GB2152809A - Adjustable foot - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable foot for a free- standing panel-like structure such as a screen, comprises an inner member (10) for attachment to such structure and affording a flange (12) or head at its underside. The peripheral edge of the flange or head is formed with an external screw-thread (13). The foot further comprises an outer member (20) which affords an internal screw-thread (23) to mate with thread (13) whereby the outer member may be adjusted axially relative to the inner member so as to vary the overall height of the foot whilst the threads (13, 23) remain concealed. The foot may be used on a fire screen of the type comprising three panels hinged together (Fig. 2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable foot and panel-like structure incorporating same This invention relates to an adjustable foot for enabling articles to stand level on an uneven or sloping surface and to a free-standing panel-like structure incorporating such a foot.

Adjustable feet are known in various forms which incorporate levelling screws of various kinds, Mostly, the foot includes an exposed screw thread and some means engageable by a tool to rotate one part of the foot relative to another and thereby effect axial adjustment of the levelling screw.

Such feet are generally acceptable for large machines or domestic appliances since either the appearance is not regarded as being of any significance, or the foot is substantially concealed when in use.

However, there is a need for a levelling screw to be available for relatively small, light-weight articles when the appearance is of importance. For example, fire screens should stand firmly in position if they arf to serve the purpose of safely enclosing an open fire, but hearths are often quite uneven so that a fire screen may not stand in a stable position if it is provided with non-adjustable feet. Conventional designs of adjustable feet are aesthetically undesirable, and as fire screens are often designed to be aesthetically pleasing and decorative as well as functional, there is a need for a simple and unobtrusive adjustable foot for use with such articles and others where generally similar considerations apply.

With this in view we provide in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, an adjustable foot comprising an inner member adapted to be fixedly secured to the article to be supported thereby and having an externally screw-threaded portion, and an outer member which is internally threaded to receive the threaded portion of the inner member so that the outer member is rotatable on, and adjustable axially of, the inner member whereby, in use, the threaded portion of the inner member is wholly concealed by the outer member.

Preferably the outer member includes means to retain it in assembled relation with the inner member. For this purpose an axially short unthreaded surface may be provided at the use upper end of the external thread of the outer member, or respective internal and external flanges may be formed or provided on the outer and inner members to come into abuting relation.

The axial length of the threaded portion of the inner member is preferably substantially less than the axial length of the outer member, and the two members may be formed or provided with abutments which engage one another to limit axial movement of the outer member relative to the inner member so that in all axial positions of adjustment, the threaded portion of the inner member is totaily within the outer member.

In a preferred embodiment, the threaded portion of the inner member comprises a head afforded by a disc-like flange which is formed or provided at the in-use lower end of the inner member and has an axially short screw thread formed around its circumference. In such a case, the outer member may be in the form of a collar having a thread formed at its inner periphery and extending over substantially its entire axial length. At the in-use upper end of the collar, it may be formed or provided with an internal flange to abut the head of the inner member and thereby limit downward movement of the outer member relative to the inner member, and render the outer member captive.

Alternatively, the inner periphery of the outer member may include an axially short unthreaded portion at its upper end for the same purpose.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, we provide a free-standing panel-like structure provided with two or more feet at its lower edge, at least one of such feet comprising such inner and outer members.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of adjustable foot shown partly in section; and Figure 2 illustrates a typical screen on which the foot is used.

As shown in figure 1, ain adjustable foot in accordance with the invention comprises an inner member 10 and an outer member 20 connected together in an axially adjustable manner by respected screw-threaded portions. The inner member 10 is in theform of a cylindrical stud having an axial through bore 11 to receive a suitable fastening element, such as a bolt or rivet whereby it may be secured to the underside of an article A which the foot is intended to support. Any suitable fastening element may extend through the bore 11 and into the article A, but preferably the bore is internally threaded and the stud 10 is secured to the article by means of a bolt which engages the thread within the bore 11, so that the stud 10 is fixedly secured to the article A in a manner whereby rotation of the stud is resisted.

