GB2547626A

GB2547626A - Furniture and tubular components and joints for assembly of furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2547626A
Application number: GB1522113.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Wilson Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-12-15
Filing date: 2015-12-15
Publication date: 2017-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-15
Also published as: GB2547626B; GB201522113D0

Abstract

An article of furniture comprising a horizontal element 18 with a hole 22, a support tube 12 with an open end and with a size such that it cant fit within the hole 22 and a sprung tube element 16 which can be compressed from a first configuration to a second wherein in the second configuration the sprung tube 16 can be positioned in the support tube 12 to extend into the hole 22 and can expand to come into contact with an internal surface of the support tube 12. The tubes may be cylindrical and the sprung tube 16 may have a cut portion along its length. Further horizontal elements 26 and tubes 24 may be provided to produce a stacked arrangement with the tubes positioned at the corners. The sprung and support tubes may be formed of rolled paper, cardboard or plastic and glue may be used.

Description

Furniture and tubular components and joints for assembly of furniture Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to articles of furniture constructed from components that may be disassembled, such as from interfitting tubular and sheet components.

Background

There is a need for simple, easy to assemble furniture that may be formed from a kit of components, such that the furniture may be configured by a user to suit their needs, for example in terms of size and shape, and may be disassembled for transport or storage. Furniture such as shelves in flat pack form and comprising tubular and sheet elements that may be assembled together by a user is well known. Typical prior art designs use complex moulded, formed or extruded shapes that are designed to interfit to give such functionality. In general the components are relatively expansive and are not adapted to be made using low cost, recycled or recyclable materials. A number of designs are known in the prior art that do make use of simple, low cost tubular and sheet elements, but these all have significant drawbacks in terms of function and/or aesthetics.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: WO2013129966 discloses: the invention relates to furniture, in particular to ready-to-assemble seating furniture. The ready-to-assemble chair comprises a base, legs, a back, devices for attaching the legs to the base and a tightening device which is mounted beneath the base, wherein the base is in the form of a box with corners equipped with guides for mounting the legs, and the tightening device is situated at the height of the middle of the guides and is in the form of flexible circular loops which connect pairs of diametrically opposite legs, wherein the circular loops are equipped with a twisting element. The twisting element can be in the form of a twisting rod. Each device for attaching the legs to the base can be equipped with at least one lock. An opening can be formed in each guide, and the lock of the attachment device is in the form of a threaded element with a hook for connection to the circular loop of the tightening device, while the other end of said threaded element is screwed onto a screw passing through an opening in the leg and the guide. The technical result consists in simplifying the assembly and disassembly of the chair, which are performed manually without the use of any tools, and also in rendering the design as simple and cheap as possible and reducing the amount of time required to assemble and disassemble the chair.

This design is typical of the prior art - it requires complex formation of the sheet elements (in this case a chair seat) and compression fittings to support the sheet element on the vertical tube elements, which results in an inherently high cost device that must be made from carefully engineered materials and components. US20110036798 discloses a building unit for a modular rack. The building unit includes a shelf, a frame for supporting the shelf and posts for supporting the frame. The frame includes beams, sleeves provided between the beams and connecting elements each securely disposed in a related one of the sleeves and formed with at least one screw hole. Each of the screws includes a lower section and an upper section driven through the screw hole of a related one of the connecting elements. Each of the posts includes upper and lower discs formed therein. The upper disc includes a screw hole for receiving the lower section of a related one of the screws. The lower disc includes a screw hole for receiving the upper section of a screw of another building unit.

This is typical of many prior art devices in which the tubular support elements screw into another component, meaning again that the material needs to be expensively formed, almost certainly from metal. WO201040241 discloses: The invention relates to a module set for assembly of drawers, frames or other furniture having horizontally arranged plate elements, and to furniture produced from one such module set. For simple and fast production of the modularly composed article of furniture, the invention proposes that the module set be comprised of tubular profiles and connecting elements which can be assembled into supporting columns for the plate elements, wherein the connecting elements have on both sides a joint section insertable into the tubular profiles and an intermediate flange located therebetween, which extends beyond the inner perimeter of the tubular profile after the joining step, so that a support for the plate elements is formed between two tubular profiles.

This device is more adapted to low cost, simple construction but still uses a formed inner connecting element with a central flange, which must be made from a process such as moulding in plastic. The design is not suitable for use with simple, tubular components that do not require a plastic moulding process. DE202006014229 discloses a set of shelves comprising horizontal shelves supported by tubes, passing through apertures in the shelves. However, the shelves are supported by pegs passing through the wall of the tubes below the shelves - and inelegant and ultimately potentially unreliable design. DE19649819 discloses: a shelving design that comprises several support rods and several shelf plates fixed one above the other at intervals. The outer surface of each support rod has several circumferential socket grooves and each shelf plate has several fixing holes for the connectors. The connectors have a fixing pipe with conically tapering extending in the longitudinal axial direction of the fixing pipe which holds one of the support rods in connection with one of the wedge rings which are used with the connectors to secure the shelf plate to the support rod.

