EP3711630A1

EP3711630A1 - Furniture glide for a furniture piece

Info

Publication number: EP3711630A1
Application number: EP20163858.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Willem Klaas Schutten
Original assignee: Dupo Enschede BV
Current assignee: Dupo Enschede BV
Priority date: 2019-03-21
Filing date: 2020-03-18
Publication date: 2020-09-23
Also published as: NL2022781B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a furniture glide for a lying base of a piece of furniture which can support on a ground surface, wherein the furniture glide comprises:
- a mounting body which defines a first receiving space for receiving a part of the lying base and is configured to clamp fixedly onto the part of the lying base when the part of the lying base is received in the first receiving space; and
- a glider body,
wherein the mounting body and the glider body are provided with mutually co-acting connecting means for connecting the glider body to the mounting body.

The invention also relates to a piece of furniture with a lying base which can support on a ground surface, wherein the lying base is provided with at least one such furniture glide.

The invention further relates to a method for arranging such a furniture glide on a lying base of a piece of furniture which can support on a ground surface.

Description

The invention relates to a furniture glide for a lying base of a piece of furniture which can support on a ground surface.
The lying base is here understood to mean the lower, substantially horizontally disposed part of a leg of a piece of furniture. The piece of furniture supports with the lying base on a ground surface. Arranged on the lying base is a substantially vertically disposed support which, together with the lying base, functions as furniture leg. Arranged on an end of the support lying opposite the lying base are for instance a seat and/or backrest of a chair, sofa or the like, or additionally or alternatively for instance a tabletop of a table, which are thus carried at a distance from the ground surface by the support and the lying base during use.
A furniture glide for such a piece of furniture is per se known and is generally used to allow the piece of furniture to glide more easily on surfaces on which, without furniture glide, this would be more difficult, impossible, or impossible without damaging the piece of furniture or the floor surface.
A per se known furniture glide consists of a glider body which is connected fixedly to an underside of the lying base of the piece of furniture by means of screwing or glueing. For this purpose a hole is drilled in the lying base of the piece of furniture, in which hole the screw is tightened, or adhesive is arranged between the glider body and the lying base. The glider body thereby forms a new contact surface between the piece of furniture and the floor surface. Because of the contact between the glider body and the floor surface, the piece of furniture can then glide over the floor surface more easily.
Such a floor glide however has the drawback that a hole has to be drilled in the lying base of the piece of furniture, or that adhesive is used which can be harmful to humans and the environment. This makes arranging of furniture glides in this manner a time-consuming or environmentally harmful process.
It is an object of the invention to at least partially obviate the above stated problem.
This object can be achieved with a furniture glide according to the preamble, which comprises according to the invention:

a mounting body which defines a first receiving space for receiving a part of the lying base and is configured to clamp fixedly onto the part of the lying base when the part of the lying base is received in the first receiving space; and
a glider body,

