NZ580498A - A levelling device comprising a connector defining an extension passage for facilitating adjustment - Google Patents

Abstract

A levelling device (80) for facilitating a levelling of an article that is installed on a support surface such as floor is disclosed. The device (80) comprises at least two support arrangements (16, 18) that are spaced apart from each other on the support surface and extending between a downward facing surface of the article and an upwardly facing support surface. The support arrangement (16, 18) includes a bearing member (20) and a base member (24). The support arrangement (16, 18) also includes an adjusting arrangement (30) for adjusting the extent to which the base member (24) overlaps with the bearing member (20). There is a connector (82) that connects at least two support arrangements (16, 18) to each other. The connector (82) defines an extension passage within which an extension member (62) for facilitating adjustment of a support surface from a location spaced from the support arrangement (16, 18) can be received.

Description

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 Patents Form No. 5 Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A LEVELLING DEVICE AND A CABINET INSTALLATION INCLUDING A LEVELLING DEVICE I, Mark Romany, an Australian citizen of 6 Vasey Court, Coomera, Queensland, 4209, Australia, hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 (to be followed by 1 a) Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 1a A LEVELLING DEVICE AND A CABINET INSTALLATION INCLUDING A LEVELLING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a levelling device for facilitating a levelling of an article that is installed on a support surface. The invention also extends to an article including a device for facilitating a levelling thereof. Yet further the invention also extends to a method of levelling an article that is installed on a support surface.

This invention relates particularly but not exclusively to a levelling device for levelling a base cabinet when it is installed on a floor surface so that an upper work surface of the base cabinet is horizontally extending and so that adjacent upper surfaces of adjacent base cabinets are aligned with each other and the cabinets collectively provide an even 15 and horizontally extending upper work surface. The invention finds particular application in the installation of kitchen joinery including kitchen cabinets in the form of fixtures that are permanently mounted in position to the floor and walls of a kitchen.

It will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this 20 example application. However at the same time it must be clearly understood that the invention equally extends to the installation of other types of cabinets including a vanity cabinet on a bathroom floor surface. It must also be recognised that the invention applies to the installation of other articles on support surfaces. For example the invention also extends to the installation of an appliance such as a refrigerator or a stove on a support 25 surface. It might also extend to the support of an article of furniture such as a dressing table or a chest of drawers or a cupboard on a support surface.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Articles such as cabinets are widely known contrivances that are often found in a typical home. Cabinets are often used for storage of goods and articles although other uses are sometimes contemplated.

A cabinet that is located in a kitchen of a home is known as a kitchen cabinet.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 2 One form of kitchen cabinet is a cabinet that is mounted on a support surface such as a kitchen floor and this type of cabinet is known as a base cabinet. Another form of kitchen cabinet is a hanging cabinet that is mounted on a vertically extending support such as a wall, typically spaced above a support surface such as a kitchen floor.

A kitchen base cabinet typically comprises a lower shelf positioned spaced above the support surface and an upper shelf forming a work surface spaced above the lower shelf. The cabinet also includes side supports extending from the lower shelf up to the upper shelf at each end of the upper and lower shelves.

At least one cabinet door might typically extend across the front of the cabinet from the lower shelf to the upper shelf that can be opened to provide access to the interior of the cabinet and closed to close off the cabinet.

Finally a kick plate extends down from the lower shelf to the support surface that is the floor. Typically such a kick plate is positioned spaced rearward of the door of the cabinet. The kick plate covers the space between the lower shelf and the floor thereby to aesthetically cover and finish off the cabinet.

Sometimes when a kitchen base cabinet is installed in a kitchen it is permanently mounted in position and is fixed to the kitchen floor as a fixture. Optionally the kitchen base cabinet is also fixed to the wall up against which it is mounted.

Moreover, some base cabinets have an upper work surface, e.g. a bench top, that needs 25 to be installed in a horizontal position to usefully perform its function and/or satisfy a customer who has installed the cabinet. For example if the bench top is not horizontal, items may roll or slide on the working surface of the bench top when placed on the working surface and it will not present a neat aesthetic appearance.

Some kitchen cabinets are pre-manufactured or assembled in modular units and then mounted on a kitchen floor in their desired relative positions to form a kitchen cabinet installation. The modular units are arranged side by side along the length of the assembly. It is desirable that individual kitchen base cabinets are installed so that they properly line up with adjacent cabinets. In particular the side and top edges of Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 3 adjacent cabinets in the cabinet assembly should be aligned with each to present a neat aesthetic appearance for the cabinet assembly as a whole.

It will be appreciated that support surfaces such as kitchen floors may sometimes have an 5 uneven surface. If there is an uneven floor in the absence of an intervention to compensate for the unevenness the upper edges of adjacent base cabinets may not align with each other. Further the upper work surface of each cabinet may not extend horizontally. Further front edges of the cabinets may not line up with each other. The problems of aligning adjacent units and providing a horizontal upper work surface when 10 the floor surface is uneven need to be addressed during the installation of the kitchen cabinet assembly.

One method known to kitchen cabinet installers is to compensate for uneven floor surfaces is to insert shims underneath the base cabinet between the floor and the base 15 cabinet at relevant positions. This creates support islands by lifting and inserting shims that are layers of flat bodies between the floor and the base cabinet. Shimming is a relative slow process for levelling cabinets and requires installers basically to use a process of trial and error. It also requires considerable skill and experience for it to be carried out effectively.

Clearly therefore it would be advantageous if a levelling device and/or a method could be devised for levelling fixtures, e.g. kitchen base cabinets, when they are installed on an uneven support floor, so that they are correctly and properly installed presenting a horizontal upper shells and a neat aesthetic appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a levelling device for facilitating a levelling of an article on a support surface, the levelling device comprising: at least two support arrangements that are mountable spaced apart from each other 30 on the support surface and extending between a downward facing surface of the article and the upwardly facing support surface, wherein each support arrangement includes: a bearing member for bearing against the downwardly facing surface of the article, and a base member engaged with the bearing member for bearing against the upwardly facing support surface, wherein the bearing member and the base member Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 4 overlap with each other in a longitudinal direction and wherein the extent of the overlap of the base member with the bearing member can be adjusted to adjust the combined length of the bearing and base members together and thereby the height of the support arrangement; and an adjusting arrangement for adjusting the extent to which the base member overlaps 5 with the bearing member to adjust the orientation of the article on the support surface to assist in levelling the article.

Thus if the article is tilting its orientation can be adjusted to rectify the tilting so that the article stands level on the support surface.

