Abstract:
A Furniture Leg Extension and Leveling Device and Method for Use is disclosed. The device enables the user to adjust the height of a piece of furniture, such as a bathroom vanity cabinet. The device and method involves adding an extension member to each of the legs of the cabinet. The device attaches with a single custom bolt that threads into a threaded insert that is screwed into a bore cut into the bottom of the legs. The device further includes a leveling foot for accomplishing fine adjustment to leg height to account for minute floor surface irregularities. The custom bolt used for attaching the extension member has a threaded post at one end and a threaded bore formed at its other end.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to furniture accessories and, more specifically, to a Furniture Leg Extension and Leveling Device and Method for Use. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Historically furniture designs conform to specified and standardized dimensions. In fact, many building codes specify what a particular height, for example, of a bathroom countertop must be. Through the evolution of the mass-produced furniture and cabinets, the manufacturers have virtually eliminated the possibility of purchasing cabinetry having other than standard heights. As a result, if a specialized situation arises, such as providing a vanity top for a child, the homeowner is typically limited to providing a platform for the child to stand on because it is virtually impossible to purchase a vanity that is low enough for the child to reach. Furthermore, in cases where an individual is taller than normal, they would prefer having a vanity height somewhat higher than the standardized height. In these cases, either the homeowner must purchase a custom made cabinet or they may create some less than attractive platform upon which the cabinet can sit. 
     FIG. 1  depicts a standard vanity cabinet to provide a background for the discussion of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional vanity. As seen here, convention vanity  10  has a top  12  which in this case is a single molded piece. The top  12  sits upon a base cabinet  14  which here is made to resemble a piece of furniture. The cabinet  14  stands on four legs  16 . The leg length L is fixed so that the cabinet height H is that specified in the standard cabinet height. It should be clear from this drawing it&#39;s virtually impossible to adjust the height of the vanity top  12  up or down in order to conform to other than standard applications. 
   What is needed then is an accessory for adjusting the height of the conventional vanity top to serve such nonstandard applications. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Furniture Leg Extension and Leveling Device and Method for Use. The device should enable the user to adjust the height of a piece of furniture, such as a bathroom vanity cabinet. The device and method should employ adding an extension member to each of the legs of the cabinet. The device should attach with a single bolt that threads into a threaded insert that is screwed into a bore cut into the bottom of the legs. The device should further include a leveling foot for accomplishing fine adjustment to leg height to account for minute floor surface irregularities. The custom bolt used for attaching the extension member should have a threaded post at one end and a threaded bore formed at its other end. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional vanity; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vanity of  FIG. 1  having extension assemblies of the present invention attached thereto; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded cutaway side view of an extension assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cutaway side view of the extension assembly of  FIGS. 2 and 3  attached to a furniture leg; 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  are top, front and side views, respectfully, of the extension member of the assembly of  FIGS. 2-4 ; 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are side and bottom views, respectfully, of the extension bolt and leveler assembly of the device of  FIGS. 2-4 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart depicting the installation method of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Furniture Leg Extension and Leveling Device and Method for Use. 
   The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vanity of  FIG. 1  having extension assemblies of the present invention attached thereto. The tall vanity  18  depicted here is essentially the conventional vanity depicted in  FIG. 1  to which extension assemblies  20  of the present invention have been added to each of the legs  16 . As a result, the new leg length L(n) is longer than the standard length. As a result, the cabinet height H(n) has also been increased by an equivalent amount. If we turn to  FIG. 3 , we can examine the details of the extension assemblies  20  more closely. 
     FIG. 3  is an exploded cutaway side view of an extension assembly of  FIG. 2 . The extension assembly  20  of the present invention comprises an extension member  26  which in this case is made from a substantially rectangular wooden block but in other versions might have a circular and/or other unique cross-section or shape. The body of the extension member  26  has a bore  28  cut through it. The extension member  26  is configured to align with the leg  16  of the vanity depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The leg  16  must be modified so that to provide a bore  22  centered on the leg  16  into which a threaded insert  24  is threadedly engaged. A customized extension bolt  30  defined by a threaded post  32  at its top and a threaded bore  34  at its bottom slips through the bore  28  of the extension member  26  and threadedly engages the treaded insert  24 . The treaded bore  34  is cooperatively designed to accept the threaded post  38  of the leveler assembly  36 . The combination of the leg  16  and the extension member  26  will appear to be a single, longer than normal, leg. 
   As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the threaded post  32  is defined by an exterior surface having a diameter and threads disposed thereon. Similarly, the threaded bore  34  is defined by an interior surface having a diameter and threads disposed thereon. The diameter and threads of the post  32  are sized such that they (i.e. the post  32 ) would engage the diameter and threads of the bore  34 . In other words, the threaded post  32  of a first bolt  30  is sized to threadedly engage the threaded bore  34  of a second bolt  30 . It follows, then, that the threaded bore of the threaded insert  24  is essentially the same diameter and thread pattern as the lower threaded bore  34 . This ensures that the leveling assembly  36  can be taken from standard components (since the threaded post  38  diameter and thread pattern would be essentially the same as the upper threaded post  32 ). If we now turn to  FIG. 4 , we can see how the assembled leg looks. 
