U.S. patent application number 09/757347 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-11 for furniture glide with polymer support platform.
This patent application is currently assigned to Carpin Manufacturing, Inc.. Invention is credited to Carpinella, Ralph, Dombroski, Robert N..
Application Number | 20020088082 09/757347 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25047458 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020088082 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carpinella, Ralph ; et
al. |
July 11, 2002 |
Furniture glide with polymer support platform
Abstract
A furniture glide including a ferrule having a circular bottom
wall and an upstanding cylindrical side wall. A support platform
composed of polymeric material is positioned in the ferrule. The
support platform has a platform base in contact with the bottom
wall and a support column extending upward from the platform base
to a support shoulder. A clip has a clip hub in contact with the
support shoulder and multiple clip arms which extend radially
outward and longitudinally downward from the clip hub to engage a
furniture leg inserted into the ferrule. A glide base is mounted to
the ferrule.
Inventors: |
Carpinella, Ralph;
(Middlebury, CT) ; Dombroski, Robert N.;
(Waterbury, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALIX YALE & RISTAS LLP
750 MAIN STREET
SUITE 1400
HARTFORD
CT
06103
US
|
Assignee: |
Carpin Manufacturing, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
25047458 |
Appl. No.: |
09/757347 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
16/42R |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 16/209 20150115;
A47B 91/066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
16/42.00R |
International
Class: |
A47B 091/06 |
Claims
1. A furniture glide for use with a tubular furniture leg having an
inner surface, the furniture glide comprising: a ferrule having a
circular bottom wall and an upstanding cylindrical side wall having
an upper rim; a support platform composed of polymeric material
positioned in said ferrule, said support platform having a platform
base in contact with said bottom wall and a support column
extending upward from said platform base to a support shoulder; a
clip having a clip hub in contact with said support shoulder and a
plurality of clip arms extending radially outward and
longitudinally downward from said clip hub, each clip arm being
resiliently engageable to a furniture leg; and a glide base mounted
to said ferrule.
2. The furniture glide of claim 1 wherein said support platform has
a height wherein said support shoulder is disposed proximate to
said upper rim of the side wall.
3. The furniture glide of claim 2 wherein support column includes a
lower section having a frustoconical-shape.
4. The furniture glide of claim 3 wherein said lower section of
said support column has a base and a top, each having an outside
diameter, the outside diameter of the base being greater than the
outside diameter of the top.
5. The furniture glide of claim 2 wherein said clip hub has a lower
surface supported on said support shoulder of said support
platform, at least a portion of said clip hub extending upwardly
beyond said upper rim of said ferrule, said clip arms extending
longitudinally downward into said ferrule.
6. The furniture glide of claim 1 wherein the clip arms are
resiliently flexible and adapted for frictionally engaging the
inner surface of a furniture leg.
7. The furniture glide of claim 6 wherein the clip arms define a
plurality of openings, each of the openings having a substantially
semicircular shape.
8. The furniture glide of claim 1 further comprising a rivet fixing
said support platform and said clip to said ferrule.
9. The furniture glide of claim 8 wherein said rivet has an
expandable head portion, an opposite swivel portion, and an
elongated neck portion extending therebetween.
10. The furniture glide of claim 9 wherein said support platform
defines an axial bore, said bottom wall of said ferrule has a lower
surface and defines a ferrule rivet opening, and said clip has an
upper surface and defines a clip rivet opening, said head portion
of said rivet being disposed adjacent said upper surface of said
clip, said neck portion of said rivet extends through said clip
rivet opening, said bore, and said ferrule rivet opening, and said
swivel portion of said rivet is disposed adjacent said lower
surface of said bottom wall of said ferrule.
11. A furniture glide comprising: a ferrule having a circular
bottom wall; a support platform composed of polymeric material
positioned in said ferrule, said support platform having a platform
base in contact with said bottom wall and a support column
extending upward from said platform base to a support shoulder; a
clip supported on said support shoulder, said clip having a
plurality of radially outward and longitudinally downward extending
clip arms; and a glide base mounted to said ferrule.
