GB2258510A - Pivot joint for furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

A joint for furniture construction comprises a pair of members (12, 14) each having a cylindrical base (16, 18) and an upstanding extension arm (20, 22) with a transverse bore (24, 26) to receive a threaded fastener (27) to clamp the arms together in a chosen pivotal position. Each member also has an axial bore (30, 32) by which it is bolted to a furniture element (34) (only one shown) at a chosen rotational position. The axial bores (30, 32) are perpendicular to the transverse bore (24, 25). The threaded fastener (27) may screw into the internally threaded bore (24) or engage a nut (not shown) in a recess in the member (12). The bases (16, 18) may have bosses insertable into the furniture elements (34). <IMAGE>

Description

JOINT The present invention relates to joints. It was particularly devised for use in connecting members forming parts of furniture, but may have other applications.

Jointed furniture may either be constructed by craft methods of cutting and jointing or may utilize manufactured joints. Those currently available are limited in application, since they usually have fixed angles, or only limited variability. Thus, furniture using such joints is subject to design constraints imposed by the available joints.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new or improved joint, principally for construction of furniture, which overcomes or reduces the above disadvantage.

The present invention provides a joint having first and second members for securing two respective elements to be joined; first means for detachably inter-connecting said members to enable said members to pivot relative to each other in a first plane and for locking said members in a preselected pivotal position; and second means for securing each said member to the respective element for enabling rotation of each of said members about a respective axis orthogonal to the pivot axis and locking of each said member to the respective element in a preselected rotational position.

Each member may include a base portion and a rounded extension arm upstanding from the base portion.

Each member may comprise a part-cylinder.

The first means may comprise aligned bores provided in each of said upstanding extension arms transverse to the axes thereof and a threaded fastener adapted to inter-connect and pivotably secure the extension arms together.

One of said bores may be internally threaded to receive said fastener.

Alternatively one of said bores may have a recess to receive a nut into which said fastener is threaded.

Each of said extension arms may have a hemi-cylindrical rounded end remote from said base portion.

One or both base portions may include a boss adapted to be inserted into a respective one of said elements.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of joint according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the joint of Figure 1; Referring now to the drawings, these show a joint 10 which has two identical co-operating joint halves or members 12, 14 which are generally L shaped. Each member has a base portion 16, 18, which is preferably part-cylindrical, and a generally partcylindrical extension or arm 20, 22 extending from the base. The base may have a boss, not shown, on its end remote from the extension arm.

The two arms 20, 22 are each provided with a respective bore 24, 26 extending transversely of the arm 20, 22. In one alternative, the bore 24 of one member 12 is screw-threaded whilst the bore 26 of the member 14 is provided with a recess 28 to receive the head of a screw 27 by means of which the two members 12, 14 can be secured together.

In another alternative the bores 24 and 26 are plain but bore 24 has a recess to house a nut (not shown) into which the fastener is threaded. The arrangement is such that when the two members are screwed together they can pivot one relative to the other about the axis of the aligned bores 24, 26 until the screw or bolt 27 is fully tightened, but are otherwise restricted from moving relative to one another.

Each member 12, 14 also has a bore 30, 32 by means of which the member can be secured to a respective part 34 (only one of which is shown) of an item of furniture. The bores 30, 32 are aligned with the axes of the respective members 12, 14.

In the form illustrated, each bore 30, 32, is countersunk to receive the head of a bolt 36, 37, which is passed through the bore 30, 32, and a further bore such as 38 in the furniture part.

A cylindrical nut 40 having a diametrical screw-threaded bore is slidably located in a cross bore 42 in the furniture part 34 and receives the bolt 36, 37. Where the joint is to be secured to an end grain of timber, an expanding plug receives the fastener.

In an alternative connection, a bolt may pass in the opposite direction to that shown and the countersinks can be adapted to locate nuts.

In use, the members 12, 14 are secured by bolts 36, 37, in the manner described above to respective parts of an item of furniture. One or both base portions may have a boss, capable of being inserted in a housing in the furniture element. The two members 12, 14 are then joined together by means of a screw or bolt 27 through the aligned bores 24, 26. The two members 12, 14 can then be pivoted relative to one another into the desired position and the screw tightened to render the joint rigid.

Prior to joining the two members 12 and 14 together, their angular positions are adjusted relative to the furniture parts about the bolts 36, 37, or equivalent fasteners, to ensure that the resulting joint can be pivoted in the desired plane.

The preferred form of joint according to the present invention is simple to manufacture and assemble to an article of furniture for example, with minimal skill and allows two members to be jointed together in any angular position. It therefore allow freedom for the designer of furniture to use angles not readily achieved with conventional joints, without requiring the use of skilled craftsmen.

Claims (9)

1. A joint having first and second members for securing two respective elements to be joined; first means for detachably inter-connecting said members to enable said members to pivot relative to each other in a first plane and for locking said members in a preselected pivotal position; and second means for securing each said member to the respective element for enabling rotation of each of said members about a respective axis orthogonal to the pivot axis and locking of each said member to the respective element in a preselected rotational position.

2. A joint according to claim 1 wherein each member includes a base portion and a rounded extension arm upstanding from the base portion.

3. A joint according to any preceding claim wherein each member comprises a part-cylinder.

4. A.joint according to claim 2 or claim 3 when appendent on claim 2 wherein the first means comprises aligned bores provided in each of said upstanding extension arms transverse to the axes thereof and a threaded fastener adapted to inter-connect and pivotably secure the extension arms together.

5. A joint according to claim 4 wherein one of said bores is internally threaded to receive said fastener.

6. A joint according to claim 4 wherein one of said bores has a recess to receive a nut into which said fastener is threaded.

7. A joint according to any preceding claim directly or indirectly appendent to claim 2 wherein each of said extension arms has a hemi-cylindrical rounded end remote from said base portion.

8. A joint according to any preceding claim wherein one or both base portions includes a boss adapted to be inserted into a respective one of said elements.

9. A joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.