Abstract:
A glide assembly for furniture legs or bases which allows for multiple combinations of attachment devices and base styles. The glide assembly will adapt to the attachment means required by the furniture being fitted which may include bolts, screws, nails, or split or solid stems. Base style choices for different flooring requirements can be interchanged and replaced as needed. This invention permits easy separation of the base from the mounting assembly by mere finger pressure or alternately by using a pry tool. One version of my new glide consists of a three part swivel assembly and another consists of a two part non-swivel assembly. The hard base option is of a unique design to allow for easier sliding on soft carpets or rugs. The soft base option can be fitted with a felt for easy sliding or rubber for non-skid use on hard flooring materials.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention is an improvement in the art of furniture glides, which are used to assist in movement of furniture or other fixtures on carpet or other flooring materials. The goal of furniture glides is to reduce friction to facilitate movement and to minimize damage to the flooring or the furniture. Many glides have provided these functions but choices were limited in combining the correct means of attachment with a suitable base material for the flooring on which the furniture was to be used. This invention allows for multiple combinations and flexibility of use.  
         [0002]     The industry of furniture glides which is the putting of levelers, carpet protection and anti-mar floor leg attachments with swivel motion was started by D. Young, H. Graf and C. Shuppert (U.S. Pat. No. 766,210-1904). Orton C. Little (U.S. Pat. No. 822,963-1906) developed an enclosed device attached to the foot of the furniture leg and had the properties of swiveling and sliding when furniture was moved. Hachmann (U.S. Pat. No. 1,208,546-1916) was the first to devise a replaceable furniture tip for his glide. In 1920, J. A. Johnson was issued U.S. Pat. No. 1,341,133 for a Sliding Shoe for Furniture. He departed from Little by adapting the furniture shoe to attach with a solid pintle stem. In 1928, Oscar Larsenwas issued U.S. Pat. No. 1,659,540 for a Furniture Glider Shoe. Larsen attached his furniture shoe by screws into the furniture leg. This shoe was rigid and did not swivel. G. W. Sutton was issued U.S. Pat. No. 1,734,058 (Nov. 5, 1929) for his Sliding Furniture Shoe which provided for load distribution more evenly and for cushioning of the sliding shoe.  
         [0003]     In 1932, Robert E. Miller was issued U.S. Pat. No. 1,869,574 for a Sliding Caster. A bent wire or a 3 prong attachment afforded a simpler installation by the user.  
         [0004]     The next major change came with the onset of tubular style furniture legs. More intricate stamped metal parts were coming into use and attachment devices had to be contrived. By 1960, numerous similar styles were being devised, such as, U.S. Pat. No. 2,854,636 issued to R. J. Gammache for his Universal Furniture Foot which offered a spring steel attachment for inside tubular legs. R. Bock (U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,621-1991) and R. Carpinella (U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,923-2000) both had similar designs with different attachment devices for tubular legs. Ferencz (U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,982-2002) uses a pressure fit base to protect the floor from marring. Shiffler (U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,934-2004) shows a plurality of inner and outer base protrusions to protect the floor. Kenst and Downen (U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,052-2005) show a nailed support base into which is screwed a replaceable base.  
         [0005]     I believe that my invention further advances the art and science of furniture glides forward another step and is not anticipated by any of the above prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     This invention advances the art of furniture feet, glides and sliding shoes. Prior inventions were intended for one basic use or function. It has been difficult to match the style of attachment required by a specific piece of furniture with the material/style glide base needed for a specific use ie: furniture resting on a carpet, rug or on a hard flooring surface ie: wood, tile, slate, marble, linoleum.  
         [0007]     This invention allows the end user to choose the correct means of attachment for the glide and match it with the correct base material/style for the circumstance. Styles include a swivel/self-leveling option to adapt to uneven flooring surfaces and a non-swivel glide where swiveling is not necessary. The non-swivel glide of my invention also offers a lower profile than is available with the swivel glide option.  
         [0008]     This invention is the first to offer the above choices including the option to easily replace/interchange bases in accordance with use or wear without replacing the mounting components which remain on the piece of furniture.  
         [0009]     This invention also offers a hard base, having an advanced concave design, reducing friction and damage to the flooring and the furniture being moved.  
