FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to furniture. In particular, it relates to a device for preventing furniture from falling or tipping over and potentially harming an individual.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Of late there has been an alarming rise in the number of reported incidents of people, and in particular children, being injured, and even killed, as a result of freestanding furniture tipping over and falling on top of them. In most instances, the furniture is used as a storage unit to store clothing or other items. Such furniture come in a variety of sizes and designs and are also available in different types of material. Examples of furniture prone to tipping include a chest of drawers, cabinets, cupboards, bureaus, dressers, armoires and portable closets. Some of these items are more prone to tipping over than others. For example, it is well known that a centre of mass of a cabinet or chest of drawers shifts once a drawer is opened. This effect is exacerbated if the drawer is fully loaded and, even more so, if multiple drawers are opened simultaneously. All these factors contribute to the likelihood of the furniture item tipping over and injuring someone.

In an attempt to address the above problem, furniture manufacturers have started issuing brackets or flexible straps with some of their freestanding furniture items together with an instruction leaflet indicating how to properly fix the furniture item in place using the supplied bracket or strap. The bracket is usually in the form of an L- shaped bracket, one side of which is fixed to the item of furniture whilst the opposite side is secured to the wall using suitable fasteners. One drawback associated with the issuance or provision of such brackets is that the seller has no control over whether or not the purchaser actually installs the bracket. For example, the purchaser may choose not to install the bracket, for whatever reason, or neglect to do so and hence run the risk of the item tipping over at some point in time. Another drawback associated with the use of a bracket or strap to secure the furniture is that many homes, especially American homes, are made using wooden struts or studs covered with an exterior finish of your choice. This type of wall construction results in the formation of inner cavities or voids inside the walls which don’t provide a secure anchorage point for fastening of heavy items. Therefore, even though the purchaser may have gone through the trouble of fixing the furniture item in place using the bracket or strap supplied, the furniture item may still tip or fall over when pushed or pulled due to inadequate attachment to the wall. For example, if fasteners are secured to only a drywall, they may simply pull out of the drywall when force is applied to the item of furniture.

US2015/0130342 attempts to address the problem by provision of a baseplate to a foot or base of a cabinet in order to increase its footprint and hence improve tip resistance of the cabinet. A drawback with this approach is that it creates a level discrepancy in front of the cabinet which is a trip hazard. Also, it is not aesthetically pleasing.

The Applicant is also aware of a drawer mechanism that controls the opening of drawers such that only one drawer can be opened at any given point in time in order to limit shift in centre of mass of the cabinet as far as possible. An alternative solution has been proposed which introduces a pair of stabilising arms which are deployed from a base of the cabinet together with the opening of a drawer to counter the shift in centre of mass. A drawback associated with these proposed solutions is that neither of these solutions improve safety and stability of the unit when no drawers are open. It will be understood that the unit can still tip and fall over when pumped or pulled even with all its drawers closed.

The present invention aims to alleviate the drawbacks discussed above.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an anti-tipover device for furniture, the anti-tipover device including: a body which is configured to be mounted to the furniture; a stabilising member which is movable relative to the body between a retracted or stowed position, in which the stabilising member is retracted relative to the body, and a deployed position in which a cantilever portion of the stabilising member protrudes longitudinally from the body; a biasing means which engages the stabilising member and operatively biases the stabilising member to its deployed position; and a tilt-detection mechanism which is mounted to the body and is operatively configured to detect lifting of a posterior part of the furniture in response to which the anti-tipover device is configured automatically to displace the stabilising member anteriorly relative to the body, to its deployed position, owing to action of the biasing means, in order to prevent the furniture from tipping over.

The body may be tubular. The stabilising member may be in the form of an elongate stabilising arm which is longitudinally slidably displaceable relative to the body between its retracted and deployed positions.

The biasing means may be in the form of a first coil spring which is disposed between the stabilising arm and the body. The stabilising arm may be spring-loaded due to the coil spring.

The tilt-detection mechanism may be in the form of a detent. The detent may include a spring-loaded retaining pin which is movable relative to the body between an engaged or locked position, in which one end of the retaining pin operatively engages the stabilising member thereby retaining it in its retracted position for as long as an opposite end of the spring-loaded retaining pin is depressed or ground-engaging, and an unlocked position in which the spring-loaded retaining pin is disengaged from the stabilising member. When the posterior part of the furniture is lifted, the spring-loaded retaining pin of the tilt-detection mechanism or detent is withdrawn from, and disengages, the stabilising member which results in automatic displacement of the stabilising member anteriorly to its deployed position under the influence of the biasing means.

