TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to anti-tipping mechanisms for furniture that prevent the furniture from tipping over when, for example, a child is climbing on a drawer of the furniture or reaching the top to have it tip forward. The anti-tipping mechanisms may be completely separate from the furniture or involve specific construction of the furniture. The present invention also relates to a piece of furniture including or incorporating an anti-tipping mechanism, and a method for placing or installing a piece of furniture to provide anti-tipping properties.

BACKGROUND ART

Furniture tipping accidents and deaths are on the rise. The majority many of toddler furniture pieces, typically dressers, are anywhere from about 16 inches to about 24 inches deep and often toddlers can grab the top of the dresser, grab the top drawer of the dresser and even climb into the bottom drawer of the dresser before the parent is aware of this. Top drawers of these dressers often have heavy contents in them further making the dresser easier to tip over, which when it occurs, often results in the toddler getting severely hurt, sometimes even rushed to the hospital and even more worrisome, a tragic death.

Many products on the market currently offer the ability to attach the upper back of a piece of furniture, e.g., a dresser, to the wall or other vertical support behind the dresser with a webbing strap or cable so the tipping issue is caught and restricted before the entire dresser falls forward. Yet, this can also allow the topmost dresser drawer to fall forward and still cause accidents. Proper fastening of the dresser to the wall poses yet another issue insofar as it is possible that the screws on the wall or the screws on the dresser are ripped apart when the tipping force is too much, especially if the webbing strap or cable is not attached properly in a safe or secure manner and location. After all, most dresser backs are very cheaply made with the backs often 1/8” thin pressboard or plywood and the frame is typically 5/8” -3/4” and made of plywood or even less secure presswood typically used today.

Also, it is possible that the wall mounting was installed without the use of appropriate hardware such as mollies or lead plugs. If that were so, it would take little force for the tipping force exerted by the child or toddler to “rip” a wall-mounting bracket right off the wall thus allowing the dresser to continue its fall. Furthermore, if the frame is presswood, it would not take much force to “rip off’ the mounting screws securing the webbing or cable to the frame or back. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide new and improved mechanisms for integrating or incorporating into pieces of furniture to prevent the furniture from tipping over.

It is another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a mechanism to significantly resist a baby or toddler from forcefully engaging an upper region of a dresser while approaching the dresser with an adequate stance to effect the possibility of causing danger to the baby or toddler.

It is yet another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a dresser that resists tipping when a top drawer of the dresser is open. It is still another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a dresser that resists tipping when the toddler physically engages an open bottom drawer of the dresser or reaching the upper region of the dresser and pulling (tipping) it forward.

Another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a dresser that resists tipping even when the toddler climbs on or into a bottom drawer region of the dresser. A dresser having an anti-tipping mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a frame including the substantially planar wall section having front and rear surfaces defining a thickness therebetween and which forms at least part of a rear wall of the dresser. The frame also includes an upper panel that defines an opening and an access door that controls access through the opening to a space under the upper panel in front of the rear wall. The dresser also includes a bracket attachable to a vertical support, a first connector, such as a buckle, attached to the bracket, with an aperture in the wall section being dimensioned to enable passage of the first connector therethrough from an area rearward of said rear wall into the space under the upper panel. A second connector, such as a catch that mates with the buckle, is attached to the frame in a position to be in the space below the upper panel and that removably engages with the first connector when both are present in the space under the upper panel. The first and/or second connector is length-adjustable relative to its supporting structure, i.e., relative to the bracket in the case of the first connector or relative to the frame in the case of the second connector to enable a distance between the frame and the bracket to be adjusted, particularly at least reduced. A reduction in distance between the frame and the bracket, when the bracket is attached to the vertical support, and engagement between the first and second connectors prevents tipping of the dresser.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of an embodiment of a dresser in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2 is a view of the anti-tipping mechanism of the dresser shown in FIG. 1 in an intermediate state before final securing of the dresser to a wall; and

FIG. 3 is a view of the anti-tipping mechanism of the dresser shown in FIG. 1 in a final state in which the dresser is secured to the wall. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

One of the inventor’s ideas to address the tipping problem of furniture in the presence of toddlers and children is that it is advantageous, instead of addressing attachment of a dresser or other piece of furniture to the wall against which it is placed, to address stability and retention of support legs of the furniture by attaching extensions or boots at least partly under and to the support legs to provide superior anti-tipping characteristics (for toddlers, parents, even TV stands). The extensions (having a form similar in appearance to a boot) provide a 16-18 inch deep dresser the ability to function as if it were 24-28 inches (depending on the length of the extensions). Various boots or extensions are disclosed below. In the embodiments disclosed herein, a dresser including a plurality of drawers is often used as an example of a piece of furniture for which the anti-tipping mechanism may be used, and in which an anti-tipping mechanism may be integrated or incorporated. The anti-tipping mechanisms of the invention can be used on other types of furniture in addition to dressers and are not limited to use with only dressers. Also, the dressers may include one or more drawers in any of the sections therein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, in this embodiment of a dresser 100, there is a securing, anti tipping mechanism 102 that functions to prevent tipping of the dresser 100 by securing the dresser 100 to a fixed structure behind the dresser 100, typically a vertical wall 104 but any other fixed structure may be used in the invention. Dresser 100 and its anti-tipping mechanism 102 constitute a furniture assembly. A furniture assembly in accordance with the invention also includes the anti-tipping mechanism and other pieces of furniture other than a dresser, with the anti-tipping mechanism being in or with the other pieces of furniture.