12. A furniture glide comprising: a ferrule having a circular
bottom wall and an upstanding cylindrical side wall having an upper
rim; a support platform composed of polymeric material positioned
in said ferrule, said support platform having a platform base
substantially conforming with said bottom wall and a support column
extending upward from said platform base to a support shoulder
disposed proximate to said upper rim of said ferrule; a clip having
a clip hub supported on said support shoulder and a plurality of
clip arms extending radially outward and longitudinally downward
from said clip hub; and a glide base mounted to said ferrule.
13. The furniture glide of claim 12 wherein support column includes
a lower section having a frustoconical-shape.
14. The furniture glide of claim 13 wherein said lower section of
said support column has a base and a top, each having an outside
diameter, the outside diameter of the base being greater than the
outside diameter of the top.
15. The furniture glide of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of
said clip hub extend upwardly beyond said upper rim of said ferrule
and said clip arms extend longitudinally downward into said
ferrule.
16. The furniture glide of claim 12 wherein the clip arms define a
plurality of openings, each of the openings having a substantially
semicircular shape.
17. The furniture glide of claim 12 wherein said support platform
defines an axial bore, said bottom wall of said ferrule has a lower
surface and defines a ferrule rivet opening, and said clip hub has
an upper surface and defines a clip rivet opening, and wherein said
furniture glide further comprises a rivet having a head portion
disposed adjacent said upper surface of said clip hub, a neck
portion extending through said clip rivet opening, said bore, and
said ferrule rivet opening, and a swivel portion disposed adjacent
said lower surface of said bottom wall of said ferrule.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of furniture glide
components. More specifically, this invention relates to an
improved swiveling furniture glide for the leg of an article of
furniture and a method for manufacture of the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Furniture glides are well known for fixation to the leg of
an article of furniture to protect the end portion of the leg from
damage, and further, to protect a floor surface from damage as a
result of the furniture leg.
[0003] The conventional furniture glide typically employs a plastic
bottom surface for contact with the floor to allow sliding of the
furniture on a floor surface without excessive gouging or
scratching of that floor surface. Furthermore, the conventional
furniture glide spreads the mass of the furniture and any
additional mass, for example, a person sitting in a chair, over a
larger surface area to prevent denting or impression into the floor
surface. Some furniture glides further employ a swiveling mechanism
to allow the bottom of the glide to rest flat on a floor surface
for varying angles of the furniture leg. The swiveling mechanism
compensates for slight variations in the lengths of the legs of
furniture, variations in the flatness of the floor surface, and
splay in the legs of the article of furniture.
[0004] A conventional swiveling furniture glide requires at least
three assembly operations for complete construction. In the first
operation a tubular clip for gripping a furniture leg is inserted
into a thin walled ferrule having a constant diameter. The top edge
of the ferrule is then rolled or crimped to maintain the clip in
position. In the second assembly operation a disc shaped support
platform is mounted to the bottom of the ferrule. The support
platform reinforces the ferrule and provides the structural support
to hold the tubing of the leg. A rivet having on one end a rounded
portion, and on the other end an expandable head, is inserted
through aligned openings in the ferrule and support platform. The
head of the rivet is expanded to fix the ferrule and support
platform together. The rounded portion of the rivet supports a pair
of nesting shells. In the final assembly operation a nylon base for
contact with the floor, and a vinyl cushion, are installed by
crimping the outer shell to the base whereby the cushion is between
the rounded portion of the rivet and the base. The cushion absorbs
the forces from changing weights on the furniture. The base allows
the furniture to slide or glide along a floor surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Briefly stated, the furniture glide of the invention
includes a ferrule having a circular bottom wall and an upstanding
cylindrical side wall. A support platform composed of polymeric
material is positioned in the ferrule. The support platform has a
platform base in contact with the bottom wall and a support column
extending upward from the platform base to a support shoulder. A
clip has a clip hub in contact with the support shoulder and
multiple clip arms which extend radially outward and longitudinally
downward from the clip hub to engage a furniture leg inserted into
the ferrule. A glide base is mounted to the ferrule.
