Self adjusting furniture stabilising device

Abstract

This invention relates to a self adjusting furniture stabilising device ( 10 ), connectable to the bottom surface of a foot ( 12 ) of a table ( 14 ). The device ( 10 ) comprises a first body ( 16 ), connectable to the foot ( 12 ) and a second body ( 18 ) for resting on a surface ( 20 ). The first body ( 16 ) includes first ramp formations ( 22 ), having a plurality of first engaging surfaces ( 24 ) and the second body ( 18 ) includes second ramp formations ( 26 ), having a plurality of complementary second engaging surfaces ( 28 ). The first and second bodies ( 16 and 18 ) are coupled to one another with the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces ( 24 and 28 ) engaging one another to permit rotational movement of the second body ( 18 ) relative to the first body ( 16 ), so that the stabilising device ( 10 ) self-adjusts in the event of a rotational force applied thereto in order to stabilise the table ( 14 ).

1 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device for a piece of furniture comprising a first body being connectable to a foot of the piece of furniture, which first body includes a first ramp formation having a plurality of first engaging surfaces; and a second body for resting on a surface on which the furniture is positioned, which second body includes a second ramp formation having a plurality of second engaging surfaces being complementary to the first engaging surfaces, the arrangement being such that the first and second bodies are coupled to one another with the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces engaging one another to permit rotational movement of the second body relative to the first body, so that the stabilising device self-adjusts in the event of a rotational force applied thereto in order to stabilise the piece of furniture. 
     
     
         2 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 1  wherein the first body is an operatively upper body and the second body is an operatively lower body. 
     
     
         3 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first body includes an end wall portion and a tubular skirt portion extending from a rim of the end wall portion, with the first ramp formation extending from the end wall portion inside the tubular skirt portion and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction. 
     
     
         4 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 3  wherein the first body includes two first ramp formations, both extending from the end wall portion inside the tubular skirt portion and concentrically therewith in a downwardly facing direction. 
     
     
         5 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 3  wherein the second body includes a base portion with the second ramp formation extending from a rim of the base portion in an upwardly facing direction to engage the downwardly facing first ramp formation. 
     
     
         6 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 5  wherein the second body includes two second ramp formations, both extending from the rim of the base portion in an upwardly facing direction to engage the two downwardly facing first ramp formations. 
     
     
         7 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 6  wherein the plurality of first and second engaging surfaces are separate from one another and distributed at substantially equal intervals on the first and second ramp formations respectively. 
     
     
         8 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 5  wherein the base portion of the second body is tapered and thus wedge-shaped, the arrangement being such that the base portion only partially rests on the surface on which the furniture is positioned, so that in use, rotational stress is applied to the piece of furniture so that the contact point of the base portion frictionally engages the surface, thus resulting in rotational movement of the second body relative to the first body in order to stabilise the piece of furniture. 
     
     
         9 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 1  which includes a biasing means located between the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         10 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 9  wherein the biasing means is a torsion spring, which has a first end connected to the first body and a second end connected to the second body. 
     
     
         11 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 10  wherein the torsion spring is in a compressed and torsioned state between the first and second bodies, so that they are biased away from one another. 
     
     
         12 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 11  wherein the torsion spring is mounted in coaxial relationship with the first and second ramp formations in the compressed state between the end wall portion of the first body and the base portion of the second body. 
     
     
         13 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 1 , which includes connecting means for connecting the device to the foot of the piece of furniture. 
     
     
         14 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 13  wherein the connecting means is a screw or any other similar connector, having a shaft including thread and which extends in an operatively vertical direction. 
     
     
         15 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 14  wherein the first body includes a first receiving formation for receiving the connecting means and the second body includes a second receiving formation for receiving the first receiving formation and the connecting means, the arrangement being such that the connecting means passes through the second receiving formation of the second body, through the centre of the biasing means and through the first receiving formation of the first body, so that the first body, biasing means and second body are all coupled to one another and so that the thread of the connecting means extends beyond the first body for allowing it to be connected to the foot of the piece of furniture. 
     
     
         16 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 1  wherein a stepped washer is provided to be located between the first body and the piece of furniture, so that the first body is not rotationally movable relative to the foot of the piece of furniture. 
     
     
         17 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 1  wherein the first body is fixed to the foot of the piece of furniture and the second body is rotationally movable relative to the first body and the foot of the piece of furniture. 
     
     
         18 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second engaging surfaces of the first and second ramp formations are relatively planar surfaces arranged at different levels to one another, so that the first and second ramp formations are stepped ramps, the arrangement being so that the plurality of first engaging surfaces rest on the plurality of second engaging surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . A self adjusting furniture stabilising device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.