The stabilising member may be slidably received in the body. The stabilising member may include a stop at a proximal or posterior end which is configured to prevent complete disengagement of the stabilising member and the body during use.

The anti-tipover device may include a soft stop mechanism which is mounted anteriorly to the body. The stop of the stabilising member may be configured to engage the soft stop mechanism when the stabilising member is deployed to its deployed position. The soft stop mechanism may delimit longitudinal displacement of the stabilising member relative to the body. The soft stop mechanism may arrest impact of the stabilising member with the body. The soft stop mechanism may include a tubular member which is mounted to the body and a shock absorber which is operatively received in the tubular member.

The shock absorber may be in the form of a resilient, polymeric shock absorber. The stop of the stabilising member may be configured to engage the shock absorber. The stabilising member may include a wheel at its distal end. The wheel may be resilient and configured to absorb shock.

The anti-tipover device may include mounting brackets connected to the body for retrofitting the anti-tipover device to the furniture.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a furniture item which includes at least one anti-tipover device as described above mounted to a base of the furniture item in a forward-facing direction.

The furniture item may include a pair of anti-tipover devices as described above, laterally spaced apart. The furniture item may be in the form of a cabinet. Accordingly, the furniture item may include at least one drawer. The furniture item may be in the form of a storage unit. The furniture item may be in the form of a clothes storage unit. The furniture item may take the form of a chest of drawers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a cabinet in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the cabinet including a pair of anti-tipover devices in accordance with another aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the cabinet of Figure 1 with lower drawers omitted/removed for the sake of clarity, the anti-tipover devices being illustrated in a deployed position;

Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the anti-tipover device in a retracted position;

Figure 4 shows the anti-tipover device of Figure 3 in its deployed position; Figure 5 shows a front view of the cabinet of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of Figure 5 with the anti-tipover device in its retracted position;

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view with the anti-tipover device in its deployed position; and

Figures 8 and 9 show detailed views of part of Figures 6 and 7, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognise that many changes can be made to the embodiments described, while still attaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognise that modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not a limitation thereof.

In the Figures, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a cabinet in accordance with a first aspect of the invention. In this example embodiment, the cabinet 10 takes the form of a chest of drawers having a generally rectangular base 12 which is configured to receive four drawers 11 therein. The drawers 11 are arranged one above the other. It will be appreciated that the scope of protection is not limited to the specific example embodiment illustrated in the Figures and, accordingly, the inventive gist of the invention may be applied to other furniture items as well.

As can best be seen in Figure 2, the cabinet 10 includes a pair of anti-tipover devices 50, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, mounted laterally toward a lower or foot portion 12.1 of the base 12. The anti-tipover devices 50 have been designed to prevent the cabinet 10 from tipping or falling over in a forward-facing direction, thereby preventing it from injuring an individual positioned in front of the cabinet. There have been an alarming number of reports of cabinets causing serious bodily harm and even death to young individuals or infants whilst they were busy opening, pulling, hanging or playing on or around such cabinets. To this end, the lower portion 12.1 of the base 12 has a face plate 13 which includes a pair of laterally spaced apart openings 14 for accommodating the anti-tipover devices 50 (see Figure 1)-

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, each anti-tipover device 50 includes a tubular body 15 in the form of a length of square tubing and a pair of mounting brackets 16.1 , 16.2 for mounting or retrofitting the anti-tipover device 50 to the cabinet 10. A first planar mounting bracket 16.1 having a plurality of mounting holes is adjoined to a posterior or rear end 15.1 of the body 15. A second angled mounting bracket 16.2 is also provided with a plurality of mounting holes and is connected to an anterior or front end 15.2 of the body 15. The anti-tipover device 50 further includes a stabilising member in the form of a spring-loaded stabilising arm 17 which is also in the form of a length of square tubing. The stabilising arm 17 has a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the body 15 to allow the stabilising arm 17 to be slidably accommodated inside the body 15. The stabilising arm 17 is longitudinally and slidably displaceable relative to the body 15 between a retracted or stowed position (see Figures 1 , 3 and 6), in which the stabilising arm 17 is retracted into to the body 15, and a deployed position (see Figures 2, 4 and 7) in which a cantilever portion 17.2 of the stabilising arm 17 protrudes longitudinally from the front end 15.2 of the body 15. It will be understood with reference to the Figures, that the cantilever portion 17.2 of the stabilising arm 17 effectively moves the tipping point of the cabinet 10 forward by increasing a footprint of the base 12 of the cabinet 10 thereby preventing the cabinet 10 from tipping or falling over.

As mentioned, the stabilising arm 17 is spring-loaded. To this end, the anti-tipover device 50 includes a biasing means 18 (see Figures 6 and 7) in the form of a coil spring which is operatively disposed between an anterior end 17.1 of the stabilising arm 17 and an internal spring stop 19 of the body 15. The biasing means 18 is disposed such that it engages an inside of the stabilising arm 17 and operatively biases the stabilising arm 17 to its deployed position. The anti-tip over device 50 further includes a tilt-detection mechanism 20 which is mounted to the posterior or rear end 15.1 of the body 15 by way of a U-shaped bracket 21. The tilt-detection mechanism 20 may take the form of a detent. Accordingly, the tilt-detection mechanism 20 is operatively configured to detect even marginal lifting of a posterior part of the cabinet 10. Due to its position relative to the body 15, the tilt-detection mechanism 20 is configured to detect lifting of the posterior end 15.1 of the anti- tipover device 50 in response to which the anti-tipover device 50 is configured automatically to deploy the stabilising arm 17 by displacing the stabilising arm anteriorly relative to the body 15, to its deployed position, owing to action of the biasing means 18, in order to prevent the cabinet 10 from tipping over. The stabilising arm 17 is deployed if the posterior of the cabinet lifts 5 mm off the surface, which represents a tip angle of approximately 1 degree.

The detent or tilt-detection mechanism 20 further includes a spring-loaded retaining pin 22 which passes through the U-shaped bracket 21 and is movable relative to the body 15 and the U-shaped bracket 21 between an engaged or locked position (see Figure 8) and an unlocked position (see Figure 9). In its engaged or locked position an innermost end 22.1 of the retaining pin 22 operatively engages the stabilising arm 17, thereby retaining it in its retracted position, by laterally passing through an opening in the body 15 and a registering hole 32 in a wall of the stabilising arm 17. As long as an opposite foot 22.2 of the spring-loaded retaining pin 22 is loaded, i.e. depressed or ground-engaging, the retaining pin 22 is held in its engaged position. However, as soon as the load on the foot 22.2 is removed, the retaining pin 22 is displaced to its unlocked position owing to action of a second coil spring 24 which is disposed between the U-shaped bracket 21 and a flange 25 of the retaining pin 22. The second coil spring 24 biases the retaining pin 22 to its unlocked position. In its unlocked position, the innermost end 22.1 of the spring-loaded retaining pin 22 is disengaged or completely withdrawn from the hole 32 in the wall of the stabilising arm 17. Withdrawal of the retaining pin 22 from the stabilising arm 17 permits the cantilever portion 17.2 of the stabilising arm 17 to be shot forward from the body 15 under influence of the coil spring 18.

As a result, the anti-tipover device 50 acts as a safety mechanism preventing tipover of the cabinet 10. Assuming the stabilising arm 17 is in its retracted position as shown in Figure 6, when the posterior part of the cabinet is lifted from the ground, the load on the foot 22.2 of the retaining pin 22 is removed which results in immediate withdrawal of the innermost end 22.1 of the retaining pin 22 from the hole 32 in the stabilising arm 17 which results in automatic longitudinal displacement of the stabilising arm 17 anteriorly to its deployed position under the influence of the biasing means 18.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the stabilising arm 17 includes a laterally protruding, rectangular stop 26 at an inner proximal end 17.3. The stop 26 operatively protrudes through a longitudinal slot 27 formed in the body 15 and is configured to prevent complete disengagement of the stabilising arm 17 from the body 15 during use. Furthermore, the anti-tipover device 50 further includes a soft stop mechanism 28 which is mounted anteriorly to the body 15. The stop 26 of the stabilising arm 17 is configured to engage the soft stop mechanism 28 when the stabilising arm 17 is deployed to its deployed position. The soft stop mechanism 28 therefore delimits longitudinal displacement of the stabilising arm 17 relative to the body 15. In addition, the soft stop mechanism 28 arrests impact of the stabilising arm 17 with the body 15. To this end, the soft stop mechanism 28 includes a tubular shock absorber housing 28.1 which is mounted to the body 15 and a shock absorber 28.2 which is operatively received and held captive inside the tubular housing 28.1. In this instance, the shock absorber takes the form of a resilient polymeric or rubber shock absorber. The housing 28.1 has an open posterior end which is configured to receive the stop 26 whilst the resilient rubber shock absorber is configured to arrest movement of the stop 26 when the stop 26 strikes the shock absorber.