[0006] The height of the support platform is preferably selected
such that the support shoulder is disposed proximate to the upper
rim of the side wall and at least a portion of the clip hub extends
upwardly beyond the upper rim of the ferrule. The clip arms are
resiliently flexible and frictionally engage the inner surface of
the furniture leg. A rivet mounts the support platform and the clip
to the ferrule. Preferably, the head portion of the rivet is
disposed adjacent the upper surface of the clip, the elongated neck
portion of the rivet extends through the clip rivet opening, a bore
extending axially through the support platform, and the ferrule
rivet opening, with a swivel portion of the rivet being disposed
adjacent the lower surface of the bottom wall of the ferrule.
[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a furniture glide
having an improved support platform for supporting a furniture
leg.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a furniture
glide that is more efficient to assemble.
[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a furniture
glide that provides a reduced number of components.
[0010] These and other objects of the invention are readily
apparent from review of the specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the furniture
glide of the invention having a ferrule, a clip, a support
platform, a rivet, an inner shell, an outer shell, and a glide
base;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rivet of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the glide base of FIG.
1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the support platform of
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the support platform
of FIG. 1; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a top view of the clip of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In the following description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention, like numeral identifiers represent like components
as depicted in the figures. The furniture glide in accordance with
the invention is generally designated by the numeral 10. With
reference to FIG. 1, the furniture glide 10 has a ferrule 12. The
ferrule 12 has a circular bottom wall 14 and an upstanding
cylindrical side wall 16. The bottom wall 14 defines a circular
rivet opening 18 coaxial with the ferrule opening 20. The bottom
wall 14 of the ferrule 12 is further preferably contoured having a
dropped portion 21 adjacent the rivet opening 18. The inside
diameter of the ferrule 12 and the ferrule opening 20 are selected
such that a tubular furniture leg (not shown) may be easily
inserted therein. Preferably, the ferrule opening 20 and the
ferrule 12 have the same inside diameter, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a support platform 22 is
positioned within the ferrule 12. The support platform 22 is formed
from polymeric material, preferably nylon. An axial bore 24
extending longitudinally through the support platform 22 is coaxial
with the ferrule 12, the rivet opening 18, and the ferrule opening
20 when the support platform 22 is installed in the ferrule 12. The
support platform 22 has a platform base 26 having an outside
diameter which is slightly smaller than the inside diameters of the
ferrule opening 20 and the ferrule 12 to facilitate insertion of
the support platform 22 into the ferrule. The bottom surface 28 of
the platform base 26 preferably has a contour which is
complimentary to that of the bottom wall 14 of the ferrule 12,
having a dropped portion 30 that is tapered toward bore 24. The
furniture leg is inserted through the ferrule opening 20 until
fully seated against the upper surface 32 of the platform base 26.
The thickness or height 34 of the platform base 26 is selected such
that the support platform 22 and the ferrule 12 together, are fully
capable of supporting a furniture leg under all conditions.
[0019] A support column 36 extends longitudinally upward from the
platform base 26 to a support shoulder 38. In a preferred
embodiment, a lower section 40 of the support column 36 has a
frustoconical-shape, with the outside diameter of the base 42 of
the lower section 40 being greater than the outside diameter of the
top 44 of the lower section 40, to provide greater mechanical
strength to the support column 36. The height 46 of the support
column 36 is selected such that the support shoulder 38 is
positioned proximate to the upper rim 48 of the ferrule 12.
