansion joint that permits collapse and expansion as the upper and lower portions are flexed between a more-convex shape and a more-planar shape. In one form, the lower portion includes first and second sections pivoted together, with the upper portion and the first and second sections forming thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic regions of the back support, respectively.

Abstract: A compliant back for a seating unit includes a rigid upright defining a track, and a flexible back shell configured to support a seated user's upper body, including a top pivot pivotally connected to a top section of the back shell and a pivot/slide member slidably connected to the track of the back shell. A biasing device is operably coupled to the pivot/slide member that biases the pivot/slide member toward a position where the flexible back shell protrudes forwardly to a shape chosen to optimally support a seated user.

Abstract: A prefabricated furniture system for open building plans and the like includes a freestanding portable partition system having individual partition panels detachably interconnected side-by-side to define individual workstations. A post and beam furniture system is also included, having horizontal beams interconnected to define an overhead framework, and vertical support columns with lower ends abuttingly supported on the building floor surface, and upper ends connected with the overhead framework adjacent one end thereof. A connector system connects the overhead framework to the upper ends of the partition panels at a location spaced inwardly from the opposite end of the overhead framework, such that the horizontal beams at that end of the overhead framework extend over and protrude outwardly from the partition panels and are supported thereby in a cantilevered fashion.

Abstract: A back construction for a seating unit includes a back frame, and a compliant back having a forwardly-protruding lumbar support section that is characteristically flexible and bendable, such that the compliant back can be flexed to a plurality of different convex shapes. Top and bottom connections pivotally connect the compliant back to the back frame. An adjustable force-generating mechanism is operably attached to at least one of the compliant back and the back frame. The force-generating mechanism is constructed to provide an adjustable biasing force that adjustably biases the lumbar support section forwardly for optimal lumbar support for a seated user's back, but the force-generating mechanism characteristically provides the biasing force without forcing a shape change in the compliant back. A vertically adjustable lumbar support is slidably attached to the back shell.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a furniture component includes steps of molding a panel component of a flexible compliant plastic, the panel component having a continuous perimeter flange and further having flexible strips extending between portions of the perimeter flange that are shaped to flex to comfortably support a human body part. The method further includes molding a tubular perimeter frame of a reinforced structural plastic different than the flexible compliant plastic onto the panel component, the step of molding the perimeter frame including integrally bonded the perimeter frame to the perimeter flange to stiffen the perimeter flange and support the panel component and further including a gas assist process.

Abstract: A seating unit is provided having a base assembly with a particularly shaped housing and rigid upright side arms, a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions, and a seat slidably supported on the base assembly and pivoted to the back frame so that the seat moves forwardly and its rear moves forwardly and downwardly with the back frame upon recline. A flexible back is connected to the back frame at top and bottom locations and is provided with lumbar adjustment for improved lumbar force/support and shape. A seat is provided with seat depth adjustment and with active and passive thigh flex support. A novel energy mechanism is provided that includes a moment arm shift adjuster for adjusting the spring tension on the back frame. The moment arm shift adjuster is readily adjustable and includes an overtorque device to prevent damage to components of the energy mechanism.

Abstract: A back for a seating unit, such as a chair, includes a back frame and a compliant back that is flexibly bendable to define different curvilinear shapes for sympathetically and ergonomically supporting a seated user's back. The back includes a bracket with forwardly-extending flanges pivotally connecting the compliant back to the back frame at a bottom connection generally aligned with a seated user's hip joint. The back also includes a top connection pivotally connecting the back to the back frame above the first connection. An adjustable torsional force-generating mechanism is connected to the first connection that biases a lumbar portion of the compliant back forward with respect to the chair. The top and bottom connections, in combination with the adjustable force generating mechanism, constrain the compliant back to move over a range that provides excellent ergonomic lumbar support to a seated user.

