Abstract: An overhead storage unit for a modular open office system is provided. The storage unit can be either a freestanding unit or a panel mounted unit. The present invention provides easy to assemble units utilizing a minimum of different components for inexpensive manufacturing and ease of construction. In the freestanding unit, identical end panels are used; whereas in the panel mounted unit complementary right and left end panels are formed. In either unit, the shelves and doors are of identical shape. When assembled, engagement tabs on the panel mounted unit prevent the storage unit from being inadvertently removed.

Abstract: A freestanding panel assembly for a modular office system is provided. A support frame includes top and bottom horizontal rails rigidly secured to a pair of vertical supports. A trough is attached to the top horizontal rail to provide a first cable pathway and a pair of feet are attached to the bottom horizontal rail. The feet provide a ledge to support a panel skin attached to the frame and define a second cable pathway for the panel assembly. The feet also include a leveling means. In a second embodiment, intermediate panel skin supports are attached to the frame, and define a third cable pathway therebetween. A top cover plate, bottom cover plate and beltway cover plate are removably attached to the frame. In this way, redesign and reconfiguration of the office panels are easily accomplished.

Abstract: An articulating table connection or arrangement includes an in-fill piece occupying a gap between spaced tables and remaining in abutment with the tables as the tables are relatively aligned at any angle around a center defined by a curved arc segment at an edge of at least one of the table tops. At least one of the tables when viewed as a whole in plan is non-circular and preferably C-shaped or kidney shaped, but has a portion of an edge that defines a circularly curved arc segment along a limited distance. The in-fill piece has a complementary shaped edge abutting the arc segment. The in-fill piece carries brackets which stabilize the in-fill piece and tables in such relative positions that the upper surfaces of the tables and in-fill piece occupy a common plane. The brackets further couple the tables and in-fill piece together for relative movement at least so that the complementary edge of the in-fill piece is pivotable relative to the arc segment of the table.

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: The seat and pedestal of a chair are joined by a knee-tilt control mechanism which includes a first support fixed to the underside of the seat adjacent the front edge thereof, and a second support fixed to the upper end of the pedestal and having a sidewardly extending tube. The first support has bearing hubs which are rotatably engaged with the tube to define a horizontal tilt axis. A restoring mechanism is disposed within the tube for exerting a restoring torque urging the seat upwardly into a horizontal position. The restoring mechanism employs compression springs within the tube on axially opposite sides of a pre-torque member which can be rotated to adjust the initial spring compression. The springs bear against actuators which rotate with the bearing hubs. The actuators have radially projecting followers for engagment with ramp-like cams formed circumferentially of the tube.

Abstract: The seat and pedestal of a chair are joined by a knee-tilt mechanism which includes a first support fixed to the underside of the seat adjacent the front edge thereof, and a second support fixed to the pedestal and having a sidewardly extending support tube arrangement. The first support has bearing hubs rotatably engaged with the support tube to define a horizontal tilt axis. A restoring mechanism is disposed within the second support for exerting a restoring torque about the tilt axis for urging the seat toward its horizontal position. The restoring mechanism, in the preferred embodiment, employs a sleevelike spring member of an elastomeric material disposed on the tilt axis for developing a restoring torque which generally linearly increases as the seat tilts away from the horizontal position. A second spring coacts between the supports for generating a second restoring torque which is additive with the first torque to effectively cause a torque dwell to facilitate tilting beyond an intermediate position.

Abstract: A chair having a threaded spindle connected to the chair seat and projecting downwardly therefrom and being rotatably supported within the pedestal of a base. A load-released height-adjusting mechanism coacts between the pedestal and the spindle and includes a nut threadably mounted on the spindle and spring-urged upwardly for clutchable engagement with a clutch member which is nonrotatably and axially secured relative to the pedestal. The clutch member includes not only a top clutch plate positioned for engagement with the nut, but also an axially elongated sleeve portion which projects downwardly in surrounding relationship to the nut and is stationarily coupled to the pedestal by means of a bayonet-type coupling. The sleeve portion of the clutch member has a resilient locking finger which cooperates with the bayonet coupling for preventing relative rotation of the clutch member relative to the base after they have been coupled together.

Abstract: A back structure for a chair including a cushion overlying an interior panel. The cushion has edge portions which wrap around the interior panel. A back panel is spaced from the interior panel, and the opposed edge portions of the panels clamp the edge portions of the cushion therebetween. A plurality of hidden connecting structures fixedly join the panels together. The connecting structure comprises a hub fixed to and projecting outwardly from one of the panels, and a shaft-like projection fixed to the other panel and projecting therefrom into the hub. A one-piece resilient fastener ring is positioned within the hub and has a first set of spring teeth which grippingly engage the hub and a second set of spring teeth which grippingly engage the projection for preventing the latter from being axially withdrawn from the hub.