US20240008643A1 - Spacing device and method - Google Patents
Spacing device and method Download PDFInfo
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- US20240008643A1 US20240008643A1 US18/036,451 US202118036451A US2024008643A1 US 20240008643 A1 US20240008643 A1 US 20240008643A1 US 202118036451 A US202118036451 A US 202118036451A US 2024008643 A1 US2024008643 A1 US 2024008643A1
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- furniture
- target surface
- fixing
- spacing
- spacing device
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- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 28
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011900 installation process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B95/00—Fittings for furniture
- A47B95/008—Suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B77/00—Kitchen cabinets
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B95/00—Fittings for furniture
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
- A47B96/06—Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B97/00—Furniture or accessories for furniture, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a spacing device and method, to a kit of parts, and to installed furniture.
- Embodiments of the present invention relate to spacing devices and methods for improving the ease and accuracy with which fitted furniture can be installed, and to reducing the weight, cost and materials required in an installed furniture unit.
- This process requires the furniture unit to be aligned twice: once so that the wall can be marked and again after the fixing holes have been drilled. This is time consuming. Moreover, the surface must be marked with a high degree of accuracy as errors in the position of the fixing holes can lead to the misalignment of the furniture unit when it is secured in place.
- the Applicant previously proposed the use of a variable-length spacing device in WO2012035356.
- This described a method of securing fitted furniture to a target surface (such as a wall) using such a variable length spacing device.
- the spacing device has a first end for contacting one of a fixing surface of the furniture (for example a cross-brace) and the target surface, a second end for contacting the other of the fixing surface and the target surface and a bore dimensioned to receive a fixing means for fixing the fixing surface and the target surface together.
- the spacing device is extendable along an axis of the bore to set a spacing between the fixing surface and the target surface.
- the method comprises positioning the furniture with respect to the target surface so that a spacing is provided between the target surface and the fixing surface, positioning the spacing device in the spacing between the fixing surface and the target surface while the furniture is in position with respect to the target surface, extending the spacing device to substantially match the spacing between the target surface and the fixing surface, passing the fixing means through the fixing surface and the bore of the spacing device and into the target surface, and tightening the fixing means to secure the furniture to the target surface.
- This method of installing a unit of furniture enables the positioning and aligning of the furniture unit to be performed at the same time as securing the furniture unit to the wall.
- the device may remove or at least reduce the requirement to perform the positioning and aligning steps more than once thereby improving the speed and accuracy with which furniture units can be installed.
- An advantage of this method of securing fitted furniture using the spacing device is that a fitted furniture unit can be individually removed without disturbing adjacent furniture units, because the furniture unit can be fixed only to the wall or similar surface to the rear of the unit rather than being fixed off to an adjacent furniture unit, or to a portion of a wall which interferes with an adjacent furniture unit.
- this device and method enables improved installation of fitted furniture. However, it does not provide any improvement in the furniture itself.
- the present invention is intended to address at least some of the limitations of prior art furniture such as fitted (kitchen or bathroom) units.
- each spacing device having a first end for engagement with the fitted furniture and a second end for contacting the target surface, comprising the steps of:
- the side panels of the unit of fitted furniture do not need to extend back to contact the wall (because this function is carried out by the fixed length spacing devices), but can instead be shortened in the rearward direction, for example terminating at or near a cross-brace or rear/back wall of the unit of fitted furniture. This reduces the size of the side panels (without affecting the internal volume of the furniture unit), thus reducing the amount of materials, weight and cost of the unit of fitted furniture.
- the fixed length spacing devices may be removed after positioning the unit and before the unit is fixed to the wall (since a variable length spacing device, discussed elsewhere, may preserve the position of the furniture unit without the fixed length spacing devices remaining present—that is the fixed length spacing devices may be used simply to initially position the furniture unit), preferably, the step of positioning positions the furniture such that at least one of the spacing devices is in contact with the target surface, and the step of fixing is carried out while the spacing devices are mounted to the furniture.
- the furniture and the fixed length spacing devices are preferably provided with mutually engageable mounting formations, and the mounting step of the method comprises (for each spacing device) engaging the mounting formation of a spacing device with the corresponding mounting formation on the furniture.
- Other methods of mounting the fixed length spacing device(s) onto the furniture are also envisaged, such as adhesives (applied as a liquid, or using adhesive pads).
- the mutually engageable mounting formations may comprise screw threading (for example external screw-threading on the spacing devices and internal screw-threading on the furniture, or vice versa).
- the mounting step (of the spacing device) is carried out before the positioning step (of the furniture).
- variable length spacing device is used in the fixing of the furniture to the target surface, in which case the step of fixing the furniture to the target surface comprises using a variable length spacing device.
- the method may further comprise a step of positioning a variable length spacing device between a fixing surface of the furniture and the target surface, and adjusting a length of the variable length spacing device to substantially match a distance between the fixing surface and the target surface. These steps are carried out following the positioning of the furniture unit against the target surface (using the fixed length spacing devices). Then, the method may comprise extending a fixing through the fixing surface and the variable length spacing device and into the target surface, and tightening the fixing to clamp the variable length spacing device between the fixing surface and the target surface.
- the target surface is a wall, although it may instead be another furniture unit.
- the fixing surface may be a cross-brace of the furniture, or it may instead be a back wall of the furniture, or a dedicated fixing point on the furniture.
- one or more of the one or more spacing devices may be at least partially removed prior to the fixing step.
- kits of parts comprising an item of furniture and one or more fixed length spacing devices for mounting to the item of fitted furniture, wherein the spacing devices when mounted define contact points for spacing the furniture away from a target surface to which it is to be fixed.
- the fitted furniture and the spacing devices may comprise mutually engaging mounting formations to attach the spacing devices to the furniture.
- the kit of parts may further include a variable length spacing device through which the fixing surface is fixed to the target surface.
- an item of installed furniture installed in accordance with the method or the kit of parts described above.
- FIGS. 1 A and 1 B schematically illustrate the installation of a conventional item of fitted furniture using the variable length spacing device and technique described in WO2012035356;
- FIGS. 2 A and 2 B schematically illustrate the installation of a modified article of furniture using a kit of fixed and variable length spacing devices
- FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a variable length spacing device
- FIGS. 4 A to 4 C schematically illustrate several implementations of a fixed length spacing device, while FIG. 4 D schematically illustrates a mounting point on the modified furniture in which the fixed length spacing device is received, and FIG. 4 E schematically illustrates the spacing device being partially removed from the furniture;
- FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a method of installing fitted furniture using the fixed and variable length spacing devices.
- FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the mounting of units where inconsistencies in the wall inhibit use of the fixed length spacing devices.
- FIGS. 1 A and 1 B a method of installing fitted furniture using the technique and spacing device describe in WO2012035356 is shown.
- FIG. 1 A is a plan (top down) view
- FIG. 1 B is a side view. Both views show an item of fitted furniture 1 mounted to a wall 2 .
- FIG. 1 B shows the furniture 1 to be stood on a floor 3 .
- the furniture 1 comprises side panels 4 , 5 , a cross-brace 6 and a base 7 .
- a front portion 8 of the furniture 1 may be an open aperture, over which a door (not shown) may be mounted (generally after the furniture 1 has been installed).
- the side panels 4 , 5 both extend back to contact the wall 2 , with a first portion 4 a of the side panel 4 and a first portion 5 a of the side panel 5 being to one side of (forward of, extending away from the wall 2 ) the cross-brace 6 , and a second portion 4 b of the side panel 4 and a second portion 5 b of the side panel 5 being to the other side of (rear of, extending towards the wall 2 ) the cross-brace 6 .
- the furniture 1 is positioned against the wall, with the rear of each side panel 4 , 5 being brought into contact with the wall 2 , and a hole (not shown) is drilled in the cross-brace 6 (multiple holes may be made if required).
- a variable length spacing device 9 is then positioned between the cross-brace 6 and the wall 2 about the hole in the cross-brace 6 , and a fixing 10 (for example a screw) is passed through the hole in the cross-brace 6 , through a central bore of the spacing device 9 , and into the wall 2 .
- the spacing device 9 Prior to tightening the fixing 10 , the spacing device 9 is adjusted to match the distance between the cross-brace 6 and the wall 2 , such that tightening the fixing 9 will not distort the cross-brace 6 towards the wall 2 . While FIGS. 1 A and 1 B have described element 6 as a cross-brace, this may instead (and equivalently) be a rear wall of the furniture item 1 .
- variable length spacing device 9 in conjunction with a plurality of fixed length spacing devices to be described subsequently, makes it possible to modify the furniture 1 , departing from the longstanding structure shown in FIGS. 1 A and 1 B .
- the variable length spacing device 9 removes any requirement to fix to the wall at the side panels 4 , 5 , and partly because the variable length spacing device 9 prevents, or at least reduces, the rear of the side panels 4 , 5 being pressed tightly against the wall 2 .
- the side panels are used only for positioning the furniture 1 prior to it being fixed via the variable length spacing device.
- FIGS. 2 A and 2 B The modified structure is shown in FIGS. 2 A and 2 B .
- FIG. 2 A is a plan (top down) view
- FIG. 2 B is a side view. Both views show an item of fitted furniture 11 mounted to a wall 12 .
- FIG. 2 B shows the furniture 11 to be stood on a floor 13 .
- the furniture 11 comprises side panels 14 , 15 , a cross-brace 16 and a base 17 .
- a front portion 18 of the furniture 11 may be an open aperture, over which a door (not shown) may be mounted (generally after the furniture 11 has been installed).
- side panels 14 , 15 of the furniture unit 11 do not extend back to contact the wall 12 , but instead terminate at, or near, the cross-brace 16 (or in the alternative, the rear wall of the furniture unit).
- the second portions 4 b , 5 b of FIGS. 1 A and 1 B are not present in the modified unit 11 of FIGS. 2 A and 2 B .
- fixed spacers 21 , 22 are used to set the furniture unit 11 away from the wall 12 by an equivalent (or otherwise desired) distance to that achieved by the second portions 4 b , 5 b of the side walls 4 , 5 in the furniture unit 1 of FIGS. 1 A and 1 B .
- the fixed spacers 21 , 22 are separate components from the furniture item 11 , and may be mounted onto the furniture unit 11 for the purpose of aiding with positioning the furniture unit 11 and/or fixing the furniture unit 11 to the wall 12 .
- the fixed spacers 21 , 22 may be removed from the furniture unit 11 once the furniture unit 11 has been fixed to the wall, or after it has been positioned with respect to the wall but before it is fixed to the wall.
- the fixed spacers 21 , 22 are left in place permanently.
- the fixed spacers 21 , 22 may be integral, or otherwise permanent, parts of the furniture unit 11 . In FIGS.
- two fixed length spacing devices 21 , 22 are shown, both located towards the top of the item of fitted furniture 11 , and towards each of its two sides.
- the spacing devices 21 , 22 are attached/mounted to the rear of the furniture 11 , and the furniture 11 is then positioned against the wall with the spacing devices 21 , 22 being in contact therewith. This correctly positions the furniture unit with respect to the wall.
- the extent (surface area) of contact between the spacing devices and the wall is much smaller than the extent (surface area) of contact between the rear of the side panels 4 , 5 and the wall in the conventional arrangement of FIGS. 1 A and 1 B . this is beneficial because if the wall is sloped, or otherwise warped, the likelihood of a projecting part of the wall interfering with the unit is significantly reduced.
- a hole (not shown) is then drilled in the cross-brace 16 (multiple holes may be made if required, and it will be appreciated that the hole(s) could be pre-formed in some implementations), a variable length spacing device 19 is positioned between the cross-brace 16 and the wall 12 about the hole in the cross-brace 16 , and a fixing 20 (for example a screw) is passed through the hole in the cross-brace 16 , through a central bore of the spacing device 19 , and into the wall 12 . Prior to tightening the fixing 20 , the spacing device 19 is adjusted to match the distance between the cross-brace 16 and the wall 12 , such that tightening the fixing 19 will not distort the cross-brace 16 towards the wall 12 .
- a fixing 20 for example a screw
- FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a variable length spacing device 301 for use (as the variable length spacer 19 ) with the modified furniture 11 and fixed length spacing devices 21 , 22 .
- the variable length spacing device 301 includes a first cylindrical portion 302 which receives a second cylindrical portion 303 .
- the second cylindrical portion 303 includes a screw thread 304 which corresponds to and engages with a threaded cutting within the first cylindrical portion 302 (not shown) which allows the second cylindrical portion 303 to be retracted into and extended from the first cylindrical portion 302 by rotating the first and second cylindrical portions relative to each other.
- Both the first and second cylindrical portions are hollow forming an axial through bore 305 running through the spacing device 301 which permits a fixing member such as a screw or bolt to be passed through the spacing device 301 .
- a fixing member such as a screw or bolt
- the screw thread 304 of the second cylindrical portion 303 and the threaded cutting of the first cylindrical portion are such that when the second cylindrical portion 303 is extended out of the first cylindrical portion 302 , the spacing device 301 is resistant to a force acting to contract the spacing device 301 along the axis of the axial bore 305 .
- the spacing device 301 illustrated in FIG. 3 also includes a first end face plate 306 connected to a distal end of the first cylindrical portion 302 and a second end face plate 307 connected to a distal end of the second cylindrical portion 303 . While the face end plates are shown as circular in the Figures, it will be appreciated that any shape could be used.
- the spacing device 301 performs both a bracing function and a spacing function between an external rear wall and a cross brace of a cabinet.
- the spacing device 301 allows the positioning and aligning of the cabinet to be performed at the same time as fastening it to an external wall and reduces the requirement to perform the positioning and aligning steps more than once. Furthermore, the requirement to operate within the small service area at the rear of the cabinet is reduced, with only the insertion of a wall plug into the external wall, and the placing and manipulation of the spacing device being conducted in the service area.
- each of the first and second cylindrical portions is approximately long, allowing a space of approximately 40 mm to 65 mm to be bridged by the spacing device. Larger spaces could be bridged using a plurality of spacing devices, or by a single larger spacing device for example.
- Each of the first and second cylindrical portions may have a bore of approximately 8 mm in diameter to allow a fixing to be passed through the spacing device. It will be appreciated that different bore diameters could be provided depending on the type and size of fixing which the spacing device is intended to receive.
- the first and second end face plates (splayed ends of the cylinders) may have a diameter of approximated 24 mm to spread the load on the fixing surface and target surface when the spacing device is under compression.
- a fixed spacer 410 takes the form of a collared peg having an end (terminal) contact point 412 for contacting the target surface (wall), an engagement part 416 for engaging with (and generally being received within) the furniture item 11 , a collar 414 which rests against the furniture item 11 when the engagement part 416 is received within, and a main body 418 extending from the collar 414 to the contact point 412 , for defining a spacing distance for the furniture item 11 away from the wall 12 .
- the total length of the space 410 may be 65 mm, with the engagement part being 15 mm in length, the collar having a thickness of 3 mm, and the main body being 47 mm in length.
- the peg may have a diameter/thickness of 5 mm.
- a fixed spacer 420 takes the form of a hollow tube having an end (terminal) contact point 422 for contacting the target surface (wall), an engagement part 426 for engaging with (and generally being received within) the furniture item 11 , a shoulder or stop 424 which rests against the furniture item 11 when the engagement part 426 is received within, and a main body 428 defining a hollow tube extending from the shoulder/stop 424 to the contact point 422 , for defining a spacing distance for the furniture item 11 away from the wall 12 .
- the total length of the space 420 may be 65 mm, with the engagement part being 15 mm in length and the main body being 50 mm in length.
- the engagement part 426 may have a diameter/thickness of 5 mm. With the fixed spacers 410 , 420 , the engagement part 416 , 426 is shaped and dimensioned to be received as a close fit within a corresponding aperture on the furniture item 11 .
- the engagement parts 416 , 426 may for example have a cylindrical shape to match a cylindrical aperture/recess of the furniture item 11 .
- a fixed spacer 430 takes the form of a cone which tapers to an end (terminal) contact point 432 for contacting the target surface (wall), an engagement part 436 for engaging with (and generally being received within) the furniture item 11 , a shoulder or stop 434 which rests against the furniture item 11 when the engagement part 426 is received within, and a main body 438 defining a cone extending from the shoulder/stop 434 (as its widest point) to the contact point 432 , for defining a spacing distance for the furniture item 11 away from the wall 12 .
- the total length of the space 430 may be 65 mm, with the engagement part being 15 mm in length and the main body being 50 mm in length.
- the engagement part 436 may have a diameter/thickness of 5 mm, and external screw threading. With the fixed spacer 430 , the engagement part 436 carries an external screw-threading which can be screwed into an internally screw-threaded aperture in the furniture item 11 .
- FIG. 4 D a portion of the furniture item 11 is shown, with an opening 111 for receiving the engagement part 416 , 426 , 436 of the fixed spacers 410 , 420 , 430 .
- the opening may have smooth internal walls which match the size and shape of the engagement parts 416 , 426 , or may have internally-screw threaded internal walls which generally match the size and shape of the engagement part 436 , and for which the internal screw threading is dimensioned to match the external screw threading of the engagement part 436 .
- the spacer 410 can be seen to be engaged with the opening 111 .
- the opening 111 and the engagement parts 416 define mutually cooperating, complementary or mutually engageable parts/formations which permit secure attachment (and preferably detachment) of the fixed spacers 410 , 420 , 430 with the furniture item 11 .
- the spacers 410 , 420 , 430 provide a male engagement formation to be received in the opening 111 as a female formation.
- a male formation may be provided on the furniture 11 (for example as an externally screw-threaded projection), while the corresponding female formation may be provided on the spacing devices 410 , 420 , 430 .
- other mutually engaging formations may be used instead, or alternative methods of attachment such as adhesives.
- the engagement or attachment may be permanent (for example adhesive) or removable (for example screw-threading).
- the spacing device 410 can be seen to have been partially removed from the furniture, in this case by being broken off outside of the opening 111 , leaving the remainder of the spacing device 410 in place. In this way, it is possible to permit the furniture 11 to be positioned closer to the wall than permitted by the spacer, which may be beneficial if the wall is imperfect, for example including bumps or being at an angle.
- FIG. 5 an example method of installing furniture using the above-described kit of parts comprising a (modified) furniture unit 11 , variable length spacing device 19 and fixed length spacing device 21 , 22 is shown.
- a step S 1 one or more fixed length spacers 21 , 22 are attached (mounted) to the rear of the furniture unit 11 as described above.
- the furniture item 11 is positioned with respect to the target surface, with the contact points of the one or more fixed length spacers being brought into contact with the wall 12 to locate the furniture item 11 at a fixed distance from the wall 12 .
- variable length spacer 19 is positioned between the wall 12 (as a target surface) and the cross-brace of the furniture item 11 (as a fixing surface), in the vicinity of a hole in the cross-brace (which may have been drilled in advance).
- the length of the variable length spacer is adjusted to bridge (match) the gap between the fixing surface (cross-brace) and the target surface (wall).
- a fixing for example a screw or bolt is inserted through the hole in the cross-brace, through the variable length spacer 19 , and into the wall 12 .
- the fixing is tightened to secure the fixing surface and the target surface together via the variable length spacer 19 .
- the fixing 20 will bring the cross-brace into close contact with one end 306 of the variable length fixing 19 , and the wall into close contact with the other end 307 of the variable length fixing 19 , but the variable length fixing 19 will prevent (or at least inhibit the cross-brace being drawn any closer to the wall than permitted by the adjusted length of the variable length spacer 19 , and thus avoid the furniture item being pulled away from its set position towards the wall.
- the fixed length spacers 20 , 21 may then be removed, and utilised for another furniture item.
- the furniture item could be positioned first, and the mounting step be carried out after the positioning step to confirm that the position with respect to the wall is correct.
- the positioning step may be carried out in part before the mounting step, and in part after the mounting step (for example to move the furniture item into a rough position proximate the wall without the fixed length spacers being mounted, then the fixed length spacers mounted, then the furniture item moved into its final, more precise location.
- the step of positioning the variable length spacing device between the fixing surface and the target surface, and adjusting a length of the variable length spacing device to substantially match a distance between the fixing surface and the target surface may be carried out in either order, although generally it is more convenient to carry out the positioning step before the length adjusting step.
- a kit of parts may include fixed length spacing devices of different lengths, in order to enable the furniture item to be installed at different distances with respect to a wall.
- FIG. 6 two adjacent furniture units are shown to be installed against a wall. It can be seen that part of the wall is sloped with respect to the rear line of the adjacent furniture units. While the variable length spacers can readily adapt to this due to their adjustable nature, the same is not true of the fixed length spacing devices. Accordingly, if when a furniture unit is being fitted one or more spacing devices is inhibiting proper positioning of the furniture unit with respect to an adjacent furniture unit, that or those spacing devices can be removed, either fully, or partially (by being broken off). Permitting the spacing devices to be broken off rather than requiring them to be fully removed may be beneficial since this can be carried out without moving the unit away from the wall, which would otherwise disrupt the installation process.
- part of the spacing device may be weakened, or frangible, to permit the spacing device to be snapped off with pressure (by hand) or impact (for example using a hammer) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spacing device.
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Abstract
A method of securing fitted furniture (11) to a target surface (12) using one or more spacing devices (21, 22) is described. Each spacing device 821, 22) has a first end for engagement with the fitted furniture and a second end for contacting the target surface. The method comprises the steps of mounting one or more fixed length spacing devices (21, 22) to the rear of a unit of fitted furniture (11), positioning the furniture with respect to the target surface (12), such that at least one of the spacing devices (21, 22) is in contact with the target surface (12), and fixing the furniture (11) having the spacing devices (21, 22) mounted thereto to the target surface.
Description
- The present invention relates to a spacing device and method, to a kit of parts, and to installed furniture. Embodiments of the present invention relate to spacing devices and methods for improving the ease and accuracy with which fitted furniture can be installed, and to reducing the weight, cost and materials required in an installed furniture unit.
- The satisfactory installation of fitted furniture units, such as kitchen and bathroom storage cabinets, typically requires that each furniture unit be accurately positioned and aligned before being secured in place by fixing it to a wall. Failure to accurately position and align a furniture unit can lead to uneven alignment with adjacent furniture units which along with being unsightly may lead to sloping and/or poorly supported work surfaces and reduced structural integrity.
- Installation of furniture units can be difficult since each unit is typically secured to an internal or external wall via fixings at the rear of the unit which are difficult to access. Fixing holes cannot be drilled into the wall to which the furniture unit is to be attached until the unit is correctly positioned and aligned. However, drilling the fixing holes whilst the unit is still in place is either awkward or impossible due to a lack of space and access to the rear of the unit. Accordingly, it is usually necessary to align the furniture unit, mark the wall to which the furniture is to be attached indicating its aligned position, move the furniture unit away from the surface and then drill the necessary fixing holes. The unit must then be replaced at its original position to ensure alignment with the drilled fixing holes, and fixed to the wall using suitable fixings and drilled fixing holes.
- This process requires the furniture unit to be aligned twice: once so that the wall can be marked and again after the fixing holes have been drilled. This is time consuming. Moreover, the surface must be marked with a high degree of accuracy as errors in the position of the fixing holes can lead to the misalignment of the furniture unit when it is secured in place.
- To improve on this conventional technique, the Applicant previously proposed the use of a variable-length spacing device in WO2012035356. This described a method of securing fitted furniture to a target surface (such as a wall) using such a variable length spacing device. In particular, the spacing device has a first end for contacting one of a fixing surface of the furniture (for example a cross-brace) and the target surface, a second end for contacting the other of the fixing surface and the target surface and a bore dimensioned to receive a fixing means for fixing the fixing surface and the target surface together. The spacing device is extendable along an axis of the bore to set a spacing between the fixing surface and the target surface. The method comprises positioning the furniture with respect to the target surface so that a spacing is provided between the target surface and the fixing surface, positioning the spacing device in the spacing between the fixing surface and the target surface while the furniture is in position with respect to the target surface, extending the spacing device to substantially match the spacing between the target surface and the fixing surface, passing the fixing means through the fixing surface and the bore of the spacing device and into the target surface, and tightening the fixing means to secure the furniture to the target surface.
- This method of installing a unit of furniture enables the positioning and aligning of the furniture unit to be performed at the same time as securing the furniture unit to the wall. The device may remove or at least reduce the requirement to perform the positioning and aligning steps more than once thereby improving the speed and accuracy with which furniture units can be installed. An advantage of this method of securing fitted furniture using the spacing device is that a fitted furniture unit can be individually removed without disturbing adjacent furniture units, because the furniture unit can be fixed only to the wall or similar surface to the rear of the unit rather than being fixed off to an adjacent furniture unit, or to a portion of a wall which interferes with an adjacent furniture unit.
- It will be appreciated that this device and method enables improved installation of fitted furniture. However, it does not provide any improvement in the furniture itself. The present invention is intended to address at least some of the limitations of prior art furniture such as fitted (kitchen or bathroom) units.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provide a method of securing fitted furniture to a target surface using one or more spacing devices, each spacing device having a first end for engagement with the fitted furniture and a second end for contacting the target surface, comprising the steps of:
-
- mounting one or more fixed length spacing devices to the rear of a unit of fitted furniture;
- positioning the furniture with respect to the target surface using the one or more mounted fixed length spacing devices; and
- fixing the furniture to the target surface.
- By utilising fixed length spacing devices to position the fitted furniture with respect to the target surface (for example the wall), the side panels of the unit of fitted furniture do not need to extend back to contact the wall (because this function is carried out by the fixed length spacing devices), but can instead be shortened in the rearward direction, for example terminating at or near a cross-brace or rear/back wall of the unit of fitted furniture. This reduces the size of the side panels (without affecting the internal volume of the furniture unit), thus reducing the amount of materials, weight and cost of the unit of fitted furniture.
- While the fixed length spacing devices may be removed after positioning the unit and before the unit is fixed to the wall (since a variable length spacing device, discussed elsewhere, may preserve the position of the furniture unit without the fixed length spacing devices remaining present—that is the fixed length spacing devices may be used simply to initially position the furniture unit), preferably, the step of positioning positions the furniture such that at least one of the spacing devices is in contact with the target surface, and the step of fixing is carried out while the spacing devices are mounted to the furniture.
- The furniture and the fixed length spacing devices are preferably provided with mutually engageable mounting formations, and the mounting step of the method comprises (for each spacing device) engaging the mounting formation of a spacing device with the corresponding mounting formation on the furniture. Other methods of mounting the fixed length spacing device(s) onto the furniture are also envisaged, such as adhesives (applied as a liquid, or using adhesive pads). Where mutually engageable mounting formations are used, the mutually engageable mounting formations may comprise screw threading (for example external screw-threading on the spacing devices and internal screw-threading on the furniture, or vice versa).
- Preferably, the mounting step (of the spacing device) is carried out before the positioning step (of the furniture).
- While the present technique may be beneficial in other situations, preferably a variable length spacing device is used in the fixing of the furniture to the target surface, in which case the step of fixing the furniture to the target surface comprises using a variable length spacing device.
- In this case, the method may further comprise a step of positioning a variable length spacing device between a fixing surface of the furniture and the target surface, and adjusting a length of the variable length spacing device to substantially match a distance between the fixing surface and the target surface. These steps are carried out following the positioning of the furniture unit against the target surface (using the fixed length spacing devices). Then, the method may comprise extending a fixing through the fixing surface and the variable length spacing device and into the target surface, and tightening the fixing to clamp the variable length spacing device between the fixing surface and the target surface.
- Preferably, the target surface is a wall, although it may instead be another furniture unit.
- The fixing surface may be a cross-brace of the furniture, or it may instead be a back wall of the furniture, or a dedicated fixing point on the furniture.
- In some cases, for example if the wall is not uniform, one or more of the one or more spacing devices may be at least partially removed prior to the fixing step.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising an item of furniture and one or more fixed length spacing devices for mounting to the item of fitted furniture, wherein the spacing devices when mounted define contact points for spacing the furniture away from a target surface to which it is to be fixed.
- The fitted furniture and the spacing devices may comprise mutually engaging mounting formations to attach the spacing devices to the furniture.
- The kit of parts may further include a variable length spacing device through which the fixing surface is fixed to the target surface.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an item of installed furniture, installed in accordance with the method or the kit of parts described above.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a fixed length spacing device for the method described above.
- Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings where like parts are provided with corresponding reference numerals and in which:
-
FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically illustrate the installation of a conventional item of fitted furniture using the variable length spacing device and technique described in WO2012035356; -
FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate the installation of a modified article of furniture using a kit of fixed and variable length spacing devices; -
FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a variable length spacing device; -
FIGS. 4A to 4C schematically illustrate several implementations of a fixed length spacing device, whileFIG. 4D schematically illustrates a mounting point on the modified furniture in which the fixed length spacing device is received, andFIG. 4E schematically illustrates the spacing device being partially removed from the furniture; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a method of installing fitted furniture using the fixed and variable length spacing devices; and -
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the mounting of units where inconsistencies in the wall inhibit use of the fixed length spacing devices. - Referring to
FIGS. 1A and 1B , a method of installing fitted furniture using the technique and spacing device describe in WO2012035356 is shown.FIG. 1A is a plan (top down) view, whileFIG. 1B is a side view. Both views show an item of fittedfurniture 1 mounted to awall 2.FIG. 1B shows thefurniture 1 to be stood on afloor 3. Thefurniture 1 comprisesside panels cross-brace 6 and abase 7. Afront portion 8 of thefurniture 1 may be an open aperture, over which a door (not shown) may be mounted (generally after thefurniture 1 has been installed). Theside panels wall 2, with afirst portion 4 a of theside panel 4 and afirst portion 5 a of theside panel 5 being to one side of (forward of, extending away from the wall 2) thecross-brace 6, and asecond portion 4 b of theside panel 4 and asecond portion 5 b of theside panel 5 being to the other side of (rear of, extending towards the wall 2) thecross-brace 6. - To fix the
furniture 1 to thewall 2, thefurniture 1 is positioned against the wall, with the rear of eachside panel wall 2, and a hole (not shown) is drilled in the cross-brace 6 (multiple holes may be made if required). A variablelength spacing device 9 is then positioned between thecross-brace 6 and thewall 2 about the hole in thecross-brace 6, and a fixing 10 (for example a screw) is passed through the hole in thecross-brace 6, through a central bore of thespacing device 9, and into thewall 2. Prior to tightening the fixing 10, thespacing device 9 is adjusted to match the distance between thecross-brace 6 and thewall 2, such that tightening the fixing 9 will not distort thecross-brace 6 towards thewall 2. WhileFIGS. 1A and 1B have describedelement 6 as a cross-brace, this may instead (and equivalently) be a rear wall of thefurniture item 1. - It has now been recognised that the use of the variable
length spacing device 9, in conjunction with a plurality of fixed length spacing devices to be described subsequently, makes it possible to modify thefurniture 1, departing from the longstanding structure shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B . This is partly because the variablelength spacing device 9 removes any requirement to fix to the wall at theside panels length spacing device 9 prevents, or at least reduces, the rear of theside panels wall 2. In other words, with the variablelength spacing device 9, the side panels are used only for positioning thefurniture 1 prior to it being fixed via the variable length spacing device. - The modified structure is shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B .FIG. 2A is a plan (top down) view, whileFIG. 2B is a side view. Both views show an item of fittedfurniture 11 mounted to awall 12.FIG. 2B shows thefurniture 11 to be stood on afloor 13. Thefurniture 11 comprisesside panels cross-brace 16 and abase 17. Afront portion 18 of thefurniture 11 may be an open aperture, over which a door (not shown) may be mounted (generally after thefurniture 11 has been installed). Unlike theconventional unit 1 shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B ,side panels furniture unit 11 do not extend back to contact thewall 12, but instead terminate at, or near, the cross-brace 16 (or in the alternative, the rear wall of the furniture unit). In other words, thesecond portions FIGS. 1A and 1B are not present in the modifiedunit 11 ofFIGS. 2A and 2B . Instead, fixedspacers furniture unit 11 away from thewall 12 by an equivalent (or otherwise desired) distance to that achieved by thesecond portions side walls furniture unit 1 ofFIGS. 1A and 1B . - The fixed
spacers furniture item 11, and may be mounted onto thefurniture unit 11 for the purpose of aiding with positioning thefurniture unit 11 and/or fixing thefurniture unit 11 to thewall 12. In some implementations, the fixedspacers furniture unit 11 once thefurniture unit 11 has been fixed to the wall, or after it has been positioned with respect to the wall but before it is fixed to the wall. In other implementations the fixedspacers spacers furniture unit 11. InFIGS. 2A and 2B , two fixedlength spacing devices furniture 11, and towards each of its two sides. However, in alternative embodiments, it may be adequate to utilise only a single fixed-length spacing device (for example when the unit offurniture 11 is being positioned adjacent, and attached to, another previously installed unit of furniture), or a greater number of fixed length spacing devices (for example two additional spacing devices disposed towards the bottom of the unit of furniture 11). - To fix the
furniture 11 to thewall 12, thespacing devices furniture 11, and thefurniture 11 is then positioned against the wall with thespacing devices side panels FIGS. 1A and 1B . this is beneficial because if the wall is sloped, or otherwise warped, the likelihood of a projecting part of the wall interfering with the unit is significantly reduced. - A hole (not shown) is then drilled in the cross-brace 16 (multiple holes may be made if required, and it will be appreciated that the hole(s) could be pre-formed in some implementations), a variable
length spacing device 19 is positioned between the cross-brace 16 and thewall 12 about the hole in thecross-brace 16, and a fixing 20 (for example a screw) is passed through the hole in thecross-brace 16, through a central bore of thespacing device 19, and into thewall 12. Prior to tightening the fixing 20, thespacing device 19 is adjusted to match the distance between the cross-brace 16 and thewall 12, such that tightening the fixing 19 will not distort the cross-brace 16 towards thewall 12. -
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a variable length spacing device 301 for use (as the variable length spacer 19) with the modifiedfurniture 11 and fixedlength spacing devices cylindrical portion 302 which receives a secondcylindrical portion 303. The secondcylindrical portion 303 includes ascrew thread 304 which corresponds to and engages with a threaded cutting within the first cylindrical portion 302 (not shown) which allows the secondcylindrical portion 303 to be retracted into and extended from the firstcylindrical portion 302 by rotating the first and second cylindrical portions relative to each other. Both the first and second cylindrical portions are hollow forming an axial throughbore 305 running through the spacing device 301 which permits a fixing member such as a screw or bolt to be passed through the spacing device 301. As will be appreciated, thescrew thread 304 of the secondcylindrical portion 303 and the threaded cutting of the first cylindrical portion are such that when the secondcylindrical portion 303 is extended out of the firstcylindrical portion 302, the spacing device 301 is resistant to a force acting to contract the spacing device 301 along the axis of theaxial bore 305. - The spacing device 301 illustrated in
FIG. 3 also includes a firstend face plate 306 connected to a distal end of the firstcylindrical portion 302 and a secondend face plate 307 connected to a distal end of the secondcylindrical portion 303. While the face end plates are shown as circular in the Figures, it will be appreciated that any shape could be used. When in use the spacing device 301 performs both a bracing function and a spacing function between an external rear wall and a cross brace of a cabinet. The spacing device 301 allows the positioning and aligning of the cabinet to be performed at the same time as fastening it to an external wall and reduces the requirement to perform the positioning and aligning steps more than once. Furthermore, the requirement to operate within the small service area at the rear of the cabinet is reduced, with only the insertion of a wall plug into the external wall, and the placing and manipulation of the spacing device being conducted in the service area. - In one example, each of the first and second cylindrical portions is approximately long, allowing a space of approximately 40 mm to 65 mm to be bridged by the spacing device. Larger spaces could be bridged using a plurality of spacing devices, or by a single larger spacing device for example. Each of the first and second cylindrical portions may have a bore of approximately 8 mm in diameter to allow a fixing to be passed through the spacing device. It will be appreciated that different bore diameters could be provided depending on the type and size of fixing which the spacing device is intended to receive. The first and second end face plates (splayed ends of the cylinders) may have a diameter of approximated 24 mm to spread the load on the fixing surface and target surface when the spacing device is under compression.
- Referring to
FIGS. 4A to 4C , three separate designs of fixed length spacer are shown. InFIG. 4A , a fixedspacer 410 takes the form of a collared peg having an end (terminal)contact point 412 for contacting the target surface (wall), anengagement part 416 for engaging with (and generally being received within) thefurniture item 11, acollar 414 which rests against thefurniture item 11 when theengagement part 416 is received within, and amain body 418 extending from thecollar 414 to thecontact point 412, for defining a spacing distance for thefurniture item 11 away from thewall 12. In one implementation, the total length of thespace 410 may be 65 mm, with the engagement part being 15 mm in length, the collar having a thickness of 3 mm, and the main body being 47 mm in length. The peg may have a diameter/thickness of 5 mm. - In
FIG. 4B , a fixedspacer 420 takes the form of a hollow tube having an end (terminal)contact point 422 for contacting the target surface (wall), anengagement part 426 for engaging with (and generally being received within) thefurniture item 11, a shoulder or stop 424 which rests against thefurniture item 11 when theengagement part 426 is received within, and amain body 428 defining a hollow tube extending from the shoulder/stop 424 to thecontact point 422, for defining a spacing distance for thefurniture item 11 away from thewall 12. In one implementation, the total length of thespace 420 may be 65 mm, with the engagement part being 15 mm in length and the main body being 50 mm in length. Theengagement part 426 may have a diameter/thickness of 5 mm. With the fixedspacers engagement part furniture item 11. Theengagement parts furniture item 11. - In
FIG. 4C , a fixedspacer 430 takes the form of a cone which tapers to an end (terminal)contact point 432 for contacting the target surface (wall), an engagement part 436 for engaging with (and generally being received within) thefurniture item 11, a shoulder or stop 434 which rests against thefurniture item 11 when theengagement part 426 is received within, and amain body 438 defining a cone extending from the shoulder/stop 434 (as its widest point) to thecontact point 432, for defining a spacing distance for thefurniture item 11 away from thewall 12. In one implementation, the total length of thespace 430 may be 65 mm, with the engagement part being 15 mm in length and the main body being 50 mm in length. The engagement part 436 may have a diameter/thickness of 5 mm, and external screw threading. With the fixedspacer 430, the engagement part 436 carries an external screw-threading which can be screwed into an internally screw-threaded aperture in thefurniture item 11. - In
FIG. 4D , a portion of thefurniture item 11 is shown, with anopening 111 for receiving theengagement part spacers engagement parts spacer 410 can be seen to be engaged with theopening 111. - It will be appreciated that, together, the
opening 111 and the engagement parts 416 (or 426 or 436) define mutually cooperating, complementary or mutually engageable parts/formations which permit secure attachment (and preferably detachment) of the fixedspacers furniture item 11. InFIGS. 4A to 4D , thespacers opening 111 as a female formation. However, in alternative implementations a male formation may be provided on the furniture 11 (for example as an externally screw-threaded projection), while the corresponding female formation may be provided on thespacing devices - In
FIG. 4E , thespacing device 410 can be seen to have been partially removed from the furniture, in this case by being broken off outside of theopening 111, leaving the remainder of thespacing device 410 in place. In this way, it is possible to permit thefurniture 11 to be positioned closer to the wall than permitted by the spacer, which may be beneficial if the wall is imperfect, for example including bumps or being at an angle. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , an example method of installing furniture using the above-described kit of parts comprising a (modified)furniture unit 11, variablelength spacing device 19 and fixedlength spacing device fixed length spacers furniture unit 11 as described above. Then, at a step S2, thefurniture item 11 is positioned with respect to the target surface, with the contact points of the one or more fixed length spacers being brought into contact with thewall 12 to locate thefurniture item 11 at a fixed distance from thewall 12. Then, at a step S3, thevariable length spacer 19 is positioned between the wall 12 (as a target surface) and the cross-brace of the furniture item 11 (as a fixing surface), in the vicinity of a hole in the cross-brace (which may have been drilled in advance). At a step S4, the length of the variable length spacer is adjusted to bridge (match) the gap between the fixing surface (cross-brace) and the target surface (wall). At a step S5, a fixing (for example a screw or bolt) is inserted through the hole in the cross-brace, through thevariable length spacer 19, and into thewall 12. At a step S6, the fixing is tightened to secure the fixing surface and the target surface together via thevariable length spacer 19. As the fixing 20 is tightened, it will bring the cross-brace into close contact with oneend 306 of the variable length fixing 19, and the wall into close contact with theother end 307 of the variable length fixing 19, but the variable length fixing 19 will prevent (or at least inhibit the cross-brace being drawn any closer to the wall than permitted by the adjusted length of thevariable length spacer 19, and thus avoid the furniture item being pulled away from its set position towards the wall. Optionally, the fixedlength spacers - It will be appreciated that some of the above steps may be carried out in a different order, or partly in parallel. For example, while generally the mounting step is carried out before the positioning step, the furniture item could be positioned first, and the mounting step be carried out after the positioning step to confirm that the position with respect to the wall is correct. The positioning step may be carried out in part before the mounting step, and in part after the mounting step (for example to move the furniture item into a rough position proximate the wall without the fixed length spacers being mounted, then the fixed length spacers mounted, then the furniture item moved into its final, more precise location. Similarly, the step of positioning the variable length spacing device between the fixing surface and the target surface, and adjusting a length of the variable length spacing device to substantially match a distance between the fixing surface and the target surface, may be carried out in either order, although generally it is more convenient to carry out the positioning step before the length adjusting step.
- It will be appreciated that a kit of parts may include fixed length spacing devices of different lengths, in order to enable the furniture item to be installed at different distances with respect to a wall.
- Referring to
FIG. 6 , two adjacent furniture units are shown to be installed against a wall. It can be seen that part of the wall is sloped with respect to the rear line of the adjacent furniture units. While the variable length spacers can readily adapt to this due to their adjustable nature, the same is not true of the fixed length spacing devices. Accordingly, if when a furniture unit is being fitted one or more spacing devices is inhibiting proper positioning of the furniture unit with respect to an adjacent furniture unit, that or those spacing devices can be removed, either fully, or partially (by being broken off). Permitting the spacing devices to be broken off rather than requiring them to be fully removed may be beneficial since this can be carried out without moving the unit away from the wall, which would otherwise disrupt the installation process. In order to facilitate this, part of the spacing device (for example at or to either side of the collar inFIG. 4A , or adjacent the shoulder in either FIG. 4B or 4C, may be weakened, or frangible, to permit the spacing device to be snapped off with pressure (by hand) or impact (for example using a hammer) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spacing device.
Claims (17)
1. A method of securing fitted furniture to a target surface using one or more spacing devices, each spacing device having a first end for engagement with the fitted furniture and a second end for contacting the target surface, comprising the steps of:
mounting one or more fixed length spacing devices to the rear of a unit of fitted furniture;
positioning the furniture with respect to the target surface using the one or more mounted fixed length spacing devices; and
fixing the furniture to the target surface.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning positions the furniture such that at least one of the spacing devices is in contact with the target surface, and the step of fixing is carried out while the spacing devices are mounted to the furniture.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the furniture and the spacing devices are provided with mutually engageable mounting formations, and the mounting step of the method comprises engaging the mounting formation of a spacing device with the corresponding mounting formation on the furniture.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the mutually engageable mounting formations comprise screw threading.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting step is carried out before the positioning step.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of fixing the furniture to the target surface comprises using a variable length spacing device.
7. A method according to claim 6 , comprising a step of positioning a variable length spacing device between a fixing surface of the furniture and the target surface, and adjusting a length of the variable length spacing device to substantially match a distance between the fixing surface and the target surface.
8. A method according to claim 7 , comprising extending a fixing through the fixing surface and the variable length spacing device and into the target surface.
9. A method according to claim 8 , comprising tightening the fixing to clamp the variable length spacing device between the fixing surface and the target surface.
10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the one or more spacing devices is at least partially removed prior to the fixing step.
11. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the target surface is a wall.
12. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the fixing surface is a cross-brace of the furniture.
13. A kit of parts comprising an item of furniture and one or more fixed length spacing devices for mounting to the item of fitted furniture, wherein the spacing devices when mounted define contact points for spacing the furniture away from a target surface to which it is to be fixed.
14. A kit of parts according to claim 13 , wherein the fitted furniture and the spacing devices comprise mutually engaging mounting formations to attach the spacing devices to the furniture.
15. A kit of parts according to claim 13 , comprising a variable length spacing device through which the fixing surface is fixed to the target surface.
16. An item of installed furniture, installed in accordance with the method of claim 1 .
17. A fixed length spacing device for the method of claim 1 .
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB2017823.2 | 2020-11-11 | ||
GB2017823.2A GB2600947B (en) | 2020-11-11 | 2020-11-11 | Spacing device and method |
PCT/EP2021/081427 WO2022101364A1 (en) | 2020-11-11 | 2021-11-11 | Spacing device and method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20240008643A1 true US20240008643A1 (en) | 2024-01-11 |
Family
ID=74046473
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US18/036,451 Pending US20240008643A1 (en) | 2020-11-11 | 2021-11-11 | Spacing device and method |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20240008643A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4243653A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2600947B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2022101364A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2276019A1 (en) * | 1974-06-27 | 1976-01-23 | Sibel Expansion | Rail for suspension of wall cupboards etc - is of assymetric "V" section with long leg screwed to wall via eccentrically holed discs in rail slots |
DE8905186U1 (en) * | 1989-04-25 | 1989-07-13 | Grass AG, Höchst, Vorarlberg | Wall spacers |
US7083056B2 (en) * | 2001-02-02 | 2006-08-01 | Les Gestions Parmh Inc. | Wall mounted storage organiser system |
GB2483682B (en) | 2010-09-16 | 2012-08-08 | Clifford Steven Petit | Method of securing fitted furniture |
-
2020
- 2020-11-11 GB GB2017823.2A patent/GB2600947B/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-11-11 WO PCT/EP2021/081427 patent/WO2022101364A1/en active Application Filing
- 2021-11-11 EP EP21819351.4A patent/EP4243653A1/en active Pending
- 2021-11-11 US US18/036,451 patent/US20240008643A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
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GB2600947B (en) | 2023-07-26 |
EP4243653A1 (en) | 2023-09-20 |
WO2022101364A1 (en) | 2022-05-19 |
GB2600947A (en) | 2022-05-18 |
GB202017823D0 (en) | 2020-12-23 |
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