At its lower end, the stud 10 is formed or provided with a head of locally increased diameter such as a disc-like flange 12 which projects radially from the external cylindrical face of the stud 10 by a distance of the order of 1 mm. The thickness of the flange in the axial direction may typically be between 1 mm and 2 mm. The peripheral edge of the flange 12 is formed with an external screw thread 13 of such a pitch that there is typically between one and two complete convolutions of the thread.

The outer member 20 is formed as a cylindrical collar having an internal bore 21 formed with an internal screw thread 23 over most of its axial length. However, in the embodiment illustrated, the upper end portion 22 of the bore 21 is unthreaded.

The axial length of the collar 22 is preferably substantially equal to the axial length of the stud 10.

It will be appreciated that the axial position of the collar 20 on the stud 10 can be varied by rotation of the collar so that the overall height of the foot may be varied from a minimum (x) which is substantially equal to the axial length of the stud 10 itself, and a maximum (y) which is slightly less than twice the axial length of the stud.

Because the upper end portion 22 of the bore 21 within the collar 20 is unthreaded, the collar is held captive on the stud 10. Instead of leaving an unthreaded portion at the upper end of the bore, it would alternatively be possible to provide an inwardly directed flange to abut axially against the flange 12 at the lower end of the stud. Whilst the flange 12 is formed integrally with the stud 10, it will be appreciated that it could alternatively be formed either as a separate disc which is secured to the stud by means of a bolt or the like whereby the stud is secured to the article A, or as ahead afforded by such bolt or other fastening element.

It can be seen that in all positions of axial adjustment, the collar 20 totally conceals the screw thread 13 carried by the stud 10. Thus, the foot functions as as levelling screw without detraction from its aesthetic appearance.

Whilst the outer member 20 in the embodiment illustrated is in the form of a collar, it will be appreciated that it could be formed in any other appropriate shape, such as a sphere, with an axial bore.

The adjustable foot in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for use with panel like structures such as fire screens or folding screens. Thus, a fire screen as shown in Figure 2 may include a central panel 5 with two lateral panels 6 either fixedly or hingedly secured thereto so as to extend generally transversely. Two fixed feet 4 of conventional design may be attached at the lower edge of the central panel, and one adjustable foot 9 as described above may be attached to each of the lateral panels. Alternatively, all fourfeet may be adjustable. In the case of a panel consisting of a single screen, such feet may be provided at opposite ends of transversely extending legs.

Claims (12)

1. An adjustable foot comprising an inner member having meansforsecuring itfixedlyto an article to be supported thereby and an externally screwthreaded portion, and an outer member having an internally screw-threaded portion which engages said externally screw-threaded portion of the inner member whereby the outer member is rotatable on, and adjustable axially of, the inner member.

2. An adjustable foot according to claim 1 further comprising means for retaining the outer member in assembled relation with the inner member when the latter is fixed to the article it is to support.

3. An adjustable foot according to claim 2 wherein said means comprises an unthreaded surface which forms an axial extension of the internally screwthreaded portion at the in use upper end thereof.

4. An adjustable foot according to claim 2 wherein said means comprises in combination respective abutments afforded by the inner and outer members.

5. An adjustable foot according to claim 1 wherein said externally screw-threaded portion has an axial length substantially less than that of the internally screw-threaded portion of the outer member.

6. An adjustable foot according to claim 5 wherein said externally screw-threaded portion comprises a head of locally increased diameter at the in use lower end of the inner member.

7. An adjustable foot according to claim 6 wherein the outer member includes an internal flange at its in use upper end arranged to abut against said head and thereby hold the outer member in captive relationship with the inner member when the latter is assembled with the article it is to support.

8. An adjustable foot according to claim 1 wherein said inner member affords a through bore to receive a fastening element whereby it may be secured to the article it is to support.

9. A free-standing panel-like structure having two or more feet at its in use lower edge, at least one of said feet comprising an adjustable foot according to claim 1.

10. A structure according to claim 9 comprising at least two hinged or fixedly interconnected panels which in use extend generally transverse to one another.

11. An adjustable foot substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.