WO2008011673A1

WO2008011673A1 - Furniture leg adjustment

Info

Publication number: WO2008011673A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Russell John Noye; Edward Joseph Khoury
Original assignee: Russell John Noye; Edward Joseph Khoury
Priority date: 2006-07-27
Filing date: 2007-07-26
Publication date: 2008-01-31
Also published as: CN101505633B; AU2007278757A1; AU2007278757B2; CN101505633A

Abstract

A device for leveling and/or stabilizing tables and the like using a downward force and the force of gravity to adjust the position of a first and second member that can be engaged or released by a pivot means which engages with teeth on the first member into a lock position.

Description

TITLE

"FURNITURE LEG ADJUSTMENT"

Field of the invention The present invention relates to a device for providing adjustment to the legs of furniture such as tables as described in Australian Provisional Application number 2006904004 filed on 27 July 2006.

Background of the invention

A common problem with furniture such as tables is ensuring that all legs of the table sit flat on the floor, thereby preventing movement of the table. In many venues such as restaurants and cafes, the floor on which the table is located is not entirely flat, resulting in a leg of the table being off the floor and the table therefore unstable.

On tables for which no means of adjusting the length of the leg is provided, the usual solution is simply to wedge something under a leg of the table. Some tables include feet that can be screwed upward or downward to provide adjustment. This however requires someone to get down below the table to properly adjust the leg. This process may need to be repeated if the table is moved.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned problem of easily adjusting the leg of a piece of furniture such as a table to provide stability.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a leg adjustment device comprising: a connecting member securable to a lower end of a leg of a piece of furniture; a base member slideably mounted to the connecting member; and an engagement member moveable between a position in which the engagement member is engaged with both the connecting member and the base member preventing movement of the base member relative to the connecting member and a second position in which the engagement member is disengaged with either or both of the base member and connecting members thereby allowing the base member to slide relative to the connecting member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1a is an exploded view of a leg adjustment device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 1 b is an assembled view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 1a;

Figure 2a is a top view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 1 with the engagement member engaged with the connecting member and base member in a first position; Figure 2b is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 3a;

Figure 3a is a top view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 1 with the engagement member disengaged from the base member;

Figure 3b is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 4a;

Figure 4a is a top view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 1 with the engagement member engaged with the connecting member and base member in a second position;

Figure 4b is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 5a;

Figure 5a is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a leg adjustment device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5b is an assembled view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 5a;

Figure 6a is a top view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 5 with the engagement member engaged with the connecting member and base member in a first position; Figure 6b is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 6a;

Figure 7a is a top view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 5 with the engagement member disengaged from the base member;

Figure 7b is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 7a; Figure 8a is a top view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 5 with the engagement member engaged with the connecting member and base member in a second position;

Figure 8b is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 8a;

Figure 9a is a front view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 5; Figure 9b is a top cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 9a;

Figure 10a is an upper perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of a leg adjustment device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 10b is a top view of the leg adjustment device of the Figure 10a;

Figure 10c is a front view of the leg adjustment device of the Figure 10a; Figure 10d is a side view of the leg adjustment device of the Figure 10a;

Figure 10e is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure

10a with the connecting member in an upper position with respect to the base member;

Figure 10f is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 10a with the connecting member in an intermediate position with respect to the base member; and Figure 10g is a side cross sectional view of the leg adjustment device of Figure 10a with the connecting member in a lower position with respect to the base member.

Description of the Invention

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a leg adjustment device comprising a connecting member 12, a base member 14 and an engagement member 16. The connecting member 12 includes means to secure the connecting member 12 to the leg of a piece of furniture such as a table leg. in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 9, the means comprises a threaded shaft 18 at a first end 20 of the connecting member 12. The threaded shaft 18 is constructed to be received in a corresponding threaded aperture in the base of the leg. The connecting member 12 includes a portion adjacent a second end 22 thereof to be slidably received in the base member 14.

