TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a jointing and mounting set for a furniture leg element. The furniture could e.g. be a table.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been known to use mounting brackets for connecting a furniture leg to a piece of furniture. Various kinds of leg mounting brackets for furniture are known in the art, among which are mounting brackets for mounting furniture legs in a position which is not perpendicular to the furniture itself or to he surface onto which the furniture is to be placed.

In US 3 516 633 a furniture leg mount is disclosed. The leg mount includes a T-nut having a head disposed on one side of a furniture support member and projecting at a predetermined angle toward the opposite surface of the member. A circular leg-support ing wedge has one face lying flatly against said opposite surface of the support member, and the opposite face of the wedge is parallel to the upper end of the leg. A leg on the wedge is received in a depression in the member to prevent rotation of the wedge when the leg is tightened towards the member. This wedge-formed bracket enables the leg to be placed at an angle that is not perpendicular relative to the furniture surface.

The disadvantage of this design is that the inclination of the furniture leg is fixed, as the angle is defined by the shape of the wedge. Another disadvantage of this design is that it would be necessary to drill a hole in the table top to accommodate the T-nut, which makes the mounting of the bracket rather complicated and would likewise disrupt the top surface of the table top.

Another example can be found in EP 2 964 055 (A1), which discloses a jointing for a furniture leg element comprising a base part configured to be attached to a piece of furniture, a threaded aperture, a sliding element, and an elongated threaded top part configured to be fixed to the leg element. The base part comprises a convex outer sur face, which during use faces the leg element, and which outer surface further comprises an elongated hole defining a longitudinal extension and a transversal extension. The elongated threaded top part has a cross-sectional dimension, and the sliding element is configured to slide along the inner side of the convex outer surface of the base part. A threaded aperture is configured for cooperating with the threaded top part in such a way that the leg element is fixed to the base part by screwing the top part in the sliding element, and thereby enabling the leg element to be fixed at a certain angle relative to the furniture.

One of the disadvantages of this solution is its complex, and thus costly, design and that the jointing for a furniture leg only allows for adjustment of the inclination of the furniture leg in a single plane. The single plane is defined by the elongated hole in the base part and the restricted movement of the sliding element along the inner side of the convex outer surface of the base part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general object of the present invention is to provide a simple and versatile mounting set for adjusting the inclination angle of a furniture leg in several planes. It is a particu larly advantage that the mounting set do not require any machining or milling prior to the mounting on the furniture surface.

In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a mounting set for a piece of furniture, e.g. a table, a desk or a cabinet, wherein the mounting set comprises a basic element and any number of optional wedge elements. The basic element com prises a top surface, a bottom surface and four sides, which are typically pairwise simi lar. The basic element further comprises a centrally located inner thread element which is completely embedded in the basic element, a number of openings for fastening ele ments, such as screws or bolts, the openings being designed with a recess or depres sion designed to contain the upper part of the fastening elements inside the basic ele ment. Finally, the bottom surface of the basic element is designed to fit with the top surface of a wedge element.

Ready-made furniture legs provided with suitable fastenings means, such as e.g. a threaded rod or a screw-type fitting inserted at the top of the furniture leg and projecting outwardly from it, are known from the prior art and commercially available. The screw- type fitting may be designed to provide the leg with e.g. a M8 or a M10 thread. Thus, the inner thread element could be made with a thread which fits the threaded rod of such commercially available furniture legs. Thereby, the basic element provide means for an easy attachment of furniture legs to furniture surfaces. Since the basic element of the invention is designed completely embedding the treaded element in a structure with parallel top and bottom surfaces, no prior milling or machining is required to fit the basic element on to the furniture surface while ensuring an esthetic satisfactory result.

The basic element may in principle be made of any suitable material. The housing of the basic element is preferably made of material which is suitable for casting or molding, such as various polymers and metals. The inner threaded element is typically made of metal or metal alloys, such as steel, stainless steel, bronze or brass.

In one preferred embodiment the centrally located inner thread element of the basic element is spring-loaded. The spring of the spring-loaded element is designed to exert a tensional force on the inner thread element of a size enabling a furniture leg to be attached to the basic element in a rigid fashion throughout a considerable and continu ous angle of rotational adjustment without subjecting the furniture leg to forces which overload the leg-material.

