Adjustable furniture support apparatus

• US 20060278777A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atkinson Vari-Tech Limited
• Original Assignee: Atkinson Vari-Tech Limited
• Inventors: Atkinson, Stephen, Stockdale, Howard
• Application Number:
  US10/534,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20060278777A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/188.400
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/021 Fastening devices of the feet or legs A47B13/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/342 Polyhedral

Abstract

Adjustable furniture support apparatus (10) comprises a support leg (12) and retaining means in the form of retaining member (14) which is arranged to retain a support member (16) to the support leg (12). The support member (16) is arranged to extend radially away from the longitudinal axis of the support leg (12) and the support leg (12) is arranged, in use to be in a substantially vertical plane whilst the support member (16) is arranged to be in a substantially horizontal plane. The support member (16) has a retaining flange (26) defined at a longitudinal end thereof which is arranged, in use, to locate within a retaining groove (24) of a collar provided on the support member in order for the support member to be retained at at selected angle about the longitudinal axis of the support leg (12).

Claims

1. Adjustable furniture support apparatus comprising a support leg, the support leg comprising retaining means in order to retain a support member such that the support member extends radially outwards from a longitudinal axis of the support leg, the retaining means being arranged to retain the support member at an adjustable angle about the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

2. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support member is arranged, in use, to at least partially support a support surface.

3. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support member has a tapered surface which is arranged, in use, to be urged against an oppositely tapered surface of the retaining means in order to secure the support member to the support leg.

4. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the retaining means is arranged to retain the support member at a predetermined angle about the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

5. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 4 in which the retaining means is arranged to retain the support member in increments at predetermined angles about the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

6. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the retaining means comprise a series of retaining grooves to engage a retaining flange provided on the support member.

7. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 6 in which the retaining grooves are tapered downwardly from an upper end.

8. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 6 in which the retaining flange is tapered downwardly from an upper end to a lower end.

9. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 6 in which each retaining groove extends along a longitudinal direction of the support leg.

10. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 6 in which each groove has a mouth portion and a retaining portion.

11. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 10 in which the mouth portion prevents the retaining flange passing into or out of the groove in a radial direction towards or away from the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

12. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 6 in which the retaining means comprises a cover.

13. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 12 in which the cover is arranged to retain the retaining flange in the retaining groove in a second direction.

14. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 12 in which once the retaining flange has been inserted into a retaining groove the cover plate is positioned to prevent the retaining groove being removed in an opposite direction to the direction of its insertion.

15. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support member has a first retaining flange on a first longitudinal end and a second retaining flange on a second longitudinal end.

16. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 15 in which an or each longitudinal end face of the support member is tapered inwardly from an upper portion to a lower portion.

17. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 15 in which an or each side of an or each longitudinal end face of the support member is arcuate or convex.

18. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support member is arranged to extend between a first support leg and a second support leg.

19. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support member is arranged, in use to support a support surface wherein the support surface is a desk or table top or work surface or the like.

20. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support member provides a rail.

21. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 20 in which a securement means for a support surface is movable along the rail to a selection position.

22. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support leg has a passageway defined therein.

23. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 22 in which the passageway is arranged to enable a cable to pass therethrough.

24. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support leg has a socket for a power cable and/or for information technology apparatus and equipment.

25. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support leg has a foot at a first longitudinal end thereof.

26. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 25 in which the foot is adjustable to increase or decrease the overall longitudinal length of the support leg.

27. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the adjustable furniture support apparatus is adjustable to support a support surface at a selected height.

28. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the retaining means is arranged to retain the support member at any angle about the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

29. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the retaining means is arranged to retain two support members to the support leg.

30. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 29 in which the retaining means is arranged to retain two support members wherein the angle between the two support members is adjustable to define any angle therebetween.

31. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support member comprises an annular member.

32. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 31 in which the annular member is arranged to locate around the retaining member.

33. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 31 in which the retaining member comprises a boss.

34. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 33 in which the boss is arranged to retain a first support member and a second support member wherein the first support member comprises a lower annular member whilst the second support member comprises an upper annular member.

35. Adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 34 in which a cover is arranged to urge the upper annular member, the lower annular member, or both downwardly to urge the tapered retaining surface of an or each annular member against a tapered retaining surface of the boss.

36. An item of furniture comprising the adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one support leg, the support leg comprising retaining means to retain a support member thereto such that the support member extends radially away from the a longitudinal axis of the support leg, the retaining means being arranged to retain the support member at an adjustable angle about the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

38. A method of reconfiguring an item of furniture the item of furniture comprising the adjustable furniture support apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one support leg, a support surface and a support member, the support leg comprising retaining means in order to retain the support member such that the support member extends radially outwards from a longitudinal axis of the support leg, the method comprising supporting the support member at a different angle about the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

39. A method according to claim 38 in which the method comprises providing a first item of furniture having a first support surface of a first shape and reconfiguring the item of furniture to provide a second item of furniture having a second support surface of a second shape.

37. A method of adjusting furniture support apparatus, the method comprising retaining a support member to a support leg by retaining means such that the support member extends radially away from a longitudinal axis of the support leg, the method further comprising retaining the support member at a selected angle about the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

40. Securement apparatus for securing a support surface to furniture apparatus, the securement apparatus comprising support means which is arranged, in use, to support the support surface, the support apparatus comprising an engagement portion which is arranged, in use, to locate within an opening provided by the furniture apparatus, the engagement portion being arrangeable to move from a first position to a second position whilst the engagement portion is located within the opening, the securement apparatus further comprising a securement potion which is arranged to couple the support surface to the engagement portion, wherein the support surface is secured to the furniture apparatus when the engagement portion is in the second position.

41. An item of furniture comprising securement apparatus for securing a support surface to furniture apparatus in accordance with claim 40 to the item of furniture further comprising a support surface.

42. A method of securing a securement apparatus to furniture apparatus according to claim 40, the method comprising locating an engagement portion of the securement apparatus in an opening provided by the furniture apparatus, the method further comprising moving the engagement portion from a first position to a second position whilst the engagement portion is located in the opening wherein the securement apparatus is secured to the furniture apparatus when the engagement portion is in the second position and the engagement portion is insertable into the opening when the engagement portion is in the first position.

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. (canceled)