Method For Fabricating A Wrap Around Furniture Glide

Abstract

A method of fabricating a furniture glide is provided. The method includes the step of providing a furniture engaging layer having first and second surfaces. A slide is positioned adjacent to the second surface of the furniture engaging layer. The slide is fabricated from a meltable material. The slide is heated so as to cause a portion of the meltable material to melt and flow into the furniture engaging layer. Solidification of the portion of meltable material in the furniture engaging layer bonds the slide to the furniture engaging layer

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a furniture glide, comprising the steps of: providing a furniture engaging layer having first and second surfaces; positioning a slide adjacent to the second surface of the furniture engaging layer, the slide fabricated from a meltable material; and heating the slide so as to cause a portion of the meltable material to melt and flow into the furniture engaging layer; wherein solidification of the portion of meltable material in the furniture engaging layer bonds the slide to the furniture engaging layer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of heating the slide includes the additional steps of: positioning a surface of a heating element adjacent to the first surface of the furniture engaging layer, the surface of the heated element in alignment with the first side of the slide; and bringing the surface of the heated element into contact with the furniture engaging layer so as to heat to the portion of the meltable material of the slide.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the heating element is a bar having a convex outer surface engageable with the first surface of the furniture engaging layer.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of forming a concave recess in the first side of the slide.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the slide is fabricated from a high-density polyethylene.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of cooling the portion of meltable material in the furniture engaging layer to facilitate the solidification thereof.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of cooling the portion of meltable material including the step of contacting the furniture engaging layer with a cooling bar.

8. A method of fabricating a furniture glide, comprising the steps of: providing a furniture engaging layer having first and second surfaces, first and second ends, and first and second sides; positioning a slide against the second surface of the furniture engaging layer, the slide extending from the first side of the furniture engaging layer to the second side of the furniture engaging layer and being fabricated from a meltable material; engaging the first surface of the furniture engaging layer with a heating element so as to cause a portion of the slide to melt and flow into the furniture engaging layer; and solidifying the portion of meltable material in the furniture engaging layer to bond the slide to the furniture engaging layer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the heating element is a bar having a convex outer surface engageable with the first surface of the furniture engaging layer.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein a concave recess is formed in the slide in response to the heating of the slide with the heating element.

11. The method of claim 8 comprising the additional step of forming a concave recess in a first side of the slide.

12. The method of claim 8 comprising the additional step of forming a concave recess in first surface of the furniture engaging letter.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the slide is fabricated from a high-density polyethylene.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of solidifying the portion of meltable material includes the additional step of cooling the portion of meltable material in the furniture engaging layer.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of cooling the portion of meltable material including the step of contacting the furniture engaging layer with a cooling bar.

16. A method of fabricating a furniture glide, comprising the steps of: providing a furniture engaging layer having first and second surfaces; positioning a meltable slide against the second surface of the furniture engaging layer; melting a portion of the slide, the portion flowing into the furniture engaging layer; and solidifying the portion of the slide in the furniture engaging layer to bond the slide to the furniture engaging layer.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising the addition step of positioning a heating element against the first surface of the furniture engaging layer to melt the slide.

18. The method of claim 16 comprising the additional step of forming a concave recess in a first side of the slide.

19. The method of claim 16 comprising the additional step of forming a concave recess in first surface of the furniture engaging letter.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the slide is fabricated from a high-density polyethylene.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of solidifying the portion of slide includes the additional step of cooling the furniture engaging layer.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of cooling the portion of slide includes the step of contacting the furniture engaging layer with a cooling bar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The drawings furnished herewith illustrate a preferred construction of the present invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed as well as others which will be readily understood from the following description of the illustrated embodiment.

[0017] In the drawings:

[0018] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a chair incorporating a plurality of furniture glides mounted thereto, the furniture glides fabricated in accordance with the methodology of present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view showing an initial step in the fabrication of a furniture glide in accordance with the methodology of present invention;

[0020] FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view showing a subsequent step in the fabrication a furniture glide in accordance with the methodology of present invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view showing an additional subsequent step in the fabrication of furniture glide in accordance with the methodology of present invention;

[0022] FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view showing an additional subsequent step in the fabrication of a furniture glide in accordance with the methodology of present invention;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a bottom, isometric view showing a furniture glide fabricated in accordance with the methodology of present invention;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a top, isometric view showing the furniture glide of FIG. 6; and

[0025] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the furniture glide fabricated in accordance with the methodology of present invention taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, a furniture glide fabricated in accordance with the methodology of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. It is intended that furniture glide 10 be receivable on a base portion 14 of a conventional chair 16 or similar piece of furniture. According to an exemplary application, the chair 16 includes back 18 and seat 20 interconnected by a tubular frame 22. The tubular frame 22 includes two, generally parallel, horizontal base portions 24 which are intended to support chair 16 on a supporting surface such as a floor or the like.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 2-3 and 6-8, furniture glide 10 included a furniture engaging layer 26 having a generally oblong shape and including first and second surfaces 28 and 30, respectively, interconnected by an outer periphery 32. Outer periphery 32 of furniture engaging layer 26 defines first and second ends 34 and 36, respectively, and first and second sides 38 and 39, respectively. It is noted that furniture engaging layer 26 may have other configurations without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For reasons hereinafter described, it is intended for furniture engaging layer 26 to be fabricated from a fibrous, matted material which is flexible, such as a polyester fabric or felt. However, it can be understood that furniture engaging layer 26 may be constructed out of other types of flexible, porous materials without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

[0028] Furniture glide 10 further includes a generally rectangular floor engaging element or slide 40. Slide 40 is defined by first and second sides 42 and 44, respectively, first and second ends 46 and 48, respectively, a generally flat floor engaging surface 50 and a layer engaging surface 52. Layer engaging surface 52 may be generally flat or concave, for reasons hereinafter described. Preferably, slide 40 is fabricated from a thermoplastic polymer having a high-impact resistance which resists damage when in contact with or when being slid along a supporting surface fabricated from an abrasive material, such as concrete or brick and having a melting point less than the melting point of furniture engaging layer 26. For example, slide 40 may be fabricated from High Density Polyethylene (hereinafter referred to as HDPE). However, it can be understood that slide 40 may be fabricated out of other types of materials without deviating from the scope of the present invention.