The base member may include an elongate leg having an operatively lower end for resting on the support surface and an operatively upper end, and the leg may have an external screw thread formed thereon.

The bearing member may include a tubular bore defined there through, and the leg of the base member may be displaceably received within said tubular bore whereby to overlap with the bearing member.

The bearing member includes a mounting formation defining an abutment surface for bearing 20 against the downwardly facing surface of the article at an associated abutment position on a surface of the article being installed.

The bearing member may include a leg engaging body that is rotatably mounted on the mounting formation, and the leg engaging body may include an internal wall defining a tubular 25 passage therethrough that is complementary to the leg and within which the leg is received.

The leg engaging body may have an internal screw thread formed on the internal wall thereof and the internal screw thread may be engaged with the external screw thread on the leg. Thus rotation of the leg engaging body relative to the leg has the effect of displacing the leg 30 engaging body axially along the leg whereby to adjust the combined length of the bearing member and the base member.

The mounting formation may include a substantially circular primary recess within which the leg engaging body is received. The mounting formation may also include a 35 mounting formation passage extending through the mounting formation and having one end opening into the primary recess and another end opening onto a surface of the mounting formation.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 The leg engaging body may be substantially cylindrical and may be received within the primary recess with some clearance around the circumferential edge thereof to permit the leg engaging body to rotate on the bearing member without significant resistance.

The leg engaging body may comprise an upper body portion having a cylindrical configuration that is received within the primary recess and supported on the mounting formation, and a lower body portion depending down from the upper portion and projecting through the mounting formation passage.

The adjusting arrangement may include a drive arrangement for enabling an installer to rotate the leg engaging body from a location spaced from said leg engaging body.

The drive arrangement may include a driving gear that can be caused to rotate by an installer 15 and a driven gear that is drivably connected to the driving gear and that transmits rotation of the driving gear to rotation of the leg engaging body.

The driven gear may be a spur gear and the spur gear may be formed by the upper body portion of the leg engaging body. The upper body portion of the leg engaging body may have 20 gear teeth on the circumferential surface thereof.

The driving gear may be a worm gear that is driveably coupled to the spur gear, and the worm gear may be elongate and may define a tool engaging end. The worm gear may define a helical gear engaging formation and the gear engaging formation may be in a meshing 25 relationship with the gear teeth of the spur gear.

The bearing member may define an elongate secondary recess within which the worm gear is received. The secondary recess may have one end that opens into the primary recess and an opposed end, and the opposed end may form a worm gear opening that opens out onto a 30 surface of the mounting formation.

The worm gear may include a tool engaging formation at one end thereof for engaging a head of a tool for enabling an installer to rotate the worm gear by rotation of the tool whereby to turn the spur gear. The tool engaging formation may be proximate to the opposed 35 end of the secondary recess so that it can be accessed through the opposed end thereof.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 6 The tool engaging formation may be configured for engaging a conventional tool such as a Phillips or star-point screwdriver or a power-driven screwdriver. Instead, the tool engaging formation may define a customized engaging formation for cooperating with a customized tool head only.

The drive arrangement may further include an extension member that is operatively coupled to the worm gear for facilitating rotation of the worm gear by an installer from a location that is spaced away from the mounting formation within which said worm gear is received.

The extension member may have one end that operatively engages said tool engaging formation on a said worm gear to transmit rotation of the extension member to the worm gear, and the extension member may have an opposed end that has a further tool engaging formation for being engaged by a tool of an installer, e.g. in the same way as said one tool engaging formation could be engaged. The extension member may be in the form of a rod, 15 e.g. a steel rod having a diameter of 2 to 8mm, e.g. 4 to 6 mm.

The bearing member may include a tertiary recess defined therein within which a said extension member that is coupled to an adjacent support arrangement can be received. The tertiary recess may extend from one side of the bearing member to an opposed side of the 20 bearing member.

The secondary recess may have a worm gear opening that opens out onto the surface of the mounting formation, and the tertiary recess may form an extension member opening that opens out onto the surface of the bearing member proximate to said worm gear opening, e.g. 25 a front surface of the bearing member that opens to a front of the article being installed.

The bearing member may include a rectangular mount formation defining an abutment surface for bearing against the downwardly facing surface of the fixture at its associated abutment position defined by the underside of the fixture The mount formation may define a plurality of mounting holes therein through which fastening elements such as screws can be passed for fixedly mounting the mount 35 formation onto the downwardly facing lower surface of the fixture. The fastening elements may be in the form of screws, dowels, nails, rivets or the like.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 7 The base member may include a foot at its lower end for bearing against the support surface on which it rests in use. The foot may be in the form of an annular disk-shaped formation that is coaxially arranged relative to the leg. The leg and the foot may be of 5 unitary construction and may be formed from a moldable material, such as a moldable synthetic plastics material by a moulding operation.

The levelling device may comprise two said support arrangements that are held in a fixed spaced relation to each other, The levelling device may include a connector connecting the two said support arrangements to each other. The connector may define an extension passage there through, within which an extension member for facilitating adjustment of one said support arrangement from a location spaced from the support arrangement, can be received.

The extension passage may be sized to permit said extension member to be received therein with some clearance so that the extension member can rotate freely within said extension passage.

In one form the connector may be slim and may have a rectangular cross section, e.g. having a width of 2 to 4 cm and a height of 0.7 to 1.5 cm. In another form the connector may have a rectangular cross sectional shape that is similar to that of the bearing members at each end thereof. The connector may have a width of 6 to 12 cm and a height of 1 to 2 cm.

The two support arrangements may be attached to each other by being formed as a single unit, by being integrally formed in a moulding operation. In particular parts of the bearing member of each support arrangement and the connector may be integrally formed.

One said support arrangement may include an extension member that is operatively connected to the adjusting arrangement whereby to facilitate adjustment of the support arrangement from a position spaced away from the support arrangement. The extension member may extend from said one support arrangement to the other said support arrangement.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 8 According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a levelling device for facilitating a levelling of an article that is installed on a support surface, the levelling device, including: at least two support arrangements that are mountable on a support surface and extending between the article and the support surface, each support arrangement including, a 5 bearing member for bearing against the downwardly facing surface of the article, and a base member engaged with the bearing member for bearing against the upwardly facing support surface, wherein the bearing member and the base member overlap with each other in a longitudinal direction and wherein the extent of the overlap of the base member with the bearing member determines the combined length of the bearing and base members together 10 and thereby the height of the support arrangement; and an adjusting arrangement for facilitating an adjustment of the height of the support arrangement to adjust the orientation of the article on the support surface to assist in levelling the article on the support surface being installed; and a connector connecting the two said support arrangements to each other.

