Patent Publication Number: US-2007108358-A1

Title: Tip for furniture leg

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to tips attached at the bottom or distal end of furniture legs or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a large base elastomeric tips attached at the bottom end of the legs of furniture to prevent furniture tip-over and to provide greater stability to the furniture.  
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      Furniture leg tips are used is to provide stability and to prevent the furniture from sliding or from tipping over. Moreover, the use of furniture leg tips also prevents the surface of the floor from being damaged or stained due to the force applied by the furniture legs on the floor.  FIG. 1   a  is a diagram of prior art furniture leg tip which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,994,152 and Japan Patent No. 2003235661. The furniture leg tip has a cylindrical or cup-like shape with an open top end in which the furniture leg can be engaged. The bottom surface of the furniture leg tip is of curved shape to act as a cushion for the furniture leg when it is placed on the floor. Thus, it prevents damages or scratches to the surface of the floor where the furniture is placed. The furniture leg tip is made of soft elastics material, such as rubber or plastics, and is of different shape and size depending on the size and shape of the furniture leg.  
       FIG. 1   b  shows diagram of another prior art furniture leg tip. The furniture leg tip is a nail-on type, whereby the tip is capable of being nailed or forced into the bottom surface of the furniture leg. The tip has a hemispherical shape with a nail or securing member embedded on the flat surface of the tip. The tip can be of cylindrical shape provided it is suited to the shape or design of the furniture leg. The nail or securing member is to hold the tip in its position when it is forced into the bottom surface of the furniture leg and can therefore only be used for wooden type furniture leg. The tip is made of soft rubber material to increase friction between the tip and the ground on which the furniture is placed and thus prevents the furniture from sliding. Similar prior art furniture tips are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,626,946, U.S. Pat. No. 1,891,643 and, U.S. Pat. No. 3,021,638 wherein the furniture leg tip serves as anti-friction base support to the furniture leg. Said prior art furniture tips also prevent damages or scratches on the surface of the floor and prevent furniture from sliding.  
      Although, the aforementioned prior art products have some utility for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art to increase the stability of the furniture on which a load is applied and when the furniture is tilted by accident to a certain degree. The uniqueness of the present invention allows the furniture stand carrying an article, for example, a television, from tipping-over when the furniture stand is accidentally tipped-over up to 15 degrees from the vertical axis. The mentioned angle is 5 degrees more than the universal tip stability standard (UL 1678 Safety Standard for Household, Commercial, and Professional-Use Carts and Stands for Use with Audio/Video Equipment) for the furniture. Hence, it provides greater stability to furniture and the like.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a tip attached to bottom or distal end of a furniture leg to enhance the stability of the furniture. The tip comprises a geometrical shaped body with large base body, wider at certain edge from one side to the other side. An upper portion of the body includes a recess to engage and hold the base of the furniture leg; and a lower portion of the body includes a bottom support dimensioned and configured to prevent tip-over up to 15 degrees. The recess of the tip commences at the upper portion and terminates above the bottom support of the tip. The furniture leg is retained in engagement with the tip by frictional force; other conventional means to retain the furniture leg within the recess may also be adopted, which can include an interference fit, adhesive, fasteners or the like.  
      The tip is formed of a body extending from upper portion to bottom support of the lower portion. The bottom support provided with a plurality of threads formed in accordance to the periphery of the bottom support. The length of the center of the aperture to the front edge of the bottom support is greater compared to the length between the center of the aperture to the rear edge of the bottom support. The bottom support is designed to widen the bottom surface of the furniture leg through bigger arc coverage at the front edge with the two side edges and a rear edge. Preferably, the bottom support is designed with coverage approximately 32 degrees of both side edges and enclosed by front edge and rear edge to form a shape.  
      By way of example and not by way of limitation, preferred dimensions of the tip include approximately 50 mm in height (H) (from the top of the upper portion to the bottom support), approximately 85 mm in length (L) (from the rear edge of the bottom support to front edge of the bottom support), approximately 117 mm in width (W f ) of the front edge of the bottom support, approximately 74 mm in width (W r ) of the rear edge of the bottom support and approximately 35 mm in width (W t ) of the top edge of the lower portion. The tip can be made of any size by at least the following length ratio provided it can prevent furniture from tipping-over at angle up to 15 degrees from the vertical axis: H/W f =1:2.3; H/W r =1:1.5; H/L=1:1.7 and H/W t =1:0.7.  
      Another embodiment of furniture tip is a form of conical shaped body. The conical tip has a substantially large circular base with a diameter D c  and a height H c  The conical tip can be of any size by ratio H c /D c =1:2.3. Said ratio is referred to the ratio of aforementioned pyramidal tip H/W f,  at it largest width W f , by which conical tip also compliance with the universal tip stability standard UL 1678 and enable to prevent furniture from tip-over at angle up to 15 degrees. Particularly, the conical tip has a large base bottom with an upper portion and lower portion. The lower portion of the conical tip tapers toward the upper portion thus, forming a conical shaped body. The conical tip further includes edges u, v and w on its surface where the edges can be configured at any length within said ratio at u≧v≧w.  
      The tips are engaged on the furniture legs with the front edge of the bottom support facing outwardly from the furniture to enhance the stability of the furniture. The tip may be made up of soft or elastomeric material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, elastomer resin or plastic. Preferably, elastomeric material is used. Alternatively, the tip can be a rigid body made up of metal or wood provided the recess of the tip can be tight fitted to the furniture leg.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a prior art of a tip for furniture leg.  
       FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of another prior art of a tip for furniture leg.  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a tip for furniture leg in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of a tip for furniture leg in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a tip for furniture leg in accordance with the present invention; the dimensions are not to be construed restrictively.  
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a tip for furniture leg in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a tip for furniture leg in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of furniture engaged with tips of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view a conical tip for furniture leg. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, reference will be made exclusively to a furniture leg tip to accommodate a circular cross-sectional furniture legs. The present invention is not limited to this shape but can be applied to any furniture leg base having a pseudo-circular, polygonal, square, rectangular, oval, square with rounded angles or any other cross-sectional shapes.  
      FIGS.  2  to  6  show a furniture leg tip ( 100 ) in accordance with the present invention. The furniture leg tip ( 100 ) is attachable to the bottom or a distal end of a furniture leg to enhance the stability of the furniture. The tip ( 100 ) is also able to stabilize the furniture in a situation where the furniture is frictionally engaged on a tilted surface of the ground. The uniqueness of the present invention allows the furniture carrying for example a television set not to tip-over, when the furniture is accidentally tipped-over up to 15 degrees off the vertical axis from the floor. The mentioned angle is 5 degrees more than the universal tip stability standard (UL 1678 Safety Standard for Household, Commercial, and Professional-Use Carts and Stands for Use with Audio/Video Equipment) for the furniture. Moreover, the tip ( 100 ) also protects the surface of the ground in which the furniture is placed, from being damaged or scratched.  
      The tip ( 100 ) has an upper portion ( 101 ) and a lower portion ( 102 ) integral with a bottom support ( 103 ). The lower portion ( 102 ) tapers toward the upper portion ( 101 ). The upper portion ( 101 ) of the tip ( 100 ) is designed to include a recess ( 104 ) (see  FIG. 4 ). The recess ( 104 ) extends from the upper portion ( 101 ) of the tip ( 100 ) and terminates above the bottom support ( 103 ). The recess ( 104 ) receives and holds the lower end of the furniture leg. Thus, the recess ( 104 ) is configured in accordance to the shape and size of the lower end of a furniture leg. The lower end of the furniture leg is secured in the tip ( 100 ) by forcing the end of the furniture leg into the recess ( 104 ). The recess ( 104 ) frictionally engages the end of the furniture leg. It will be appreciated that the tip ( 100 ) may be disengaged from the recess ( 104 ) by applying sufficient force to pull out the tip ( 100 ). Though, the furniture leg is retained in engagement with the tip ( 100 ) by frictional force, other conventional means may also be adopted which can include an interference fit, adhesive, fasteners or the like.  
      The lower portion ( 102 ) of the tip ( 100 ) includes substantially planar regions sloping down toward the edge of the bottom support ( 103 ). The planar regions support and extend the bottom or distal end of the furniture ( 100 ) to the edge of the bottom support ( 103 ) thus, forming the footprint of the tip ( 100 ). Referring to  FIG. 4 , the tip ( 100 ) consists of four planes which are planar surface body A ( 110 ), planar surface body B ( 111 ), planar surface body C ( 112 ) and planar surface body D ( 113 ). Planar surface body A ( 110 ) extends from the upper portion ( 101 ) to a rear edge ( 120 ) of the bottom surface ( 103 ). Planar A ( 110 ) has a greatest inclination from the upper portion ( 101 ) to the bottom support ( 103 ), whereas planar surface body B ( 111 ) and planar surface body C ( 112 ) have a gradual inclination from the upper portion ( 101 ) to the bottom support ( 103 ). Both planar surface body B ( 111 ) and planar surface body C ( 112 ) extend from the upper portion ( 101 ) to the side edge ( 121 ) of the bottom support ( 103 ). Planar surface body D ( 113 ) has a more gradual inclination from the upper portion ( 101 ) to the front edge ( 122 ) of the bottom support ( 103 ). Thus, the planar surface body D is designed such that the length from the centre point of the recess ( 104 ) to the front edge ( 122 ) of the bottom support ( 103 ) is greater than the length from the centre point of the aperture ( 104 ) to the side edge ( 121 ) and rear edge ( 120 ) of the bottom support ( 103 ).  
      The bottom support ( 103 ) includes a tread design preferably at the edge of the periphery of the tip ( 100 ). Though, a particular tread design has been described to provide greater stability to the furniture. A plurality of branches or ribs radiating from the central region of the bottom support may be used. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the ribs extended from the central region of the aperture ( 104 ) each joining the edge of the planar surface bodies. This configuration provides better strength to the tip ( 100 ) and minimizes the quantity of material used. The bottom support ( 103 ) is also designed to widen the bottom surface of the furniture leg through bigger arc coverage at the front edge ( 122 ) with the two side edges ( 121 ) and a rear edge ( 120 ). Preferably, the bottom support ( 103 ) is designed with coverage of about 32 degrees as both imaginary lines of the side edges ( 121 ) are extended to the intersection at a vanishing point ( 121   a  ) and, both side edges ( 121 ) are then enclosed by front edge ( 121 ) and rear edge ( 120 ) formed a shape as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      By way of example and not by way of limitation, preferred dimensions of the tip ( 100 ) include approximately 50 mm in height (H) (from the top of the upper portion ( 101 ) to the bottom support ( 103 )), approximately 85 mm in length (L) (from the rear edge ( 120 ) of the bottom support ( 103 ) to front edge ( 122 ) of the bottom support ( 103 )), approximately 117 mm in width (W f ) of the front edge ( 122 ) of the bottom support ( 103 ), approximately 74 mm in width (W r ) of the rear edge ( 120 ) of the bottom support ( 103 ) and approximately 35 mm in width (W t ) of the top edge ( 123 ) of the lower portion ( 102 ). The tip ( 100 ) can be any size; at least the following length ratio provided it can prevent furniture from tip-over at angle up to 15 degrees:  
      H/W f =1:2.3  
      H/W r =1:1.5  
      H/L=1:1.7  
      H/W t =1:0.7  
      Moreover, the tip can be of any geometrical shape. The tip preferably has a large base body such as pyramidal shape, hemi-spherical shape, conical shape or polygonal shape body, provided the tip can prevent furniture from tip-over at angle up to 15 degrees. The aforementioned furniture leg tip ( 100 ) is a pyramidal shaped body.  
      Another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 8 . The furniture tip ( 200 ) is conical shaped. The conical tip ( 200 ) has a substantially large circular base with a diameter D c  and a height H c . Similar with aforementioned pyramidal furniture tip ( 100 ), the conical tip ( 200 ) can be of any size by ratio H c /D c =1:2.3. Said ratio refers to the ratio of pyramidal furniture tip ( 100 ) H/W f,  at it largest width W f , by which the conical tip is also in compliance with the universal tip stability standard UL 1678. This configuration prevents furniture from tipping over at angle up to  15  degrees from the vertical axis. Particularly, the conical tip ( 200 ) has a large base bottom with an upper portion ( 201 ) and lower portion ( 202 ). The lower portion ( 202 ) of the conical tip ( 200 ) tapers toward the upper portion ( 201 ) hence, forming a conical shaped body.  
      The upper portion ( 201 ) of the conical tip ( 200 ) is configured with a recess ( 203 ) to receive furniture leg. The recess ( 203 ) is configured in accordance with shape and size of the distal end of a furniture leg. Particularly, the recess ( 203 ) of the conical tip ( 200 ) can be applied to any furniture leg base having a pseudo-circular, polygonal, square, rectangular, oval, square with rounded angles or any other cross-sectional shape of a furniture leg. The furniture leg is secured to the conical tip ( 200 ) by forcing the distal end of the furniture leg into the recess ( 203 ). The recess ( 203 ) of the conical tip ( 200 ) is securely engaged to the furniture leg and it may be disengaged by applying sufficient force to pull out from the furniture leg. Though, the furniture leg is retained in engagement with the tip ( 200 ) by frictional force, other conventional means may also be adopted which can include an interference fit, adhesive, fasteners or the like.  
      The conical tip ( 200 ) further includes surface edges u, v and w where the edges can be configured at any length within the ratio at u≧v≧w, where u is the distance of the edge from the upper portion to the lower portion at its longer edge, w is the distance of the edge from the upper portion to the lower potion at its shortest edge, and v is the distance of the edge from the upper portion to the lower potion at the wing region. The conical tip ( 200 ) can be made up of soft or elastomeric material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, elastomer resin or plastic. Preferably, elastomeric material is used. Alternatively, the conical tip ( 200 ) can be a rigid body made up of metal or wood provided the recess ( 203 ) of the conical tip ( 200 ) can be tight fitted to distal end of the furniture leg.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , the diagram shows the pyramidal furniture tips ( 100 ) engaged on furniture legs. The tips ( 100 ) are engaged on furniture legs with the front edge ( 122 ) of the bottom support ( 103 ) facing outwardly from the furniture to enhance the stability of the furniture. The tip ( 100 ) can be made of soft or elastomeric material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, elastomer resin or plastic. Though, elastomeric material is preferably used. On the other hand, the tip ( 100 ) can be a rigid body made of metal or wood provided the recess ( 104 ) of the tip ( 100 ) can be tight fitted to the furniture leg.  
      The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description, rather than limitation. The preferred embodiment of this invention having been disclosed, however, various changes may be made without departing from the principles and scope of the invention.