         [0010]     This invention provides a highly adaptable, functional, stylish and reasonably priced furniture glide for all styles and quality of furniture. The interchangeability feature allows for the easy removal of bases: simple finger pressure on the three part swivel design; and, the two part non-swivel design has a removal slot requiring a removal tool such as a small screwdriver or similar pry tool.  
       DRAWING REFERENCE NUMBERS  
       [0000]    
       
           9  &amp;  9 A outer locking rim widest diameter  
           10  assembled view of 3 component swivel glide  
           11  top hole in outer locking rim  
           12  circumferential indent in outer locking rim  
           13  hemispherical inner angle of outer locking rim  
           14  top surface of inner attachment swivel hub  
           15  concave weight bearing hub wall surface of inner attachment swivel hub  
           16  countersink recess in inner attachment swivel hub  
           17  vertical flat clearance recess on inner attachment swivel hub  
           18  top hole in inner attachment swivel hub  
           19  mating groove with circumferential snap ring (in both bases)  
           20  outer locking rim  
           21  swivel channel in both bases  
           22  convex weight bearing surface of both bases  
           23  clearance space in both bases  
           24  concave bottom surface of hard base  
           25  flat bottom surface of soft base  
           26  bottom surface material for soft base  
           27  vertical flat clearance recess on non-swivel outer locking rim  
           28  countersink recess of non-swivel outer locking rim  
           29  top hole in non-swivel outer locking rim  
           30  inner attachment swivel hub  
           31  circumferential indent in non-swivel outer locking rim  
           32  removal slot in outer locking rim (swivel and non-swivel)  
           33  flat weight bearing surface on non-swivel outer locking rim  
           40  hard glide base  
           50  soft glide base  
           60  soft glide base material  
           70  non-swivel outer locking rim  
          II-II Location of cross sections of FIGS.  2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 &amp; 9   
       
     
     
    
     LIST OF FIGURES  
       [0041]      FIG. 1 . Overall view of the  3  part swivel furniture glide (Assembly  10 )  
         [0042]      FIG. 2  Cross section of the outer locking rim for swivel furniture glide.  
         [0043]      FIG. 3  Cross section of the inner attachment swivel hub.  
         [0044]      FIG. 4  Cross section of the hard glide base.  
         [0045]      FIG. 5  Cross section of the soft glide base.  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  Cross section of bottom surface material for soft base  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  Cross section of assembled 3 part swivel furniture glide (Assembly  10 A)  
         [0048]      FIG. 8  Cross section of outer locking rim for 2 part non-swivel furniture glide  
         [0049]      FIG. 9  Cross section of assembled 2 part non-swivel furniture glide (Assembly  10 B)  
         [0050]      FIG. 10  Top view with vertical cross section through center line II-II  
         [0051]      FIG. 11  Overall view of the 3 part swivel furniture glide installed in a furniture leg 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0052]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the glide Assembly  10  according to the embodiment of the invention. It consists of an outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ), an inner attachment swivel hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ), and optional base  40  ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 2  the outer locking rim  20  is a shallow round hemispheric outer shell which becomes a top shell for the base  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) of the furniture glide of my invention. It may be made of plastic selected from a variety of materials such as ABS (hard) or polyethylene (soft). The outer locking rim  20  may also be made of metal, generally brass, but other metals, such, as iron, steel or aluminum may be used for aesthetic purposes. The diameter  9  and  9   a  ( FIG. 2 ) of the outer locking rim is intentionally designed to be larger than the diameter of the opposing base style to facilitate removal/replacement of bases by finger pressure alone without the need for tools or any special equipment. Removal slot  32  in the bottom outer edge of the outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ) assists in removal of the base with a small screwdriver or similar pry tool for those lacking the finger dexterity to remove the base by hand. Alternatively, the removal slot  32  may be in each of the several base choices. The outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ) has on its internal distal surface a circumferential indent  12  which will mate with base  40  or  50  at mating groove with circumferential snap ring  19  ( FIG. 4  &amp;  FIG. 5 ) as a press/snap-fit connection. The outer locking rim  20  has an internal angle  13  ( FIG. 2 ) making the outer shell hemispherical and allowing for clearance for the outside surface  14  of the inner attachment swivel hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ). The outer locking rim  20  has a center hole  11  of such size to allow swivel ability to the inner attachment swivel hub from zero to fifteen degrees from center.  