The levelling device may include any one or more of the other features, e.g. optional or preferred features, of the levelling device described above in the first aspect of the invention. In particular the levelling device may include an extension member and the connector may define an extension passage through which the extension member is passed. Each mounting 20 formation may include a secondary recess and a worm gear opening that opens out onto the surface of the mounting formation.

The mounting formation, of a said support arrangement may include a tertiary recess or an extension member passage defined therein and the extension member may pass through said 25 tertiary recess.

The tertiary recess may extend from one side of the mounting formation to an opposed side of the mounting formation. The tertiary recess may include an extension member opening that opens out onto the opposed side of the mounting formation proximate to 30 the worm gear opening through which the secondary recess defined in the mounting formation opens onto the surface of the same opposed side of the mounting formation.

The opposed side of the mounting formation may be a front side or front surface of the bearing member that opens to a front of the article being installed. Thus the mounting 35 formation of the bearing member may have a side wall with a number of sides, and the Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 9 extension rod opening may open out onto the same side of the mounting formation as said worm gear opening, and this side will face the front of the article being installed.

The extension member may have one end that operatively engages a tool engaging 5 formation on said one support arrangement, and an opposed end that has a further tool engaging formation thereon for being engaged by a tool of an installer in the same way as said one tool engaging formation could be engaged.

According to yet another aspect of this invention there is provided a cabinet installation 10 that is installed on a support surface standing up against a rear wall, including: a cabinet having a front that is spaced forward of the rear wall against which the cabinet is installed and a rear that is adjacent to the rear wall against which the cabinet is installed, and two opposed ends, and comprising a horizontally extending lower member having a width extending from the front to the rear of the cabinet and a horizontally 15 extending upper member having a width extending from the front to the rear of the cabinet, and vertically extending upright members extending between the opposed ends of the upper and lower members; and at least one levelling device as defined in any of the preceding aspects of the invention, having two support arrangements extending from the support surface up to a 20 downward facing surface of the horizontally extending lower member for assisting in orientating the cabinet.

The levelling device may include any one or more of the other features, e.g. optional or preferred features, of the levelling device described above in the first aspect of the 25 invention.

Each levelling device may include a front support arrangement that is located towards a front of the cabinet, and a rear support arrangement that is spaced away from said front support arrangement in a rearward direction and is located towards a rear of the cabinet.

The bearing members of the rear and front support arrangements may be connected to each other. The cabinet installation may include a connector connecting the bearing members of the front and rear support arrangements to each other. The connector may define a longitudinally extending extension member passage therein.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 The cabinet installation may further including an extension member, e.g. as described above according to the first aspect of the invention, extending from the rear support arrangement to the front support arrangement for facilitating adjustment of the height of the rear support arrangement from a position at or adjacent to the front support 5 arrangement. The extension member may be received within the passage of the connector.

This enables an installer having access to the front support arrangement to adjust both the front and rear support arrangements by engaging with tool engaging formations within 10 the mounting formation of the front support arrangement. In particular the front and rear worm gears are capable of being turned from a position on the front support arrangement, and specifically the mounting formation thereof.

The cabinet installation may include two said levelling devices that are spaced apart from 15 across the front of the cabinet and each said levelling device may have a front and a rear support arrangement.

One said levelling device may be positioned towards one end of the horizontally extending lower member and the other levelling device may be positioned towards the other end of 20 the horizontally extending lower member.

The cabinet installation may include one or more doors mounted over the front of the cabinet extending between the upper and lower horizontally extending members. Further the cabinet installation may include a kick plate mounted over the front of the cabinet 25 extending between the floor and the horizontally extending lower member.

The vertically extending upright members (of the cabinet) may be in the form of open frames. Instead the vertically extending upright members may be in the form of planar members closing off the associated ends of the cabinet.

The cabinet installation may include two or more cabinets arranged side by side with the uprights of adjacent cabinets next to each other.

Each cabinet may be a kitchen cabinet and the cabinet installation may form part of a 35 kitchen cabinet installation.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 11 According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing a cabinet on a support surface including: providing a cabinet having a front and a rear and two sides; providing two levelling devices as defined in the first aspect of the invention; and mounting the cabinet on the two levelling devices in its approximate position of installation.

The method may include adjusting the adjusting arrangements of one or more of the 10 levelling devices as appropriate to achieve a suitably level and aligned installation of the cabinet on the support surface.

The method may include using a levelling device according to any one of the preceding aspects of the invention. Further each levelling device may include any one or more of 15 the other features of the bearing device defined in the preceding aspects of the invention.

The method may include arranging one levelling device towards one side of the cabinet with one support arrangement thereof positioned towards the rear of the cabinet and the other support arrangement positioned towards the front of the cabinet.

The method may include arranging the other levelling device towards the other side of the cabinet with one support arrangement thereof positioned towards the rear of the cabinet and the other support arrangement positioned towards the front of the cabinet.

The cabinet may include a lower horizontally extending member or shelf and an upper horizontally extending member or shelf spaced above the lower horizontally extending member. The cabinet may also include end supports extending between the upper and lower members at each end of the upper and lower horizontally extending members or shelves.

The method may include checking the level of the cabinet with a level indicating device while adjusting the height of the legs of the support arrangements with the adjusting arrangements thereof. The level indicating device may be one or more spirit levels.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 12 The method may include providing an extension member extending from said one support arrangement (towards the rear) to said other support arrangement (towards the front) whereby to permit an installer to adjust the adjusting arrangement of said one support arrangement (towards the rear) from a position adjacent to the other support arrangement 5 (towards the front).

The method may include engaging the extension member on or adjacent to the bearing member of said other support arrangement to effect an adjustment of the adjustment arrangement on said one support arrangement.

The method may include using a connector extending between said one and further support arrangements for holding the one and further support arrangements in a fixed spaced relation to each other.

The connector may include an extension member passage and the method may include passing the extension member from one support arrangement to the other support arrangement through said extension member passage.

The method may include mounting a cover member, e.g. a kick plate, over the front of the 20 levelling devices extending between the support surface and the lower member of the cabinet. The method may also include mounting doors over the front of the cabinet.

The method may include mounting further cabinets on the support surface alongside said one cabinet.

