Mobile furniture bumper

Abstract

A mobile furniture bumper 100 comprises at least one structural member (110, Figure 2A) including an outward-facing bumper surface 112 and an inward-facing enclosing surface 114. The inward-facing enc

Description

The present disclosure relates to a mobile furniture bumper, a furniture moving system and a method of moving a furniture piece using a mobile furniture bumper. It is known to provide furniture having wheels that permit movement and rearrangement. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile furniture bumper comprising at least one structural member, wherein the at least one structural member includes an outward-facing bumper surface and an inward-facing enclosing surface, wherein the inward-facing enclosing surface is configured to form an inner receptacle for receiving a furniture leg of a furniture piece. The outward-facing bumper surface may define at least part of an outer sidewall of the mobile furniture bumper. The inward-facing enclosing surface may define at least part of an inner sidewall of the mobile furniture bumper. The inner receptacle of the mobile furniture bumper may be in the form of a hole, a bore, a groove or any other receptacle capable of receiving a furniture leg of a furniture piece. The mobile furniture bumper may further include a support surface, wherein the support surface may be configured as a floor of the inner receptacle for supporting the leg of the furniture piece. Alternatively, the receptacle of the mobile furniture bumper may be in the form of a through-hole. The at least one structural member of the mobile furniture bumper may be arranged to form an annular or semi-annular shape of the mobile furniture bumper. The at least one structural member of the mobile furniture bumper may include a cutout section arranged to, in use, permit entry of the furniture leg into the inner receptacle. In addition, the mobile furniture bumper may further include a cut-out section closure operable to close off the cut-out section so that the furniture leg is retained in the inner receptacle when the mobile furniture bumper is in use. The mobile furniture bumper may include a plurality of structural members, wherein each of the plurality of structural members may include at least one connection member configured to connect two or more of the structural members together. The at least one connection member may include at least one pair of complementary mating connection members. The at least one connection member may include at least one fastener configured to connect two or more of the structural members together. The at least one fastener may include at least one releasable fastener, at least one magnetic fastener and / or at least one mechanical fastener. The at least one structural member may be reconfigurable to adjust a height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper. The at least one structural member may include one or more inflatable devices configured to collapse or deflate to reduce a height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper. The at least one structural member may include one or more foldable sections, wherein the one or more foldable sections may be foldable to reduce the height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper. The at least one structural member may be at least partially comprised of a sterile or anti-microbial material. The or each structural member may at least partially comprise a polymer or silicone material. The inward-facing enclosing surface and / or the outward-facing bumper surface may be at least partially comprised of a deformable, compressible or flexible material, or the inward-facing enclosing surface and / or the outward-facing bumper surface may be configured to releasably retain a deformable, compressible or flexible material. The inward-facing enclosing surface and / or the outward-facing bumper surface may include at least one buffer member. The at least one buffer member may be configured to be detachable from the at least one structural member. The at least one structural member may comprise a floor-facing surface. The floorfacing surface of the mobile furniture bumper may comprise at least one of: at least one wheel, at least one roller, at least one ball bearing, at least one brush, a sponge layer, or a foam layer. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a furniture moving system comprising a mobile furniture bumper and a furniture piece, wherein the mobile furniture bumper is in accordance with any one of the first aspect of the invention and its embodiments, wherein the inner receptacle formed by the inward-facing enclosing surface or surfaces of the at least one structural member of the mobile furniture bumper is configured to receive a furniture leg of the furniture piece. The furniture moving system may comprise at least one additional mobile furniture bumper, wherein the inner receptacle formed by the inward-facing enclosing surface or surfaces of the at least one structural member of the at least one additional mobile furniture bumper may be configured to receive a further furniture leg of the furniture piece. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of moving a furniture piece using a mobile furniture bumper, wherein the mobile furniture bumper is in accordance with any one of the first aspect of the invention and its embodiments, the method comprising the steps of: configuring the mobile furniture bumper so that the inner receptacle formed by the inward-facing enclosing surface or surfaces of the at least one structural member of the mobile furniture bumper receives a furniture leg of the furniture piece; and moving the furniture piece while the furniture leg is received by the inner receptacle. The method of moving a furniture piece using a mobile furniture bumper may also include the steps of: adjusting the at least one structural member to reduce a height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper, prior to the inner receptacle receiving the furniture leg; adjusting the at least one structural member to increase the height of the at least part of the mobile furniture bumper having the reduced height, subsequent to the inner receptacle receiving the furniture leg. The method of moving a furniture piece may further include the step of reconfiguring the mobile furniture bumper so that the inner receptacle formed by the inward-facing enclosing surface or surfaces of the at least one structural member of the mobile furniture bumper receives a different furniture leg of the furniture piece. It will be appreciated that the use of the terms "first" and "second", and the like, in this patent specification is merely intended to help distinguish between similar features, and is not intended to indicate the relative importance of one feature over another feature, unless otherwise specified. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, and the claims and / or the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and all features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the mobile furniture bumper; Figure 2A-C show a schematic of an embodiment of the mobile furniture bumper; Figures 3A-C show an exemplary embodiment of the mobile furniture bumper; Figures 4A-D show an exemplary embodiment of the mobile furniture bumper in use; Figures 5A-D show an exemplary embodiment of the mobile furniture bumper in use; Figures 6A-C show exemplary embodiments of a furniture moving system; Figures 7A-B show an exemplary use case of an embodiment; Figures 8A-B show examples of damage caused by furniture moving which do not make use of the present invention; and Figures 9A-D show example of furniture moving which do not make use of the present invention. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic form in the interests of clarity and conciseness. It will be appreciated that every embodiment is not pictured and that embodiments which are not included in the figures will nonetheless fall within the scope of the claims. The movement or rearrangement of furniture, especially of large, bulky or heavy furniture, carries a risk of damage to walls, skirting, electrical outlets, and other furniture in the room or building, and also of injury to the persons involved. In some environments, for example a hospital, medical unit or care facility, it is necessary to rearrange furniture frequently. In such environments furniture is sometimes provided with wheels to reduce the need for heavy lifting and risk of injury. However, it is still common for damage to walls, skirting, electrical outlets and other furnishings to occur even when wheels are provided, due to carelessness by the persons involved. A mobile furniture bumper according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1 and is generally designated by the reference numeral 100. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the mobile furniture bumper 100 comprises a structural member 110, which comprises an outward-facing bumper surface 112 and an inwardfacing enclosing surface 114. The outward-facing bumper surface 112 defines an outer sidewall of the mobile furniture bumper 100. The inward-facing enclosing surface 114 defines an inner sidewall of the mobile furniture bumper 100. A main body, i.e. core, of the at least one structural member 110 is located between the inward-facing enclosing surface 114 and the outward-facing bumper surface 112. The inward-facing enclosing surface 114 forms an inner receptacle 116 for receiving a furniture leg of a furniture piece. In the pictured embodiment, the inner receptacle 116 is in the form of a circular through-hole. In other embodiments, the inner receptacle 116 may be in the form of a hole, a bore or a groove, and may have a different shape. In yet further embodiments, which are particularly suited but not limited to use with furniture pieces which have not been provided with wheels, the mobile furniture bumper 100 may include a support surface 118 configured as a floor of the inner receptacle 116 for supporting the leg of the furniture piece. The support surface 118 may retain the leg of the furniture piece in the inner receptacle 116 a distance above the floor, that is to say lift the leg above the floor. The embodiment of a mobile furniture bumper 100 shown in Figure 1 comprises a structural member 110 having a circular, annular shape. Further embodiments may comprise a structural member having a rounded annular shape, a semi-annular shape, a biconcave shape, a toroidal shape, a hollow or semi-hollow polygonal shape, or any annular shape. Yet further embodiments may comprise a plurality of structural members 110 that are combinable to form a mobile furniture bumper having any one or a combination of the aforementioned geometries. In some embodiments, the inward-facing enclosing surface 114 and / or the outwardfacing bumper surface 112 may be at least partially comprised of a deformable, compressible or flexible material. The core may be at least partially comprised of a different material (e.g. plastic, wood, a composite material) to the inward-facing enclosing surface 114 and / or the outward-facing bumper surface 112. Preferably the core is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. In this embodiment the outward-facing bumper surface 112 includes a buffer member 120 comprised of a flexible material, e.g. a polymer or silicone material, while the bumper surface 112 and core of the structural member 110 is made from a comparatively harder material, e.g. a wooden material. The deformable, compressible or flexible material of the buffer member 120 absorbs impact from collisions and protects the object, person or structure which has been hit. The furniture piece to be moved may be further protected from damage inflicted by the mobile furniture bumper itself when the inward-facing enclosing surface 114 at least partially comprises a deformable, compressible or flexible material. The material may be, by way of example and not limitation, a polymer, a