Abstract: A floor system has removable floor panels resting at their corners on support rings provided by vertically adjustable pedestal units. The upper ends of the pedestal units have hex-heads for receiving a height adjusting tool. Access to the hex-heads is obtained by removing cornercaps held in place by screws threaded into the hex-heads. The support rings do not turn while the pedestal units are being adjusted in height.

Abstract: Clamping units are mounted without fasteners in the joints between wall panels and grip adjoining panels in coplanar alignment. The clamping units are inserted through accessways between the panels and are operated by a tool passed through the accessways. The clamping units are also used to hold upper locking units, each having a slide bolt which engages a ceiling rail, and to hold bottom locking units which engage a bottom rail on which the wall panels are seated. Each panel can be removed independently of the others by tilting after removal of the respective clamping units and associated locking units.

Abstract: A storage cart has top and bottom panel assemblies which are clamped against the ends of vertical end panels by draw rods extending through the end panels. Compression tubes are sleeved on the draw rods and are longitudinally compressed between the end panels. Bumper frames are provided which have horizontal portions through which the draw rods extend.

Abstract: Clamping units are mounted without fasteners in the joints between wall panels and grip adjoining panels in coplanar alignment. The clamping units are inserted through accessways between the panels and are operated by a tool passed through the accessways. The clamping units are also used to hold upper locking units, each having a slide bolt which engages a ceiling rail, and to hold bottom locking units which engage a bottom rail on which the wall panels are seated. Each panel can be removed independently of the others by tilting after removal of the respective clamping units and associated locking units.

Abstract: Clamping units are mounted without fasteners in the joints between wall panels and grip adjoining panels in coplanar alignment. The clamping units are inserted through accessways between the panels and are operated by a tool passed through the accessways. The clamping units are also used to hold upper locking units, each having a slide bolt which engages a ceiling rail, and to hold bottom locking units which engage a bottom rail on which the wall panels are seated. Each panel can be removed independently of the others by tilting after removal of the respective clamping units and associated locking units.

Abstract: A method for sampling cement and determining the cement-to-water ratio includes use of a device having an elongated, hollow probe for insertion into a batch of cement mix. The probe has an aggregate separator at one end and a chamber at the other end. A manually actuated piston subjects the chamber to a vacuum to draw the cement mix through the aggregate separator and through a sand collector into the chamber. A hydrophilic cement filter surrounds the chamber with a hydroscopic filter surrounding the hydrophilic filter. As the sample is drawn into the chamber, it passes through the hydrophilic filter into the hydroscopic filter. The weights of the collected cement and water are then determined after taking into account the original weight of the filters.

Abstract: A device for sampling cement and determining the cement-to-water ratio includes an elongated, hollow probe for insertion into a batch of cement mix. The probe has an aggregate separator at one end and a chamber at the other end. A manually actuated piston subjects the chamber to a vacuum to draw the cement mix through the aggregate separator and through a sand collector into the chamber. A hydrophilic cement filter surrounds the chamber with a hygroscopic filter surrounding the hydrophilic filter. As the sample is drawn into the chamber, it passes through the hydrophilic filter into the hydroscopic filter until the latter is saturated. The combined weight of the hydrophilic filter and the cement deposited thereon is measured and the weight of the filter is subtracted to determine the weight of the collected cement.

Abstract: An office seating system which incorporates certain activity features into the office seating arrangement allowing the occupant to obtain beneficial exercise during the performance of work tasks. The activities which may be performed include: pedal pumping by the feet; a rocking of the seat on the upright with the head being fixed; a recline motion; and a pull and relax motion for the arms. Various mechanisms are disclosed for providing the accomplishment of these activity functions by occupants.

Abstract: A card operable magnetic lock apparatus comprising an elongated non-magnetic plate member and a plurality of tumbler members which are normally biased into engagement in longitudinally spaced recesses of the plate member to prevent longitudinal movement thereof. The tumbler members pivot about a common axis and have north and south magnetic poles which are substantially opposite relative to the axis. A properly encoded magnetic card can be positioned adjacent the tumbler members to urge the tumbler members out of engagement in the recesses to free the plate member for longitudinal movement.

Abstract: An electrical energy supply system for space divider systems in which a plurality of upright wall panels are arranged end-to-end so as to form at least one work station, and in which the panels are mounted on downwardly extending leg supports. The energy supply system is an under-the-wall system in which the components of the system are located below the wall panels and in the spaces occupied by the leg supports. The system consists of a plurality of connected sections, each section corresponding to a wall panel forming the work station, thereby facilitating assembly of the energy supply sections with the wall panels. Each energy supply section has the ability to deliver electrical energy to a point in the work station and each section is connectable to one or more sections corresponding to one or more wall panels in the work station or an adjacent work station to enable an efficient distribution of energy to desired points in the space divider system.

Abstract: A material handling pallet comprising a rectangular base having downwardly-extending support legs and an upright frame mounted on the base for supporting objects on the pallet. The frame consists of a pair of open framework end portions positioned at opposite ends of the base and a cross frame portion extending lengthwise of the pallet between and connected to the end portions. Vertically-spaced horizontal load-supporting members are mounted on the cross frame portion for supporting objects which are removable therefrom either by movement lengthwise of the pallet through the end portions or sideways of the pallet. The frame terminates at its upper end in frame members which extend transversely of the base and which are positioned in substantial vertical alignment with the supporting legs enabling the pallet to be stacked on another like pallet.