The invention also extends to an installation kit for installing an article, e.g. a cabinet fixture on a support surface, which kit includes: at least two support arrangements mountable spaced apart between the article and the support surface for supporting the article at associated abutment zones defined 30 by an underside of the article opposite the support surface, each support arrangement being adjustably extendible and retractable for raising or lowering the associated abutment zones relative to each other; and for each support arrangement, an adjusting arrangement for adjusting the height of the support arrangements, each support arrangement including a tool engagement Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 13 formation for cooperating with a tool member for permitting a user to adjust the height of the support arrangement.

Each support arrangement may include any one or more of the features defined in 5 the preceding aspects of the invention. Similarly the adjusting arrangement may include any one or more of the features defined in the preceding aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A levelling device and a cabinet installation including a levelling device in accordance with 10 this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe several embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. However it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this 15 detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a levelling device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a three-dimensional view of one support arrangement forming part of the 20 levelling device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the support arrangement shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a three-dimensional view of another support arrangement forming part of the levelling device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the support arrangement shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is an exploded three dimensional view of the levelling device of Figure 1; Fig 7 is an exploded three dimensional view of a levelling device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a three dimensional view of the levelling device of Figure 7 showing it in an assembled condition; Fig 9 is a side elevation of one support arrangement forming part of the levelling device of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a schematic three dimensional view of a cabinet mounted on a levelling device of the type shown in Fig 1 being installed by an installer; Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 14 Fig 11 is a schematic side elevation of the cabinet and the levelling device shown in Fig 10; Figure 12 is a three-dimensional view of a levelling device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; Fig 13 is an exploded three dimensional view of a levelling device in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention; Figure 14 is a three dimensional view of the levelling device in Fig 13 showing it in an assembled condition; Fig 15 is a side elevation of one support arrangement forming part of the levelling device 10 shown in Figure 13; Fig 16 is a schematic three dimensional view of an article that is a kitchen base cabinet being installed on a support surface against a vertically extending surface such as a wall; and Fig 17 is a schematic three dimensional view of several kitchen base cabinets arranged in 15 a line being installed adjacent to each other on a support surface.

In Figures 1 to 6 a reference numeral 10 refers generally to a levelling device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

The levelling device 10 is for general use in installing a cabinet 12 on a support surface that is the floor 14 such that the orientation of the installed cabinet 12 can be adjusted, e.g. so that it is horizontal and so that front edges of adjacent cabinets are aligned. The levelling device 10 can also be used to adjust the height of the cabinet 12, e.g. an upper surface thereof, above the support surface 14.

The levelling device 10 includes one support arrangement that is generally indicated by reference numeral 16 and another support arrangement that is generally indicated by reference numeral 18 that is spaced away therefrom.

Each support arrangement 16, 18 includes a bearing member 20 and a base member 24 that is operatively connected to the bearing member 20.

The base member 24 includes an elongated leg 26 having a broadly circular cylindrical configuration with a cylindrical outer surface. The leg 26 has an operatively lower end and 35 a foot 28 at the lower end thereof that is mounted on the floor 14. The foot 28 includes a Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 circular disk-shaped formation that is coaxial with the cylindrical configuration of the leg 26. Conveniently the leg 26 and the foot 28 can be of unitary construction. In the example embodiment illustrated in the drawings the leg 26 and the foot 28 are integrally moulded from a moldable synthetic plastics material in a molding operation, e.g. an 5 injection moulding operation.

The elongated leg 26 has an external screw thread 30 formed on its cylindrical outer surface. In the Fig 1 embodiment the screw thread 30 is formed on the surface towards an operatively upper end of the leg 26.

The bearing member 20 includes a mounting formation 36. In the illustrated example embodiment, the mounting formation 36 is a flat-square box shaped formation that defines an upper abutment surface 38 for abutment with an abutment position on the underside of the cabinet 12. By the term abutment position is meant an area on the underside of the 15 cabinet that rests on or abuts against the abutment surface 38. The mounting formation 36 also defines a plurality of mounting holes 37 there through. Each mounting hole 37 can receive a fastening element such as a screw or a dowel there through for mounting the bearing member 20 onto a downward facing surface of a lower horizontally extending member of the cabinet 12.

The bearing member 20 also includes a rotatable leg engaging body 40 that is rotatably mounted on the mounting formation 36. The leg engaging body 40 defines a tubular bore having a cylindrical configuration that is of complementary size to the cylindrical configuration of the leg 26. The tubular bore also includes an internal screw thread 39 25 which engages the external screw thread 30 on the leg 26 whereby to rotatably mount the leg engaging body 40 on the leg 26.

The mounting formation 36 includes a wall 41 defining an open primary recess 42 within which the leg engaging body 40 is received and on which the leg engaging body 40 is 30 supported. The recess 42 opens downwardly into a bearing member passage 44 of smaller diameter than the recess 42 which passes fully through the mounting formation 36.

In the illustrated embodiment the leg engaging body 40 comprises an operatively upper portion 35 46 of greater lateral extent than the bearing member passage 44 which is supported on the Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 16 wall 41 defining the primary recess 42 around the passage 44. The leg engaging body 40 also includes an operatively lower portion 48 that is received within the bearing member passage 44 and projects down below the lower edge of the mounting formation 36 as shown in the drawings.

In the illustrated embodiment the upper portion 46 of the leg engaging body 40 is cylindrical with a circular circumferential outer wall. The circumferential outer wall is spaced inward from the wall 41 defining the recess 42 of the mounting formation 36 to enable the leg engaging body 40 to rotate without interference from the wall 41 of the mounting formation 36. The 10 lower portion 48 of the leg engaging body 40 is similarly cylindrical with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the upper portion 46 and is sized to be received within the bearing member passage 44 with some clearance so that it can be rotated relative therein.

The tubular bore in the leg engaging body 40 within which the leg 26 is received extends the 15 full height of the leg engaging body 40 passing through both the lower and upper portions 46, 48 and opening out onto upper and lower surfaces of the body 40. The internal screw thread on the tubular bore may extend along at least part of the lower portion 48 and part of the upper portion 46 of the leg engaging body 40.

Thus rotation of the leg engaging body 40 rotates the screw thread 39 on the body 40 relative to the screw thread 30 on the leg 26 and causes the leg 26 to move longitudinally along the body 40. This effects an adjustment in the height of the support arrangement 16 or 18. The mounting formation 36 per se does not rotate as the leg engaging body 40 mounted on the mounting formation 36 rotates within the primary recess 42 within which it is mounted. 25 Similarly the leg 26 which is mounted on the floor 14 does not rotate. The leg engaging body 40 is supported or seated directly on the wall 41 of the primary recess 42 without having a bearing to facilitate a low friction rotation. Applicant has found that a separate bearing is not necessary provided that the surfaces of the leg engaging body 40 and the wall 41 of the primary recess 42 are made of materials that can slide over each other.