         [0054]     The inner attachment swivel hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ) is fitted between the outer shell  20  ( FIG. 2 ) and base  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) and serves as a means for attachment to the furniture leg generally by a screw, bolt, nail or split or solid pin through its center hole  18 . The side opposing top angle  14  is concave weight bearing hub wall  15  ( FIG. 3 ) which mates with convex weight bearing surface  22  in base  40  or  50  ( FIG. 4  &amp;  FIG. 5 ). Swivel channel  21  of base  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) provides functional control depending on the direction of movement of the swivel action of the inner attachment swivel hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ). A central hole  18  in the inner attachment swivel hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ) has an angled side  16  which forms a countersunk support for means of attachment, for example, a screw, bolt, nail and solid or split stem. Vertical flat  17  forms a clearance recess for the head of a screw, bolt, nail or solid or split stem.  
         [0055]     Base  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) has its top surface mateable with the inner attachment swivel hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ) and the locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ). In base  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) there is a clearance space  23  to accommodate a variety of attachment means such as screws or bolts with large heads.  
         [0056]     The bottom surface  24  of base  40  ( FIG. 4 ) is slightly concave to distribute the weight of the furniture to the outer edges of the bottom surface  24 . This uneven concave surface will slide on a carpet easier than a flat surface, especially, when used in combination with the swiveling and leveling action of the glide. In  FIG. 5 , the base has a bottom surface  25 , which is flat, to accommodate the attachment of a cushion  60  ( FIG. 6 ) which generally is a base material  26  such as felt for a sliding function or a soft rubber for non-skid function.  
         [0057]      FIG. 7  shows a cross section of Assembly  10 A of the three part swiveling version of the invention including a screw, in phantom, used as the method of attachment, the meeting of the weight bearing surfaces  15  ( FIG. 3 ) and  22  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) and the outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ) mating with optional base  40  ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0058]      FIG. 8  shows an optional non-swiveling outer locking rim  70  for a lower profile furniture glide where leveling is not required. Flat surface  33  forms the weight bearing surface for the mateable surface  22  on the attached base  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ). Vertical flat  27  forms a clearance recess for the head of the attachment means to the furniture leg corresponding to vertical flat  17  ( FIG. 3 ). Countersink recess  28  is mateable for multiple attachment means such as screws, bolts, nails solid or split stems for attachment to the furniture leg corresponding to countersink recess  16  ( FIG. 3 ). Top hole  29  corresponds to hole  18  ( FIG. 3 ). Circumferential indent  31  relates to circumferential indent  12  ( FIG. 2 ). Removal slot  32  (FIGS.  1 , 2 , 8 ,&amp; 11 ) provides a method of separating the base from the mounting assembly with a small screwdriver or similar pry tool.  
         [0059]      FIG. 9  shows a cross section of Assembly  10 B of the 2 part non-swivel glide comprised of the outer locking rim  70  ( FIG. 8 ) and the optional base  40  ( FIG. 4 ) including a screw, in phantom, used as the method of attachment and the meeting of the weight bearing surfaces  33  ( FIG. 8 ) and  22  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ).  
         [0060]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of the 3 part swiveling version of the glide designating the vertical cross sections (II-II) shown in Assemblies  10 A and  10 B ( FIG. 7  &amp;  FIG. 9 ) and vertical cross section shown in components  20 , 30 , 40 , 50 , 60 , 70  (FIGS.  2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6  &amp;  8 ).  
         [0061]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of the 3 part swiveling version of the glide attached to a furniture leg depicting the degree of swivel and the removal slot  32  for the pry tool.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0062]      FIG. 1  shows the assembled side view  10  of one version of my invention. This version is a three component swivel glide.  
         [0063]     In  FIG. 1 , a swiveling furniture glide is assembled from three components: an inner attachment swivel hub  30 , an outer locking rim  20  and optional hard base  40 . This new furniture glide is designed to facilitate the movement of furniture over different flooring materials without damage to the flooring or the furniture. The choice of base styles is dependent on the flooring material on which the piece of furniture is to rest. Base style  40  is a hard base aiding in movement of an article of furniture over soft carpets or rugs. Base style  50  has flat bottom surface  25  as a support for a pad of a softer material  26  such as felt, rubber or plastic which is attached to it to reduce damage and to assist or resist movement when used on hard flooring (wood, tile, linoleum, etc.). All base styles are completely interchangeable, which is part of my new concept. Making the selected base replaceable without disturbing the original mounting assembly of the inner attachment swivel hub  30  or the outer locking rim  20  is a distinct advantage created by my invention. The outer locking rim  20  is fit over the inner attachment swivel hub  30  prior to mounting the inner attachment swivel hub  30  to the leg or base of the article of furniture being fitted. The mounting assembly  20  and  30  may be attached to the furniture leg by optional means such as a screw, bolt, nail or split or solid pin, which is another new concept of my invention. The base selected from bases  40  or  50  can then be snapped onto the outer locking rim  20  to complete the assembly. Either base can be easily removed with the fingers by pushing the outer locking rim  20  away from the base  40  or  50  toward the furniture to which it is attached thereby releasing the base  40  or  50  from the outer locking rim  20 . In situations where the press/snap-fit has aged or been heated in the sun and becomes tighter than press/snap-fit, the parts can be separated by means of a pry tool such as a small screwdriver inserted into the removal slot  32  (FIGS.  1 , 2 , 8  &amp; 11 ). Replacement bases  40  or  50  are easily snapped onto the outer locking rim  20  to complete the assembly.  
         [0064]     The method of attachment is to initially pass the attachment means ie: screw, bolt, nail or split or solid stem through the hole  18  in the inner attachment swivel hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ), and through hole  11  in the outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ). The two parts are then attached to the furniture leg. The three part swivel glide assembly is completed by snapping together the outer locking rim  20  and the selected base  40  or  50 .  
         [0065]      FIG. 2  represents a cross section of the outer locking rim  20  which functions, as a support, to hold either of the optional bases  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) to complete the assembly of the embodiment of the invention. The top hole  11  is large enough to allow for swivel movement of the inner attachment swivel hub in the range from vertical to 15 degrees from center in all directions. This amount of swivel is sufficient for most normal furniture styles to maintain a flat and even contact of the glide base with the floor. The outer locking rim  20  has on its internal distal surface a circumferential indent  12  which will mate with bases  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) at the mating groove with circumferential snap ring  19  ( FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 ) as a press/snap-fit connection. The outer locking rim  20  has an internal angle  13  making the outer shell hemispherical and allows for the swivel clearance of the outside surface  14  of the inner attachment swivel hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ). The diameter  9  and  9   a  of the outer locking rim  20  is intentionally larger than the diameter of the mateable base  40  or  50  to allow for easy release of the base to allow for removal/replacement of bases  40  or  50  by finger pressure alone without the need for tools or special equipment. Removal slot  32  in the bottom outer edge of the outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ) assists in removal of the base with a small screwdriver or similar pry tool for those lacking the finger dexterity to remove the base by hand. Alternatively, the removal slot  32  may be in each of the several base choices.  
         [0066]      FIG. 3  represents a cross section of the inner attachment swivel hub  36  which connects directly to the article of furniture and supports the outer locking rim. The inner attachment swivel hub  30  is fitted between the outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ) and base  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) and serves as a means for attachment to the article of furniture generally by a screw, bolt, nail or split or solid stem through it&#39;s center hole  18 . Opposite angle  14  of the top surface of the inner attachment swivel hub  30  is the concave weight bearing inner hub wall  15  which mates with convex weight bearing surface  22  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) of either base  40  or  50 . Swivel channel  21  in base  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) provides functional control in all directions of movement of the swivel action of the inner attachment swivel hub  30  in the range from vertical to 15 degrees from center. A central hole  18  in the inner attachment swivel hub  30  has an angled side  16  which forms a countersunk recess to accept means of attachments such as screws, bolts, nails or split or solid stems. Vertical flat  17  forms a clearance recess for the head of the attachment means.  
