GB2620023A

GB2620023A - Adjustable leg

Info

Publication number: GB2620023A
Application number: GB2308261.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sellars Mark; Allen Jacob
Original assignee: West Retail Group Ltd
Current assignee: West Retail Group Ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-21
Filing date: 2021-05-21
Publication date: 2023-12-27
Also published as: GB202308261D0

Abstract

An adjustable leg 1 for a cabinet (7, Figure 4), the leg comprising a top section 100 attachable to the cabinet, and a base section 200 configured to support the leg on a floor. The base section is configured to threadedly engage the top section such that relative rotation therebetween about a longitudinal axis of the leg varies a length of the leg. The base section comprises a foot 220 configured to support the leg on the floor. The foot is configured to be engaged by a tool for rotating the base section relative to the top section. An abutment portion 230 of the base section comprises a substantially continuous cylindrical surface configured to abut a plinth. The foot may comprise at least one flat 224 configured to be engaged by a spanner. The foot may comprise a hexagonal transverse cross-section. An adjustable leg assembly comprising said leg and a plinth clip (3, Figure 3A) is also disclosed. A cabinet assembly comprising said leg and further comprising a base portion (702, Figure 4) of a cabinet unit is also disclosed. A method of adjusting an adjustable leg is further disclosed.

Description

ADJUSTABLE LEG

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an adjustable leg for example for a cabinet, and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with an adjustable leg comprising a hexagonal foot and a hexagonal attachment portion.

Background

Legs having adjustable lengths are often provided on items of furniture in order to correct for uneven floors. For example, kitchen cabinets often include four independently adjustable legs in order to allow the cabinet to sit level on an uneven floor.

During installation of an item of furniture, fine adjustment of the leg lengths may take place after the item of furniture has been placed on its legs on the floor. This means that the legs will bear the weight of the item of furniture during fine adjustment, and that the legs may be less accessible due to the space restriction imposed by the item of furniture, thus making adjustment more challenging.

Statements of Invention

The present inventors have determined that certain solutions to the above problems may involve an adjustable leg that may be adjusted from within the item of furniture, such as through the base of a kitchen cabinet. However, such a solution requires the presence of a hole through the base of the kitchen cabinet which mars the appearance of the cabinet throughout its life It would therefore be advantageous to improve the ease of adjustment of a leg length. It would also be desirable to achieve such an improvement without disrupting the inside surface(s) of the kitchen cabinet. It would be further desirable to provide an alternative means for adjusting a leg length According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an adjustable leg for a cabinet, the leg comprising: a top section attachable to the cabinet and a base section configured to support the leg on a floor, wherein the base section is configured to threadedly engage the top section such that relative rotation therebetween about a longitudinal axis of the leg varies a length of the leg, wherein the base section comprises a foot configured to support the leg on the floor, wherein a side surface of the foot is provided with at least one flat (e.g. a first flat) configured to be engaged by a spanner for rotating the base section relative to the top section. For example, the foot may be engaged by a spanner in situ. The base section may be configured to be threadedly coupled to the top section.

The top section may comprise an attachment portion configured to attach the top portion of the leg to the cabinet. The attachment portion may have a substantially hexagonal transverse cross section.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable leg for a cabinet, the leg comprising: a top section attachable to the cabinet and a base section configured to support the leg on a floor, wherein the base section is configured to threadedly engage the top section such that relative rotation therebetween about a longitudinal axis of the leg varies a length of the cabinet leg, wherein the top section comprises an attachment portion configured to attach the top portion of the leg to the cabinet, the attachment portion having a substantially hexagonal transverse cross section.

The base section may comprise a foot configured to support the leg on the floor. A side surface of the foot may be provided with at least one flat. The flat may be configured to be engaged by a spanner for rotating the base section relative to the top section.

The foot may comprise a cross section comprising a circle from which a segment has been removed. The foot may comprise a second flat on a side opposing the first flat. The foot may comprise a hexagonal transverse cross section. The foot may comprise a square or octagonal transverse cross section. The foot may be configured to be rotated by a spanner.