Each support arrangement 16, 18 also includes an adjuster drive arrangement for enabling an installer to effect rotation of the leg engaging body 40 relative to the leg 26 from a location spaced away from the bearing member 20. The adjuster drive arrangement comprises a driving gear which can be engaged by a tool head of an installer. The driving 35 gear in turn drives rotation of a driven gear which effects rotation of the leg engaging body.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 17 The driven gear can conveniently be formed by a spur gear 50. In the illustrated embodiment the leg engaging body 40 and specifically the upper portion 46 thereof, forms a said spur gear 50 having gear teeth on the circumferentially outer surface thereof.

The driving gear comprises a worm gear 54 that is drivably connected to said spur gear 50 to form a worm-and-spur gear combination. The mounting formation 36 defines a secondary recess 56 receiving the worm gear 54 that is adjacent to said primary recess 42 and opens into the primary recess 42. The secondary recess 56 is elongate and has one end opening to an outer surface of the mounting formation 36 where it forms a worm 10 gear opening and another end opening into the primary recess 42.

The worm gear 54 is supported on a wall of the mounting formation 36 within the secondary recess 56 and a part thereof is in a meshing relationship with the spur gear 50. The worm gear 54 rotates within the secondary recess 56 about an axis transverse to that 15 of the spur gear 50.

The worm gear 54 has a tool engaging formation 58 at one end thereof for engaging one end of an elongated tool member, such as an end of a screw-driver. This permits a user to turn the worm gear 54 with a tool. In the illustrated example embodiment the tool 20 engaging formation 58 is configured for cooperating with a Phillips or star-point screwdriver. However, it is to be appreciated that the tool engaging formation 58 can be configured for engaging a number of different tools. It may even have a customized tool engaging formation for cooperating with a customized tool (not shown) whereby to limit adjustment to authorized installers who possess such a tool.

A rotation of a manually operated tool such as a screw driver, which is engaged with the tool engaging formation 58, effects rotation of the worm gear 54. The rotation is transmitted to the spur gear 50 which rotates relative to the leg 26. The screw threaded engagement of the body 40 with the leg 26 converts the rotation into an axial movement of the leg 26 along the body 40 and this adjusts the overall height of the support arrangement as indicated by L in the drawings.

The screw threads permit an infinitesimal adjustment of the length L of the supporting 35 arrangements 16, 18 and this is useful in this application where fine adjustment is Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 18 required to effect small changes in height to adjust the orientation of a cabinet 14. Rotation of the spur gear 50 in one direction raises the height of the support arrangement 16 and rotation of the spur gear 50 in the other direction lowers the height of the support arrangement 16.

In practice the two support arrangements 16, 18 shown in the drawings work together to level a cabinet 12 that is being installed or is installed on a support surface 14. The cabinet 12 has a front, e.g. through which user access is provided to the cabinet 12, and a rear that is closed and is mounted up against a rear surface such as a wall.

The two support arrangements 16, 18 are positioned spaced apart from each other in the direction of front to rear of the cabinet 12. A rear support arrangement 16 is positioned proximate to the rear of the cabinet 12 and a front support arrangement 18 is positioned proximate to or adjacent to the front of the cabinet 12.

The support arrangement 16 that is positioned to the rear of the arrangement 18 includes a spur gear 50 and a worm gear 54 that are each mounted on the bearing member 36. In addition the rear support arrangement 16 also includes an extension member in the form of an elongate rod 62. The rod 62 has one end 63 for engaging the tool engaging 20 formation 58 of the worm gear 48 and an opposite end 64 on which a rod end formation 65 is mounted that defines another tool engaging formation 66. The formation 66 can be used for cooperating with a head of a screwdriver 68 in the same way that tool engaging formation 58 does. However it provides the tool engaging formation 66 at a distance spaced away from the actual support arrangement 16.

The mounting formation 36 associated with the support arrangement 18 defines a further recess, namely a tertiary recess 69 for housing an end region of the rod 62 including the end formation 65 thereof. In this way the tool engaging formations 58, 66 of both support arrangements 18, 16 can be conveniently positioned relatively close to each other on the 30 same mounting formation 36 towards the front of the cabinet. In the illustrated embodiment the mounting formation 36 of the support arrangement 18 has four side faces and the tool engaging formations 58, 66 of both support arrangements 18, 16 are accessed from the same face of the mounting formation 36. This enables them to be easily reached by a user with the screwdriver 68 positioned at the front of the cabinet.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 19 The rod 62 is formed from a material that can be cut to length during installation. An installer can cut the rod 62 to length before mounting it on the worm gear 54 and mounting the end formation 65 on the other end thereof. The rod 62 is received within the tertiary recess 69.

Figures 7 to 9 illustrate a levelling device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

As this embodiment has some clear similarities with the embodiment described above 10 with reference to Figures 1 to 4 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components as in the earlier embodiment, unless otherwise indicated.

In this embodiment the levelling device is indicated generally by reference numeral 70.

In this embodiment each leg engaging body 50 comprises two components that are formed separately and then mounted to each other to form an assembled body 50 for use. The two components are an upper abutment component 72 and a lower tubular engagement component 74. The upper abutment component 72 has a broadly similar shape to the upper portion 46 of the body 50 in the first embodiment. The abutment 20 component 72 has a circumferentially extending outward facing surface forming the spur gear 50. Further the upper abutment component 72 has an inner wall 76 defining an opening having a specific faceted configuration for complementary engagement with the tubular engagement component 74.

The tubular engagement component 74 comprises a hollow tubular body having an outward facing engagement formation 78 having a complementary shape to the inner wall 76 on the abutment component 72. The engagement formation 78 is inserted into the opening in the upper abutment component 72 where it engages with the inner wall 76 to key the components 72 and 74 to each other so that they do not move relative to each 30 other. The components 72 and 74 may be releasably connected to each other so that they can be detached from each other if required. They may also be permanently connected to each other.

The tubular engagement component 74 has a wall defining an internal passage extending 35 from one end thereof to the other. An internal screw thread 39 (not shown in Figs 7 to 9) is Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 formed on the wall of the internal passage that engages the external screw thread 30 on the leg 26.

The body 40 in this embodiment and particularly the tubular engagement component 74 5 thereof has a significantly greater axial length than the body 40 in the Fig 1 embodiment. This enables the screw thread formation to have a greater axial length and thereby to facilitate a greater length adjustment of the leg 26 and the bearing member 20.

