Leg structure

Abstract: A leg structure 10 has a longitudinally extending array of discrete plastics moulded segments 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 & 24 of aesthetic design, wherein each segment (e.g. 14) has two opposed and parallel flat faces 68 & 70 for parallel alignment with the faces 60 & 76 of adjacent segments. Disposed between adjacent segments are connecting collars 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 & 38 which frictionally receive spigots 62, 68, 66, 72, 74, 76 & 78 extending from the adjacent flat faces of the segments, restraining the segments from lateral displacement relative to one another. A bolt 40 extends longitudinally through the segments and the connecting collars to receive a locking nut 48, which nut 48 is tightened to compress the segments and connecting collars together and restrain them from relative longitudinal displacement. A method of manufacturing a leg structure 10 is described.

Description: The present invention relates to a leg structure and was primarily developed for use in furniture construction. The invention also relates to the method of manufacture of such a leg structure. Leg structures are known which are predominantly or wholly manufactured as a plastics moulding. A problem with this type of structure is that the furniture industry demands a wide variety of legs of different designs and sizes which calls for a wide variety of moulding tools. Understandably, this requires capital expense in the manufacture and storage of these tools, and the need to manufacture new moulds or mould inserts for design changes that may be made to the legs. Frequently, the cost of purchasing a wide variety of moulding tools is not justified for the number of moulded legs that may be required from an individual tool. Previously known types of plastics moulded leg structures are known, one example being disclosed in US-A-4,919,386 which discloses a leg structure according to the preamble of independant claim 1. A further example of a plastics moulded leg structure is disclosed in the French Patent No. FR-A-2 378 475 which discloses a leg structure comprising separate segments of plastics material which are held together by a longitudinally extended bolt passing therethrough. It is an object of the present invention to provide a leg structure which alleviates the aforementioned problems. According to the present invention there is provided a leg structure comprising a longitudinally extending array of discrete plastics moulded segments in which each segment has two opposed and parallel laterally extending flat faces for parallel alignment with the faces of an adjacent segment in the array, the, or each, two adjacent segments in the array being interconnected by connecting means which restrains the respective two adjacent segments from displacement laterally relative to each other, the segments and connecting means being held together longitudinally by a securing means which extends therethrough and which is characterised in that the connecting means comprises a collar and wherein spigots extend longitudinally from the flat faces of the segments, the collar being disposed between two adjacent flat faces of two adjacent segments so that the spigots of the adjacent segments are frictionally received within the collar to restrain the two adjacent segments and the collar from lateral movement relative to each other. By the present invention, the securing means preferably comprises a bolt extending longitudinally through the segments and the connecting means, usually through centrally formed coinciding bolt holes, one in each segment, and restrained by a lock nut which is tightened on the bolt to compress the segments together to restrain them from removing apart longitudinally. Preferably the leg structure will have end segments on each of its longitudinally opposed ends which have recesses formed about the centrally formed bolt holes on the outwardly facing flat faces thereof, to accommodate the bolt head and lock nut. By the present invention the, or each, two adjacent segments, may be of different aesthetic designs and sizes from each other provided that the segments are tailored to fit as appropriate with the collar disposed between them. Furthermore, the two opposed and parallel laterally extending faces of each segment, in a particular leg structure, may be of different shape and sizes to each other and each facing having thereon a spigot which is of a different size to the spigot on the opposed and parallel face. Preferably, one of the end segments of the leg is connected to a castored roller, for example one of the end segments of the leg structure will have on its outwardly facing flat face an enlarged spigot for engagement with a cup in the castor assembly. In the preferred form of the invention the connecting means comprises annular collars disposed between cylindrical spigots, on the adjacent segments, which the collar closely receives. Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a leg structure which comprises moulding individual leg segments each having two opposed and parallel laterally extending flat faces with spigots extending longitudinally from each flat face, then connecting the leg segments together in a longitudinal array with connecting collars by positioning the collars longitudinally between adjacent segments so that the spigots of said adjacent segments are frictionally received within the collar, the collar restraining the segments from moving apart laterally, and then comprising the segments together in the longitudinal direction to restrain the segments and collars from moving apart longitudinally. One embodiment of a leg structure constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which : Figure 1 is a side elevation of the leg structure and a castor assembly to be fitted thereto; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lower segments and connecting collars of the leg structure prior to their connection together; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a leg segment (14) and a connecting collar (30) of the leg structure of Figure 1 prior to their connection together. The leg structure 10 is made up of a longitudinally extending array of discrete plastics moulded segments 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 