GB2447927A

GB2447927A - Furniture raiser with attachment device

Info

Publication number: GB2447927A
Application number: GB0705945A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Dale; Ivor Ponting
Original assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Proto Magic Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-28
Filing date: 2007-03-28
Publication date: 2008-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-28
Also published as: GB2447927B; GB0705945D0

Abstract

A furniture raiser 3 comprises an attachment device to attach it to a leg, castor, glide, peg or the like 2 on a piece of furniture, and a retention device to keep the attachment device at a tension required to keep it attached to the furniture. The leg, castor, glide, peg or the like may be held in an internal cavity 8 of the furniture raiser. The furniture raiser may comprise a height adjustment member (4, Fig. 1) which engages the ground. The attachment device may be in the form of a cable tie 5 and the retention device may be in the form of a buckle 6 on the cable tie. More than one cable tie may be provided (Figs. 7-10). Alternatively the attachment device may be in the form of a strap (81, Fig, 11) which is tightened by rotating two parts (80, 83, Fig. 11) of the furniture raiser, and which is released by pressing a release button (82, Fig. 11). Also disclosed is a furniture raiser comprising attachment devices in the form of clamp members (43, Fig. 5).

Description

* r 2447927

FURNITURE RAISER ATTACHMENT MEANS

DESCRIPTION

The use of furniture raisers is well known. A common method of enhancing stability and keeping the raisers in position is to add attachment members that link the individual raisers together.

The present invention seeks to keep the raisers in position by forming a substantially non-elastic connection between the raiser and the furniture.

In order that the invention may be better understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings: -Fig #1 shows the invention applied to a furniture raiser and positioned under the corner of a piece of furniture (1).

Fig #2 shows the invention with the furniture removed.

Fig #3 shows the invention with the furniture removed and from a lower view point.

Fig #4 shows a birds eye view of the invention with the furniture removed.

Fig #5 shows a side view of a further embodiment of the invention.

Fig #6 shows an angled view of a still further embodiment of the invention.

Fig #7 shows a birds eye view of a further embodiment of the invention showing the raiser with two ties.

Fig #8 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention showing the ties in their slack position.

Fig #9 shows a birds eye view of a further embodiment of the invention showing the raiser with two ties in a tightened position.

Fig #10 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention showing the raiser with two ties in a tightened position.

L

Fig #11 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention incorporating a fixed strap that is tightened by rotating the top (80) with respect to the base (83).

Fig #12 shows the same embodiment of the invention as Fig #11 but in an exploded condition.

Now referring to figs 1-4.

These figures show the furniture (1) with a castor (7) at one corner. The castor has a spigot (2) that is normally engaged in the underside of the furniture (I).

A leg raiser body (3) has a height adjustment member (4) that engages with the ground. The leg raiser body (3) has a cavity (8) into which the castor fits.

The castor (7) is normally free and not load bearing when it is positioned in the cavity (8), the weight of the furniture (1) is taken on the top surface of the leg raiser body (3). In a case where the castor (7) is large then it could load bear on the base of the cavity (8). Before the castor (7) is placed in the cavity (8) a cable tie (5) is positioned through two holes in the top side wall of the leg raiser body (3) and so as to form a loop within the cavity (8) such that the castor (7) can be placed within the loop.

Once the castor (7) is in place the cable tie (5) can be tightened and held tight by the cable tie buckle (6) from outside the furniture raiser.

When the cable tie is tight the furniture raiser is fixed to the castor spigot (2) and is unable to move with respect to the furniture. There is, however, the possibility for the furniture raiser to rotate with respect to the furniture. Any such rotation is considered an aesthetic problem but not any safety problem.

An enhancement to the invention involves providing some added resistance to help prevent the leg raiser body (3) from rotating. This can be achieved by raising projections on the top of the leg raiser body (3) such that they bite into the underside of the furniture and help to resist rotation. Alternatively velcro can be stuck to the upper surface of the leg raiser body (3) and the underside of the chair. The above description relates to furniture with castors, the same principle can be applied to any type of glide or castor. If the furniture has no castor or glide then a screw or peg can be affixed to a suitable position on the furniture. In the event that the furniture has legs and no castor or glide then the leg can be positioned within the cavity (8) and tied in place in a similar manner to that described.