Because the mounting body clamps onto the part of the lying base, the mounting body can be connected thereto without screws or other connecting means, and because the glider body can be connected to the mounting body using the mutually co-acting connecting means, the glider body can be connected to the part of the lying base via the mounting body, without screws or other connecting means.
An advantage of providing two separate components which can be connected to each other, i.e. the mounting body and the glider body, is that they can be shaped and/or manufactured separately of each other, so that they can each have the features desired for their objective. The mounting body can thus be designed such that it can be connected firmly to the part of the lying base, and the glider body can be designed such that it forms a good gliding surface for the piece of furniture.
It is noted that it will be apparent to the skilled person that the furniture glide can be suitably used for any piece of furniture with a stated lying base, such as, though not exclusively, a chair, sofa, table, cabinet or the like.
It is further noted that it is possible both that the mounting body is first connected to the part of the lying base and the glider body is then connected to the mounting body, and, alternatively, that the mounting body is first connected to the glider body and the assembly of mounting body and glider body is then connected to the lying base.
In an embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention the mounting body has a first configuration in which the mounting body is configured to clamp fixedly onto the part of the lying base, and a second configuration in which the mounting body is configured to be able to arrange the part of the lying base in the first receiving space and/or remove it therefrom, wherein during arranging of the part of the lying base the mounting body can be moved from its first configuration into its second configuration by elastic deformation of the mounting body, and the elasticity of the mounting body urges the mounting body to the first configuration, such that, after the part of the lying base has been arranged in the first receiving space, the mounting body urges itself back to its first configuration and thus exerts a clamping force on the part of the lying base when this is arranged in the first receiving space.
An advantage of such an embodiment is that in the second configuration the part of the lying base can be arranged in the first receiving space, while in the first configuration the mounting body clamps fixedly onto the part of the lying base.
The mounting body can here be provided with an opening which provides access to the first receiving space, wherein in the second configuration of the mounting body the opening is larger, particularly wider, than in the first configuration for the purpose of allowing the part of the lying base to pass in the second configuration, and wherein, owing to its elasticity, after passage of the part of the lying base the mounting body urges itself back to its first configuration in which the opening is smaller, particularly narrower, than in the second configuration, so that the lying base is received fixedly in the first receiving space and the mounting body clamps fixedly onto the part of the lying base. In the first configuration the opening is smaller, particularly narrower, than the part of the lying base, particularly a width dimension thereof. In the second configuration the opening is larger, particularly wider, than the part of the lying base, particularly a width dimension thereof. For lying bases with a round cross-section, the width dimension of the part of the lying base can particularly be the diameter of the part of the lying base.
The mounting body can be moved into its second configuration at any desired moment and/or in any desired manner. The mounting body can for instance be moved into its second configuration during arranging of the lying base in the first receiving space. This can for instance take place by pressing the lying base into the first receiving space via said opening, wherein the mounting body is urged to its second configuration by the pressure force of the lying base on the mounting body. Alternatively or additionally, the mounting body can be moved into its second configuration before the lying base is arranged in the first receiving space. The mounting body can here for instance be moved manually or with an auxiliary means into its second configuration, wherein the lying base is arranged in the first receiving space when the mounting body is in its second configuration.
In another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention the mounting body is configured to bite into the part of the lying base.
The biting of the mounting body into the part of the lying base provides a good connection therebetween.
The term bite into, as it is understood by the skilled person, should be distinguished from simply fixedly clamping. In the case of biting into, the component which is bitten into will always be penetrated to a certain extent. This will thus create visible deformations in the component which is bitten into. In the case of fixedly clamping, penetration does not necessarily occur.
In yet another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention the form of the during use vertical cross-section of the mounting body substantially corresponds to a ring segment or oval segment, wherein the mounting body comprises at least one end part at each of the free ends of the ring segment or oval segment, wherein the end parts deviate inward relative to the curvature of the ring segment or oval segment.
An advantage of such a form is that the mounting body has a cross-sectional form which corresponds substantially with the cross-sectional form of the part of the lying base, i.e. substantially a ring or oval, wherein the deviating end parts engage on the part of the lying base during use and thereby provide a firm connection between the mounting body and the part of the lying base. Because the end parts are arranged at each of the free ends of the ring segment or oval segment, they engage on the part of the lying base substantially on either side thereof.
It is noted that the form can be a perfect ring or oval, but also any form which is substantially annular or oval, such as for instance egg-shaped.
In yet another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention the mounting body is elongate and comprises more than two end parts, which are arranged, preferably in pairs, at a mutual distance in the longitudinal direction of the mounting body.
By providing a plurality of end parts which are arranged, preferably in pairs, at a mutual distance in the longitudinal direction of the mounting body an engagement on the part of the lying base takes place at several locations distributed over the longitudinal direction of the mounting body.
The end parts preferably taper to a point toward their free end, wherein the point is preferably blunt.
