Furniture Supporting Wall Protection System

Abstract

Disclosed is a combination spacer and furniture foot pad and method of using the same. The combination comprises a foot pad having a first side and a second side and a spacer having a first side engaging the foot pad and a second end for contacting an obstruction. The foot pad includes a first side for receiving a furniture foot and a second side for sliding across a carpeted surface. Complementary structure is provided on the spacer and foot pad for coupling the spacer and foot pad to one another. The foot pad and spacer, when combined, easily slide across a carpeted surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a non-provisional of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/889,596 filed Oct. 11, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

[0002] The present disclosure is directed to a wall protection system. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to furniture supporting wall protection system that includes a spacer and a foot pad useful for sliding a furniture piece across a floor surface.

[0003] Furniture pads are useful for protecting floors from being damaged by the feet of furniture either due to the weight or movement of the furniture across the floor. Furniture pads are also known to be used for protecting carpets against crushed fibers due to the placement of heavy furniture. These pads increase the surface area the furniture rests on, spreading out the weight and reducing the impact on the flooring surface. These furniture pads may also facilitate sliding the furniture across a surface without damaging the surface.

[0004] Also known are devices used to prevent a piece of furniture from contacting a wall, another piece of furniture, or another room element. These devices, often in the form of a brace, frequently attach to the furniture leg, or require some other sort of fastener. Once installed, these devices are typically not easily moved and if the furniture is relocated, the device must often be repositioned to serve its intended purpose.

[0005] There remains a need for a wall protection system that is easier to use and less complicated to install or adjust than prior systems, while also providing improved functionality as compared with the previously available systems.

[0006] Presently disclosed is a furniture supporting wall protection system. In an embodiment, the system includes a foot pad having a first side and a second side and a spacer having a first end and a second end. The first side of the foot pad is adapted to receive a furniture foot and the second side of the foot pad is adapted to slide across a surface. The surface may be a floor surface such as hardwood, tile, carpet or other flooring material that may be desired. A portion of the spacer is adapted to engage the foot pad. At least one end of the spacer is adapted for contacting an obstruction, such as a wall or other structure from which the furniture is intended to be separated. Complementary structure is provided on the spacer and foot pad for coupling one to the other. In embodiments, the furniture supporting wall protection, when assembled, supports the furniture and maintains separation of the furniture from a wall or other obstruction, while also allowing the furniture slide across the surface.

[0007] In some embodiments, the spacer of the furniture supporting wall protection system includes one or more notches and the foot pad includes one or more complementary notches. The notches may be evenly spaced to allow adjustment of the spacer relative to the foot pad to maintain a piece of furniture a desired distance from a wall.

[0008] The first side of the foot pad may be a deformable material adapted to receive and retain the furniture foot. The second side of the foot pad may be a rigid material. In some embodiments, the first side of the foot pad is foam, and the second side of the foot pad is plastic or nylon.

[0009] The spacer may include one or more pieces that each include a first mating end and a second mating end. The opposite mating ends are adapted to engage their opposite on adjacent pieces to form the spacer.

[0010] Also disclosed is a furniture foot pad for receiving a spacer and positioning the foot pad at a desired distance from an obstruction, such as a wall. The foot pad includes a first side formed of a deformable material for receiving a foot of a piece of furniture and a second side formed of a rigid material for distributing the weight from the foot to a wider surface area. A groove is provided in the second side and extends across the furniture foot pad. Within the groove are formed one or more connectors for receiving a spacer for spacing the piece of furniture away from the obstruction. The second side is adapted to slide across a floor surface when the spacer is positioned within the groove.

[0011] In various embodiments, the second side may be a rigid nylon while the first side may comprise a deformable foam.

[0012] The connectors may comprise a plurality of tabs and the spacer may be provided with notches that are complementary to and adapted to receive the tabs. Additionally, the depth of the groove may be equal to a thickness of the spacer.

[0013] Also disclosed is a method of spacing a piece of furniture from an obstruction. The method includes the steps of providing a foot pad and spacer, securing the spacer within a groove on the foot pad, positioning the foot pad between a foot of a piece of furniture and a floor surface. Once positioned, the furniture may slide such that the spacer engages the obstruction.

[0014] In various embodiments of the disclosed method, the foot pad includes a first side for receiving the furniture foot and a second side for sliding across a floor surface. The second side includes a groove with a plurality of connectors therein. The provided spacer has an end adapted to engage a wall and a connecting portion adapted to fit within the groove and engage the plurality of connectors. In one embodiment, the connectors are alternating tabs and notches within the groove and on the spacer, with the notches and tabs adapted to engage one another.

