FURNITURE OR APPLIANCE TIPPING RESTRAINT

Abstract

A furniture or appliance tipping restraint is provided which includes a first flexible strap member having one end secured to a piece of furniture or an appliance and which has a buckle fastener member at its other end. The device also includes a second flexible strap member having one end secured to a wall and which has a buckle fastener member secured to the other end thereof. The buckle fastener members may be easily connected together and when so connected, prevent the furniture or appliance from tipping.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a furniture tipping restraint and more particularly relates to a furniture or appliance tipping restraint which comprises a first strap member which is secured to a wall and a second strap member which is secured to a piece of furniture or appliance with the strap members having buckle fastener members which may be buckled together.

2. Description of the Related Art

Furniture such as bookcase shelves, dressers, cabinets, televisions, etc. is frequently positioned near a wall. Children frequently try to climb up the shelves of a bookcase which may result in the bookcase shelves tipping over onto the child causing injury or death to the child. Even though dressers do not have shelves upon which a child may climb, the child sometimes pulls out a drawer or drawers of the dresser and climbs up the drawer or drawers which may result in the dresser tipping over onto the child. A child may also pull on television sets, curio cabinets, etc which may also result in those pieces of furniture tipping over onto the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A furniture or appliance tipping restraint is provided which is comprised of a first flexible strap member having first and second ends with the first end of the first strap member being attachable to a wall. The second end of the first strap member has a first buckle fastener member secured thereto. The device also includes a second flexible strap member having first and second ends with the first end of the second strap member attachable to a piece of furniture or to an appliance. The second end of the second strap member has a second buckle fastener member secured thereto which is adapted to be fastened to the first buckle fastener member.

In the preferred embodiment, the first buckle fastener member is a female buckle fastener member and the second buckle fastener is a male buckle fastener member. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second buckle fastener members comprise a side release buckle fastener. The first end of the first strap member has at least one pre-formed screw hole, and preferably two pre-formed screw holes, formed therein with the first end of the second strap member having at least one pre-formed screw hole and preferably two pre-formed screw holes formed therein. In the preferred embodiment, each of the first ends of the first and second strap members have reinforcing stitching which extends around the screw hole or screw holes.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved device to prevent a piece of furniture or appliance from tipping over onto a child.

A further object of the invention is to provide a furniture tipping restraint which is easily secured to a wall and to a piece of furniture or an appliance to prevent the same from tipping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a furniture tipping restraint comprised of first and second strap members which are quickly and easily secured together or disconnected from one another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a furniture tipping restraint which enables a piece of furniture or an appliance to be positioned fairly close to a wall.

A further object of the invention is to provide a furniture tipping restraint which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bookcase secured to a wall with a portion of the bookcase cut-away to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a bookcase having the invention secured to the back side thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the manner in which the invention secures a bookcase to a wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

The furniture tipping restraint of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 which is adapted to be extended between a wall 12 and a piece of furniture 14 which may be a bookcase shelf, dresser, cabinet, television set, etc.

Device 10 includes a first flexible strap member 16 having a first end 18 and a second end 20. A buckle fastener element 22 of the female type is secured to the second end 20 of strap member 16, as seen in FIG. 2. A pair of screw holes 24 and 26 are pre-formed in the strap member 16 adjacent end 18, as seen in the drawings. Preferably, reinforcing stitching 28 extends through the strap member 16 around the screw holes 24 and 26, as seen in FIG. 2.

The device 10 also includes a second flexible strap member 30 having a first end 32 and a second end 34. A pair of screw holes 36 and 38 are pre-formed in strap member 30 adjacent end 32, as seen in FIG. 2. Preferably, reinforcing stitching 40 extends around the screw holes 36 and 38, as seen in FIG. 2. A buckle fastener member 42 of the male type is secured to end 34 of strap member 30. Preferably, the buckle fastener members 22 and 42 are of the side release buckle fastener style such as manufactured by American Cord and Webbing of Woonsocket, R.I.