In the furniture assembly including dresser 100, the anti-tipping mechanism 102 includes a first connector assembly 106 attached to the wall 104 and a second, mating connector assembly 108 attached to the dresser 100. The first connector assembly 106 includes a bracket 110 fixed to the wall 104 by, for example screws 112, and a strap 114 extending from the bracket 110, and which is connected at one end region to the bracket 110. An opposite end region of the strap 114 is passed through a buckle 116 to provide the strap 114 with a free end 118. A strap retainer 128 is shown to connect the end region of the strap 114 to a front surface of the bracket 110, but this strap retainer 128 is not required and the end region of the strap 114 can be connected directly to the bracket 110, e.g., by looping through slots of a planar portion of the bracket 110. The distance of the buckle 116 from the bracket 110 is adjusted by pulling the free end of the strap 114, this would shorten the distance between the buckle 116 and the bracket 110 (and thus the wall 104), and the buckle 116 can be pulled in a direction away from the bracket 110 to lengthen the distance between the buckle 116 and the bracket 110 (the wall 104). The combination of the strap 114 and buckle 116 is considered a connector. This connector is thus considered length-adjustable.

The second connector assembly 108 includes a bracket 120 fixed to a panel 122 of the dresser 100 by, for example screws, and a strap 124 extending from the bracket 120, and which is connected at one end region to the bracket 120. An opposite end region of the strap 124 is terminated by a catch 126, e.g., a planar piece of material that is configured to engage with the buckle 116 to provide a secure connection between the catch 126 and the buckle 116. It is possible to avoid use of the bracket 120 and attach the strap 124 directly to the panel 122 of the dresser 100, e.g., looping the strap 124 through slots in the panel 122 of the dresser 100.

The combination of the strap 124 and the catch 126 is considered a connector. This connector may be length-adjustable.

The buckle 116 and mating catch 126 are an example of any type of mating, two-part connection structure that may be used in the invention. Any other known connection structure which has one part that removably engages with another part, and preferably can be disengaged from that part, may be used in the invention. Also, although both connector assemblies are shown including straps, which are flexible, it is possible to attach one or both of the buckle 116 and catch 126 directly to the bracket 110 or panel 122 of the dresser 100, respectively, via a rigid or length-invariable connection. If one of the mating connection structures is fixed to the bracket 110, and thus at a fixed distance from the bracket 110, then the other mating connection structure is manipulated, since it is flexible by virtue of the presence of the strap 124, to mate with it. Similarly, if one of the mating connection structures is fixed to the panel 122, and thus at a fixed distance from the panel 122, then the other mating connection structure is manipulated, since it is flexible by virtue of the presence of the strap 114, to mate with it. Although two fixed-distance (length-invariable) mating connection structures may be provided, this is not preferred since it is desired to have some flexibility and length adjustability in the attachment technique for the dresser 100.

To enable access to the buckle 116 and catch 126 to mate them or disengage them as desired, an upper panel 150 of the dresser 100 is provided with an opening 152 into which an access door 154 fits. Panel 150 is above panel 122 as shown. Access door 154 is pivotally connected to the upper panel 150 by a hinge to enable opening and closing of the access door 154 in order to access the space 156 underneath the upper panel 150 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). When the access door 154 is in the closed state, it may be flush with the remaining portion of the upper surface of the upper panel 150. The access door 154 thus pivots between a position out of the opening 152 (FIG. 1) and a position in the opening (FIG. 3).

This space 156 is formed by appropriately dimensioning the depth of an upper drawer 158 of the dresser 100, e.g., to be slightly less than the depth of the lower drawers in the dresser 100 (see FIG. 1). This lesser drawer depth enables the anti-tipping mechanism 102 to avoid interfering with drawer operation. If multiple drawers are provided at the top of the dresser 100, then only those drawers that will be in front of the anti-tipping mechanism 102 may be made with the lesser depth. Upper drawer 158 is that drawer that is immediately below the upper panel 150, and has a depth such that when present fully inside the dresser 100 and almost entirely below the upper panel 150, the space 156 is behind and not obstructed by the upper drawer 158. A utility tray (not shown) may be provided to insert into the space 156 and obstructs viewing of the space 156 when the access door 154 is open. The utility tray optionally has a depth that is dimensioned to avoid interfering with the upper drawer 158 and rests on one or more flanges formed on surfaces defining the opening 152.