The base member 14 comprises a cylindrical portion 24 having an opening 26 into which is received the second end 22 of the connecting member 12. The base member 14 includes also a foot 27 at an end remote from the opening 26. The foot 27 rests on the ground in use. The opening 26 in the base member 14 is of a cross sectional shape complementary to the cross sectional shape of the second end 22 of the connecting member 12 such that the second end 22 of the connecting member 12 slides into the opening 26. In the embodiment shown, the opening 26 and the second end 22 of the connecting member 12 both have a generally square cross section. The opening 26 includes an inner sleeve 28 which is received in the opening 26. The inner sleeve 28 is received in the opening 26 in a press fit arrangement such that the inner sleeve 28 lines the opening 26 and the second end 22 of the connecting member is received in the sleeve 28. The connecting member 12 is also provided with a transversely extending flange 50 at the lower end of the threaded shaft 20 that engages with the upper end of the base member 14 around the opening 26 when the second end 22 of the connecting member 12 is fully received in the base member 14. Both the inner sleeve 28 and the opening 26 include a longitudinal slot 30 on corresponding sides thereof. An engagement member 32 is provided on the base member 14 to engage with the connecting member 12 when the connecting member 12 is received in the opening 26. The engagement member 32 is mounted adjacent the slot 30 such that the engagement member engages the second end 22 of the connecting member 12 through the slot 30.

The engagement member 32 includes a pivotally mounted member, mounted across the slot 30 in the inner sleeve 28. The pivotally mounted member comprises a plate 34 mounted across the front of the slot 30 having a tab 36 at an upper end thereof extending into the interior of the opening 26. The second end 22 of the connecting member 12 is provided with a plurality of teeth 40 on a side thereof such that when the tab 36 extends into the opening 26, the tab 36 engages with one of the teeth 40 and prevents movement of the connecting member relative to the base member 14. The plate 34 includes a pair of arms 38 extending away from the opening 26. A downward force on the arms 38 causes the plate to pivot such that the tab36 is withdrawn from the opening 26. The pivotal mounting of the plate 34 is biased such that with no force on the arms 38, the tab 36 extends into the opening 26 and engages with the teeth 40 on the connecting member 12. On a downward force being applied to the arms 38, the plate 34 pivots withdrawing the tab 36 and allowing the connecting member 12 to slide relative to the base member 14. The engagement member 32 is also provided with a pedal 42 that engages with the arms 38. The pedal 42 includes an upwardly facing surface 44 onto which can be applied a downward force that is transferred to the arms 38. The upwardly facing surface 44 of the pedal 42 includes grooves 46 for grip. In use, the leg adjustment device 10 is secured to a leg of the table. In the embodiment shown, this securing is via the threaded shaft 20 being received in a threaded aperture in the lower end of the leg. The base member 14 and engagement member 32 are provided as a single pre-constructed unit, with the inner sleeve 28 already inserted into the opening 26. It is expected that the base member 14 is constructed of a plastic material and the inner sleeve 28 and pivotal members are constructed of metal for strength. It will be appreciated however that the various elements of the adjustment device 10 may be constructed of any suitable material.