     FIG. 4  is a cutaway side view of the extension assembly of  FIGS. 2 and 3  attached to a furniture leg. As shown here, the threaded insert  24  which is threaded into the bore in the leg  16  is in threaded engagement with the extension bolt  30 . The extension bolt  30  retains the extension member  26  and holds it tightly to the leg  16 . Further shown here is a notch  46  formed around the perimeter of the upper surface of the extension member  26 . This notch  46  may or may not be provided; if provided, it adds aesthetic value to the extended leg and hides any joint that might be visible where the leg  16  and the extension assembly  20  meet. The leveler assembly  36  threadedly engages the threaded bore formed in the bottom of the extension bolt  30 . When the foot  60  has been adjusted up or down until the cabinet is level and at the exact height desired, locking nut  40  is rotated until it backs up against the bottom of the extension member thereby locking the leveler assembly  36  in place. If we now turn to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, we can examine the extension member in more detail. 
     FIGS. 5A-5C  are top, front and side views, respectfully, of the extension member of the assembly of  FIGS. 2-4 . In this substantially rectangular version of the extension member  26 , the member  26  has a rear face  42  and a front face  44 . The bore  28  penetrates the center of the top face  45  such that it is aligned cooperatively with the bore and threaded insert formed in the leg (see  FIG. 4 ). As shown here, the notch  46  is cut into the periphery of the top face  45 . Further shown here is a conical section  48  at the bottom end of the bore  28 . This conical section  48  is provided to cooperate with an enlarged portion at the bottom of the extension bolt in order to retain the extension member  26  securely to the leg. As shown in  FIG. 5C , in this version the front face  44  and the rear face  42  are not parallel to one another; in fact, the front face  44  tapers towards the rear face  42  from top to bottom. In other versions, the extension member  26  might be of consistent profile from top to bottom whether rectangular, circular or other design.  FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict the unique extension bolt of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  are side and bottom views, respectfully, of the extension bolt and leveler assembly of the device of  FIGS. 2-4 . The extension bolt  30  is defined by a threaded post  32  at its top end and a conical shoulder  52  transitioning from the threaded post  32  to the shaft  50 . At the lower end of the shaft  50 , the threaded bore  34  is formed. The threaded bore  34  is defined by a threaded portion  56  and a socket  58 . As shown in  FIG. 6B , the socket  58  is provided with flat surfaces around its periphery in order to engage a standard and/or specialized wrench or tool that the user will use to rotate the bolt  30  when it is engaging the threaded insert of the leg. The bolt  30  is further defined by a conical shoulder  54  at its lower extremity. This conical shoulder  54  is configured to cooperate with the conical section of the extension member (see  FIG. 5B ) to retain the extension member to the leg. The bolt  30  (and extension member (see  FIG. 5B ) are available in a variety of different lengths in order to provide wide height-adjustment variety. 
   The threaded portion  56  is cooperatively designed to accept a threaded post  38  of the leveler assembly  36 . As discussed above, when the cabinet has been leveled as necessary by rotating the leveler assembly  36  one way or the other, the locking nut  40  is then backed up against the bottom of the extension bolt  30  so that the foot  60  is fully engaged with the ground at all four legs. It should be understood that although not depicted here, the threaded insert is defined by an internally threaded configured to accept the threaded post  32  of the extension bolt  30  as well as an exterior threaded surface to engage the wood of a bore formed in the leg  16 . Furthermore, the threaded insert has a socket similar to the socket  58  that is used to insert a tool for turning the threaded insert while it is engaging the bore formed in the leg  16 . If we now turn to  FIG. 7 , we can examine the method for installing the extension assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7  is a flowchart depicting the installation method of the present invention. The furniture height increase method  62  of the present invention starts by obtaining a furniture item having legs  100 . Bores are then formed in the bottom face of each of the legs  102  after which threaded inserts are each threadedly inserted into each of the formed leg bores  104 . At some point previous to this step or commencing at this step, extension members and extension bolts are obtained  106 . The extension bolts are then inserted into bores formed in the extension members  108  and the threaded posts of the extension bolts are threadedly engaged with the treaded inserts that have been inserted into the leg bores  110 . The lever assemblies, at some point, are obtained  112  and the threaded posts of the leveler assemblies are threadedly engaged with the threaded portions of the extension bolts  114 . 
   Finally, the furniture level is checked and adjusted by adjusting the engaged portions of the leveler assemblies and then setting locking nuts  116 . 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.