[0015] According to further embodiments, a step of removing the foot pad and spacer may also be performed. The spacer may be formed of a number of interlocking pieces. Further steps include determining a distance between the obstruction and the furniture and assembling a plurality of pieces to form the spacer having a length equal to or greater than that determined distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the furniture supporting wall protection system;

[0017] FIG. 1B is a bottom plan view of the system of FIG. 1A;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a top view of the spacer;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the furniture foot pad; and

[0020] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the furniture foot pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present disclosure is directed to a furniture supporting wall protection system. One embodiment of a system 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-B. The system includes a foot pad 12 for receiving a furniture foot and a spacer 14 for spacing the foot pad away from a wall. The spacer 14 includes a plurality of notches 16 and opposite first 18 and second 20 mating ends. The foot pad 12 includes a first side 22 for receiving a furniture foot pad and a second side 24 adapted to slide across a flooring surface, such as a carpeted floor. The second side 24 includes a groove 26 for receiving the spacer 14 and a number of tabs 28A-D for engaging the notches 16 of the spacer 14. The groove 26 is of sufficient depth that the spacer 14 rests within the groove, allowing the combination foot pad and spacer 10 to easily slide across a floor, such as a carpet.

[0022] As further illustrated in FIGS. 1A-B, the spacer 14 may include a plurality of notches 16 evenly spaced along the length of the spacer 14 so that the spacer 14 may be adjusted relative to the foot pad 12. This arrangement allows for the foot pad 12 to be spaced away from a wall at various distances.

[0023] The spacer 14 is shown in further detail in FIG. 2, which is a top plan view of the spacer. As shown in this figure, the spacer 14 is an elongated part having a plurality of notches 16 formed along the length and terminating at first 18 and second 20 mating ends. The notches 16 are evenly spaced and equally positioned on opposite sides of the spacer 14. A particular embodiment of the first 18 and second 20 mating ends is also shown in FIG. 2. According to this embodiment, the opposite ends are adapted to engage one another by means of complimentary semi-circular key-and-lock arrangement. Various spacers 14 may be joined together by positioning the first mating end 18 over the second mating end 20 and forcing the semi-circular protrusion on the second mating end 20 into the semi-circular opening in the first mating end 18.

[0024] The spacer 14 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a substantially rectangular shape having an elongated length and a narrow, consistent width along the length of the spacer 14. Notches 16 are evenly spaced along the length and positioned opposite one another. Other arrangements are also contemplated. In one alternative, the spacer 14 may be curved about a radius. Alternatively, the spacer 14 may have a varying width along the length of the length. Notches 16 may be unevenly spaced along the length of the spacer 14, or may be offset relative to one another. As illustrated, notches and tabs may be defined as alternating recesses and protrusions. Finally, while some embodiments includes notches, it is also contemplated that other types of connecting structure between the spacer 14 and foot pad 12 may be provided. These alternative type of connecting structure include structures on the sides, top, bottom, or corners of the spacer.

[0025] In some embodiments, the spacer 14 is manufactured from the same type of material as the second side 24 of the foot pad 12. In one embodiment, the second side 24 of the foot pad 12 and the spacer 14 are each constructed of a rigid woven nylon material. Other types of materials for the spacer 14 and foot pad 12 are contemplated, including plastic, metal, woven fiber, or other natural or artificial materials. Other materials may also be used that are adapted to slide over a floor surface, including a carpeted surface, and remain sufficiently rigid to distribute weight of the furniture piece resting on the foot pad. In some embodiments, the material of the spacer and the second side of the foot pad is sufficiently rigid to resist deformation when the furniture piece is pushed towards the wall.

[0026] The opposite ends 18, 20 of the spacer 14 are shown, in FIG. 2, to have a structure for joining multiple spacers together. However, it is also contemplated that one of the ends may include additional structure, such as a foot or pad, for engaging a wall surface.