The base member 14 is engaged with the connecting member 12 by sliding the second end 22 of the connecting member 12 into the opening 26. When it is required to adjust the length of the leg, the user presses down on the pedal 42 and the pivotal member is pivoted such that the tab 36 disengages with the teeth 40 allowing the base member 14 to slide relative to the connecting member 12 and the leg. If the leg requires additional length to stabilize the table, the base member 14 slides downwardly relatively to the connecting member 12 under the force of gravity and/or the force depressing the pedal 42. If the leg is required to be shortened, the connecting member 12 slides downwardly into the base member 14 until the table is stabilized. The single adjustment action provided allows for the adjustment to be performed by simply pressing the pedal 42 by foot. The adjustment device 10 may also be provided with a spring bias (not shown) between the base member 14 and the connecting member 12. The spring bias could either be in a direction to pull the base member 14 towards the connecting member 12 or push it away. In the former, the action of depressing the pedal 42 provides the downward force if the base member 14 needs to be adjusted away from the connecting member 12. In the latter, if the base member 14 needs to be adjusted towards the connecting member 12 a downward force is simply provided on the top of the table to compress the spring bias. Figures 5 to 9 show an alternative embodiment of an adjustment device 10 in which like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. In the embodiment of Figures 5 to 9, the cross sectional shape of the opening 26 is such that the side of the opening 26 adjacent the slot is narrower than the side of the opening 26 remote from the slot 30. In this embodiment, the cross sectional shape is generally trapezoidal, with the shorter of the parallel sides corresponding with the slot 30. The cross section of the second end 22 of the connecting member 12 and the inner sleeve 28 are of corresponding shapes. The use of the narrowed portion of the opening 26 adjacent the slot 30 is intended to reduce the likelihood of the inner sleeve 28 and the second end 22 of the connecting member 12 pulling out through the slot in use. Also, the arrangement of the engagement member 32 in the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 9 is modified from the first embodiment. The inner sleeve 28 is provided with a base portion 60 extending from a lower end thereof outwardly through the slot 30. The plate 34 extends from an outer end of the base portion 60, upwardly and toward the inside of the opening 26 such that the tab 36 is engageable with the teeth in the same manner as the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. The construction of the plate 34 and the base portion 60 is such that the plate 34 flexes with respect to the base portion 60 to provide the pivotal movement of the plate 34. Figures 10a to 10g show a further alternative embodiment of a furniture leg adjustment device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The leg adjustment device 10 of Figure 10 is similar to the previous embodiments with the exception of the means for attaching the leg adjustment device 10 to the leg of a piece of furniture. The connecting member 22 is connected at a first end thereof to a cylindrical cover member 70. The cover member 70 extends downwardly from the connecting member 70 such that the base member 14 is received in the cover member 70. As the connecting member 22 slides relative to the base member 14, the cover member 70 moves between a position in which the base member 14 is fully received in the cover member 70 (as shown in Figure 10g) and is only partially received in the cover member70 (as shown in Figure 10e). The cover member 70 includes an open side 72 through which extends the pedal 42. The cover member 70 includes a leg receiving portion 74 extending outwardly from adjacent a lower end thereof. The leg receiving portion 74 comprises a flat plate 76 onto which is received the leg of furniture. The leg is then secured to the leg receiving portion 74 by suitable means. The arrangement as shown in Figure 10 allows the leg of a the piece of furniture to be connected to the leg adjustment device 10 such that, when connected, the leg of the furniture is not substantially raised from the floor. This allows the use of the leg adjustment member 10 without significant increase in the height of the furniture.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a leg adjustment device comprising: a connecting member securable to a lower end of a leg of a piece of furniture; a base member slideably mounted to the connecting member; and an engagement member moveable between a position in which the engagement member is engaged with both the connecting member and the base member preventing movement of the base member relative to the connecting member and a second position in which the engagement member is disengaged with either or both of the base member and connecting members thereby allowing the base member to slide relative to the connecting member.

2. According to claim 1 there is a threaded member which screws into the underside of a leg of a table or the like at one end and a portion adjacent a second end thereof to be slideably received in a base member, an opening and the second end of the connecting member both having a generally square cross section. The opening includes an inner sleeve which is received in the opening in a press fit arrangement such that the inner sleeve lines the opening and the second end of the connecting member is received in the sleeve.

3. According to claim 1 and 2 there is an engagement member which includes a pivotally mounted member, mounted in the inner sleeve. The pivotally mounted member comprises a plate mounted across the front of the slot, having a tab at an upper end extending into the interior of an opening. The second end of the connecting member is provided with a plurality of teeth on a side thereof such that when the tab extends into the opening, the tab engages with one of the teeth and prevents movement of the connecting member relative to the base member.

4. According to claims 1 , 2 and 3 there is also provided a pedal that engages the pivot means via two arms. The pedal includes an upwardly facing surface onto which can be applied a downward force that is transferred to the arms. By depressing the pedal the pivotal member is pivoted such that the tab disengages with the teeth allowing the base member to slide relative to the connecting member until it reaches the ground, having used the downward force of gravity.

5. The connecting member is connected at a first end thereof to a cylindrical cover member. The cover member extends downwardly from the connecting member such that the base member is received in the cover member. As the connecting member slides relative to the base member, the cover member moves between a position in which the base member is fully received in the cover member and is only partially received in the cover member. The cover member includes an open side through which extends the pedal 42.

The cover member includes a leg receiving portion extending outwardly from adjacent a lower end thereof. The leg receiving portion comprises a flat plate onto which is received the leg of furniture. The leg is then secured to the leg receiving portion by suitable means. The arrangement allows the leg of a piece of furniture to be connected to the leg adjustment device such that, when connected, the leg of the furniture is not substantially raised from the floor. This allows the use of the leg adjustment member without significant increase in the height of the furniture.