The device 10 is placed in use as follows. A pair of screws 44 and 46 are extended through the screw holes 24 and 26 in strap member 16 and inserted into the furniture or appliance 14, as seen in FIG. 4. A pair of screws 48 and 50 are extended through the screw holes 36 and 38 in strap member 30 and into the wall 12, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The piece of furniture or appliance is then positioned closely adjacent the wall 12 with the buckle fastener members 22 and 42 being secured together in conventional fashion.

It is preferred that a pair of the devices 10 be used to restrain the furniture or appliance from tipping. It is also preferred that the device or devices 10 be positioned near the side or sides of the furniture or appliance so that the side release buckle fasteners are easily accessible.

Should a child attempt to climb onto the piece of furniture or appliance, the device 10 will restrain the piece of furniture or appliance from tipping over. The piece of furniture or appliance may be easily moved away from the wall 12 as needed by simply disconnecting the buckle fastener members 22 and 42. As seen in the drawings, the flexible nature of the strap members 16 and 30 of device 10 enables the piece of furniture or appliance to be positioned closely adjacent the wall 12. Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

1. A furniture tipping restraint, comprising:

a first flexible strap member having first and second ends;

said first end of said first strap member adapted to be secured to a piece of furniture;

said second end of said first strap member having a first buckle fastener member secured thereto;

a second flexible strap member having first and second ends;

said first end of said second strap member adapted to be secured to a wall;

said second end of said second strap member having a second buckle fastener member secured thereto which is adapted to be fastened to said first buckle fastener member.

2. The furniture tipping restraint of claim 1 wherein said first buckle fastener member is a female buckle fastener and wherein said second buckle fastener member is a male buckle fastener.

3. The furniture tipping restraint of claim 1 wherein said first and second buckle fastener members comprise a side release buckle fastener.

4. The furniture tipping restraint of claim 1 wherein said first end of said first strap member has at least one pre-formed screw hole formed therein and wherein said first end of said second strap member has at least one pre-formed screw hole formed therein.

5. The furniture tipping restraint of claim 1 wherein each of said first ends of said first and second strap members have reinforcing stitching thereon.

6. The furniture tipping restraint of claim 4 wherein said first end of said first strap member has reinforcing stitching extending around said at least one screw hole and wherein said first end of said second strap member has reinforcing stitching extending around said at least one screw hole.

7. The furniture tipping restraint of claim 1 wherein said first end of said first strap member has first and second screw holes formed therein and wherein said first end of said second strap member has first and second screw holes formed therein.

8. An appliance tipping restraint, comprising:

a first flexible strap member having first and second ends;

said first end of said first strap member adapted to be secured to an appliance;

said second end of said first strap member having a first buckle fastener member secured thereto;

a second flexible strap member having first and second ends;

said first end of said second strap member adapted to be secured to a wall;

said second end of said second strap member having a second buckle fastener member secured thereto which is adapted to be fastened to said first buckle fastener member.

9. The appliance tipping restraint of claim 8 wherein said first buckle fastener member is a female buckle fastener and wherein said second buckle fastener member is a male buckle fastener.

10. The appliance tipping restraint of claim 8 wherein said first and second buckle fastener members comprise a side release buckle fastener.

11. The appliance tipping restraint of claim 8 wherein said first end of said first strap member has at least one pre-formed screw hole formed therein and wherein said first end of said second strap member has at least one pre-formed screw hole formed therein.

12. The appliance tipping restraint of claim 8 wherein each of said first ends of said first and second strap members have reinforcing stitching thereon.

13. The appliance tipping restraint of claim 11 wherein said first end of said first strap member has reinforcing stitching extending around said at least one screw hole and wherein said first end of said second strap member has reinforcing stitching extending around said at least one screw hole.

14. The appliance tipping restraint of claim 8 wherein said first end of said first strap member has first and second screw holes formed therein and wherein said first end of said second strap member has first and second screw holes formed therein.