US3089276A - Bumper for furniture or the like - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1963 H. E. BROOKS BUMPER FOR FURNITURE OR THE LIKE Filed March 20, 1961 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. HAROLD E. BROOKS ATTORNEY 'iinite This invention relates to bumper means for furniture or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a bumper means mountable on upholstered furniture or the like and which includes a relatively soft portion engageable with a wall to prevent damage to the wall or the furniture by engagement of same. Still more particularly, the invention relates to the provisions of a bumper member for furniture or the like which is constructed so that the bumper will receive and grip the fabric of an upholstered piece of furniture with a button portion projecting therefrom to prevent injury to the furniture or to a wall When same are placed in engagement.

Various types of bumper means are known to the art. These are primarily directed to bumpers for mounting on the wooden or leg portions of chairs or the like, normally in a permanent or semi-permanent manner. The construction of the prior art bumpers makes them unsuitable for use on the fabric portion of upholstered furniture and due to the manner of mounting same which would cause injury to the furniture. Also, the prior art devices do not present a suitable wall engaging surface. A particular problem exists with divans or couches since this furniture is relatively heavy and is often shoved rather abruptly against a wall and can cause damage to the plaster, wall paper or the like as well as to the furniture itself. In addition, the line of contact between wall and furniture, divan, etc., is prone to become dirty. This causes an unsightly line on the wall when the furniture is moved.

In accordance with the present invention new bumper means are provided which overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a bumper member which is particularly useful with upholstered furniture. The bumper means of the invention includes pin means and a button means therewith, the pin means being insertable into the fabric portion of furniture and the button means therewith projecting therefrom and engageable with a wall or the like.

In preferred specific embodiments of the invention, the pin means consist of U-shaped pin members which are bent at the U-shaped end portion thereof and which have molded therearound button means. The button means in one preferred embodiment is preferably generally cylindrically shaped in the base portion thereof and has a rounded or semi-spherical end portion therewith engageable with the wall or the like. In another preferred specific embodiment of the invention two such U-shaped upholstery pin means are provided and mounted in spaced and generally parallel relation with the U-shaped end portions thereof bent and molded into an elongated, generally elliptical shape button means which is rounded at the end opposite from the pin means and engageable in said last-named end portion with a wall or the like. In the preferred specific embodiments of the invention, the pin means is formed with bends intermediate the ends thereof and the bends are located adjacent to an edge of the button means so that when the bumper is mounted on a piece of furniture part of the fabric thereof will be received between the button means and the pin means to be gripped therebetween to prevent movement thereof. In the preferred specific embodiments, the button portion is preferably formed of a relatively smooth, resilient and non-tacky plastic material which is smooth States Patent U inseam Patented May 14, 1963 enough to slide relative to a plaster wall, wall paper or the like, and sufiiciently resilient to prevent damage thereto. The button portion is preferably non-tacky so that same will not mar the wall when placed in engagement therewith.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide new bumper mean-s.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new bumper particularly constructed and adapted for use with upholstered furniture or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide new bumper means which is relatively easy to assemble, inexpensive, and utilizes common materials in assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide new bumper means wherein a single U-shaped upholstery pin is provided and has therewith a wall engaging button.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new bumper for furniture or the like wherein a plurality of pin means are connected to a single wall engaging button portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide new bumper means for furniture and the like wherein any possibility of the bumper member rolling or turning within the furniture to cause damage thereto has been substantially eliminated.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an application view showing a use of the bumper means of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section view showing the construction of a preferred specific embodiment of the bumper of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the bumper member shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another preferred specific embodiment of the bumper of the invention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new bumper of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular wherein one preferred specific embodiment of the bumper of the invention is shown at 8 and includes pin means of suitable construction as shown generally at 10. The pin means 10 is preferably a U-shaped upholstery type pin which is suitably constructed to be inserted into upholstered fabric or the like. The pin means 10 includes an upper U-shaped end portion 12 and two extending legs 14- and 16 which are preferably pointed at the end as shown. The legs 14 and 16 have intermediate portions as shown at 17 and 18, respectively. The upper or U-shaped end portions 12 of pin means 10 is bent to form an angle with the intermediate portions 17 and 18 of legs 14 and 16. Preferably, the angle formed is an acute angle which approaches a right angle, such being best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The intermediate portions 17 and 18 of the pin means 10 have bends 20 and 22, respectively, formed therein.

