FURNITURE ATTACHMENT COMPONENT FOR SURFACE PROTECTORS

Abstract

A surface protector includes a surface protector base, a hollow nail attachment component embedded within the surface protector base, and a pad adjacent the surface protector base. The hollow nail attachment component includes a base, an upper edge protruding from the surface protector base, and a wall extending between the base and the upper edge. In some examples, the upper edge is serrated. The upper edge can be configured to attach to a piece of furniture.

Claims

1. A surface protector, comprising: (a) a surface protector base; (b) a hollow nail attachment component embedded within the surface protector base, the hollow nail attachment component comprising: (i) a base; (ii) an upper edge protruding from the surface protector base, the upper edge being configured to attach to a piece of furniture; and (iii) a wall extending between the base and the upper edge; and (c) a pad adjacent the surface protector base.

2. The surface protector of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the hollow nail attachment component comprises a serrated upper edge.

3. The surface protector of claim 2, wherein the serrated upper edge comprises a wavy-shaped upper edge.

4. The surface protector of claim 2, wherein the serrated upper edge comprises a structure selected from a group consisting of a sawtooth structure, a jagged structure, a crenated structure, and a scalloped structure.

5. The surface protector of claim 1, wherein the base of the hollow nail attachment component comprises a flange.

6. The surface protector of claim 5, wherein the flange is oriented outwardly from the wall of the hollow nail attachment component.

7. The surface protector of claim 5, wherein the flange is oriented inwardly from the wall of the hollow nail attachment component.

8. The surface protector of claim 1, wherein the pad comprises felt.

9. The surface protector of claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the hollow nail attachment component comprises an upper edge footprint and the base of the hollow nail attachment component comprises a base footprint, the base footprint being larger than the upper edge footprint.

10. A surface protector, comprising: (a) a surface protector base; (b) a hollow nail attachment component embedded within the surface protector base, the hollow nail attachment component comprising: (i) a base including a flange; (ii) a serrated upper edge protruding from the surface protector base, the serrated upper edge configured to attach to a piece of furniture; and (iii) a wall extending between the base and the serrated upper edge forming a circular perimeter; and (c) a pad adjacent the surface protector base.

11. The surface protector of claim 10, wherein the flange is oriented outwardly from the wall of the hollow nail attachment component.

12. The surface protector of claim 11, wherein the outwardly oriented flange comprises a flange footprint and the serrated upper edge comprises an upper edge footprint, the flange footprint being larger than the upper edge footprint.

13. The surface protector of claim 10, wherein the flange is oriented inwardly from the wall of the hollow nail attachment component.

14. The surface protector of claim 13, wherein the inwardly oriented flange comprises a flange footprint and the serrated upper edge comprises an upper edge footprint, the flange footprint being smaller than the upper edge footprint.

15. The surface protector of claim 10, wherein the pad comprises felt.

16. The surface protector of claim 10, wherein the serrated upper edge comprises a structure selected from a group consisting of a sawtooth structure, a jagged structure, a crenated structure, and a scalloped structure.

17. A method of manufacturing a surface protector, comprising: (a) providing a hollow nail attachment component comprising: (i) a base; (ii) an upper edge configured to attach to a piece of furniture; and (iii) a wall extending between the base and the upper edge; (b) molding a surface protector base over the hollow nail attachment component such that the upper edge of the hollow nail attachment component protrudes from the surface protector base; and (c) securing the surface protector base to a pad.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein securing the surface protector base to a pad comprises adhering the surface protector base to a pad.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the base of the hollow nail attachment component comprises a flange.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein molding the surface protector base over the hollow nail attachment component comprises embedding the flange into the surface protector base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples of the present invention and therefore do not limit the scope of invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, though embodiments can include the scale illustrated, and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description wherein like reference characters denote like elements. Examples of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative hollow nail attachment component used in connection with a surface protector, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 2A is a side view of a surface protector including a hollow nail attachment, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2B is a side view of a surface protector including a hollow nail attachment, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 2C is a side view of a surface protector including a hollow nail attachment, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 3 is an expanded view of an illustrative surface protector that includes the hollow nail attachment component of FIG. 1, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the surface protector of FIG. 3 as assembled, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the surface protector of FIG. 3, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a chair and an illustrative surface protector, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 6A, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 6C is a closer perspective view of a portion of FIG. 6A, in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Various surface protectors can be used to protect surfaces. However, insertion and use of surface protectors can come with reduced stability. Some surface protectors can include structures resulting in uneven or unstable insertion of the surface protector. Others can reduce the stability of the furniture during use. Some surface protectors can become dislodged during repeated use, thereby leaving the surface unprotected.