The cable tie can be of the type that latch to a smaller size when the free end is pulled. The ratchet may be releasable or not, if not then it has to be cut off when no longer needed. Other variations of tie can be utilised such as simply tying a knot or twisting the ends of a tie together. Alternatively a screw thread operated tensioning device can be used to tighten the tie. Alternatively any form of tie, rigid, bendable, elastic or other and of any section may be utilised.

The embodiment of the invention so far described involves tying the castor (7) or other part to the side of the cavity (8). A further embodiment of the invention can be constructed as shown in Fig 5 where four clamp members 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d are arranged such that they can pivot on a clamp support (41). The clamp support (41)is positioned towards the top of the furniture raiser and the leg or castor placed between the four clamp members (43). Note the clamp member 43d cannot be seen in Fig 5 because it is behind 43b. In this embodiment of the invention the furniture leg is held centrally within the furniture raiser. Note no furniture leg is shown in Fig 5 in order that the invention can be more clearly seen.

Fig 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention where a vertical support member (22) is placed on top of the furniture raiser (not shown) and the leg or castor placed through the loop in the cable tie (23). When the cable tie (23) is tightened the corner or edge of the furniture is pulled up to a horizontal support member (21).

Figs 7,8,9,10 show a further embodiment of the invention that employs two ties arranged to keep the furniture leg substantially in the centre of the cavity (62). This embodiment of the invention employs two ties (63) and (64) that are arranged such that tie (63) is vertically above tie (64). The leg raiser (61) has slots (67),(69),(70) through which the upper tie passes and slots (68),(7 I),(72) through which the lower tie passes. The upper tie (63) has an adjustment and locking means (65) outside the leg raiser (61) and the lower tie (64) has an adjustment and locking means (66) also outside the leg raiser (61). In use the two ties are made loose as shown in Fig 7 and 8. The furniture leg is placed in the centre of the two loops formed by the ties, the two ties are then tightened such that the two loops formed by the ties tighten around the furniture leg as shown in Fig 8 and 10. Note the furniture leg is not shown in any of the figures 7,8,9,10 in order that the invention can be better seen. It must be assumed that the furniture leg is placed within the two loops formed by the ties.

In any of the embodiments of the invention a cover or door may be fitted to the furniture raiser to cover the cable tie once it is fitted or tightened.

In a further embodiment of the invention the cable tie can be tied around the furniture leg with or without an added tie on member. In this case the tied on assembly can be arranged to be trapped within the furniture raiser.

In a further embodiment of the invention the hand operated ties are replaced with a strap that is operated by rotating parts of the device.

Now referring to Fig #11. A strap (81) is tightened by rotating a top (80) with respect to a base (83). The strap is self locking once tightened and is released by pressing a release button (82).

Fig #12 shows the top (80) removed from the base (83) to show strap holes (87) in the top (80). The strap (81) is attached to the top (80) at a strap moving end (84) and to the base at (86). The release button (82) is attached to the top (80) at a ratchet pivot pin (88) located in a hole (89) there is a second ratchet pivot pin on the underside of the lever that is not shown. The release button has one or more teeth that engage on ratchet teeth (85) attached to the inner surface of the base (83) pushing the release button (82) disengages the ratchet allowing the strap to be released by rotating the top (80) with respect to the base (83). Further embodiments to this version of the invention include other ratchet means, two or more straps, other locking means in lieu of the ratchet and any other means of operating the strap tightening means such as levers or buttons.

Accordingly the present invention comprises an attachment means for attaching a furniture raiser to the furniture and comprising a furniture raiser with provision to attach it to a leg, castor, glide, peg or the like using any form or number of attachments and any form of retention to keep the attachment means at the required tension.

Claims

I) Attachment means for attaching a furniture raiser to the furniture and comprising a furniture raiser with provision to attach it to a leg, castor, glide, peg or the like using any form or number of attachments and any form of retention to keep the attachment means at the required tension.
2) A claim as claimed in claim I where the tie is a releasable cable tie.
3) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the tie is a non-releasable cable tie.
4) A claim as claimed in claim I where the tie is of a type that is held in tension by the action of a screw thread.
5) A claim as claimed in claim I where the tie is made from plastic metal wire or any other material and of any section.
6) A claim as claimed in claim I where the tie is of any other type.
7) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the tie is kept at the required tension by any means.
8) A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the furniture leg, castor, glide, peg or the like is held to the side of the internal cavity of the furniture raiser.
9) A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the furniture leg, castor, glide, peg or the like is held to the centre of the internal cavity of the furniture raiser.
10) A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the furniture leg, castor, glide, peg or the like is held offset from the centre of the internal cavity of the furniture raiser.
11) A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the furniture leg, castor, glide, peg or the like is held to any part of the internal cavity of the raiser and is so arranged that the furniture raiser is free to move off the axis of the leg but is retained from coming off.
12) A claim as claimed in claims 1-1 1 where projections are added to the top surface of the furniture raiser to resist its rotation when in contact with the underside of the furniture.
13) A claim as claimed in claims 1-11 where velcro is applied to the top surface of the furniture raiser and the underside of the furniture to effect resisting rotation of the furniture raiser.
14) A claim as claimed in claims 1-11 where any other medium is applied to the top surface of the furniture raiser and/or the underside of the furniture to cause a resistance to rotation of the furniture raiser.
15) A claim as claimed in claims 1-14 where a member is provided to cover the cable tie.
16) A claim as claimed in any of the proceeding claims where the attachment tie is attached within the device and is tightened by rotating two parts of the device.
17) A claim as claimed in claim 16 where a release button is provided to release the strap.
18) A claim as claimed in claims 16,17 where the strap is tightened by any other means.
19) A claim as claimed in claim 16-18 where the attachment is kept tight ***. * * ****

by any other means. * S. * * S S. S

S S..

S S... S...

S

ISSS*S S 5

19) A claim as claimed in claim 16-18 where the strap is kept tight by any other means.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

I) A furniture raiser with provision to attach it to a leg, castor, glide or the like, using one or more flexible non extendable members, said flexible non extendable member having multiple locking positions such that it can be attached to members of different sizes.

2) A claim as claimed in claim I where the tie is a releasable cable tie.

3) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the tie is a non-releasable cable tie.

4) A claim as claimed in claim I where the tie is of a type that is held in tension by the action of a screw thread.

5) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the tie is made from plastic, metal, wire or any other material and of any section.

6) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the tie is of any other type.

7) A claim as claimed in claim 1 where the tie is kept at the required tension by any means.

8) A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the furniture leg, castor, glide, peg or the like is held to the side of the internal cavity of the furniture raiser.

9) A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the furniture leg, castor, glide, peg or the like is held to the centre of the internal cavity of the furniture raiser.

10) A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the furniture leg, castor, glide, peg or the like is held offset from the centre of the internal cavity of the ::. furniture raiser. S..

11) A claim as claimed in claims 1-7 where the furniture leg, castor, glide, peg or the like is held to any part of the internal cavity of the raiser and is so **SSSI * arranged that the furniture raiser is free to move off the axis of the leg but is Ic retained from coming off.

12) A claim as claimed in claims 1-1 1 where projections are added to the top surface of the furniture raiser to resist its rotation when in contact with the underside of the furniture.

13) A claim as claimed in claims I-Il where hook and loop material is applied to the top surface of the furniture raiser and the underside of the furniture to effect resisting rotation of the furniture raiser.

14) A claim as claimed in claims 1-11 where any other medium is applied to the top surface of the furniture raiser and/or the underside of the furniture to cause a resistance to rotation of the furniture raiser.

15) A claim as claimed in claims 1-14 where a member is provided to cover the cable tie.

16) A claim as claimed in any of the proceeding claims where the attachment tie is attached within the device and is tightened by rotating two parts of the device.

17) A claim as claimed in claim 16 where a release button is provided to release the attachment tie.

18) A claim as claimed in claims 16,17 where the attachment tie is tightened by any other means. * **