STABILIZING DEVICE
A stabilizing device having a first side having a concentric raised wall disposed adjacent to a perimeter. A second side has a concentric recess disposed adjacent to the perimeter. The stabilizing device has a cylindrical boundary wall at the perimeter connecting the first side to the second side. The stabilizing devices are stackable such that when a second stabilizing device is stacked on top of a first stabilizing device, the concentric raised wall disposed on the first side fits snugly into the concentric recess disposed on the second side of the second stabilizing device.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/292,342, filed Feb. 7, 2016; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety into this disclosure.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe subject disclosure relates generally to a leveling and stabilizing device for furniture supports and the like, and more particularly to a stabilizing device for a foot member or furniture legs or supports.
BACKGROUNDFlexible vacuum cups and suction cups are well known and in use for attaching the suction cup to an object.
It is often observed that there are instances when a table or chair does not securely sit on the floor or ground in which it is located. This could be due to the fact that the floor or ground is not completely level or has slight height variations in the surface causing one or more of the legs of the table to rest uneven on the surface of the floor or ground. This unevenness oftentimes creates a gap between the bottom of the leg and the floor or ground. This gap can also be caused when the legs of the table or chair are not of equal length, despite the floor or ground being free of slight variations. Oftentimes both of these conditions exist, i.e., the table or chair legs are not of equal length and the floor or ground surface has slight height variations. This is most common when visiting a restaurant, particularly outdoor patios. It has been often observed at outdoor patio restaurants that the serving tables will rock or be unstable because the floor or ground is uneven or the table legs are not of equal length.
Currently there are a number of solutions that have been attempted to put a device under a table or chair leg that is not securely positioned on the ground or floor. Some of these solutions include using pieces of paper, napkins, sugar packets and/or utensils under the legs. Unfortunately, these attempts are not durable solution and quickly become undone when the table is moved ever so slightly with its intended use.
Another conventional solution has been to use a hard piece of material, such as wood or metal as a shim. Unfortunately, this solution is also insufficient, since again any movement in the table will cause the shim device to shift and no longer provide a secure footing for the leg of the table or chair. Hard materials do not mold or adjust to the variety of gaps that cause unstable table and chair annoyances. These gaps are continually different as tables and chairs are continually repositioned in different areas of the floor or ground.
There is a longstanding need for an innovative solution that can quickly and easily stabilize an un-level, rocking table or chair that would automatically change its form to properly fill out the gap created between the un-level table or chair leg and the ground that the table or chair stands on. Likewise, it is also desirable to have a solution that is durable and can sustain repeated movement and use under the leg of an item of furniture.
Various exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
Particular embodiments of the present subject disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures.
In the illustrated structure, the stabilizing device 10 is presented for use on the lower end of a leg 5 of a chair. The stabilizing device 10 may be constructed relatively simple, reliable and inexpensive. The stabilizing device 10 has broad applications and may be provided for leveling and stabilizing under a table leg, chair leg, or similar related product that requires slight adjustment to create a solid connection to the floor. The stabilizing device 10 has universal application, other than furniture (e.g. table, chair, cabinet, shelf, couch) or appliance (e.g. washer, dryer, etc.), the subject disclosure may be applied to any object (e.g. table lamp, printer, etc.) that needs balance on any surface.
The first side 20 has a raised ring 22 that is disposed adjacent to an outer peripheral edge 23 of the first side 20. The raised ring 22 may be constructed in a variety of different shapes and sizes. The raised ring 22 is adapted to secure a leg 5 of a piece of furniture or an item having legs used as a base.
As shown in
The stabilizing device 10 is preferably molded or otherwise suitably formed of material capable of withstanding a great deal of stress without failure. Likewise, the stabilizing device 10 is abrasion resistant, has a long life, without little to no age hardening. The stabilizing device 10 may be molded from a synthetic resin, such as for example, polyethylene, since polyethylene is a low pressure, high density material. Other materials such as rubber or flexible plastics, such as nylon, may be used. The stabilizing device 10 is made of a material that is durable, albeit flexible and soft and capable of supporting the weight of substantially heavy furniture.
The stabilizing device 10 may have different sizes, hardness/softness characteristics, shapes, colors and widths (including widths that may be tapered or irregular) to fit various uses to solve the problem of gaps between table or chair legs and the floor or ground. The stabilizing device 10 is self-adjusting to automatically fill the gap or crevice and mold to the area between a table or chair leg and the ground or floor. Furthermore, the stabilizing device 10 continuously adjusts to the movement of the leg 5 of the furniture item while the leg 5 of the table or chair is against the ground or floor to maintain a secure footing.