natural rubber, a foam material, a natural or synthetic cork, silicone or sponge material. In other embodiments, the outward-facing bumper surface 112 and / or the inward-facing enclosing surface 114 may be wholly comprised of a deformable, compressible or flexible material. The structural member 110 may include at least one buffer member 120 on either or both the inward-facing enclosing surface 114 and the outward-facing bumper surface 112. The deformable, compressible or flexible material of the buffer member 120 may be, by way of example and not limitation, a polymer, a natural rubber, a foam material, a natural or synthetic cork, silicone or sponge material. The outward-facing bumper surface 112 and / or the inward-facing enclosing surface 114 may comprise a structural feature such as, for example and not limitation, a groove, trough, fasteners, pins, or a lip to releasably retain the buffer member 120. In further embodiments the outward-facing bumper surface 112 and / or the inwardfacing enclosing surface 114 may be at least partially or wholly covered by or at least partially or wholly enclosed by the buffer member 120. The buffer member 120 may be a protective cover which covers the entire surface of a structural member 110 or the mobile furniture bumper 100. In other embodiments, the buffer member 120 may be in the form of a bump or multiple bumps around the mobile furniture bumper 100 or at least one surface 112, 114 thereof. The buffer member 120 may be in the form of at least one rib or ridge around the mobile furniture bumper 100 or at least one surface 112, 114 thereof, or may be in the form of a mat of bumps, ridges, ribs, waves or other discrete protrusions arranged on the mobile furniture bumper 100 or at least one surface 112, 114 thereof. In some embodiments the buffer member 120 may be one piece or formed of a plurality of pieces which form a whole. There may be continuity between the pieces of the buffer member 120 on each structural member 110, or they may be discontinuous. Each structural member 110 may have a different buffer member 120 or there may be one buffer member 120 releasably retained over a plurality of structural members 110. The buffer member 120 may be detachable from the structural member 110. The buffer member 120 may be releasably connected to the outward-fa ci ng bumper surface 112 and / or the inward-facing enclosing surface 114, for instance by way of a lip, trough, groove, fastener, pin or pin hole provided on a or each surface 112, 114 or on the buffer member 120 itself. The buffer member 120 may be releasably connected to another part of the structural member 110 such as a top surface of the structural member 100. Some embodiments may include a cut-out section arranged to permit entry of the furniture leg Into the inner receptacle 116. The cut-out section may be shaped and / or sized differently according to the furniture piece for intended use. Such embodiments may further include a cut-out section closure for closing off the cut-out section and retaining the further leg in the inner receptacle. The cut-out section closure may take the form of, for example, another structural member 110, a structural member 110 with a fastener, a bar closure, an elastic closure, or a door. An embodiment of the mobile furniture bumper 100 is shown in Figures 2A-C. The structural members 110 of Figure 2 are each one of a plurality of structural members 110. Structural members 110 include at least one connection member 130 configured to connect two or more of the structural members together. The embodiment shown in Figures 2A-C has connection members 130a and 130b. The connection members 130 are complementary mating connection members 130a, 130b which connect matingly to the equivalent connection members 130b, 130a of another structural member 110. Figures 2A-B show the embodiment of the mobile furniture bumper 100 when the connection members 130a, 130b of the structural members 110 are disengaged. Figure 2C shows the same embodiment with the connection members 130a, 130b releasably matingly connected. In the embodiment show, each structural member has a male connection member 130 in the form of a protrusion, and a female connection member 130 in the form of a receptacle that is correspondingly shaped to receive and retain the male connection member 130. A connection member may be in the form of a complementary mating connection member, or the connection member may be a releasable fastener, or a structural member 110 may have both a connection member and at least one fastener, or it may have solely at least one fastener. In further embodiments, the fastener may be a releasable fastener. The fastener or releasable fastener may be, for example and not limitation, a magnetic fastener, or a mechanical fastener such as a latch, a wing screw, a hinge, a flexible folding connector or an elastic closure. In some embodiments, a structural member 110 may be reconfigurable to adjust the height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper 100. The reconfiguration may be in the form of a collapse or deflation of an inflatable device comprising at least part of the structural member 110. The inflatable device may form part or the whole of the core of the structural member 110. In other embodiments, the structural member 110 may be foldable to reduce the height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper 100. In further embodiments, the structural member 110 may be foldable and supported by an inflatable device such that, when the inflatable device collapses or deflates, the structural member 110 then folds to reduce the height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper 110. The structural member 110 may at least partially comprise a polymer or silicone material. In other embodiments, it may partially comprise a natural material, for example and not limitation, wood. In further embodiments, the structural member may at least partially comprise a sterile or anti-microbial material. Such