With such a form a good engagement of the end parts on the part of the lying base takes place.
In yet another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention at least a part of the mounting body, for instance the end parts thereof, is manufactured from a metal, preferably from a spring steel which can optionally be hardened.
In yet another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention the mounting body has, or at least the end parts thereof have, a hardness of at least 50 HRC, preferably at least 60 HRC and most preferably about 60-65 HRC.
In yet another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention the glider body defines a second receiving space for receiving the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base.
In such an embodiment the glider body extends round the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base.
It is noted that the glider body can have a longer length than the mounting body, so that the part of the lying base which is received in the second receiving space is larger than the part of the lying base which is received in the first receiving space.
It is further noted that the glider body can have only one receiving space, which is referred to as the "second receiving space" to distinguish it from the first receiving space of the mounting body.
In yet another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention the glider body has a recess for receiving at least a part of the mounting body.
By receiving at least a part of the mounting body in the recess a connection between the mounting body and glider body can take place in simple manner.
In yet another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention the glider body can be arranged round the mounting body by elastic deformation of the glider body.
In such an embodiment the glider body can have a first and second configuration, wherein in its first configuration the glider body can be configured to receive the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base in its second receiving space and to be arranged round the mounting body, and in its second configuration can be configured to be able to arrange and/or remove the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base in and/or from the second receiving space, wherein, during arranging of the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base, the glider body can be moved from its first configuration into its second configuration by elastic deformation of the glider body, and the elasticity of the glider body urges the glider body to the first configuration, such that, after the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base have been arranged in the second receiving space, the glider body urges itself back to its first configuration.
An advantage of such an embodiment is that in the second configuration the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base can be arranged in the second receiving space, while in the first configuration the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base can be received in the second receiving space and the glider body is arranged round the mounting body.
The glider body can be provided here with an opening which provides access to the second receiving space, wherein in the second configuration of the glider body the opening is larger, particularly wider, than in the first configuration for the purpose of being able to allow the mounting body and at least a part of the lying base to pass into the second receiving space in the second configuration, and wherein, after passage of the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base, the mounting body is urged due to its elasticity back to its first configuration in which the opening is smaller, particularly narrower, than in the second configuration so that the mounting body and the lying base lie fixedly in the second receiving space. In the first configuration the opening is smaller, particularly narrower, than the part of the lying base, particularly a width dimension thereof. In the second configuration the opening is larger, particularly wider, than the part of the lying base, particularly a width dimension thereof. For lying bases with a round cross-section, the width dimension of the part of the lying base can particularly be the diameter of the part of the lying base. It is noted that the opening of the glider body can if desired be referred to as "second opening" to distinguish it from the opening of the mounting body.
The glider body can be moved into its second configuration at any desired moment and/or in any desired manner. The glider body can for instance be moved into its second configuration during arranging of the lying base in the second receiving space. This can for instance take place by pressing the lying base via said opening into the second receiving space, wherein the glider body is urged to its second configuration by the pressure force of the lying base on the mounting body. Alternatively or additionally, the glider body can be moved into its second configuration before the lying base is arranged in the second receiving space. The glider body can here be moved into its second configuration for instance manually or with an auxiliary means, wherein the lying base is arranged in the second receiving space when the glider body is in its second configuration.
In yet another embodiment of the furniture glide according to the invention one of the mounting body and the glider body comprises an opening and the other of the mounting body and the glider body comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion of the other of the mounting body and the glider body can be arranged in the opening of the one of the mounting body and the glider body.
By providing the opening and protrusion a connection between the mounting body and glider body can take place in simple manner. The opening and protrusion can here form the connecting means, or form part thereof.
In practise the glider body can be manufactured from a plastic. A plastic can form a good gliding surface.
The invention further relates to a piece of furniture with a lying base which can support on a ground surface, wherein the lying base is provided with at least one furniture glide according to one or more of the embodiments described above or below and/or with one or more of the features described above or below, the mounting body of which is clamped onto the lying base of the piece of furniture.
Advantages of such a piece of furniture are described above on the basis of the furniture glide according to the invention.
The mounting body of the furniture glide can particularly be configured to bite into the part of the lying base by adapting the materials of the lying base and the mounting body to each other. In particular, the mounting body can be sufficiently hard relative to the part of the lying base.
The invention further relates to a method for arranging a furniture glide on a lying base of a piece of furniture which can support on a ground surface, comprising the steps, to be performed in any suitable order, of:

a) providing a mounting body which defines a first receiving space for receiving a part of the lying base;
b) arranging the part of the lying base in the first receiving space, wherein the mounting body clamps fixedly onto the lying base;
c) providing a glider body;
d) connecting the glider body to the mounting body.

An advantage of the method according to the invention is that a piece of furniture is hereby provided which can glide easily over a ground surface.
The furniture glide can be the furniture glide according to one or more of the embodiments described above or below and/or have one or more of the features described above or below.
It is noted that step b) can be performed before step d). Alternatively, step d) can be performed before step b). As a further alternative, steps b) and d) can be performed simultaneously.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention step b) can comprise of:

b1) bringing the mounting body from a first configuration of the mounting body, in which the mounting body is configured to clamp fixedly onto the part of the lying base, into a second configuration of the mounting body, in which the mounting body is configured to be able to arrange the lying base in the receiving space and/or remove it therefrom, by elastic deformation of the mounting body; and
b2) optionally simultaneously arranging the part of the lying base in the first receiving space,

Advantages and a further description are described above on the basis of the furniture glide with a mounting body having said first and second configuration.
In another embodiment of the method according to the invention the mounting body bites into the part of the lying base during or after step b).
A good connection between the mounting body and the part of the lying base is hereby provided.
The above described method can particularly comprise only the shown steps. Independently hereof, the method can be performed in the shown order of steps.
The invention will be further elucidated with reference to figures, wherein:

Figure 1 shows schematically a chair with a number of furniture glides according to the invention in perspective view;
Figure 2 shows a schematic detail view of a part of the lying base of the chair of figure 1 with the furniture glide according to the invention;
Figures 3 and 4 show the furniture glide according to the invention in more detail in two different perspective views;
Figure 5 shows the different components of the furniture glide according to the invention and the lying base in separated state;
Figure 6 shows the schematic detail view of figure 2, wherein a glider body of the furniture glide according to the invention is shown in transparent view, and
Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sections of figure 6 at two different longitudinal positions of the furniture glide according to the invention.

