Patent Publication Number: US-6910246-B2

Title: Furniture leg glide

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/481,607 filed on Nov. 6, 2003. 

   The invention relates to the field of a furniture leg glide and more specifically to the field of a furniture leg glide for being attached to a furniture leg for reducing a screeching sound resulting from the furniture leg being dragged against a floor. In many classrooms around the world teachers get annoyed with the screeching sound that results from students dragging their chairs and desks against classroom floors. Every time a student gets out of their chair, the chair typically makes a screeching sound as it moves across the floor, where the screeching sound is a result of friction between the floor and a leg of the classroom furniture. In large classrooms, where there are over 30 students, these screeching noises are especially annoying to both students and teachers since they are emitted from a number of different desks and chairs. Thus, silence during quiet time is hard to attain in the classroom because of screeching sounds emitted from continuous shuffling of chairs and desks. 
   There are many furniture leg glide devices in the prior art, such as for example, those described in US Application Number 20020190179, or U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,405. 
   US Application Number 20020190179 describes a resilient chair glide that utilizes a flexible element having a small contact area in order to minimize friction. Unfortunately, this device is adapted for being attached directly to the leg of a chair and does not prevent the floors from being scratched by the flexible element. U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,405 describes a furniture glide having a soft floor protective material for reducing friction between the glide and the floor and for prevent the floors from being scratched. Unfortunately, this device requires nailing to the bottom of a furniture leg. 
   There are various other furniture glides that are in the form of small disc like devices that are either adhered or screwed onto the bottom of furniture legs they have been tested in the classroom environment and they don&#39;t attach properly or they don&#39;t last. 
   A need therefore exists for a furniture leg glide that significantly reduces the screeching sound that results furniture being dragged along a floor. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a furniture glide that reduces the screeching sound that results furniture being dragged along a floor. It is a further object of the invention to provide a furniture glide that minimizes damage to the floors. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a furniture glide that facilitates removable attachment over existing furniture glides. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   In accordance with the invention there is provided a furniture leg glide comprising: a hollow body formed from a unitary construction comprising: an upper body portion comprising a first end and a second end; a flexible coupling portion comprising a first end coupled with the second end of the upper body portion and a second end; a lower body portion comprising a first end coupled with the second end of the flexible coupling portion and a second end; an end cap comprising a first end coupled with the second end of the lower body portion and a second end; a first cavity extending from the first end of the upper body portion to the second end of the lower body portion, where the first cavity terminates at the end cap; and, a piece of felt type material coupled with the second end of the end cap, wherein the flexible coupling portion is for permitting angular displacement, within a predetermined limit, of the upper body portion with respect to the lower body portion. 
   In accordance with the invention there is provided a furniture leg glide comprising: a hollow body formed from a unitary construction and comprising a continuous inner wall and a continuous outer wall disposed between a first end thereof and a second end thereof; a continuous flexible coupling portion formed along a periphery of the hollow body and between the first and second ends that extends past the continuous outer wall; an end cap comprising a first end and a second end, where the first end thereof is disposed at a second end of the hollow body; an aperture formed at the first end of the hollow body, where a first cavity is formed that is bounded by the continuous inner wall, the end cap and the aperture; and, a piece of felt type material for contacting the floor disposed on the second end of the end cap. 
   In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of installing a furniture leg glide onto a furniture leg comprising: providing of a furniture leg glide comprising unitary construction and comprising a hollow body comprising a first end and a second end and a flexible coupling portion formed between the first end and the second end of the hollow body and a first cavity formed within the hollow body between the first and second ends thereof at an end cap where an aperture is formed at the first end of the hollow body for facilitating access to the first cavity; grasping an outside surface of the hollow body; sliding at least one of a furniture leg and a furniture leg glide into the first cavity; terminating sliding of the furniture leg glide onto the furniture leg upon the furniture leg end contacting the second end of the hollow body; and, flexing at least a portion of the flexible coupling portion upon having an end of at least one of the furniture leg and the furniture leg glide contact the end cap attached to the hollow body. 
   In accordance with the invention there is provided a furniture leg glide comprising: a hollow body comprising a first end and a second end; an end cap formed at the second end of the hollow body; a first cavity formed between the first end and the second end of the hollow body; a first lip disposed on the body portion proximate the first end and extending inwardly and upwardly from the body portion for partially covering the first cavity; a second lip disposed on the body portion proximate the first end approximately opposite the first lip and extending inwardly and upwardly from the body portion for partially covering the first cavity; and, an aperture formed between the first and second lips for facilitating access to the first cavity. 
