Abstract:
A furniture slide assembly and its method of use are disclosed for positioning the furniture slide between an object to be moved and the floor upon which the object is moved. The furniture slide comprises a main body having an inner portion and outer surface. The inner portion forms a concave surface for receiving the object to be moved and at least a portion of the outer surface is in contact with the floor when inserted between the floor and the object to be moved. An apex is centrally located about the outer portion from which the inner portion and outer surface converge. A peripheral edge surrounds an outer perimeter of the main body and a thumb tab upwardly extends from the peripheral edge vertically that is extended from the floor for locating and manipulating the furniture slide assembly between the floor and the object to be moved.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to furniture slide assemblies and a method of use, more specifically, furniture slide assemblies positioned between an object to be moved and over the flooring in which the object is to be moved. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the moving industry, it is quite usual to face the situation of having to move large, heavy, and sometimes awkwardly shaped objects such as furniture within the confines of buildings. The movement of large objects and furniture are not limited to the venue of commercial buildings, but equally experienced in residential settings with interest in relocating furniture to achieve a new floor plan or moving the furniture or large objects to a new home. Other occurrences arise from office downsizing, team wiring upgrades, etc. that frequently mandate office reconfigurations requiring that the furniture be moved or rotated. Furniture is also frequently moved for example, in healthcare and educational facilities for cleaning. In these instances, as in the installation of modular carpet, it is desirable to move the furniture quickly, with the least possible effort and, preferably, after hours with a limited number of workers. 
         [0003]    Office equipment is usually moved with a hand truck, four-wheel dolly, or the like and can take several individuals working together. The work is hard, labor expensive and injuries occur. Other furniture, such as workstations, computers, etc. are also difficult to move. The preferable method of moving the heavy objects is for professional movers to pick the object up and carry it by hand, but this is not always an economically feasible or a possible arrangement because of the lack or cost of labor. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    One example embodiment of the present disclosure includes a furniture slide assembly for positioning the furniture slide between an object to be moved and the floor upon which the object is moved. The furniture slide comprises a main body having an inner portion and outer surface. The inner portion forms a concave surface for receiving the object to be moved and at least a portion of the outer surface is in contact with the floor when inserted between the floor and the object to be moved. The furniture slide further comprises an apex centrally located about the outer portion from which the inner portion and outer surface converge. A peripheral edge surrounds an outer perimeter of the main body and a thumb tab upwardly extends from the peripheral edge vertically that is extended from the floor for locating and manipulating the furniture slide assembly between the floor and the object to be moved. 
         [0005]    Another example embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of moving an object across a floor in a commercial or residential setting. The method comprises the steps of grasping a furniture slide assembly by a thumb tab with one hand of an operator contributing to the movement of an object across the floor and raising at least one edge, side, or leg of an object to be moved across of the floor. The method further comprises inserting the furniture slide assembly between the object to be moved and the flooring in which the object is to be moved and axially positioning the furniture slide assembly between the edge, side, or leg of the object to be moved such that the object is substantially centrally positioned over the furniture slide assembly. The method also comprises the step of lowering the at least one edge, side, or leg of an object to be moved across the floor onto the furniture slide assembly. 
         [0006]    A further example embodiment of the present disclosure includes a furniture slide assembly for positioning between an object to be moved and the floor upon which the object is moved in a commercial or residential setting. The furniture slide assembly comprises a main body having an inner portion and outer surface. The inner portion forms a concave surface for receiving the object to be moved and the outer surface forms a corresponding convex surface having at least a portion in contact with the floor when inserted between the floor and the object to be moved. An apex is centrally located about the outer portion from which the inner portion and outer surface converge. A peripheral edge surrounds an outer perimeter of the main body. The furniture slide assembly further comprises a thumb tab having upper and lower surfaces having a plurality of curvilinear ribs for facilitating gripping by the mover during installation. The thumb tab upwardly extends from the peripheral edge and is vertically extended from the floor for locating and manipulating the furniture slide assembly between the floor and the object to be moved. The thumb tab further comprises an arcuate profile with the main body to provide strength to the construct of the thumb tab. An intermediate surface is located along the outer surface of the main body. The intermediate surface extends outwardly to the peripheral edge to form a substantially horizontal region. The centrally located apex of the outer surface diverges outwardly to the intermediate surface along the main body at an angle. The angle minimizes the friction between the furniture slide and floor during the movement of the object. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings unless otherwise noted and in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slide assembly constructed in accordance with one example embodiment of the present disclosure inserted beneath a floor contact portion of an object to be moved; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a slide assembly constructed in accordance with another example embodiment of the present disclosure to be inserted beneath a floor contact portion of an object to be moved; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a slide assembly constructed in accordance with one exemplary example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the exemplary example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  along section lines  4 - 4 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a slide assembly constructed in accordance with another exemplary example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a sectional side view of the exemplary example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  along section lines  6 - 6 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a slide assembly constructed in accordance with another exemplary example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a sectional side view of the exemplary example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7  along section lines  8 - 8 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a sectional end view of the exemplary example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7  along section lines  9 - 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The present disclosure provides for furniture slide assemblies and a method of use, and more specifically, furniture slide assemblies at least partially positioned between an object to be moved and over the flooring in which the object is to be moved such that the object can be easily moved. 
