Abstract: A quickly erectable structure includes expandable/collapsible top and bottom assemblies that are interconnected to facilitate forming an enclosure and to facilitate taking down the enclosure. Specifically, the bottom assembly includes a plurality of interconnected X-shaped subframes that combine to form a telescoping scissor frame. The top assembly includes a plurality of inverted foldable Y-shaped subframes attached together and to a top of the telescoping scissor frame in a manner that combines the two to form a stable umbrella-like overcenter top frame attached atop the telescoping scissor frame. A drawstring mechanism is attached to a peak of the structure to hold the top frame in an expanded position. Flexible covers are attached to the two frames, and a drawstring arrangement on the top cover allows flaps to be lifted to form 360 degrees of windows.

Abstract: A utility distribution system for open office plans comprising a prefabricated floor construction and a utility post for distributing utilities. The prefabricated floor construction is adapted to be abuttingly supported on a building floor. The prefabricated floor construction includes a substantially hollow interior portion thereof defining at least one raceway to route at least one utility conduit therethrough and a plurality of floor tiles defining an upper surface of the floor construction. The utility post includes a floor tile shaped for installation in a prefabricated floor construction and at least one marginally positioned cutouts thereof disposed above the raceway and communicating therewith. The utility post further includes at least one vertical raceway being in communication with one of the at least one marginally positioned open foot area and a top located above the at least one vertical raceway.

Abstract: A portable table including a vertically adjustable upright support, a worksurface connected to the upright support and a one-way locking apparatus engagable with the upright support for locking the upright support in a vertically adjustable position. While the one-way locking apparatus is engaged, the upright support is only upwardly vertically adjustable. The one-way locking apparatus disengages from the upright support when the upright support is fully extended and reengages with the upright support when the upright support is lowered to a lowest vertical position.

Abstract: A floor mounted utility post includes a floor tile from a pre-fabricated floor construction, wherein the floor tile has at least two cutouts positioned at separate edges of the floor tile. A pair of vertical raceway channels are secured to the floor tile, and each vertical raceway channel is in communication with one of the cutouts. A door is mounted to a first of the vertical raceways, wherein the door and the pair of vertical raceway channels, in combination, define a partial enclosure. A top is supported by the raceway channel.

Abstract: A utilities terminal for use in a raised floor system is disclosed. The utilities terminal includes a floor tile having an access cavity, a support pan and an upper surface. The support pan is positioned within the access cavity, and has at least one access opening. The utilities terminal further includes a utilities grommet configured to be received within the support pan, and covering at least a portion of the support pan. The utilities terminal further includes a plurality of cover blocks selectively configured and adapted to be received within the support pan, cover the remaining open area of the support pan, and positioned substantially flush to the upper surface of the floor tile.

Abstract: The floor system for a work environment providing for access to utilities to be associated with articles such as articles of furniture is disclosed. The floor system includes a plurality of floor tiles. At least one of the floor tiles provides an access pattern. A floor is formed by selective arrangement of the plurality of floor tiles with at least one access point for utilities provided by the access pattern of at least one of the plurality of floor tiles. At least one article of furniture is selectively positioned on the floor. At least one access point can be selectively located within the floor. The position of at least one article of furniture on the floor and location of the access point of the floor are at least partially coincident and access to utilities can be provided through the floor to the article of furniture regardless of the position of the article of furniture on the floor.

Abstract: A utility distribution system is provided for open office plans and other similar settings, and includes a prefabricated floor construction designed to be supported directly on a building floor. The floor construction has a hollow interior which defines at least one raceway to route utility conduits therethrough, and a floor surface on which workstations can be positioned. The utility distribution system also includes at least one utility post having a foot which mounts to the floor construction to support the utility post in a generally upstanding orientation. The foot portion of the utility post has an open area disposed above and communicating with the floor raceway. At least one utility outlet is mounted on the utility post, and is adapted to dispense a selected utility therefrom. The utility post has at least one utility channel in which utility conduits can be routed, and includes an outwardly oriented open face.

