US2975546A - Self-leveling furniture leg - Google Patents

Self-leveling furniture leg Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2975546A
US2975546A US825736A US82573659A US2975546A US 2975546 A US2975546 A US 2975546A US 825736 A US825736 A US 825736A US 82573659 A US82573659 A US 82573659A US 2975546 A US2975546 A US 2975546A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
foot
opening
leg
bolt
shell
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US825736A
Inventor
Iii Jones C Beene
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US825736A priority Critical patent/US2975546A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2975546A publication Critical patent/US2975546A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • A47B91/00—Feet for furniture in general
    • A47B91/06—Gliders or the like
    • A47B91/066—Swivel gliders

Definitions

  • ATTORNEY 2,975,546 SELF-LEVELING FURNITURE LEG Jones C. Beene HI, P.0. Box 224, Athens, Tenn.
  • This invention relates to a furniture leg and more particularly to such a leg having a foot which automatically levels itself.
  • One object of this invention is to provide a furniture leg having a foot which automatically adjusts itself to any unevenness of the floor so as always to afford support from the entire area of the foot.
  • Another object is to provide a leg having such a foot which affords ample smooth and flat support surface to prevent scratching polished floors.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a furniture leg which is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet has essentially the rigidity and strength of a solid leg and is attractive in appearance.
  • the single figure is a vertical sectional view showing a furniture leg made in accordance with this invention attached to an article of furniture.
  • a furniture leg made in accordance with this invention comprises a hollow shell or sleeve 1 which, as illustrated, is preferably in the shape of a truncated cone.
  • This shell is preferably made of a plastic material, as by casting, and is inexpensive in manufacture, yet its exterior surface presents a polished and attractive appearance.
  • a plurality of shoulders 2 are provided, being preferably formed integrally with the shell when it is cast. These shoulders are so formed as to provide at their upper ends level bearing surfaces 3 against which a circular plate 4 abuts, the plate being of such size at to be received snugly within the upper wall 5 of the shell.
  • a central, tapped opening 6 is provided in the plate 4 to receive the threaded end 7 of a through bolt 8.
  • the plate 4 holds the bolt 8 firmly in the center of the shell 1 of the leg.
  • the bolt 8 is attached to the frame 9 of an article of furniture, such as a chair, sofa, or the like, by passing it through an opening 10 in the frame into threaded engagement with a nut 11.
  • the nut may be a T-nut, as illustrated, which is recessed in the frame 9 and has a flange 12 bearing against an annular shoulder 13 formed in the frame.
  • a metal plate having a tapped opening or a nut and washer may be used on the upper surface of the frame to be threaded onto and to hold the bolt 8.
  • the lower, or smaller, end of the shell 1 has an opening 14 therethrough which is preferably square in shape to receive the square shaft portion 15 of the bolt 8 and to prevent it from rotating.
  • the head 16 on the bolt abuts against the lower end of the shell 1.
  • the head has a sub- 2,975,546 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 stantially hemispherical recess 17 formed therein and a rod 18 is secured to the bottom of the recess and projects outwardly therefrom, the rod having a flat .head 19, preferably circular in shape, at its outer end.
  • a foot 20 is provided, having a relatively large smooth and flat lower surface 21.
  • This foot may be made of any suitable material, such as a rather hard but smooth and easily sliding plastic.
  • the foot has a rounded or substantially hemispherical knob 22 formed thereon, the knob having a central opening 23 therein through which the rod 18 passes, the opening 23 being somewhat larger than the diameter of the rod 18.
  • the flat head 19 of the rod is larger in diameter than the opening 23 in the knob and thereby holds the foot 20 onto the end of the bolt 12.
  • the free mounting of the foot on the bolt resulting from the hemispherical shapes of the knob 22 and the recess 17 and the size of the opening 23 being larger than the rod 18, permits the foot 20 to tilt as needed to conform to the surface on which it rests.
  • the foot automatically adjusts itself to any unevenness of the floor and always provides support from the entire area of its lower surface 21.
  • This lower surface being relatively large, flat, smooth and sliding easily, scratching of polished floors or other surfaces is prevented and yet the furniture can
  • the foot 20 may be assembled on the rod 18 by temporarily expanding the opening 23 in the knob 22 of the plastic material to a size sufficiently large to pass over the head 19 of the rod, after which the opening 23 contracts to its original size.
  • a tapped opening may be provided in the bottom of the recess 17 in the bolt head and the upper end of the rod 18 may be threaded for screwing it into the tapped opening after being passed through the opening 23 in the knob on the foot.
  • a self-leveling furniture leg which is simple and inexpensive in construction and attractive in appearance.
  • This leg is light in weight but has the rigidity and strength of a solid leg.
  • the attachment of the bolt through the furniture frame to a nut secures the upper edge of the shell firmly against the lower surface of the frame and provides a strong support for the furniture.
  • the plate screwed onto the bolt maintains it rigidly in position in the center of the shell and averts any possibility of wobbling of the leg.
  • the leg can be quickly attached to the furniture, at a minimum labor cost.
  • the leg has a foot. whch adjusts itself automatically to any unevenness of the floor and always provides firm support from the entire area of the foot.
  • the foot provides a relatively large bearing surface which is flat, smooth, and slides easily, so as to prevent scratching of polished floors or other supporting surfaces and to permit easy movement of the furniture.
  • a furniture leg comprising a plate having a tapped opening therein, a hollow shell, a through bolt having at one end a head abutting against one end of said shell and having its other end threaded for engagement in the tapped opening in said plate, said bolt head having a substantially hemispherical recess in its outer surface, a foot having a fiat bottom and a substantially hemispherical knob with a central opening therethrough, and a rod attached to and projecting from the recess in the bolt head through the opening in the knob on said foot, said rod having a flat head on the end thereof larger than the opening in said knob to engage and hold the knob on said foot.
  • a furniture leg comprising a circular plate having a tapped opening therein, a hollow shell having shoulders fbrrried int'e'rnally' thereof for abn'trnent against said plate, saidplate being received snugly withinsaid shell,
  • a'thr'oughbolt having at one end a head abutting against one end of said shell and having its other end threaded for engagement in the tapped opening in'said plate; said bolt head having a recess in its outer surface, a foot having a flat bottom and a rounded knob With a central opening therethrough, and a rod attached to and projecting from the recess in the bolt head through the opening 4 in the knob on said foot, said rod having an enlarged head on the end thereof larger than the opening in said knob to engage and hold the knob on said foot.