         [0018]    Conventional furniture supports that are placed under a leg of a chair or furniture to support the furniture in a stationary position are typically 1″ to 3″ in size. The construct of the exemplary embodiments of the furniture slide assemblies of the present disclosure are targeted toward moving large objects and in contrast are 5″ to 10″ in size. And as discussed below, the exemplary embodiment furniture slides have specially designed geometrical profiles that allow heavy furniture or large objects to more easily traverse numerous types of flooring surfaces, including carpet, tile, linoleum, laminate, hardwood, rugged surfaces, and the like. 
         [0019]    In addition to the size and specially designed geometrical profiles, the construct of the exemplary embodiments of the furniture slide assemblies of the present disclosure include thumb tabs that allow a person to easily manipulate the slide during installation between the object and the floor. The manipulation ability provided by the thumb tabs allow the person to conveniently position the furniture slide in the desired orientation for moving the object or furniture and further reduces the risk of pinching the hand or fingers during insertion. 
         [0020]    Referring to the figures, and in particular  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a furniture slide assembly  10  constructed in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosure being inserted and manipulated by a hand  12  of a person under an object  14  to be moved. In the illustrated embodiment, a round furniture slide assembly  16  is depicted being positioned between the floor  18  and the bottom of a leg  20  of the object  14 . While the illustrated embodiment depicts the object  14  to be moved having legs, the furniture slide assemblies are equally designed to move large objects with or without legs, such as items having an edge or side, e.g., a file cabinet (not shown) without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. During the moving operation, a single furniture slide assembly can be used or multiple slides under various legs and/or edges of the object  14  to be moved. 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the furniture slide assembly  10  includes a thumb tab  22  being gripped by the person&#39;s hand  12  between the person&#39;s thumb  24  and finger  26 . The thumb tab  22  in addition to reducing the risk of pinching the hand or finger of the person installing the furniture slide assembly  10  during high stress situations (elevated typically by the contemporaneous lifting of the object  14 ) also provides the ability to easily manipulate the orientation of the furniture slide assembly. The thumb tab  22  of the furniture slide assembly  10  provides for both centering axially (indicated by Arrows A) and rotationally (indicated by Arrows R) such that the furniture slide is properly located (axially) under the object  14  to be moved and oriented (rotationally) in a direction most desirable for moving. 
         [0022]    Illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a furniture slide assembly  10  constructed in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a square furniture slide assembly  28 . The square furniture slide assembly  28  also comprises a thumb tab  30  that provides all the features and advantages described above with respect to the found furniture slide assembly  16  for manipulating and orienting the slide by a person&#39;s hand during installation. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  is a top view of the round furniture slide assembly  16 . The top view of  FIG. 3  along with sectional side view provided in  FIG. 4  about section lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 , illustrate the radial extension of the thumb tab  22  from a main body  32  of the round furniture slide assembly  16 . The main body  32  comprises an inner portion  34  having a dual level surface, transitioning from a substantially horizontal surface to a concave surface that is in contact with the object  14  to be moved. The main body  32  also comprises an outer surface  36  having a multi-level surface, transitioning from a substantially horizontal surface to a convex surface having at least a portion in contact with the floor  18 . 