A wall engageable button portion 24 is provided and is connected to the pin means 10 in any suitable manner. Preferably, the button 24 is molded about the bent U- shaped end portion 12 of the pin means 10 and receives therein substantially all of the bent portion of the pin. Button 24 preferably has a cylinder base portion 26 having a flat end or back 28 adjacent to and spaced from the intermediate portions 17 and 18 of the pin means 10. The.

opposite end portion of the button 24 can be rounded as shown at 30. Preferably, the rounded end 30 of the button 24 is generally semi-spherical and forms the wall engaging portion of the bumper. The cylindrical portion 26 and rounded portion 30 of button 24 are preferably constructed so that they smoothly merge into each other without the formation of sharp corners or the like.

The button 24 can be formed of a number of materials including plastic materials, rubber or rubber-like materials, etc. Preferably, the button is formed of a relatively soft material which will not damage or injure the furniture with which it is used or a wall or the like. The button should be firm enough so that the end portion 12 of pin means will not engage the wall to cause damage thereto. The button 24 should be formed of a non-tacky material so that the wall or the like will not be marked as the furniture and bumper are moved relative thereto. Preferably, such material should be nontacky so that the button will not tend to stick to and/ or mar the wall. A large number of materials can be used for the bumper 24-. For example, the materials sold under the following trademarks by the companies indicated can be used: Denflex 9220" by the Dennis Chemical Company, St. Louis, Missouri; Hysol 3110 by the Hysol Chemical Compan, Olean, New York; TR-905 by Products Research Company, Los Angeles, California; and Pro-Seal 890 by the Coast Pro-Seal and Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, California. These are merely illustrations of suitable materials and are not intended to limit the invention to any particular type or materials.

Button 24 is preferably secured to pin means 10 by molding the button onto the pin means. The button is desirably molded onto the pin means 10 so that the intermediate portions 17 and 18 of the legs 14 and 16 are adjacent to and spaced from the back 28 of the button 24. The bends or indentations 20 and 22 of the intermediate portions 17 and 18 of legs 14 and 16 are preferably located adjacent to the edge of the back 28 of the button 24, and the bent U-shaped end portion 12 of the pin means 10 is preferably located adjacent to the diametrically opposite portion of the back 28 so that a relatively large amount of fabric can be positioned between the pin means 10 and the back 28. The U-shaped end portion 12 of pin means 10 is preferably bent to form with the intermediate portion 17 and 18 an acute angle which approaches a ninety degree angle. It has been found that this construction prevents the formation of a fillet of material between the intermediate portions 17 and 18 of the pin means and the button 24 during the molding operation. This is very desirable since if a fillet of the material is located between the intermediate portions 17 and 18 of pin means 10 and button 24 then it is substantially impossible to mount the bumper with enough fabric from the furniture therebetween to grip same and maintain the bumper in position. The preferred bumper construction permits fabric 32 of a chair, couch, etc. to be located between and gripped by the pin means and the button as shown in FIG. 2.

The button of FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown in use in FIG. 1 of the drawing. Here the chair or couch 34 is positioned adjacent to a wall 36 and the pin means 10 of the bumper 8 is in position in the fabric of the couch. The button portion of the bumper projects from the couch and will engage the wall 36 to prevent engagement of the furniture therewith and prevent damage to either the wall or the furniture.

Another preferred specific embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4 and is indicated generally by the numeral 40. In this embodiment the pin means 10 of a construction of the type previously described are provided and are located in spaced, generally parallel relation as illustrated in FIG. 4. The button portion 42 of bumper 40 has a body portion 43 which is generally elliptical in shape and which has a relatively flat back portion 44 spaced from the intermediate portion of the pin means 10. The body portion 43 of the button 42 merges into a rounded projecting portion 46 which is engageable with a wall or the like to prevent damage thereto. The rounded end portion 46 is similar to that shown at 30 in FIG. 2 and is elongated and rounded in the end portions thereof, preferably merging smoothly into the body portion 43. Here, as in the previously described embodiment, the pin means 10 are preferably located relative to button 42 so that the bent portions thereof are near the top edge of the button with the intermediate portions of the pins passing along the major portion of the back side 44 of the button 42. Also, the bends in the intermediate portion of the pin means 19 are positioned adjacent to the lower edge of the body portion 43 and back 44 so that fabric positioned therebetween will be tightly gripped by the pin means and the button in the manner shown in FIG. 2 for bumper 8.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is particularly desirable for relatively long pieces of furniture or where more surface contact area is desired. Also, the use of the two pin means 10 gives a substantially greater contact area against the wall and with fabric between the button and the pin means which aids in maintaining the bumper on the furniture. Furthermore, the construction effectively prevents the possibility of any roll or side movement of the pin means within the fabric which might tend to damage same.

