# US 10,945,525 B2 · Self-adjustment restrictor

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- Number: US 10,945,525 B2
- Document ID: US10945525B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/977,132
- Filed: 2018-05-11
- Published: 2018-11-15
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-12
- Assignees: Carpin Manufacturing, Inc.
- Applicants: Carpin Manufacturing, Inc.
- Inventors: David Ferraro; Ralph Carpinella
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945525B2

## CPC

- A47B 91/022: {using screw means}
- A47B 13/021: {Fastening devices of the feet or legs (A47B13/023 takes precedence)}
- A47B 91/024: {Foot attached to a rotating bolt supported in an internal thread}
- A47C 3/24: with vertical spindle
- A47C 7/008: {for uneven surfaces}
- A47B 9/04: with vertical spindle
- F16B 43/00: Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts (circlips F16B21/18; {for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24})
- A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B)
- A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

A device that prevents the self-adjustment of a leveling glide for the tubular legs of various types of furniture, including tables and chairs, is disclosed. The device comprises a threaded insert for a furniture leveling assembly that includes a polymeric washer secured to the bottom of the threaded insert. The polymeric washer is aligned with the axis of the internally threaded of the threaded insert and has a hole diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the externally threaded stem of the leveling glide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A threaded insert for a furniture leveling assembly, the threaded insert comprising:
i. an internally threaded surface that is configured to accommodate an externally threaded stem of a leveling glide;
ii. a polymer washer secured to the bottom of the threaded insert with an adhesive, wherein the polymer washer is made of a closed cell polyurethane foam material, wherein a diameter of a hole of the washer is smaller than a diameter of the externally threaded stem of the leveling glide; and
wherein, an axis of a hole of the washer is aligned with an axis of the internally threaded surface of the threaded insert; and
wherein the leveling glide is turnable about the threaded insert to adjust a height of a tubular furniture leg and the polymer washer resists self-adjustment or rotation but permits manual adjustment by a user to any position along the externally threaded stem based on a desired height of the tubular furniture leg, such that the polymer washer retains the leveling glide at the desired height,
wherein the polymer washer compresses and/or expands to maintain interference between the polymer washer and the externally threaded stem of the leveling glide when under a load, and wherein the polymer washer returns to its original shape once the load is removed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The threaded insert of claim 1, wherein the polymer washer has a hole diameter of 5/16″.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The threaded insert of claim 1, wherein the polymer washer has a thickness of 1/16″.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The threaded insert of claim 1, wherein the threaded insert further includes a clip configured to interact with the tubular furniture leg.

### Claim 5

A furniture leveling assembly, the furniture leveling assembly comprising:
i. a threaded insert with an internally threaded surface;
ii. a leveling glide with an externally threaded stem, wherein the leveling glide is configured to make contact with a floor; and
iii. a polymer washer secured to a bottom of the threaded insert;
wherein the internally threaded surface of the threaded insert is configured to accommodate the externally threaded stem of the leveling glide;
wherein a diameter of a hole of the washer is smaller than a diameter of the externally threaded stem of the leveling glide; and
wherein an axis of the hole of the washer is aligned with an axis of the internally threaded surface of the threaded insert; and
wherein the leveling glide is turnable about the threaded insert to adjust a height of a tubular furniture leg and the polymer washer resists self-adjustment or rotation but permits manual adjustment by a user to any position along the externally threaded stem based on a desired height of the tubular furniture leg, such that the polymer washer retains the leveling glide at the desired height,
wherein the polymer washer compresses and/or expands to maintain interference between the polymer washer and the externally threaded stem of the leveling glide when under a load, and wherein the polymer washer returns to its original shape once the load is removed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The threaded insert of claim 5, wherein the polymer washer has a hole diameter of 5/16″.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The threaded insert of claim 5, wherein the polymer washer also has a thickness of 1/16″.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The threaded insert of claim 5, wherein the polymer washer is made of a resilient polymeric material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The threaded insert of claim 5, wherein the polymer washer is made of a closed cell polyurethane foam material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The threaded insert of claim 5, wherein the threaded insert further includes a clip configured to interact with the tubular furniture leg.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The threaded insert of claim 5, wherein the polymer washer is secured to the bottom of the internally threaded surface of the threaded insert with an adhesive.