         [0024]    The thumb tab  22  further forms an upwardly extending arcuate profile  38  with a lower portion  40  of the main body  32 , allowing a contoured fit with the operator&#39;s finger  26  or thumb  24  during installation (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), as well provides strength to the construct of the thumb tab. A vertical offset (“V”) (indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 4 ) provides clearance for the person&#39;s hand  12  (finger(s)  26  and/or thumb  24 ) and floor  18 . The thumb tab  22  further comprises a plurality of curvilinear ribs  42  along its upper and lower surfaces  44 ,  45 , respectively to facilitate gripping by the person&#39;s hand  12  during installation. 
         [0025]    The lower portion  40  of the main body  32  annularly forms the bottom outer surface  36  of the round furniture slide assembly  16  and conically converges from an intermediate surface  46  to a center apex  48  of the main body through an angle (“α”). The intermediate surface  46  extends radially outward to an outer periphery  49 , forming a relatively horizontal region  50 . The conically converging section of the lower portion  40  and relatively horizontal region  50  allows for reduced frictional contact between the round furniture slide assembly  16  and surface of the floor  18 . The round furniture slide assembly  16  further comprises an annular outer ridge  52  that acts as a retainer, keeping the slide assembly from moving off the object  14  during installation. 
         [0026]    In the illustrated example embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the angle a is between 2 and 5 degrees in an unloaded state (i.e., without the load of the object  14 ). Angle α is reduced when a load formed by the placement of an object  14  to be moved in the inner portion  34  of furniture slide assembly  16 . The load of the object  14  to be moved increases the amount of contact between the floor  18  and the furniture slide assembly  16  and outer surface  36 , while maintaining the advantages described above of the conically converging lower portion  40  and relatively horizontal region  50 . 
         [0027]    The round furniture slide assembly  16  can be made from any polymeric materials such as plastic and polyvinyl chloride (“PCV”), elastomeric materials such as molded rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”) foam, and the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The round furniture/slide assembly further has a substantially uniform thickness (“t”) of approximately three (3) mm or one-eighth of one-inch thick material. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 3-4 , the furniture slide assembly  16  is molded from textured rubber for durability and strength having a thickness of approximately two (2) millimeters. The overall size of the furniture slide assembly  16  in the illustrated embodiment is approximately six (6) inches and approximately five (5) inches in diameter in the circle formed by the outer periphery  49 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  is a top view of an oval furniture slide assembly  160  constructed in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The top view of  FIG. 5  along with sectional side view provided in  FIG. 6  about section lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 5  illustrate the radial extension of thumb tab  122  from a main body  132  of the oval furniture slide assembly  160 . The main body  132  comprises an inner portion  134  having a dual level surface, transitioning from a substantially horizontal surface to a concave surface that is in contact with the object  14  to be moved. The main body  132  also comprises an outer surface  136  having a multi-level surface, transitioning from a substantially horizontal surface to a convex surface having at least a portion in contact with the floor  18 . The thumb tab  122  further forms an upwardly extending arcuate profile  138  with a lower portion  140  of the main body  32 , allowing a contoured fit with the operator&#39;s finger  26  or thumb  24  during installation (illustrated in  FIG. 1 .), as well provides strength to the construct of the thumb tab. A vertical offset (“V”) (indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 6 ) provides clearance for the person&#39;s hand  12  (finger(s)  26  and/or thumb  24 ) and floor  18 . The thumb tab  122  further comprises a plurality of curvilinear ribs  142  along its upper and lower surfaces  144 ,  145 , respectively to facilitate gripping by the person&#39;s hand  12  during installation. 
         [0029]    The lower portion  140  of the main body  132  ovalarly forms the bottom outer surface  136  of the oval furniture slide assembly  160  and pyramidally converges from an intermediate surface  146  to a center apex  148  of the main body through an angle (“β”). The pyramidally converging to the center apex  148  forms four sides  150  along the lower portion  140 . The intermediate surface  146  extends radially outward to an outer periphery  152 , forming a relatively horizontal region  154 . The pyramidally converging section of the lower portion  140  and relatively horizontal region  154  allows for reduced frictional contact between the round furniture slide assembly  16  and surface of the floor  18 . Although not shown, in an alternative embodiment, the oval furniture slide  160  comprises an outer ridge circumscribing the outer periphery and extending upward that acts as a retainer, keeping the slide assembly from moving off the object  14  during installation. 