   In accordance with the invention there is provided a method comprising: providing a furniture leg glide comprising a hollow body having a first end and a second end; providing an end cap formed at the second end of the hollow body; providing a first cavity formed between the first end and the second end of the hollow body, where the first cavity is bounded on one side by the end cap; providing a first lip disposed on the body portion proximate the first end and extending inwardly and upwardly from the hollow body for partially covering the first cavity; and, providing a second lip disposed on the hollow body proximate the first end and approximately opposite the first lip and extending inwardly and upwardly from the hollow body for partially covering the first cavity. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  illustrate a prior art furniture glide that facilitates removable attachment over existing furniture leg glides or furniture legs that are absent furniture leg glides; 
       FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c  illustrate a furniture leg glide (FLG) in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of the FLG disposed on the end of a furniture leg having a conventional furniture glide disposed on an end thereof; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a FLG in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, where the FLG as shown provides a flexible coupling portion, in the form of an accordion like connection, between upper and lower body portions of a FLG body; 
       FIG. 5   a  illustrates a perspective view of a FLG in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, where the FLG is provided with a flexible coupling portion between upper and lower body portions of a FLG body; 
       FIG. 5   b  illustrates a side view of the FLG in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5   c  illustrates a top view of the FLG in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5   d  illustrates the FLG in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention when installed on an angled furniture leg, thus showing flexing of the flexible coupling portion along one side and extending of the flexible coupling portion along an opposite side of the FLG body; 
       FIG. 6   a  illustrates a top view of a FLG in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6   b  illustrates a perspective view of the FLG in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6   c  illustrates a front view of the FLG in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6   d  illustrates a side view of the FLG in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 6   e  and  6   f  illustrate the FLG in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention, where the FLG is mounted to an existing swivel furniture leg glide; 
       FIG. 7   a  illustrates a top view of a FLG in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7   b  illustrates a side view of the FLG in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the invention; and, 
       FIG. 7   c  illustrates a perspective view of the FLG in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  illustrates a prior art furniture glide that facilitates removable attachment over existing furniture glides or furniture legs. The prior art furniture glide is for reducing a screeching sound that results from furniture legs being dragged along a floor and also serves to minimize damage to floors cause by sliding of furniture legs. The prior art furniture glide is in the form of a tennis ball  100  that has slits  101  cut therein to allow for insertion of the furniture leg into the inside of the tennis ball  100 . By pushing on the slits  101 , an aperture is formed for receiving of a furniture leg  102  and a conventional furniture glide  103  disposed thereon. The aperture is of a smaller diameter than that of the furniture leg  102  and associated glide  103 , thus it frictionally engages the furniture leg  102  and the existing glide  103  so that it does not fall off. Unfortunately, tennis balls are known to be expensive and require dangerous labor that is involved with modifying these tennis balls in order to create the aperture therein. Furthermore, tennis balls  100  wear out quite quickly and as such have to be replaced often. Not to mention that students in the classroom tend to remove these tennis balls from the furniture legs and use them for play instead of paying attention to the teacher. Additionally in the prior art there are furniture leg glides that are manufactures using variations on the tennis ball. Unfortunately, these are also prone to the same problems in classrooms as those faced by tennis balls. A need exists to provide a furniture leg glide that reduced the screeching sound emitted from dragging furniture across a floor as well as one that facilitates attachment to a furniture leg having an existing furniture leg glide disposed thereon or to a furniture leg absent a furniture leg glide. 
     FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c  illustrate a furniture leg glide (FLG)  200  in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2   a , the FLG  200  includes a hollow body  201  having an aperture  202  at a first end thereof and an end cap  203  at a second end thereof. The aperture  202  is for receiving of a furniture leg (not shown in these figures). For attaching of the FLG  200  onto the furniture leg, the furniture leg is slid through the aperture  202  into an inside of the hollow body  201 , where it comes to rest on a first end of the end cap  203 . A piece of felt type material  204 , preferably in the form of a disk, is disposed on a second surface of the end cap  203 , opposite the first end that is adjacent a bottom of the furniture leg. The piece of felt type material  204  is for contacting the floor  220 . Preferably the hollow body  201  is of a tubular configuration having either an elliptical cross section or a trapezoidal cross section. The cross section is of course dependent upon the furniture leg. 
   In order to provide additional frictional contact between the furniture leg and the FLG  200  when the furniture leg is inserted into the tubular body  201 , longitudinal ribs, in the form of flexible protrusions  206 , extending from the inside of the tubular body  201  proximate the aperture  202  collapse inwards and frictionally engage an outer surface of the furniture leg. These flexible protrusions  206  provides additional frictional contact between the furniture leg and the FLG  200  so that the FLG  200  does not fall off the furniture leg when the furniture is slid or raised off the floor. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of the FLG  200  disposed on the end of a furniture leg  221  having a conventional furniture glide  222  disposed on an end thereof. Because the FLG  200  is adapted to fit over an existing furniture glide  222 , removal of existing furniture glide  222  is not performed prior to attachment of the FLG  200 . The FLG  200  is advantageously disposed over the existing furniture leg glide  222  and therefore robust construction of the end cap  203  is obviated. Typically furniture legs for classroom furniture are manufactured from steel tubes and thus furniture leg glides which are attached to the ends of these tubes are made from hard plastic or rubber and are disposed on the end of the furniture leg so that the tube does not cut into the furniture glide. Advantageously disposing the FLG  200  over an existing furniture glide allows for manufacturing of the FLG  200  from inexpensive materials and also allows for easier installation. Optionally, the FLG  200  is disposed over the existing furniture leg after the existing furniture leg glide has been removed. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, a FLG  400 . The FLG is formed from a hollow body  401  having a unitary construction, which includes three portions and an end cap  411 . The portions are: an upper body portion  408 , a flexible coupling portion  409  and a lower body portion  410 . The upper body portion  408  has a first end and a second end. Proximate the first end of the upper body portion  408  is an aperture for receiving of the furniture leg  221 . The flexible coupling portion  409  has a first end thereof coupled with the second end of the upper body portion  408  and a second end. The lower body portion  410  has a first end thereof coupled with the second end of the flexible coupling portion  409  and a second end coupled with a first end of the end cap  411 . 
   A first cavity is formed within the FLG  400  and it is bounded by the inner walls of the hollow body  401  and the first side of the end cap  411 . Formed at a second end of the end cap  411 , opposite the first end, is a second cavity. The second cavity is for receiving of a piece of felt type material  404 . Preferably the flexible coupling portion  409  is in the form of an accordion type coupling which permits flexing between the upper and lower body portions. The FLG  400 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , is shown in a flexed position, where the furniture leg forms an angle of approximately twenty degrees off vertical when the end of the furniture leg is fully inserted in the first cavity and resting against the end cap  411 . 
   Advantageously when the furniture leg  221  is angled from vertical, the piece of felt type material  404  still contacts the floor  220 . This flexing of the flexible coupling portion  409  results in less stress being placed on sections joining the flexible coupling portion  409  to the upper and lower body portions,  408  and  410 , because the flexible coupling portion  409  between the upper and lower body portions,  408  and  410 , flexes in dependence upon angular position of the furniture leg  221  relative to the floor  220 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4 , as the flexible coupling portion  409  is flexed on one side it extends on the opposite side. Furthermore, for angular movement of the furniture leg  221 , of approximately plus or minus thirty degrees, the piece of felt type material  411  remains in contact with the floor  220 . Thus, the FLG  400  lends itself ideally to classroom chairs, where students typically balance the chair on two legs, or in some cases one leg. 
     FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c  and  5   d  illustrate various views of a FLG  500  in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5   a  illustrates a perspective view of the FLG  500 ,  FIG. 5   b  illustrates a side view of the FLG  500 , including details of inside construction,  FIG. 5C  illustrates a top view of the FLG  500 , and  FIG. 5   d  illustrates the FLG  500  when installed on an angled furniture leg  521 . 
   The FLG  500  is formed from a hollow body  551 , which includes three portions and an end cap  504 . The portions are: an upper body portion  501 , a flexible coupling portion  502 , a lower body portion  503  and the end cap  504 . The upper body portion  501  has a first end and a second end. Proximate the first end of the upper body portion  501  is an aperture  505  for receiving of the furniture leg  521 , as shown in  FIG. 5   d . The flexible coupling portion  502  has a first end thereof coupled with the second end of the upper body portion  501  and a second end. The lower body portion  503  has a first end thereof coupled with the second end of the flexible coupling portion  502  and a second end coupled with a first end of the end cap  504 . 
   A first cavity  513  is formed within the FLG  500  and it is bounded by the inner walls of the hollow body  551  and the first side of the end cap  504 . Formed at a second end of the end cap  504 , opposite the first end, is a second cavity  506 . The second cavity  506  is for receiving of a portion of a piece of felt type material  507 . The flexible coupling portion  502  facilitates flexing between the upper and lower body portions,  501  and  503 . The FLG  500 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5   d , is shown in a flexed position, where the furniture leg forms an angle of approximately fifteen degrees off vertical when the end of the furniture leg is fully inserted into the first cavity  513  and resting against the end cap  504 . 
   A plurality of inner ribs  511  are formed on an inside surface of the upper body portion  501  for frictionally engaging the furniture leg  521 . Each inner rib  511  from the plurality is preferably longitudinally disposed from the first end thereof to the second end thereof and preferably extends from the inner surface of the upper body portion  501 , thus forming longitudinal ribs. When the furniture leg  521  is slid into the FLG  500 , the plurality of inner ribs frictionally engage an outer surface of the furniture leg  521 . Because of the flexible coupling portion  502  of the FLG  500 , it permits flexing of the upper body portion  501  relative to the lower body portion  503 , such as that shown in  FIG. 5   d . This flexing of the flexible coupling portion  502  preferably allows for a bottom surface of an angled furniture leg  521  to rest approximately along and approximately parallel to the end cap  504 . Referring to  FIG. 5   d , the furniture leg forms an approximate angle of fifteen degrees relative to the ground and as such the upper body portion  501  also forms an angle of approximately fifteen degrees relative to the ground. Preferably the FLG  500  is designed in such a manner that the flexible coupling portion  502  allows for flexing of the upper body portion  501  relative to the lower body portion  502  to within plus or minus twenty degrees. Referring to  FIG. 5   d , the flexible coupling portion  502  is shown flexed on a first side and compressed on the opposite side when the furniture leg  521  is inserted into the first cavity  513  and has its end resting against the first side of the end cap  504 . Of course, this flexing is the case when the furniture leg is angled with respect to the ground. 
   When a furniture leg  521  is inserted into the FLG  500 , it is first inserted past the aperture  505  at the first end of the upper body portion  501 , down through a second end thereof, where it is passed through first and second ends of the flexible coupling portion  502  and through a first end of the lower body portion  503 . The furniture leg then abuts the first end of the end cap  504  when fully inserted into the first cavity  513 , as shown in  FIG. 5   d . In the case where the furniture leg is approximately perpendicular to the ground, the flexible coupling portion does not flex on one side and extends on the opposite side, instead it flexes approximately uniformly as the furniture leg is pushed into the hollow body  551  and comes to rest on the first side of the end cap  504 . 
   Disposed within the end cap  504  is a second cavity  506 , which is formed at a second end thereof that is opposite a first end that is proximate the furniture leg  521 . The cavity  506  is for receiving of a piece of felt type material  507  in such a manner that a first portion of the felt type material is disposed within the cavity and a second portion of the felt type material  507  extends from the second cavity  506 . The felt type material  507  is preferably bonded to within the second cavity  506  using glue or other bonding material. Optionally, the piece of felt type material  507  is molded to within the second cavity  506 . The inner walls formed by the second cavity  506  serve to mechanically engage the felt type material  507  against lateral movement, or movement that is approximately perpendicular to the inner walls of the second cavity  506 . This mechanical engagement provides for added strength to the bond of the felt type material  507  to within the second cavity  506 . Such a type of combination of bond and of mechanical engagement aids in holding of the felt type material  507  within the second cavity when the furniture leg is slid across the floor. 
   An external rib  512  is additionally disposed on an outside surface of the upper body portion  501 . The external rib preferably wraps around the outer surface of the upper body portion  501 , where the external rib  512  is provided for facilitating attaching of the FLG  500  onto the furniture leg  521 . Thus, during an installation procedure of the FLG  500 , a user grips the external rib  512  and uses it to slide the FLG  500  onto the end of a furniture leg  521 . This movement slides the furniture leg  521  through the three portions,  501 ,  502  and  503  so that the end of the furniture leg comes to rest on the first end of the end cap  504 . Optionally, a plurality of external ribs are disposed about the external surface of the upper body portion  501  for facilitating attachment of the FLG  500  to the end of the furniture leg  521 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5   b , a wall thickness of the flexible coupling portion  502  is preferably less than that of the upper and lower portions,  501  and  503 . The wall thickness of the flexible coupling portion  502  is preferably less than that of the upper body portion wall thickness  508 , which is less than that of the lower body portion wall thickness  510 . 
   Preferably the FLG  500  is manufactured from a single piece of material, thus providing a unitary construction, where the hollow body  551  is manufactured using an injection molding process and thus the three portions,  501 ,  502  and  503 , form a single piece of material without breaks between the different portions. This advantageously provides for a strong construction, obviating the process of gluing or bonding of the different portions together. 
     FIGS. 6   a  through  6   f  illustrate a FLG  600  in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 6   a  illustrates the FLG  600  from a top view,  FIG. 6   b  illustrates the FLG  600  from a perspective view.  FIG. 6   c  illustrates the FLG  600  from a front view and  FIG. 6   d  illustrates the FLG  600  from a side view.  FIGS. 6   e  and  6   f  illustrate the FLG  600  with an existing swivel furniture leg glide  621  of a furniture leg disposed therein. The swivel furniture leg glide  621  is formed from a portion that attaches to the end of the furniture leg and mounted to this portion using a swivel mechanism is a swivel base of the swivel furniture leg glide  621 . The fourth embodiment of the invention is for attaching to this swivel base of the swivel furniture leg glide  621 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   c  and  6   d , the FLG  600  is comprised of a hollow body  603 , having preferably unitary construction, and having an aperture formed at a first end thereof and an end cap  606  formed at a second end thereof. Between the aperture and the end cap  606  a first cavity  604  is formed. Extending from the body portion  603  from the first end thereof is a first lip  601  and a second lip  602 . The first lip  601  extends in an inward and upward direction and covers approximately half of the first cavity  604 . The second lip  602  also extends from the first end of the body portion  603  but is preferably disposed in such a manner that it is at an opposite end of the hollow body  603 . The second lip  602  also extends inwards and upwards from the first end of the hollow body  603 , however it extends less than that of the first lip  601  and covers less of the first cavity  604 . Between the two lips, there is access to the first cavity  604 , however the aperture formed between the first and second lips,  601  and  602 , which provides access to the first cavity  604  is reduced because of the first and second lips,  601  and  602 , which extend inwards, towards a center of the first cavity and upwards, away from the first end of the hollow body  603 . 
   Disposed within the end cap  606  is a second cavity  605 , which is formed at a second end thereof that is opposite a first end that is proximate the swivel base of the furniture leg glide  621 . The second cavity  605  is for receiving of a piece of felt type material  607  in such a manner that a first portion of the felt type material  607  is disposed within the second cavity  605  and a second portion of the felt type material  607  extends from the second cavity  605 . The felt type material  607  is preferably bonded within the second cavity  605  using glue or other bonding material. The walls formed by the second cavity  605  serve to mechanically engage the felt type material  607  against lateral movement, or movement that is approximately perpendicular to the walls of the second cavity  605 . This mechanical engagement provides for added strength to the bond of the felt type material  607  to within the second cavity  605 . Such a combination of bonding and of mechanical engagement aids in holding of the felt type material  607  within the second cavity  605  when the furniture leg is slid across the floor since most forces that are exerted on the felt type material  607  are lateral forces. Thus, embedding a portion of the felt type material  607  within the second cavity  605  advantageously provides for added mechanical strength so that the piece of felt type material  607  does not fall off the FLG  600 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6   e  and  6   f , the access to the first cavity  604  formed between the two lips,  601  and  602 , allows for the insertion of the swivel furniture leg glide  621 . For inserting of the swivel furniture leg glide a swivel base of the swivel furniture leg glide  621  is first inserted under the first lip  601  at an angle of approximately thirty to forty five degrees relative to the hollow body  603 . It is then pushed under the first lip so that a part of the swivel base is within the first cavity  604 . Thereafter the second lip  602  is pulled away from the first lip  601 , thus permitting tilting of the swivel base in such a manner that a bottom thereof rests against a first end of the end cap  606  and the first cavity is approximately fully filled by the swivel base. The second lip  602  is thereafter released and it rests against an upper surface of the swivel base, putting pressure thereon and thus holding the swivel furniture leg glide within the first cavity  604 . 
   The FLG  600  is preferably formed from a single piece of rubber material. Because rubber material is used, it permits flexing of the hollow body  603 , as well as flexing of the first and second lips,  601  and  602 , to permit insertion of the swivel leg glide base into the first cavity  604 . Of course, other materials such as multi part polymers and silicone rubbers are also envisaged. 
     FIGS. 7   a  through  7   c  illustrate a FLG  700  in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention, which is a variation of the third embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 5   a  through  5   b .  FIG. 7   a  illustrates the FLG  700  from a top view,  FIG. 7   c  illustrates the FLG  700  from a perspective view and  FIG. 7   b  illustrates the FLG  700  from a side view. 
   The FLG  700  is formed from a hollow body  751 , having a unitary construction, which includes three portions and an end cap  704 . The portions are: an upper body portion  701 , a flexible coupling portion  702 , a lower body portion  703  and the end cap  704 . The upper body portion  701  has a first end and a second end. Proximate the first end of the upper body portion  701  is an aperture  705  for receiving of a furniture leg (not shown). The flexible coupling portion  702  has a first end thereof coupled with the second end of the upper body portion  701  and a second end. The lower body portion  703  has a first end thereof coupled with the second end of the flexible coupling portion  702  and a second end coupled with a first end of the end cap  704 . 
   A first cavity  713  is formed within the FLG  700  and it is bounded by the inner walls of the hollow body  751  and the first side of the end cap  704 . Formed at a second end of the end cap  704 , opposite the first end, is a second cavity  706 . The second cavity  706  is for receiving of a piece of felt type material  707 . The flexible coupling portion  702  facilitates flexing between the upper and lower body portions,  701  and  703 . 
   Disposed within the end cap  706  is a second cavity  705 , which is formed at a second end thereof that is opposite a first end that is proximate the swivel bas of the furniture leg glide  721 . The cavity  705  is for receiving of a piece of felt type material  707  in such a manner that a first portion of the felt type material is disposed within the second cavity  705  and a second portion of the felt type material  707  extends from the second cavity  705 . The felt type material  707  is preferably bonded within the second cavity  705  using glue or other bonding material. The walls formed by the second cavity  705  serve to mechanically engage the felt type material  707  against lateral movement, or movement that is approximately perpendicular to the walls of the second cavity  705 . This mechanical engagement provides for added strength to the bond of the felt type material  707  to within the second cavity  705 . Such a combination of bonding and of mechanical engagement aids in holding of the felt type material  707  within the second cavity  705  when the furniture leg is slid across the floor since most forces that are exerted on the felt type material  707  are lateral forces. Thus, embedding a portion of the felt type material  707  within the second cavity  705  advantageously provides for added mechanical strength so that the felt type material does not fall off the FLG  700 . As shown in  FIGS. 7   a  through  7   c , the FLG  700  is approximately trapezoidal in cross section with rounded corners, as is apparent in  FIG. 7   a . Other variations of the cross section are also envisaged, for example approximately triangular and approximately square. 
   In many cases removal of existing furniture leg glides is difficult and thus disposing the furniture leg glide in accordance with the embodiments of the invention over an existing furniture leg glide is highly advantageous. Furthermore, valuable installation time is saved by attaching of the furniture leg glides, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention, over the existing furniture leg glides. 
   Advantageously, with respect to the fifth, second and third embodiments, when a furniture leg is angled from vertical, the piece of felt type material still contacts the floor. This potentially results in less stress being placed on the connection between the lower body portion because the flexible coupling portion between the upper and lower body portions flexes in dependence upon angular movement of the furniture leg relative to the floor. Furthermore, for angular movement of the furniture leg, the piece of felt type material remains in contact with the floor. 
   The FLG, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention, lends itself ideally to classroom chairs, where students typically balance the chair on two legs, or in some cases one leg. The fourth embodiment of the invention also facilitates having the felt remaining in contact when the chair is rocked on two legs since it attaches in a releasable manner to the swivel base of the swivel base chair glide. 
   Preferably the FLGs are manufactured from a soft material, such as rubber, and the piece of felt type material is preferably elliptical in cross section and contains at least some wool fibers, thus, the felt type material does not wear as easily and also reduces the screeching sound emitted when a furniture leg is dragged against the floor and is of such a composition that it minimizes damage to the floors. Preferably the piece of felt type material is made from a fibrous material that does not significantly scratch floors or wear down at an accelerated pace when slid across the floor over time. 
   Optionally, the cross section of the tubular portion of the FLG and is square or rectangular. Preferably the FLG in accordance with the embodiments of the invention has aesthetic qualities that do not appeal to students so that they do not result in being play toys. 
   Numerous other embodiments may be envisaged without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.