U.S. patent application number 14/677726 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-04 for base support.
The applicant listed for this patent is Flat Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to Tony Pike.
Application Number | 20160029784 14/677726 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44194833 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160029784 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pike; Tony |
February 4, 2016 |
Base Support
Abstract
A support for supporting an object on a surface, the support
comprising a base, the base adapted to be attached with or extend
from the object. The base has a cavity extending therein, the
cavity having a key portion. The key portion is adapted to engage
with a foot inserted into the cavity.
Inventors: |
Pike; Tony; (Queens Park,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Flat Pty Ltd |
Queens Park |
|
AU |
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|
Family ID: |
44194833 |
Appl. No.: |
14/677726 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13500598 |
Apr 5, 2012 |
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PCT/AU2010/001738 |
Dec 23, 2010 |
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14677726 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/188.2 ;
248/188.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 9/10 20130101; A47B
13/021 20130101; A47B 91/16 20130101; A47B 13/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 13/02 20060101
A47B013/02; A47B 9/10 20060101 A47B009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 24, 2009 |
AU |
2009906272 |
Claims
1. A support for supporting an object on a surface, the support
comprising: a base, the base adapted to be attached with or extend
from the object, the base having a cavity extending therein, the
cavity having a keyed region; and, a foot, at least a portion of
the foot being adapted to be inserted into and engage with the
keyed portion of the cavity.
2. A support as defined in claim 1, wherein the keyed portion of
the cavity comprises an inner surface having a keyed profile.
3. A support as defined in claim 2, wherein the foot has an outer
surface, at least a portion of the outer surface having a profile
which is adapted to correspond with the keyed profile of the inner
surface of the cavity.
4. A support as defined in claim 1, wherein the object is an item
of furniture.
5. A support as defined in claim 1, wherein the object is a
table.
6. A support as defined in claim 5, wherein the support is adapted
to be attached with each leg of the table.
7. A support as defined in claim 1, comprising a support element
having a piston and cylinder arranged so that a loading associated
with the structure effects an adjustment of the support element,
and wherein an increase in hydraulic pressure within the cylinder,
effected by the loading associated with the structure, activates a
braking means.
8. A support as defined in claim 7, wherein the piston is removable
from the support and can be replaced with a stationary cap not
associated with the piston.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/500,598, filed on Apr. 5, 2012 as the U.S. national phase of
International Application No. PCT/AU2010/001738, filed Dec. 23,
2010, claiming priority to Australian Application No. 2009906272,
filed Dec. 24, 2009, all of which are incorporated by reference
herein in their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure broadly relates to a support for
supporting an object on a surface. The support is described
specifically for supporting an object or an item of furniture such
as a table on a surface such as a floor and it is also described in
conjunction with a support utilizing feet comprising pistons and
cylinders in fluid communication with one another to provide
variable support. However, it will be understood that this support
is advantageous in supporting any object on a surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] Structures such as tables, ladders and tripods have legs for
positioning on a surface. These legs often feature feet to contact
the surface. Feet which are independent of the structure can be
composed of a distinct material from the legs to allow for
different qualities of the feet without changing the material of
the legs. For example, feet can be designed for limiting noise
production by utilising a more malleable or elastic material than
that of the legs, limiting damage to the surface by utilising a
more malleable or elastic material than that of the legs,
increasing durability or flexibility of the feet by utilising a
stronger material than that of the legs and allowing for
replacement of the feet when worn without replacing the entire leg
structure.
[0004] Pistons have been utilised to stabilise structures such as
ladders, tripods and tables. Generally one piston is associated
with each leg of the structure. The pistons are in fluid
communication. Thus the pistons can be utilised to together adjust
the position of individual support legs. When the position of the
structure is considered stable the pistons are manually isolated so
no further adjustment occurs.
[0005] A foot can be utilised in place of the piston, attached with
or extending from the piston or merely as a stationary extension
from the leg. The foot requires a connection between the foot and
the leg of the table.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In a first aspect, disclosed is a support for supporting an
object on a surface, the support comprising a base, the base
adapted to be attached with or extend from the object. The base has
a cavity extending therein, the cavity having a key portion. The
key portion is adapted to engage with a foot inserted into the
cavity.
[0007] In one form the support further comprises a foot, at least a
portion of the foot being adapted to be inserted into the keyed
portion of the cavity. The support typically extends from a
plurality of legs or extensions from an object or furniture such as
a table. The support allows a variety of feet to be positioned and
attached with the table or other object. For example, a stationary
foot can be positioned within the keyed portion or alternatively a
foot which comprises a piston portion or a cylinder portion of a
support structure comprising a piston, a cylinder in which the
piston is moveable, wherein the piston and the cylinder are
arranged so that a loading associated with the structure affects an
adjustment of the support element.
[0008] In one form, the key portion of the cavity comprises an
inner surface of the cavity having a keyed profile.
[0009] In one form the support comprises a support element having a
piston and cylinder arranged so that a loading associated with the
structure effects an adjustment of the support element, and wherein
an increase in hydraulic pressure within the cylinder, effected by
the loading associated with the structure, activates a braking
means.