Corresponding elements are designated in the figures with corresponding reference numerals.
Figure 1 shows a chair 1. Chair 1 has a seat 2 and a backrest 3 which in this exemplary embodiment together form one integral whole, but which can of course also consist of separate elements. In this exemplary embodiment seat 1 has an integrally formed frame 4-6, which frame defines armrests 4, substantially vertical supports 5 and a lying base 6. The skilled person will appreciate that armrests 4 and/or supports 5 and/or lying base 6 can also be embodied as separate elements, that, if desired, seat 1 need not have armrests 4, and that any desired number of lying bases and/or supports can be provided. Chair 1 serves here only for the purpose of illustration and can be any piece of furniture, such as for instance alternatively a sofa, table, cabinet or the like. In this exemplary embodiment a total of four furniture glides 7 according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention are arranged on lying base 6, which furniture glides 7 are arranged distributed over the length of lying bases 6. It will be apparent to the skilled person that any desired number of furniture glides 7 can be arranged at any location on lying base 6. Furniture glide 7 will be elucidated in more detail below with reference to figures 2-8. This advantageous embodiment of furniture glide 7 has several features of the invention combined, but it will be apparent to the skilled person that the furniture glide according to the invention can have more or fewer features, in any desired and/or suitable combination or alone.
Figure 2 shows a detail of the furniture glide 7 which is arranged on lying base 6. This shows that furniture glide 7 is arranged round a part of the periphery of lying base 6 and extends over a part of the length of lying base 6. In this embodiment lying base 6 has a substantially round cross-sectional form and furniture glide 7 has a form adapted thereto, although lying base 6 can if desired alternatively have a substantially oval or egg-shaped cross-sectional form and furniture glide 7 can have a form adapted thereto. An outer side of furniture glide 7 is formed by a glider body 8, which glider body 8 has a flat bottom surface 9. Lying base 6 supports with the flat bottom surface 9 of glider body 8 on a ground surface.
Figures 3 and 4 show furniture glide 7 in two different perspective views. In the view of figure 3 the outer side of furniture glide 7 is clearly visible, and in figure 4 the inner side of furniture glide 7 is clearly visible. Furniture glide 7 according to the invention comprises glider body 8 and a mounting body 10. Mounting body 10 is configured to clamp fixedly onto the lying base of the piece of furniture, and glider body 8 and mounting body 10 can be mutually connected by mutually co-acting connecting means. In this exemplary embodiment these connecting means comprise a recess 14 on the inner side of glider body 8, in which mounting element 10 is received in the connected state shown in figures 3 and 4, and an opening 15 on the underside of mounting body 10 in which a protrusion 16 of glider body 8 is received in the connected state.
Figure 5 shows glider body 8 and mounting body 10 separately of each other and relative to lying base 6. This shows that mounting body 10 has a first receiving space 11 in which a part of lying base 6 can be received. Receiving space 11 is referred to as first receiving space so as to distinguish it from a receiving space 13 of glider body 8, which is referred to as second receiving space 13 for distinguishing purposes. For the purpose of arranging lying base 6 in first receiving space 11 the mounting body 10 can elastically deform and particularly displace outward, wherein, after lying base 6 has been arranged in first receiving space 11, mounting body 10 is urged by its elasticity back to its normal state and herein displaces inward and engages on lying base 6. As seen in cross-section, in this exemplary embodiment mounting element 10 has substantially the form of a part of a ring, i.e. a ring segment, whereby mounting element 10 connects well round lying base 6 with, in this case, the substantially round cross-section. Provided at the free ends or arms of the ring segment are end parts 12, which end parts 12 can bite into lying base 6, as is visible in figure 8. As seen in cross-section, end parts 12 are disposed in pairs, i.e. on either side of the ring segment, wherein a total of two pairs of end parts 12 is provided, these being disposed at a mutual distance as seen in longitudinal direction of mounting element 10. In this exemplary embodiment end parts 12 taper to a blunt point. As already stated above, glider body 8 has the second receiving space 13, in which second receiving space 13 the mounting body 10 and a part of lying base 6 can be arranged. For the purpose of arranging lying base 6 and mounting body 10 in second receiving space 13 the glider body 8 can elastically deform and particularly displace outward, wherein, after lying base 6 and mounting body 10 have been arranged in second receiving space 13, glider body 8 is urged by its elasticity back to its normal state and therein displaces inward and engages on lying base 6. Figure 5 further shows the recess 14 of glider body 8 in which mounting body 10 can be received. Mounting body 10 has on its underside the opening 15. The protrusion 16 of glider body 8 can be arranged herein, which protrusion 16 is visible in figures 4 and 7.
The manner in which furniture glide 7 is arranged on lying base 6 can be clarified on the basis of figure 5. Mounting body 10 can be arranged round lying base 6 by pressing lying base 6 into the first receiving space 11 relative to mounting body 10, wherein mounting body 10 temporarily plastically deforms as already described above. After this, glider body 8 can be arranged on mounting body 10 and lying base 6 by pressing lying base 6 and mounting body 10 into the second receiving space 13 relative to glider body 8, wherein glider body 8 temporarily plastically deformed as already described above. Alternatively, these steps can be performed in a different order. Mounting body 10 can here first be arranged in second receiving space 13 of glider body 8, and the assembly of mounting body 10 and glider body 8 can then be arranged round lying base 6. If desired, the steps can also be performed simultaneously.
Figure 6 shows that in a position of furniture glide 7 in which it is arranged on lying base 6 the mounting body 10 clamps round lying base 6, and glider body 8 extends round mounting body 10 and is connected thereto.
Figure 7 shows a cross-section of figure 6, roughly halfway along the length of furniture glide 7, i.e. between the two end parts 12.
Figure 8 shows a cross-section of figure 6 at the position of one pair of end parts 12. The detail of figure 8 in particular shows that end parts 12 bite into lying base 6. This is because end parts 12 deviate inward relative to the curvature of the ring segment.
In the shown exemplary embodiment mounting body 10 is manufactured from a metal and glider body 8 from a plastic. The metal is suitable for providing a good connection between mounting body 10 and lying base 6, and the plastic is suitable for sliding or shifting the piece of furniture over a ground surface. It will be apparent that the invention is not limited hereto and that any suitable material can be chosen. It can however be advantageous here for the glider body to be manufactured from a different material than the mounting body.
It is noted that the invention is not limited to the shown embodiments but also extends to variants within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Furniture glide for a lying base of a piece of furniture which can support on a ground surface, wherein the furniture glide comprises:
- a mounting body which defines a first receiving space for receiving a part of the lying base and is configured to clamp fixedly onto the part of the lying base when the part of the lying base is received in the first receiving space; and

