GB2609942A

GB2609942A - Furniture installation tool

Info

Publication number: GB2609942A
Application number: GB2111807.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ionut Gal Iosif
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-08-18
Filing date: 2021-08-18
Publication date: 2023-02-22
Also published as: GB202111807D0

Abstract

A furniture installation tool 1 comprises a first clamp operable to clamp a first panel in a first plane and a second clamp operable to clamp a second panel in a second plane. The first plane is substantially orthogonal to the second plane.

Description

Furniture installation tool The present invention relates to a furniture installation tool.

Fitted furniture such as fitted wardrobes and kitchens often requires the use of filler portions to cover gaps between furniture units that have been made to a standard size and ceilings, walls or other items of furniture.

Filler portions must be measured, marked and cut to size. This can be difficult in a variety of scenarios and often requires more than one tradesperson to assist in locating the filler portion and marking it correctly for cutting.

The present invention seeks to address this issue.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a furniture installation tool comprising: a first clamp operable to clamp a first panel in a first plane; a second clamp operable to clamp a second panel in a second plane; wherein the first plane is substantially orthogonal to the second plane.

Provision of a furniture installation tool that permits the perpendicular clamping of two panels permits a user to attach the tool to a side wall of a furniture carcass using one clamp and to retain in position a filler portion for marking using the other clamp, thereby aiding the user in correctly marking the filler portion for cutting.

In some embodiments the tool comprises a main frame having a first screw clamp and a second screw clamp; wherein: the first screw clamp has a first handle, a first screw having a first longitudinal axis, a first movable jaw at an end of the first screw and a first fixed jaw defined by a first side of a central portion of the frame; a portion of the frame that retains the first screw is substantially parallel to the central portion and is connected thereto by a connecting portion; the second screw clamp has a second handle, a second screw having a second longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, a second movable jaw at an end of the second screw, and a second fixed jaw defined by a portion of the frame; a portion of frame that retains the second screw extends from a second side of the central portion of the frame and is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis; the portion of the frame that defines the second fixed jaw extends from a second side of the central portion of the frame and is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.

In some embodiments a portion of frame that retains the second screw extends from a second side of the central portion of the frame intermediate ends of the central portion.

In some embodiments a portion of frame that retains the second screw extends from a second side of the central portion of the frame in a middle 50% of the central portion, or in a middle third of the central portion.

In some embodiments the connecting portion extends substantially perpendicularly from the central portion at an end thereof.

In some embodiments the first fixed jaw comprises a portion of padding against which an item may be clamped.

In some embodiments the second fixed jaw comprises a portion of padding against which an item may be clamped.

In some embodiments the movable jaws comprise padding.

In some embodiments the maximum clamping distance of the second clamp is greater than the maximum clamping distance of the first clamp.

In some embodiments the maximum clamping distance of the first clamp is in the range of 2cm to 5cm, or in the range of 2.5cm to 4.5cm, or in the range of 3 to 4cm.

In some embodiments the maximum clamping distance of the second clamp is in the range of 3cm to 7cm, or in the range of 3.5cm to 6.5cm, or in the range of 4 to 6cm.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of installing furniture comprising the steps of: providing a tool made in accordance with any preceding statement of invention; attaching the tool to a filler portion using the first clamp; attaching the tool to an item of furniture using the second clamp.

In some embodiments the method comprises the further steps of: marking the filler portion; cutting the filler portion.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tool of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates the tool of Figures land 2 attached to an item of furniture with the second clamp of the tool; Figure 4 illustrates the fool of Figure 3 further retaining a filler portion in its first clamp; Figure 5 is a further view of the arrangement of Figure 4.

A furniture installation tool 1 comprises a main frame 2 formed of a substantially rigid ribbon of steel that is approximately 4cm in width and 2.5mm in thickness. It is envisaged that tools made in accordance with the present invention will typically be formed of metal in the region of 2 to 4mm in thickness.

Frame 2 comprises a central portion 2a, a first screw-retaining portion 2b and a connecting portion 2c that connects first screw-retaining portion 2b to central portion 2a. As explained below a first side of central portion 2a operates as a first fixed jaw portion.

Frame 2 further comprises a second screw-retaining portion 2d and a second fixed jaw portion 2e.

First screw-retaining portion 2a is substantially parallel to central portion 2a. Connecting portion 2c extends from a first end of central portion 2a substantially perpendicularly to central portion 2a and connects substantially perpendicularly to a first end of first screw-retaining portion 2b.

Adjacent its second end first screw-retaining portion 2b comprises a threaded aperture in which is retained first screw 3a. The longitudinal axis of first screw 3a is approximately equidistant between first and second ends of central portion 2a.

At a first end first screw 3a is attached to first handle 3h and at its second end first screw 3a is attached to a portion of rubber padding that forms first movable jaw 3c.

By rotating handle 3b a user is able to move first movable jaw 3c towards and away from a first side of central portion 2a, which operates as a first fixed jaw.

The first side of central portion 2a comprises an area of rubber padding 3d against which an item may be clamped by first movable jaw 3c.