embodiments are particularly suited for but not limited to use in healthcare facilities. Embodiments of a structural member 110 is shown in Figures 3A-C. The structural members 110 of Figures 3A-C are each one of a plurality of structural members 110. Structural members 110 include at least one connection member 130 configured to connect two or more of the structural members together. The connection members 130 are complementary mating connection members 130a, 130b which connect matingly to the equivalent connection members 130b, 130a of another structural member 110. The embodiment shown in Figure 3A has two connection members 130a and 130b, the embodiment shown in Figure 3B has two connection members 130a, and the embodiment shown in Figure 3C has two connection members 130b. Nonlimiting examples of complementary mating connection members are described elsewhere in this specification. Further embodiments may have fewer or further complementary mating connection members in combinations. Yet further embodiments may have other connection members 130 which are not complementary mating connection members. In the pictured embodiments of Figures 3A-C, there is provided a groove 140 in the outward-facing bumper surface 112 for releasably retaining a deformable, compressible or flexible material. The material may be included in the form of a buffer member 120. The deformable, compressible or flexible material may be, by way of example and not limitation, a polymer, a natural rubber, a foam material, a natural or synthetic cork, silicone or sponge material. The deformable, compressible or flexible material may be in the form of a buffer member 120, non-limiting examples of which are described throughout the specification. The grooves 140 in the plurality of structural members 110 may be aligned such that the retained material or buffer member 120 is in one unitary piece around the entire of the mobile furniture bumper 100, or the retained material may be retained as a plurality of pieces or a plurality of buffer members 120. In other embodiments, the outward-facing bumper surface 112 may releasably retain a deformable, compressible or flexible material or a buffer member 120 in another manner, for example and not limited to a lip, a hollow space, a clamp, one or a series of complementary mating connectors configured to matingly connect with a complementary connector provided on the buffer member 120, a clip, an adhesive, or a magnetic connector. The at least one structural member 110 of the mobile furniture bumper 100 further comprises a floor-facing surface 150. The floor-facing surface 150 may comprise at least one of: at least one wheel, at least one roller, at least one ball bearing, at least one brush, a sponge layer, a foam layer, or any other low-friction material. The floorfacing surface 150 may facilitate the mobility of the mobile furniture bumper 100, especially on hard floors. In embodiments where the at least one structural member 110 of the mobile furniture bumper comprises both a mobility-enhancing floor-facing surface 150 and a support surface 118, a furniture piece without wheels or other mobility enhancements on the legs may be permanently or reversibly provided with enhanced mobility. This may reduce the need for heavy lifting of furniture without the need to modify or replace the furniture itself. Figures 4A-D show an embodiment of the present invention in use. The inward-facing enclosing surface 114 of the mobile furniture bumper 100 forms an inner receptacle 116. A leg of the furniture piece is retained by the inner receptacle 116. The furniture leg is retained during movement of the furniture piece and is prevented from coming into contact with the skirting board in Figure 4D by the spacing created by the mobile furniture bumper 100. The skirting board is further protected from damage by the buffer member 120. A buffer member 120 on the inward-facing enclosing surface 114 may be provided to prevent damage to or to cushion the leg of the furniture piece. A furniture moving system according to the present invention comprises the mobile furniture bumper 100. The inward-facing enclosing surface 114 of the furniture bumper 100 forms an inner receptacle 116. A leg of the furniture piece to be moved is retained by the inner receptacle 116. An embodiment of the furniture moving system is illustrated in Figures 5A-D. The furniture piece is a bed which has previously been provided with wheels on at least one leg. The leg is retained within the inner receptacle 116 of the mobile furniture bumper 100. In this arrangement, the leg is restricted from coming into contact with the skirting and wall of the room such that if the furniture is moved accidentally in use or purposefully, the wall and skirting are protected from damage. Also shown in the figure is an electrical wire, which is protected by the furniture bumper 100 from being caught in the furniture leg wheel during movement. In further embodiments, such as the one illustrated in Figures 6A-C, the furniture moving system comprises at least one additional furniture bumper 100. This arrangement is particularly desirable but not limited to use with moving large furniture pieces, such as a bed, when all legs of the furniture piece may not be visible to the person(s) moving the furniture. The method of moving the furniture piece comprises the steps of: configuring the mobile furniture bumper 100 so that the inner receptacle 116 formed by the inwardfacing enclosing surface or surfaces 114 of the at least one structural member 110 of the mobile furniture bumper receives a furniture leg of the furniture piece and moving the furniture piece while the furniture leg is received by the inner receptacle 116. In some embodiments, the at least one structural member 110 may be adjusted to reduce the height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper, prior to the inner receptacle 116 receiving the furniture leg. In such embodiments, subsequent to the inner receptacle 116 receiving the