AU2012200468A1 - An improved cabinetry foot - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a cabinetry foot 10 for supporting a cabinet 300 on a surface 100. The invention has particular application in the kitchen cabinet industry. The foot includes a base member 20 for location on the surface 100, an upper member 40 for attachment to a lower face 200 of the cabinet 300 and a connecting member 60. The base member 20 includes a surface support 22 and an upright member 24. The upper member 40 includes a mount plate 42 10 and a jacking sleeve 44. The connecting member 60 has an upper end 66 that can be accessed for rotation from inside the cabinet 300 through an opening 400 extending from inside the cabinet 300 through the lower face 200 of the cabinet 300. The 15 connecting member 60 is arranged to connect the base member 20 to the upper member 24 so that rotation of the connecting member 60 in a first direction jacks the upper member 24 away from the base member 20 so that in use the spacing between the lower face 200 of the cabinet 300 and the surface 100 is increased. -. ...... .... 4 4-4 Fgure1

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: AN IMPROVED CABINETRY FOOT Applicant: Frank Trimboli The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 2 An Improved Cabinetry Foot Related Application This application is related to Australian provisional patent application 5 2011900256, filed 27 January 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an adjustable foot for use in supporting and levelling 10 cabinets. The invention has particular application in the kitchen installation industry. Background of the Invention The components for a new kitchen are typically manufactured offsite and are 15 then assembled onsite by an installer. Typically, the kitchen carcass is formed from a number of different box like units, hereafter referred to as cabinets. The cabinets may be delivered fully assembled. However, with "flat pack" kitchens, the cabinets are assembled on site by the installer. 20 Each of the floor or base cabinets is typically mounted on four legs which are separately adjustable to ensure that the top face of the cabinet is level prior to the top or bench surface being fitted. The adjustable legs enable the installer to account for any height differences or imperfections in the floor that would otherwise prevent the bench surface from being level in all directions. 25 Adjustable legs of the type used in the kitchen industry are typically attached to the underside or bottom face of the cabinet and have the ability to raise or lower to thereby vary the spacing between the floor and the bottom face of the cabinet. This variation is normally achieved by relative rotation of one of the 30 component parts of the leg with the other. The process of ensuring that the top surface of each cabinet is level when using such adjustable legs is cumbersome. The installer needs to separately adjust 3 each leg secured to the cabinet. In practice this means that the installer initially sets the leg so that the cabinet does not "rock" on the floor. The installer then uses a spirit level to check that the cabinet is sitting level in all directions. If the cabinet is not level, then the installer must reach under the cabinet and then 5 rotate the leg that requires adjustment. This is particularly problematic when the cabinet is located against a wall and a rear leg must be adjusted. In these situations the installer can only reach that leg by extending his arm through the spacing between the floor and the bottom face of the cabinet. This normally requires the installer to lie on the floor with his arm extended. Once the leg has 10 been adjusted the installer then gets up off the floor to recheck the level. This process is repeated numerous times until the installer is satisfied that the top face of the cabinet is level in all directions. It will be appreciated that the levelling process is particularly difficult when the 15 cabinet is deep because of the difficulty in actually reaching the rear leg(s). Additionally, the weight of the cabinet itself pressing down on the leg makes it difficult to rotate one part of the leg relative to the other and this difficulty is magnified when the installer is having problems actually reaching the leg through the spacing between the floor and bottom face of the cabinet. 20 Another form of adjustable leg used in the kitchen cabinet industry is a press-in leveller type leg. Such a leveller includes a threaded leg member which is mounted in a threaded mounting block so that the leg can be extended out of the mounting block by relative rotation. The mounting block is pressed into a 25 deep bore formed in the bottom of the cabinet and includes an externally threaded upper knob. The knob is arranged to be located in the deep bore and limited height adjustments can thus be made through the cabinet by engaging an aperture formed in the top of the knob and thereby rotating the mounting block inwardly and outwardly of the bore. Such an adjustable leg is 30 disadvantageous however because of the need to establish a large bore in the bottom of the cabinet and also because larger height adjustments still need to be made from below the cabinet by engaging and rotating the lower part of the leg relative to the mounting block.