         [0067]      FIG. 4  represents a cross section of the hard base style  40  of which the bottom surface  24  is slightly concave to more evenly distribute weight toward the outside edge of the glide but not indent deeply into the soft flooring surface, such as, carpets and rugs. This concave bottom surface  24  also assists in starting to move a piece of furniture in combination with the leveling and swiveling ability of the glide. A furniture leg tends to imprint into the carpet or rug and requires the glide to swivel in order to easily ride up the side of the imprint. Other glides are flat bottomed and carry the weight of the furniture evenly from the center but my glide is concave on the bottom and moves the weight of the furniture from even distribution on the bottom to the outer rim of the concave surface  24  encouraging movement assisted by the swivel/leveling action of the glide.  
         [0068]      FIG. 5  represents a cross section of the soft base style  50  which has a flat surface  25  to accommodate the attachment of a cushion  60 , in  FIG. 6 , which generally is a base material  26  such as felt for a sliding function or a soft rubber or plastic for a non-skid function.  
         [0069]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  shows cross sections of the optional base styles  40  and  50 . The top surface of these bases are identical and are mateable with the inner attachment swivel hub  30  and the outer locking rim  20  as explained above. In both bases  40  and  50 , there is a clearance space  23  to accommodate a variety of attachment means such as screws, bolts, nails, split pins, etc. with large heads. Around the outer rim of each base  40  &amp;  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) is a mating groove with a circumferential snap ring  19  which is accepted by the indent  12  in the outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ) and indent  31  in the non-swivel outer locking rim  70  ( FIG. 8 ). The convex weight bearing surface  22  will moveably mate with the concave weight bearing surface  15  ( FIG. 3 ) to enable the swivel function. Swivel channel  21  allows for the movement of the inner attachment swivel hub for the swivel action of the glide from vertical to 15 degrees from center.  
         [0070]      FIG. 7  is a vertical cross section of Assembly  10 A of the three part swivel glide ( FIG. 1 ) to further illustrate the meeting of the weight bearing members which are the concave hub wall surface  15  ( FIG. 3 ) and convex weight bearing surface  22  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ), the positioning of the inner attachment hub  30  ( FIG. 3 ) with the attachment means, in phantom, and the outer locking rim  20  ( FIG. 2 ) mating with optional base  40  ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0071]      FIG. 8  represents a cross section of the non-swiveling outer locking rim  70 . This modification is used when swiveling is not necessary and provides for a lower profile glide attachment. Horizontal flat  33  serves as a weight bearing surface to mate with convex weight bearing surface  22  of optional bases  40  and  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ). Vertical flat  27  relates to vertical flat  17  ( FIG. 3 ) for additional clearance for the selected attachment means. Central hole  29  relates to central hole  18  ( FIG. 3 ) and has an angled side  28  which relates to countersink recess  16  ( FIG. 3 ) to accept numerous styles of screws, bolts, nails or various stem styles. Indent  31  is identical to indent  12  ( FIG. 2 ) to mate with bases  40  or  50  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ). Removal slot  32  (FIGS.  1 , 2 , 8  &amp; 11 ) is required to release all base styles with the assist of a small screwdriver or similar prying tool.  
         [0072]      FIG. 9  shows a vertical cross section of Assembly  10 B of the  2  part non-swiveling furniture glide. This cross section shows the joining of optional base  40  ( FIG. 4 ) with the non-swiveling outer locking rim  70  ( FIG. 8 ) at circumferential indent  31  ( FIG. 8 ) with mating groove with circumferential snap ring  19  ( FIGS. 4&amp;5 ) in optional base  40  ( FIG. 4 ), the weight bearing surface  33  ( FIG. 8 ) abutting convex weight bearing surface  22  ( FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 ), and the attachment means in phantom.  
         [0073]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of the furniture glide with the vertical cross sectionallocations indicated by II-II.  
         [0074]      FIG. 11  is an overall view of the furniture glide attached to a furniture leg showing the swiveling ability of 0 to 15 degrees from top center and the removal slot  32  (FIGS.  1 , 2 , 8  &amp; 11 ) for the pry tool.  
         [0075]     Those skilled in the art will recognize that certain variations can be made to the illustrated embodiments. It is the intention of the applicant to cover all such modifications and alternatives as may fall within the true scope of the invention as defined by means of the appended claims.