furniture leg, the at least one structural member 110 may be adjusted to increase the height of the mobile furniture bumper 100. Retaining the furniture leg in the receptacle 116 of the mobile furniture bumper protects walls, skirting, electrical wires and outlets and other furniture and objects from damage by the furniture leg. Reducing the height of the mobile furniture bumper 100 prior to the inner receptacle 116 receiving the furniture leg reduces the height that the furniture must be lifted to in order for the leg to be received by the receptacle. In some embodiments, the height may be sufficiently reduced so that furniture which has been provided with a wheel may be rolled into the receptacle without lifting, improving the safety of the persons moving the furniture piece. In further embodiments, the method of moving a furniture piece using a mobile furniture bumper may include the step of reconfiguring the mobile furniture bumper 100 so that the inner receptacle 116 formed by the inward-facing enclosing surface or surfaces 114 of the at least one structural member 110 of the mobile furniture bumper 100 receives a different leg of the furniture piece. This may allow the mobile furniture bumper to be left in place in the room, for example to protect a specific area or object, while the furniture is arranged. It may also facilitate reconfiguration of the furniture moving system according to user needs, for instance if the furniture piece is moved between the arrangements shown in Figures 6A-C. Figures 7A-B show a bed before and after the use of an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 7A, the electrical wire and outlet are at risk from accidental movement of the bed wheel and the wall is at risk of damage from normal use of the furniture. With the addition of the movable furniture bumper in 7B, the electrical wire, outlet, skirting and wall are protected as well as the bed itself. In the pictured embodiment of Figures 7A-B, the leg of the bed is retained in the inner receptacle 116 of the mobile furniture bumper 100. In this embodiment the receptacle 116 is in the form of a through-hole. In other embodiments, the receptacle 116 may be in the form of a hole, a bore or a groove. The mobile furniture bumper 100 may further comprise a support surface 118, upon which the leg of the bed is supported. In such embodiments a wheeled piece of furniture may be held stationary by the bumper 100, or a piece of furniture with no mobility features may have its mobility enhanced by the bumper 100. Examples of damage to skirting and wall fixtures, observed by the inventor, are shown in Figures 8A-B. By spacing the body of the furniture away from the wall, and by providing a buffer member 120 or softer surface through use of the present invention, such damage may be prevented. Figures 9A-D illustrate a potential use case for an embodiment of the present invention. The furniture legs have been provided with wheels to reduce heavy lifting requirements, but the walls, skirting, electrical wires and outlets are at risk of damage during movement of the furniture piece. A mobile furniture bumper 100 may be configured to receive the leg of the bed of Figures 9A-D in the inner receptacle 116 formed by the inward-facing enclosing surface or surfaces 114 of the at least one structural member 110. In embodiments of the mobile furniture bumper 100 which include a support surface 118 the wheel of the pictured bed leg may be retained by the inner receptacle 116 resting on the support surface 118. In embodiments with no support surface 118, the wheel of the pictured bed leg will be retained within the inner receptacle 116 while resting on the floor. In some embodiments of the present invention, the mobile furniture bumper 100 may include a cut-out section to permit entry of the furniture leg into the inner receptacle 116 without lifting the wheeled bed. In other embodiments, at least one structural member 110 of the present invention may be collapsible either through folding or deflation of an inflatable device or folding to reduce a height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper 100 to facilitate entry of the furniture leg into the inner receptacle 116. In further embodiments, the mobile furniture bumper 100 may be comprised of a plurality of structural members 110 with complementary mating connection members for connection to at least one other structural member 110. In some such embodiments, the mobile furniture bumper may be assembled from a disassembled state (such as is illustrated in Figures 2A-B) into an assembled state (such as is illustrated in Figure 2C) around the leg of the furniture piece such that after assembly the leg of the furniture piece is received in the inner receptacle 116 and retained by the inward-facing enclosing surface. In other embodiments the connector(s) between the plurality of structural members 110 may be of another type, such as a magnetic fastener, or a mechanical fastener such as a latch, a wing screw, a hinge, a flexible folding connector or an elastic closure. In yet further embodiments the structural members 110 may include multiple fastenings or fasteners such as complementary mating connectors with magnetic parts, or an additional releasable fastener in addition to the main connection members. In a preferred embodiment, the furniture piece is moved while the furniture leg is retained within the inner receptacle 116. In this way the walls, electrical outlets, wires, skirtings, and furnishings are protected from damage when the furniture piece is moved. The listing or discussion of an apparently prior published document or apparently prior published information in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. Preferences and options for a given aspect, feature or parameter of the invention 5 should, unless the context indicated otherwise, be regarded as having been disclosed in combination with any and all preferences and options for all other aspects, features and parameters of the invention.

