GB2274773A

GB2274773A - Self-assembly furniture; leg attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2274773A
Application number: GB9400093A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Alexis Atkinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-05
Filing date: 1994-01-05
Publication date: 1994-08-10
Also published as: GB9400093D0; GB9300120D0

Abstract

Figure 1 shows a self-assembly table comprising a top 10 in a rectangular steel frame 11. At each of the four corners of the frame 11 is welded a tubular steel leg portion 12 for attachment to a hollow tubular steel leg 13. The leg portions 12 are each swaged at a lower end thereof, which end is received in the hollow leg 13. Inside each of the hollow legs 13 are plastic bushings 14 which form a telescopic friction-fit with the leg portions 12. A detent member 16 which is spring loaded, may also be provided, for additional security. <IMAGE>

Description

SELF-ASSEMBLY FURNITURE The present invention relates to self-assembly furniture and to a method of assembling furniture and is concerned particularly, although not exclusively, with a self-assembly table and a method of assembling a table.

Self-assembly furniture in which eg. the legs are detached from the body of the furniture during transit, has the advantage that it may be transported more easily since it can be made to take up less volume.

However, a disadvantage with this kind of furniture, for example with a self-assembly table lies in the fact that it must be assembled before use, often by an unskilled or inexperienced person. The mechanism by which, for example, the legs are attached to the table top, must be made simple and in such a way that a minimum of skill is needed to assemble the finished table. Often in designing the furniture in such a way that it may be assembled quickly and easily, the furniture looses stability or rigidity. For example, the legs of a table may be attached to the top in a manner which makes the assembled table prone to wobbling.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an article of furniture comprising a body portion and support means for supporting the body portion, the support means being arranged to be connected to the body portion by telescopic engagement.

The support means may comprise at least one leg.

In a preferred arrangement the support means comprises a first tube portion and the body portion comprises a second tube portion, which tube portions are arranged, in use, to engage each other telescopically.

Preferably the tube portions are arranged, in use, to engage each other telescopically in a friction-fit.

At least one of the first or second tube portions may be arranged in use to receive a sleeve member. In a preferred arrangement the sleeve member is arranged in use to be located between an outer surface of one of the first or second tube portions and an inner surface of the other of the first or second tube portions when the tube portions are telescopically engaged.

Preferably there are provided retaining means arranged, in use, to retain the first and second tube portions in their telescopic engagement.

The retaining means may comprise a projection member arranged, in use, to move between a first position in which the first and second tube portions are able to slide telescopically and a second position in which the tube portions are prevented from sliding telescopically in at least one direction.

The projection member may be resiliently biased towards the second position.

Preferably the projection member is arranged to abut an abutment portion of the sleeve member when the tube portions are telescopically engaged to a pre-determined extent and the projection member is in the second position.

Preferably the sleeve member cooperates with one tube portion and the projection member cooperates with the other tube portion such that when the tube portions are in telescopic engagement to a pre-determined extent the projection member adopts the second position and abuts a portion of the sleeve member to inhibit disengagement of the tube portions.

In a preferred arrangement the sleeve member is located on an inner surface of one tube portion which sleeve member is arranged to contact an outer surface of the other tube portion when the tube portions are in telescopic engagement.

Preferably when the projection member is in the first position it is substantially flush with a surface of the tube portion. When the projection member is in the second position it may project from the surface of the tube portion.

In a preferred arrangement the or each leg comprises the tube portion having the sleeve member and the body portion comprises at least one of the tube portions having the projection member.

Preferably the tube portion of the body portion comprises a swaged portion.

In a preferred arrangement the sleeve member is arranged to fit over the swaged portion. Preferably the sleeve member is reamed to be a friction-fit over the swaged portion.

Alternatively or additionally, the sleeve member may comprise one or more gripping elements. The sleeve member may comprise a gripping element which comprises a lip arranged in use to grip a tube portion. Alternatively or additionally, the sleeve member may comprise a gripping element which comprises a tapered surface arranged in use to form a friction-fit with a tube portion. The tapered surface is preferably arranged in use to form a frictionfit with the swaged portion of the tube portion.

The sleeve member may comprise plastics material.

In a preferred arrangement the article of furniture comprises a table.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching support means to a body portion of an article of furniture, the method comprising causing a first tube portion of the support means to engage telescopically a second tube portion of the body portion.

Preferably the method includes making a friction-fit between the first and second tube portions.

In a preferred arrangement, the method includes retaining the tube portions in telescopic engagement by a projection member, which projection member is moveable between a first position in which the tube portions may slide telescopically over one another and a second position in which the tube portions are inhibited from sliding telescopically in at least one direction.

The method may comprise a method of attaching a leg to an article of furniture.

The invention also includes any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but an embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, schematically, a self-assembly table with legs, Figure 2 shows a leg portion of the table of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view of the leg portion of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of leg portion.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, this shows a self-assembly table comprising a top 10 in a rectangular steel frame 11. At each of the four corners of the frame 11 is welded a tubular steel leg portion 12 for attachment to a hollow tubular steel leg 13. The leg portions 12 are each swaged at a lower end thereof which end is received in the hollow leg 13.

Figure 2 shows in more detail the leg portion 12 inserted in the leg 13.

Figure 3 shows, in sectional view, the leg portion 12 and the leg 13. Inside the leg 13 is a plastic bushing 14 which is located at the end of the leg 13. The internal surface of the bushing 14 is precisely reamed so as to provide a close friction-fit against an outer surface 12a of the swaged portion of the leg portion 12.

The leg portion 12 has a hole 15 towards the end of the swaged portion. A spring mounted pin 16 is resiliently biased to project through the hole 15.

In use, the pin 16 is manually held substantially flush with the leg portion 12 whilst the leg 13 is attached. When the swaged portion of the leg portion 12 is inside the bushing 14, the pin 16 is held in its configuration until the leg 13 has been pushed sufficiently far onto the leg portion 12 that the pin 16 travels past the end of the bushing 14. Once this point is reached the pin 16 is permitted to move radially outwardly under the force of its spring whereupon the pin 16 engages a lower edge 14a of the bushing 14. The leg 13 cannot then be removed from the leg portion 12 and the leg 13 is permanently attached.

In cases where it is required to have legs 13 which are detachable from the leg portions 12 the spring mounted pin 16 may be omitted. Alternatively a tool (not shown) for retracting the pin 16 may be provided.

Figure 4 shows an alternative arrangement in which the legs 13 may be more readily detachable from the leg portions 12. In this arrangement there is no pin 16.

Instead the leg 13 is inserted into a modified plastic bushing 17 which has a tapered portion 17a at an upper edge thereof and a lip 17b at a lower edge thereof. In use the tapered portion 17a co-operates with a shoulder 12a of the leg portion 12 and the lip 17b co-operates with an edge 12b of the leg portion 12 to maintain a frictionfit. The leg portion 12 is thus securely held in the bushing 17 but may be readily removed by pulling with the required force. The table can therefore be disassembled relatively easily if required.

The table described above may advantageously be packed substantially flat, the legs 13 being detached during transit to save space. When the table has arrived at its destination it may be quickly and easily assembled without requiring special tools or skills. The accurate reaming of the bushing 14 ensures a close friction-fit on the leg portion 12 which provides for a stable structure once the legs has been attached.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to a table it will be understood that it may be employed in other items of furniture without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An article of furniture comprising a body portion and support means for supporting the body portion, the support means being arranged to be connected to the body portion by telescopic engagement.

2. An article of furniture according to Claim 1, wherein the support means comprises at least one leg.

3. An article of furniture according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the support means comprises a first tube portion and the body portion comprises a second tube portion, which tube portions are arranged, in use, to engage each other telescopically.

4. An article of furniture according to Claim 3, wherein the tube portions are arranged, in use, to engage each other telescopically in a friction-fit.

5. An article of furniture according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein at least one of the -first or second tube portions is arranged in use to receive a sleeve member.

6. An article of furniture according to Claim 5, wherein the sleeve member is arranged in use to be located between an outer surface of one of the first or second tube portions and an inner surface of the other of the first or second tube portions when the tube portions are telescopically engaged.

7. An article of furniture according to any of Claims 3 to 6, wherein there are provided retaining means arranged, in use, to retain the first and second tube portions in their telescopic engagement.

8. An article of furniture according to Claim 7, wherein the retaining means comprise a projection member arranged, in use, to move between a first position in which the first and second tube portions are able to slide telescopically and a second position in which the tube portions are prevented from sliding telescopically in at least one direction.

9. An article of furniture according to claim 8, wherein the projection member is resiliently biased towards the second position.

10. An article of furniture according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the projection member is arranged to abut an abutment portion of the sleeve member when the tube portions are telescopically engaged to a predetermined extent and the projection member is in the second position.

11. An article of furniture according to any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the sleeve member co-operates with one tube portion and the projection member co-operates with the other tube portion such that when the tube portions are in telescopic engagement to a predetermined extent the projection member adopts the second position and abuts a portion of the sleeve member to inhibit disengagement of the tube portions.

12. An article of furniture according to Claim 5, wherein the sleeve member is located on an inner surface of one tube portion which sleeve member is arranged to contact an outer surface of the other tube portion when the tube portions are in telescopic engagement.

13. An article of furniture according to Claim 8, wherein when the projection member is in the first position it is substantially flush with a surface of the tube portion.

14. An article of furniture according to Claim 8, wherein the projection member is in the second position it may project from the surface of the tube portion.

15. An article of furniture according to Claim 8, wherein the or each leg comprises the tube portion having the sleeve member and the body portion comprises at least one of the tube portions having the projection member.

16. An article of furniture according to any of Claims 3 to 15, wherein the tube portion of the body portion comprises a swaged portion.

17. An article of furniture according to Claim 16, wherein the sleeve member is arranged to fit over the swaged portion.

18. An article of furniture according to Claim 16 or Claim 17, wherein the sleeve member is reamed to be a friction-fit over the swaged portion.

19. An article of furniture according to Claim 5 and any of Claims 6 to 18 when dependant on Claim 5, wherein the sleeve member comprises one or more gripping elements.

20. An article of furniture according to Claim 19, wherein the sleeve member comprises a gripping element which comprises a lip arranged in use to grip a tube portion.

21. An article of furniture according to Claim 19 or Claim 20, wherein the sleeve member comprises a gripping element which comprises a tapered surface arranged in use to form a friction-fit with a tube portion.

22. An article of furniture according to Claim 21, wherein the tapered surface is arranged in use to form a friction-fit with the swaged portion of the tube portion.

23. An article of furniture according to Claim 5 and any of Claims 6 to 22 when dependant on Claim 5, wherein the sleeve member comprises plastics material.

24. An article of furniture according to any of Claims 1 to 23, wherein the article of furniture comprises a table.

25. An article of furniture substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of attaching support means to a body portion of an article of furniture, the method comprising causing a first tube portion of the support means to engage telescopically a second tube portion of the body portion.

27. A method according to Claim 26, wherein the method includes making a friction-fit between the first and second tube portions.

28. A method according to Claim 26 or Claim 27, wherein the method includes retaining the tube portions in telescopic engagement by a projection member, which projection member is moveable between a first position in which the tube portions may slide telescopically over one another, and a second position in which the tube portions are inhibited from sliding telescopically in at least one direction.

29. A method according to any of Claims 26 to 28, wherein the method comprises a method of attaching a leg to an article of furniture.

30. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.