         [0030]    In the illustrated example embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the angle β is between 2 and 5 degrees in an unloaded state (i.e., without the load of the object  14 ). Angle β is reduced when a load formed by the placement of an object  14  to be moved in the inner portion  134  of furniture slide assembly  160 . The load of the object  14  to be moved increases the amount of contact between the floor  18  and the furniture slide assembly  160  and outer surface  136 , while maintaining the advantages described above of the pyramidally converging lower portion  140  and relatively horizontal region  154 . 
         [0031]    The oval furniture slide assembly  160  can be made from any polymeric materials such as plastic, PVC, elastomeric materials such as molded rubber, EVA foam, and the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The oval furniture slide assembly  160  further has a substantially uniform thickness (“t”) of approximately three (3) mm or one-eighth of one-inch thick material. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 5-6 , the furniture slide assembly  160  is molded from textured rubber for durability and strength having a uniform thickness of approximately two (2) millimeters. The overall size of the furniture slide assembly  160  in the illustrated embodiment is approximately ten (10) inches in length and approximately six (6) inches in width. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 7  is a top view of a rectangular furniture slide assembly  260  constructed in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The top view of  FIG. 7  along with sectional side view provided in  FIG. 8  about section lines  8 - 8  illustrate the radial extension of thumb tab  222  from a main body  232  of the rectangular furniture slide assembly  260 . The main body  232  comprises an inner portion  234  having a dual level surface, transitioning from a substantially horizontal surface to a concave surface that is in contact with the object  14  to be moved. The main body  232  also comprises an outer surface  236  having a multi-level surface, transitioning from a substantially horizontal surface to a convex surface having at least a portion in contact with the floor  18 . 
         [0033]    The thumb tab  222  further forms an upwardly extending arcuate profile  238  with a lower portion  240  of the main body  232 , allowing a contoured fit with the operator&#39;s finger  26  or thumb  24  during installation (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), as well provides strength to the construct of the thumb tab. A vertical offset (“V”) (indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 8 ) provides clearance for the person&#39;s hand  12  (finger(s)  26  and/or thumb  24 ) and floor  18 . The thumb tab  222  further comprises a plurality of curvilinear ribs  242  along its upper and lower surfaces  244 ,  245 , respectively to facilitate gripping by the person&#39;s hand  12  during installation. 
         [0034]    The lower portion  240  of the main body  232  forms the bottom outer surface  236  of the rectangular furniture slide assembly  260  and pyramidally converges from an intermediate surface  246  to a center apex  248  of the main body through an angle (“δ”). A wedge surface  258  is formed between first and second planes  262 ,  264 , respectively in sectional end view of  FIG. 9  formed about section lines  9 - 9  in  FIG. 7 . The planes  262 ,  264  form a diverging angle (“θ”) between the center apex  248  and outer periphery  252 . 
         [0035]    The pyramidally converging to the center apex  248  forms four sides  250  along the lower portion  240 . The intermediate surface  246  extends radially outward to an outer periphery  252 , forming a relatively horizontal region  254 . The pyramidally converging lower portion  240  and relatively horizontal region  254 , and wedge surface  258  allows for reduced frictional contact between the rectangular furniture slide assembly  260  and surface of the floor  18 . The rectangular furniture slide assembly  260  further comprises an annular outer ridge  256  that acts as a retainer to keep the slide assembly from moving off the object  14  during installation. 
         [0036]    In the illustrated example embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9 , the angle δ is between 2 and 5 degrees and angle θ is approximately 15 degrees in an unloaded state (i.e., without the load of the object  14 ). Angles δ and θ are reduced when a load formed by the placement of an object  14  to be moved in the inner portion  234  of furniture slide assembly  260 . The load of the object  14  to be moved increases the amount of contact between the floor  18  and the furniture slide assembly  260  and outer surface  236 , while maintaining the advantages described above of the pyramidally converging lower portion  240 , relatively horizontal region  254 , and wedge surface  258 . 
         [0037]    The rectangular furniture slide assembly  260  can be made from any polymeric materials such as plastic, PVC, elastomeric materials such as molded rubber, EVA foam, and the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The square furniture slide assembly further has a substantially uniform thickness (“t”) of approximately three (3) mm or one-eighth of one-inch thick material. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9 , the furniture slide assembly  260  is molded from textured rubber for durability and strength having a uniform thickness of approximately two (2) millimeters. The overall size of the furniture slide assembly  260  in the illustrated embodiment is approximately ten (10) inches in length and approximately three (3) inches in width. 
         [0038]    What have been described above are examples of the present invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the present invention but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.