Patent Application
20080042023
The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.
In the drawings:
It is understood that table 10 is representative of any type of article of furniture in connection with which roller-type support 20 of the present invention may be used. Roller-type support 20 may be incorporated in any type of furniture other than a table, e.g. a chair, bench, desk, stool, etc., which includes a laterally extending support member located adjacent the floor.
Referring to
Laterally extending support member 18 defines a laterally-facing open end at which side walls 22, top wall 24, bottom wall 26 and interior wall 28 terminate. The interior of laterally extending support member 18 is divided by interior wall 28 into an upper, laterally extending passage 30 and a lower, laterally extending passage 32, both of which extend inwardly from the open end of laterally extending support member 18.
A downwardly facing recess or slot 34 is formed in side walls 22 and bottom wall 26 of support member 18. Slot 34 extends across the entire width of bottom wall 26, and encompasses a lower portion of each side wall 22. The end edges of slot 34, shown at 36, are located below interior wall 28, such that slot 34 communicates between the exterior of support member 18 and lower passage 32 of support member 18. A portion of lower wall 26 and side walls 22 is disposed between the outer edge of slot 34 and the laterally facing open end of support member 18.
A countersunk fastener opening 38 is formed in lower wall 26 of support member 18 inwardly of the inner edge of slot 34. An access opening 40 is formed in bottom wall 26 of support member 18 inwardly of fastener opening 38.
Roller-type support 20 includes a wheel or roller 42, an axle 44, an axle support in the form of an axle bracket 46, and an end member 48. In a manner to be explained, these components are configured to be engaged with support member 18 to facilitate movement of table 10 on floor F using wheel or roller 42.
Axle bracket 46 includes a top wall 50 within which an opening 52 is formed, an outer side wall 52, an inner side wall 54, and a mounting tab 56 extending from the lower end of inner side wall 54. Outer and inner side walls 52, 54, respectively, are similarly formed, and include respective downwardly facing notches 58, 60, which extend upwardly from the lower edges of respective side walls 56, 58. Axle 44 includes a head 62 and a shank 64, which has a length slightly greater than the space between axle bracket side walls 52, 54.
Roller 42 includes an outer peripheral floor-engaging rim section 66 and a central hub section 68 that defines a laterally extending central hub passage 70. A pair of washers 72 are located adjacent the ends of hub section 68. The shank 64 of axle 44 is received within notches 58, 60 in side walls 52, 54, respectively, and extends through hub passage 70 and through washers 72. The head 62 of axle 44 engages the area of outer side wall 52 adjacent notch 58 to maintain the axial position of axle 44, and the end of axle shank 64 is received within a recess 74 in mounting tab 56, which communicates with notch 60 in side wall 54. The outer rim section 66 of roller 42 extends through opening 52 in axle bracket top wall 50, and through an aligned opening 76 formed in interior wall 28 of support member 18.
Axle bracket 46 is configured to span across slot 34, so as to support roller 42 for rotation within slot 34 on axle 44. The inner area of axle bracket 46 is maintained in position within lower passage 32 of support member 18 via a fastener, such as a screw 78. The threaded shank of screw 78 extends through fastener opening 38 and into engagement with an opening 80 in mounting tab 56, which is aligned with fastener opening 38 when axle bracket 46 is received within lower passage 32 of support member 18. Axle bracket 46 is configured such that, when secured to support member 18 in this manner, inner side wall 54 is located slightly inwardly of the inner edge of slot 34 and outer side wall 52 is located slightly outwardly of the outer edge of slot 34. The inner surface of support member bottom wall 26 cooperates with notches 58, 60 in axle bracket side walls 52, 54, respectively, to maintain engagement of axle bracket side wills 52, 54 with axle shank 64 in spaced locations on opposite sides of roller 42.