with brass connecting collars 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 disposed between the adjacent segments respectively, connecting the adjacent segments to one another. An elongated bolt 40 extends longitudinally through centrally pierced coinciding bolt holes 44 of each segment and the connecting collars. A bolt head 42, of the bolt 40, is accommodated in a recess 45 around the bolt hole 44 in a face 46, facing outwards from the leg structure 10, of an end segment 12. A corresponding lock nut 48, tightened on the bolt 40, is accommodated in a second recess 50 around the bolt hole 44 in a face 52 of the opposite end segment 24, which face 52 is directed outwardly from the leg structure 10 in an opposite direction to that of the face 46 of the other end segment 12. The bolt head 42 at one end of the bolt 40, being of greater diameter than the bolt holes 44, holds the bolt against the end segment 12 (within the recess 45) and the lock nut 48, also of greater diameter than the bolt hole 44, is threaded on the opposed end of the bolt 40 and tightened against the opposite end segment 24 (within the recess 50) to compress the segments and connecting collars together and restrain them from longitudinal displacement relative to one another. An end 54 of the bolt 40 extends longitudinally outwards from the end of the leg structure 10, beyond the locking nut 48, to provide a means for connecting the leg structure 10 to a piece of furniture, having a reciprocal threaded bore, by screw engagement. The end segment 12, forming the base of the leg structure 10, has on its face 46 a longitudinally extending cylindrical spigot 56 for frictional engagement with a cylindrical chamber 55 of a castor cup 57, which castor cup 57 carrying a castor wheel arrangement 59. The segments are of different size, shape and ornate design to each other but all have two flat parallel and opposed faces which extend laterally relative to the leg structure 10. Figure 2 shows four of the segments 12, 14, 16 and 18 of the leg structure 10. Each segment has on each of its flat opposed faces 46, 60, 68, 70, 76, 78, 77 and 80 upstanding cylindrical spigots 78, 76, 74, 72, 66, 64, 62 and 56 respectively. This arrangement is seen in Figure 3, a perspective view of the segment 14 and the adjacent connecting collar 30, in which the spigot 66 lies on the flat face 70 of the segment. The connecting collar 30 is disposed to enable its inner surface 31 to frictionally engage the spigot 66 and have its shoulder 33 abut against the flat face 70 when the leg segments and connecting collars are compressed together. The outwardly facing spigot 56 on the end segment 12 is longer than the other spigots of the leg structure 10 and serves to frictionally engage a castor cup as previously mentioned. The remaining spigots frictionally engage with inner surface of the annular brass connecting collars 28, 30 and 32, disposed laterally between adjacent segments 12 and 14, 14 and 16 and 16 and 18 respectively, when the segments are compressed together longitudinally by the nut and bolt arrangement 48 and 54, with the shoulders of the connecting collars being forced to abut against the flat faces of the adjacent segments. Similarly, the connecting collars 34, 36 and 38 connect together the segments 18 and 20, 20 and 22 and 22 and 24. This connecting collar and spigot arrangement restrains the adjacent segments and collars from relative lateral displacement while the nut and bolt arrangement restrain the segments and connecting collars from longitudinal displacement. The adjacent spigots between adjacent segments are of equal diameter, this diameter corresponding to the diameter of the inner surface of the annular collar disposed between the spigots. The diameter of the non-adjacent spigots varies between different segments and also between opposed faces on the same segments, the connecting collars used in the leg structure 10 are also of varying diameter, with the simple design requirement that the diameter of adjacent spigots is the same and that the diameter of the inner surface of the connecting collar disposed between adjacent spigots is the same as that of the said spigots. Several of the segments 22, 24 and 14 are of overall uniform diameter to one another, while segment 18 has a larger uniform diameter. The segments 16 and 20 change the thickness of the leg structure 10 by varying in diameter longitudinally between the end faces 76 and 78 thereof and having spigots 72 and 74 of different diameters on its faces. The spigots 70 and 76, of the adjacent segments 14 and 18 respectively, are of corresponding diameter to the spigots of segment 16 (72 and 74 respectively) which they lie adjacent to. The inner diameters of the connecting collars 30 and 32 disposed between the respective pairs of spigots are also equal to the diameters of the spigots between which they lie, but are of different diameters relative to each other. The corresponding connection means between segments 18, 20 and 22 are similar to those disposed between segments 18, 16 and 14. The segments are chosen from a set of standard ornate designs of various shapes and sizes to provide the required design and size of the leg structure. It will be usual in a typical leg design that an end segment 12 will be required and that the adjacent spigots of two segments, which are to be connected, are of equal size. In order to produce legs of different designs it is only necessary to alter the order and arrangement of the available segments and/or the moulding of new segments rather than designing a new mould for the entire leg. Further embodiments of this invention include the replacement of brass connecting rings with those of ornate designs in moulded plastics and different end segments where castors are not required. Furthermore, the shape of the spigots of the connecting means need not be circular but may be of any shape, such as square or triangular, to enhance the ornate design of the leg structure. Yet further, the connecting means may be reversed so that spigots are located on connecting boards, to be disposed between adjacent segments, to frictionally engage formed recesses in the flat faces of the adjacent segments in order to prevent relative lateral displacement between adjacent segments and connecting means.