[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, a clip 50 formed from a
resilient metal disk has a circular clip hub 52 and a plurality of
clip arms 54 which extend radially outward and longitudinally
downward from the clip hub 52. The spaces 56 disposed intermediate
the clip arms 54 have a semi-circular shape. The lower surface 58
of the clip hub 52 is supported on the support shoulder 38 of the
support platform 22 preferably such that at least a portion of the
clip hub 52 extends upwardly past the upper rim 43 of the ferrule
12 and the clip arms 54 extend longitudinally downward into the
ferrule 12.
[0021] The outside diameter defined by the clip arms 54 is selected
such that it is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the
tubular furniture leg. The clip arms 54 are resiliently deformable
whereby as a tubular furniture leg is inserted into the ferrule 12,
the end of the furniture leg engages the clip arms 54 and deforms
the clip arms 54 radially inwardly to the smaller inside diameter
of the furniture leg. The spring force of the clip arms 54 biases
each clip arm 54 radially outward to frictionally engage the inner
surface of the furniture leg to thereby mount the furniture glide
10 to the furniture leg.
[0022] The clip hub 52 defines a central clip rivet opening 60. The
clip rivet opening 60 is aligned with the bore 24 of the support
platform 22 when the clip 50 is mounted on the support column 36.
The rivet openings 18, 60 and the bore 24 are of the same
diameter.
[0023] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rivet 62 is secured
through the clip rivet opening 60, the support platform bore 24,
and the ferrule rivet opening 18. The rivet 62 has an expandable
head portion 64, an opposite swivel portion 66, and an elongated
neck portion 68 extending therebetween. The head portion 64 of the
rivet 62 is inserted through the aligned clip rivet opening 60,
support platform bore 24, and ferrule rivet opening 18 and rounded
or peened over to pull the swivel portion 66 against the bottom
wall 14 of the ferrule 12. The rivet 62 securely fastens the
ferrule 12, support platform 22, and clip 50 together. The swivel
portion 66 of the rivet 62 extends downward from the bottom wall 14
and radially outward to define a convex spherical outer swivel
surface 70 and a concentric inner spherical swivel surface 72.
[0024] A shell assembly 74, having an inner shell 76 and an outer
shell 78, slidably engages the outer swivel surface 70 of the rivet
62. The inner shell 76 is generally spherical and defines a
circular inner shell opening 80 having a diameter less than the
swivel portion 66 of the rivet 62. The inner shell 76 is nested
within the outer shell 78. The outer shell 78 has a generally
frustoconical shape forming an expanded portion 82 defining an
outer edge 84 and a reduced portion 86. The outer shell 78 defines
a circular outer shell opening 88 at the reduced portion 86 having
a diameter less than the outer diameter of the inner shell 76. The
spherical shape of the inner shell 76 allows for improved swiveling
sliding engagement of the inner shell 76 with the outer shell
78.
[0025] A glide base 90 is mounted to the expanded portion 82 of the
outer shell 78. The glide base 90 is preferably molded as a unitary
or singular component. The glide base 90 is circular, having an
annular rim portion 92 for engagement to the outer shell 78 and an
axial elevated central post portion 94. (See FIGS. 1 and 3) The
glide base 90 is mounted in position by the crimped outer edge 84
of the outer shell 78. The post portion 94 of the glide base 90
defines a generally convex base swivel surface 96 in congruent
surface-to-surface contact with the inner swivel surface 72 of the
rivet 62. The post portion 94 is dimensioned of a sufficient height
to maintain the shell assembly 74 in tight engagement with the
swivel portion 66 of the rivet 62. The glide base 90 is preferably
constructed of a hard wear-resistant plastic such as nylon. The
glide base 90 acts as a cushion and can slide or glide along a
floor surface.
[0026] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention and
method for manufacture of the same has been illustrated and
described in detail, it should be readily appreciated that many
modifications and changes thereto are within the ability of those
of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the appended claims are
intended to cover any and all of such modifications which fall
within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *