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[0001] A common problem with tables, eg. in restaurants, is caused by the fact that they are often placed on uneven floor surfaces, so that, in use, they often rock or wobble.
[0002] At present, the restaurant, pub and hotel trade currently uses various items to prevent a table from rocking, eg. a folded paper table napkin, a book of matches, a business card or a cork. All of these are difficult to put in position, and are often ineffective as they are readily detached from the position in which they secure the table or like piece of furniture from rocking or wobbling, and in some cases the temporary expedients used are unhygienic and/or unsightly. In any event, such temporary expedients involve a cost element since members of staff are normally called upon to deal, for example, with a table in a restaurant which is causing trouble. Furthermore, customers are often irritated by the very fact that they have been put at an unsatisfactory table, by the need to address staff to put the matter right, and by the delay which often occurs when busy staff have other things on their minds.
[0003] I have sought to remedy this problem which belongs to the prior art.
[0004] The solution I propose for solving this problem is to provide a wedge composed of a resilient material such as a natural and/or synthetic elastomeric material, eg. a rubber or rubber-like material, and integral with such wedge or fixedly attached thereto means for detachably but securely fastening the said wedge to the table or like piece of furniture to be stabilized, more specifically to a table leg.
[0005] The solution provided by the invention is a quick and tidy way of stabilizing a table situated on an uneven floor which prevents the table from rocking or wobbling.
[0006] For a better understanding of the invention reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0007]
[0008]
[0009] The table wedge shown in the drawings is in the shape of an “L”, the body A of the L-shaped wedge being provided with a series of protuberances integral therewith and in the shape of arrow heads or barbs E, and the foot B of the wedge shown vertically in
[0010] The illustrated wedge may be composed of a variety of elastomeric materials which are resilient enough to accept slight deformation when the wedge is in use whilst exerting outward pressure on the surfaces contacted by the wedge-shaped outer extremity D of the part B of the wedge. In a preferred form, the wedge is composed of a high friction rubber or rubber-like material to aid grip between the wedge and the contacting surfaces, for example, on the underside of a table leg and the floor on which the table is located, respectively. The. longer part A of the wedge is sufficiently flexible to allow this strap-like part to be wrapped around a table leg for example and to be stretched, at least to some extent. In a preferred mode, the part A can be stretched up to 100% of its natural length.
[0011] When the illustrated wedge is used, the strap part A is wrapped around the leg to a desired extent and the free end G of the part A is passed through the aperture F at C. The barb-like protuberances E of the strap part A retain the lastter securely in position so that the wedge cannot be readily displaced in error, but allow the wedge to be removed when needed. The wedge part D is positioned when needed between the foot of the table leg and the floor on which the leg is supported. When necessary, eg. for cleaning purposes, the wedge is simply removed by pulling the part D away from its wedging location and drawing out the strap part A of the wedge through the aperture F in the part C against the resistance of the barbs E. The wedge is then free and can be removed as desired and replaced when needed
[0012] It is recommended that wedges in accordance with the invention should be fitted to adjacent legs of a table so as to overcome any problems occasioned by rocking or wobbling of the table making it unstable.
[0013] The wedge of the invention has a number of advantages over the known prior art. Thus, the strap A fits any table leg in common use and the wedge. part D will fill any gap between 4 mm and 13 mm, being infinitely adjustable within that range. Where needed, wedges fitting larger or smaller gaps may be provided. The insertion of the wedge in position can be rapidly and easily effected as can its removal. No tools are required or special skills, and, as mentioned above, the wedge or wedges are readily removable so as to be themselves cleaned or so as to allow cleaning of the room in which they are employed and its furniture. When the table is moved about the room, the wedge secured to a table leg follows and is not lost. It also cannot be swept up or vacuumed up during cleaning. The use of the wedge is so simple and trouble-free that the wedge can be operated by the customer. himself/herself who can replace the wedge without problems if the table is accidentally moved in such manner as to displace the wedge or wedges from their locking positions. Customers will become aware of, and appreciate, the unified way in which this known problem has been resolved. Furthermore, although the wedge of the invention has a particular application, for instance, in pubs. hotels or restaurants, the wedge of the invention is not limited to such locations but may also be usefully employed in the home or in the office.
[0014] Amongst the features of the invention in its preferred form, the use of a stretchable rubber strap to fit legs of various dimensions, the use of a ‘barb’ design so as to achieve secure fastening of the strap and hence the wedge to the table leg and the combination of the functions of the wedge-shaped part and the strap-part of the wedge, which solves at once two problems currently facing the present state of the art, namely, the need for secure wedging and the loss of temporary wedges, as an inevitable feature of conditions in a pub., hotel or restaurant, are all features of the invention which are of value and are not presently part of the state of the art.