End member 48 defines an upper wall 82, a pair of side walls 84, an end wall 86 and a bottom wall 88. Upper wall 82, side walls 84 and bottom wall 88 have a cross section that matches that of the open end of support member 18 such that, when end member 48 is secured to the open end of support member 18, end member 48 essentially acts as a continuation of support member 18 to close the open end of support member 18. End member 48 further includes a pair of guide walls 89, each of which extends inwardly from the inner edge of one of side walls 84. In addition, end member 48 includes an inwardly extending mounting tongue 90 having an inwardly extending barrel 92, which together are configured to be received within upper passage 30 of support member 18. Barrel 92 defines an inwardly open passage 94, the inner end of which is threaded. An end member connector 96 defines a shouldered outer end from which a threaded section 98 extends. At its opposite end, connector 96 defines a neck 100 and a head 102. Threaded section 98 of connector 96 is engaged with the threaded inner end of passage 94 in barrel 92, such that the shoulder of connector 96 engages the end of barrel 92. With this construction, connector 96 extends inwardly within upper passage 30 such that head 102 is located in vertical alignment over access opening 40 in support member lower wall 26.
A threaded lock member 104 is engaged within a threaded opening 106 in interior wall 28 of support member 18, which is in vertical alignment with access opening 40 in lower wall 26. As shown in
In assembly, roller-type support 20 is assembled to the end of support member 18 by first inserting axle bracket 46 into lower passage 32 of support member 18 such that opening 80 in mounting tab 56 is in alignment with fastener opening 38 in bottom wall 26 of support member 18. Screw 78 is then passed through fastener passage 38 and into engagement with opening 80, to fix the inner area of axle bracket 46. Washers 72 are then positioned on opposite sides of hub section 68 of roller 42, which is then positioned in alignment with notches 58 and 60 in axle bracket side walls 52, 54, respectively. Axle 44 is inserted through outer notch 58 and central hub passage 70 and through washers 72, such that the inner end of axle shank 64 is received within notch 60 and recess 74. When axle 44 is inserted in this manner, head 62 of axle 44 engages the outwardly facing surface of side wall 52 adjacent notch 58. Axle 44 thus serves to rotatably mount roller 42 within slot 34 between axle bracket side walls 52, 54, respectively. Connector 96 is then engaged with barrel 92 of end member 48 as described above, and end member 48 is advanced toward the open end of support member 18 such that tongue 90 and barrel 92 are received within upper passage 30 of support member 18. Guide walls 89 are engaged within the outer areas of lower passage 32 adjacent the facing inside surfaces of side walls 22. Before end member 48 and connector 96 are fully advanced relative to support member 18, lock member 104 is engaged with threaded opening 106 in interior wall 28 such that recessed area 108 of lock member 104 is positioned to receive head 102 of connector 96. Once end member 48 and connector 96 are fully advanced relative to support member 18, such that head 102 is received within recessed area 108 of lock member 104 and the facing surfaces of end member 48 engage the end surfaces of support member 18, lock member 104 is turned by operation of driving tool 114 so as to engage neck 100 of connector 96 within slot 110 of lock member 104. Head 102 of connector 96 remains within recessed area 110 of lock member 104 when lock member 104 is turned in this manner, and engagement of head 102 with lock member 104 adjacent slot 110 functions to prevent outward movement of connector 96, and thereby end member 48, relative to support member 18. When end member 48 is secured to the outer end of support member 18 in this manner, an internal bumper wall of end member 48 engages the outer surface of axle head 62, so as to maintain axle 44 in position between axle side walls 52, 54. With this construction, end member 48 can be removed if necessary so as to enable disassembly of roller-type support 20, such as for replacement of roller 42 or for any other reason. Roller-type support 20 can then subsequently be reassembled as set forth above in the field, with little time and using conventional tools.
While the invention has been shown and described with respect to a specific embodiment, it is contemplated that various alternatives and modifications are possible and are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. For example, and without limitation, the overall shape of support member 18 may vary from that which is shown and described. Axle bracket 46 may be secured to the support member using a fastener such as 78 or in any other satisfactory manner. It is also contemplated that both sides of axle bracket 46 may be secured to the support member, as opposed to the one side of axle bracket 46 as shown and described. In addition, axle 44 may be maintained in position across slot 34 in a manner other than by use of axle bracket 46. End member 48 may simply serve the function of closing the open end of support member 18, without interfacing with the axle mounting components of support 20.
Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.