In the example embodiment illustrated in the Figures, the anterior end 17.1 of the stabilising arm 17 includes a resilient, shock absorbing wheel 30 which is mounted for rotation about a transverse axle which extends between two opposing wheel mounting brackets 31. The wheel 30 may be configured to be received into the opening 14 in the face plate 13 of the cabinet 10 such that the wheel 30 is flush or level with the face plate 13 when the anti-tipover device 50 is in its retracted position. The purpose of the wheel 30, mounted to the anterior end 17.1 of the stabilising arm 17, is to facilitate smooth and complete deployment of the stabilising arm 17 despite potential snags by permitting the stabilising arm 17 easily to roll over the potential snags on the ground without being caught. The wheel 30 therefore prevents unsuccessful or partial deployment of the arm 17 due to a snag, e.g. a carpet or level discrepancy, which may inhibit the anti-tipover device’s ability to prevent tipping of the cabinet 10. It will be appreciated that a soft, resilient or shock absorbing wheel would be preferred as this would prevent injury in the event that the wheel 30 strikes a person’s foot upon deployment. In an alternative embodiment not illustrated in the Figures, which may be aesthetically more appealing, the anterior end 17.1 of the stabilising arm 17 may be closed off with a plug which is colour coded to match the colour, material and/or texture of the face plate 13 of the cabinet 10.

The anti-tipover device 50 in accordance with the invention may be installed upon assembly of a furniture item, for example, the cabinet 10. Alternatively, the anti- tipover device 50 may be retrofitted to an existing cabinet or other furniture item. Finally, the spring stop 19 includes an elongate rod 19.1 which operatively extends longitudinally and coaxially into an interior of the body 15 and into an interior of the stabilising arm 17. A rear end of the elongate rod 19.1 is seated in an open rear end

15.1 of the body 15, thereby closing it. The spring stop 19 further includes a collar or circular shoulder 19.2 which is disposed toward an anterior part of the elongate rod

19.1 and protrudes radially away from the rod 19.1 and is configured to receive the biasing means 18. As can be seen in Figures 6 and 7, the biasing means 18 is at least partially seated over the anterior part of the elongate rod 19.1 beyond the circular shoulder 19.2.

Once deployed, a user can simply push the cantilever portion 17.2 of the stabilising arm 17 back into the body 15, against the bias of the coil spring 18, to return the anti- tipover device 50 to its retracted position. As the stabilising arm 17 is pushed back into the body 15, an inclined rear surface 33 of the stabilising arm 17 engages and depresses the innermost end 22.1 of the retaining pin 22 so that the proximal end 17.3 of the stabilising arm 17 slides over the pin 22 until it engages the hole 32 in the stabilising arm 17. Once the innermost end 22.1 engages the hole 32, the stabilising arm 17 is held captive inside the body 15 until the load on the foot 22.2 of the retaining pin 22 is removed again. With the stabilising arms 17 deployed, a maximum tip angle of the cabinet 10 is approximately 4 degrees. It will be understood that the stabilising arms 17 prevent the cabinet 10 from tipping past this maximum tip angle by bearing against the floor.

The Applicant believes that the anti-tipover device 50 in accordance with the invention addresses needs which are not addressed by the prior art, in that it has the ability to detect even minor lifting of a rear of a furniture item before it actually tips over and immediately deploys the stabilising arm 17 to prevent it from tipping over and potentially causing harm. This safety mechanism is not dependent upon a position of a drawer of the furniture item like some of the prior art configurations. This functionality is achieved through use of the spring-loaded retaining pin 22 in the tilt detection mechanism 20 which detects as soon as a rear of the furniture item is lifted and in response thereto automatically deploys the stabilising arms 17. The sensitivity of the tilt detection mechanism 20 may be equal to 5mm of lift at the rear. The wheel 30 fitted to the front of the stabilising arm 17 overcomes any carpet restrictions (and reduces injury when deployed). The stabilising arm 17 is disposed and deployed slightly, i.e. (approx. 15mm), above the ground to clear a carpet, if present. The anti- tipover device 50 may also have grooves in a top surface of the stabilising arm 17 which will prevent the arm 17 from retracting unintentionally after deployment.