As will be seen from the foregoing description of the preferred specific embodiments of the invention, a relatively simple bumper member has been provided which can be constructed with a minimum of time and materials. Furthermore, a bumper has been provided which is a substantially integral member and which will be extremely difficult to separate or remove one portion from another, thus preventing disassembly and loss of a per tion of the pin means or bumper means. The bumper of the invention is desirably used on the upholstered portion of furniture where prior art devices are not suitable and the bumper of the invention can be so used Without danger of damage to the furniture itself. The button portion of the bumpers, being formed of a soft, non-tacky and relatively smooth material, will prevent damage to either the furniture or the wall, wall paper or the like.

Applicants structure is also relatively easy to assemble, requiring only a simple molding step and bending step in order to construct the device. The particular angle desired for the upper portion of the U-shaped pin member eliminates the formation of fillets between the button portion and the pin portion, thus eliminating the necessity of removing molded material therefrom prior to using same.

While the foregoing invention has been described in connection with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that such description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A bumper for furniture and the like comprising, in combination, a U-shaped upholstery pin having the U-shaped end portion bent to form with the intermediate portion thereof an acute angle approaching a right angle and with said U-shaped end portion projecting outwardly from said intermediate portion thereof, a wall engageable button molded around said bent U-shaped end portion of said pin and positioned in spaced relation to said intermediate portion of said pin, said button having a cylindrical base portion with a relatively fiat side at one end thereof in a plane generally parallel to said intermediate portion of said pin, said base portion merging into a semi-spherical end opposite from said flat side, said button being formed of a smooth, resilient, non- .tacky plastic material, said intermediate portion of said pin being spaced from said cylindrical base portion of snsaa're said button and having a bend in each side portion thereof positioned adjacent to the edge of said cylindrical portion of said button, said bumper being constructed and adapted so that the other end portion of said pin can be inserted into the back of a piece of furniture with the fabric thereof being received between said button and said intermediate portion of said pin with said button and said last-named bends in said pin gripping said fabric therebetween and with said spherical end of said button engageable with a wall or the like to prevent damage thereto or to said piece of furniture.

2. A bumper for furniture and the like comprising, in combination, U-shaped pin means having the U-shaped end portion thereof bent to form with the intermediate portion thereof an acute angle and with said U-shaped end portion projecting outwardly from said intermediate portion of said pin means, a wall engageable resilient button molded around said pin means and positioned in spaced relation to said intermediate portion thereof, said button having a relatively flat side in a plane generally parallel to said intermediate portion of said pin means and a rounded end portion opposite from said flat side, said intermediate portion of said pin means having a bend therein positioned adjacent to the edge of said button, said bumper being constructed and adapted so that the other end portion of said pin means can be inserted into the back of a piece of furniture with the fabric thereof being received between said button and said intermediate portion of said pin means with said button and said last-named bend in said pin means gripping said fabric therebetween, and with said rounded end of said button engageable with a wall or the like to prevent damage thereto or to said piece of furniture.

3. A bumper for furniture and the like comprising, in combination, two U-shaped upholstery pins, each of said pins having the U-shaped end portion thereof bent to form With the intermediate portion thereof an acute angle approaching a right angle and with each of said U-shaped end portions projecting outwardly from said intermediate portions thereof, a wall engageable button molded around said bent U-shaped end portions of each of said pins to secure said pins therein in spaced and generally parallel relation, said button having an elongated elliptical shaped base portion merging into a rounded end portion opposite from said pins, said button being formed of a smooth resilient, non-tacky plastic material, said intermediate portion of each of said pins being spaced from said base portion of said button and having a bend in the sides thereof positioned adjacent to the edge of said base portion of said button, said bumper being constructed and adapted so that the other end portion of said pins can be inserted into the back of a piece of furniture with a portion of the fabric thereof being received between said button and said intermediate portion of said pins with said button and said last-named bends in said pin gripping said fabric therebetween and with said rounded end of said button engageable with a wall or the like to prevent damage thereto or to said piece of furniture.

4. Bumper means for furniture and the like comprising, in combination, U-shaped pin means having the U-shaped end portion thereof at an acute angle to the intermediate portion thereof, a resilient button positioned around said pin means and located in spaced relation to said intermediate portion thereof, said button having a generally flat side in a plane substantially parallel to said intermediate portion of said pin means and a wall engageable end portion thereof opposite from said flat side, a portion of said intermediate portion of said pin means being positioned adjacent to said flat side of said button, said bumper means being constructed and adapted so that the other end portion of said pin means is insertable into the fabric portion of a piece of furniture or the like with the fabric of said furniture being received between said button and said portion of said intermediate portion of said pin means and with said button and said pin means gripping said fabric therebetween, said wall engageable portion of said button preventing contact between a wall or the like and said furniture.

5. Bumper means for furniture and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of generally U-shaped pin means, each of said pin means having the U-shaped end portion thereof bent to form with the intermediate portion thereof an acute angle, a resilient wall engageable button connected to said U-shaped end portion of each of said pin means, said button having a base portion adjacent to and spaced from a portion of said intermediate portion of each of said pin means and a rounded end portion opposite from said pin means, said bumper means being constructed and adapted so that the other end portions of said pin means are insertable into the fabric of a piece of furniture or the like with a portion of the fabric being received between said button and said intermediate portion of each of said pin means and gripped therebetween with said button being engageable with a wall or the like to prevent contact therebetween and between said furniture and the wall.

6. Bumper means for furniture and the like comprising, in combination, fastening means having a projecting end portion insertable into a fabric portion of furniture and the like, resilient button means connected to another portion of said fastening means and projecting outwardly therefrom, said another portion of said fastening means being inclined at an angle relative to said projecting end portion thereof, a portion of said button means being positioned adjacent to a portion of said fastening means and defining therewith a narrow space of size to receive and hold a fabric portion of furniture and the like, said bumper means being constructed and adapted for mounting on a piece of furniture or the like with a portion of the fabric of the furniture or the like being received and held in said space between said button means and said fastening means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,325 Totman et a1 Feb. 7, 1893 1,787,253 King Dec. 30, 1930 1,843,703 Boden Feb. 2, 1932 2,573,809 Reiter Nov. 6, 1951 2,673,600 Cramer a Mar. 30, 19 54

Claims (1)

1. A BUMPER FOR FURNITURE AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A U-SHAPED UPHOLSTERY PIN HAVING THE U-SHAPED END PORTION BENT TO FORM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF AN ACUTE ANGLE APPROACHING A RIGHT ANGLE AND WITH SAID U-SHAPED END PORTION PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF, A WALL ENGAGEABLE BUTTON MOLDED AROUND SAID BENT U-SHAPED END PORTION OF SAID PIN AND POSITIONED IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID PIN, SAID BUTTON HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BASE PORTION WITH A RELATIVELY FLAT SIDE AT ONE END THEREOF IN A PLANE GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID PIN, SAID BASE PORTION MERGING INTO A SEMI-SPHERICAL END OPPOSITE FROM SAID FLAT SIDE, SAID BUTTON BEING FORMED OF A SMOOTH, RESILIENT, NONTACKY PLASTIC MATERIAL, SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID PIN BEING SPACED FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL BASE PORTION OF SAID BUTTON AND HAVING A BEND IN EACH SIDE PORTION THEREOF POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE EDGE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF SAID BUTTON, SAID BUMPER BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ADAPTED SO THAT THE OTHER END PORTION OF SAID PIN CAN BE INSERTED INTO THE BACK OF A PIECE OF FURNITURE WITH THE FABRIC THEREOF BEING RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID BUTTON AND SAID INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID PIN WITH SAID BUTTON AND SAID LAST-NAMED BENDS IN SAID PIN GRIPPING SAID FABRIC THEREBETWEEN AND WITH SAID SPHERICAL END OF SAID BUTTON ENGAGEABLE WITH A WALL OR THE LIKE TO PREVENT DAMAGE THERETO OR TO SAID PIECE OF FURNITURE.

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