4 The present invention seeks to provide an adjustable foot that makes the levelling process much easier and offers advantages over the prior art. 5 The discussion of the background to the invention herein is included to explain the context of the invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of this application. 10 Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cabinetry foot for supporting a cabinet on a surface, the foot including: a base member for location on the surface, the base member including a surface support and an upright member; 15 an upper member for attachment to a lower face of the cabinet, the upper member including a mount plate and a jacking sleeve; and a connecting member having an upper end that can be accessed for rotation from inside the cabinet through an opening extending from inside the cabinet through the lower face of the cabinet, said connecting member 20 arranged to connect the base member to the upper member so that rotation of the connecting member in a first direction jacks the upper member away from the base member so that in use the spacing between the lower face of the cabinet and the surface is increased. 25 Preferably, rotation of the connecting member in a second direction moves the upper member towards the base member so that in use the spacing between the lower face of the cabinet and the surface is decreased. It will thus be appreciated that the spacing is varied by rotating the connecting 30 member counter clockwise or clock wise to move or "jack" the upper member, upwardly or downwardly, relative to the base member.

5 In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the connecting member establishes a connection between the upper member and the base member. That connection is achieved by way of an inter-engagement of the base member with the connecting member and the connecting member which 5 engages with the upper member. The invention also provides a method of adjusting the spacing between a lower face of a cabinet and a surface, said method including attaching a foot in accordance with the first aspect of the invention to the cabinet and rotating the 10 connecting member of the foot from inside the cabinet via said opening in the cabinet. From the above it will be appreciated that the invention provides an arrangement where the adjustment of the spacing between the bottom face of 15 the cabinet and the surface can be made entirely through an access aperture in the lower face of the cabinet. Accordingly, the present invention eliminates the need to make any such adjustments from underneath the cabinet. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting 20 member is a threaded member that has a head configured for engagement with a tool. The head is arranged to be turned so that rotation thereof varies the spacing between the bottom face of the cabinet to which the upper member is attached and the surface. 25 The term "screw drive" as used throughout this document is intended to reflect an arrangement that enables turning of the connecting member in a manner similar to systems used to turn a screw. The connecting member includes a head with a screw drive which, for example, may be a square, hex, pentagon, slot, star, cross, Phillps, Frearson, Pozidriv, Supadriv or Robertson screw drive. 30 Preferably the base member includes a bottom plate and an upright, the upright including a threaded portion arranged for engagement with the threaded connecting member. The threaded portion may be formed as an integral part of 6 the upright or may be formed as a sleeve connected to the upright. The sleeve may be made from a material different to the material of the upright. For example, the sleeve may be made of metal and the upright may be made of a plastics material. 5 The upper member is fixed to the lower face of the cabinet so that it does not rotate or move relative thereto. The upper member preferably includes a mount plate and a jacking sleeve 10 arranged to be located within a seat in the mount plate. The seat has a central aperture that is aligned with the access opening formed in the bottom face of the cabinet. The seat and jacking sleeve are preferably arranged so that the jacking sleeve can be readily pressed and retained in the seat by an installer. 15 The jacking sleeve is arranged to be located in use over the upright of the bottom member and to be jacked (i.e. lifted upwardly or downwardly) relative thereto upon rotation of the threaded member. To this end, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the threaded member includes a flange for engagement with an engagement surface of the jacking sleeve. When the 20 connecting member is rotated to drive it upwardly relative to the base member, the flange engages with the engagement surface of the jacking sleeve causing the jacking sleeve to be lifted upwardly away from the base member. As the jacking sleeve is lifted, it also lifts the attached mount plate and the cabinet to which it is engaged. Accordingly, the spacing between the bottom face of the 25 cabinet and the surface is increased. Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 30 Figure 1 is a schematic part cut-away side view of a cabinetry foot in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 7 Figure 2 is a top view of the base member of the foot shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the upper member of the foot shown in Figure 1; 5 Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the foot connected to a portion of a kitchen cabinet; Figure 5 is a schematic part cut-away side view of a cabinetry foot in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; 10 Figure 6 is a top view of the base member of the foot shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a top view of the upper member of the foot shown in Figure 5; and 15 Figure 8 is a side view of the connecting member shown in Figure 5. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The cabinetry foot 10 as shown in Figures 1 and 4 is arranged for use as a foot for a kitchen cabinet. The foot 10 includes a base member 20 for location on a 20 floor 100, an upper member 40 for attachment to a lower or bottom face 200 of a cabinet 300 (shown only partially in Figure 4) and a connecting member 60 connecting the base member 20 to the upper member 40. The connecting member 60 is arranged so that rotation thereof varies a spacing S between the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300 and the floor 100. The connecting member 25 60 is positioned so that it can be accessed for rotation from inside the cabinet 300 and through an opening 400 extending from the inside of the cabinet 300 through the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300. The base member 20 includes a surface support in the form of a bottom plate 30 22 and a centrally located upright member 24. The upright member 24 has a tubular square cross-section and includes a threaded portion 26 at its upper end which is arranged for engagement with the connecting member 60. As 8 depicted, the threaded portion 26 is an internally threaded metal sleeve 26a moulded into the upper end of the upright member 24. The bottom plate 22 may adopt differing configurations. However, as depicted 5 in the Figures, that bottom plated has a flat generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration (see Figure 1) and has a four strengthening ribs 27 (see Figure 2) running from an external lip 28 towards the upright member 24. The strengthening ribs 27 enable the bottom plate 22 to be moulded from a plastics material, whilst still ensuring adequate strength and rigidity. 10 The upper member 40 as best shown in Figures 1 and 3 includes a mount plate 42 and a jacking sleeve 44. Located centrally of the mount plate 42 is an aperture 45. Aperture 45 is arranged in use to align with the opening 400 formed in the cabinet 300. 15 The mount plate 42 may adopt differing configurations. However, as depicted in the Figures, the mount plate 42 has a flat generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration (see Figure 1) and has a four strengthening ribs 46 (see Figure 2) each running generally diagonally from an external lip 47 towards the jacking 20 sleeve 44. The jacking sleeve 44 is tubular and has a square cross-section. The upper end 44a of the jacking sleeve 44 is closed and includes a central aperture 44b. The upper end 44a of the jacking sleeve 44 is arranged to be located and 25 engaged in a complimentary shaped seat 48 formed in the mount plate 42. The engagement between the seat 48 and jacking sleeve 44 is by way of a tight press fit or an interference type fit so that the jacking sleeve 44 is held firmly in the seat 48. 30 The mount plate 42 also includes four upwardly facing protrusions 49 each for locating within a complimentary shaped groove or aperture formed in the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300. The engagement of the protrusions 49 within their complimentary shaped grooves or apertures prevents the mount plate 42 from 9 inadvertently rotating or pivoting relative to the cabinet 300 or the base member 20. The mount plate 42 is preferably secured to the cabinet 300 by screw fasteners that pass centrally through the protrusions 49. To this end the mount plate 42 includes four screw holes 50. Only one set of screw holes 50 is 5 actually shown in the Figures. The connecting member 60 includes a lower portion 62 that is threaded, a flange 64 and an upper portion 66. The lower portion 62 of the connecting member 60 is arranged to threadedly engage with the threaded portion 26 of 10 the upright member 24. The flange 64 of the connecting member 60 is located above the threaded metal sleeve 26a of the upright member 24 and below the upper end 44a of the jacking sleeve 44. The upper portion 66 of the connecting member 60 extends through the central aperture 44b in the jacking sleeve 44. A circlip 70 holds the connecting member 60 to the jacking sleeve 44. 15 The upper portion 66 of the connecting member 60 also extends through the aligned aperture 45 formed in the mount plate 42. This enables the upper portion 66 of the connecting member 60 to be accessed via the opening 400 formed in the cabinet 300. It should be noted that the upper end or upper 20 portion 66 of the connecting member 60 preferably does not extend into the void of the cabinet 300. This ensures that the various connecting members 60 do not prevent items from being located on the upper face 300A of the cabinet. It also means that a hole cover such as a press-in cover can be located in each opening 400 to disguise the presence of the opening 400. 25 In use the lower open end 44c of the tubular part of the jacking sleeve 44 is located over the upright member 24 of the bottom member 20. Accordingly, when the connecting member 60 is rotated to drive the threaded lower portion 62 upwardly relative to the threaded portion 26 of the upright member 24, the 30 flange 64 engages against the underside of the closed upper end 44a of the jacking sleeve 44. This engagement causes the jacking sleeve 44 to be lifted (i.e. jacked) upwardly away from the base member 20 thereby increasing the spacing S between the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300 and the floor 100.