The possibility of adjusting the position of the furniture leg over a large angle of rotation provided by the spring-loaded element is particularly relevant if the furniture leg has an edged profile. The reason for this is that such legs typically need to be aligned with the edges of the furniture to provide a satisfying result.

There is a demand for versatile mounting sets which in a simple and durable way allow the furniture legs to be mounted inclining outwardly at an angle different from vertical. To provide for this, the mounting set may further comprise a number of wedge elements. Each of the wedge elements comprises a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the top and the bottom surface form two planes with an angle, a, different from 0°.

As is apparent from the illustrative examples presented, the use of one or more wedge elements will allow the craftsman to vary the inclination of the mounted leg to a consid erable extent.

In case the mounting set comprises at least two wedge elements, the wedge elements may be designed so that the top surface of one wedge element fits both with the bottom surface of the basic element and with the bottom surface of another wedge element. It is particularly advantageous if the at least two wedge elements are designed so that the top surface of one wedge element fits the bottom surface of another wedge element, both when the wedge elements are placed in the same direction and when the at least two wedge elements are placed in other directions relative to each other. Accordingly, the wedge element may be provided with elongated openings for the fastening means.

To obtain a particularly simple and sturdy assembly, the at least one wedge element may on its top surface have a number of protruding parts which fits into a number of depressions, both in the bottom surface of the basic element and in the bottom surface of another wedge element.

The top surface of the basic element of the mounting set may in principle have any design. Nevertheless, in the situation where a furniture leg with a quadratic cross-section is to be attached to the furniture, an embodiment wherein the top surface of the basic element is substantially quadratic is preferred. In that situation it is even more preferred that both the top surface of the basic element and the top surface of the wedge elements all are substantially quadratic. To achieve a good result, it is even more preferred that the quadratic abutment surface of the furniture leg and the top surface (or abutment surface) of the basic element are of a size which is essentially similar.

While the present invention is intended to be used in all situations wherein a furniture leg is to be attached to a piece of furniture, it is believed that the invention may in par ticularly appeal to the amateur craftsman.

In contrast to professional furniture makers, the amateur may find him- or herself to be in a onetime situation when mounting furniture legs on a piece of furniture. Accordingly, the amateur may well be without the stock of suitable fastenings means that professional craftsmen naturally build over time. Therefore, in particularly, the amateur craftsman will find it useful to obtain the invention in the form of a kit of parts comprising a basic ele ment, at least one wedge element, and further comprising fastening means for the fas tening of the mounting set to the surface of furniture, and instructions for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the accompany ing drawings. In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the mounting set wherein two wedge elements are ar ranged perpendicular to each other, whereby the furniture leg takes a tilted position pointing outwards in the direction of the corner of the furniture. The cross section of the furniture leg is not confined to any particular shape. For illustration purposes is shown a leg with a round cross section. The round arrow indicates the rotation axis of the furniture leg.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the mounting set wherein two wedge elements are ar ranged in the same direction, whereby the furniture leg takes a tilted position pointing outwards in a vertical plane. The cross section of the furniture leg is not confined to any particular shape. For illustration purposes is shown a leg with a quadratic cross section. The round arrow indicates the rotation axis of the furniture leg.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the basic element seen from the top side.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the basic element seen from the bottom side.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the wedge element seen from the top side.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the wedge element seen from the bottom side.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the basic element when mounted on the furniture surface without use of wedge element(s).

Fig. 8 is an exploded view showing mounting with 2 wedge elements resulting in an inclination of the furniture leg in one plane (8a), and an alternative mounting resulting in an outward inclination of the leg in two vertical planes defined by the edges of the basic element (8b). The perpendicular position of the two wedge elements are here of partic ular notice.

Fig. 9 is a further illustration of the inclination of a mounted furniture leg resulting from a co-linear (9a) vs. a perpendicular arrangement (9b) of two wedge elements.

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be con strued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will thus not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure.