[0027] The foot pad 12 portion of the system 10 is illustrated in further detail in FIGS. 3-4. FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the foot pad 12 and FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the foot pad 12. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the foot pad 12 includes two portions: a deformable first side 22 and a substantially rigid second side 24. The first side 22 is designed to receive the foot of a piece of furniture or the like and distribute the weight to the second side 24. The second side 24 further distributes the weight of the furniture piece and is designed to slide over floor surfaces, such as carpet or hardwood.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second side 24 generally comprises a cup-shaped structure for receiving the deformable material of the first side 22. When the furniture foot is placed on the deformable material of the first side 22 the edges of the cup-shape prevent the furniture foot from sliding off of the foot pad 12. Other arrangements between the first side 22 and second side 24 are contemplated. In one alternative embodiment, the first 22 and second 24 sides are sandwiched together and share a common outer perimeter. In another embodiment, the second side 24 is cup-shaped and extends beyond the first side 22 to further avoid the furniture foot from sliding off of the foot pad 12. Finally, while the foot pad 12 is shown as having a circular cross-section, it is contemplated that the first side 22, second side 24, or both may have various sizes, shapes, and dimensions. The first side 22 of the foot pad 12 may be made from a variety of materials, including, without limitation, fabric, closed-cell foam, open-cell foam, layered plastic, or other natural or artificial materials that can support and distribute the weight of a furniture foot. The second side 24 of the foot pad 12 may be manufactured from the same material as the spacer, but may be of a different material. The second side may be made of a variety of materials including plastic, metal, woven fiber, or other natural or artificial materials that provide weight distribution and easy sliding across a carpeted surface. As further shown in FIG. 3, the second side 24 of the foot pad 12 includes a groove 26 for receiving the spacer 14.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the foot pad 12 of FIG. 3 showing the bottom of the second side 24 in further detail. In the illustrated embodiment, the second side 24 includes a groove 26 for receiving the spacer illustrated in FIG. 2. The groove 26 extends across the foot pad 12, and in some embodiments extends equilaterally. The groove 26 may include a plurality of tabs 28A-D for engaging complementary notches 16 on the spacer 14. Once engaged, the tabs 28A-D and notches 16 maintain the connection between the spacer 14 and the foot pad 12, and secure the spacer 14 in a fixed position. The groove 26 has a depth equal to or greater than the thickness of the spacer 14 so that when the spacer is received within the groove 26 the function of the foot pad 12 is not compromised. In embodiments, the groove 26 has a depth equal to the thickness of the spacer 14 such that the weight of the furniture beings supported is distributed over the surface area of both the second side of the foot pad as well as the bottom surface area of the spacer.

[0030] Also disclosed is a method for spacing a piece of furniture from a wall, piece of furniture, or other obstruction. The method includes the steps of providing a foot pad having a first side for receiving a foot of a piece of furniture and a second side for sliding across a floor surface, the second side including a groove having a plurality of connectors; providing a spacer having an end adapted to engage a wall and a portion adapted to fit within the groove and engage the plurality of connectors; securing the spacer within the groove; positioning the foot pad between the foot and floor surface. One the foot pad and spacer are positioned beneath the foot of the furniture, the method may further include sliding the piece of furniture to engage the obstruction, such as a wall, with the end of the spacer.

[0031] The foot pad 12 and spacer 14 and their interaction, as discussed above, are generally illustrated in FIGS. 1A-B which show a top perspective view of the system 10 and a bottom plan view of the system 10, respectively. In the top perspective view, the foot pad 12 is shown as having a first side 22 comprising a substantially deformable material and a second side 24 having a substantially rigid material. The deformable material of the first side 22 may be a closed-cell foam suitable for receiving the furniture foot and distributing the weight to the second side 24. The rigid material of the second side 24 may be a woven nylon material or plastic suitable for further distributing the weight of the furniture and providing smooth sliding across a flooring, such as carpet. A groove 26 is provided on the bottom surface of the second side 24 as shown in further detail in FIG. 1B. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the groove 26 is provided to accept the spacer 14. The groove 26 includes a plurality of tabs (generally indicated at 28) that engage complementary notches 16 on the spacer.

[0032] The provided spacer 14 is shown in further detail in FIG. 1B. According to the illustrated embodiment, the spacer 14 includes a plurality of notches 16 that are spaced and sized to engage the notches 28 in the groove 26 and provide adjustment of the spacer 14. The spacer also includes opposite first 18 and second 20 mating ends adapted to engage one another. The spacer is therefore designed to be assembled from a number of pieces in order to accommodate different spaced differences from the wall or other obstruction.

[0033] Once the foot pad 12 and spacer 14 are provided, a distance between the wall and the foot pad 12 is selected. This distance may be determined such that the piece of furniture does not contact the wall and cause damage. The spacer 14 may then be assembled from a number of pieces, connecting adjoining first 18 and second 20 mating ends to one another to form the spacer 14. The selected distance is measured from the wall-contacting end of the spacer 14 to determine which notch 16 should be secured within the groove 26. The spacer 14 is inserted into the groove 26 at that location, engaging the selected notches 16 with the tabs 28. The spacer 14 is then configured to adequately provide the distance between the furniture and obstruction without further measurement.

[0034] Next, the foot pad 12 is positioned between the foot of the piece of furniture and the flooring, such as a carpeted surface. The foot of the furniture engages the first side 22 of the foot pad 12 and the weight of the furniture is distributed to the second surface 24, reducing the chance of damage to the flooring. In one embodiment, a plurality of foot pads 12 are provided. Each of the foot pads may or may not include a spacer. When positioning large pieces of furniture, such as a couch, against a wall, it may be desired to have two spacers, one on each foot, so that the couch is evenly spaced away from the wall. In other situations, such as when ensuring spacing between pieces, one spacer may be sufficient.

