EP2590534A1 - Dispositif de stabilisation de meuble auto-réglable - Google Patents

Dispositif de stabilisation de meuble auto-réglable

Info

Publication number
EP2590534A1
EP2590534A1 EP11727790.5A EP11727790A EP2590534A1 EP 2590534 A1 EP2590534 A1 EP 2590534A1 EP 11727790 A EP11727790 A EP 11727790A EP 2590534 A1 EP2590534 A1 EP 2590534A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
furniture
stabilising device
self adjusting
piece
ramp
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP11727790.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Rory Brooke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2590534A1 publication Critical patent/EP2590534A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B91/00—Feet for furniture in general
    • A47B91/16—Self-levelling legs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
    • A47B13/00—Details of tables or desks
    • A47B13/02—Underframes
    • A47B13/023—Underframes with a central column
    • A47B2013/025—Underframes with a central column having radial feet assembled to the base of the column

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a self-adjusting furniture stabilising device. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a self-adjusting stabilising device for being located underneath a foot of a piece of furniture, such as a table, in order to stabilise said piece of furniture.
  • adjustable furniture supports have also been proposed, to be located underneath the table legs.
  • a manually adjustable threaded foot which is adapted to screw into the feet of the table. These feet are thus manually screwed into and out of the foot, in an attempt to level the table and overcome the rocking.
  • this solution is generally not successful.
  • the manually adjustable supports were unsatisfactory because of the frequent need for adjustment.
  • a self adjusting furniture stabilising device for a piece of furniture comprising:
  • first body being connectable to a foot of the piece of furniture, which first body includes a first ramp formation having a plurality of first engaging surfaces;
  • second body for resting on a surface on which the furniture is positioned, which second body includes a second ramp formation having a plurality of second engaging surfaces being complementary to the first engaging surfaces,
  • the arrangement being such that the first and second bodies are coupled to one another with the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces engaging one another to permit rotational movement of the second body relative to the first body, so that the stabilising device self-adjusts in the event of a rotational force applied thereto in order to stabilise the piece of furniture.
  • the first body may be an operatively upper body and the second body may be an operatively lower body.
  • the first body may include an end wall portion and a tubular skirt portion extending from a rim of the end wall portion, with the first ramp formation extending from the end wall portion inside the tubular skirt portion and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction.
  • the first body may include two first ramp formations, both extending from the end wall portion inside the tubular skirt portion and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction.
  • the second body may include a base portion with the second ramp formation extending from a rim of the base portion in an upwardly facing direction to engage the downwardly facing first ramp formation.
  • the second body may include two second ramp formations, both extending from the rim of the base portion in an upwardly facing direction to engage the two downwardly facing first ramp formations.
  • the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces may be separate from one another and distributed at substantially equal intervals on both of the first and second ramp formations respectively.
  • the base portion of the second body may be tapered and thus wedge-shaped, the arrangement being such that the base portion only partially rests on the surface on which the furniture is positioned, so that in use, rotational stress is applied to the piece of furniture so that the contact point of the base portion frictionally engages the surface, thus resulting in rotational movement of the second body relative to the first body in order to stabilise the piece of furniture.
  • the device may include biasing means located between the first and second bodies.
  • the biasing means may be a torsion spring and may have a first end connected to the first body and a second end connected to the second body.
  • the torsion spring may be in a compressed state between the first and second bodies, so that they are biased away from one another.
  • the torsion spring may be mounted in coaxial relationship with the first and second ramp formations in the compressed and torsioned state between the end wall portion of the first body and the base portion of the second body.
  • the device may include connecting means for connecting the device to the foot of the piece of furniture.
  • the connecting means may be a screw or any other similar connector, having a shaft with thread and which extends in an operatively vertical direction.
  • the first body may include a first receiving formation for receiving the connecting means and the second body may include a second receiving formation for receiving the first receiving formation and the connecting means, the arrangement being such that the connecting means may pass through the second receiving formation of the second body, through the centre of the biasing means and through the first receiving formation of the first body, so that the first body, biasing means and second body are all coupled to one another and so that the thread of the connecting means extends beyond the first body for allowing it to be connected to the foot of the piece of furniture.
  • a stepped washer may be provided to be located between the first body and the foot of the piece of furniture, so that the first body is not rotationally movable relative to the foot of the piece of furniture.
  • the first body may be fixed to the foot of the piece of furniture and the second body may be rotationally movable relative to the first body and the foot of the piece of furniture.
  • the first and second engaging surfaces of the first and second ramp formations may be relatively planar surfaces arranged at different levels to one another, so that the first and second ramp formations are stepped ramps, the arrangement being so that the plurality of first engaging surfaces rest on the plurality of second engaging surfaces.
  • figure 1 is a perspective view of a table including a self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • figure 2 is a side view of the table and self adjusting furniture stabilising device as shown in figure 1
  • figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the device connected to a foot of the table
  • figure 4 exploded perspective view from above of the device
  • figure 5 exploded perspective view from below of the device
  • figure 6 is an exploded perspective side view of the device.
  • a self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10.