[0029] In order to construct furniture glide 10, heating element 60 is provided. In the depicted embodiment, heating element 60 is an elongated bar extending along an axis and having a semi-circular configuration. More specifically, heating element 60 includes a generally flat upper surface 62 defined by first and second sides 64 and 66, respectively, and a terminal edge 68; acuate heating surface 70 extending between first and second sides 64 and 66, respectively, of upper surface 62; and end surface 72. Heating surface 70 has a generally convex configuration and corresponds in shape to horizontal base portions 24 of tubular frame 22 of chair 16, for reasons hereinafter described. End surface 72 has a semi-circular configuration and intersects terminal edge 68 of upper surface 62, as well as, arcuate terminal edge 76 of heating surface 70.

[0030] To bond furniture engaging layer 26 to slide 40, heating element is heated to a predetermined temperature such that heating surface 70 is of a sufficient temperature to melt slide 40, but below the melting point of furniture engaging layer 26. As best seen in FIG. 3, slide 40 is positioned furniture engaging layer 26 such that: 1) layer engaging surface 52 of slide 40 engages second surface 30 of furniture engaging layer 26; 2) slide 40 is equidistantly disposed between first and second ends 34 and 36, respectively, of outer periphery 32 of furniture engaging layer 26; 3) first end 46 of slide 40 is aligned with first side 38 of furniture engaging layer 26; and 4) second end 48 of slide 40 is aligned with second side 40 of furniture engaging layer 26. With slide 40 positioned as described, heating element 60 is brought into contact with and urged against furniture engaging layer 26 such that heating surface 70 engages first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26.

[0031] With heating surface 70 pressed against first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26, heating element 60 causes the portion of the thermoplastic polymer defining layer engaging surface 52 of slide 40 to melt such that: 1) the melted portion of the thermoplastic polymer flows into the fibrous, matted material forming furniture engaging layer 26; and 2) layer engaging surface 52 of slide 40 and furniture engaging layer 26 develop a semi-circular configuration corresponding in size and shape with heating surface 70 of heating element 60.

[0032] Once the thermoplastic polymer flows into the fibrous, matted material forming furniture engaging layer 26, heating element 60 is removed from into contact with furniture engaging layer 26 such that heating surface 70 no longer engages first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26, thereby allowing the thermoplastic polymer which flowed into the fibrous, matted material forming furniture engaging layer 26 to cool and solidify. Once the thermoplastic polymer solidifies, a mechanical bond is formed between slide 40 and furniture engaging layer 26.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 4-5, to sped up the bonding process, it is contemplated to provide cooling element 80. In the depicted embodiment, cooling element 80 is an elongated bar extending along an axis and having a semi-circular configuration. More specifically, cooling element 80 includes a generally flat upper surface 82 defined by first and second side edges 84 and 86, respectively, and a terminal edge 88 extending between first and second side edges 84 and 86, respectively; acuate cooling surface 90 extending between first and second side edges 84 and 86, respectively, of upper surface 82; and end surface 92. Cooling surface 90 has a generally convex configuration and corresponds in shape to horizontal base portions 24 of tubular frame 22 of chair 16, for reasons hereinafter described. End surface 92 has a semi-circular configuration and intersects terminal edge 88 of upper surface 82, as well as, arcuate terminal edge 96 of cooling surface 90.

[0034] To speed up solidification of the thermoplastic polymer, cooling element 80 is chilled to a desired temperature such that cooling surface 90 is of a temperature to solidify the thermoplastic polymer received in the fibrous, matted material forming furniture engaging layer 26. More specifically, cooling element 80 is brought into contact with and urged against furniture engaging layer 26 such that cooling surface 90 engages first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26, FIG. 5. With cooling surface 90 pressed against first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26, cooling element 80 causes the melted portion of the thermoplastic polymer which is received in the fibrous, matted material forming furniture engaging layer 26 to rapidly cool and solidify, thereby forming the mechanical bond between slide 40 and furniture engaging layer 26.

[0035] In order to interconnect furniture glide 10 to base portions 24 of tubular frame 22 of chair 16, furniture glide 10 is positioned adjacent a corresponding base portion 24 of chair frame 16 such that first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26 of furniture glide 10 is directed towards the outer periphery of the corresponding base portion 24 of chair frame 16 and such that the floor engaging surface 50 of slide 40 of furniture glide 10 is directed away from chair frame 16. It can be appreciated that the semi-circular configuration of furniture engaging layer 26 allows for first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26 of furniture glide 10 to form a mating relationship with the outer periphery of the corresponding base portion 24 tubular frame 22 of chair 16. First and second ends 34 and 36, respectively, of furniture glide 10 are wrapped around the outer periphery of the corresponding base portion 24 of tubular frame 22 of chair 16 such that the first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26 of furniture glide 10 is wrapped around the outer periphery of the corresponding base portion 24 of tubular frame 22 of chair 16, FIG. 1. Adhesive 96, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), may be provided along on first surface 28 of furniture engaging layer 26 of furniture glide 10 to retain furniture glide 10 on the corresponding base portion 24 of tubular frame 22 of chair 16, FIG. 8. The process may be repeated multiple times in order to mount additional furniture glides 10 on the corresponding base portion 24 of tubular frame 22 of chair 16.

[0036] Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.