US2735131A - Kramcsak - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1956 M. KRAMCSAK, JR

CASTER GLIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1950 Feb. 21, 1956 M, KRAMCSAK, JR 2,735,131

CASTER GLIDE Filed Dec. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 vuemhvo 92M, @uwkw B 4% United States Patent CASTER GLIDE Michael Kramcsak, Jr., Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to The Bassick Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 20, 1950, Serial No. 201,776 15 Claims. (Cl. 16-42) This invention relates to caster glides, and more particularly to those applicable to tubular metal furniture legs.

One of the objects is to provide an improved caster glide which is very readily applicable to an openended tubular leg, and which, after installation, will be securely held in place.

Another object is to provide an improved glide of the type in which the article is held in the leg by a fastener in the nature of an umbrella engaging the inner surface of the leg.

Another object is to provide an improved glide of the kind in which a cup-like metallic base holding an interior cushioning element is employed.

A further object is to provide a glide having facility of removal under the proper conditions, for purposes of replacement, of the base portion of the glide, this removal being independent of the fastening structure which retains the upper part of the glide within the furniture leg.

Another object is to provide a glide having a number of important practical advantages, as will be hereinafter pointed out and as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a glide embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the position of the furniture leg in the completed assembly being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view like Fig. 2, showing the structure as it appears when the base is removed from the upper fastening structure;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views showing modified forms;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a further modification;

Fig. 5 is a view showing a lock washer in plan and in elevation; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views showing further modifications.

In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 2 the glide comprises a cup-like metallic base within which is inserted a rubber cushioning member, through which cushioning member extends upwardly a screw extending at its upper end through a metallic spacer member, generally of dome shape, adapted to lie within the lower end of the furniture leg and having associated therewith adjacent the upper extremity a fastener or retainer which is generally in the form of a shallow umbrella. In a general way the structure has some similarity to that disclosed in my application Serial No. 92,053, filed May 7, 1949, now Patent No. 2,641,016, dated June 9, 1953, and, so far as the umbrella-like fastener is concerned, the said fastener may be of the kind disclosed in that application.

In the drawings, the cup-shaped metallic base memher is indicated at 10. The cushioning member of rubber or the like, which is carried within said first member, is in- 2,735,131 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 ICC dicated at 11, the dome-like metallic spacer member is indicated at 12, and the umbrella-type fastener having a peripheral portion which digs into the inner surface of the furniture leg for anchoring purposes, is indicated at 13. In this embodiment the screw 14 has a threaded upper end portion which engages a nut 15 fixed within the dome-like member 12, which in this case is a hollow cupped member of sheet metal.

The metallic part 10 of the base structure has an upwardly and inwardly curled rim portion 16 that extends into a peripheral groove 17 in the cushion 11 in such a manner as to interlock the two members, there being a substantial portion of the cushioning member above the level of the metal cup, the upper portion of the cushion being of a diameter such that it extends under the lower edge of the furniture leg, as shown in Fig. 2. Interposed between the upper surface of the cushion and the lower edge of the furniture leg is a lateral flange 18 that is integral with the hollow dome member 12 at the lower end of said member. Adjacent its middle part the upper surface of the rubber cushion engages the lower surface of the nut 15, this nut in this particular form being a cylindrical member that is bored out and tapped to receive the screw 14. The diameter of the nut 15 is such that throughout the greater portion of its length the lateral face is spaced inwardly from the side wall of the dome member 12, but the nut is provided adjacent its upper end with a groove 19, in which is received the upper perforated end portion of the dome member 12 and the inner perforated portion of the fastener or retainer 13. Above the groove 19 the nut has an extremity 20 of reduced diameter which is bent or clinched over in order to fasten the members 12 and 13 securely Within their retaining groove.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the umbrella 13 is a relatively shallow member formed on an arc of greater radius than the upper part of the dome or shell 12, the result being that, while the members 12 and 13 are in contact with each other within the groove 19, the member 13 diverges from the member 12 in an outward direction. In this way the umbrella is firmly supported adjacent its middle portion, but is free to increase or decrease in di ameter. When the glide structure illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2 is inserted into the end of the furniture leg, the umbrella has its diameter decreased by the inserting pressure, and the projections at the edge of the umbrella bite into the furniture leg to hold the glide firmly in place.