First screw-retaining portion 2b is spaced from central portion 2a by approximately 4cm.

First screw-retaining portion 2b, central portion 2a acting as first fixed jaw portion, first screw 3a, first handle 3b and first movable jaw 3c together provide a first screw clamp mechanism 5.

First screw clamp mechanism 5 is intended in use to clamp a filler portion.

Second screw-retaining portion 2d is substantially perpendicular to central portion 2a and extends from a second side thereof intermediate first and second ends of central portion 2a.

Second screw retaining portion 2d is attached to central portion 2a at its first end and extends 6cm to its second and free end.

Second fixed jaw portion 2e is substantially perpendicular to central portion 2a and extends from a second side thereof at a second end of central portion 2a.

Adjacent its second end second screw-retaining portion 2d comprises a threaded aperture in which is retained second screw 4a. The longitudinal axis of second screw 4a is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of first screw 3a.

At a first end second screw 4a is attached to second handle 4b and at its second end second screw 4a is attached to a portion of rubber padding that forms second movable jaw 4c.

By rotating handle 4b a user is able to move second movable jaw 4c towards and away from fixed jaw portion 2e.

In the present embodiment central portion 2a is approximately 10cm in length between its first and second ends.

Second screw-retaining portion 2d extends from central portion 2a approximately 6cm and is located approximately 4cm from the first end of central portion 2a and approximately 6cm from the second end of central portion 2a.

Thus second screw-retaining portion 2d is spaced from second fixed jaw portion 2e by approximately 6cm Second screw-retaining portion 2d, second fixed jaw portion 2e, second screw 4a, second handle 4b and second movable jaw 4c together provide a second screw clamp mechanism.

Second screw clamp mechanism 6 is intended in use to clamp a wall of a furniture carcass.

As noted above, first screw-retaining portion 2b is spaced from central portion 2a by approximately 4cm whereas second screw-retaining portion 2d is spaced from second fixed jaw portion 2e by approximately 6cm.

Thus the first clamp mechanism 5 of tool 1 has a maximum clamping distance of approximately 3.5cm (4cm less the 0.5cm thickness of rubber movable first jaw 3c) whereas the second clamp mechanism 6 of tool 1 has a maximum clamping distance of approximately 5.5cm (6cm less the 0.5cm thickness of rubber movable second jaw 4c).

This difference in clamping distances is provided as filler panels are often in the range of 2cm in thickness whereas furniture carcass walls vary more greatly in thickness, and can often be in the region of 4cm or even 5.5cm in thickness.

In Figure 3 it is illustrated how tool 1 may be attached to a side wall 7 of a furniture carcass by means of its second clamping mechanism 6.

In Figures 4 and Sit is illustrated how a filler portion 8 may be clamped and retained by the first clamping mechanism 5 such that a user may accurately mark the filler portion for cutting.

In this specification an apparatus/method/product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. A furniture installation tool comprising: a first clamp operable to clamp a first panel in a first plane; a second clamp operable to clamp a second panel in a second plane; wherein the first plane is substantially orthogonal to the second plane.
2. The tool of claim 1 comprising a main frame having a first screw clamp and a second screw clamp; wherein: the first screw clamp has a first handle, a first screw having a first longitudinal axis, a first movable jaw at an end of the first screw and a first fixed jaw defined by a first side of a central portion of the frame; a portion of the frame that retains the first screw is substantially parallel to the central portion and is connected thereto by a connecting portion; the second screw clamp has a second handle, a second screw having a second longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, a second movable jaw at an end of the second screw, and a second fixed jaw defined by a portion of the frame; a portion of frame that retains the second screw extends from a second side of the central portion of the frame and is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis; the portion of the frame that defines the second fixed jaw extends from a second side of the central portion of the frame and is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
3. The tool of claim 2 wherein a portion of frame that retains the second screw extends from a second side of the central portion of the frame intermediate ends of the central portion.
4. The tool of claim 3 wherein a portion of frame that retains the second screw extends from a second side of the central portion of the frame in a middle 50% of the central portion, or in a middle third of the central portion.
5. The tool of any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the connecting portion extends substantially perpendicularly from the central portion at an end thereof.
6. The tool of any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the first fixed jaw comprises a portion of padding against which an item may be clamped.
7. The tool of any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the second fixed jaw comprises a portion of padding against which an item may be clamped.
8. The tool of any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the movable jaws comprise padding.
9. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the maximum clamping distance of the second clamp is greater than the maximum clamping distance of the first clamp.
10. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the maximum clamping distance of the first clamp is in the range of 2cm to 5cm, or in the range of 2.5cm to 4.5cm, or in the range of 3 to 4cm.
11. The tool of any preceding claim wherein the maximum clamping distance of the second clamp is in the range of 3cm to 7cm, or in the range of 3.5cm to 6.5cm, or in the range of 4 to 6cm.
12. A method of installing furniture comprising the steps of: a. providing a tool made in accordance with any preceding claim; b. attaching the tool to a filler portion using the first clamp; c. attaching the tool to an item of furniture using the second clamp. 25
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the further steps of: marking the filler portion; cutting the filler portion.