  • the self adjusting furniture stabilising device 10 is adapted to be connected to the bottom surface of a foot 12 of a piece of furniture, such as a table 14. It is foreseen that the device 10 is connectable to any piece of furniture which needs to be stabilised.
  • the device 10 could be provided on all the feet 12 of the table 14, as shown in figures 1 and 2, but it is foreseen that a single device 10 provided on a single foot 12 of the table 14 would be sufficient to stabilise the table on most uneven surfaces.
  • the self adjusting furniture stabilising device 10 comprises a first body 16, which is connectable to the foot 12 of the table 14 and a second body 18 for resting on a surface 20 on which the table 14 is positioned.
  • the first body 16 includes two first ramp formations 22, each having a plurality of first engaging surfaces 24 and the second body 18 includes two second ramp formations 26, each having a plurality of complementary second engaging surfaces 28.
  • the arrangement is such that the first and second bodies 16 and 18 are coupled to one another with the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces 24 and 28 engaging one another to permit rotational movement of the second body 18 relative to the first body 16, so that the stabilising device 10 self-adjusts in the event of a rotational force applied thereto in order to stabilise the table 14.
  • the first body 16 is an operatively upper body and the second body 18 is an operatively lower body.
  • the first and second engaging surfaces 24 and 28 of the first and second ramp formations 22 and 26 are relatively planar surfaces arranged at different levels to one another, so that the first and second ramp formations 22 and 26 are stepped ramps, the arrangement being so that the plurality of first engaging surfaces 24 rest on the plurality of second engaging surfaces 28.
  • the first body 16 includes an end wall portion 30 and a tubular skirt portion 32 extending from a rim 34 of the end wall portion 30, with the stepped first ramp formations 22 extending from the end wall portion 30 inside the tubular skirt portion 32 and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction.
  • the first body 16 further includes a first receiving formation 35 extending from the end wall portion 30 inside and concentrically with the stepped first ramp formations 22.
  • the second body 18 include a base portion 42 with the stepped second ramp formations 26 extending from a rim 44 of the base portion 42 in an upwardly facing direction to engage the downwardly facing first ramp formation 22.
  • the second body 18 further includes a second receiving formation 45 also extending from the base portion 42 in an upwardly facing direction inside and concentrically with the stepped second ramp formations 26.
  • the first and second engaging surfaces 24 and 28 are separate from one another and distributed at substantially equal intervals on the first and second ramp formations 22 and 26 respectively.
  • the plurality of first engaging surfaces 24 therefore rest on and engage the plurality of complementary second engaging surfaces 28.
  • the base portion 42 of the second body 8 is tapered and thus wedge-shaped, as can be seen in figure 6.
  • the arrangement is such that the base portion 42 only partially rests on the surface on which the furniture is positioned, so that in use, rotational or torsional stress is applied to the piece of furniture so that the contact point of the base portion 42 frictionally engages the surface, thus resulting in rotational movement of the second body 42 relative to the first body 32 in order to stabilise the piece of furniture.
  • the device 10 further includes a biasing means, in the form of a torsion spring 46, for coupling the first and second bodies 16 and 18 to one another.
  • the torsion spring has a first end 48 connected to the first body 16 and a second end 50 connected to the second body 18.
  • the torsion spring 46 is mounted in coaxial relationship with the first and second ramp formations 22 and 26 in a compressed and torsioned state between the end wall portion 30 of the first body 16 and the base portion 42 of the second body 18.
  • the first and second ends 48 and 50 are received by blind holes (not shown) defined in the first and second bodies 16 and 18.
  • the device 10 further includes connecting means 36 for connecting to the foot 12 of the table 14.
  • the connecting means 36 is generally an 8 mm round Alan- head screw, but it is foreseen that any suitable connecting means could be used.
  • the connecting means 36 extends in an operatively vertical direction and includes a shaft 38 with thread 32 which screws into the foot 12 of the table 14. The arrangement is such that the connecting means 36 passes from below, through the second receiving formation 45 of the second body 18, through the centre of the torsion spring 46 and through the first receiving formation 35 of the first body 16, so that the first body 16, biasing means 46 and second body 18 are all coupled to one another and so that the thread of the connecting means 36 extends beyond the first body 16 for allowing it to be connected to the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14.
  • the first body 16 is thus fixed to the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14 and the second body 18 is rotationally movable relative to the first body 16 and the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14.
  • a stepped washer 52 could also be provided and located between the first body 32 and the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14, so that the first body 32 is not rotationally movable relative to the foot 12 of the piece of furniture 14.
  • the device 10 is connected to at least one foot 12 of the table 14 by being screwed into the bottom of said foot 12. Any rotational force acting on the device 10 results in the device 10 frictionally engaging the surface 20 at the point of contact, so that the second body 18 rotationally moves relative to the first body 16, so that they move towards and away from one another to permit the second body 18 to retract into and out of the first body 16.
  • the rotational movement of the two second body 18 causes the first and second engaging surfaces 24 and 28 to move rotationally relative to one another so that the height of the foot 12 of the table 14 relative to the surface 20 is adjusted.
  • the device 10 is relative more effective in stabilising a piece of furniture than prior art devices, owing to the separate engaging surfaces 24 and 28 of the ramp formations 22 and 26, as well as the fact that the device 10 only rests partially on the surface 20.
  • a normal direct downward force for example, a downwards weight from a user resting on the table, acting on the device 10 from the table 14 would not result in movement of the two bodies 16 and 18 relative to one another, since the engaging surfaces 24 and 28 rest on one another, unless a rotational force is applied thereto.
  • variations in detail are possible with a self-adjusting furniture stabilising device according to the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Landscapes

