U.S. patent application number 10/967971 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for round furniture slide.
This patent application is currently assigned to SIMTEC, CO.. Invention is credited to Edwards, Donald V..
Application Number | 20050081330 10/967971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34435179 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050081330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Edwards, Donald V. |
April 21, 2005 |
Round furniture slide
Abstract
An apparatus for use in at least one of movement of at least one
of furniture, appliances and movable wall structures and as a
protective pad for floors wherein said apparatus is placed between
such furniture to be moved and such floors. The apparatus comprises
a first member formed from a first predetermined solid material
having each of a first predetermined configuration and a first
predetermined thickness. An outer perimeter of the first member
having a first predetermined length. Such first predetermined
configuration has a plurality of surfaces. A second member is
formed from a second predetermined material having a second
predetermined configuration and a second predetermined thickness
and having a first surface engageable with the upper surface of the
first member. An outer perimeter of the second member has a second
predetermined length which is shorter than the first predetermined
length thereby forming an exposed portion on the upper surface of
the first member disposed between the outer perimeter of the first
member and the outer perimeter of the second member. The second
member being formed from a compressible material having such
radially opposed second surface for contacting a predetermined
portion of such at least one of such furniture, appliance and
movable wall structures to be moved.
Inventors: |
Edwards, Donald V.;
(Harrison City, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES RAY & ASSOCIATES
2640 PITCAIRN ROAD
MONROEVILLE
PA
15146
US
|
Assignee: |
SIMTEC, CO.
|
Family ID: |
34435179 |
Appl. No.: |
10/967971 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60513065 |
Oct 21, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
16/42R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 91/06 20130101;
Y10T 16/209 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
016/042.00R |
International
Class: |
A47B 091/06 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An apparatus for use in at least one of movement of at least one
of furniture, appliances and movable wall structures and as a
protective pad for floors wherein said apparatus is placed between
such furniture, appliances and movable wall structures to be moved
and such floors, said apparatus comprising; (a) a first member
formed from a first predetermined solid material having each of a
first predetermined configuration and a first predetermined
thickness, an outer perimeter of said first member having a first
predetermined length, said first predetermined configuration having
a plurality of surfaces including an upper surface and a bottom
surface; (b) a second member formed from a second predetermined
material having a second predetermined configuration and a second
predetermined thickness and having a first surface engageable with
a predetermined portion of said upper surface of said first member,
an outer perimeter of said second member having a second
predetermined length which is shorter than said first predetermined
length thereby forming an exposed portion on said upper surface of
said first member disposed between said outer perimeter of said
first member and said outer perimeter of said second member, said
second member being formed from a compressible material having a
substantially radially opposed second surface for contacting a
predetermined portion of such at least one of such furniture,
appliance and movable wall structures to be moved.
2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first
predetermined configuration is generally circular.
3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of
surfaces of said first member includes an intermediate recessed
surface, having a third predetermined configuration, that is
substantially radially opposed to said bottom surface and is
substantially centrally disposed for retaining said second
member.
4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said exposed
portion on said upper surface of said first member disposed between
said outer perimeter of said first member and said outer perimeter
of said second member serves as a support portion.
5. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said third
predetermined configuration is generally round.
6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second member
is secured to said first member by means of an adhesive.
7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second
predetermined material of said second member is an elastomeric
material.
8. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said elastomeric
material is selected from a group including natural rubber,
synthetic rubber, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate and various
combinations thereof.
9. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said elastomeric
material is ethylene vinyl acetate.
10. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said bottom
surface of said first member has a predetermined contour.
11. The apparatus, according to claim 10, wherein said
predetermined contour includes a generally flat bottom portion and
an arcuate portion disposed between a side wall portion having a
fourth predetermined configuration and said generally flat bottom
portion.
12. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said fourth
predetermined configuration includes a taper from an upper edge of
said side wall portion to a bottom section of said side wall
portion that merges with said arcuate portion of said bottom
surface.
13. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second
surface of said second member further includes a double faced
adhesive pad for attaching said apparatus to an item of
furniture.
14. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first
predetermined material of said first member is selected from a
group of plastic materials including polyethylene, polypropylene,
nylon, tetrafluoroethylene, polyoxymethylenes and various mixtures
thereof.
15. The apparatus, according to claim 14, wherein said plastic
material is high density polyethylene.
16. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said bottom
surface of said first member includes a recessed surface that is
radially opposed to said first surface of said second member.
17. The apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said recessed
bottom surface further includes a third member disposed within said
recessed bottom surface of said first member, said third member
formed from a third material and having a fourth predetermined
configuration and a third predetermined thickness.
18. The apparatus, according to claim 17, wherein said third member
is secured to said first member by means of at least one of an
adhesive, a mechanical snap, friction fit and various combinations
thereof.
19. The apparatus, according to claim 17, wherein said third
material is selected from a group including felt,
tetrafluoroethylene and polyethylene.