Further the leg 26 has a screw thread formation 30 that extends from a foot 28 of the leg 10 26 up to the operatively upper end thereof. This screw thread 30 has a substantially greater axial extent than that in the Fig 1 embodiment and consequently also permits a greater extent of longitudinal travel of the leg 26 relative to the bearing member 20.

Another difference from the Fig 1 embodiment is that the mounting formation 36 is not 15 formed as a solid body as the corresponding portion of the mounting formation 36 of the Fig 1 embodiment is formed. Instead it is moulded having an outer wall enclosing a hollow interior. It also has some internal walls to confer the requisite strength on the component. This design reduces the amount of plastic material required to mould the mounting formation 36 and thereby the manufacturing cost thereof and also reduces the 20 weight of the bearing member 20.

In use, the levelling device 10 or 70 can be used when a user wishes to install a kitchen base cabinet 12 on a kitchen floor.

An example installation of a kitchen cabinet 12 that is mounted on the levelling device described above will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. In a first step of the installation process, the installer measures the depth of the cabinet 12 from front to rear, and then cuts the rod 62 to a suitable length. The length of the rod 62 is selected to extend from a forward support arrangement 18 to a rear support arrangement 16.

Typically two or more levelling devices each of which has two said support arrangements are mounted on the floor beneath the cabinet. The bearing members 20 are mounted with Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 21 their abutment surfaces 38 bearing against the underside of the cabinet 12 at selected abutment positions.

Figure 10 shows a cabinet 12 that is supported by two devices 10 each having two 5 support arrangements. Each said device 10 has one support arrangement positioned towards the front of the cabinet and another support arrangement positioned towards the rear of the cabinet 12. In turn one device is positioned towards one side of the cabinet 12 and the other device with its two said support arrangements is positioned towards other side of the cabinet 12.

The bearing members 20 are mounted to the underside of a lower shelf of the cabinet 12 using screws or dowels that are inserted into the mounting holes 37 of the mounting formations 36.

The user or installer then adjusts the lengths L of the supporting arrangement 16, 18 to correspond roughly to a desired height of the cabinet 12 above the floor 14. The user also adjusts the lengths L to accommodate for gaps that would be defined between the underside of the cabinet 12 and the associated local portions of the floor 14 on which the supporting arrangements 16, 18 would stand when the cabinet 12 is installed.

The user then places a spirit level (not shown) on top of the cabinet 12. It is particularly useful if two spirit levels are used with the spirit levels being laid on the top extending orthogonally to each other. A user then selects an appropriate tool, in this example a star-point screwdriver 68, and engages one of the tool engagement formations 58, 66.

The user turns the screwdriver 68 in the direction of arrow 90 which, in turn, turns the spur gear 50 and thus displaces the bearing member 20 on the support arrangement 18 axially relative to the leg 26 to adjust the length or height of the supporting arrangement 18. At the same time the user monitors the level of an upper surface of the cabinet by visually 30 observing the spirit level.

The user then uses the screw driver 68 to turn the worm gear 54 and the spur gear 50 of the support arrangement 16. The extension rod 62 enables the installer to do this from an opening in the face of the mounting formation 36 on the arrangement 18. This will 35 typically be located at the front of the cabinet 12.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 22 The user adjusts the lengths of the supporting arrangements 16, 18 until the cabinet 12 attains its desired orientation notwithstanding any unevenness in the floor surface 14. Specifically the horizontally extending surfaces of the cabinet 12 will be horizontal as 5 indicated by the spirit level and the vertically extending surfaces will be plumb or vertical.

A kick board (not shown in Figures 10 and 11) can be mounted on the cabinet 12 that depends from the lower peripheral edge of the cabinet 12. The kick board neatly and aesthetically conceals the gap between the lower edge of the cabinet 12 and the floor 14.

Figure 12 shows a levelling device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

As this embodiment has many similarities to the embodiment described above with 15 reference to Figures 1 to 6 the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components unless otherwise illustrated. Further the description above of the structure and operation of the embodiment in Figures 1 to 6 largely also applies to this embodiment and is to be incorporated into the description of this embodiment.

In this embodiment the levelling device is indicated generally by the reference numeral 80.

The support arrangements 16, 18 are very similar to those in Fig 1. In addition to the features of the Fig 1 levelling device, the levelling device has a connector 82 that connects the bearing members 20 and holds them in fixed spaced relation to each other. 25 The connector 82 effectively holds the support arrangements 16, 18 rigidly to each other so that they cannot move relative to each other.

The connector 82 has a connector passage 84 formed therein extending from the worm 30 gear 54 of one support arrangement 16 at one end of the device 80 to the support arrangement 18 at the other end of the device 80. The connector passage 84 is sized to receive the extension rod 62 therein with clearance so that it can rotate relative to the connector 82, e.g. freely.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 23 In the illustrated embodiment the connector 82 has a width and depth corresponding to that of the mounting formations 16, 18 of the bearing members 20. Thus the two spaced mounting formations and the connector 82 overall have a rectangular configuration. Conveniently the bearing members and the connector 82 have a unitary construction. In 5 the illustrated embodiment they are integrally formed in a moulding operation such as an injection moulding operation.

In use the levelling device 80 in Figure 12 is used to level a cabinet 12 that is being installed on a support surface 14 against a wall in a similar way to the device 10 in Figure 10 1.

The device 80 is arranged with the longitudinal axis of the connector 82 extending in a direction from the front to the rear of the cabinet 12. This way the surface of the bearing member 18 that defines two access openings to the worm gears 54 is adjacent to the front 15 of the cabinet 12 and can be conveniently accessed by an installer from the front of the cabinet 12.

Figures 13 to 15 illustrate a levelling device in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. The device is indicated generally by the reference numeral 90.

As this embodiment is quite similar to that described immediately above with reference to Figure 12 the same reference numerals will be used to indicate the components in this embodiment as in the Figure 12 embodiment unless otherwise indicated.

This embodiment like the Figure 12 embodiment has a connector 82 rigidly connecting the two support arrangements 16, 18 to each other so that they are held in fixed spaced relation to each other. Further the bearing members 20 and the connector 82 are also formed as a unitary body that has been integrally formed by an injection moulding operation in this embodiment.

