Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Pedestal supported
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-30
2001-04-03
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Pedestal supported
C248S188700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209465
ABSTRACT:
THIS INVENTION relates to a stabilising arrangement. More particularly, this invention relates to a stabilizing arrangement for use with a table.
It is often a problem with tables having four feet that the feet do not all contact a support surface. This results in the table rocking on the support surface. This can occur on a planar support surface, such as a floor if the feet do not have four points of contact that define a plane. Alternatively, the four points of contact could define a plane but the support surface could be uneven. A particular example would be a restaurant table on a hard floor such as that which is tiled. If one of the feet slips into a crack between two tiles, the table will rock resulting in user irritation. An attempt to solve the former problem has been to utilise articles having three feet. A problem with this, however, is that the table tends to be unstable, especially when the table is top heavy, and tilts too easily. This invention provides a means whereby rocking is, to a large extent, eliminated without sacrificing the stability of the table.
In this specification, the word “table” is to be understood to mean any article or device for bearing a load.
According to the invention, there is provided a stabilizing arrangement for use with a table, the arrangement including
a support structure, which is mountable to a table top being mountable on the support structure;
four feet which are mounted on the support structure so that a line drawn between a first pair of the feet intersects a line drawn between a second pair of the feet, the feet of each pair being fixed relative to each other with the pairs being linearly displaceable relative to each other; and
a displacement means arranged on the support structure which permits linear displacement of the pairs of feet relative to each other, when the feet are placed on an uneven support surface so that all four feet can bear against the support surface, in use; and
a displacement limiting means which is operatively arranged with respect to the support structure and the feet and which is automatically frictionally operable to limit linear displacement of the pairs of feet relative to each other when all four feet bear against the support surface.
The support structure may include a first and a second support member. The support members may be linearly displaceable with respect to each other. The first pair of feet may be fixed to the first support member and the second pair of feet may be fixed to the second support member.
The first support member may be hollow. The second support member may be received within the first support member.
The first support member may have covering elements extending therefrom to cover the second pair of feet. The covering elements may have an appearance similar to that of the first pair of feet.
The first support member may be fastenable to the table top.
A mass of the second support member may be such that contact of the second pair of feet with the support surface is facilitated.
The arrangement may include a spring mounting means to permit the second support member to be spring mounted with respect to the table top to bias the second support member away from the table top.
The displacement means may be in the form of a lever mechanism which is arranged between the support members. The lever mechanism may be configured so that, on movement of one of the support members towards the table top, the other support member is urged away from the table top, and vice versa, in use.
The lever mechanism may include a lever. The lever member may be pivotally arranged, at one end, with respect to the first support member, and, at an opposed end, pivotally arranged with respect to the second support member. The lever mechanism may also include a fulcrum which is fastenable to the table top and which bears against the lever member at a position intermediate the ends of the lever member. Thus, substantially an entire load carried by the table top bears on the lever member, in use.
One end of the first support member may define a tapered surface. One corresponding end of the second support member may also define a tapered surface. The tapered surfaces may be configured so that, when the ends of the members are adjacent each other, the surfaces together define a formation having a substantially “V”-shaped profile which opens towards an underneath surface of the table top, in use.
Instead, a least one urging member may be located in the formation. The, or each, urging member may be configured so that, when a load is carried by the table top, on upward movement of the first member, the urging member bears against the tapered surface of the second member to urge the second member downwardly, and vice versa.
One urging member, in the form of a split ring, may be received in the formation.
Instead, a pair of urging members in the form of a pair of diametrically opposed spheres may be located in the formation.
Further, one urging member in the form of a deformable member may be located between the upper ends of the member and the underneath surface of the table top, in use.
The displacement limiting means may include at least one frictional engaging member which may be arranged on one of the support members. The, or each, frictional engaging member may project from said one of the support members so that, when the support members tilt relative to each other, the, or each, engaging member frictionally engages the other support member to inhibit linear displacement of the support members relative to each other.
Instead, the displacement limiting means may include at least one pin, which is attached to, and extends between opposed positions on the first support member. A pin may be received in each of one or more formations defined in the second support member. The, or each, pin and its associated formation may be configured so that linear displacement of the support members relative to each other is permitted when the support members are positioned substantially parallel to each other, but is inhibited when one of the support members is angled relative to the other support member.
The displacement limiting means may include two, spaced pins, a pin being received in each of a pair of spaced slots defined in the second support member.
The invention extends to a table which includes the stabilizing arrangement as described above.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1899835 (1933-02-01), Thum
patent: 3185423 (1965-05-01), Jones, III
patent: 3664275 (1972-05-01), Kleinert
patent: 3705704 (1972-12-01), Textoris
patent: 3814362 (1974-06-01), Ritchie
patent: 4406437 (1983-09-01), Wright
patent: 5690303 (1997-11-01), Winters
Gifford, Krass, Groh Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
Wilkens Janet M.
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