10 The jacking sleeve 44 can thereby be jacked up and down relative to the base member 20 depending upon the rotational direction of the connecting member 60. 5 Figure 1 shows the foot 10 so that the spacing S is at a minimum. In this "minimum spacing" configuration, the lower end 44c of the jacking sleeve 44 is located only slightly above the top face of the bottom plate 22 of the base member 20. 10 The upper portion 66 of the connecting member 60 has a head that can be engaged to readily rotate the connecting member 60. The head may adopt different configurations. However, it is preferred that the head is configured to enable a screw drive to be used to rotate the connecting member. The term "screw drive" is used herein to reflect a system used to rotate or turn the 15 connecting member 60. Common screw drives that could be used include external types characterised by a female tool and a male part on the head. The head may adopt a square, hex or pentagon shape. Alternatively, the head may include a slot, cross, Phillips slot or Frearson slot or may include a French recess such as a Pozidriv, Supadriv or Robertson which can be rotated using 20 an appropriately headed screw driver or by a drive tool fitted with an appropriately shaped bit (e.g. a cordless screwdriver). It will be appreciated that the flange 64 of the connecting member 60 must carry the weight of the cabinet 300 via its engagement with the underside (the 25 engagement surface) of the closed upper end 44a of the jacking sleeve 44. Accordingly the flange 64 must be of sufficient strength to withstand that force loading and to transfer the loading to the threaded portion 62 of the connecting member 60. The threaded portion 62 in turn transfers force loading via the threaded metal sleeve 26a to the upright member 24 of the base member 20. 30 All of these parts must have sufficient strength to withstand the force loading applied by the weight of the cabinet (and its contents) bearing on the foot 10.

11 It is envisaged that the spacing S could be adjusted by up to approximately 70mm using a foot 10 in accordance with the described embodiment of the invention. 5 The first step when installing a cabinet 300 is to fit the required number of feet 10 to the cabinet 300. Typically this would be at least four feet 10, one located adjacent each corner of the cabinet 300. Each foot 10 is installed generally using the following installation steps: 10 1. If the mount plate 42 includes locating protrusions 49, then the installer drills holes in the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300 to receive each of those protrusions 49. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the installer would need to drill four holes to receive the protrusions 49. The exact positioning of the required 15 holes can be readily determined using a template provided with each foot 10 or simply by holding the mount plate 42 in the required position and marking the centres of the required holes through the screw holes 50. 20 2. The installer also needs to drill a further hole extending through the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300. That hole becomes the opening 400 through which the installer will later gain access to the connecting member 60. The required positioning of this opening can be determined using the template or alternatively by marking the centre 25 of the further drill hole through the central aperture 45 of the mount plate 42. 3. The mount plate 42 can then be fitted to the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300 using screw fasteners that pass through the screw holes 30 50. 4. The upper end 44a of the jacking sleeve 44 (with connecting member 60 and base member 20 already attached) is then pressed into the 12 seat 48 formed in the mount plate 42. The upper portion 66 of the connecting member 60 will then extend through the central aperture 44b in the jacking sleeve 44 and through the aligned aperture 45 formed in the mount plate 42. This enables the upper portion 66 of 5 the connecting member 60 (i.e. the head) to be accessed via the opening 400 formed in the cabinet 300. 5. Adjustment of the spacing S between the floor 100 and the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300 is achieved by rotating the connecting 10 member 60 and thus "jacking" the jacking sleeve 44 either upwardly or downwardly depending on the direction the connecting member 60 is rotated. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the installer would use a power tool, such as a cordless drill/cordless screwdriver, fitted with the appropriate bit to engage with 15 the head 66 of the connecting member 60. The head 66 of the connecting member 60 is easily accessed via the opening 400. Figure 5 to 8 illustrate a foot 510 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. The foot 510 is very similar to the foot 10. However, it will be 20 readily apparent that the jacking sleeve 44 and connecting member 60 of foot 10 are located centrally of both the base member 20 and upper member 40. In contrast, the foot 510 includes an upright member 524 that is located offset from a centre point of the base member 540. Jacking sleeve 544 and connecting member 560 are thus similarly offset centrally. This "offset" is provided to 25 ensure that when the foot 510 is installed, the location of the access opening 400 formed in the cabinet 300 is sufficiently spaced from any of the side walls of the cabinet 300 to allow the bit of a power tool to engage the head 566 of the connecting member 560 without any interference. The "offset" provides the necessary working clearance for the power or hand tool used to rotate the 30 connecting member 560. The foot 510 shown in Figures 5 to 8 also includes a differently configured upright member 524. As shown best in Figure 5, the upper end of the upright 13 member 524 is formed as a solid piece of material with a central threaded bore 526. Unlike the foot 10 of the previously described embodiment, the threaded portion 26 is not formed in a metal sleeve. 5 Figure 8 best illustrates the configuration of the connecting member 560. The connecting member 560 includes a threaded lower portion 562, a flange 564 and an upper portion or head 566. A groove 570 is formed in the upper portion 566 for receiving the circlip 70. 10 From the above description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be readily apparent that the invention enables an installer to adjust the spacing S simply by turning the connecting member 60, 560 using a tool or more preferably a power tool. The upper portion 66, 566 or head of the connecting member 60, 560 is reached by leaning into the cabinet 300 and passing the drill 15 bit through the opening 400 in the cabinet 300 to engage with the head 66, 566. The installer can make major or minor adjustments simply by triggering the on/off switch of the power tool and there is no need to lie on the floor in order to reach the foot 10 below to make any adjustments. Indeed, in some situations, it will be possible to be triggering the power tool whilst simultaneously visualising 20 the spirit level, thus making the levelling process both quick and easy. It is envisaged that in most situations the cabinet maker would perform installation steps 1 to 3 off site and thus each cabinet would arrive on site with the mount plates 42 already attached to the bottom face 200 of the cabinet 300. 25 Furthermore, the access opening 400 for each mount plate 42 would also be made by the cabinet maker. Accordingly, on site, the installer only needs to install the jacking sleeve 44, 544 to each mount plate 42, 542. This is done by simply pressing the upper end 44a, 544a of the jacking sleeve 44, 544 (with connecting member 60, 560 and base member 20, 520 already attached) into 30 the seat 48, 548 formed in the mount plate 42, 542. The installer then performs the levelling step (step 5).

