Furniture glide with polymer support platform

Abstract

A furniture glide including a ferrule having a circular bottom wall and an upstanding cylindrical side wall. A support platform composed of polymeric material is positioned in the ferrule. The support platform has a platform base in contact with the bottom wall and a support column extending upward from the platform base to a support shoulder. A clip has a clip hub in contact with the support shoulder and multiple clip arms which extend radially outward and longitudinally downward from the clip hub to engage a furniture leg inserted into the ferrule. A glide base is mounted to the ferrule.

1 . A furniture glide for use with a tubular furniture leg having an inner surface, the furniture glide comprising: 
 a ferrule having a circular bottom wall and an upstanding cylindrical side wall having an upper rim;    a support platform composed of polymeric material positioned in said ferrule, said support platform having a platform base in contact with said bottom wall and a support column extending upward from said platform base to a support shoulder;    a clip having a clip hub in contact with said support shoulder and a plurality of clip arms extending radially outward and longitudinally downward from said clip hub, each clip arm being resiliently engageable to a furniture leg; and    a glide base mounted to said ferrule.    
     
     
         2 . The furniture glide of  claim 1  wherein said support platform has a height wherein said support shoulder is disposed proximate to said upper rim of the side wall.  
     
     
         3 . The furniture glide of  claim 2  wherein support column includes a lower section having a frustoconical-shape.  
     
     
         4 . The furniture glide of  claim 3  wherein said lower section of said support column has a base and a top, each having an outside diameter, the outside diameter of the base being greater than the outside diameter of the top.  
     
     
         5 . The furniture glide of  claim 2  wherein said clip hub has a lower surface supported on said support shoulder of said support platform, at least a portion of said clip hub extending upwardly beyond said upper rim of said ferrule, said clip arms extending longitudinally downward into said ferrule.  
     
     
         6 . The furniture glide of  claim 1  wherein the clip arms are resiliently flexible and adapted for frictionally engaging the inner surface of a furniture leg.  
     
     
         7 . The furniture glide of  claim 6  wherein the clip arms define a plurality of openings, each of the openings having a substantially semicircular shape.  
     
     
         8 . The furniture glide of  claim 1  further comprising a rivet fixing said support platform and said clip to said ferrule.  
     
     
         9 . The furniture glide of  claim 8  wherein said rivet has an expandable head portion, an opposite swivel portion, and an elongated neck portion extending therebetween.  
     
     
         10 . The furniture glide of  claim 9  wherein said support platform defines an axial bore, said bottom wall of said ferrule has a lower surface and defines a ferrule rivet opening, and said clip has an upper surface and defines a clip rivet opening, said head portion of said rivet being disposed adjacent said upper surface of said clip, said neck portion of said rivet extends through said clip rivet opening, said bore, and said ferrule rivet opening, and said swivel portion of said rivet is disposed adjacent said lower surface of said bottom wall of said ferrule.  
     
     
         11 . A furniture glide comprising: 
 a ferrule having a circular bottom wall;    a support platform composed of polymeric material positioned in said ferrule, said support platform having a platform base in contact with said bottom wall and a support column extending upward from said platform base to a support shoulder;    a clip supported on said support shoulder, said clip having a plurality of radially outward and longitudinally downward extending clip arms; and    a glide base mounted to said ferrule.    
     
     
         12 . A furniture glide comprising: 
 a ferrule having a circular bottom wall and an upstanding cylindrical side wall having an upper rim;    a support platform composed of polymeric material positioned in said ferrule, said support platform having a platform base substantially conforming with said bottom wall and a support column extending upward from said platform base to a support shoulder disposed proximate to said upper rim of said ferrule;    a clip having a clip hub supported on said support shoulder and a plurality of clip arms extending radially outward and longitudinally downward from said clip hub; and    a glide base mounted to said ferrule.    
     
     
         13 . The furniture glide of  claim 12  wherein support column includes a lower section having a frustoconical-shape.  
     
     
         14 . The furniture glide of  claim 13  wherein said lower section of said support column has a base and a top, each having an outside diameter, the outside diameter of the base being greater than the outside diameter of the top.  
     
     
         15 . The furniture glide of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of said clip hub extend upwardly beyond said upper rim of said ferrule and said clip arms extend longitudinally downward into said ferrule.  
     
     
         16 . The furniture glide of  claim 12  wherein the clip arms define a plurality of openings, each of the openings having a substantially semicircular shape.  
     
     
         17 . The furniture glide of  claim 12  wherein said support platform defines an axial bore, said bottom wall of said ferrule has a lower surface and defines a ferrule rivet opening, and said clip hub has an upper surface and defines a clip rivet opening, and wherein said furniture glide further comprises a rivet having a head portion disposed adjacent said upper surface of said clip hub, a neck portion extending through said clip rivet opening, said bore, and said ferrule rivet opening, and a swivel portion disposed adjacent said lower surface of said bottom wall of said ferrule.