The foot may comprise a uniform transverse cross section such that an end surface of the foot configured to support the leg on the floor may comprise substantially the same transverse cross section. The first flat, and optionally the second flat, of the foot may intersect the end surface of the foot. The end surface may comprise a hexagonal shape.

The attachment portion may comprise an attachment surface configured to abut a lower surface of the cabinet, wherein the attachment surface may comprise a hexagonal shape. The attachment surface may attach to the cabinet in an attachment plane, provided substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg. The attachment surface may be configured to attach directly to the cabinet.

The attachment portion may comprise a locating protrusion configured to be received in a pre-drilled recess provided in a lower surface of the cabinet. The attachment portion may comprise a locating tab protruding laterally from the attachment portion.

The attachment portion may comprise a side face configured to abut a plinth (e.g. in a vertical plane). The attachment portion may comprise a plurality of side faces. The attachment portion may comprise six side faces.

The base section may comprise a shaft having a thread. The top section may comprise a shaft having a thread. The thread of the base section may correspond to the thread of the top section. The shaft of the base section may comprise an external thread, and the shaft of the top section may comprise an internal thread. Relative rotation between the base section and the top section may vary a perpendicular distance between an attachment surface of the attachment portion and an end surface of the foot. Clockwise rotation of the base section relative to the longitudinal axis may advance the base section relative to the top section.

The base section may comprise an abutment portion having a substantially continuous (e.g. cylindrical) surface configured to abut (e.g. tangentially) a plinth (e.g. in a vertical plane). A radius of the abutment portion (e.g. a distance from a longitudinal axis of the leg to the continuous surface) may be equal to half of the edge-to-edge dimension (e.g. equal to a distance from a longitudinal axis of the leg to a side face) of the hexagonal attachment portion of the top section. The continuous surface of the abutment portion and the side face of the top section may be configured to abut a plinth simultaneously (e.g. in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg).

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an adjustable leg for a cabinet, the leg comprising: a top section attachable to the cabinet and a base section configured to support the leg on a floor, wherein the base section is configured to threadedly engage the top section such that relative rotation therebetween about a longitudinal axis of the leg varies a length of the leg, wherein the base section comprises a foot configured to support the leg on the floor, wherein the foot is configured to be engaged by a tool for rotating the base section relative to the top section. For example, the foot may be engaged by a spanner.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an adjustable leg for an item of furniture (e.g. a kitchen cabinet).

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable leg assembly comprising an adjustable leg and a plinth clip configured to attach a plinth to the adjustable leg. The plinth clip may be configured to hold the plinth in a plane in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the adjustable leg. The plinth clip may comprise a jaw element configured to engage a shaft of the top section.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cabinet assembly comprising an adjustable leg or an adjustable leg assembly, wherein the cabinet assembly further comprises a base portion of a cabinet unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of adjusting an adjustable leg, the method comprising providing an adjustable leg or an adjustable leg assembly or a cabinet assembly.

The method may further comprise engaging opposing sides of the foot with a tool; and/or rotating the base section of the leg.

To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and repetition of text in the specification, certain features are described in relation to only one or several aspects or embodiments of the invention. However, it is to be understood that, where it is technically possible, features described in relation to any aspect or embodiment of the invention may also be used with any other aspect or embodiment of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A is a top perspective view of an adjustable leg according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 18 is a bottom perspective view of an adjustable leg according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2A is a side view of an adjustable leg in a shortened configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2B is a side view of an adjustable leg in a lengthened configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3A is a bottom perspective view of a plinth clip according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3B is a bottom perspective view of a fixing bracket for a plinth clip according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a kitchen cabinet comprising an adjustable leg according to one embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5 is a method of adjusting an adjustable leg according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Whilst the adjustable leg of the present disclosure will be explained in the context of an adjustable leg for a kitchen cabinet, it will be understood by the skilled person that the adjustable leg may be equally suitable for other items of furniture.

With reference to Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B, collectively Fig. 1, an adjustable leg 1 comprises a top section 100 and a base section 200. The top section 100 is configured to attach to an item of furniture, such as a kitchen cabinet 7 (Fig. 4), whilst the base section is configured to support the adjustable leg on a floor or other surface.