[0039] The embodiments herein are directed to a surface protector 21 (e.g., FIG. 3). The surface protector 21 can include a surface protector base 22, a hollow nail attachment component 10 embedded within the surface protector base 22, and a pad 20 adjacent the surface protector base 22. The surface protector 21 can be pressed into a piece of furniture, protecting surfaces adjacent to the furniture. The hollow nail attachment component 10 includes features providing additional stability to the surface protector 21 during installation and use, which will be discussed in additional detail below. FIG. 1 shows the features of a hollow nail attachment component 10. These features can include, for example, an upper edge 12, which would protrude from the surface protector base, and a wall 17 extending between a base 11 and the upper edge 12. The upper edge 12 can be configured to attach to a piece of furniture.

[0040] FIG. 1 displays a perspective view of such a hollow nail attachment component 10 to be embedded in a surface protector. The hollow nail attachment component 10 includes a perimeter 15 that defines an open interior 16. The wall 17 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can define this perimeter 15. As shown, the perimeter 15 is circular, making the hollow nail attachment component 10 generally cylindrical. In some examples, the perimeter 15 can have a variety of shapes, such as square, rectangular, elliptical, triangular, and so on. The hollow nail attachment component 10 may be configured to be the same shape as the surface protector 21 in which it is embedded. As noted elsewhere herein, the surface protector may be round, square, or other shapes. The surface protector can be any shape configured for use with a piece of furniture.

[0041] The hollow nail attachment component 10 can include additional features. The hollow nail attachment component 10 can have a base 11 and an upper edge 12. In some embodiments, the base 11 can have a diameter of about 13 mm to about 50 mm. In some embodiments, the base 11 can have a diameter of 25 mm. Likewise, some embodiments of the upper edge 12 can have a diameter of about 9 mm to about 46 mm. In some embodiments, the upper edge 12 can have a diameter of about 21 mm. The hollow nail attachment component 10 can be made of a variety of materials. The hollow nail attachment component 10 can be made of metal. In some embodiments, the hollow nail attachment component 10 can be made of carbon steel. In some embodiments, the hollow nail attachment component 10 can be made of stainless steel.

[0042] As noted, the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include a wall 17. The wall 17 can extend from the base 11 to the upper edge 12. The wall 17 can be about 1 mm to about 12 mm in height. In some embodiments, the wall 17 can be about 8 mm in height. In some embodiments, the height of the wall 17 can vary based on the shape of the upper edge 12. The wall can extend continuously from the base to the upper edge. By doing so, the wall 17 can provide additional stability to the surface protector than the stability afforded in surface protectors not including a continuous wall. This can provide for ease of insertion of the surface protector into a piece of furniture and increased stability when using the piece of furniture.

[0043] As noted, the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include an upper edge 12. The upper edge 12 can facilitate attachment to furniture (e.g., to the underside of furniture). The upper edge 12 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include an upper edge footprint. The base 11 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include a base footprint. The base footprint and/or upper edge footprint can be defined by the perimeter of the base 11 and/or upper edge 12.