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention comprising one basic element 1 and two identical wedge elements 2 and 2’. In the present situation the wedge elements 2 and 2’ are arranged perpendicular to each other. Arranging the two wedge elements 2 and 2’ in such a position results in a mounting wherein the furniture leg 3 is three-dimension- ally outwardly inclined in a direction towards the corner of the mounting set and likely towards the corner of the furniture as well. In fig. 1 the furniture leg is indicated to be round for illustrative purposes only.

Fig. 2 shows another arrangement of the basic element 1 and the two wedge elements 2 and 2’. In this instance, the two wedge elements are arranged in the same direction resulting in the furniture leg 3 being inclined in a single vertical plane relative to one side of the mounting set. In fig. 2 the furniture leg 3 is indicated to be quadratic for illustrative purposes only.

If the mounting set is to be used for mounting quadratic furniture legs, it is preferred that the abutment face or top side 8 of the basic element is quadratic and of a size that fits with the leg to provide a pleasant result.

Typically, the mounting set can be mounted on the surface of the furniture 5 simply by use of appropriate fastening means, e.g. screws. It is a particularly advantage of the present invention that no milling or machining of the furniture surface is required to fit the mounting set onto the furniture surface. This feature is especially appreciated by amateur craftsmen.

The mounting set may be mounted on a piece of furniture 4 which is made of an at least somewhat flexible material, such as wood. In such a situation the mounting set will fa cilitate adjustments even after the initial mount. The basic element 1 may in principle be of any form, although basic elements 1 with a circular or quadratic abutment or top surface 8 are preferred.

In fig. 3 is shown an embodiment wherein the basic element is essentially quadratic. The basic element 1 comprises a top side or surface 8, a bottom side or surface, and four sides which may be pairwise similar.

The top side 8 may contain a number of protrusions or elevations, e.g. in the form of ribs 10, which serve to secure a stable attachment of the furniture leg 3 to the basic element. The basic element 1 have a number of openings 14 for fastening elements, such as screws or bolts. The openings 14 is typically designed with a recess or depression 7 designed to contain the upper part of the fastening elements, e.g. the head of a screw or bolt, inside the basic element 1.

Essentially, in the center the basic element 1 has an inner thread element, which fits with an elongated threaded element 23 inserted into a furniture leg 3.

In one embodiment, the inner thread element is a spring-loaded inner thread element 6. A spring-loaded inner thread element has the essential function to make the furniture leg continuously, circumferentially adjustable over a large arc while maintaining tight attachment of the leg. Thereby, it is possible to tighten and adjust even a rectangular leg without overloading the leg, and thus material fracture is avoided. This is particularly important if the furniture leg is a rectangular leg equipped with a central elongated threaded element 23 (e.g. a screw stud) for its attachment; the reason being that the side of the leg must conventionally be aligned with the sides of the furniture in order to provide an aesthetically pleasant impression.

The bottom 13 of the basic element 1 may be designed in a variety of ways. In fig. 4 is shown one design that is applicable if the basic element is mainly made of material which is suitable for casting or molding, such as various polymers and metals. At the center, the basic element 1 may comprise a cartridge 12 which comprises the spring- loaded inner thread element 6.

Fig. 5 and 6 show one design of the wedge element. The wedge element 2 comprises a top side or surface 16, which is the side facing the furniture leg, a bottom side or surface (the side facing table top) 22, and four sides. The wedge element is characteristic by the top 16 and the bottom side 22 forming two planes with an angle, a, different from 0°. In one embodiment, the wedge element has two opposite sides, e.g. the first 20 and the third side, which have a wedge-shaped cross section, whereas the two other sides, e.g. the second 19 and the fourth side, have a rectangular cross section.

In another embodiment, the wedge element may have the form of a truncated pyramid wherein the top plane inclines relative to the bottom plane in two perpendicular direc tions and accordingly have four wedge-shaped sides. a designates the angle between the top and the bottom side of wedge element a may in principle be of any size; however an angle, a, of between 2 - 20°, such as 2, 3, 5, 8,10, 15 and 20°, has been found to be particularly useful.

In one embodiment, the horizontal projection of the wedge element 2 is essentially quad ratic and designed with protruding parts 17 in the corners. Similarly, the bottom side 22 of the wedge element is designed with depressions 21 which fit with the protrusions 17 at the top side 16. The protrusions 17 also fit into depressions or openings in the bottom side of the basic element 13 and ensure that when the basic element and one or more wedge elements are mounted onto the furniture, they are aligned.

