Background Art Generally speaking, furniture, for example chairs, sofas and the like, have support legs that engage or rest on the floor. In many instances chairs, for example, have glides on the bottoms of the chair legs that contact the floor. The glides are used to reduce friction, minimize noise and prevent the wear to the chair leg itself that would occur if the leg directly contacted the floor. In many prior art designs, the glides are replaceable so that new glides can be installed on the chair legs if the glides wear out or are damaged by use. However, this solution to worn glides requires continuous monitoring and replacement of worn guides resulting in increased costs.

Chairs, particularly table chairs, and more particularly chairs used in restaurants, are often moved about in use. For example, table chairs usually are moved to accommodate the user. That is, the chair is pulled away from the table, the user seated, and the chair and user repositioned at the table. Also, chairs are moved about during cleaning and during the rearrangement of the furniture within the setting. The

chair most often is moved by sliding the chair across the floor.

Consequently, the bottom of the chair leg can experience significant wear from frequent sliding movement, particularly movement of the chair with the added weight of the user. If the bottom of the chair leg includes a glide, the glide can suffer significant wear or damage. This occurs often in restaurants, such as fast food restaurants, that have tile floors for ease of cleaning and sanitation.

Conventional chair leg glides usually have a body inserted into the bottom of the chair leg and a glide base that is squat, flat or constructed in disk-like configuration that engages the floor. Most often these prior art glides articulate. Generally, the circumference of the glide base is greater than the circumferential dimension of the chair leg and the glide base generally is short so that the chair leg extends nearly to the floor. These glides generally are designed to be squat or flat so as to be unobtrusive because they usually do not match the table leg.

The interior décor of fast food type restaurants generally includes metal chairs and tables having a table top and at least one metal pedestal attached to a cast iron pedestal base, again for weight, durability and ease of maintenance. The cast iron base often is raised, that is, has a significant material thickness resulting in a base that extends up a predetermined height from the floor the base is resting on.

One problem associated with conventional metal chair legs is that when the chairs are pushed in, the lower part of the table legs bang against the cast iron table base, causing paint to chip, which can lead to

corrosion. Prior solutions to damaged chair legs included placing clear plastic protectors around the lower part of the legs. However, these protectors tend to trap water, accelerating corrosion or deterioration of the metal chair leg.

It would be advantageous, therefore, to have a chair leg glide that can be used to facilitate the sliding movement of a chair, particularly chairs used in restaurants, that also resists wear and reduces the need to replace the glide. Also, it would be advantageous to have a chair leg glide that is aesthetically pleasing, eliminates the need for a leg protector and helps prevent damage to the chair leg resulting from contact with a cast iron table base.

Summary of The Invention The invention is a chair leg glide that reduces friction and prevents damage to the chair leg. The glide generally is designed to be used on chairs associated with a table having a conventional table top and at least one support pedestal connected between the table top and a floor-engaging support base. The support base generally has a predetermined height. In one aspect of the invention, the glide is formed from a wear resistant material, such as nylon. The glide has a generally elongated body having a cross-sectional shape and dimension complementary to the cross sectional shape of the chair leg. In one aspect of the invention, the body of the glide has an internal cavity. In another embodiment, the internal cavity can have internal supporting ribs.

An upper segment of the glide body has an external dimension slightly undersized relative to the internal dimension of the chair leg. The upper segment of the glide is inserted into the open end of the metal chair leg and retained in place by an interference fit. In one aspect of the invention, the inserted end of the glide includes an umbrella shaped, spring steel clip to assure retention of the glide within the chair leg.

In one aspect of the invention, a lower body segment having a predetermined axial length extends downward from the chair leg. The external dimensions and configuration of the lower body segment are such that the external surfaces of the chair leg and lower body segment are flush when the glide is inserted into the chair leg. In one embodiment, the color of the chair leg and glide are the same and the glide appears to be part of the leg. The length of the glide, at a minimum, is such that, when installed in the end of the chair leg, the painted metal chair leg is elevated to a sufficient height so that the metal leg does not contact the table base when the chair is push up to the table.

In one aspect of the invention, the body of the glide is rectangular and the terminal, floor-engaging end of the glide is convex. In another aspect of the invention, the body of the glide is cylindrical and the terminal end is tapered or substantially conical or bullet shaped. In either aspect, the surface area of the terminal end that contacts the floor is relatively small to reduce friction when the chair is slid on the floor and also to provide an aesthetically pleasing glide. In either aspect of the

invention, the glide can be formed having any required external dimension so as to be fitted to any size chair leg.

