Protective foot device for mounting on furniture

Claim 2

A dual durometer protective foot device for axially mounting on a tubular floor contacting member of a piece of furniture, said foot device comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped body portion of a first durometer material having an inner surface and terminating in two end sections defining an axially extending gap, and a second durometer material extending inwardly from the inner surface of said first durometer material and having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the tubular floor contacting member, said second durometer material restricting rotational and axial movement of said foot device with respect to the floor contacting member when said foot device is mounted thereon, said second durometer material only being positioned close to one of said end sections such that stress in said body portion due to deformation thereof when mounted on the tubular floor contacting member does not crack said body portion causing failure thereof.

Claim 3

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 1, wherein the second durometer material is in the form of a longitudinally extending strip.

Claim 4

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 2, wherein there are two strips of second durometer material each integral with said body portion, each positioned close to one of said end sections.

Claim 5

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 1, wherein said first durometer material is harder than said second durometer material.

Claim 6

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 3, wherein each strip is continuous in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Claim 7

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 3, wherein the strip surface in contact with the floor contacting member is smooth.

Claim 8

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 3, wherein the strip surface in contact with the floor contacting member is rough.

Claim 9

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 3, wherein the strip surface in contact with the floor contacting member has serrations.

Claim 10

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 3, wherein each end section has an outwardly extending thicker portion for aiding in the mounting and removal of said device from the tubular member and for limiting rotation of said device with respect to the member.

Claim 11

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 1, wherein said body portion has a uniform thickness between said end sections.

Claim 12

A dual durometer protective foot device for axially mounting on a tubular floor contacting member of a piece of furniture, said foot device comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped body portion of a first durometer material having an inner surface and terminating in two end sections defining an axially extending gap, said inner surface having an inner diameter of said body portion substantially the same as the outer diameter of the tubular floor contacting member, each end section having an outwardly extending portion for assisting in the mounting and removing of said device from the tubular member and for limiting rotation of said device with respect to the tubular member, two longitudinally extending strips of a second durometer material integral with said body portion extending radially inwardly from said inner surface restricting rotational and axial movement of said foot device with respect to the floor contacting member when said foot device is mounted thereon, each of said strips being positioned close to one of said end sections such that stress in said body portion due to deformation thereof when mounted on the tubular floor contacting member does not crack said body portion causing failure thereof.

Claim 13

A dual durometer protective foot device for axially mounting on a tubular floor contacting member of a piece of furniture, said foot device comprising: a generally cylindrically shaped body portion of a first durometer material having an inner surface and terminating in two end sections defining an axially extending gap, said inner surface having an inner diameter of said body portion substantially the same as the outer diameter of the tubular floor contacting member, each end section having an outwardly extending portion for assisting in the mounting and removing of said device from the tubular member and for limiting rotation of said device with respect to the tubular member, two longitudinally extending strips of a second durometer material integral with said body portion extending radially inwardly from said inner surface restricting rotational and axial movement of said foot device with respect to the floor contacting member when said foot device is mounted thereon, each of said strips being positioned close to one of said end sections such that stress in said body portion due to deformation thereof when mounted on the tubular floor contacting member does not crack said body portion causing failure thereof.

Claim 14

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 11, wherein said body portion is PVC having a durometer not less than about D70.

Claim 15

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 12, wherein said body portion has a durometer not less than in the range of from about D70 to about D80.

Claim 16

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 11, wherein said strips are PVC having a durometer of about 70A.

Claim 17

The dual durometer protective foot device of claim 12, wherein said body portion has a durometer not less than in the range of from about D70 to about D80 and said strips are PVC having a durometer of about 70A.

Claim 18

In combination, a piece of furniture having a seat and a frame including a tubular floor contacting member, a dual durometer protective foot device axially mounted on said tubular floor contacting member, said dual durometer foot device including a generally cylindrically shaped body portion of a first durometer material having an inner surface and terminating in two end sections defining an axially extending gap, said end sections being thicker than said body portion, and a second durometer material extending inwardly from the inner surface of said first durometer material and having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the tubular floor contacting member, said second durometer material restricting rotational and axial movement of said foot device with respect to the floor contacting member when said foot device is mounted thereon, said second durometer material only being positioned close to one of said end sections such that stress in said body portion due to deformation thereof when mounted on the tubular floor contacting member does not crack said body portion causing failure thereof.

Claim 19

In combination, a piece of furniture having a seat and a frame including a tubular floor contacting member, a dual durometer protective foot device axially mounted on said tubular floor contacting member, said dual durometer foot device including a generally cylindrically shaped body portion of a first durometer material having an inner surface and terminating in two end sections defining an axially extending gap, said end sections being thicker than said body portion, and a second durometer material extending inwardly from the inner surface of said first durometer material and having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the tubular floor contacting member, said second durometer material restricting rotational and axial movement of said foot device with respect to the floor contacting member when said foot device is mounted thereon, said second durometer material only being positioned close to one of said end sections such that stress in said body portion due to deformation thereof when mounted on the tubular floor contacting member does not crack said body portion causing failure thereof.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 16, wherein the furniture is a chair and the second durometer material is in the form of a longitudinally extending strip.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 17, wherein the second durometer material is in the form of two longitudinally extending strips each integral with said body portion.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 18, wherein each end section has an outwardly extending portion for aiding in the mounting and removal of said device from the tubular member and for limiting rotation of said device with respect to the member.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 18, wherein said body portion is PVC and has a durometer not less than in the range of from about D70 to about D80 and said strips are PVC having a durometer of about 70A.