14 It should be understood that terms such as "upwardly" and "downwardly" are used throughout the description and claims, are used in the context of installing a cabinet on a surface such as a kitchen or bathroom floor. Hence "upwardly" and variations thereof refer generally to a direction away from the floor and 5 towards a ceiling and "downwardly" and variations thereof refer generally to a direction towards the floor. It should also be understood that although the embodiments have been described in the context of a kitchen installation, the cabinetry foot of this 10 invention has much broader application. For example, the foot may be used on bathroom cabinets, cupboards, wardrobes and desk units. The embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention are envisaged. 15

Claims (20)

1. A cabinetry foot for supporting a cabinet on a surface, the foot including: a base member for location on the surface, the base member including a surface support and an upright member; 5 an upper member for attachment to a lower face of the cabinet, the upper member including a mount plate and a jacking sleeve; and a connecting member having an upper end that can be accessed for rotation from inside the cabinet through an opening extending from inside the cabinet through the lower face of the cabinet, said connecting member 10 arranged to connect the base member to the upper member so that rotation of the connecting member in a first direction jacks the upper member away from the base member so that in use the spacing between the lower face of the cabinet and the surface is increased. 15

2. A cabinetry foot according to claim 1 wherein the upper end of the connecting member has a head configured for engagement with a tool.

3. A cabinetry foot according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the connecting member includes a threaded portion arranged for engagement with a part of the 20 upright member.

4. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting member includes a flange for engagement with an engagement surface of the jacking sleeve. 25

5. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the jacking sleeve is arranged to be located over the upright member of the base member. 30

6. A cabinetry foot according to claim 5 wherein the jacking sleeve has a closed upper end. 16

7. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the connecting member is arranged to be turned using a screw drive.

8. A cabinetry foot according to claim 7wherein screw drive is a square, 5 hex, pentagon, slot, cross, Phillps, Frearson, Pozidriv, Supadriv or Robertson screw drive.

9. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mount plate includes an aperture for receiving an upper end of the jacking 10 sleeve.

10. A cabinetry foot according to claim 9 wherein the mount plate and jacking sleeve are arranged to be connected by a press or an interference type fit. 15

11. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upright member is located offset from a centre point of the surface support.

12. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper member includes at least one upwardly facing protrusion for locating 20 within a complimentary shaped groove or aperture formed in the bottom face of the cabinet.

13. A cabinetry foot according to claim 12 wherein the upper member includes four protrusions. 25

14. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper member is arranged to be secured to the cabinet using at least one threaded fastener. 30

15. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base member and upper member are made from a plastics material. 17

16. A cabinetry foot according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the surface support of the base member and/or the mount plate of the upper member includes at least one strengthening rib. 5

17. A method of adjusting the spacing between a lower face of a cabinet and a surface, said method including attaching a foot according to any one of claims 1 to 16 to the cabinet and rotating the connecting member of the foot from inside the cabinet via said opening in the cabinet. 10

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the connecting member is rotated using a tool.

19. A cabinetry foot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15

20. A method of adjusting the spacing between a lower face of a cabinet and a surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 20