- a glider body,
wherein the mounting body and the glider body are provided with mutually co-acting connecting means for connecting the glider body to the mounting body.
Furniture glide according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body has a first configuration in which the mounting body is configured to clamp fixedly onto the part of the lying base, and a second configuration in which the mounting body is configured to be able to arrange the part of the lying base in the first receiving space and/or remove it therefrom,
wherein during arranging of the part of the lying base the mounting body can be moved from its first configuration into its second configuration by elastic deformation of the mounting body, and the elasticity of the mounting body urges the mounting body to the first configuration, such that, after the part of the lying base has been arranged in the first receiving space, the mounting body urges itself back to its first configuration and thus exerts a clamping force on the part of the lying base when this is arranged in the first receiving space.
Furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the mounting body is configured to bite into the part of the lying base.
Furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the form of the during use vertical cross-section of the mounting body substantially corresponds to a ring segment or oval segment, wherein the mounting body comprises at least one end part at each of the free ends of the ring segment or oval segment, wherein the end parts deviate inward relative to the curvature of the ring segment or oval segment,
wherein the mounting body is preferably elongate and comprises more than two end parts, which are arranged, preferably in pairs, at a mutual distance in the longitudinal direction of the mounting body.
Furniture glide according to claim 4, optionally according to the preferred embodiment stated therein, wherein the end parts taper to a point toward their free end, wherein the point is preferably blunt.
Furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein at least a part of the mounting body, for instance the end parts thereof, is manufactured from a metal, preferably from a spring steel which can optionally be hardened.
Furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the mounting body has, or at least the end parts thereof have, a hardness of at least 50 HRC, preferably at least 60 HRC and most preferably about 60-65 HRC.
Furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the glider body defines a second receiving space for receiving the mounting body and at least the part of the lying base.
Furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the glider body has a recess for receiving at least a part of the mounting body, wherein the glider body can preferably be arranged round the mounting body by elastic deformation of the glider body.
Furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein one of the mounting body and the glider body comprises an opening and the other of the mounting body and the glider body comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion of the other of the mounting body and the glider body can be arranged in the opening of the one of the mounting body and the glider body.
Furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the glider body is manufactured from a plastic.
Piece of furniture with a lying base which can support on a ground surface, wherein the lying base is provided with at least one furniture glide according to any one of the foregoing claims, the mounting body of which is clamped onto the lying base of the piece of furniture.
Method for arranging a furniture glide on a lying base of a piece of furniture which can support on a ground surface, comprising the steps, to be performed in any suitable order, of:
a) providing a mounting body which defines a first receiving space for receiving a part of the lying base;

b) arranging the part of the lying base in the first receiving space, wherein the mounting body clamps fixedly onto the lying base;

c) providing a glider body;

d) connecting the glider body to the mounting body.
Method according to claim 13, wherein step b) comprises of:
b1) bringing the mounting body from a first configuration of the mounting body, in which the mounting body is configured to clamp fixedly onto the part of the lying base, into a second configuration of the mounting body, in which the mounting body is configured to be able to arrange the lying base in the receiving space and/or remove it therefrom, by elastic deformation of the mounting body; and

b2) optionally simultaneously arranging the part of the lying base in the first receiving space,
wherein the elasticity of the mounting body urges the mounting body to the first configuration, such that, after step b2), the mounting body urges itself back to its first configuration and thus exerts a clamping force on the part of the lying base.
Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the mounting body bites into the part of the lying base during or after step b).