[0044] The footprints of the base 11 and upper edge 12 can vary. In some embodiments, the base footprint and upper edge footprint can be the same size. In some embodiments, the base 11 can have a different footprint than the upper edge 12. In some embodiments, the base 11 can have a larger footprint than the upper edge 12 (e.g., for a hollow nail attachment component with a circular perimeter, the diameter of the base may be larger than that of the upper edge). In some embodiments, the base 11 can have a smaller footprint than the upper edge 12. The footprint of the base 11 can be determined by features at the base 11. As discussed in greater detail in connection with FIG. 3, the base 11 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include a flange 14 (sometimes referred to as a tab).

[0045] The base 11 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include a flange 14. The flange 14 can have a variety of configurations. As shown, the flange 14 can be oriented outwardly from the wall 17 of the hollow nail attachment component 10. In some embodiments, the flange 14 can be oriented inwardly from the wall 17 of the hollow nail attachment component 10. The flange 14 can protrude about 1 mm to about 6 mm from the wall 17 of the hollow nail attachment component 10. In some embodiments, the flange can protrude about 3 mm.

[0046] The orientation of the flange 14 can affect the footprint of the base 11 of the hollow nail attachment component 10. In some embodiments, the inwardly oriented flange can include a flange footprint and the upper edge 12 can include an upper edge footprint. The flange footprint can be smaller than the upper edge footprint. In some embodiments, the outwardly oriented flange (such as the flange 14 of FIG. 1) can include a flange footprint and the upper edge 12 can include an upper edge footprint. The flange footprint can be larger than the upper edge footprint.

[0047] The upper edge 12 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include features configured to attach the hollow nail attachment component 10 to a piece of furniture. Such features can be a variety of structures. The upper edge 12 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include serrations 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the serrations 13 have a wavy shape. The serrations 13 of the upper edge 12 can be configured for insertion into a piece of furniture. In some embodiments, the upper edge 12 can be a pointed edge. The upper edge 12 can be slanted into a point configured to be embedded into a piece of furniture along the shape of the upper edge 12. In some embodiments, the upper edge 12 can be flat along the shape of the upper edge 12.

[0048] The serrations 13 can have a variety of configurations. In some examples, the serrations 13 may have a sawtooth shape, a jagged shape, a crenated shape, a scalloped shape, a combination of different shapes, and so on. FIG. 2A shows a surface protector 50 including a scalloped upper edge 52. FIG. 2B shows a surface protector 60 including a sawtooth-shaped upper edge 62. The sawtooth-shaped structure can include a plurality of protruding pointed structures 64. FIG. 2C shows a surface protector 70 including a flat or plain upper edge 72. The flat or plain upper edge 72 can include no serrations. In each of the embodiments shown in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and/or FIG. 2C, the upper edge 52, 62, 72 can be flat. Alternatively, each of the upper edges 52, 62, 72 of the embodiments 50, 60,70 can be pointed to provide a sharp edge that can penetrate furniture or other objects.

[0049] FIG. 3 is an expanded view of a surface protector 21 that includes the hollow nail attachment component 10. The surface protector 21 can include a pad 20 that is configured to contact the floor or wall the surface protector 21 is configured to protect. The pad 20 can have a thickness. The thickness of the pad 20 can range from about 3 mm to about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the pad 20 can be about 7 mm. The pad 20 can be the same or similar shape as the surface protector base 22. The pad 20 can be made of felt. In some examples, the pad 20 can be made of other materials, such as Berber or other suitable material.

[0050] The base 22 of the surface protector 21 can include a variety of features. The base 22 may be made of plastic. The base 22 can include a flat upper surface 23 and a wall or walls 24 extending from the flat upper surface 23 to a lower surface of the base 22. The wall or walls 24 of the base 22 may be a greater height than the height of the hollow nail attachment component 10. The shape of the base 22 may be the same shape as the shape of the hollow nail attachment component 10. In some embodiments, the flat upper surface 23 of the base 22 may be larger than the flange 14 of the hollow nail attachment component 10. The base 22 can be molded over the hollow nail attachment component 10. The lower surface of the base 22 may be secured to the pad 20. In some embodiments, the pad 20 can be an entirely solid shape.

