Steelcase Inc.

Craig M Anderson

Frederick S Faiks

Robert M Scheper

Carl V Forslund, Iii

Daniel Ralph Bischoff

Mark T Slager

Glenn A Knoblock

Dale M Groendal

Douglas B MacDonald

Scott H Russell

Steven C Deer

Charles C Ondrejka

David A VanDyke

Jerry P White

A frame construction for an office partition panel system includes a pair of spaced-apart generally upright posts, and at least one generally horizontal member extending between and rigidly interconnecting the upright posts. The upright posts defme substantially parallel planes separated by a thickness of the upright posts, and the generally horizontal member lies between the parallel planes and has a thickness which is less than the thickness of the upright posts to permit vertical routing of utility lines.

Thin panel beam

A chair, with independent control of a lumbar portion of a seat back and a thoracic portion of the seat back, has a seat connected with a base and a control connected with the base, generally under the seat. A first support, pivotally connected with the control, extends from the control to the thoracic portion of the seat back. A second support extends to the lumbar portion of the seat back. The two supports operate independently and the thoracic and lumbar portions of the seat back rotate independently rearward with respect to the seat, providing sympathetic back support for a user. The thoracic portion may rotate laterally to follow twisting movements of a user's thoracic region. The lumbar portion may be connected with the second support to limit lateral rotation of the lumbar portion.

Split back chair

A power distribution system for office furniture includes a powerway having a power block with power block conductors therein. A outlet block is supported on the powerway and includes outlets for the office furniture. The outlets are connected to different conductors in the powerway by a jumper. The powerway may include at least three first connectors on one end and at least one second connector on the other end. The first and second connectors interconnect thereby facilitating connection with other identical powerways. According to one aspect, one component includes a projection and another component includes a recess which facilitate connection of these components using a substantially flat implement.

Modular powerway with selectable receptacle

A chair, with independent control of a lumbar portion of a seat back and a thoracic portion of the seat back, has a seat connected with a base and a control connected with the base, generally under the seat. A first support, pivotally connected with the control, extends from the control to the thoracic portion of the seat back. A second support, pivotally connected with the control, extends from the control, to the lumbar portion of the seat back. The two supports operate independently and the thoracic and lumbar portions of the seat back rotate independently rearward with respect to the seat, providing sympathetic back support for a user. The thoracic portion may rotate laterally to follow twisting movements of a user's thoracic region. The lumbar portion may be connected with the second support to limit lateral rotation of the lumbar portion.

A controller is provided for seating, and the like, such as chairs of the type that have a stationary base or support, and a back which tilts about a generally horizontal axis with respect to the support. The controller includes an adjustable tension device, and a shared-load arrangement, which readily adapt the chair for different users and various applications. The adjustable tension device comprises a spring, having one end operably connected with a support, and the other end operably engaging the back at selected locations spaced apart from the tilt axis, such that rearward tilting of the chair back deflects the spring, and thereby generates a torque or back tension which resists further tilting. A shifter moves the other end of the spring between the selected back locations to vary the lever arm at which the spring acts, and thereby adjusts back tension. The shared-load arrangements comprises second and third springs, which are positioned on opposite sides of the first spring, and are operably connected between the support and the back. The second and third springs are pretensed to generate an initial torque which biases the back into a normally, fully upright position. The three controller springs combine to share the load applied to the back, with the second and third springs providing an initial, minimum back tension, and the first spring providing an additional, variable back tension.

Controller for seating and the like

A controller is provided for seating, and the like, such as chairs of the type that have a stationary base or support, and a back which tilts about a generally horizontal axis with respect to the support. The controller includes an adjustable tension device, and a shared-load arrangement, which readily adapt the chair for different users and various applications. The adjustable tension device comprises a spring, having one end operably connected with a support, and the other end operably engaging the back at selected locations spaced apart from the tilt axis, such that rearward tilting of the chair back deflects the spring, and thereby generates a torque or back tension which resists further tilting. A shifter moves the other end of the spring between the selected back locations to vary the lever arm at which the spring acts, and thereby adjusts back tension. The shared-load arrangement comprises second and third springs, which are positioned on opposite sides of the first spring, and are operably connected between the support and the back. The second and third springs are pretensed to generate an initial torque which biases the back into a normally, fully upright position. The three controller springs combine to share the load applied to the back, with the second and third springs providing an initial, minimum back tension, and the first spring providing an additional, variable back tension.

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Kentwood, MI, United States of America

Craig M Anderson