20. The apparatus, according to claim 19, wherein said third
material is felt.
21. The apparatus, according to claim 18, wherein said third member
is secured to said first member by means of said mechanical snap.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is closely related to and claims benefit
from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/513,065 filed Oct.
21, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to an aid for
moving furniture and, more, particularly, the present invention
relates to a furniture slide which also serves as a caster under
furniture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In both the moving industry and the carpet cleaning industry
it is quite common to be faced with the situation in which a
relatively large piece of furniture or an appliance has to be
moved. With limited manpower it is difficult to pick up the item
and carry it to another location.
[0004] There have been a variety of prior art devices that have
been used to assist in the moving of such furniture or appliance.
Most of these devices involve placing the device under the legs of
furniture or under the furniture itself in order to slide the
furniture across the floor.
[0005] One problem that has been encountered with many of the prior
art devices is that the furniture can slide off of the device while
in the process of sliding the furniture across a floor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides an apparatus for use in at
least one of movement of at least one of furniture, appliances and
movable wall structures and as a protective pad for floors wherein
said apparatus is placed between such furniture to be moved and
such floors. The apparatus comprises a first member formed from a
first predetermined solid material and having each of a first
predetermined configuration and a first predetermined thickness, an
outer perimeter of the first member having a first predetermined
length. Such first predetermined configuration has a plurality of
surfaces including an upper surface and a bottom surface. A second
member is formed from a second predetermined material having a
second predetermined configuration and a second predetermined
thickness and having a first surface engageable with the upper
surface of the first member. An outer perimeter of the second
member has a second predetermined length which is shorter than the
first predetermined length thereby forming an exposed portion on
the upper surface of the first member disposed between the outer
perimeter of the first member and the outer perimeter of the second
member when that portion of such at least one of such furniture,
appliance and movable wall structures to be moved, and in contact
with a radially opposed second surface of the second member, is
smaller than a surface area of the second predetermined
configuration of the second member. The second member being formed
from a compressible material having such radially opposed second
surface for contacting a predetermined portion of such at least one
of such furniture, appliance and movable wall structures to be
moved.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present
invention to provide a furniture slide in which the furniture
remains with the slide during movement of the furniture and does
not slip off the slide.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
furniture slide in which the slide can operate on carpeted
floors.
[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a furniture slide in which the slide can be used as a caster under
the furniture to protect the carpet when the furniture is not being
moved.
[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
furniture slide in which the material that contacts the furniture
to be moved is a compressible material.
[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a furniture slide in which the material that contacts the furniture
includes an adhesive pad for securing such apparatus to the
furniture.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a furniture
slide in which the material that contacts the floor is disposed as
an insert in the apparatus.
[0013] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
furniture slide in which different inserts can be used for carpeted
floors and for hard surface floors.
[0014] In addition to the numerous objects and advantages of the
present invention which have been described with some degree of
particularity above, it should be both noted and understood that a
number of other important objects and advantages of the invention
will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled
in the relevant art of furniture moving from the following more
detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such
detailed description is taken in conjunction with the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a top or plan view of the furniture slide
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the furniture slide
shown in FIG. 1 taken across the lines of II-II.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a top or plan view of the furniture slide
according to another embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the furniture slide
shown in FIG. 3 taken across the lines of IV-IV.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a top or plan view of the furniture slide shown in
FIG. 3 showing an alternate embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the furniture slide
shown in FIG. 5 taken across the lines of VI-VI.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a top or plan view of the furniture slide shown in
FIG. 3 showing an alternate embodiment of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the furniture slide
shown in FIG. 7 taken across the lines of VIII-VIII.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the furniture slide
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 according to an alternate embodiment of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATE
EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0024] Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the
present invention, it should be noted that for the sake of clarity
in understanding the invention, identical components with identical
functions have been designated with identical reference numerals
throughout the drawing Figures.
[0025] Illustrated in the drawing Figures is an apparatus,
generally designated 10, for use in the movement of furniture on
carpeted floors or hard surface floors. Apparatus 10 is also used
as a caster placed under furniture to protect carpeting or other
types of floors. Such items of furniture would include virtually
all items of furniture including appliances, entertainment centers,
bookcases, sofas, desks, dressers, file cabinets and movable wall
structures. Many furniture or appliance items include leveling
screws which can mar a floor unless the floor is protected. Also
many other pieces of furniture have rather narrow or pointed legs
which can cause problems with the carpeting or other flooring
underneath. The present invention not only is useful in moving the
furniture but can be left under the furniture as a caster to
protect the flooring and still be there in case the furniture or
appliance has to be moved.
