Patent Description:
The inventors of the present disclosure recognized that the existing furniture pads could be improved or enhanced by introducing separable sections into the felt pad; sections can be removed to mount the felt pad around the disc or other projection, or to use the smallest section to fit directly over the disc. The ability to change the size and shape of the felt pad without cutting tools or excess user effort also allows for better application on furniture with angled legs or atypically-shaped bases.

The invention as defined in claim <NUM> relates to a furniture pad comprising a body including a protective material and having an inner segment and a first outer segment. The inner segment has at least one smaller cross-sectional dimension than the outer segment. Additional outer segments can have progressively increasing cross-sectional dimensions such that the resulting segments are nested.

As used herein, "layer" means a single stratum that may be continuous or discontinuous over a surface.

The above summary of the present disclosure is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention.

Layers in certain depicted embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to absolutely define the thickness, relative or otherwise, or the absolute location of any component. While the above-identified figures set forth several embodiments of the disclosure other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the description. In all cases, this disclosure is presented by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Various embodiments and implementations will be described in detail. These embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any manner, and changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Further, only some end uses have been discussed. As such, the scope of the present application should be determined by the claims.

<FIG> depict an exemplary embodiment of a furniture pad <NUM> as generally described herein. The furniture pad <NUM> includes an attachment surface <NUM> on the top major surface and a protective surface <NUM> at the base of the pad. The protective surface <NUM> may be substantially planar or have curved edges to reduce drag or wear on certain floor substrates. The furniture pad <NUM> includes a first pad segment <NUM>, a second pad segment <NUM>, and a third pad segment <NUM>. The individual pad segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged as concentric rings that define the body of the furniture pad <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, the pad <NUM> has a generally circular or disc shape. The shape of the pad <NUM> is not particularly limited, however, and can include any suitable shape or combination of shapes. In some embodiments, for instance, the pad <NUM> can be rectangular (which includes a square) and each pad segment can have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. Other shapes and combinations of shapes are contemplated for use amongst different categories of furniture. As used herein, the cross-sectional shape of a pad or pad segment is identified in a plane generally parallel to the attachment surface <NUM> of the pad <NUM>.

The pad <NUM> is made from a protective material adapted to prevent wear on flooring and/or space a leg from the ground. The protective material is designed to lie between a furniture leg and the floor to prevent scratching or wear on the floor as the furniture leg rests or moves along the floor surface (See, e.g., <FIG> below).

The protective material typically includes felt, woven or knitted fabric or cloth, scratch-resistant material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polypropylene or polyethylene, or other resilient materials such as rubber, nonwovens, and foam. The felt, cloth, and nonwovens may be made using any size fibers or fibers made from any material known in the art. Fibers used in felt or nonwovens may be derived from biological sources such as linen or wool. Felt or nonwovens may be made using synthetic fibers including but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or other polyesters. Felt or nonwovens made from biological sources may also be used either alone or in combination with other fibers made from synthetic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, or other polyester fibers. The fibers may or may not be reinforced using additives such as microspheres or polymer resin or reinforced using thermal treatments. Single layer combinations of the above materials such as nonwovens or fabric reinforced with polymer resins are also anticipated. The protective material may be a single continuous layer of material, or may include multiple materials arranged in one or more layers. For example, a protective element may include a scrim or shock absorbing element, as described in European Patent No. <CIT>.

In the embodiment of <FIG> & <FIG>, the pad includes a single layer of material having a thickness "T", though multilayer or multi-material constructions are also contemplated as described above. In some embodiments, the material has a thickness "T" of between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In some embodiments, the material has a thickness of greater than <NUM>. In some embodiments, the pad has a thickness of greater than <NUM>.

The protective surface <NUM> of the pad <NUM> may be coated with a layer of a low friction material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyoxymethylene and mixtures thereof.

The pad may be provided with a release liner on at least one of the attachment and protective surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>. Examples of suitable liners include paper, e.g., kraft paper, or polymeric films, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester. At least one surface of the liner can be treated with a release agent such as silicone, a fluorochemical, or other low surface energy based release material to provide a release liner. Suitable release liners and methods for treating liners are described in, e.g., <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. The release liners can be printed with lines, brand indicia, or other information.

The pad segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> making up the pad <NUM> are arranged in a concentric manner and feature the same cross-sectional shape as the pad <NUM>. Each pad segment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> includes the same circular shape, with each having a different dimension than the adjacent segment(s). The inner pad segment <NUM> includes the smallest circumference at the center <NUM> of the pad, with outer pad segments <NUM>, <NUM> increasing in circumference in relation to the radial displacement of the segment from the center <NUM>. In the depicted arrangement, the inner pad segment <NUM> is a solid body, while the outer segments <NUM>, <NUM> are hollow and encircle the inner segment <NUM>. Of course, inner pad segment <NUM> may also be provided as a ring, leaving no material at and surrounding the center <NUM> of the pad <NUM>.

While the depicted embodiments include pad segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> having the same thickness, other configurations of pad according to the present disclosure may include inner and outer segment having disparate thickness. Similarly, the pad segments may be formed of the same protective material, or possess different protective materials. For example, the inner pad segment <NUM> can include a resilient plastic material, while one or both of the outer pad segments include a fibrous material.

The pad segments each include a top major surface and a bottom major surface. These opposing major surfaces collectively define the attachment surface <NUM> and protective surface <NUM> of the pad <NUM>. As depicted, the major surfaces of each pad segment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are substantially coplanar. In other alternative embodiments, including those of pad segments having different thicknesses, any one of the pad segments may lie in a plane substantially above or below one or more of the other segments Though pad <NUM> as depicted includes three distinct pad segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the furniture pads of the present disclosure can include more or fewer pad bodies as desired. For instance, it may be possible to realize at least some of the certain benefits of the disclosure with two pad segments. In presently preferred implementations, however, the furniture pad includes three or more pad segments.

The pad body segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are detachable. Separation paths <NUM>, <NUM> extend between the adjoining pad segments and define the outer periphery of each individual segment. The separation paths <NUM>, <NUM> extend through at least a portion of the thickness "T" of the pad protective material, in a direction generally orthogonal to a plane <NUM> defined by the top surface <NUM> of the protective material body. This allows the pad segments to be detached without cutting tools and used without modifying the thickness of the resulting pad.

If detached, the pad body segments are provided for use already discrete from one another along the relevant separation path <NUM>, <NUM>. In such embodiments, the separation paths <NUM>, <NUM> can be die cut, laser cut, or other methods available in the art for segmenting materials. In some embodiments where a pad surface <NUM>, <NUM> includes a release liner, the separation paths may be cut through the protective material only, leaving the release liner intact according to so-called kiss cutting techniques described, for example, in <CIT>.

The pad body segments are initially coupled along separation paths <NUM>, <NUM>.

Therefore, each pad segment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be individually detached from either one or both adjoining pad segments.

Each separation path <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise at least one of a perforation or set of perforations, a thinned portion, at least one shaped recess, and other configurations or combinations thereof known in the art. The separation paths <NUM>, <NUM> may be provided with a single line of weakness as depicted, or can include a plurality of lines of weakness. If perforations are used, the perforations may be shaped in accordance with any perforation pattern including linear, angled, Y-shaped, V-shaped, dual-angled offset, sinusoidal, etc. The separation paths <NUM>, <NUM> may for example comprise a hole or slit, or several holes or slits extending through the thickness "T" of the protective material. The separation paths <NUM>, <NUM> may be continuous and provided by a single continuous feature, or discontinuous and provided by a multiplicity of features acting in combination. The separation paths <NUM>, <NUM> may further include one or more layers of an adhesive, gel, or gel adhesive bound by covalent bonding, ionic bonding, hydrogen bonding, and/or van der Waals forces disposed between the segments.

It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the design of the separation paths <NUM> can differ between the first and second, as well as second and third pad segments. Thus, for example, separation path <NUM> between the outer pad segments <NUM>, <NUM> may be designed to more easily initiate and/or propagate a tear, in comparison to the separation path <NUM> between the inner pad segment and the first outer pad segment <NUM>. For example, separation path <NUM> may be a continuous recess, while separation path <NUM> might be a discontinuous series of perforations spaced at a greater pitch.

Attachment of the pad <NUM> to the furniture can be achieved with a layer of adhesive <NUM> on the top surface <NUM> of the protective material (see <FIG>, as the adhesive is not shown in <FIG>). Alternatively, the pad may be attached by traditional mechanical fasteners (e.g., a screw or a nail), or a detachable connector, such as a hook and loop connections. A presently preferred attachment mechanism can provide sufficient strength along the general plane of its separation so that, depending on the specific application, the mechanism will not fail based on the use or movement of the furniture pad <NUM>. The attachment can provide an internal static shear strength in a direction parallel to the general plane for supporting the object during movement and providing a level of resiliency to the pad <NUM>.

A detachable connector permits the separation and connection of the furniture pad to the furniture leg along a general plane. In some embodiments, the detachable connector can include, for example, a mechanical type fastener including an interlocking system, an intermeshing system having connection without macroscopic mechanical deformation or interference, a releasable contact responsive fastener, a splittable construction, a magnetic connection, and the like.

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism for the furniture pad includes an adhesive. In some embodiments, the adhesive includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive. A general description of useful pressure sensitive adhesives may be found in the <NPL>). Additional description of useful pressure-sensitive adhesives may be found in the <NPL>). Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) compositions are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art to possess properties including the following: (<NUM>) tack, (<NUM>) adherence with no more than finger pressure, (<NUM>) sufficient ability to hold onto an adherend, and (<NUM>) sufficient cohesive strength to be cleanly removable from the adherend. Materials that have been found to function well as pressure sensitive adhesives are polymers designed and formulated to exhibit the requisite viscoelastic properties resulting in a desired balance of tack, peel adhesion, and shear holding power. Suitable PSAs may be based on crosslinked or non-crosslinked (meth)acrylics, rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers, silicones, polyurethanes, and the like, and may include tackifiers in order to provide the desired tack, as well as other additives. In some embodiments, the PSA is based on a (meth)acrylic PSA or at least one poly(meth)acrylate, where (meth)acrylate refers to both acrylate and methacrylate groups. In some embodiments, the PSA is an olefin block copolymer based adhesive. In some embodiments, the PSA is an adhesive based on styrenic block copolymers or copolymers of styrene and hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, or non-hydrogenated dienes such as butadiene or isoprene. Acrylic based pressure sensitive adhesives are described in <CIT>. ) and in <CIT>), for example. Silicone based pressure sensitive adhesives are described in <CIT>. ) and <CIT>), for example. Polyurethane based pressure sensitive adhesives are described in <CIT>. ), for example. Olefin block copolymer based pressure sensitive adhesives are described in <CIT>. ), for example. In other embodiments, the adhesive includes a single or two-part epoxies or liquid adhesive.

The adhesive <NUM> can be single layer or multilayer. Adhesive layers can be the same as one another or disparate from one another. Disparate, in this context, is used to describe substantial differences in composition or adhesive performance. Adhesive layers can each be a single layer or can be multilayer. Adhesive layers can each be continuous or discontinuous (e.g., patterned) across the major surfaces of the protective material. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer can include an adhesive/release liner stack as described in <CIT>.

Generally, any known additives useful in the formulation of adhesives may also be included in an adhesive based detachable interface. Additives include plasticizers, anti- aging agents, ultraviolet stabilizers, colorants, thermal stabilizers, anti-infective agents, fillers, crosslinkers, as well as mixtures and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the adhesive can be reinforced with fibers or a fiber scrim which may include inorganic and/or organic fibers. Suitable fiber scrims may include woven-, nonwoven or knit webs or scrims. For example, the fibers in the scrim may include wire, ceramic fiber, glass fiber (for example, fiberglass), and organic fibers (for example, natural and/or synthetic organic fibers).

In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism can include a layer of hook material which is bonded with or otherwise attached to the protective material at a top major surface thereof. The hook material may interlock with a layer of loop material which is bonded to a bottom major surface of the furniture. It is contemplated that any commercially available hook and loop connector system, including those available from <NUM> Company, can be utilized. Hook and loop connector systems are but one type of mechanical interlocking connector systems which are suggested by this embodiment. By mechanical interlocking, it is meant those fasteners where at least one of the connector elements undergoes some macroscopic deformation (preferably plastic deformation) so that a mechanical interference results between plural components. Many different modifications of the inter-engaging elements are designed based on the requisite force and manner of separation between the cooperating layers of such a separable connector system. Some exemplary separable connectors are described in, for example, <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

The furniture pads described herein may be attached or adhered, for example, to one or more legs of an article of furniture or may be attached to a table base or pedestal. When the furniture pads are attached to a table base or pedestal, multiple furniture glides may be used. In addition, as known to those skilled in the art, the table base or pedestal may comprise multiple legs or prongs that each may have one or more furniture pads attached thereto.

<FIG> depicts the removal of a pad body <NUM> from a furniture pad <NUM> coupled to a furniture leg <NUM> having a projecting disc <NUM>. The pad includes an inner pad segment <NUM> and an outer segment <NUM>. The inner pad segment <NUM> can be detached without cutting tools along separation path <NUM>, resulting to two usable pad segments <NUM> and <NUM>. Once the pad <NUM> is separated into multiple components, the user has two choices: <NUM>) the outer pad <NUM> can be placed on leg <NUM> while surrounding the disc <NUM> and provide a protective surface <NUM> at least coplanar with the lower surface <NUM> of the disc; or <NUM>) the inner pad segment can be placed directly on the lower surface <NUM> of the disc <NUM>.

The furniture pad <NUM> (and any of the furniture pads contemplated herein) may be provided preassembled or as a modular kit of pad segments, allowing the user to select the precise number pad segments needed for a given object. The kit may include any number of pad segments of the same or different thicknesses. The modular kit can also allow a user to replace a worn or sullied pad body with a new version, or replace a failing interface. A release liner can be provided on any exposed adhesive or protective surface. The furniture pad <NUM> can also be provided and used as one of multiple stackable pad bodies, as described in <CIT>.

Though the embodiment of <FIG> feature pad bodies having the same cross-sectional shape and concentrically arranged, other shapes and arrangements for contemplated for the furniture pad described herein. For example, <FIG> depicts a pad <NUM> featuring pad segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> having a square cross-sectional shape with linearly aligned centroids. As another alternative, <FIG> depict pads <NUM> featuring a combination of cross-sectional shapes. Pad <NUM> of <FIG> includes two inner pad segments <NUM>, <NUM> having a circular cross-sectional shape and two outer pad segments <NUM>, <NUM> having a square cross-sectional shape. According, the inner separation paths <NUM>, <NUM> are circular, and the outer separation path <NUM> is square. Conversely, the pad <NUM> of <FIG> includes two inner pad segments <NUM>, <NUM> having a square cross-sectional shape and an outer pad segments <NUM> having a circular cross-sectional shape.

The pad <NUM> of <FIG> retains the same circular cross-sectional shapes for pad segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, but does not include concentric separation paths. Instead, the pad segments (and separation paths <NUM>, <NUM>) are arranged as coaxal circles.

Of course, the pad segments may not be nested or collinear in certain embodiments. For example, the separation paths may divide the pad body <NUM> into a plurality of sectors <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. (See <FIG>), with a given separation path potentially overlapping with one or more additional separation paths.

In addition, it is also contemplated that furniture pads described herein can be applied to other legged objects, including appliances (washers, dryers, etc.) that also require leveling.

Claim 1:
A furniture pad (<NUM>) configured to lie between a furniture leg and a floor to prevent scratching of the floor as the furniture leg is moved along the floor surface, the pad comprising:
a body including a protective material, a top surface (<NUM>) defining a plane_and an attachment surface (<NUM>) having an attachment mechanism to attach the furniture pad to the furniture leg, and a bottom surface opposing the top surface and defining a protective surface (<NUM>), wherein the body includes an inner segment (<NUM>) and a first outer segment (<NUM>), wherein the inner segment has at least one smaller cross-sectional dimension than the outer segment, wherein the inner segment is detachable from the outer segment along a first separation path (<NUM>) without cutting tools, and wherein the first separation path extends through at least a portion of a thickness (T) of the body in a direction generally orthogonal to the plane.