The wedge element comprises a number of elongated openings 18 made so that they fit with the openings for fastening elements of the basic element 14 in all four positions, made possible by the protruding parts 17. In one embodiment, the edges of the elon gated openings 18 as well as the edge of the central opening 15 are provided with out wardly extending rims which are in plane with the planes formed by the top 16 and the bottom surface 22 of the wedge element. This design serves to provide additional sta bility of the mounting set while permitting maximum economy of material in the fabrica tion of the wedge.

Fig. 7 shows a side view of the basic part when it is mounted without wedge elements and in a position perpendicular to the table top.

The basic element 1 is intended for fastening to the underside 5 of a piece of furniture 4, preferably by using a number of fastening elements, such as screws 27. The basic element 1 may be fastened to the furniture, either alone as shown in Fig. 7, or with one or more underlying wedge elements 2 placed between the basic element and the furniture, as shown in Fig. 1 , 2 and 8.

The furniture could be a table, a desk, a cabinet or the like, which would have a sub stantial planar top supported by a number of legs 3, which would be connected to the substantial planar top by using the basic element 1 and a number of fastening elements 27.

The basic element 1 may comprise a spring-loaded element with an inner thread 24. The spring-loaded element is designed to fit an elongated threaded element 23 inserted into the furniture leg 3. The spring 25 may be any type of compression spring, such as a spiral spring, a cup spring, a plate spring or various types of spring washers, e.g. wave washers, or even an element made of an elastic component such as rubber. Importantly, the spring should provide sufficient strain to provide a rigid connection between the leg 3 and the furniture 4, while ensuring that the force exerted on the material of the leg does not exceed the breaking strength of the material. The spring loaded element is furthermore designed with a clearance which is sufficient to allow the rotationally adjust ment of the leg over an arch sufficient to permitting proper alignment of the leg.

Fig. 8a and b are exploded views of two alternatives of one embodiment comprising the basic element 1 and two identical wedge elements 2 and 2’. In one preferred embodi ment both the basic element and the wedge elements are essentially quadratic and de signed to fit together. During mounting the wedge elements may be positioned according to the wanted position on the finished, mounted furniture leg. Two different options are shown in fig. 8a and b.

In fig. 8a is shown an option where the leg is mounted at an angle which is the sum of the angles of each wedge elements. This assembly is useful if the leg is to be mounted with angle, 2a, relative to a vertical plane which is parallel to one side of the mounting set (or furniture).

Fig. 8b shows an alternative option where the two wedge elements 2 and 2’ are mounted in a position perpendicular to each other. This assembly results in the leg being mounted with an angle, b, and tilting in three dimensions outwardly in the direction of the corner of the mounting set or the furniture. The inclinations are further illustrated in fig. 9.

It is apparent that the inclination of the leg may be further adjusted by use of more than two wedge elements or by using wedge elements with different angles between the top and the bottom planes of the wedge element. The inclination may also be adjusted by use of a wedge element having the form of a truncated pyramid wherein the top plane inclines relative to the bottom plane in two perpendicular directions.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

In the following is given a list of reference numbers that are used in the detailed de scription of the invention.

1 basic element

2 wedge element

3 furniture leg

4 furniture

5 mounting surface of the furniture

6 spring-loaded inner thread

7 depression for fastening element

8 top side or surface, also referred to as the abutment surface of the basic element

9 one side of the basic element

10 rib

11 opening for the elongated threaded element inserted into the furniture leg

12 cartridge comprising the spring-loaded inner thread

13 bottom side or surface

14 opening for fastening element

15 central opening

16 top side (side facing basic element)

17 protruding part

18 elongated opening

19 rectangular side of element

20 wedge-formed side of element 21 depression

22 bottom side (side facing table top)

23 elongated threaded element

24 element with inner thread

25 spring

26 part of elongated threaded element inserted into the furniture leg

27 fastening element (e.g. screw)

a angle between the top and bottom side of the wedge element b angle between a plumb line from the mounting surface of the furniture and the rotational axis of the furniture leg.