[0010] In one form the piston is removable from the support and can
be replaced with a stationary cap not associated with the
piston.
[0011] In one form, the foot has an outer surface, at least a
portion of which has a profile which is adapted to correspond with
the keyed profile of the inner surface of the cavity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a base isometric view of a support of one
embodiment of the support;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 5 shows an exploded side view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a side perspective view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 7 shows a base perspective view of the support of FIG.
1 in situ in a table;
[0019] FIG. 8 shows an exploded base perspective view of the
support of FIG. 1 in situ in a table;
[0020] FIG. 9 shows a base perspective view of the support of FIG.
1 in situ in a table.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Referring to the Figures, disclosed is a support for
supporting an object on a surface. The support 1 comprises a base 3
which is engaged with the object 4, in this case a table leg, by
means of an attachment, or extends therefrom. The base 3 may be
attached with the object 4 by any method, such as adhesive, heat
fixing, staples, pins, or indeed may be integral with the object 4.
The base 3 is composed of any moldable or shapeable material such
as plastics, metals or other materials.
[0022] The base 3 includes a cavity 6 which extends upwardly into
the base and is defined by a wall 7. The wall 7 has an inner
surface 8. The inner surface 8 of the cavity 6 includes a keyed
portion 12. The keyed portion is a profile surface such that the
inner surface 8 includes one or more indentations 13 that make up
the profile surface. Alternatively, the inner surface 8 could
include protrusions, ribs, or any other profile which is adapted to
create a keyed interior portion of the cavity 6.
[0023] The support 1 further includes a foot 16 which is, in use,
inserted into the cavity 6 such that at least a portion of the foot
16 extends from the base 3 and therefore from the object 4. The
foot 16 has an outer profile 17 which is profiled to correspond
with the keyed inner surface 8 such that the foot 16 engages the
profiled inner surface 8 of the cavity 6 when the foot 16 is
inserted into the cavity 6. The foot 16 is composed of any multiple
or shapeable material such as for example plastics, metals,
rubber.
[0024] It can be seen that the foot 16 supports the object 4 above
the ground. The foot 16 can be composed of a material to add
additional durability to the object 4 and/or to limit noise when
the object 4 is moved across the floor or to limit damage when the
object 4 is moved across the floor.
[0025] In one embodiment, the object 4 includes a support system 9
comprising support elements 112. The support system comprises in
this embodiment includes four support elements though other numbers
of support elements are also useable and beneficial. Each support
element 112 comprises a cylinder 18 and a piston 20. The cylinders
18 each have a fluid inlet/outlet 22 which is connected to the
fluid inlet/outlet 22 of the other support element by tube 24. The
cylinder 18 is filled with fluid. The amount of fluid that flows
through the inlet/outlet 22 determines the movement of the pistons
20 in the cylinders 18. As each fluid inlet/outlet 22 is
interconnected to another fluid inlet/outlet 22, an upward movement
of one of the pistons in the respective cylinder moves the fluid
through the tube 24 and hence effects a downward movement of the
other cylinder 20.
[0026] When the support is placed on surface, the weight of the
structure effects, for example, an upward movement of piston 20 in
support element 112' and a downward movement of piston 20 in
support element 112''. The movements of the pistons therefore
adjust the height of support elements 112. Once both pistons have
reached the adjustment positions, the loading associated with the
structure 16 effects a pressure increase within the cylinders and a
brake (not shown) secures the pistons 18 in the cylinders 20 into a
stationary position. As the adjustment and the securing of the
pistons in the cylinders happens automatically, the support is
self-adjusting.
[0027] In one embodiment, the support system also includes a valve
arranged to receive a hydraulic liquid. When the valve is open
fluid can move between the supports.
[0028] The valve is adapted to restrict fluid transfer such that
when the fluid on both sides of the valve is pressurised above a
threshold value fluid flow through the valve is limited or
prevented. In contrast when the fluid pressure on one side of the
valve is below the threshold value, the valve is adapted to allow
fluid transfer. When fluid transfer occurs, the pressure on both
sides of the valve falls to below the preset limit and the
interconnected valves of each support element 112 will open to
allow fluid transfer.
[0029] This allows the support element 30 to self-adjust upon a
change in loading. That is when any one leg is unloaded leg height
adjustment is allowed by the opening of the valves and flow of
fluid through the tube 24.
[0030] In one embodiment, the foot 16 acts as part of/or in place
of the piston 20 and cylinder 18. In this form the support 1
includes a channel 21 for insertion of the support system 9 into
the support 1. The support system 9 is inserted into the channel 21
and the feet 16 are inserted into the keyed cavity 6 to engage with
the support 1.
[0031] Alternatively, the support of the present disclosure is a
stationary foot 16 positioned in a base 3 without a support
element. In this embodiment the foot 16 is not acting as a piston
but instead is acting simply as a stationary foot positioned in the
object 4. The foot 16 is inserted into the cavity 6 and engages it
owing to the profiled inner surface 8 of the cavity contacting the
profiled outer surface of the foot.
[0032] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description
of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due
to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise"
or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an
inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated
features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further
features in various embodiments of the invention.
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