Abstract: A seating unit is provided having a base assembly, a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions, and a seat slidably supported on the base assembly and pivoted to the back frame so that the seat moves forwardly and its rear moves forwardly and downwardly with the back frame upon recline. A flexible back is connected to the back frame at top and bottom locations and is provided with lumbar adjustment for improved lumbar force/support and shape. A seat is provided with seat depth adjustment and with active and passive thigh flex support. The seat includes a front section adjustably and/or flexibly supported on a rear section for optimal comfort while supporting a seated adult user's thighs, With the rear section being configured to carry a majority of the weight of a typical seated adult user. A novel energy mechanism is provided that includes a moment arm shift adjuster for adjusting the spring tension on the back frame.

Abstract: A seating unit includes a flexible back including a concavely-shaped lumbar region, and a tensioned cover stretched over the concavely-shaped lumbar region. A lumbar device is fit between the front surface and the covering, with a tension of the covering biasing the lumbar device against the lumbar region and resulting in a frictional force retaining the lumbar device in a selected vertical position. In one form, the lumbar device is sufficiently stiff to maintain its vertical cross sectional shape and to change a shape of the lumbar region as the lumbar device is adjusted vertically, but is sufficiently flexible to conform to a horizontal shape of the lumbar region as a seated user moves and twists while seated in the seating unit.

Abstract: A back for a seating unit, such as a chair, includes a back frame and a compliant back that is flexibly bendable to define different curvilinear shapes for sympathetically and ergonomically supporting a seated user's back. The back includes a belt bracket with forwardly-extending flanges pivotally connecting the back to the back frame at a first connection generally aligned with a seated user's hip joint. The back includes a second connection pivotally connecting the back to the back frame at a second location spaced vertically above the first connection. An adjustable force generating mechanism is connected to the first connection that biases a lumbar portion of the back forward with respect to the chair. The first and second connections, in combination with the adjustable force generating mechanism, constrain the compliant back to move over a range that provides excellent ergonomic lumbar support to a seated user.

Abstract: A seating unit is provided having a base assembly, a back frame pivoted to the base assembly for movement between upright and reclined positions, and a seat slidably supported on the base assembly and pivoted to the back frame so that the seat moves forwardly and its rear moves forwardly and downwardly with the back frame upon recline. A flexible back is connected to the back frame at top and bottom locations and is provided with lumbar adjustment for improved lumbar force/support and shape. A seat is provided with seat depth adjustment and with active and passive thigh flex support. A novel energy mechanism is provided that includes a moment arm shift adjuster for adjusting the spring tension on the back frame. The moment arm shift adjuster is readily adjustable and includes an overtorque device to prevent damage to components of the energy mechanism.

Abstract: A back construction for a seating unit includes a back frame, and a compliant back having a forwardly-protruding lumbar support section that is characteristically flexible and bendable, such that the compliant back can be flexed to a plurality of different convex shapes. Top and bottom connections pivotally connect the compliant back to the back frame. An adjustable force-generating mechanism is operably attached to at least one of the compliant back and the back frame. The force-generating mechanism is constructed to provide an adjustable biasing force that adjustably biases the lumbar support section forwardly for optimal lumbar support for a seated user's back, but the force-generating mechanism characteristically provides the biasing force without forcing a shape change in the compliant back. A vertically adjustable lumbar support is slidably attached to the back shell.

Abstract: A back for a seating unit, such as a chair, includes a back frame and a compliant back that is flexibly bendable to define different curvilinear shapes for sympathetically and ergonomically supporting a seated user's back. The back includes a bracket with forwardly-extending flanges pivotally connecting the compliant back to the back frame at a bottom connection generally aligned with a seated user's hip joint. The back also includes a top connection pivotally connecting the back to the back frame above the first connection. An adjustable torsional force-generating mechanism is connected to the first connection that biases a lumbar portion of the compliant back forward with respect to the chair. The top and bottom connections, in combination with the adjustable force generating mechanism, constrain the compliant back to move over a range that provides excellent ergonomic lumbar support to a seated user.