Abstract: An in-floor utility outlet for raised floor constructions and the like includes a base having a sidewall with a generally closed plan shape, and at least one opening or port to mount a utility outlet therein. A cover plate with a central aperture therethrough extends over the base sidewall to enclose utility lines associated with the outlet. An access cover is received in the central aperture of the cover plate flush with the same, and includes at least one aperture through which utility tap-in lines can be routed below the floor surface for connection with the utility outlets. A floor pan below the raised floor supports the base and the cover plate.

Abstract: A lock system for casegoods, such as desks, cabinets, storage units, wardrobes and the like, includes an elongated, flexible tape or lock member having a plurality of spaced lock studs positioned thereon. A lock actuator moves the tape between unlocked and locked positions. Catches are mounted on the drawers, doors and the like of the article. When the flexible tape is moved to the locked position, the lock studs block or prevent opening movement of the drawers or doors due to contact with the catches. The flexible tape is routed through channels or other mounting structure formed in panels and tops of the article of furniture. An interlock mechanism, which may be integrated with the lock member, includes a lock lever, a cable attached to the lock lever and a plurality of interlock cams. Control members on the drawers rotate the cams to take up the cable causing the interlock lever to pivot and engage the lock member, thereby moving the lock member to a locked position.

Abstract: A utility distribution system is provided for open office plans and other similar settings, and includes a prefabricated floor construction designed to be supported directly on a building floor. The floor construction has a hollow interior which defines at least one raceway to route utility conduits therethrough, and a floor surface on which workstations can be positioned. The utility distribution system also includes at least one utility post having a foot which mounts to the floor construction to support the utility post in a generally upstanding orientation. The foot portion of the utility post has an open area disposed above and communicating with the floor raceway. At least one utility outlet is mounted on the utility post, and is adapted to dispense a selected utility therefrom. The utility post has at least one utility channel in which utility conduits can be routed, and includes an outwardly oriented open fade.

Abstract: An integrated utility distribution and panel system includes a prefabricated floor construction supported on the building floor, having a hollow interior to define at least one utility raceway therein, and a floor surface shaped to support workstations thereon. Utility posts are provided to distribute utilities from the floor construction to the workstations, and each includes a foot mounted on the floor construction for rigid upstanding support. The utility posts include panel support channels, as well as utility channels which communicate with the floor raceways to dispense utilities to the workstations. Non-structural panels are provided, and extend between adjacent utility posts. Each panel has a lightweight construction with connectors positioned along opposite ends thereof which mate with the panel support channels to removably support the panels on the utility posts.

Abstract: A file tracking system including a processor, which maintains and interfaces with a database, a plurality of file folder retainers, and a plurality of file folders. The file tracking system actively maintains and updates the database, which includes file information, file location, and unique file address for the plurality of files, by providing interactive communication between the processor, the folder retainers, and the file folders. Each file folder may include an indicator light, such as an LED, which a user may cause to blink when trying to locating the file folder at a location accessed from the database.

Abstract: A file tracking system including a processor, which maintains and interfaces with a database, a plurality of file folder retainers, and a plurality of file folders. The file tracking system actively maintains and updates the database, which includes file information, file location, and unique file address for the plurality of files, by providing interactive communication between the processor, the folder retainers, and the file folders. Each file folder may include an indicator light, such as an LED, which a user may cause to blink when trying to locating the file folder at a location accessed from the database.

Abstract: A lock system for casegoods, such as desks, cabinets, storage units, wardrobes and the like, includes an elongated, flexible tape or lock member having a plurality of spaced lock studs positioned thereon. A lock actuator moves the tape between unlocked and locked positions. Catches are mounted on the drawers, doors and the like of the article. When the flexible tape is moved to the locked position, the lock studs block or prevent opening movement of the drawers or doors due to contact with the catches. The flexible tape is routed through channels or other mounting structure formed in panels and tops of the article of furniture. An interlock mechanism, which may be integrated with the lock member, includes a lock lever, a cable attached to the lock lever and a plurality of interlock cams. Control members on the drawers rotate the cams to take up the cable causing the interlock lever to pivot and engage the lock member, thereby moving the lock member to a locked position.