Landscapes

  • Legs For Furniture In General (AREA)

Description

March 21, 1961 J. c. BEENE m SELF-LEVELING FURNITURE LEG Filed July 8, 1959 u l3 (l2 INVENTOR JONES C. BEENE,1JI
ATTORNEY 2,975,546 SELF-LEVELING FURNITURE LEG Jones C. Beene HI, P.0. Box 224, Athens, Tenn.
Filed July 8, 1959, Ser. No. 825,736
3 Claims. (Cl. 45-137) This invention relates to a furniture leg and more particularly to such a leg having a foot which automatically levels itself.
One object of this invention is to provide a furniture leg having a foot which automatically adjusts itself to any unevenness of the floor so as always to afford support from the entire area of the foot.
Another object is to provide a leg having such a foot which affords ample smooth and flat support surface to prevent scratching polished floors.
A further object of this invention is to provide a furniture leg which is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet has essentially the rigidity and strength of a solid leg and is attractive in appearance.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The single figure is a vertical sectional view showing a furniture leg made in accordance with this invention attached to an article of furniture.
In the drawing, a furniture leg made in accordance with this invention comprises a hollow shell or sleeve 1 which, as illustrated, is preferably in the shape of a truncated cone. This shell is preferably made of a plastic material, as by casting, and is inexpensive in manufacture, yet its exterior surface presents a polished and attractive appearance. Near the upper, or larger, part of its interior, a plurality of shoulders 2 are provided, being preferably formed integrally with the shell when it is cast. These shoulders are so formed as to provide at their upper ends level bearing surfaces 3 against which a circular plate 4 abuts, the plate being of such size at to be received snugly within the upper wall 5 of the shell.
A central, tapped opening 6 is provided in the plate 4 to receive the threaded end 7 of a through bolt 8. The plate 4 holds the bolt 8 firmly in the center of the shell 1 of the leg.
The bolt 8 is attached to the frame 9 of an article of furniture, such as a chair, sofa, or the like, by passing it through an opening 10 in the frame into threaded engagement with a nut 11. The nut may be a T-nut, as illustrated, which is recessed in the frame 9 and has a flange 12 bearing against an annular shoulder 13 formed in the frame. Instead of using a T-nut, a metal plate having a tapped opening or a nut and washer may be used on the upper surface of the frame to be threaded onto and to hold the bolt 8.
When the bolt is screwed tightly into the nut 11, the upper edge of the upper wall 5 of the shell 1 is held firmly against the lower surface of the frame 9, bearing against the frame all around its periphery. Thus, a solid and strong support for the furniture is provided.
The lower, or smaller, end of the shell 1 has an opening 14 therethrough which is preferably square in shape to receive the square shaft portion 15 of the bolt 8 and to prevent it from rotating. The head 16 on the bolt abuts against the lower end of the shell 1. The head has a sub- 2,975,546 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 stantially hemispherical recess 17 formed therein and a rod 18 is secured to the bottom of the recess and projects outwardly therefrom, the rod having a flat .head 19, preferably circular in shape, at its outer end.
A foot 20 is provided, having a relatively large smooth and flat lower surface 21. This foot may be made of any suitable material, such as a rather hard but smooth and easily sliding plastic. The foot has a rounded or substantially hemispherical knob 22 formed thereon, the knob having a central opening 23 therein through which the rod 18 passes, the opening 23 being somewhat larger than the diameter of the rod 18. The flat head 19 of the rod is larger in diameter than the opening 23 in the knob and thereby holds the foot 20 onto the end of the bolt 12. At the same time, the free mounting of the foot on the bolt, resulting from the hemispherical shapes of the knob 22 and the recess 17 and the size of the opening 23 being larger than the rod 18, permits the foot 20 to tilt as needed to conform to the surface on which it rests. Thus, the foot automatically adjusts itself to any unevenness of the floor and always provides support from the entire area of its lower surface 21. This lower surface being relatively large, flat, smooth and sliding easily, scratching of polished floors or other surfaces is prevented and yet the furniture can be moved easily.
The foot 20 may be assembled on the rod 18 by temporarily expanding the opening 23 in the knob 22 of the plastic material to a size sufficiently large to pass over the head 19 of the rod, after which the opening 23 contracts to its original size. Alternatively, a tapped opening may be provided in the bottom of the recess 17 in the bolt head and the upper end of the rod 18 may be threaded for screwing it into the tapped opening after being passed through the opening 23 in the knob on the foot.
By this invention, there is provided a self-leveling furniture leg which is simple and inexpensive in construction and attractive in appearance. This leg is light in weight but has the rigidity and strength of a solid leg. The attachment of the bolt through the furniture frame to a nut secures the upper edge of the shell firmly against the lower surface of the frame and provides a strong support for the furniture. The plate screwed onto the bolt maintains it rigidly in position in the center of the shell and averts any possibility of wobbling of the leg. The leg can be quickly attached to the furniture, at a minimum labor cost. The leg has a foot. whch adjusts itself automatically to any unevenness of the floor and always provides firm support from the entire area of the foot. The foot provides a relatively large bearing surface which is flat, smooth, and slides easily, so as to prevent scratching of polished floors or other supporting surfaces and to permit easy movement of the furniture.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.
I claim:
1. A furniture leg comprising a plate having a tapped opening therein, a hollow shell, a through bolt having at one end a head abutting against one end of said shell and having its other end threaded for engagement in the tapped opening in said plate, said bolt head having a substantially hemispherical recess in its outer surface, a foot having a fiat bottom and a substantially hemispherical knob with a central opening therethrough, and a rod attached to and projecting from the recess in the bolt head through the opening in the knob on said foot, said rod having a flat head on the end thereof larger than the opening in said knob to engage and hold the knob on said foot.
2. A furniture leg comprising a circular plate having a tapped opening therein, a hollow shell having shoulders fbrrried int'e'rnally' thereof for abn'trnent against said plate, saidplate being received snugly withinsaid shell,
a'thr'oughbolt having at one end a head abutting against one end of said shell and having its other end threaded for engagement in the tapped opening in'said plate; said bolt head having a recess in its outer surface, a foot having a flat bottom and a rounded knob With a central opening therethrough, and a rod attached to and projecting from the recess in the bolt head through the opening 4 in the knob on said foot, said rod having an enlarged head on the end thereof larger than the opening in said knob to engage and hold the knob on said foot.
3. The invention according to claim 2 in which the shell is conical and the head of the through bolt abuts against the small end of the shell.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,153,946 Ohnstrand Sept. 21, 1915 2,738,246 Hogan Mar. 13, 1956 2,809,876 Huff Oct. 15, 1957
US825736A 1959-07-08 1959-07-08 Self-leveling furniture leg Expired - Lifetime US2975546A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US825736A US2975546A (en) 1959-07-08 1959-07-08 Self-leveling furniture leg

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US825736A US2975546A (en) 1959-07-08 1959-07-08 Self-leveling furniture leg

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2975546A true US2975546A (en) 1961-03-21

Family

ID=25244797

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US825736A Expired - Lifetime US2975546A (en) 1959-07-08 1959-07-08 Self-leveling furniture leg

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2975546A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3115367A (en) * 1962-05-21 1963-12-24 Henry J Gariepy Knockdown furniture
DE29509482U1 (en) * 1995-06-09 1995-09-21 Josef Hoffmann Tischfabrik GmbH & Co KG, 53359 Rheinbach Piece of furniture with a support or seat plate and attached support feet
US20090151605A1 (en) * 2007-12-13 2009-06-18 Martin Buhler Table, Particularly a Bar or Bistro Table
US20090184614A1 (en) * 2008-01-21 2009-07-23 Walsberg Martin C Leveling System and Method
US8801008B2 (en) 2010-12-09 2014-08-12 Sbyke Usa Llc Three wheeled scooter with rear skate truck and fixed front wheel
US11178971B1 (en) * 2020-05-22 2021-11-23 Waterson Corp. Modular chair assembly

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1153946A (en) * 1912-11-15 1915-09-21 U S Steel Furniture Company Furniture.
US2738246A (en) * 1954-10-14 1956-03-13 Jr Lawrence J Hogan Supporting leg construction
US2809876A (en) * 1955-12-09 1957-10-15 Huff John Device for securing and circumferentially positioning furniture legs on an associated furniture part

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1153946A (en) * 1912-11-15 1915-09-21 U S Steel Furniture Company Furniture.
US2738246A (en) * 1954-10-14 1956-03-13 Jr Lawrence J Hogan Supporting leg construction
US2809876A (en) * 1955-12-09 1957-10-15 Huff John Device for securing and circumferentially positioning furniture legs on an associated furniture part

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3115367A (en) * 1962-05-21 1963-12-24 Henry J Gariepy Knockdown furniture
DE29509482U1 (en) * 1995-06-09 1995-09-21 Josef Hoffmann Tischfabrik GmbH & Co KG, 53359 Rheinbach Piece of furniture with a support or seat plate and attached support feet
US20090151605A1 (en) * 2007-12-13 2009-06-18 Martin Buhler Table, Particularly a Bar or Bistro Table
US20090184614A1 (en) * 2008-01-21 2009-07-23 Walsberg Martin C Leveling System and Method
US7780128B2 (en) * 2008-01-21 2010-08-24 Walsberg Martin C Leveling system and method
US8801008B2 (en) 2010-12-09 2014-08-12 Sbyke Usa Llc Three wheeled scooter with rear skate truck and fixed front wheel
US11178971B1 (en) * 2020-05-22 2021-11-23 Waterson Corp. Modular chair assembly

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3883104A (en) Table leg fastening means
US6113054A (en) Umbrella base having adjustable weights
US3604397A (en) Cat perch and exercise pole
US3078063A (en) Pedestal base assembly
US2933754A (en) Glide caster
US5042764A (en) Self-leveling furniture glide
US2975546A (en) Self-leveling furniture leg
US2956368A (en) Adjustable foot for hospital and restaurant cabinets, tables and like articles of furniture
US2457723A (en) Adjustable glider for furniture legs
US3559942A (en) Article mounting means
US3100624A (en) Adjustable pedestal for elevated sectional floors
US3443782A (en) Support
US2733032A (en) Christmas tree stand
US2981578A (en) Table with hollow central pedestal support
US3288415A (en) Support stand
US3699609A (en) Spring loaded caster for shop tools, bar stools and the like
US3287040A (en) Telescopic assembly and locking means therefor
US3646633A (en) Adjustable swivel glide
US2830707A (en) Ceiling-suspended serving tray
US1973948A (en) Adjustable foot for furniture and the like
US3528635A (en) Leg construction for chairs and the like
US3869993A (en) Self locking shelf table
US3223368A (en) Furniture pedestal
US3366991A (en) Furniture glide
US2852221A (en) Furniture leg support bracket