GB2302273A

GB2302273A - Adjustable support

Info

Publication number: GB2302273A
Application number: GB9607357A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Alexander Gort-Barten
Original assignee: Dualit Ltd
Current assignee: Dualit Ltd
Priority date: 1995-06-16
Filing date: 1996-04-09
Publication date: 1997-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-09
Also published as: GB2302273B; GB9512296D0; GB9607357D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable support 12 for an appliance 13, such as a toaster, comprising a locator member 14 having an external thread 17 and a central bore 18 counterbored at 19 to provide a shoulder 20 to locate a head 21 of the fixing member. The support includes a foot 16 having a bore with an internal thread 24 engaging with the external thread on the locator member. The interengaging threads should be stiff so as not to allow unintentional rotation.

Description

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT This invention relates to an adjustable support for forming a foot of an appliance, for example a toaster. The majority of kitchen appliances which are supported on feet have their feet fixed in height relative to the remainder of the appliance. If such an appliance is placed on an uneven surface or if the appliance warps during manufacture or use then the appliance is unstable or inclined to rock and this is undesirable.

The present invention provides an adjustable support for an appliance comprising a locator member having an externally threaded surface and a central bore to receive a fixing member such as a screw by which it is secured to the appliance, preferably the bore being counterbored to provide a shoulder to locate a head of the fixing member, and a foot having a bore internally threaded to engage with the external thread on the locator member, preferably the foot having a substantially planar base.

The foot can be adjusted axially relative to the locator member by rotation so as to adjust the height of the base relative to the appliance. Because the foot is the outer member of the support, the majority of the locator member and the fixing member are not visible and the support can have an attractive appearance.

The adjustable support is particularly designed for use on a toaster having four feet, at least one of which is in accordance with the invention. Preferably the foot is of insulating material, for example a moulded plastics material.

The thread should be a stiff thread which will not allow rotation unintentionally. Preferably it is an Acme thread.

The invention extends to a toaster with at least one such foot.

One embodiment of adjustable support, in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a toaster; Figure 2 is a cross-section through one adjustable support attached to an appliance, and Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the support.

A support member generally indicated by the arrow 12 in Figure 2 is attached to the base of an appliance such as a toaster 13 for example to form one of four feet arranged respectively adjacent the corners of the toaster. The support member comprises only three parts, a central locating member 14, a self-tapping fixing screw 15 and a foot 16. The locator member 14 is a substantially cylindrical body having its external surface formed with a thread 17 and having a central bore 18 and a counter bore 19 to provide a shoulder 20 for the head 21 of the screw 15. The screw extends into the base of the toaster 13 to hqld the locator member firmly thereto. The foot 16 is a cup shaped member with a planar base 22 and a bore 23 (which could be blind) internally threaded at 24, the thread 24 being arranged to engage with the thread 17. The end of bore 23 provides a shoulder for abutting against member 14. The upper surface 25 of the foot is also planar and the foot will normally be screwed home so that the upper surface 25 engages the base of the appliance 13 and the shoulder at the end of bore 23 abuts the locating member. In this position the locator member and the fixing screw are entirely hidden. However by unscrewing the foot the height of the support member can be increased so that if the appliance is on an uneven surface it can still be made stable.

Claims

1. An adjustable support for an appliance comprising a locator member having an externally threaded surface and a central bore to receive a fixing member by which it is to be secured to the appliance, and a foot having a bore internally threaded to engage with the external thread on the locator member.

2. A support according to claim 1 in which the interengaging threads are stiff such that the foot will not rotate unintentionally relative to the locator member.

3. A support according to claim 2 in which the interengaging threads are an Acme thread.

4. A support according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the foot has a planar lower base surface.

5. A support according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the locator member has an inner bore which is counterbored to provide a shoulder for engagement by the head of the fixing member, such as a screw.

6. A support member according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the foot and locator member each have a planar upper surface, and the foot has a shoulder at the lower end of its bore, which shoulder engages the lower surface of the locator member when said upper surfaces of the locator member and foot are coplanar.

7. A support substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

8. An appliance, particularly a toaster, having a plurality of spaced feet, at least one of which is an adjustable support according to any one of the preceding claims.