Portable Device and Method for Raising the Height of Furniture

Abstract

The furniture raising device described herein is collapsible, portable, stable, and easy to use. The device is designed to raise furniture to one or two preset increases in height. Preferably the device is used to raise the height of a chair. In one embodiment, the device contains a plurality of arms and a center base, where each arm is pivotably attached at a predetermined point in the base using a pin. The locations for attachment of the pins are selected to be spaced far enough apart from each other to allow the arms to rotate about the pins from a first position, where the arms align with the legs in the article of furniture, to a second position, where the arms are aligned in the same general direction (i.e. the “storage position”), and to maximize the ability of the device to be as compact as possible in the storage position. In a second embodiment, the device contains a plurality of arms and a center base, where each arm is pivotably and slidably attached to the base using a pin. In a third embodiment, the furniture raising device is designed to increase the device's strength and prevent breakage. In this embodiment, at least one portion of the center base either contacts the floor when the device is in use or hovers above the floor by at least approximately 1 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the furniture raising device in a position for alignment with legs of an article of furniture.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the furniture raising device in the storage position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of the furniture raising device in a position for alignment with legs of an article of furniture, with the arms in the contracted position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the components of one embodiment of the furniture raising device with the arms in the contracted position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the furniture raising device attached to a chair.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are perspective views on an enlarged scale of three different designs for the pedestal.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a partial furniture raising device, illustrating the relationship between the spring and the other elements in the arm in one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the furniture raising device in a position for alignment with legs of an article of furniture.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the furniture raising device in the storage position.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the components of a second embodiment of the furniture raising device with the arms in the contracted position.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a plan views of a third embodiment of the furniture raising device. FIG. 11A shows the arms in a position for alignment with legs of an article of furniture. FIG. 11B shows the arms in the storage position.

Claims

1. A device for raising the height of a legged article of furniture, comprising a plurality of arms, a plurality of pins and a center base,wherein each arm comprises at least one tubular beam, a tension creating material, and a pedestal, wherein the pedestal is located the distal end of each arm,wherein the center base comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises either a plurality of pin holders or a groove,wherein the number of pins is equal to the number of arms,wherein the proximal end of each arm pivotably attaches to the center base by attaching to one pin, andwherein each pin attaches to the center base by attaching to a pin holder, wherein at least two pin holders are closer to each other than they are to the remaining pin holders, or by fitting in the groove.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion further comprise a flat disc comprising the groove.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise a plurality of pin holders, and wherein the number of pin holders is equal to the number of arms.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device comprises four pin holders, four arms, and four pins.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the length of a minor line joining the two pin holders that are closer to each other is shorter than the length of a major line joining the remaining two pin holders.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the ratio of minor line to the major line ranges from 1:1.1 to 1:5.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises a dome-shaped portion.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein each pedestal comprises a seat and a corner.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein each seat or each corner, or both, are covered by a material with a great coefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction for the material that forms the device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the arms further comprises a floor contact portion, and wherein the floor contact portion is covered by a material with a greater coefficient of friction than the coefficient of friction for the material that forms the device.

11. A device for raising the height of a legged article of furniture, comprising a plurality of arms and a center base,wherein each arm comprises at least one tubular beam, a tension creating material, and a pedestal, wherein the pedestal is located the distal end of each arm,wherein the center base comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises a plurality of tubular materials, wherein each tubular material in the first portion connects with a corresponding tubular material in the second portion to form a pin,wherein the proximal end of each arm pivotably attaches to the center base by attaching to one pin, andwherein at least two tubular materials in each of the first and the second portions are closer to each other than they are to the remaining tubular materials.

12. A device for raising the height of a legged article of furniture, comprising a plurality of arms and a center base,wherein each arm comprises at least one tubular beam, a tension creating material, and a pedestal, wherein the pedestal is located the distal end of each arm,wherein the center base comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein at least one portion of the center base contacts a surface or hovers above the surface at a distance ranging from 1 mm to 4.5 cm, when the device is placed on a surface andwherein the proximal end of each arm pivotably attaches to the center base.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein at least one portion of the center-base comprises a dome-shaped portion.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of pins, wherein the pins are formed by connecting two tubular materials together, wherein each of the tubular materials is attached to the center base.

15. A device for raising the height of a legged article of furniture, comprising a plurality of arms and a center base,wherein each arm comprises at least one tubular beam, a tension creating material, and a pedestal, wherein the pedestal is located the distal end of each arm,wherein the center base comprises a first portion and a second portion,wherein the proximal end of each arm pivotably attaches to the center base,wherein each arm is equidistant from the other arms, andwherein the arms are capable of rotating from a first position to align with the legs on the legged article of furniture to a second position wherein all of the legs in the second position are aligned in the same general direction.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the cross-section of the center base is in the shape of a rectangle or a shape similar thereto.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of pins.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the pins are formed by connecting two tubular materials together, wherein each of the tubular materials is attached to the center base.

19. A method of raising the height of an article of furniture comprising a plurality of legs comprising placing each of the legs of the article of furniture on an arm of a device, wherein the device comprises a plurality of arms, a plurality of pins and a center base,wherein the number of arms is equal to the number of legs on the article of furniture,wherein each arm comprises at least one tubular beam, a tension creating material, and a pedestal, wherein the pedestal is located the distal end of each arm,wherein the center base comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprise a dome-shaped portion, and wherein the base further comprises either a plurality of pin holders or a groove,wherein the number of pins is equal to the number of arms,wherein the proximal end of each arm attaches to the center base by attaching to one pin, andwherein each pin attaches to the center base by attaching to a pin holder, wherein at least two pin holders are closer to each other than they are to the remaining pin holders or by fitting in the groove

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the article of furniture is a chair comprising four legs.