In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the glide has a rectangular configuration with the floor-engaging surface being convex.

The overall length of the glide is approximately 2.7 inches with approximately 1.5 inches extending out of the leg and is dimensioned to fit in a 11/2 inch square leg. In another illustrative embodiment of the invention, the glide has a cylindrical configuration, with a generally conical or bullet-shaped floor-engaging end and is dimensioned to fit in a 11/2 or 1'/inch diameter cylindrical metal leg. These embodiments are illustrative only, and the glide can be of any useful dimensions.

These and other aspects and objects of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon review of the specifications and drawings.

Brief Description Of The Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair with a glide of the present invention on the floor-engaging end of the chair legs ; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a glide of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof; FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the glide of FIG. 2 taken across line 4-4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the glide of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a glide of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a top plan view thereof; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the glide of FIG. 6 taken across line 8-8 of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the glide of FIG. 6; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a glide of another embodiment of the glide of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a top plan view thereof; FIG 12 is a cross sectional view of the glide of FIG. 10 taken across line 12-12 of FIG. 11; and FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the glide of FIG. 10.

Best Modes For Carrying Out The Invention A chair C employing one embodiment of the glide of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Chair C is a conventional chair, generally of the type employed in a restaurant or similar environment. Chair C ordinarily is used in a set of chairs spaced around a table, but can be used alone. In restaurant use, the table usually is the type having a tabletop and at least one support pedestal under the tabletop connected to a cast iron base resting on the floor.

Chair C includes a frame 20 comprising two upright back frame members 22,23 with back support cross members 24,26 and 28. The chair includes a horizontal seat frame 30 supported by two rear legs 32, 34, which, in the illustrated chair, are contiguous parts of back frame

members 22,23, and two front legs 36, 38. There is a seating surface 40 on the seat frame. In the embodiment shown, the frame 20, particularly the back frame members 22,23 as well as legs 32,34, 36 and 38 are constructed from tubular steel and painted.

The overall configuration of chair C is incidental to the present invention and can be of any type or style. The legs can be rectangular, cylindrical, ovoid, triangular or any shape. If the entire chair frame is not tubular, it should have at least open ends on the bottoms of the chair legs for installation of the glides. Chair C includes four glides of the present invention 42,44, 46,48 that are installed in the ends of the four legs, as will be described in detail below. In FIG. 1, the glides are shown in contrasting color for purposes of illustration. In use, however, the glides can be painted to match the legs so as to be viewed as virtually inseparable from the legs.

A glide 50 of the present invention is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 through 5. Glide 50 is of the same configuration as the glides shown in use in FIG. 1. Glide 50 comprises a body 52 having an upper segment 54 and a contiguous lower segment 56. There is a concentric boss 55 atop upper body segment 54. Body 52 has an inner bore 57 that extends substantially the length of the body, in the illustrated embodiment, and is open at one end at boss 55. In alternative embodiments there can be internal support ribs (not shown) within bore 57.

Body 52 has a rectangular cross section, shown best in FIG. 3, and is designed to be used with a table having square, tubular legs.

Body 52 has a convex floor-engaging surface 58, as shown in FIG. 4.

Because the engaging surface is convex or rounded, it has less surface area in contact with the floor, thereby decreasing friction and facilitating sliding across the floor when the chair is moved.

As shown, upper segment 54 of body 52 is concentric to lower section 56 resulting in a shoulder 60 between the segments around the body of the glide. Upper segment 54 is dimensioned to fit snugly inside the end of a tubular leg in a snug interference fit. In one aspect of the invention, segment 54 is at least about 3/4 inch in length, preferably at least about 1 inch to provide rigidity and adequate frictional interface.

Generally, shoulder 60 is the same width as the material thickness of the tubular leg wall so that when upper segment 54 is inserted into the open end of the tubular leg, the wall of the leg abuts shoulder 60. Hence, the outer surfaces of lower segment 56 are flush with the outer surfaces of the tubular leg. The combination gives the appearance that the glide 50 is part of the chair leg. This aesthetically pleasing appearance is enhanced when the leg and glide are painted the same color.

