Ok, let's get back into it. Sorry, but I've been a bit busy with my other construction projects and didn't get the images off my camera.

The diagrams on the McMaster Carr site seem to orient the lift in the most sensible orientation. As you can see below, in this commercial Ottoman, not only did the install orient the lifts upside down (chamber down, piston up), but the install is also "rough" looking. The lifts are installed in a sort of backwards configuration compared to the illustrations and definitely don't aid at all in the first few inches when opening the top. This also means the top can slam shut in the last few inches. Maybe even a full foot. Not too good when concerned about little fingers.

Incidentally, my ottoman should look a *lot* better than this unit when it's been upholstered and fitted with hardware.