Top section The top section 100 may comprise a shaft 110 and an attachment portion 120. The shaft 110 may extend away from the attachment portion 120 along a longitudinal axis L-L, and may have a substantially uniform circular cross section. The shaft 110 may be hollow and on an internal circumferential surface may comprise an internal thread 112. One end of the shaft 110 may be open, such that the shaft 110 may comprise a mouth 114.

The attachment portion 120 may be substantially planar and may be provided at an end of the shaft 110 opposite to that of the mouth 114. For example, the attachment portion 120 may abut and adjoin an end of the shaft 110 such that the end of the shaft is effectively closed. The attachment portion 120 may extend substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L-L of the shaft 110 such that the attachment portion 120 occupies a plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis L-L of the shaft 110. For example, the attachment portion 120 may form a flange of the shaft 110.

The attachment portion may comprise an attachment surface 122 configured to attach the top section 100 of the adjustable leg 1 to a kitchen cabinet 7. For example. the attachment surface 122 may be configured to abut a lower surface 702 (Fig. 4) of the kitchen cabinet 7 The attachment portion 120 may comprise a locating protrusion 124. The locating protrusion 124 may protrude perpendicularly from the attachment surface 122 (e.g. in parallel with, and/or collinear with, the longitudinal axis L-I of the shaft 110) in order to help locate the top section 100 in a desired location of the kitchen unit. For example, the lower surface of the kitchen cabinet may comprise a pre-drilled recess (not shown), within which the locating protrusion 124 may be configured to be received.

As shown in Fig. 1, the attachment portion 120 may comprise an hexagonal transverse cross section. For example, the attachment surface 122 may be substantially hexagonal in shape such that it may comprise six edges 123. In other words, the attachment surface 122 may comprise six corners or vertices. The hexagonal transverse cross section of the attachment portion 120 may be concentric with the longitudinal axis L-L of the shaft 110.

Each edge 123 of the attachment surface 122 may form part of a longitudinally extending side face 130 of the attachment portion 120. The attachment portion 120 may thereby comprise six side faces 130 disposed substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis L-L of the shaft 110 but spaced radially or laterally apart therefrom. The vertices between the side faces 130 may be rounded.

Upon attachment of the top section 100 to a lower surface 702 of a kitchen cabinet, the side face 130 may be configured to form a contiguous surface with a lateral and/or front surface of the kitchen unit 702, such that the side face 130 does not protrude beyond the kitchen unit 7. In other words, the side face 130 may sit flush with a surface of the kitchen unit 7. Each side face 130 may be configured to abut a plinth or kickboard of a kitchen cabinet assembly.

The attachment portion 120 may comprise a number of (e.g. three) apertures 126 extending longitudinally therethrough. The apertures 126 may be provided at regular spacings across the attachment surface 122. For example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the apertures may be provided 120 degrees apart. Each aperture 126 may be configured to receive a fastener (e.g a screw) in order to fasten the top section 100 of the adjustable leg 1 to the kitchen cabinet 7 (e.g. a lower surface 702 thereof). For example, with respect to the orientation shown in Fig. 1, a screw may be passed upwards through the attachment portion and screwed in to the lower surface 702 of the kitchen cabinet 7.

A number of supporting struts (e.g. webs) may be provided in order to reinforce the coupling between the attachment portion 120 and the shaft 110. The supporting struts may additionally strengthen the top section 100 of the leg 1 in order to increase the loadbearing capacity and stiffness of the leg 1. The attachment portion 120 is thereby rigidly coupled to the shaft 110, such that upon attachment of the attachment portion 120 to the kitchen cabinet 7, the top section 100, including the shaft 110, is rigidly attached to the kitchen cabinet 7.

The attachment portion 120 may additionally comprise a locating tab 140. The locating tab may be provided adjacent and substantially coplanar with the attachment surface 122, such that the attachment surface and the locating tab may be contiguous. The locating tab 140 may protrude laterally from a corner or edge 123 of the attachment portion 120 in order to aid location of the top section 100 relative to a desired location on a kitchen cabinet.

