FURNITURE LIFT

Abstract

A furniture lift having a body with an upper non planar surface and a lower non planar surface which is complimentary in shape to the upper surface. The upper surface of a body includes a recessed a dimension to receive a bottom of a furniture support leg.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a furniture lift for elevating furniture a fixed amount above a floor surface.

II. Description of Related Art

There are previously known furniture lifts which are designed to elevate furniture up above a ground support surface. In many cases, the furniture lift consists of nothing more than a block of hard material, such as wood, positioned under the legs of the furniture to be elevated.

One disadvantage of these previously known furniture lifts, however, is that the height of the furniture lift was fixed so that the furniture could only be elevated by a fixed height. In many situations, however, it's desirable to increase the height of the furniture lift.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a furniture lift which overcomes all the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known furniture lifts.

In brief, the furniture lift of the present invention comprises a generally rectangular body having an upper non planar surface and a lower surface which is complimentary in shape to the upper surface. As such, the bodies can be stacked one up on the other and, in doing so, the stack surfaces interlock with each other.

The upper surface also includes a recess dimension to receive the bottom of the furniture support leg or roller. Preferably, the recess includes both a circular recess as well as a rectangular recess to accommodate both wheels and rollers.

A resilient pad is removably or attached to the lower surface of the bottom most body. This resilient pad prevents the body from shifting along the floor. In addition, a support plate is attached across a portion of the upper surface of the upper most body. This plate is preferably constructed of metal with a resilient coating. The support plate effectively protects the body against cracking and simultaneously increases the functional contact between the plate at the top surface of the body and the supported furniture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating the operation of the furniture lift;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view thereof

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom planar view.

FIG. 5 is an exploded elevational view illustrating a still further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view illustrating yet a further embodiment of the lift of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a lower perspective view of the lift illustrated in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view of the lift illustrated in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference first to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the furniture lift 10 of the present invention is shown. The furniture lift 10 is used to elevate the roller 13 on the bottom of a furniture leg 11 above the floor 13.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the furniture lift 10 includes at least one body 12 which is generally rectangular in shape having an upper rectangular surface 14 and a lower rectangular surface 16. The body 12 is preferably constructed of a plastic material and is preferably made in a one piece construction.

As best show in FIGS. 2-4, the upper surface 14 and lower surface 16 of the body 12 are complimentary in shape so that two or more bodies 12 can be stacked upon each other and, in doing so, interlock together. In order to have the interlocking of the bodies 12 together. Preferably, the upper surface 14 includes an upper protruding rim 18 extending around at least a portion of its outer periphery and preferably along two opposed corners of the body 12. The rim 18, however, is spaced inwardly from the outer sides 20 of the body 12 thus forming a ledge 22 between the rim 18 and the outer surface 20 of the body 12. This rim 18, furthermore, preferably extends completely around two opposite corners of the body 12.

As best show in FIG. 4, the lower surface 16 of the body 12 includes a recessed central portion 24 surrounded by a downwardly protruding lip 26 extending completely around the body 12. The lip 26, furthermore, is dimensioned to flatly abut against the ledge 22 of a lower body 12 and also surround the rims 18 on a lower body. Consequently, when two bodies 12 are stacked, the bodies 16 interlock together, as shown in FIG. 1.

In order to prevent, or at least minimize, movement of the furniture lift 10 once installed underneath furniture, a resilient pad 30 is preferably positioned under the lower most body 10 and against the floor support surface as shown in FIG. 1. The pad 30 may be constructed of any suitable resilient material, such as synthetic rubber or the like. In fact, the support pad 30 prevents the furniture lift from moving on the floor 30 after installation.

With reference now to FIG. 2, the upper surface 14 of the body 12 includes a central circular recess 32 as well as an overlapping rectangular recess 34. The circular recessed 32 is adapted to receive and support, a circular bottom of a furniture leg while, similar, the rectangular recess 34 is dimensioned to receive and support a rectangular bottom of a leg of furniture.

In order to protect the body 12 from possible cracking from the weight of the furniture, a metal support plate 40 is preferably positioned along at least a portion of the top surface of the body 12. The support plate 40 may also be coated with a resilient material to enhance the gripping between the plates 40 and the furniture leg.

In practice multiple bodies 10 which may vary in height, may be stacked as those shown in FIG. 1 in order to increase the overall elevation of the supported furniture 11. Furthermore, since these bodies 12 interlock together, multiple bodies 12 may be stacked together without fear of separation.