Abstract: A space divider assembly for an enclosure having a floor and a ceiling. The space divider assembly consists of a plurality of upright, free-standing, floor-supported panels arranged end to end and a plurality of border members secured to each other and to said panels so as to project upwardly from the panels and form a border at the upper ends of the panels. The border members are shaped at their upper ends to form a container for sound absorbing material which substantially fills the container and provides for sound separation of the areas of the enclosure on opposite sides of the panels.

Abstract: A pulpwood harvesting system for cutting and transporting trees upon a fragile terrain so as to have a dispersed and minimal impact on the terrain. A rail network is supported above the surface of the terrain upon spaced vertical pilings. Trees are cut and reduced to bulk by a mobile tree harvester and transported to the rail network by a mobile forwarder. The tree harvester and forwarder move upon tracks or other means to disperse their weight. The rail network is progressively installed by a mobile rail layer supported upon previously installed rails. Automated lorries receive the bulk pulpwood and transport it upon the rail network to a distant unloading site.

Abstract: A trash collection, management and disposal system for an office area including covered trash collector containers positioned at heights substantially equivalent to the height of a standard desk top and adapted to receive trash generated in the area. Some of the trash collector containers are mounted on wheels and are equipped with tongue-and-hitch assemblies enabling a plurality of these trash collector containers to be coupled together in a train for towing to a dump site. Dump mechanisms at the dump site pick the trash collector containers up and invert them to empty the trash contained therein. The cover on each collector container is pivotally mounted by a hinge assembly enabling the cover member to be moved to an over center position when it is opened to inhibit its return movement to the closed position. Also, the hinge assembly operates to maintain the cover in an upright position when it is opened, allowing the cover to serve as a backstop for deflecting thrown trash into the container.

Abstract: A system for towing a plurality of wheeled load-carrying vehicles in a train in which coacting tongue and pin members are provided on the vehicles. Each vehicle has a body having a front end and a back end, a pair of fixed position wheels secured to the underside of the body at the back end, a single caster wheel assembly secured to the underside adjacent the front end, and a tongue member mounted on the back end of the vehicle and having an opening in one end. The caster wheel assembly includes a flange secured to the wheel support and a downwardly extending towing pin on the outer end of the flange. To achieve tracking of a trailing vehicle behind a leading vehicle, the tongue on the leading vehicle is moved to a position in which the tongue opening receives the caster wheel pin on the trailing vehicle. A releasable connection is thus made, with the pulling force applied directly to the caster wheel support.

Abstract: A pallet consisting of a substantially flat body, a plurality of slots in the body and feet positioned in the slots. Each of the feet is readily molded from a suitable plastic and has an open upper end and a downwardly tapered cavity in which an internal support surface is formed. In stacking of pallets, the foot of the top pallet telescopes downwardly into the foot of the bottom pallet to a supported position on the internal support surface in which the pallet bodies are maintained in a spaced relation so that they can readily be separated when desired.

Abstract: A trash collection, management and disposal system for an office area including covered trash collector containers positioned at heights substantially equivalent to the height of a standard desk top and adapted to receive trash generated in the area. Some of the trash collector containers are mounted on wheels and are equipped with tongue-and-hitch assemblies enabling a plurality of these trash collector containers to be coupled together in a train for towing to a dump site. Dump mechanisms at the dump site pick the trash collector containers up and invert them to empty the trash contained therein. The cover on each collector container is pivotally mounted by a hinge assembly enabling the cover member to be moved to an over center position when it is opened to inhibit its return movement to the closed position. Also, the hinge assembly operates to maintain the cover in an upright position when it is opened, allowing the cover to serve as a backstop for deflecting thrown trash into the container.

Abstract: A combination light fixture and acoustic conditioner assembly particularly useful in modular room enclosures wherein the ceiling is spaced above the enclosure walls. The invention provides for indirect lighting means and means for masking external sounds in the vicinity of the light fixture assembly. The assembly includes a reflector positioned so that light and sound waves contacting the reflector are dispersed in a plurality of directions due to the concavity of the reflector and undulations therein and eventually contact the ceiling where they are further reflected and spread. Dispersion of sound waves in this manner provides a pleasant, unintelligible sound which masks external sounds that might otherwise distract occupants of the modular room enclosures.

Abstract: A pallet having a generally rectangular body consisting of a honeycomb core enclosed within top, bottom, and side walls. Each of the side walls has at its upper end an upwardly and inwardly inclined portion and at its lower end a downwardly and inwardly inclined portion. Hollow tapered legs are provided at the corners of the pallet facilitate stacking of the pallets in a minimum space.

Abstract: A material handling system comprising a plurality of material-transporting lorries adapted to be pivotally connected end-to-end and a towing vehicle adapted to pull a train of connected lorries. Each of the lorries has a load-carrying body portion, end portions extending transversely of the body, and ground-engaging wheels arranged in substantially spaced pairs supported on the end portions. The towing vehicle has a low-profile rear section which can be moved under one of the end portions of the lorries between the wheels to releasably connect the towing vehicle and the first lorry. A projection extends upwardly from the rear section of the towing vehicle, into a recess formed in the front side of the lorry end portion and is maintained therein by a spring actuated abutment member which engages the back side of the lorry end portion. The projection and the abutment member thus cooperate to restrict relative horizontal movement of the towing vehicle and the lorry.