In the particular case shown, the threaded portion of the bore in the nut 15 extends upwardly only to about the level of the groove 19, and that portion of the nut which holds the members 12 and 13 in place is located above the threaded portion of the nut, but there may be variation in this and other respects.

In this particular form also the upper surface of the cushion member 11 at them iddle portion is somewhat raised so as to provide a slightly upstanding seat 21 on which the nut rests. Surrounding this seat is a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface 22 on the cushion member, leading to an annular 'seat portion 23 which receives the flange or foot 18 of member 12. By this arrangement there is effective centering of the cushion member with respect to the member 12 when the parts are being assembled, inasmuch as the upstanding part of the cushion, with its sloped or beveled side surface, provides a centering element for the member 12.

It will be observed that the screw 14 is provided at the lower end with an integral head 24 which is round, and in this instance rather shallow, said head being received in a round recess 25 provided in the cushion memher at the lower face of the later. The recess 25 is of substantially greater depth than the screw head 24, and

inthe assembled position shown in Fig. Zthe head will be in the upper part of the recess and out of contact with the cup whereby the screw 14 will be held out of vibration transmitting contact with member 10. Below the threaded part the shank of 'the screw 14 isleftplain, and this part is disposed in a hole or boreleading upwardly from the recess of the cushionmember, and the :screw is fixed relatively to the cushion member in the position shown in Fig. 2 in a suitable manner, as'by being molded into the cushion member.

In the assembly, the article is made up into two separate parts, one comprising the members 10, 11 and 14, and the other comprising the dome or shell 12,. the fastener 13, and the nut 15. These two parts are then interconnected by screwing the screw of the first part into the nut of the second part. This is a step which can be readily performed by the use of appropriate tools through which usually one part is rotated while the other is held stationary. If, for example, the part carrying the nut is held stationary, the base part can be rotated through the use of a suitable tool which grips it without in any way marring the surface. Being effectively gripped and then rotated, the base part of the assembly is screwed into the upper part to such extent that a firm and tight connection is made. of course, strongly and rigidly held in the base part'in which it is molded.

The upper part of the assembly, comprising the nut and the members 12, 13, provides a socket member having means for locking it securely in position within the tubular leg or other member. When this part and the base part are interconnected in the manner just described, a unit is provided which can be readily assembled with the tubular member by a driving action which will cause the upper fastening means to be eliectively locked in the tubular member. When mounted in a tubular member such as a furniture leg, the assembly willbe efiectively maintained even under hard usage. 0n the other'hand, shouldthe lower or base part of the glide require replacement, this can be done by using a suitable toolthat is applied to the member to unscrew it. The socket member will be effectively held in position in the tubular member while this operation takes place, and when the. lowerpartof the article is removed the lower end of the tubular member will be in the condition shown in Fig. 2 In this condition the tubular members canhavea replacement base unit applied to it, and it is obvious that there. is a definite advantage in being able to replace a part of the glide rather than the whole of it.

When articles of this general class are'used in school rooms and other institutional buildings, considerable difficulty and damage is brought about by unauthorized removal of the glides. This causes the furniture legs to damage the floors, and the repairing of the equipment causes loss and inconvenience. The hereindescribed structure overcomes this drawback'becauseofthe fact that the two units of the glide, being very strongly interconnected, the base portion cannot be unscrewed from the socket portion by persons like schoolchildren who are notprovided with the necessary tools. Neither is it obvious from the appearance of the furniture in what manner the glide can be removed, ie., by unscrewing. Moreover, as above noted, there is substantial economy in the useofthe article becauseof the-fact that 'the base part, which is the part most likely to be damaged-, can be replaced. as a subassembly.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the structure is. as: above described except that an additional feature is. embodied,- namely, a depending flange 26 integral with the'dome member or shell portionof the socket member. This flange 26 provides. a cupped portion-onthe-domememq ber. receivingthe upper Part of the r bbeLcushion-and engaging the side-surface'ofthelatter. 'lTheflangge 2,6 nqtnnli' pro ide cent ring otthe shellor domememr. her with respect'to the cushion but takes upside thrust In this operation the screw 14 is,

4. occasioned when the article isin use. It also gives, an attractive appearance to the lower end of the furniture leg, besides giving some additional resilience in the use of the glide.

