GB2430148A

GB2430148A - Furniture chocks

Info

Publication number: GB2430148A
Application number: GB0519016A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Charlwoo Brodrick-Barker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-17
Filing date: 2005-09-17
Publication date: 2007-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-17
Also published as: GB2430148B; GB0519016D0

Abstract

A chock device 10 for supporting an item of furniture at the correct attitude comprises a body having a generally flat bottom surface and a channel 12 extending across its upper surface between opposite ends thereof. The channel 12 comprises generally parallel upstanding side walls 13 extending from opposite longitudinal side edges of the bottom wall 14, the bottom wall 14 increasing in thickness by 1-2mm away from opposite ends of the channel towards a point intermediate opposite ends of the channel 12. In use, the device is inserted under the lower side edge of a panel of the item of furniture, such that the panel extends through the channel 12 therein. The gradual increase in thickness of the bottom wall 14 of the chock device avoids the application of localised forces to the edge of the panel. Also, the side walls 13 of the channel 12 serve to constrain the panel and hide any unsightly deformations which may occur.

Description

Furniture Chocks This invention relates to a chock for supporting an item

of furniture at the correct athtude.

Items of furniture are often stood on sloping or uneven floor surfaces, with the result that the items could look unsightly or even fall over. This problem is particularly apparent when the items of furniture are stood against walls on carpeted floor surfaces, since the carpet gripping strips extending around the periphery of the floor form a hard step under the carpet and thereby cause the items of furniture to lean forwardly away from the wall.

In order to overcome this problem, it has been proposed to provide wedgeshaped chocks for insertion under the lower front edge of the item of furniture, to bring the item of furniture level.

A substantial number of items of furniture are formed of composite panels comprising bonded particles of wood or paper, which extend perpendicular to the floor and which have a lower side edge resting on the floor. Whilst such composite panels are ideal for forming furniture, the material is not very resilient and can break relatively easily when an excess force is applied to a localised area. Thus, a disadvantage using wedge-shaped chocks to support items of furniture which are formed of such materials is that the wedge-shaped chocks only support the front edge of the panels at a localised point, with the result that the panels may deform and break.

I have now devised a chock for supporting items of furniture which alleviates the above-mentioned problem.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a chock device comprising a channel-section member having a generally flat bottom surface and a channel extending across its upper surface between opposite ends thereof, the channel comprising generally parallel upstanding side walls extending from opposite longitudinal side edges of the bottom wall thereof, the bottom wall increasing in thickness away from opposite ends of the channel towards a central portion thereof.

In use, the chock device is inserted under the lower side edge of a panel of an item of furniture to be supported, such that the panel extends through the channel therein.

The gradual increase in thickness of the bottom wall of the chock device avoids the application of localised forces to the edge of the panel. Also, the side walls of the channel serve to constrain the panel and hide any unsightly deformations which may occur.

Preferably the thickness of the bottom wall only increases by 5mm or less between its central and opposite end portions.

Preferably the device is formed ofmoulded plastics material.

Preferably a plurality of devices are provided, each having bottom walls which vary in thickness between different respective thicknesses, so that the user can choose the device which is most aptly able to support their item of furniture. Such varying devices may be provided separately or alternatively they may be provided as an assembly of devices, which are detachable from one another.

Preferably the assembly comprises a one-piece moulding of plastics material, adjacent devices of the assembly being interconnected by a frangible portion of the moulding.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of an example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of chock devices in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the assembly of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a perspective view, showing a device of the assembly of Figure 1 when in use.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a one-piece assembly of three chock devices 10 formed of moulded plastics material. The adjacent devices are interconnected by a frangible web 11, which can be broken to enable the user to separate the devices 10 of the assembly.

Each device 10 comprises a hollow or solid body of plastics material having a flat bottom surface for resting on the floor. A channel 12 extends across the upper surface of the body between opposite ends thereof.

The channel 12 comprises generally parallel upstanding side walls 13, which extend upwardly from opposite longitudinal side edges of the bottom wall 14 of the channel 12. The thickness of the bottom wall 14 of the channel 12 increases away from opposite ends of the channel towards the central portion thereof, as shown in an exaggerated form in Figure 2. The difference in thickness between the central and end portions may be in the range of 1-2mm.

Each device of the assembly preferably has a bottom wall which varies in thickness between different thicknesses than the other devices, so that the user can select and detach the device 10 having a thickness which is most suited to their application.

Preferably the range of thicknesses of at least two of the devices of the assembly overlaps.

The side walls 13 of the channel comprise opposed parallel inner faces and outer faces, which curve outwardly from the edge of the inner face.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, there is shown a bookcase B, which is standing against a wall on a carpeted floor surface at the edge of a room. The carpet C is secured around its periphery to barbed carpetgripping strips G, which extend around the periphery of the room. The strips G are formed of wood and form a hard step under the carpet C, thereby raising the rear edge of any items of furniture which are stood against the wall at the edge of the carpeted floor surface.

In order to overcome this problem, a chock device 10 in accordance with this invention can be inserted under the front lower side edge of each side panel P of the bookcase, such that the panel extends through the channel 12 in the device 10.

The gradual small increase in the thickness of the bottom wall 14 of the device 10 avoids the application of localised forces to the lower side edge of the panel P. Also, since the panel is preferably a close, but sliding fit, within the channel 12, the side walls 13 of the device 10 serve to constrain the panel P and hide any deformations which do occur.

It will be appreciated that the useris able to adjust the attitude at which the bookcase B is supported by the device by moving the device 10 to or away from the wall. Also, the attitude can be adjusted by choosing a device 10 having a bottom wall of a different range of thicknesses.

A chock device in accordance with this invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet provides a reliable way of supporting items of furniture at the correct attitude without damaging the item of furniture.

Claims

Claims 1. A chock device comprising a channel-section member having a

generally flat bottom surface and a channel extending across its upper surface between opposite ends thereof, the channel comprising generally parallel upstanding side walls extending from opposite longitudinal side edges of the bottom wall thereof, the bottom wall increasing in thickness away from opposite ends of the channel towards a central portion thereof.
2. A chock device as claimed in claim 1, in which the thickness of the bottom wall increases by 5mm or less between its central and opposite end portions.
3. A chock device as claimed in claims I or 2, in which the device is formed of :* moulded plastics material.
4. A chock device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. *1
5. An assembly comprising a plurality of chock devices as claimed in any preceding claim, each device having a bottom wall which varies in thickness between different thicknesses than another chock device of the assembly.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, comprising a one-piece moulding of plastics material, adjacent devices of the assembly being interconnected by a frangible portion of the moulding.
7. An assembly comprising a plurality of chock devices, the assembly being substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
8. A kit of parts comprising a plurality of chock devices as claimed in any of claims I to 4, each device having a bottom wall which varies in thickness between different thicknesses than another chock device of the kit.