With reference now to FIG. 5, a further modification of the furniture lift 60 according to the present invention is shown. The furniture lift 60 includes a generally cylindrical body 62 and a flat bottom 64 and a top 66. While the bottom 64 is generally planar and flatly rests upon a flat ground surface, the top 66 of the body 62 includes a generally rectangular recess 68.

The recess 68, furthermore, is dimensioned to receive the roller 13 (FIG. 1) of the type of bottom of a furniture leg 11. An upwardly extending lip 70 is provided around the recess 68 which helps to maintain a roller within the recess 68.

A generally square metal plate 72 is positioned within and substantially fills the recess 68. This metal plate 72 protects the body 62 from cracking under the weight of the supported furniture. In addition, the plate 72 is preferably covered with a resilient material.

With reference now to FIG. 6, a further embodiment of the furniture lift 80 of the present invention is shown. The furniture lift 80 includes a one piece body 82 constructed of ABS plastic or other durable plastic. The furniture lift 80 is generally rectangular in cross section shape thus having a square bottom 84 and a square top 86. A square recess 88 is provided in the top 86 of the body 82 and this recess 88 is dimensioned to receive the roller 13 used to support furniture 11 (FIG. 1). A rubber covered metal plate 90 is positioned within and substantially fills the recess 88. In practice, the rubber coated plate 90 not only supports the furniture 11 from moving, but also protects the body 82 of the furniture support 80 from cracking.

Referring still to FIG. 6, a generally rectangular base 92 is positioned under the bottom 84 of the body 82. The base 92 is preferably constructed of rubber or other synthetic material and includes a central rectangular projection 94 dimensioned to fit within a square shaped recess formed at the bottom 84 of the body 82. In use, the rubber base 92 prevents the body from slipping on the floors surface and simultaneously protects the floor from scratching.

With reference now to FIG. 7, a still further embodiment of the furniture lift 100 according to the present invention is shown. Unlike the previously described furniture lifts, the furniture lift 100 illustrated in FIG. 7, includes an elongated body 110 which is generally square in cross sectional shape and constructed of metal, such as aluminum. A rectangular plate 112, preferably constructed of an ABS plastic, is secured to a bottom 114 of the body 110 by screws 116 or other fasteners. A bottom of the plate 112 is then covered by a rubber plug 118 which protects the support surface from scratching.

With reference now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a plastic cap 120 is secured to the top of the body 110 by a threaded fastener 122. A top of the cap 120, furthermore, is recessed and a resilient square or rectangular pad 126 is positioned on top of the cap 120. Furthermore, the outer periphery of the cap 120 protrudes upwardly to form an upwardly protruding lip 124 which helps to retain the roller within the outer boundaries of the cap 120.

In practice, the metal lip illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is able to support heavy weights without cracking or otherwise failing. Indeed, in practice, weight as much as 9,000 pounds per leg can be supported by the lift.

Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those who are skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A furniture lift comprising:

a body having an upper non-planar surface and a lower surface complementary in shape to said upper non-planar surface,

said upper non-planar surface of said body defining a recess dimensioned to receive a bottom of a furniture support leg, said upper non-planar surface also having sides and at least two corners defined by said sides,

a first rim positioned in one corner of said at least two corners and a second rim positioned in an opposite corner of said at least two corners, each rim extending around its respective corner and including a pair of legs extending from the respective corner, each leg being parallel to an adjacent side and having a length that is less than a length of the adjacent side.

2. The furniture lift as defined in claim 1, further comprising a resilient pad attached to said lower surface of said body.

3. The furniture lift as defined in claim 2, wherein said pad comprises rubber.

4. The furniture lift as defined in claim 2, wherein said lower surface of said body includes a lip extending around an outer periphery of said body and wherein said pad is dimensioned to nest within said lip.

5. The furniture lift as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower surface of said body includes a lip extending at least partially around an outer periphery of said body, said upper surface includes and outwardly protruding ledge extending around at least a portion of said upper surface of said body, said ledge being dimensioned to nest within a lip of a separate body.

6. The furniture lift as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said body includes a circular recess dimensioned to receive a furniture leg.

7. The furniture lift as defined in claim 6, wherein said upper surface of said body includes a rectangular recess overlying said circular recess.

8. The furniture lift as defined in claim 1, further comprising a support plate overlying a portion of said upper surface of said body.

9. The furniture lift as defined in claim 8, wherein said support plate comprises a metal plate.

10. The furniture lift as defined in claim 9, wherein said support plate includes a rubber coating on at least one side.

11. The furniture lift as defined in claim 1, wherein said body comprises plastic.

12. The furniture lift as defined in claim 11, wherein said body is of a one piece construction.

13. The furniture lift as defined in claim 1, wherein said body is constructed of metal.