Claims

1. A mobile furniture bumper comprising at least one structural member, wherein the at least one structural member includes an outward-facing bumper surface and an inward-facing enclosing surface, wherein the inward-facing enclosing surface is configured to form an inner receptacle for receiving a furniture leg of a furniture piece.

2. A mobile furniture bumper according to Claim 1 wherein the outward-facing bumper surface defines at least part of an outer sidewall of the mobile furniture bumper.

3. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inward-facing enclosing surface defines at least part of an inner sidewall of the mobile furniture bumper.

4. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inner receptacle is in the form of a hole, a bore or a groove.

5. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims further including a support surface, wherein the support surface is configured as a floor of the inner receptacle for supporting the leg of the furniture piece.

6. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of Claims 1-4 wherein the inner receptacle is in the form of a through-hole.

7. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one structural member is arranged to form an annular or semi-annular shape of the mobile furniture bumper.

8. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one structural member includes a cut-out section arranged to, in use, permit entry of the furniture leg into the inner receptacle.

9. A mobile furniture bumper according to Claim 8 further including a cut-out section closure operable to close off the cut-out section so that the furniture leg is retained in the inner receptacle when the mobile furniture bumper is in use.

10. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims including a plurality of structural members, wherein each of the plurality of structuralmembers includes at least one connection member configured to connect two or more of the structural members together.

11. A mobile furniture bumper according to Claim 10 wherein the connection members of the plurality of structural members includes at least one pair of complementary mating connection members.

12. A mobile furniture bumper according to Claim 10 or 11 wherein the at least one connection member includes at least one fastener configured to connect two or more of the structural members together.

13. A mobile furniture bumper according to Claim 12 wherein the at least one fastener includes at least one releasable fastener, at least one magnetic fastener and / or at least one mechanical fastener.

14. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one structural member is reconfigurable to adjust a height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper.

15. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one structural member includes one or more inflatable devices configured to collapse or deflate to reduce a height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper.

16. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one structural member includes one or more foldable sections, wherein the one or more foldable sections is foldable to reduce the height of at least part of the mobile furniture bumper.

17. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one structural member at least partially comprises a sterile or antimicrobial material.

18. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each structural member at least partially comprises a polymer or silicone material.

19. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inward-facing enclosing surface and / or the outward-facing bumper surface is atleast partially comprised of a deformable, compressible or flexible material, or the inward-facing enclosing surface and / or the outward-facing bumper surface is configured to releasably retain a deformable, compressible or flexible material.

20. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inward-facing enclosing surface and / or the outward-facing bumper surface includes at least one buffer member.

21. A mobile furniture bumper according to Claim 20 wherein the at least one buffer member is configured to be detachable from the at least one structural member.

22. A mobile furniture bumper according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one structural member comprises a floor-facing surface, wherein the floorfacing surface of the mobile furniture bumper comprises at least one of: at least one wheel, at least one roller, at least one ball bearing, at least one brush, a sponge layer, or a foam layer.

23. A furniture moving system comprising a mobile furniture bumper and a furniture piece, wherein the mobile furniture bumper is in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, and wherein the inner receptacle formed by the inward-facing enclosing surface or surfaces of the at least one structural member of the mobile furniture bumper is configured to receive a furniture leg of the furniture piece.

24. A furniture moving system according to Claim 23 comprising at least one additional mobile furniture bumper, wherein the inner receptacle formed by the inwardfacing enclosing surface or surfaces of the at least one structural member of the at least one additional mobile furniture bumper is configured to receive a further furniture leg of the furniture piece.

25. A method of moving a furniture piece using a mobile furniture bumper, wherein the mobile furniture bumper is in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 22, the method comprising the steps of:configuring the mobile furniture bumper so that the inner receptacle formed by the inward-facing enclosing surface or surfaces of the at least one structural member of the mobile furniture bumper receives a furniture leg of the furniture piece;moving the furniture piece while the furniture leg is received by the inner receptacle.

Images