The materials of construction for the stabilizing device 10 may also be made of a rubber. The preferred hardness of rubber is determined by an international standard for measuring hardness, called the Durometer. Within the Durometer various scales may be used depending upon the material type. The scales are defined by the word “Shore”, followed by a letter to classify the material. Generally, a low number means that the material is soft, whereas higher numbers mean the material is hard. Various Durometers at different Shore scale may be suitable used with this subject disclosure.
Likewise, the stabilizing device 10 is substantially pliable to allow offset legs 5 to slightly sink into the stabilizing device 10 to balance an uneven leg from various other legs, which may be positioned slightly higher or longer. The material of the stabilizing device 10 is also suitable for providing a gripping action against the surface onto which it is lying on top of. A peelable release paper may also be provided on the first side 20 or second side 30 of the stabilizing device 10, under which an adhesive may be provided to assist in the gripping action.
As shown in
Likewise, the second side 30 can be a contoured surface 36 adapted to mate with the bowl-shaped or spherical concave contour 26 of the first side 20. In this manner, secure stacking is also possible amongst various stabilizing devices 10 as shown in
While the stabilizing device 10 is shown to be substantially cylindrical, it is to be understood that the stabilizing device 10 may be of any suitable geometric shape or the like adapted to correspond to the leg 5 of a piece of furniture according to this subject disclosure.
In assembly, a leg 5 of a piece of furniture is positioned over and in axial alignment with the recess 24. The leg 5 member is then placed on top of the recess 24. The weight of the furniture item will sink into the resilient material of the stabilizing device 10 until the leg is leveled out with the other corresponding legs on the furniture item. The raised ring 22 will firmly secure the leg 5 within the stabilizing device 10.
The load from the leg and the furniture item is distributed over the recess 24. The stabilizing device 10 is not subject to corrosion, is wear-resistant, capable of withstanding great stress, and will have long life without danger of marring or damaging a floor or other supporting surface upon which it is situated.
It is to be understood that the stabilizing device 10 is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claim.
The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A stabilizing device comprising:
- a first side having a raised wall disposed adjacent to a perimeter;
- a second side having a recess disposed adjacent to the perimeter; and
- a boundary wall at the perimeter connecting the first side to the second side.
2. The stabilizing device recited in claim 1, wherein the raised wall is adapted to secure an item therein.
3. The stabilizing device recited in claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the stabilizing device is cylindrical, and the raised wall and the recess has curved surfaces.
4. The stabilizing device recited in claim 1, wherein a second stabilizing device can be stacked on top of the stabilizing device such that the raised wall on the stabilizing device is adapted to securely receive a second recess on the second stabilizing device that is stacked on top of the stabilizing device.
5. The stabilizing device recited in claim 4, wherein the raised wall disposed on the first side fits into the recess disposed on the second side.
6. The stabilizing device recited in claim 1, wherein the raised wall has an inwardly slanted wall, and the recess has a slanted wall that mates with the inwardly slanted wall of another stabilizing device when stacked.
7. The stabilizing device recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side has an adhesive.
8. A stabilizing device comprising:
- a first side having a concentric raised wall disposed adjacent to a perimeter;
- a second side having a concentric recess disposed adjacent to the perimeter; and
- a cylindrical boundary wall at the perimeter connecting the first side to the second side.
9. The stabilizing device recited in claim 8, wherein a second stabilizing device can be stacked on top of the stabilizing device.
10. The stabilizing device recited in claim 9, wherein when stacked, the concentric raised wall disposed on the first side fits snugly into the concentric recess disposed on the second side of the second stabilizing device.
11. The stabilizing device recited in claim 8, wherein the raised wall has an inwardly slanted wall, and the recess has a slanted wall that mates with the inwardly slanted wall.
12. The stabilizing device recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side has an adhesive.
13. A stabilizing device comprising:
- a first side having a spherical concave contour with a raised edge disposed adjacent to a perimeter;
- a second side having a spherical convex contour recess adapted to mate with the spherical concave contour when stacked on top of a second stabilizing device; and
- a boundary wall at the perimeter connecting the first side to the second side.
14. The stabilizing device recited in claim 13, wherein when stacked, the spherical concave contour with a raised edge disposed on the first side of the stabilizing device fits snugly into the spherical convex contour recess disposed on the second side of the second stabilizing device.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 7, 2017
Publication Date: Aug 10, 2017
Inventor: Thomas Winn HEEGE (Marietta, GA)
Application Number: 15/426,458