In the Fig 13 embodiment the connector 82 is a thin narrow connecting member that extends linearly between the two support arrangements 16, 18. The connecting member 82 is aligned with the secondary recess for the worm gear 54 in the bearing member 20 of the support arrangement 16 and is aligned with the tertiary recess 69 for the worm gear 35 extension in the bearing member 20 of the support arrangement 18. The connecting Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 24 member 82 defines a connector passage 84 therein within which the extension rod 62 is received. The connecting member 82 has a cross sectional area that is sized to receive the connector passage 84 therein and also confers sufficient strength on the connector 82 and the device 90 as a whole. This arrangement reduces the overall size of the two 5 bearing members 20 and the connector 90 when viewed as a single entity and thereby the amount of material that is used to manufacture these components.

Further in this embodiment the leg engaging body 40 comprises two components, namely an upper abutment component 72 and a lower tubular engaging component 74 that are 10 basically the same as those described above for the Fig 7 embodiment.

Further the integrally formed body comprising the connector 82 and the two mounting formations 36 of the two support arrangements 16, 18 is not solid. It comprises an outer wall and some internal cross members to stiffen the outer wall at regular intervals. This 15 confers the requisite strength on the body while reducing the amount of plastic material that is required to manufacture the body. In this regard it is similar to the Fig 7 embodiment described above.

In use this embodiment functions in the same way as the Fig 12 embodiment described 20 immediately above.

Figure 16 and Figure 17 show the levelling device of Figure 12 being used to install kitchen base cabinets 12 on a floor in a wall recess in a kitchen.

The levelling device 80 described above with reference to the drawings can be used to facilitate the installation of a cabinet 12 on a support surface that is a floor 14. The device 80 is able to be adjusted to ensure that the cabinet 12 is installed in a level fashion on the floor 14. It can also be used to align the upper surfaces and front faces of adjacent cabinets with each other to present a neat aesthetic appearance.

In Fig 16 the cabinet is closed off on one side by a wall (which shown with a dotted line on one side for reasons of clarity) and on the other side by an adjacent cabinet. As a result it is not easy to obtain access to the support arrangement at the rear of the cabinet from the sides of the cabinet.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 However the device 80 enables the support arrangement 16 at the rear of the cabinet to be adjusted by engaging a tool head on the mounting formation of the front support arrangement 18. This facilitates a relatively easy adjustment of the rear support arrangement.

Figure 17 shows an installer applying the finishing touches to another kitchen cabinet installation after the cabinets have been levelled with the levelling devices. In particular the installed is mounting a kick plate to the cabinet.

The device 80 is able to be adjusted to ensure that the cabinet 12 is installed in a level fashion on the floor 14. It can also be used to align the upper surfaces and front faces of adjacent cabinets with each other to present a neat aesthetic appearance. It can also be used set a height of a kitchen cabinet at a desired level. The device can raise the height of the support arrangement by a considerable amount. It therefore provides an installer 15 with quite considerable freedom and choice to choose the height of the cabinet.

Although not shown, it will be appreciated that the bearing members can manifest themselves in many different shapes. For example, the outer peripheral profile of a bearing member can be formed to correspond partly with a rear corner end profile of a so 20 called Lazy-Suzan corner cabinet.

An advantage of the levelling device described above with reference to the drawings is that it enables a cabinet to be installed in a level orientation on an uneven floor. It is also capable of aligning the front and upper surfaces of a cabinet with the corresponding 25 surfaces of an adjacent cabinet. Thus the device obviates the need for time consuming trial and error process of inserting shims between the cabinet and the floor. It also obviates the need to lift and lower the cabinet to insert and remove shims during the trial and error process of adjusting the level of the cabinet.

A further advantage of the accessory 10 is that the adjusting arrangements can be operated by a user with a tool from the front of the cabinet. In particular an installer positioned at the front of the cabinet can drive the spur gear of the support arrangement at the rear of the cabinet to rotate. This is particularly advantageous if the sides of the cabinet are closed off by side walls or adjacent cabinets. It is awkward to directly access 35 the rear support arrangement with a tool by reaching into the space beneath the cabinet Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 26 from the front of the cabinet. Instead with the device illustrated in the drawings the installer can do this without having to reach into the space underneath the cabinet.

Another advantage of the levelling device described above with reference to the drawings 5 is that the bearing member and the leg do not rotate. Instead the leg engaging member that is rotatably mounted in the primary recess in the bearing member is rotated and the other two components remain stationary. This is useful because it is not necessary to lift the cabinet off the ground to permit the leg or bearing member to rotate.

Another advantage of the device illustrated above with reference to the drawings is that it is not unduly complex. The device can be easily constructed with few parts and thus can be manufactured at a reasonable cost. Conveniently, the components of the device including the supporting arrangements and the connecting member can be packaged as an installation kit for installing cabinets.

Yet further the device uses a mechanism such as complementary engaging screw threads to adjust the height of the support arrangement. This is a well known and well understood contrivance that has been used reliably for many years. The device also uses a drive arrangement comprising a worm gear meshing with a spur gear. As with the screw 20 threads this is a well known and well understood contrivance that has been used reliably for many years. Both these arrangements are known for their reliable and trouble free operation.

The gearing arrangements provide some mechanical advantage so that a user of average 25 strength may adjust the bearing members with relative ease. For example the worm gear and the spur gear can be selected to provide a mechanical advantage of about 30:1 together with a selected screw thread pitch. As a result for each 30 turns of the screwdriver 68 the cabinet will be raised or lowered by about 2 mm.

The accessory supports the cabinet raised off the floor and thus the cabinet will not come into contact with any fluids that spill on the floor near the cabinet. This is particular advantageous where wooden cabinets are installed, as wooden cabinets are susceptible of water damage when they come into contact with water.

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 27 It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth.

Claims (31)

Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 28 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A levelling device for facilitating a levelling of an article that is installed on a support surface, the levelling device comprising: 5 at least two support arrangements that are mountable spaced apart from each other on the support surface and extending between a downward facing surface of the article and an upwardly facing support surface, wherein each support arrangement includes: a bearing member for bearing against the downwardly facing surface of the article, and a base member engaged with the bearing member for bearing against the upwardly 10 facing support surface, wherein the bearing member and the base member overlap with each other in a longitudinal direction and wherein the extent of the overlap of the base member with the bearing member can be adjusted to adjust the combined length of the bearing and base members together and thereby the height of the support arrangement; an adjusting arrangement for adjusting the extent to which the base member 15 overlaps with the bearing member to adjust the orientation of the article on the support surface to assist in levelling the article on the support surface; and a connector connecting the at least two said support arrangement to each other, wherein the connector defines an extension passage there through within which an extension member for facilitating adjustment of a support arrangement from a location 20 spaced from the support arrangement can be received.