[0026] The apparatus 10 is placed between such furniture (not
shown) to be moved and a floor. Apparatus 10 in one embodiment is
used for carpeted floors while in an alternate embodiment such
apparatus 10 is used on hard surface floors. To use apparatus 10
the item of furniture to be moved would be tilted slightly and an
apparatus 10 would be placed under a corner of the furniture. This
is repeated for each corner. The item to be moved could then be
pushed or pulled to the desired location. It would, thus, require
four apparatus 10 units for each item of furniture to be moved,
although the same units could be used over and over again.
[0027] The apparatus 10 comprises a first member 2 which is formed
a first predetermined material and has each of a first
predetermined configuration and a first predetermined thickness.
The first predetermined configuration having a plurality of
surfaces including a bottom surface 6. The bottom surface 6 has a
predetermined texture for contacting such carpeted floors and a
different texture for use with hard surface floors. It is presently
preferred that such first predetermined configuration is generally
circular.
[0028] There is a second member formed from a second predetermined
material. Such second member has a second predetermined
configuration and a second predetermined thickness and has a first
surface 12 engageable with a surface radially opposed to the bottom
surface 6 of the first member 2. The second member 8 is formed from
such second material which is a compressible material and has a
second surface 14 radially opposed to the first surface 6 for
contact with a predetermined portion of such furniture to be moved.
In one embodiment of the invention such second member is affixed to
the first by the use of an adhesive.
[0029] In one embodiment of the invention the plurality of surfaces
of the first member 2 includes an intermediate recessed surface 16,
having a third predetermined configuration, that is radially
opposed to the bottom surface 6 and is substantially centrally
disposed for retaining the second member 8. Such intermediate
recessed surface 16 is surrounded by a lip 18. Such second member 8
is disposed within such intermediate recessed surface 16 and the
first surface 12 of the second member 8 is engageable with the
first member 2. It is presently preferred that such third
predetermined configuration of such intermediate recessed surface
16 is round.
[0030] Such second member 8 is formed from a material that is an
elastomeric material and is selected from a group that includes
natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl
acetate and various combinations thereof. It is presently preferred
that such second member 8 is ethylene vinyl acetate. The second
member 8 being compressible conforms to any item that is placed on
it. Thus, the second member 8 grips the item being moved and stays
with that item so as to substantially prevent the item from
slipping off of the apparatus 10.
[0031] Such first member 2 is formed from such second material.
Such second material is selected from a group of plastic materials
including polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, tetrafluoroethylene,
polyoxymethylenes and various mixtures thereof. It is presently
preferred that such first member 2 is high density
polyethylene.
[0032] The bottom surface 6 of such first member 2 has a third
predetermined contour. It is presently preferred that such third
predetermined contour include outer edges 22 of such bottom surface
6 of such first member 2 that are slightly arcuate to assist in
sliding over any unforeseen impediment. This arcuate shape is
readily seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. The bottom surface 6 is
substantially flat with the exception of the outer edges 22 which
are arcuate. It is also presently preferred that the first
predetermined contour of such first member 2 further includes side
walls 24, having a fourth predetermined contour, that are
substantially flat but have a slight taper from the top of the side
walls 24 to the bottom where the side walls 24 meet the arcuate
outer edges 22 of the bottom surface 6.
[0033] An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5
and 6 in which a double sided adhesive pad 26 is adhered to the top
of second material 8. The other side of such adhesive pad 26 is
adhered to a corner or a leg of such furniture when the apparatus
10 is being used as a caster and kept in place so as to protect the
carpet.
[0034] Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7,
8 and 9. Illustrated therein is an apparatus 10 that can be used
for either hard surface floors (FIG. 8) or carpeted floors (FIG.
9). In this embodiment the bottom surface 26 of such first member 2
is recessed. There is a third member 28 disposed in such recessed
pocket that is formed between the arcuate edges 22 of the first
member 2. Such third member 28 is affixed to the first member by
means of an adhesive. The third member is formed of a third
predetermined material and has a fourth predetermined configuration
and a third predetermined thickness. The third predetermined
material is selected from a group including felt,
tetrafluoroethylene and polyethylene. It is presently preferred
that such third predetermined material when used for hard surface
floors is felt. It is also presently preferred that such third
predetermined material when used for carpeted floors is either
polyethylene or tetrafluoroethylene.
[0035] As is clearly evident from FIGS. 8 and 9 the third member 28
is allowed to protrude beyond the first member when such apparatus
10 is used for hard surface floors; whereas the third member is
level with the bottom of such first member when such apparatus 10
is used for carpeted floors. This is necessary so that there are
not any uneven edges that could catch on the carpet fibers or nap
when the apparatus 10 is used on carpeted floors.
[0036] In this embodiment with the third member 28 as an insert the
first member could be made of other and cheaper plastic materials
rather than the ones listed previously. The main criteria is that
the plastic material have sufficient strength to withstand the
forces when a relatively large or heavy object is being moved,
since it is not necessary that it have a low coefficient of
friction since it basically has little contact with the floor.
[0037] While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate
embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail
above, it should be understood that various other adaptations
and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons
who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from
either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *