Patent Description:
A series of patent applications and patents are currently known, that describe various foot or leveller systems adjustable from the front. These systems are, for example, object of patents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

For technical and also aesthetical purposes, furniture producers have recently shown the tendency of reducing the distance between the floor and the base of the furniture (baseboard), to measurements of less than about <NUM>/<NUM>.

In these situations, due to the reduced space between the floor and furniture, it is difficult to have manual access to the feet to be able to adjust them.

In order to solve this problem, some furniture producers produce a hole in the base of the furniture through which the height of the foot can be adjusted.

Other producers, so as not to ruin the inner appearance of the base of the furniture and to avoid having to perforate the bases, have asked for foot systems to be produced that can be easily actuated from the front part of the furniture, regardless of the reduced spaces available.

The above-mentioned patents solve the problem in most situations.

There are cases, however, in which the space between the base of the furniture and the floor is further reduced and the systems so far existing, mentioned above, cannot be used.

For specific technical requirements (for example in a refrigerator base) and/or aesthetic requirements, some furniture manufacturers have come up with the need for foot systems adjustable from the front that can be used in a space of only <NUM>/<NUM>.

In these situations, it is very difficult or even impossible to use systems currently existing.

The retracted position of the foot with respect to the front of the furniture, in fact, combined with the reduced maneuvering space between the base and floor, hinders the operator in the adjustment.

This reduced space compels the operator to manoeuvre the adjustment tool keeping it substantially parallel to the floor and very close to it.

This position is particularly unsuitable for maneuvering, to the extent that it is difficult to insert the tool in the actuating point and rotate it without his hand interfering with the floor.

The general objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a foot system for parts of furniture and furnishing items with front adjustment levelling capable of solving the above drawbacks of the known art in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional manner.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a foot system for parts of furniture and furnishing items with front adjustment levelling with extremely reduced encumbrances and with improved access from outside the furniture.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a foot system for parts of furniture and furnishing items with front adjustment levelling also for specific technical destinations such as refrigerator bases.

The above objectives are achieved by a foot system for parts of furniture and furnishing items with front adjustment levelling produced according to the independent claim <NUM> and the following subclaims.

The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear even more evident from the following description, referring to the enclosed schematic drawings, which show an embodiment of the invention itself. In the drawings:.

With reference first of all to <FIG>, this shows in a raised side view, a foot system for parts of furniture and furnishing items with front adjustment levelling according to the invention.

A foot <NUM> is positioned between a base or bottom <NUM> of a piece of furniture and a floor P in a space reduced in height H, left by the arrangement of the parts.

The foot <NUM>, which contains in its interior an adjustment mechanism in height, has a hole <NUM> for the passage of a maneuvering tool <NUM>.

This hole <NUM> is formed in the body of the foot <NUM> in a lower area which is situated close to the floor P, opposite the base <NUM> of the furniture. According the invention, the foot <NUM> is of the telescopic type and comprises a lower fixed part 17f with respect to the floor P and an upper movable part <NUM> integral with the base <NUM> of the furniture and which can be moved with it during the adjustment.

In this way, the actuating point of the adjustment mechanism (coinciding with the hole <NUM>) is adjacent to the floor P, positioned at a lower free end of the foot <NUM> in the fixed part 17f of the foot <NUM> resting on the floor P.

It should also be considered that the foot <NUM> is positioned with one of its axes X in a retracted position of a space R with respect to a front part of the furniture or base <NUM>.

As the space H between the base <NUM> of the furniture and the floor P is reduced, the maneuvering tool <NUM> can be tilted by an angle α with respect to the floor P indicated as the maneuvering angle of the adjustment mechanism. The angle α is in relation to the ratio existing between the retracted space R of the axis X of the foot <NUM> with respect to the front part of the furniture and the space H existing between the base <NUM> of the furniture and the floor P. Said angle α preferably ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>°, preferably <NUM>°.

It can be observed that in an arrangement according to the present invention, in order to be able to easily adjust the foot <NUM>, the actuating point of the mechanism (coinciding with the hole <NUM>) has been positioned in the lower part of the foot <NUM>, unlike its arrangement in the known art where it is provided above. This actuation position is therefore adjacent to the floor and opposite the base <NUM> of the furniture.

The foot <NUM>, in its upper movable part <NUM> at one of its free ends, provides a flange <NUM> which is provided with one or more pins <NUM>. Said pins <NUM> are inserted in specific seats <NUM> formed in the base <NUM> which help in orienting the foot in its insertion phase between the base <NUM> and the floor P.

This very particular and new arrangement allows a greater maneuvering angle α for the tool <NUM> with respect to that possible with the normal feet currently used. This makes it possible to reach the actuating point avoiding an edge S of the base <NUM> of the front of the furniture, in any case maintaining sufficient space for the operator's hand between the tool <NUM> and the floor P.

<FIG> show, in two raised side views, a second embodiment of foot system for parts of furniture and furnishing items with front adjustment levelling. <FIG> show two different positions, one lowered and the other raised, for example between a refrigerator base <NUM> and a floor P.

This is actually a very extreme situation of space shortage between the refrigerator base and the floor.

In these even more extreme situations of available space between refrigerator base <NUM> and floor P, in order to ensure an ample adjustment, a thickness K of an extension <NUM> of the refrigerator base <NUM> towards the floor P, has been exploited. An engagement seat <NUM> of the foot <NUM> has been formed in the interior of this extension <NUM>, for inserting part of the adjustment mechanism of the foot. Said seat <NUM> is specifically produced in said thickness K of the base <NUM>.

In particular, a flange <NUM> has been formed in an upper movable part <NUM> of the foot <NUM>, which is abutted beneath the extension <NUM> ensuring better support between the parts.

In this way, an extremely reduced distance N is obtained between the flange <NUM> and the floor P, in which the maneuvering tool <NUM> can be passed.

The lower fixed part 117f of the foot is that which gives the system stability and is where the actuating point or hole <NUM> of the adjustment mechanism is situated, in a position close to or adjacent to the floor P.

<FIG> also show in a further embodiment of the system in which the foot <NUM> is positioned between a bottom <NUM> of the furniture and the floor P.

Also in this case, it can be seen how a space of the thickness of the bottom <NUM> has been exploited for ensuring an ample adjustment. An engagement seat <NUM> of an upper movable part <NUM> of the foot <NUM> has been formed in the interior of this thickness, thus inserting part of the adjustment mechanism in said thickness of the base. This upper movable part <NUM> of the foot <NUM> collaborates with the lower fixed part 217f of the foot <NUM> which is firmly positioned on the floor P and which provides the hole <NUM> or actuating point of the adjustment mechanism.

To improve the support between the parts and their stability, a wide flange <NUM> is provided in the upper movable part <NUM> of the body of the foot <NUM>.

This flange <NUM> is also provided with one or more pins <NUM> positioned in seats <NUM> which help in orienting the foot during its insertion phase in the seat <NUM>.

Once again, an extremely small distance M between flange <NUM> and the floor P has thus been obtained in which the maneuvering tool <NUM> can be passed.

In <FIG> it is illustrated, by way of example, how an adjustment mechanism can be actuated in height by means of a maneuvering tool <NUM> inserted from the hole or actuating point <NUM>.

Said adjustment mechanism is arranged in two half-shells <NUM>, <NUM> positioned inside the lower fixed part 217f and the upper movable part <NUM> of the foot <NUM>. In particular, the two half-shells house <NUM>,<NUM> in the lower part, a pinion <NUM> free to rotate, which is coupled with a toothed crown <NUM>, also free to rotate. The toothed crown <NUM> is positioned at an end of a threaded screw <NUM> on which a sleeve <NUM> is housed, slidingly guided in the above half-shells <NUM>, <NUM>. An upper shaped end <NUM> of the sleeve <NUM> is abutted in an internal base portion <NUM> of the upper movable part <NUM> of the foot <NUM>.

In this way, by placing the maneuvering tool <NUM>, passing from the hole or actuating point <NUM>, to be housed in a recessed seat <NUM> of the pinion <NUM>, its rotation is promoted. The rotation of the pinion <NUM> causes the rotation of the toothed crown <NUM> and consequently the threaded screw <NUM>. This rotation forces the sleeve <NUM> to rise inside the two half-shells <NUM>, <NUM> moving the upper movable part <NUM> of the foot <NUM> upwards. The adjustment in height of the foot is thus actuated.

<FIG> and <FIG> are pairs of raised side views of a fourth embodiment of a foot system for parts of furniture and furnishing items with front adjustment levelling with adjustment on rear feet in two different positions.

In particular, <FIG> show a front foot 11A and a rear foot 11P. The front foot 11A provides a hook extension <NUM> integrated in the same for housing an end portion of a maneuvering return rod <NUM> for adjusting the rear foot 11P. In the example of <FIG>, the return rod <NUM> is inserted in a maneuvering point <NUM> or hole formed in the rear foot 11P in a lower position.

<FIG>, on the contrary, shows a second example in which the return rod <NUM> is inserted in a maneuvering point <NUM> or hole formed in the rear foot 11P in an upper position. In both cases, as already indicated, the hook extension <NUM> is integrated with the front foot 11A.

In both cases, the return rod <NUM> is fixed, in the front, in the front foot 11A, in a position close to the floor P.

The further <FIG> also show a front foot 11A and a rear foot 11P with a maneuvering return rod <NUM> for adjusting the rear foot 11P. In this case, a hook extension <NUM>' is provided, which extends from the base <NUM>, constrained to the same, and is associated (cooperates) with the front foot 11A for housing an end portion of the maneuvering return rod <NUM>.

Identically to what is shown in <FIG>, <FIG> also shows how the return rod <NUM> is inserted in a maneuvering point <NUM> or hole formed in the rear foot 11P in a lower position.

<FIG>, on the contrary, shows how the return rod <NUM> is inserted in a maneuvering point <NUM> or hole formed in the rear foot 11P in an upper position.

The forms of the structure for producing a system according to the present invention, as also the materials and assembly modes, can obviously differ from those shown for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes in the drawings.

The objective mentioned in the preamble of the description has therefore been achieved.

Claim 1:
A foot system suitable for being used in parts of furniture and furnishing items with a base or bottom (<NUM>) with front adjustment levelling, wherein at least one foot (<NUM>) is configured to be positioned between the base or bottom (<NUM>) of a piece of furniture and a floor (P) in a space reduced in height (H), said foot (<NUM>) containing in its interior a height adjustment mechanism actuated from a hole or actuating point (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) by means of a manoeuvring tool (<NUM>), wherein said foot (<NUM>) is of the telescopic type and comprises a lower part (17f,117f,217f) intended to rest on the floor and fixed with respect to said floor (P) when in use in parts of furniture and furnishing items, and a upper movable part (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) intended to be integral with said base (<NUM>) and which can be moved with it during the adjustment, said hole or actuating point (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) is positioned in said lower part (17f, 117f, 217f) at a free end of the foot (<NUM>) intended to rest on the floor (P), being a manoeuvring tool (<NUM>) of which one of its ends suitable to be inserted in said hole or actuating point (<NUM>) of the adjustment mechanism, and tilted by an angle (α) with respect to said floor (P) aligned with said hole (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), characterized in that said height adjustment mechanism is arranged in two half-shells (<NUM>, <NUM>) positioned inside the lower part (17f,117f,217f) and the upper movable part (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) of the foot (<NUM>), the two half-shells (<NUM>,<NUM>) house in the lower part (17f,117f,217f) a pinion (<NUM>) free to rotate, which is coupled with a toothed crown (<NUM>), also free to rotate, being said toothed crown (<NUM>) positioned at an end of a threaded screw (<NUM>) on which a sleeve (<NUM>) is housed, slidingly guided in the two half-shells (<NUM>, <NUM>), being an upper shaped end (<NUM>) of the sleeve (<NUM>) abutted in an internal base portion (<NUM>) of the upper movable part (17f,117f,<NUM>) of the foot (<NUM>).