2. A levelling device according to claim 1, wherein the base member includes an elongate leg having an operatively lower end for resting on the support surface and an operatively upper end, and the leg has an external screw thread formed thereon. 25

3. A levelling device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bearing member includes a tubular bore defined there through, and the leg of the base member is displaceably received within said tubular bore whereby to overlap with the bearing member. 30

4. A levelling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bearing member includes a mounting formation defining an abutment surface for bearing against the downwardly facing surface of the article at an associated abutment position on a surface of the article being installed. 35 Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 29

5. A levelling device according to claim 4, wherein the bearing member includes a leg engaging body that is rotatably mounted on the mounting formation, and wherein the leg engaging body includes an internal wall defining a tubular passage therethrough that is complementary to the leg and within which the leg is received. 5

6. A levelling device according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the leg engaging body has an internal screw thread formed on the internal wall thereof and the internal screw thread is engaged with the external screw thread on the leg. 10

7. A levelling device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the mounting formation includes a substantially circular primary recess within which the leg engaging body is received, and the mounting formation also includes a mounting formation passage extending through the mounting formation and having one end opening into the primary recess and another end opening onto a surface of the mounting formation. 15

8. A levelling device according to claim 7, wherein the leg engaging body comprises an upper body portion having a cylindrical configuration that is received within the primary recess and supported on the mounting formation, and a lower body portion depending down from the upper portion and projecting through the mounting formation passage. 20

9. A levelling device according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting arrangement includes a drive arrangement for enabling an installer to rotate of the leg engaging body from a location spaced from said leg engaging body. 25

10. A levelling device according to claim 9, wherein the drive arrangement include a driving gear that can be caused to rotate by an installer and a driven gear that is drivably connected to the driving gear and that transmits rotation of the driving gear to rotation of the leg engaging body. 30

11. A levelling device according to claim 10, wherein the driven gear is a spur gear and wherein the spur gear is formed by the upper body portion of the leg engaging body.

12. A levelling device according to claim 11, wherein the driving gear is a worm gear that is drivably coupled to the spur gear, and wherein the worm gear is elongate and 35 defines a tool engaging end. Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 30

13. A levelling device according to claim 12, wherein the bearing member defines an elongate secondary recess within which the worm gear is received, the secondary recess having one end and an opposed end, and wherein the opposed end opens out onto a 5 surface of the mounting formation.

14. A levelling device according to claim 13, wherein the worm gear includes a tool engaging formation at one end thereof for engaging a head of a tool for enabling an installer to rotate the worm gear by rotation of the tool whereby to turn the spur gear, and 10 wherein the tool engaging formation can be accessed through the opposed end of the secondary recess.

15. A levelling device according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the drive arrangement further includes an extension member that is operatively coupled to the 15 worm gear for facilitating rotation of the worm gear by an installer from a location that is spaced away from the mounting formation within which said worm gear is received.

16. A levelling device according to claim 14, wherein the extension member has one end that operatively engages said tool engaging formation on the worm gear to transmit 20 rotation of the extension member to the worm gear, and wherein the extension member has an opposed end that has a further tool engaging formation for being engaged by a tool of an installer.

17. A levelling device according to claim 16, wherein the bearing member includes a 25 tertiary recess defined therein within which a said extension member that is coupled to an adjacent support arrangement can be received, and wherein the tertiary recess extends from one side of the bearing member to an opposed side of the bearing member.

18. A levelling device according to claim 17, wherein the secondary recess opens out 30 onto the surface of the mounting formation, and wherein the tertiary recess opens out onto the surface of the bearing member proximate to said secondary recess. Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 31

19. A levelling device according to any one of claims 2 to 18, wherein the base member includes a foot at its lower end for bearing against the support surface on which it rests in use. 5

20. A levelling device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising two said support arrangements that are held in a fixed spaced relation to each other,

21. A cabinet installation that is installed on a support surface standing up against a 10 rear wall, including: a cabinet having a front that is forward of the rear wall against which the cabinet is installed and a rear that is adjacent to the rear wall against which the cabinet is installed, and two opposed ends, and comprising a horizontally extending lower member having a width extending from the front to the rear of the cabinet and a horizontally extending upper 15 member having a width extending from the front to the rear of the cabinet, and vertically extending upright members extending between the opposed ends of the upper and lower members, at least one levelling device that as defined in any one of claims 1 to 20, having two support arrangements extending from the support surface up to a downward facing 20 surface of the horizontally extending lower member, the levelling device being adjusted to assist in correctly orientating the cabinet.

22. A cabinet installation according to claim 21, wherein each levelling device is orientated so that a front support arrangement is located towards a front of the cabinet 25 and a rear support arrangement is spaced away from said front support arrangement in a rearward direction.

23. A cabinet installation according to claim 22, wherein the bearing members of the rear and front support arrangements are connected to each other. 30

24. A cabinet installation according to claim 23, including a connector connecting the bearing members of the front and rear support arrangements to each other, and wherein the connector defines a longitudinally extending passage therein. Received at IPONZ on 31 March 2011 32

25. A cabinet installation according to claim 24, further including an extension rod extending from the rear support arrangement to the front support arrangement for facilitating adjustment of the height of the rear support arrangement from a position at or adjacent to the front support arrangement, whereby to enable an installer having access 5 to the front support arrangement to adjust both the front and rear support arrangements.

26. A cabinet installation according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the cabinet includes, two said levelling devices that are spaced apart from across the front of the cabinet, each said levelling device having a front and a rear support arrangement. 10

27. A cabinet installation according to claim 26, wherein one said levelling device is positioned towards one end of the horizontally extending lower member and the other levelling device is positioned towards the other end of the horizontally extending lower member. 15

28. A cabinet installation according to any one of claims 21 to 27, including one or more doors mounted over the front of the cabinet extending between the upper and lower horizontally extending members, and a kick plate mounted over the front of the cabinet extending between the floor and the horizontally extending lower member. 20

29. A cabinet installation according to any one of claims 21 to 28, wherein the vertically extending upright members are in the form of open frames or wherein the vertically extending upright members are in the form of planar members closing off the associated end of the cabinet. 25

30. A cabinet installation according to any one of claims 21 to 29, including two or more cabinets arranged side by side with the uprights of adjacent cabinets next to each other. 30

31. A cabinet installation according to any one of claims 21 to 30, wherein each cabinet is a kitchen cabinet forming part of a kitchen cabinet installation.