The glide includes apparatus for helping retain the glide in the chair leg. As best seen in FIG. 4, in one embodiment, there is a heat- treated spring steel clip 62 at the upper end of the glide to assure retention within the chair leg. As shown clip 62 is generally umbrella shaped. The clip 62 has a central hole that is positioned over the

opening to cavity 57 on boss 55. A die cast insert 64 having a body 66 and a flange 68 is inserted through the hole in the clip and secured within the open end of cavity 57 by a tight friction fit. Insert 64 can have radially extending corrugations or barbs or the like to help grip the inside surface of the cavity. Clip 62 is impinged between flange 68 and boss 55. As illustrated, the umbrella shaped clip has flexible, downwardly angled, radially extending fins 69. When the glide is inserted in the open end of the chair leg, the clip fins are biased against the leg wall to help secure the glide in place, even in use. Although the illustrated embodiment employs an umbrella-shaped spring clip, any appropriate apparatus at the upper end of the glide that helps secure or retain the glide in the chair leg is within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, if the friction or interference fit of the upper segment of the glide in the open end of the chair is sufficient to usefully retain the glide in the chair, the glide can be constructed without any additional retention apparatus.

It will be appreciated that the glide 50 is constructed of a wear resistant, durable material, such as Nylon 66. Although the Nylon 66 works well in this application, the scope of the invention is intended to include any such wear resistant material that exhibits the desired physical properties. It also will be noted that the length of lower segment 56 generally is at least the height of the segment of table leg that generally is marred or chipped by contact with a table base, which is understood by those skilled in the art. In one aspect of the invention the lower segment is at least as long as the height of the table base.

However, it can be shorter or longer. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the lower segment extending out of the chair leg is approximately 1.5 inches in length. Consequently, the nylon glide contacts the cast iron base if the chair is pushed against the table, preventing marring or chipping of the metal table leg and the risk of corrosion associated with such exposed metal. The floor engaging bottom surface of the glide is relatively thick nylon, for example, at least approximately 0.225 inch at the convex surface. Because of the design and material used in the glide, the glide has a life expectancy of about 10 to 15 times greater than conventional glides.

FIGS. 6 through 9 illustrate another aspect of the invention. Glide 70, as shown, has a circular cross section, as seen in FIG. 7 and is designed for use in a cylindrical tubular leg. As illustrated, glide 70 has a generally cylindrical body 72 comprising lower segment 74 and concentric upper segment 76 defining a shoulder 78 therebetween. In the illustrated embodiment, body 72 is substantially hollow, having an internal axially extending cylindrical support wall 80 extending nearly the length of the glide. Support wall 80 defines an inner bore 82 and terminates above upper segment 76. As shown, a spring clip is positioned atop cylindrical wall 80 and held in place by a die cast insert 84. In this embodiment, insert 84 has radially extending ridges 86 to help grip the interior of wall 80.

Glide 70 has a tapered, generally conical floor-engaging end 88.

The tip end 88 is somewhat flattened as at 89. However, the tapered

floor-engaging end reduces the surface area that contacts the floor, lessening friction. This configuration can be referred to also as"bullet shaped"or"bullet nose". In any event, glide 70 is inserted into the open end of a cylindrical chair leg, with shoulder 78 abutting the end of the leg, as described about in reference to glide 50. Glide 70, in a preferred embodiment also has at least about 11/2 inches of the lower segment extending out of the leg and at least approximately % inch to at least approximately 1 inch of upper segment inserted in the leg.

FIGS. 10 through 13 illustrate another aspect of the glide of the present invention, indicated generally by reference numeral 90. Glide 90 is of the same general overall configuration as glide 70. However, glide 90 has a smaller diameter and illustrates how the glide of the present invention can be made in any useful dimensions. Glide 90 includes the segmented body 92, a spring clip 94 for securing the glide in the table leg, and the generally bullet shaped floor engaging end 96. It will be noted that both glide 70 and 90 also include a material thickness at the floor engaging end of at least approximately 0.225 inch, to enhance durability and wear.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are intended to be illustrative of the invention, and of the best mode of working the invention presently known to the inventors, and should not be construed in a limiting sense. For example, the dimensions of the glides and the thickness of the surface engaging ends of the glides are illustrative of preferred embodiments. However, it

will be understood by one skilled in the art, that the glide of the present invention can be made with any dimensions, depending upon the size of the table leg. Also, the two illustrative embodiments show glides for use in chairs having rectangular or cylindrical open leg ends. It will be understood that the glide of the present invention can have other cross sectional configurations that allow installation into chair legs having other cross sectional configurations. Moreover, although illustrated in use on restaurant chairs, it will be understood that the glide of the present invention can be used on any type of furniture, including side chairs, sofas or even table legs.