LEVELING FOOT

Abstract

A leveling foot having a base section with a raised, hollow column. A spring is arranged in the hollow column. A moveable top piece engages the column, and is movable in the vertical direction against the force of the spring. The top piece is slightly larger than the column, such that side walls of the top piece overlap the sides of the column when the spring is compressed. The bottom edges of the side walls of the top piece are angled. A generally U-shaped wedge device is provided that may be pressed into engagement with the base section, whereby a leg of the U engages each side of the column. The top surfaces of the legs of the U-shaped device are angled in the form of wedges, the angles of the top surfaces of the legs corresponding to the angles of the side walls of the movable top piece, such that the side walls of the top piece will rest upon the angled top surfaces of the legs of the wedge device when the top piece is under load.

Claims

1. A leveling foot device for leveling a structure, comprising a spring (3) arranged to expand the device to fill a gap between the structure to be leveled and a surface, characterized in that the foot comprises: a. a base section (1), b. a hollow column (2) extending upwardly from the base section (1), c. a spring (3) arranged in the hollow column (2), d. a movable top piece (4) arranged to engage with the hollow column (2), said top piece (4) movable in the vertical direction, wherein said top piece (4) has an internal cavity for receiving the hollow column (2) when the top piece (4) is pressed downward against the force of spring (3), e. the movable top piece (4) is equipped with one or more side walls (7), said side walls having a lower angled surface (8), f. a generally U-shaped wedge device (9) having two legs (10), the distance between the legs (10) corresponding to the width of the hollow column (2), the upper surface (11) of which legs (10) are wedge shaped, having an angle that corresponds with the angle of the lower surface (8) of the side walls (7), and g. locking means for locking the U-shaped wedge device (9) into locked engagement with the hollow column (2), whereby, when under load, the top piece (4) is pressed downward such that the angled lower surface (8) of the side walls (7) rest upon the angled upper surface (11) of the legs (10) of the U-shaped wedge device (9).

2. A leveling foot device according to claim 1, wherein the locking means comprise teeth arranged on inside surfaces of the legs (10) of the U-shaped wedge device (9), said teeth arranged to engage with corresponding teeth arranged on the hollow column (2).

3. A leveling foot device according to claim 2, wherein the base section (1) further comprises upwardly projecting lips (13) spaced a distance from the teeth of the column (2), said lips (13) arranged to press the teeth of legs (10) of the U-shaped wedge device (9) into engagement with the teeth of the column (2).

4. A leveling foot device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the top piece (4) is provided with engagement means for secure engagement with the underside of the structure to be leveled.

5. A leveling foot device according to claim 4, wherein the structure to be leveled comprises support legs having an internal opening at the bottom of the legs, and wherein the top piece (4) further comprises an upwardly extending protrusion corresponding to the opening of the legs, and further wherein the top piece (4) comprises upwardly projecting wings spaced a distance from the upward protrusion, the distance between the wings corresponding to the width of the leg, whereby the inside surfaces of the wings engage the outside surfaces of the legs in order to provide lateral stability.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention

[0015] FIG. 2. is an exploded view of the invention

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the invention

[0017] FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the invention

[0018] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the invention, together with a support leg from a grid storage system

[0019] FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of the invention installed under a support leg

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leveling foot of the invention comprises base section 1. In a preferred embodiment illustrated, the base section has a rectangular or square profile, but other shapes are possible within the scope of the invention. A hollow column 2 extends upwards from the base 1. A spring 3 is arranged in the hollow column 2. A movable top piece 4 is arranged about column 2. Top piece 4 is slightly larger than column 2 such that column 2 extends into a recess in top piece 4 when the top piece is pressed down against the resistance from spring 3. According to one aspect, column 2 has a guide ridge 5 that engages a guide recess 6 on top piece 4.

[0021] Top piece 4 has one or more side walls 7. The lower surface of guide wall 7 has an angled edge 8. The leveling foot further comprises a generally U-shaped wedge piece 9 with two legs 10. Legs 10 have an angled, upper surface 11, the angle of which corresponds to the angle of edge 8 of top piece 4. Along the inner surfaces of legs 10 are arranged a plurality of teeth 12 arranged to engage similar teeth 13 arranged on the sides of column 2.

[0022] When assembled, and under load, the leveling foot assumes the configuration shown in FIG. 1, whereby the top piece 4 is pressed down against the resistance of spring 3. Wedge piece 9 is inserted into engagement with column 2, the respective teeth locking the wedge piece in place. Angled edge 8 of the top piece will thus rest upon and be supported by upper edge 11 of the wedge piece. A pair of lips 14 on base 1 press legs 10 into engagement with column 2, so that the teeth remain locked together.

[0023] The invention may be used underneath any type of structure that requires leveling, with the force of spring 3 causing top piece 4 to extend and fill any gap caused by an uneven resting surface. According to one aspect, the device may be used to level a gridlike storage system. Such a storage system comprises vertical support legs connected by horizontal members. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the leveling foot in use under such a support leg 15. In the illustrated embodiment, support leg 15 has a hollow center section 16 with a rectangular or square profile. Top piece 4 therefore is provided with a corresponding protrusion 16 that mates with the hollow center section 16. A pair of wings 17 extend up from top piece 4 and engage the outsides of support leg 15 to provide lateral stability, as shown in FIG. 6. In the event the support leg, or indeed the underside of another type of structure, has a different configuration, then top piece 4 can be provide with a complimentary configuration to engage such underside. Non-limiting examples include guide pins extending up from top piece 4 that engage guide holes, ridges that engage slots and the like. The top piece 4 could also be an integrated part of the underside of the structure.