As will be explained below, the outer surface of the shaft 110 may be configured to engage a plinth clip 3 (Fig. 3A).

The hexagonal transverse cross section of the attachment portion 120 may allow the kitchen cabinet to be more stable than an equivalent circular attachment portion. For example, the dimensions (e.g. area of attachment surface 122) of an attachment portion 120 having a hexagonal transverse cross section may exceed those of a corresponding attachment portion having a circular cross section. The radial or lateral dimension of the attachment portion may be limited by the distance from the longitudinal axis L-L of the leg to the face at which it abuts the plinth and/or sits flush with the front face of the kitchen unit 7. A circle necessarily has the same radius throughout, whereas a hexagon has a greater dimension from its centre to a vertex than from its centre to a mid-point of a side. The present inventors have thereby determined that an attachment portion of the present invention may thereby be advantageous.

Base section The base section 200 may comprise a shaft 210 and a foot 220. The shaft 210 may extend along the longitudinal axis L-L and may have a substantially uniform circular cross section.

The shaft 210 may be hollow. On an external surface of the shaft 210, the shaft 210 may comprise an external thread 212. The external diameter of the shaft 210 may correspond with the internal diameter of the shaft 110. For example, the external thread 212 may correspond to the internal thread 112 of the shaft 110 such that the base section 200 may be threadedly engageable (e.g. threadedly couplable) to the shaft 110 of the top section by means of the internal thread 112 and external thread 212.

The foot 220 may be provided at the opposite end of the base section 200 to the shaft 210. The foot 220 may extend longitudinally and may be substantially collinear with the shaft 210. The foot 220 and the shaft 210 may extend along the longitudinal axis L-L. The foot 220 may comprise a lateral dimension (e.g. width or diameter) similar (e.g. the same as) the external diameter of the shaft 210 such that the foot 220 and the shaft 210 may appear continuous and/or contiguous.

The foot 220 may comprise a substantially hexagonal cross section. In particular, the foot 220 may comprise an hexagonal cross section in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis L-L of the foot 220. The foot 220 may comprise a substantially uniform hexagonal cross section throughout its length. Accordingly, the foot 220 may comprise six angular side faces or flats 224. The angular side faces 224 may be engageable (e.g. laterally engageable) by a tool, such as a spanner, in order to rotate the base section 200 about its longitudinal axis L-L. The foot 220 may comprise a planar end surface 222. The end surface 222 may be provided at an end of the base section 200 opposite to that of the shaft 210. The end surface 222 may be substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis L-L of the shaft 210 and the foot 220. The end surface 222 may be configured to support the base section 200 on a floor or other surface, such that the longitudinal axis L-L of the foot 220 and the shaft 210 may be substantially perpendicular to the floor on which the base section 200 is supported. For example, when the end surface 222 is placed on a horizontal floor, the longitudinal axis LL of the shaft 210 and the foot 220 may be substantially vertical.

As shown in Fig. 1B, the end surface 222 may be substantially hexagonal in shape. For example, the end surface 222 may comprise six edges 223 in a hexagonal shape. In other words, the end surface 222 may comprise six corners or vertices. The edges 223 and/or vertices of the end surface 222 may comprise a chamfer, bevel and/or rounding.

The hexagonal transverse cross section of the foot 220 may be substantially smaller in width than the hexagonal transverse cross section of the attachment portion 120. For example, the hexagonal transverse cross section of the attachment portion 120 may be 75 mm in width (e.g. measured from one opposing side to the other), whilst the foot 220, including the end surface 222, may be approximately half as wide (e.g. 33 mm wide). In other words, the attachment portion 120 may be twice as wide as the foot 220. Similarly, the attachment surface 122 may be twice as wide as the end surface 122.

The base section 200 may additionally comprise an abutment portion 230. The abutment portion 230 may be provided part way along the longitudinal axis L-L of the foot 220. The abutment portion 230 may comprise a support flange 234 extending away from the foot 220 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L-L of the foot 220. The abutment portion 230 may additionally comprise a substantially continuous surface 232 connected the support flange. The surface 232 may extend longitudinally in parallel with the longitudinal axis L-L of the foot 220 and the shaft 210 with a circular cross section. The surface 232 may be cylindrical in shape, such that it may be concentric with the longitudinal axis L-L of the foot 220 and spaced apart therefrom. The surface 232 may be configured to abut a plinth or kickboard provided beneath the kitchen cabinet 7 in order to conceal the legs 1 and the space beneath the kitchen cabinet. For example, the surface 232 may tangentially abut a plinth. Due to the cylindrical nature of the abutment portion 230, the surface 232 may comprise rotational symmetry and/or rotational invariance about the longitudinal axis L-L of the foot 220.

Assembly During assembly of the adjustable leg 1, the shaft 210 of the base section 200 may be aligned with the shaft 110 of the top section 100. For example, the base section 200 and the top section 100 may be aligned such that their respective longitudinal axes are collinear.

The end of the shaft 210 may then be inserted into the mouth 114 of the shaft 110, and the base section 200 rotated relative to the top section 100. For example, the base section 200 may be rotated clockwise relative to the top section 100. The shafts 110, 210 may then threadedly engage one another by means of the internal and external threads 112, 212 such that the base section 200 and the top section 100 become threadedly coupled.

Accordingly, relative rotation between the base section 200 and the top section 100 may vary the length of the adjustable leg 1. In particular, relative rotation between the base section 200 and the top section 100 may vary a distance between the end surface 222 of the foot 220 and the attachment surface 122 of the attachment portion 120. Accordingly, a clearance between a kitchen cabinet supported by the attachment surface 122 and a floor on which the end surface 222 supports the leg 1 may be selectively varied by rotation of the base section 200 relative to the top section 100.

For example, clockwise rotation of the base section 200 relative to the top section 100 may shorten the length of the leg 1 by advancing the shaft 210 within the shaft 110. Conversely, anti-clockwise rotation of the base section 200 relative to the leg 100 may lengthen the leg 1 by causing the shaft 210 to back out of the shaft 110.

Figs. 2A and 2B, collectively Fig. 2, show the leg 1 in which the base section 200 has threadedly engaged, and become threadedly coupled to, the top section 100. Fig. 2A shows the leg 1 adjusted to its maximum length. The maximum length of the leg (e.g. the maximum perpendicular distance between the abutment surface 122 and the end surface 222) may be approximately (e.g. equal to) 200 mm. Fig. 2B shows the leg adjusted to near its minimum length. The minimum length of the leg 1 (e.g. the minimum perpendicular distance between the abutment surface 122 and the end surface 222) may be approximately (e.g. equal to) 140 mm.

The side 130 and the continuous surface 232 may be vertically aligned, such that they may be disposed an equal distance from the longitudinal axis L-L of the assembled leg 1. The side 130 and the continuous surface 232 may thereby be configured to simultaneously abut a surface of a plinth, which the leg 1 is configured to support, in a substantially vertical plane.

Plinth Clio With reference to Fig. 3A, a plinth clip 3 may comprise a jaw element 300 and a slide element 320. The jaw element 300 may comprise an incomplete circular shape. For example, the jaw element 300 may comprise an arc spanning approximately 270 degrees and an opening 310 spanning approximately 90 degrees. The jaw element 300 may thereby comprise a C-shape. The plinth clip 3 may be made from an elastically deformable material (e.g. polypropylene) such that the opening 310 of the jaw element 300 may be able to widen and spring back.

The opening 310 may be defined by a pair of lips 312, each lip 312 protruding radially from a distal point of the arc. The jaw element 300 and the opening 310 may be comprise an internal dimension (e.g. internal diameter) such that the plinth clip 3 may be able to receive and/or engage (e.g. grip on to) the shaft 110 of the top section 100 of the adjustable leg 1. For example, the opening 310 may be marginally narrower than the diameter of the shaft 110, such that a threshold force is required to push the shaft 110 through the opening 310 and into the jaws 300. The jaws 300 may subsequently grip the shaft 110 such that the plinth clip 3 is secured thereto. For example, upon application of a threshold force, the plinth clip 3 may be translatable linearly along a portion of the length of the shaft 110, in order to accommodate different leg lengths.

At a side of the jaw element 300 opposite to that of the opening 310, the jaw element 300 may be attached to the slide element 320 by means of a bridge element 322. The slide element 320 may be substantially planar, with the bridge element 322 extending perpendicularly therefrom at a central point. Accordingly, the slide element 320 may comprise a flat, planar border along its edges.

With reference to Fig. 3B, a fixing bracket 5 may comprise a channel 520 and apertures 510 for receiving fasteners (not shown). The fixing bracket 5 may be substantially planar, such that its rear surface (not shown) may be flat. The fixing bracket 5 may be configured to be fastened flush to a surface of a plinth or kickboard of a kitchen cabinet 7. In particular, the fixing bracket 5 may be configured to be screwed into a plinth using the apertures 5, such that the rear surface of the fixing bracket 5 may sit flush on a surface of the plinth.

The channel 520 may be configured to receive the slide element 320 of the plinth clip 3.

For example, the channel 520 may be configured to slidingly receive the slide portion 320 of the plinth clip, such that the plinth clip 3 and the fixing bracket 5 may be coupled to one another. The plinth clip 3 and the fixing bracket 5 may thereby be slidably attachable and detachable. In the attached configuration (not shown), the slide element 320 of the plinth clip 3 may be located within the channel 520, the bridge element 322 protruding perpendicularly therefrom and connecting the kickboard to the adjustable leg 1 via the jaw element 300.

The top section 100, the base section 200, the plinth clip 3 and/or the fixing bracket 5 may be injection moulded. The plinth clip 3 and the fixing bracket 5 may be injection moulded as one piece with a pre-defined break-point in order to separate the two parts. The top section 100, the base section 200, the plinth clip 3 and/or the fixing bracket 5 may be made from polypropylene.

Installation During installation, the top section 100 may be attached to an item of furniture such as a kitchen cabinet 7. In particular, the top section 100 may be attached to a lower (e.g. lowermost) surface 702 (e.g. a base) of a kitchen cabinet 7 at a particular location, as defined and located by a pre-drilled recess corresponding to the locating protrusion 124 and/or the locating tab 140. Fasteners may be inserted through the apertures 126 and into the lower surface 702 of the kitchen unit 7, such that the top section 100 becomes rigidly fixed thereto.

The shaft 210 of the base section 200 may threadedly engage the shaft 110 of the top section 100. The shafts 110, 210 of the top and base sections 100, 200 may be aligned along the longitudinal axis L-L the shaft 110 being inserted into the mouth 114 of the shaft 210, and the base section 100 being rotated clockwise relative to the top section 100 and/or the kitchen cabinet 7.

Three further legs 1 may be attached to the lower surface 702 of the kitchen cabinet in a similar manner. The legs 1 may be adjusted to a uniform height (e.g. 170 mm) such that each leg may be subsequently either lengthened or shortened. The kitchen cabinet may be placed on the floor, and the level of the kitchen unit determined (e.g. using a spirit level).

During fine adjustment of the level of the kitchen unit, an installer may use a spanner or other tool (e.g. adjustable wrench) to rotate the base section of one or more legs 1 either clockwise or anticlockwise in order to shorten or lengthen respectively the leg 1. The installer may thereby finely adjust the level of the kitchen cabinet without requiring access to the inside of the kitchen cabinet, and/or without requiring a hole through the base of the kitchen cabinet.

Upon completion of the fine adjustment of the leg lengths, a number of fixing brackets 5 may be attached to a plinth by means of fasteners such as screws. A plinth clip 3 may be slidably coupled to each fixing bracket 5 by means of slide element 320 and channel 520. The openings 310 of the plinth clips may then be pushed against the shaft 110 of each of a corresponding number of legs 1, the plinth clip 3 then "snap fitting" onto the shaft 110 so as to hold the plinth vertically against the continuous surface 232 and a side face 130.

Method of adjusting With reference to Fig. 5, there is provided a method 500 of adjusting a length of a leg 1. The method 500 may comprise 502 providing an adjustable leg 1. The method 500 may comprise 504 engaging opposing sides 224 of the foot 220 with a tool (not shown). The method 500 may comprise 504 rotating the base section 200 of the leg 1 using the tool so as to adjust a length of the leg 1.

Additional statements of invention are set out below: Statement 1. An adjustable leg for a cabinet, the leg comprising: a top section attachable to the cabinet; and a base section configured to support the leg on a floor, wherein the base section is configured to threadedly engage the top section such that relative rotation therebetween about a longitudinal axis of the leg varies a length of the leg, wherein the base section comprises a foot configured to support the leg on the floor, wherein a side surface of the foot is provided with at least one flat configured to be engaged by a spanner for rotating the base section relative to the top section.

Statement 2. The adjustable leg of statement 1, wherein the top section comprises an attachment portion configured to attach the top portion of the leg to the cabinet, the attachment portion having a substantially hexagonal transverse cross section.

Statement 3. An adjustable leg for a cabinet, the leg comprising: a top section attachable to the cabinet; and a base section configured to support the leg on a floor, wherein the base section is configured to threadedly engage the top section such that relative rotation therebetween about a longitudinal axis of the leg varies a length of the cabinet leg, wherein the top section comprises an attachment portion configured to attach the top portion of the leg to the cabinet, the attachment portion having a substantially hexagonal transverse cross section.

Statement 4. The adjustable leg of statement 3, wherein the base section comprises a foot configured to support the leg on the floor, wherein a side surface of the foot is provided with at least one flat configured to be engaged by a spanner for rotating the base section relative to the top section.

Statement 5. The adjustable leg of any of statements 1, 2 and 4, wherein the foot is configured to be rotated by a spanner.

Statement 6. The adjustable leg of any of statements 1, 2, 4 and 5, wherein the foot comprises a second flat on a side opposing the first flat.

Statement 7. The adjustable leg of statement 6, wherein the foot comprises a hexagonal transverse cross section.

Statement 8. The adjustable leg of any preceding statement, wherein the foot comprises a uniform transverse cross section such that an end surface of the foot configured to support the leg on the floor comprises substantially the same transverse cross section.

Statement 9. The adjustable leg of statement 8, wherein the end surface comprises a hexagonal shape.

Statement 10. The adjustable leg of any of statements 2 to 9, wherein the attachment portion comprises an attachment surface configured to abut a lower surface of the cabinet, wherein the attachment surface comprises a hexagonal shape.

Statement 11. The adjustable leg of any of statements 2 to 10, wherein the attachment portion comprises a locating protrusion configured to be received in a pre-drilled recess provided in a lower surface of the cabinet.

Statement 12. The adjustable leg of any of statements 2 to 11, wherein the attachment portion comprises a locating tab protruding laterally from the attachment portion.

Statement 13. The adjustable leg of any of statements 2 to 12, wherein the attachment portion comprises a side face configured to abut a plinth.

Statement 14. The adjustable leg of statement 13, wherein the attachment portion comprises a plurality of side faces.

Statement 15. The adjustable leg of any preceding statement, wherein relative rotation between the base section and the top section varies a perpendicular distance between an attachment surface of the attachment portion and an end surface of the foot.

Statement 16. The adjustable leg of any preceding statement, wherein the base section comprises a shaft having a thread, and the top section comprises a shaft having a thread, the thread of the base section corresponding to the thread of the top section.

Statement 17. The adjustable leg of statement 16, wherein the shaft of the base section comprises an external thread, and the shaft of the top section comprises an internal thread.

Statement 18. The adjustable leg of any preceding statement, wherein the base section comprises an abutment portion having a substantially continuous surface configured to abut a plinth.

Statement 19. An adjustable leg assembly comprising: the adjustable leg of any preceding statement; and a plinth clip configured to attach a plinth to the adjustable leg.

Statement 20. The adjustable leg assembly of statement 19, wherein the plinth clip is configured to hold the plinth in a plane in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the

adjustable leg.

Statement 21. The adjustable leg assembly of statements 19 or 20, wherein the plinth clip comprises a jaw element configured to engage a shaft of the top section.

Statement 22. A cabinet assembly comprising the adjustable leg of any of statements 1 to 18, or the adjustable leg assembly of any of statements 19 to 21, wherein the cabinet assembly further comprises a base portion of a cabinet unit.

Statement 23. A method of adjusting an adjustable leg, the method comprising: providing the adjustable leg of any of statements 1 to 18 or the adjustable leg assembly of any of statements 19 to 21 or the cabinet assembly of statement 22.

Statement 24. The method of statement 23, further comprising: engaging opposing sides of the foot with a tool; and/or rotating the base section of the leg.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example, with reference to one or more exemplary examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An adjustable leg for a cabinet, the leg comprising: a top section attachable to the cabinet; and a base section configured to support the leg on a floor, wherein the base section is configured to threadedly engage the top section such that relative rotation therebetween about a longitudinal axis of the leg varies a length of the leg, wherein the base section comprises: a foot configured to support the leg on the floor, wherein the foot is configured to be engaged by a tool for rotating the base section relative to the top section; and an abutment portion comprising a substantially continuous cylindrical surface configured to abut a plinth.
2. The adjustable leg of claim 1, wherein the foot is configured to be laterally engaged by a tool.
3. The adjustable leg of claims 1 or 2, wherein the abutment portion extends further from the longitudinal axis than does the foot.
4. The adjustable leg of any preceding claim, wherein the foot comprises at least one flat configured to be engaged by a spanner.
5. The adjustable leg of any preceding claim, wherein the foot comprises a hexagonal transverse cross section.
6. The adjustable leg of claim 5, wherein the foot comprises a uniform transverse cross section such that an end surface of the foot configured to support the leg on the floor comprises substantially the same cross section.
7. The adjustable leg of any preceding claim, wherein the top section comprises an attachment portion configured to attach the top portion of the leg to the cabinet, the attachment portion having a substantially hexagonal transverse cross section.
8. The adjustable leg of any preceding claim, when dependent on claim 4, wherein the foot comprises a second flat on a side opposing the first flat.
9. The adjustable leg of any preceding claim further comprising an attachment portion having an attachment surface configured to abut a lower surface of the cabinet, wherein the attachment surface comprises a hexagonal shape.
10. The adjustable leg of any of claim 9, wherein the attachment portion comprises a locating protrusion configured to be received in a pre-drilled recess provided in a lower surface of the cabinet.S
11. The adjustable leg of claim 9 or 10, wherein the attachment portion comprises a locating tab protruding laterally from the attachment portion.
12. The adjustable leg of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the attachment portion comprises a side face configured to abut a plinth.
13. The adjustable leg of claim 12, wherein the attachment portion comprises a plurality of side faces.
14. The adjustable leg of any preceding claim, wherein relative rotation between the base section and the top section varies a perpendicular distance between an attachment surface of the attachment portion and an end surface of the foot.
15. The adjustable leg of any preceding claim, wherein the base section comprises a shaft having a thread, and the top section comprises a shaft having a thread, the thread of the base section corresponding to the thread of the top section.
16. The adjustable leg of claim 15, wherein the shaft of the base section comprises an external thread, and the shaft of the top section comprises an internal thread.
17. An adjustable leg assembly comprising: the adjustable leg of any preceding claim; and a plinth clip configured to attach a plinth to the adjustable leg.
18. The adjustable leg assembly of claim 17, wherein the plinth clip is configured to hold the plinth in a plane in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the adjustable leg.
19. The adjustable leg assembly of claims 17 or 18, wherein the plinth clip comprises a jaw element configured to engage a shaft of the top section.
20. A cabinet assembly comprising the adjustable leg of any of claims 1 to 16, or the adjustable leg assembly of any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the cabinet assembly further comprises a base portion of a cabinet unit.23. A method of adjusting an adjustable leg, the method comprising: providing the adjustable leg of any of claims 1 to 16 or the adjustable leg assembly of any of claims 17 to 19 or the cabinet assembly of claim 20.24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: engaging opposing sides of the foot with a tool and/or rotating the base section of the leg.