Abstract: A utility distribution system is provided for open office plans and other similar settings, and includes a prefabricated floor construction designed to be supported directly on a building floor. The floor construction has a hollow interior which defines at least one raceway to route utility conduits therethrough, and a floor surface on which workstations can be positioned. The utility distribution system also includes at least one utility post having a foot which mounts to the floor construction to support the utility post in a generally upstanding orientation. The foot portion of the utility post has an open area disposed above and communicating with the floor raceway. At least one utility outlet is mounted on the utility post, and is adapted to dispense a selected utility therefrom. The utility post has at least one utility channel in which utility conduits can be routed, and includes an outwardly oriented open face.

Abstract: A utility distribution system is provided for open office plans and other similar settings, and includes a prefabricated floor construction designed to be supported directly on a building floor. The floor construction has a hollow interior which defines at least one raceway to route utility conduits therethrough, and a floor surface on which workstations can be positioned. The utility distribution system also includes at least two utility posts, each of which has a foot which mounts to the floor construction to support the utility posts in a generally upstanding orientation. A utility beam extends generally horizontally between the two utility posts, and is supported thereby. The utility beam has at least one raceway extending longitudinally therealong, with opposite end portions communicating with the utility channels in the utility posts to route utilities therebetween.

Abstract: A lock system for casegoods, such as desks, cabinets, storage units, wardrobes and the like, includes an elongated, flexible tape or lock member having a plurality of spaced lock studs positioned thereon. A lock actuator moves the tape between unlocked and locked positions. Catches are mounted on the drawers, doors and the like of the article. When the flexible tape is moved to the locked position, the lock studs block or prevent opening movement of the drawers or doors due to contact with the catches. The flexible tape is routed through channels or other mounting structure formed in panels and tops of the article of furniture. An interlock mechanism, which may be integrated with the lock member, includes a lock lever, a cable attached to the lock lever and a plurality of interlock cams. Control members on the drawers rotate the cams to take up the cable causing the interlock lever to pivot and engage the lock member, thereby moving the lock member to a locked position.

Abstract: A chair is provided with a frame defining a curved arm support, a seat supported in the frame, and a back. An arm member is movably mounted on the arm support and operatively connected to the back so that movement of the back between upright and reclined positions is controlled by the arm member and arm support. A resilient spring is operatively connected to the back to bias the back towards an upright position. In one embodiment, the resilient spring encompasses the curved arm support and provides support for a seated user's arm. In another embodiment, an arm cap covers the resilient spring. Optionally, the arm cap slideably rides on roller bearings over the curved arm support. In another embodiment, the curved arm support and arm member are telescopingly arranged, and the resilient spring is operably placed therein. Another embodiment includes first and second springs, the second springs being disengageable to produce discrete selectable levels of bias force for biasing the back toward the upright position.

Abstract: A lock for furniture includes a plunger assembly for actuating a lock mechanism. The plunger assembly includes a reader for receiving a control signal from a key. The plunger assembly includes a curved surface for contacting a lock rod such that the plunger assembly requires a constant force to move the lock rod through its range of motion to a locked position. A catch assembly secures the plunger, and hence the lock rod, in a locked position. A solenoid shifts the catch assembly to release the plunger assembly. The lock assembly may also include a lever connected at one end to the catch assembly and having a counterweight on an opposite end.

Abstract: A chair control includes a flexible truss having tandem springs interconnected in spaced relation so that they interact to provide a unique torque versus displacement profile during flexing, with a portion of one of the springs moving longitudinally relative to a portion of the other spring as they are flexed. A stop on the springs limits the longitudinal movement, thereby limiting the angle of tilt both in the upright and rearward chair back positions. In one form, the springs are pairs of leaf springs connected in tandem and operably attached to a chair back and bottom formed by a corrugated member. In another form, one of the springs is a flexible shell forming a chair with the other spring attached thereto in a nested arrangement. In yet another form, the flexible truss is a separate module installable in furniture as a self-contained energy absorber.