US1030596A - Contact-piece for furniture. - Google Patents

Description

B. F. MAYO.

CONTACT PIECE FOR FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.11. 190s.

Patented June 25, 1912.

BENJAMIN F. MAYO, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTACT-PIECE FOR FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 11, 1908.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. MAYO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Contact-Pieces for Furniture, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to the contact pieces usually provided for the bottoms of the legs of such furniture as chairs, tables, bedsteads, pianos, etc. These contact pieces are attached to the furniture legs and are intended to facilitate the movement of the furniture about a room. The device more commonly used for this purpose is the wellknown type of roller or wheel caster, although ordinary sliding shoes have also been used, but both of these types of devices have been unsatisfactory in practice.

The use of casters upon wooden floors almost inevitably results in damaging the floors since the small bearing surface of the wheel upon. the floor, necessarily concentrating at a single point or line the weight carried by such a caster, indents the wood and furthermore tends to scratch the floor .when the caster is moved. The frequent as the wheel of a caster can only revolve when properly positioned for the line of draft, if it is not so positioned the first movement of the furniture before the wheels are in line results in marring the floor.

Sliding shoes while practically incapable of use upon carpets, are adapted to be used upon wooden floors, the large bearing sur face distributing the weight, reducing friction and permitting an easy sliding movement. Heretofore sliding shoes have been objectionable because of their comparatively high cost and complicated construction and also because the shoe was generally made of metal and liable to scratch the floor and because such devices could not be easily moved over carpets and rugs.

It is the object of this invention to improve contact pieces for furniture and to Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 467,074.

provide a device of this class which shall be economical and easily affixed and capable of use upon wooden floors without danger of scratching, which may slide easily thereon, and also be capable of rolling over carpets or thresholds. Thus the device of this invention combines to a large degree the advantages. incident to both casters and to sliding shoes Without the disadvantages of either.

The preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, comprises a block of wood in the general shape of a truncated cone with means to connect it to a furniture leg permitting a fixed amount of lateral as well as vertical play or lost motion between the leg and the block. This provision of a somewhat loose connection permits the block to adjust itself automatically to inequalities in the floor or floor covering and further admits of easy rolling of the block when tilted upon the edge of the circular has-e, thus facilitating movement of the furniture over thresholds and carpets. The lower bearing surface of the wooden block is preferably in the same plane with the grain of the wood to insure smooth sliding and uniform wearing, and obviate all liability of scratching.

Referring to the drawings,Figure 1 a View in perspective of a chair equipped with contact pieces embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a view in vertical cross sec tion showing the block, its securing means and a portion of a chair leg; and Fig. 3 is a view showing how the block may be rolled upon the floor by being first tilted to bear upon'the edge of its circular base.

The block 2 is preferably arranged with its base resting upon the floor and the upper part of the cone in contact with the foot of the chair leg 1. In order to connect the block to the chair leg, it is preferred to bore out the axis of the cone, through which a headed pin or screw 6 of smaller diameter than the hole bored is passed and set into the chair leg. The block 2 is counterbored in its lower partas indicated at 8 to receive the head of the screw 6. A metal bushing 3 will preferably be used which should be of less diameter than the axial bore and slightly longer than the thickness of the block from its top to the bottom of the counter bore 8, in order to afford the desired predetermined amount of play between the furniture leg and the block.

It is preferred, particularly in heavy furniture, to provide a washer 4 between the furniture leg and the top of the block and arranged to bear upon the bushing 3. Also a washer 5 may be placed between the lower end of the bushing and the head of the screw 6. This will enable the screw 6 to be set up tightly upon the washers and bushing and allow the desired amount of play for the block 2 and also provides a metallic wearing surface when sliding or rolling the block. The grain of the wood in the block 2- is preferably parallel with the base 10, which enables the sliding surface to be polished and present a smoother surface than heretofore in such' devices, obviating the scratching of floors which would result if the bearing surface were perpendicular to the grain and also securing a more uniform wearing for the contact piece. In order to cause the block 2 to roll it is desirable to tip it slightly so that it bears upon the circular edge of the base 10. Provision for tipping the block is afforded by the ample length of the bushing or bearing through the center of the block, in combination with the relatively broad flat base 10, and the securing means 6. As said securing means is rigid with the furniture leg, an appropriate inclination of the leg results in tipping and raising the block upon the circular edge of its base.

The operation of the device is thought to be obvious. It is adapted to slide easily upon wooden floors, or to be rolled along as shown in Fig. 3. The large bearing surface of the base 10prevents indenting the floors or carpets, and the provision for some play in the connecting means besides facilitating rolling enables the device to rest firmly upon an uneven place such as upon the edge of a rug and the flooring. The modern arrangement of hard wood floors and rugs in residences has created a demand for a contact piece for furniture such as this invention provides, one which is inexpensive and easily applied, which will not scratch hardwood floors and yet is capable of rolling over floor coverings.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A device of the class described having, in combination, a contact piece for a furniture leg provided with an axial hole, a bushing for said axial hole of substantially less diameter and of greater length than such for furniture, provided with an axial hole,

an extended lower bearing surface on said contact piece adapted to slide over floors with a minimum amount of friction, means cooperating with said axial hole to attach said contact piece to furniture, said means comprising a bearing for the contact piece of substantially less diameter and of greater length than said hole, said parts cooperating so thatsaid supporting piece will adapt itself to slight inclinations of the floor but upon tilting the article of furniture to which it is attached it will be tipped from the floor and will serve as a wheel.

3. In a device of the class described, a contact piece formed with a substantially flat bearing surface, with a substantially circular edge and with a hole substantially peppendicular to the bearing surface, and means for securing said contact piece to furniture, said means comprising a bearing portion of smaller diameter and greater length than the hole in the contact piece, to permit limited tipping movement of the contact piece with relation to said securing means.

4. In a device of the class described, a contact piece formed with a substantially flat bearing surface, with a substantially circular edge and with a hole perpendicular to said surface, said hole being enlarged adjacent to said surface, and securing means comprising a head to be received in the enlarged end of the hole and a bearing portion of substantially less diameter and greater length than the smaller portion of the hole, to permit limited tipping movement of the con tact piece on the securing means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. MAYO.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR L. RUssELL, ELIzABn'rH C. COUPE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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