  • Legs For Furniture In General (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention porte sur un dispositif de stabilisation de meuble auto-réglable (10), lequel dispositif peut être relié à la surface inférieure d'un pied (12) d'une table (14). Le dispositif (10) comprend un premier corps (16), pouvant être relié au pied (12), et un second corps (18) pour reposer sur une surface (20). Le premier corps (16) comprend des premières formations en rampe (22), ayant une pluralité de premières surfaces de prise (24), et le second corps (18) comprend des secondes formations en rampe (26), ayant une pluralité de secondes surfaces de prise complémentaires (28). Les premier et second corps (16 et 18) sont couplés entre eux, la pluralité de premières et secondes surfaces de prise (24 et 28) venant mutuellement en prise afin de permettre un mouvement de rotation du second corps (18) par rapport au premier corps (16), de telle sorte que le dispositif de stabilisation (10) se règle automatiquement dans le cas où une force de rotation est appliquée à celui-ci pour stabiliser la table (14).
EP11727790.5A 2010-07-08 2011-05-24 Dispositif de stabilisation de meuble auto-réglable Withdrawn EP2590534A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA201004819 2010-07-08
PCT/IB2011/052254 WO2012004690A1 (fr) 2010-07-08 2011-05-24 Dispositif de stabilisation de meuble auto-réglable

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2590534A1 true EP2590534A1 (fr) 2013-05-15

Family

ID=44627530

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11727790.5A Withdrawn EP2590534A1 (fr) 2010-07-08 2011-05-24 Dispositif de stabilisation de meuble auto-réglable

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20130112821A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2590534A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2012004690A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA201103776B (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2827667C (fr) * 2011-02-18 2018-11-20 Keith Gild Dispositif de reglage de niveau pour meubles
KR101770815B1 (ko) * 2015-12-09 2017-08-23 최오영 세탁기 레그
NO20160849A1 (en) 2016-05-20 2017-09-11 Autostore Tech As Leveling Foot
JP6795564B2 (ja) * 2018-10-10 2020-12-02 ファナック株式会社 支持構造および工作機械システム
SE545041C2 (en) * 2021-03-30 2023-03-07 Provent Maskin Ab Wiggle support

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2682131A (en) * 1952-09-13 1954-06-29 Albert J Matter Automatic table leg adjuster
GB751432A (en) * 1954-06-18 1956-06-27 Albert John Matter Automatic adjusters for supporting legs
US2958978A (en) * 1957-12-20 1960-11-08 Albert J Matter Table coasters with wobble stop
US3028703A (en) * 1958-11-26 1962-04-10 Albert J Matter Automatic wobble-stopping glides for furniture
US3030730A (en) * 1960-09-02 1962-04-24 Don G Costar Leg height adjuster
US4798359A (en) * 1983-07-14 1989-01-17 Johnson Industries, Inc. Furniture glide
US7717395B2 (en) * 2004-09-16 2010-05-18 Robert L. Rowan & Associates, Inc. Adjustable support apparatus for machinery
US7104511B2 (en) * 2004-09-22 2006-09-12 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Adjustable support for multimedia display device
US7290741B1 (en) * 2004-11-01 2007-11-06 Jacob Holtz Company Furniture glide
BRPI0601993A (pt) * 2006-05-11 2008-01-08 Whirlpool Sa pé auto-nivelador para um aparelho
US7527229B2 (en) * 2007-01-31 2009-05-05 Masco Corporation Ratchet plate leveler

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2012004690A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA201103776B (en) 2012-02-29
WO2012004690A1 (fr) 2012-01-12
US20130112821A1 (en) 2013-05-09

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