초록 ▼

A leg attachment mechanism and a method of manufacture for an article of furniture including a bracket attached to the article of furniture and an expandable post attached to the bracket. The leg includes a receptacle of sufficient dimension to receive the post. The leg is attached to the post by fi

A leg attachment mechanism and a method of manufacture for an article of furniture including a bracket attached to the article of furniture and an expandable post attached to the bracket. The leg includes a receptacle of sufficient dimension to receive the post. The leg is attached to the post by fitting the receptacle over the post and then expanding the post to forcefully engage the walls of the leg defining the receptacle. The post preferably includes a flexible wall that is movable outwardly by rotation of a threaded element, such as a set screw. A foam overmold is preferably formed over the edge of the article of furniture and the bracket. The overmold preferably includes an undercut boot that closely receives upper end of the leg.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A leg attachment mechanism for an article of furniture comprising:a bracket secured to the article of furniture; a post extending from said bracket in a longitudinal direction, said post defining a cross section being generally wedge-shaped alone a plane generally perpendicular to said longitudin

1. A leg attachment mechanism for an article of furniture comprising:a bracket secured to the article of furniture; a post extending from said bracket in a longitudinal direction, said post defining a cross section being generally wedge-shaped alone a plane generally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction; a leg defining a receptacle, said receptacle receiving said post, wherein said cross section of said post can be selectively actuated between a first configuration in which said post fits substantially freely within said receptacle, and a second configuration in which said cross section of said post is expanded from said first configuration so that said post forcefully engages a surface defining said receptacle, whereby expansion of said cross section securely attaches said leg to said post. 2. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 1 wherein said post cross section includes first and second fixed walls and a movable wall, said receptacle corresponding in shape to said post cross section, said post cross section expanding by movement of said movable wall, said movement causing said first and second fixed walls to forcefully engage said receptacle surface to securely attach said leg to said post.3. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 2 wherein said post includes a flexible wall capable of inward and outward movement, said post including means for controlling a position of said flexible wall.4. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 3 wherein said post cross section is substantially triangular.5. A leg attachment mechanism for an article of furniture comprising:a bracket secured to the article of furniture; a post extending from said bracket, wherein said post defines a cross section that is generally wedge-shaped, wherein said post cross section is substantially triangular, wherein said post includes a corner opposite said flexible wall, said corner being beveled, and wherein said post includes a flexible wall capable of inward and outward movement, said post including means for controlling a position of said flexible wall; a leg defining a receptacle, said receptacle corresponding in shape to said post cross section, said receptacle receiving said post, wherein said post cross section can be selectively actuated between a first configuration in which said post fits substantially freely within said receptacle, and a second configuration in which said cross section of said post is expanded from said first configuration so that said post forcefully engages a surface defining said receptacle, whereby expansion of said cross section securely attaches said leg to said post. 6. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 5 wherein said post is manufactured separately from said bracket.7. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 6 wherein said bracket is secured to the article of furniture by at least one fastener said fastener, being disposed beneath said post.8. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 7 wherein said fastener is disposed at a tip of said bracket.9. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 8 wherein said post includes a mounting hole extruded substantially centrally through said post, said post being affixed to said bracket by a fastener extending through said mounting hole.10. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 9 wherein said post includes substantially convex walls.11. The leg attachment mechanism of claim 10 wherein said post cross section is expanded from said first configuration to said second configuration by an element threadedly passing through said flexible wall and engaging a fixed surface on said post, whereby rotational movement of said element in a first direction causes said flexible wall to move outwardly expanding said post.12. A method of manufacturing an article of furniture comprising:attaching a bracket to the article of furniture; inserting the article of furniture into a mold that extends around and encapsulates at least a portion of an edge of said article of furniture; forming an overmold over the bracket and an edge of the article of furniture by injecting a material into said mold, the overmold including a boot adapted to closely receive a leg; attaching a post to the bracket within the boot; and attaching a leg to the post, the leg being fitted over the post within the boot, whereby the overmold provides the article of furniture with a resilient edge while providing a pleasing aesthetic appearance. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein step of forming an overmold includes the steps of:inserting a flexible, resilient plug into the mold, the plug substantially corresponding in cross sectional shape to the post; compressing the plug within the mold such that the plug bulges; injecting foam into the mold while the plug remains bulged; permitting the foam to cure while the plug remains bulged to define an undercut in the boot, such that the cured foam defines a cavity in the shape of the compressed plug. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the post is expandable and the leg includes a receptacle of sufficient dimension to receive the post, said leg attaching step including the steps of:fitting the receptacle over the post; and expanding the post within the receptacle until the post is firmly and securely engaged with the receptacle. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the post includes a flexible wall that is capable of inward and outward movement, said post expanding step including moving the flexible wall outwardly.16. The method of claim 15 wherein the post includes a threaded element extending through said flexible wall and engaging a fixed portion of the post, said post expanding step including rotating said threaded element.17. The method of claim 16 wherein the bracket is secured to the article of furniture by a fastener prior to said post attachment step, the fastener being disposed to lie beneath the post once said post is attached to said bracket.18. The method of claim 17 wherein the post and the receptacle are generally triangular in cross section.19. The method of claim 18 wherein the post includes generally convex side walls, the post further including a beveled corner opposite the flexible wall.20. An article of furniture comprising:a surface; a bracket connected to said surface; a foam overmold molded over said bracket, wherein said overmold is molded in situ over at least a portion of said surface, said overmold defining a boot; a post extending from said bracket within said boot; and a leg affixed to said post within said boot, said leg defining a receptacle fitted over said post. 21. The article of furniture of claim 20 wherein said boot is undercut.22. The article of furniture of claim 21 wherein said post is generally wedge-shaped, said receptacle corresponding in shape to said post.23. The article of furniture of claim 22 further comprising means for selectively expanding said post, said means permitting selective expansion of said post from a first configuration in which said post fits substantially freely within said receptacle and a second configuration in which said post is expanded to forcefully engage a surface defining said receptacle, whereby expansion of said post securely attaches said leg to said post.24. The article of furniture of claim 23 wherein said post includes a flexible wall capable of outward flexing movement, said means for selectively expanding said post including means for controlling a position of said flexible wall.25. The article of furniture of claim 24 wherein said post includes a corner opposite said flexible wall, said corner being beveled.26. The article of furniture of claim 25 wherein said post is substantially triangular in cross section.27. The article of furniture of claim 26 wherein said post is manufactured separately from said bracket.28. The article of furniture of claim 27 wherein said bracket is secured to the article of furniture by at least one fastener, said fastener being disposed beneath said post.29. The article of furniture of claim 28 wherein said fastener is disposed at a tip of said bracket.30. The article of furniture of claim 29 wherein said post includes amounting hole extruded substantially centrally through said post, said post being affixed to said bracket by a fastener extending through said mounting hole.31. The article of furniture of claim 30 wherein said post and said receptacle include substantially convex walls.32. The article of furniture of claim 31 wherein said post expanding means includes an element threadedly passing through said flexible wall and engaging a fixed surface on said post, whereby rotational movement of said element in a first direction cause said flexible wall to move outwardly, thereby expanding said post.33. The article of furniture of claim 32 wherein said post expanding means includes a set screw threadedly mounted within said flexible wall.34. The article of furniture of claim 33 wherein said flexible wall is defined by a pair of intersecting voids extruded into the post, whereby said flexible wall is an integral portion of said post.35. A leg attachment mechanism for an article of furniture comprising:a bracket secured to the article of furniture; a post extending from said bracket, in a longitudinal direction, said post defining a cross section being generally wedge-shaped along a plane generally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction; a leg defining a receptacle, said receptacle receiving said post; means for selectively expanding said post, said means permitting selective increase of said post from a first configuration in which said post fits substantially freely within said receptacle, to a second configuration in which said post is expanded to forcefully engage a surface defining said receptacle, whereby expansion of said post securely attaches said leg to said post.