[0051] The hollow nail attachment component 10 can be embedded within the surface protector base 22. The base 11 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can be disposed at any location in the surface protector base 22. In some embodiments, the base 11 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can be located entirely within the surface protector base 22. In some embodiments, the base 11 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can be disposed within the surface protector base 22 such that the base 11 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 is in contact with the pad 20.

[0052] Manufacturing the surface protector can include providing a hollow nail attachment component 10. The hollow nail attachment component 10 can include each feature described above, including a base 11, an upper edge 12 configured to attach to a piece of furniture, and a wall 17 extending between the base 11 and the upper edge 12. The method can include molding a surface protector base 22 over the hollow nail attachment component 10 such that the upper edge 12 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 protrudes from the surface protector base 22. The method can include securing the surface protector base 22 to a pad 20.

[0053] Molding the surface protector base 22 over the hollow nail attachment component 10 can be done in a variety of ways. In a further embodiment, molding the surface protector base 22 over the hollow nail attachment component 10 can include embedding the flange 14 into the surface protector base 22. The molding process can be completed using injection molding equipment and techniques.

[0054] Securing the surface protector base 22 to the pad 20 can be accomplished in a variety of ways. In some embodiments, securing the surface protector base 22 to the pad 20 can include adhering the surface protector base 22 to the pad 20. This adherence can be completed by machine or manually. In some embodiments, the surface protector base 22 can be heat bonded to the pad 20. The surface protector base 22 can be adhered to the pad 20 using a variety of materials, including, for example, glue.

[0055] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled surface protector 21 with an embedded hollow nail attachment component 10. The hollow nail attachment component 10 may be embedded into the base 22 of the surface protector 21. The hollow nail attachment component 10 may be embedded into the base 22 such that the upper edge 12 protrudes from the base 22. When the hollow nail attachment component 10 is embedded into the base 22, the hollow nail attachment component 10 can protrude from the surface protector 21. The hollow nail attachment component 10 can protrude about 1 mm to about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the hollow nail attachment component 10 can protrude about 7 mm.

[0056] The base 22 of the surface protector 21 can include a variety of features. For example, the base 22 can be between the pad 20 and the upper edge 12 of the hollow nail attachment component 10. The distance between the upper edge 12 and the upper surface of the base 22 can be sufficient for the upper edge 12 to be embedded within an article of furniture. In some embodiments, the base 22 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 may comprise a flange 14. The flange 14 may extend outward from the hollow nail attachment component 10 such that it has a larger footprint than the remainder of the hollow nail attachment component 10. The portion of the flange 14 that is embedded into the base 22 may not protrude from the base 22.

[0057] The upper edge 12 of the hollow nail attachment component 10 can be pressed into a lower surface of a piece of furniture, effectively attaching the surface protector 21 to the piece of furniture. When the surface protector 21 is attached to a piece of furniture, the hollow nail attachment component 10 can be inserted into the piece of furniture. The insertion can occur by applying a force to the underside of the pad 20 of the surface protector 21, such that the force drives the upper edge 12 into the furniture. This force can be applied in a variety of ways, such as hitting, hammering, or other means of applying pressure or force such that the upper edge 12 hollow nail attachment component 10 becomes pressed into the furniture. When the hollow nail attachment component 10 is pressed into the furniture, the base 22 can be in contact with the furniture. The pad 20 may not be in contact with the furniture once the hollow nail attachment component 10 is embedded in the furniture. The surface protector 21 may be attached to the furniture such that it is either horizontally or vertically aligned on a surface of a piece of furniture.

[0058] FIGS. 6A-6C show a chair 500 with four legs 502 and a surface protector 504 attached to the underside of each of the legs 502. The surface protector 504 can have one or more of the attributes of other surface protectors discussed herein. As shown, the surface protector 504 can include a pad 506, a base 508, and a hollow nail attachment component 510. The hollow nail attachment component 510 can be pressed into the underside 512 of the leg 502 to secure the surface protector 504 to the chair 500.