Instead of a pivoting access door 154, it is also possible to provide a sliding access door. The sliding access door would be provided by mounting sliding tracks on the dresser 100 and the access door 152. One skilled in the art would readily ascertain how to install such sliding doors in view of the disclosure herein.

In an exemplifying use, installation of the dresser 100 into a secure state with anti-tipping characteristics entails manipulating the anti-tipping mechanism 102 by first placing the dresser 100 against the wall 104, opening the access door 154, removing the utility tray if present and then grasping and pulling the buckle 116 through an aperture 130 in a substantially planar wall section or vertical rear wall or panel 132 of the dresser 100 (assuming the bracket 110 is already attached to the wall 104 via bracket 110). The catch 126 is then inserted into or otherwise engaged with the buckle 116 to provide the state shown in FIG. 2. The dresser 100 is then positioned against the wall 104 with the bracket 110 either being partly against the rear panel 132 (as shown) or entirely within the aperture 130 in the rear panel 132. The free end of the strap 114 is then grasped and pulled to tighten the strap 114 by reducing the slack in the strap 114 until the straps 114, 124 are both tight and the dresser 100 is against the wall

104 to the extent possible (see FIG. 3). The free end of the strap 114 hangs down as shown in FIG. 3. The access door 154 is then closed and the dresser 100 is in a secure, anti-tipping state.

Moving the dresser 100 requires opening the access door 154 and lifting the buckle 116 to enable disengagement of the catch 126 therefrom, or otherwise manually disengaging the buckle 116 from the catch 126 or vice versa. The buckle 116 is passed through the aperture 130 and the dresser 100 can be freely moved away from the wall 104. The bracket 110 is removed from the wall 104.

Another way to view the invention is as a piece of furniture, not necessarily as a dresser, which includes a frame 138 including the substantially planar wall section 132 having front and rear surfaces 134, 136 defining a thickness therebetween and which forms at least part of a rear wall of the piece of furniture 100. The frame 138 also includes the upper panel 150 that defines the opening 152 and the access door 154 that controls access to the opening 152 in the upper panel 150 to enable selective access to the space 156 under the upper panel 150. The piece of furniture also includes the bracket 110 attachable to a vertical support (wall 104), a first connector (combined 114, 116) attached to the bracket 110, with the aperture 130 in the wall section 132 being dimensioned to enable passage of the first connector therethrough into the space 156 under the upper panel 150. A second connector (124, 126) is attached to the frame 138 in a position to be in the space 156 below the upper panel 150 and that removably engages with the first connector (catch 126 engages with buckle 116) when present in the space 156 under the upper panel 150. The first and/or second connector is length-adjustable relative to its supporting structure, i.e., relative to the bracket 110 in the case of the first connector 114, 116 or relative to the frame 138 in the case of the second connector 124, 126 to enable a distance between the frame 138 and the vertical support to be reduced. A reduction in distance between the frame 138 and the bracket 110, when connected to the vertical support 104, and engagement between the first and second connectors (catch 126 in buckle 116) prevents tipping of the piece of furniture.

In a preferred embodiment as shown, the first connector includes elongate strap 114 connected at one end region to the bracket 110 and the buckle 116 through which the strap 114 passes. The buckle 116 is movable along the strap 114 to vary a distance between the buckle 116 and the bracket 110 and thereby provide length adjustability to the first connector. Pulling a free end of the strap 114 relative to the buckle 116 causes a distance of the strap 114 between the buckle 116 and the bracket 110 to be reduced and by pulling the buckle 116 relative to the bracket 110 in a direction away from the bracket 110, a distance of the strap 114 between the buckle 116 and the bracket 110 is increased. The ability to increase the distance of the strap 114 between the buckle 116 and the bracket 110 by pulling the buckle 116 relative to the bracket 110 in the direction away from the bracket 110 is not a required feature of the invention, but is useful if repositioning or moving of the dresser 100 is desired. Also, the second connector includes the elongate strap 124 connected at one end region to the frame 138, namely to the bracket 120 which in turn is fixed to the panel 122 which is part of the frame 138, and the catch 126 connected to a second end region of the strap 124 opposite the first end region of the strap 124.

The dresser 100 may include one or more additional drawers 140 below the upper drawer 158 and that each could have a larger depth than the depth of the upper drawer 158. Each additional drawer 140, like the upper drawer 158, has a first position fully inserted into the frame 138 (and possibly in the frame 138) and a second position at least partly out of the frame 138 and is movable outward from a front of the frame 138 into the second position while coupled to the frame 138. Each drawer 158, 140 has a front face forming a front face of the dresser 100. It is possible, and considered as part of the invention, that the dresser 100 does not include any drawers, but may be configured as a different piece of furniture, e.g., with swinging doors opening to shelves. In this case, a space would be formed at the upper rear region of the piece of furniture to define the space 156 and the remaining features of the dresser 100 would be provided, except for an upper drawer 158. While these embodiments are directed to the serious, often fatal, accidents involving toddlers, they address all anti-tipping furniture issues that may arise, involving both toddlers and adults.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.