Claims: A leg structure (10) comprising a longitudinally extending array of discrete plastics moulded segments (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) in which each segment (14) has two opposed and parallel laterally extending flat faces (68, 70) for parallel alignment with the faces (76, 60) of an adjacent segment (16, 12) in the array; the, or each, two adjacent segments (12, 14) in the array being interconnected by connecting means (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) which restrains the respective two adjacent segments (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) from displacement laterally relative to each other, said segments and connecting means being held together longitudinally by a securing means (40) which extends therethrough characterised in that the connecting means (28) comprises a collar (28) and wherein spigots (62, 64) extend longitudinally from the flat faces (60, 68) of the segments (12, 14), said collar (28) being disposed between two adjacent flat faces (60, 68) of two adjacent segments (12, 14) so that the spigots (62, 64) of said adjacent segments (12, 14) are frictionally received within the collar (28) to restrain the two adjacent segments (12, 14) and the collar (28) from lateral movement relative to each other. A leg structure (10) as claimed in claim 1 in which the collars (28) are annular and receive cylindrical spigots (62, 64). A leg structure (10) as claimed in either of the preceding claims in which the two opposed and parallel laterally extending flat faces (76, 78) of at least one segment (16) are of different shapes and sizes to each other and each face (76, 78) has extending therefrom spigots (72, 74) which are of a different lateral size. A leg structure (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the securing means (40) comprises a bolt (40) extending longitudinally through the segments (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) and the connecting means (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38), by way of coinciding bolt holes (44) in said segments, said bolt (40) being retained by a lock nut (48) to compress the segments longitudinally. A leg structure (10) as claimed in claim 4 which has an end segment (12, 24) on each of its longitudinally opposed ends, said end segments (12, 24) have recesses (45, 50) formed about the bolt holes (44) on outwardly facing flat faces (46, 52) thereof to accommodate the lock nut (48) and a head (42) of the bolt (40). A leg structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least two adjacent segments (14, 16) are of different aesthetic designs and sizes from each other, said two adjacent segments (14,16) being tailored to engage with the connecting means (30) disposed between them. A leg structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the or an end segment (12) is connected to a roller assembly (59). A method of manufacturing a leg structure which comprises moulding individual leg segments (12, 14, 16, 18, 22, 24) each having two opposed and parallel laterally extending flat faces (76, 60) with spigots (62, 64) extending longitudinally from each flat face; connecting said leg segments together in a longitudinal array with connecting collars (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) by positioning said collars longitudinally between adjacent segments so that the spigots (62, 64) of said adjacent segments (12, 14) are frictionally received within the collar (28), said collar restraining the segments (12, 14) from moving apart laterally, and compressing the segments together in the longitudinal direction to restrain said segments and collars from moving apart longitudinally.

Inventors: COOK PETER RUSSELL, PILSBURY WILLIAM FRANCIS, COOK, PETER RUSSELL, PILSBURY, WILLIAM FRANCIS
Applicants: COOK PETER INT PLC, PETER COOK INTERNATIONAL PLC
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A47B91
IPC codes: A47B91