[0035] Finally, the piece of furniture is slid across the floor so that the end of the spacer 14 engages the obstruction, preventing further movement and indicating that the furniture is at the desired distance from the obstruction, such as a wall.

[0036] Once the piece of furniture is in place, the system maintains the separation between the furniture and the wall to prevent damage. During use, the furniture may be moved away from the wall, either intentionally such as for cleaning or unintentionally as people sit on and rise from the furniture. In any event, the furniture supporting wall protection system allows the furniture to be returned to the proper position spaced from the wall. The foot pad of the system facilitates movement of the furniture, and the fixed relationship of the foot pad and the spacer maintains the desired separation. In this manner, the disclosed system protects walls from damage, while being easier to install and reconfigure than prior systems. Moreover, the disclosed system may remains with the furniture, allowing the furniture to moved, for cleaning or otherwise, and quickly returned to the desired position separated from the wall.

[0037] In the specification and claims, reference will be made to a number of terms that have the following meanings. The singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Moreover, unless specifically stated otherwise, any use of the terms "first," "second," etc., do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms "first," "second," etc., are used to distinguish one element from another.

[0038] As used herein, the terms "may" and "may be" indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of "may" and "may be" indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable. For example, in some circumstances an event or capacity can be expected, while in other circumstances the event or capacity cannot occur--this distinction is captured by the terms "may" and "may be."

[0039] While certain embodiments have been described, it must be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from its spirit or scope.

Claims

1. A furniture supporting wall protection system comprising: a foot pad having a first side for receiving a furniture foot and a second side for sliding across a surface; a spacer, the spacer having a portion engaging the foot pad and an end for contacting an obstruction; and complementary structure on the spacer and foot pad for coupling the spacer and the foot pad to one another; wherein the spacer and foot pad are configured to slide across a surface.

2. The furniture supporting wall protection system of claim 1 wherein the spacer includes one or more notches and the foot pad includes one or more complementary notches.

3. The furniture supporting wall protection system of claim 2 wherein the spacer notches are evenly spaced to allow for adjustment of the spacer relative to the foot pad.

4. The furniture supporting wall protection system of claim 1 wherein the spacer and second side are plastic.

5. The furniture supporting wall protection system of claim 1 wherein the spacer and second side are nylon.

6. The furniture supporting wall protection system of claim 1 wherein the first side is a deformable material adapted to receive and retain the furniture foot.

7. The furniture supporting wall protection system of claim 1 wherein the second side is a rigid material.

8. The furniture supporting wall protection system of claim 1 wherein the spacer comprises one or more pieces, and wherein each of the pieces includes a first mating end and a second mating end, the first mating end and second mating end are each adapted to engage adjacent pieces to form the spacer.

9. A furniture foot pad for spacing a piece of furniture at a desired distance from an obstruction, the foot pad comprising: a first side formed of a deformable material for receiving a foot of a piece of furniture; a second side formed of a rigid material for distributing the weight from the foot of the piece of furniture; and a groove formed in the second side of the foot pad, said groove extending across the furniture foot pad and including one or more connectors for receiving a spacer for spacing the piece of furniture away from an obstruction; wherein the second side is adapted to slide across a floor surface when the spacer is positioned within the groove.

10. The furniture foot pad of claim 9 wherein the second side comprises nylon.

11. The furniture foot pad of claim 9 wherein the first side comprises foam.

12. The furniture foot pad of claim 9 wherein the connectors comprise a plurality of tabs.

13. The furniture foot pad of claim 12 wherein the spacer includes notches for receiving said tabs.

14. The furniture foot pad of claim 9 wherein a depth of the groove is equal to a thickness of the spacer.

15. A method of spacing a piece of furniture from an obstruction, the method comprising the steps of: providing a foot pad having a first side for receiving a foot of a piece of furniture and a second side for sliding across a floor surface, the second side including a groove having a plurality of connectors therein; providing a spacer having an end adapted to engage an obstruction and a connecting portion adapted to fit within the groove and engage the plurality of connectors; and securing the spacer within the groove by engaging the connecting portion of the spacer to the plurality of connectors within the groove of the second side of the foot pad; and positioning the foot pad secured to the spacer between the foot of the piece of furniture and the floor surface such that the end of the spacer adapted to engage the obstruction extends outward from the foot pad.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising sliding the piece of furniture to engage the obstruction with the first end of said spacer.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the groove includes tabs and the spacer includes a plurality of notches for receiving said tabs and securing the spacer therein.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the spacer comprises one or more pieces connected end-to-end.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of: determining a distance between the obstruction and the foot of the piece of furniture; and assembling a plurality of pieces to form the spacer having a length equal to or greater than the distance between the obstruction and the foot of the piece of furniture.