The form shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 except for the conformation given to the nut 27 and the upper part of the cushion member 28. In this case the cushion member has an upper surface lying in a single plane. The nut 27 is of greater diameter near the lower end, being provided with an integral laterally extending round base portion 29. This portion 29-extends laterally so that it is quite close to the lower wall portion of the shell or dome member. Inthisstructure the lower part of the nut is well centered and is substantially supported upon the cushion member.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the upper surface of the cushion member 3%) lies in a single plane, and a separate metal-washer 31 has a perforation 32 through which the screw passes with a certain amount of clearance. The washer 31 is of such a diameter that its edge is in close proximity to the lower part-of the shell or dome member. The nut 33 is shorter than in the forms previously described, and between the nut and the washer 31 a lock washer 34 is interposed.

It will be understood that, in creating the screw connection between the upperandlower units of the article,

the rubber cushion member, which has a certain amount of resiliency, is compressed to an extent between the lowermetallic part thatengages the floor and'theupper metallic part that engages the cushionmember. It will be apparent also that this compression of the rubber, which takes place in all of the forms describedup tothis point, provides a thrust or lock action inhibiting the loosening of the screw. The two parts of the structure being screwed together with the use of tools, it is especially difficult under these conditions to loosen the base without the use of tools, and it is, in fact, impossible. In the form of Fig. 5, however, an additional locking action is provided by the lockwasher 34. This lock washer can. be of any preferred form, but by way of examples; suitable structure is shown in Fig. 5'-. Upon screwing the screw into the nut;. the resilient metal lock washer is compressed and'deformed; between the nut and the opposing surface so as to exert a thrust against the screw that' inhibits rotation, and. in this case the thrust: is in addition to. that provided by: the compressive action on the resilient cushion member.

Another difierence of the Fig. 5 form over thepreceding ones has; to do with the structure at the upper end of the nut. In this case the upper endot the nut is; turned down-or reduced in diameter by a. metal-cutting operation so as to provide a neck 35 having an external cylindrical face: 36' engaged by the dome member and theumbrella member. The metal at the extremity of the nut is. then swaged or otherwise deformed to create a; laterally extending flange portion 37 that firmly clamps the "dome member and the umbrella member to the nut.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the dome member is of the form shown in Fig. 2, likewise the umbrella member. The nut 38 is generally similar to the nut 15, but is quite short so as to extend downwardly only a short distance from; the top of the dome. The nutis. engaged by a relatively short screw shank 39 that isintegralwith a relatively wide generally cylindrical post-like portion 40-rising' from the base of the glide. In this. instance the base of the glide is formed wholly of metal and of a depth approximating'that of the metal portions of the previously described glides. Here the metal base portion has acylindrical part 41 below and, above which the surface isrounded, as shown at 42and 43,, and the base. has-azfiat upper surface 4:4 on hichihedome member. rests.- The portion-4,0. has: amintegralilaterally extendingnound .foot portion. 45. which extends, into; adjacency. to. the. dome member. so. as to a'ct asv a.-centering.means .althouglijt. is not in actual contact with the dome member in the assembled position. The base is integral with the member 40 and the latter integral with the screw shank 39. The member 40 is of substantially the same diameter as the nut 38, and between these parts is introduced a lock washer 34 of the kind previously described. Here, as will be apparent, the lock washer prevents turning of the base by hand for the purpose of removal from the furniture, although it does not prevent turning of the base by the use of a suitable tool.

In the form now being described, the round base portion, constructed wholly of metal, having a smooth external surface that is preferably highly polished, cannot be gripped by the hand with sufiicient firmness to accomplish the unscrewing of the base. This also holds good for the forms previously described, where the metal part of the base is round and smooth and where the upwardly extending part of the rubber cushion also has a smooth round external surface.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the structure is the same as shown in Fig. 5, with the exception that the upper end of the nut is of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

While in all of the cases shown the umbrella member is of the contour shown in Fig. 1, it is understood that this is by way of example only.

While several different forms of the article are disclosed, it is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in many other forms, and that various changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. A device such as described, comprising a dome-like spacer, a nut within the spacer fixed to the spacer, a retainer for fixing the spacer in a furniture leg attached to the spacer adjacent the upper end of the spacer, and a base glide having a fixed upstanding screw screwed up into the nut.

2. A device such as described, comprising a dome-like spacer, a nut within the spacer fixed to the spacer, a retainer for fixing the spacer in a furniture leg attached to the spacer adjacent the upper end of the spacer, a base glide having a fixed upstanding screw adapted to be screwed up into the nut, and means to inhibit unscrewing rotation of the screw when the parts are in the assembled position.

3. In a device such as described, a socket member comprising a dome-shaped member having at the foot portion a flange adapted to underlie the furniture leg, a nut within said member attached to said member, a retainer member secured to the upper end portions of the nut and dome-shaped member, a glide base having a cupped metal part, a cushion member received within said part and extending upwardly therefrom and engaging the flange of said dome-shaped member, and a screw fixed within the cushion member and having a threaded shank extending upwardly for engagement with said nut, said cushion member having an upper face engageable with the lower face of the nut.

4. In a device such as described, the combination of a socket member comprising a dome-shaped spacer, a nut fixed to the spacer, a retainer fixed to the upper portion of the nut, a glide base comprising a cupped metal part and an inserted upwardly extending cushion member and also comprising a screw in fixed relation to the cushion member having an upstanding threaded shank engageable with said nut, and rotation-inhibiting means interposed between the upper part of the cushion member and the lower face of the nut.

5. In a caster glide, a base glide structure having provision for supporting a hollow leg from the lower edge of the leg, a retainer in the form of a shallow umbrella of resilient material having peripheral anchoring projections engageable with the inner surface of the leg, and means including a dome-like spacer member, a nut and a screw, for supporting said retainer from said base structure, the screw being fixed to the base and the nut being screwed on the screw, said nut having a peripheral groove in which said spacer member and said retainer are secured.

6. A caster glide comprising a retainer adapted to engage the inner surface of a tubular leg and in the form of a shallow inverted cup, a spacer element in fixed relation to said retainer presenting a dome immediately below said retainer whose surface diverges from the under surface of the retainer, a base for supporting the lower end of the leg, and means including an upstanding screw fixed to said base and a nut associated with said spacer member and disposed interiorly of said spacer member and screwed on said screw for removably securing said base to the spacer member.

7. In a glide structure for use with open-ended hollow furniture legs, a socket member adapted to be located within the leg and securely fastened therein, comprising a resilient retainer adapted to be engaged with the inner surface of the leg and also comprising a hollow domeshaped spacer member in fixed relationship to said retainer, said spacer member being provided at the lower end with a flange or foot to underlie the lower edge of the leg, a smooth round floor-engaging base member adapted for placement externally of the leg having provision at its periphery for supporting the flange or foot of said spacer member, and means for connecting said base member with said socket member removably so that the base member can be detached from the socket member to remove the base member from the leg and leave the socket member with its spacer member and retainer in position within the leg, said connecting means being disconnectible by tool manipulation only.

8. In a glide structure for use with open-ended hollow furniture legs, a socket member adapted to be located within the leg and securely fastened therein, comprising a resilient retainer adapted to be engaged with the inner surface of the leg and also comprising a hollow domeshaped spacer member in fixed relationship to said retainer, said spacer member being provided at the lower end with a flange or foot to underlie the lower edge of the leg, a smooth round floor-engaging base member adapted for placement externally of the leg having provision at its periphery for supporting the flange or foot of said spacer member, and means for connecting said base member with said socket member removably so that the base member can be detached from the socket member to remove the base member from the leg and leave the socket member in position within the leg, said connecting means comprising a nut in fixed relationship to the socket member and a nutengaging screw in fixed relationship to the base member.

9. In a glide structure for use with open-ended hollow furniture legs, a socket member adapted to be located within the leg and securely fastened therein, comprising a resilient retainer adapted to be engaged with the inner surface of the leg and also comprising a hollow domeshaped spacer member in fixed relationship to said retainer, said spacer member being provided at the lower end with a flange or foot to underlie the lower edge of the leg, a smooth round floor-engaging base member adapted for placement externally of the leg having provision at its periphery for supporting the flange or foot of said spacer member, and means for connecting said base member with said socket member removably so' that the base member can be detached from the socket member to remove the base member from the leg and leave the socket member in position within the leg, said connecting means comprising a nut in fixed relationship to the socket member and a nut-engaging screw in fixed relationship to the base member, said nut being located within said spacer member and being fastened to the spacer member and to the retainer.

10. In a glide structure for use with hollow open-ended furniture legs, a socket structure adapted to be inserted into the lower end of the leg and providing support for the lower edge of the hollow leg, comprising a resilient umbrella retainer adapted to engage the inner surface of the leg at the periphery of the retainer in a plane above the lower edge of the leg for securing the socket member in fixed position in the leg, and also comprising a spacer having an upper end fixedly supporting said retainer and having at the lower end a flange to underlie the lower edge of the furniture leg, said socket member likewise comprising a nut within the spacer member in fixed relationship to the spacer member and to the retainer, and a base member adapted to underlie the lower edge of the furniture leg and having an upstanding screw, said screw being engageable with said nut to fasten the base member to the socket member and the leg and being disengageable from the nut so as to disengage the base member while the socket member remains in position in the leg.

11. In a caster glide, a cupped round base, a cushion within and extending upwardly from said base, a fastener projecting upwardly from said cushion, a hollow spacer of sheet metal having a lower flange or foot supported on the upper peripheral part of said cushion and presenting at the upper portion a gradually rounded dome, a shallow umbrella retainer supported at its highest part on said dome and diverging from the dome surface, and a separate socket element for receiving and holding said fastener located within said spacer and to which the retainer and the spacer are rigidly secured.

12. For use with an open-ended tubular furniture leg, a socketed member comprising a resilient retainer in the form of an umbrella for engaging the inner surface of the leg upwardly from the leg bottom, a dome-shaped hollow spacer having a lower flange to engage and support the lower end of the leg, said retainer being fastened to the upper end portion of said spacer, a sleeve-like nut internally of said spacer and fixed thereto, and a floor-engaging base member having a portion underlying and supporting'said flange of said spacer and another portion below and supporting said nut and also havingafixed upstandingscrew engaging said nutso as to connect said base member removably to said=socketed member.

13. A combination as definedin claim 12, including means interposed between said nut and said base member for inhibiting unscrewing of said'base member.

14. A caster glide comprising a hollow spacer member carrying a retainer in the form of a shallow umbrella of resilient material having peripheral anchoring projections whereby it is locked in position in the lower open end of-a furniture leg, a glide base having fixed thereto an upstanding screw, a nut for engaging said screw fixedly carried by the spacer member interiorly of the spacer member and fastened at'its upper end to the spacer member, said base being smooth and-round so as to inhibit unscrewing of the screwby hand, and a pressuremember exerting upward pressure on the nut to inhibit unscrewing of the screw.

15. A caster glide as'defined'in. claim 2, wherein said base glide hasintegral-therewith an upstanding post-like member which post-like member has at the upper end thereof said upstanding screw, and'said rotation-inhibiting means being interposed between the upper end of said post-like member and the lower end of said nut.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ill Feb. 9,1897

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