Patent Application
20050098693
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a leveling system. More particularly, the invention relates to a leveling system for appliances.
2. Related Art
Appliances in general, and especially stoves or other fuel-burning devices, need to be level for proper and safe operation. Factory-built fireplace and stove assemblies have long been available as both freestanding and wall recessed units. During the installation, fireplace assemblies are generally leveled as needed. With freestanding units this leveling is usually done by adjusting a threaded screw either up or down. For example, the legs of a freestanding appliance unit would have threaded holes in the bottom. A screw attached to a base would be inserted into each of the holes in the legs of the appliance until the unit is level.
A disadvantage of present leveling systems is that it can be particularly difficult to adjust the threaded screws to adjust the height of the appliance. In particular, appliances, such as cast iron and steel wood stoves, are quite heavy and in order to adjust the threaded screw, the weight of the applicant must be lifted off of the leg that is to be adjusted in height. Lifting and maneuvering a large appliance to effect the required amount of leveling can be difficult and unsafe.
Another disadvantage to traditional leveling systems is that the holes usually need to be machined separately from the manufacturing of the appliance base or leg. For example, in a typical leveling system, the leg is first cast or molded and then only after the leg is preformed, can the threaded holes be created in the base of the leg. Therefore, it would be preferable to develop a leveling system that does not require this two-step manufacturing process.
Yet another disadvantage to a traditional leveling system is that the threaded holes are often also used to aid in the transport of the appliance. For example, the appliance is often screwed through a pallet and machined threads formed in the leg to facilitate the transportation of the appliance from its place of manufacture to its point of use. Because of the stresses involved in transporting a large appliance on a pallet, the machined threads in the leg of the appliance often get stripped out, thereby diminishing or eliminating their effectiveness as a leveling tool. Alternatively, the threaded screws can break and within the threaded holes and it can be difficult to remove the broken screws or bolts from the unit.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an appliance system, including fuel-burning stove systems, with an improved way to transport and level the appliance during installation.
The present invention generally relates to a leveling system and more particularly relates to a system for leveling an appliance. The leveling system provides an adjustment mechanism that controls the height of an appliance and facilitates handling of the appliance during shipping. The leveling system is supported by a leg of the appliance in a way that minimizes damage to the appliance.
One aspect of the invention relates to an appliance leveling system that includes a bolt having a threaded portion with a diameter, a nut having a threaded aperture configured to engage the threaded portion of the bolt, and an appliance leg including a first bolt receiving aperture and a nut receiving structure. The diameter of the first bolt receiving aperture is greater than the bolt diameter to provide free axial movement of the bolt relative to the first bolt receiving aperture. The nut receiving structure is configured to receive and retain the nut so that rotation of the bolt relative to the nut adjusts a vertical height of the appliance.
Another aspect of the invention relates to an appliance that includes a leg having an aperture formed in an end of the leg, and a leveling system configured to level the appliance. The leveling system includes a threaded bolt, a nut having a threaded aperture sized to engage the threaded bolt, and a nut receiving structure sized to receive and retain the nut in a position in which the threaded aperture is aligned with the leg aperture. The leg aperture is sized to facilitate free axial movement of the threaded bolt through the leg aperture without engaging the threads of the bolt, and rotation of the threaded bolt relative to the nut adjusts a vertical height of the appliance.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of adjusting the vertical position of an appliance. The appliance includes a threaded bolt, a nut having a threaded aperture sized to engage the threaded bolt, and a leg having a nut receiving structure and a bolt receiving aperture formed in an end of the leg. The method includes the steps of positioning the nut in the nut receiving structure thereby retaining the nut, threading the bolt into the threaded aperture of the nut, and moving the bolt through the bolt receiving aperture without engaging the threads of the bolt. Rotating the bolt relative to the retained nut adjust the height of the appliance.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify embodiments of the invention. While certain embodiments will be illustrated and describing embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to use in such embodiments.
The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternate forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example and the drawings, and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present invention generally relates to a leveling system and more particularly relates to a system for leveling an appliance. The leveling system provides an adjustment mechanism that controls the height of an appliance and facilitates handling of the appliance during shipping. The leveling system is supported by and cooperates with a leg of the appliance in a way that minimizes damage to the appliance. While the present invention is not so limited, an appreciation of the various aspects of the invention will be gained through a discussion of the examples provided below.
Embodiments of the present invention may be used in conjunction with any system or apparatus that requires leveling and which can be modified to use the leveling system described herein. A non-exhaustive list of such devices may include stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and other appliances. While the example embodiments of the present invention provided below are described in conjunction with an example fuel-burning stove (generally referred to as an appliance unit), the present invention is equally applicable to other systems or apparatuses. It is contemplated that the present invention is preferably used with a freestanding appliance. However, certain appliances that are insets or are supported by other structures may benefit from the invention if the appliance requires leveling. Moreover, although it is contemplated that most uses of the invention will be with a system that has four legs (e.g., a four leg stove), it is also contemplated that the present invention may be suited for use with an appliance or other structure that has at least one leg and required vertical adjustment of the appliance or structure.
As used herein, the term “coupled” is defined as any structure or method that may be used to provide connectivity between two or more elements, which may or may not include a direct physical connection between the elements. The term “engage” or “engaging” is defined as actual physical contact between two or more elements. The term “receive” means to come into possession of or to access, but does not require actual physical contact. The term “retain” means to hold or possess, but not does require holding in a single, immovable position and orientation.
Referring now to
As shown in
Leg 110 may be manufactured in any number ways and of any number of materials. Leg 110 is preferably formed as one integral piece, for example, by casting using metal, or by molding using polymer materials or inorganic fibers and a binder. It is not necessary, however, that leg 110 be formed in one-piece. The method of manufacturing leg 110 and the materials selected for leg 110 will depend on the particular requirements of the appliance that is to be supported by leg 110.
Referring now to
Bolt adjustment structure 154 may be adjusted by providing a rotational torque force to the adjustment portion. In this manner, the applied torque force causes a threaded portion 155 of the bolt 150 to engage threaded aperture 162 of nut 160 and eventually extend through leg aperture 140 formed in bottom member 145. Bottom member 145 is also configured to restrict movement of nut 160 in a downward direction. In
The threaded portion 155 of bolt 150 extends along at least that portion of the length of bolt 155 that is intended to pass through threaded aperture 162 of nut 160. If desired, the range of vertical adjustment possible with leveling system 100 may be controlled by the length of threaded portion 155. For example, a certain threaded portion length may be used to restrict the user of the leveling system from over extending the bolt 150 through nut 160, which over extension would cause the leveling system to be unable to support the weight of the appliance, or to otherwise fail.
Referring now to
Nut receiving area 130 is substantially rectangular in shape so as to match the outer shape of nut 160. The shape of nut receiving area 130 serves to hold nut 160 in place while bolt 150 is adjusted. Although the shape of nut receiving area 130 is shown to be rectangular, other shapes may be used so long as they function to retain nut 160 within leg 110, limit axial movement of nut 160, and restrict rotational movement of nut 160 about an axis of first aperture 140 within a certain range of rotation, for example, less than about 45° to 90° of rotation.
Traditional leveling methods require height adjustment of the appliance leg using a threaded bolt or other adjustment mechanism engaged in a threaded aperture at the bottom of the leg. Such a leveling system is typically adjusted by lifting the appliance leg and screwing the adjustment mechanism into or out of the threaded aperture in the bottom of the appliance leg. With the present leveling system, the height of the leg can be adjusted without raising the appliance leg off the ground. Instead, a torque force is applied to rotate bolt 150 relative to nut 160 and the leg is raised or lowered without access to the bottom of leg 110 or otherwise relieve the weight of the appliance from the bottom of leg 110. This arrangement allows for the height of leg 110 to be adjusted by turning bolt 150. Therefore, unlike the traditional ways of leveling appliances, the present invention eliminates the need to first lift the appliance unit before adjusting the height of leg 110.
Another benefit of the present leveling system is that the leveling system can be manufactured with fewer or at least typically less costly manufacturing steps. The present leveling system eliminates the need for the leg of the appliance to be threaded by a separate manufacturing step. In this way, leg 110 can be manufactured in one casting or molding step, without the need for a separate machining step. The bolts and nuts described in the present invention can be purchased from any suitable manufacturer and they need not be specially manufactured for the present invention, which further reduces costs. In addition, the machine error that is introduced by a separate machining step is also eliminated, so that the likelihood of malfunctioning of the leveling system is likewise reduced.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, a footing 180 may be secured to threaded portion 155 of bolt 150. Footing 180 protects the floor or ground surface from any damage that may occur when adjusting bolt 150 to level the appliance. Footing 180 may be a cap that is slipped over bolt 150, screwed into threaded portion 155 of bolt 150, or coupled by some other mechanical means.
In addition, the present invention also provides a desirable system for connecting the appliance unit to a pallet for transportation. For example, an appliance unit can be placed on top of a pallet and the pallet may be coupled to legs of the appliance unit by a coupling bolt, such as bolt 150. Alternatively, the coupling bolt may be longer or shorter than bolt 150 depending on the exact length that is needed to extend through the thickness of the pallet being used. The coupling bolt is preferably long enough to extend through a hole in the pallet and through hole 140 in leg 110 and nut 160. By this arrangement, the appliance unit can be securely coupled to the pallet.
Moreover, since leg 110 is coupled to the pallet through a coupling bolt such as bolt 150, the only threads that can be damaged during transport of the appliance unit are the threads of nut 160 and bolt 150. Since nut 160 and bolt 150 are typically inexpensive parts, these damaged parts can be easily and cheaply replaced to provide a functioning the leveling system after the appliance unit is transported. Thus, the appliance unit is not adversely affected during the transporting of the appliance unit and the potential damage that occurs to the leveling system can be easily remedied.
The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples or materials described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspect of the invention as fairly set out in the attached claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the instant specification.