This disclosure is one of several designs in which the shelves are supported by friction between a conical section wedge ring that engages a recess in the support tubes when pressed down by the shelf. This relies on a carefully dimensioned wedge ring and a specially formed tubular support rod with recesses, and so does not provide a low cost, simple solution. EP-818161 discloses a display unit which is formed entirely or mostly of sheet material such as cardboard, comprises a base and a plurality of shelves supported by uprights. The uprights have a modular structure, being constituted by a plurality of modules which can be coupled to one another in a generally mortice-and-tenon-like configuration. Each module comprises an outer tubular element in which a precisely determined length of an inner element, which can penetrate a complementary portion of another module, is engaged.

This device allows relatively simple tubular elements to be used that do not require moulding for their production, but they do rely on a precisely determined length of the tubular element, which means that there is only limited scope of reconfiguration of the tubular elements by a user to suit their requirements. GB2285571 discloses a shelving system that comprises vertical rods, shelves threaded onto the rods and spacer tubes threaded onto the rods to spare the shelves. By using spacers of different sizes and providing multiple holes in the shelves complex shelving arrangements can be constructed. Spacers split along their length are also provided so that they can be snap fitted on the vertical rods and the shelf spacing thereby adjusted without dismantling the system.

This device uses a continuous rod as the support on which support tubes for the shelves are mounted; the rod needs to be the right length for the height of the whole assembly, and there is not means to assemble the shelves from shorter components in a reconfigurable way.

In contrast the present invention provides an article of furniture comprising a set of tube and sheet elements that may be reconfigured readily and is not limited by the size of the components.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an article of furniture comprising: a support tube open at a first end and having an internal surface and a wall thickness, a sprung tube element configured to be compressible from a first configuration to a second configuration to fit within the said first end of the support tube, so as to expand within the said first end of the support tube to provide contact between the outer surface of the sprung tube element and the internal surface of the support tube, and a horizontal element comprising a receiving location into which the sprung tube element may enter when in the second configuration and which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

Preferably the article comprises at least a first, second and third support tubes, a first second and third sprung tube elements, and a horizontal element comprising first second and third receiving locations, so as to provide a stable article having at least three legs provided by the support tubes, the horizontal element being supported on the tubes and held in place by means of the sprung tube elements, which are held in place within the support tubes by friction and engage with the receiving locations to hold the horizontal element in place on top of the support tubes.

It will be understood that the article of furniture when assembled may typically have four legs in the manner of a conventional chair, table or floor-standing shelf. The article of furniture may be provided in assembled or disassembled form, for example in the form of a kit of parts that may be assembled by a user into one, or one of a selection of, configurations. An article of furniture may be one of: a chair, a stool, a table, a shelf or set of shelves, a desk, a storage rack, or a structural element to support one or more of these.

The invention provides an article of furniture that may be taller than the length of any individual component, by joining the support tubes together using the sprung tube elements as will be described herein. in some embodiments a receiving location is an aperture through the horizontal element through which the sprung tube element may pass when in the second configuration but which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not pass through it. In this way the horizontal element is supported by the upper edge of the support tube bearing on the portion of the horizontal element external to the perimeter of the aperture.

In preferred embodiments the support tube is cylindrical and the sprung tube element has the form of part of a cylindrical tube having a cut along its length, such as parallel to its length or helical, from a first end of the sprung tube element to the second, in some embodiments the support tube may have a cross-sectional shape such as a rectangle or square. In some embodiments the support tube has one or more straight sides. In such embodiments the support tube preferably has a straight side having a width approximately the same as that of the said straight side of the support tube.

In this way the article of furniture may be assembled from a number of components comprising: three or more support tubes, three or more sprung tube elements, and one or more horizontal elements, and the article may be disassembled for transport or storage.

In use, the sprung tube element is compressed from its first configuration to fit inside the support tube and then released, such that it adopts the second configuration in which it has sprung outwards such that its outer surface contacts the inner surface of the support tube to provide a frictional contact to retain it in place within the support tube. A further component may then be placed on top of the sprung tube to be supported by the tube. As the sprung tube component is already compressed, a second support tube may be placed over its exposed end. The sprung tube component may comprise tapered ends to allow a second support tube to be placed readily over the exposed end when the sprung tube element is already in place within a first support tube. In this way the invention provides an article of furniture that may be assembled, disassembled, modified or extended using further components.

The article may comprise a number of components as selected and assembled by a user. For example, an article of furniture may have more than one horizontal element, and may comprise in order, from the ground up: four first support tubes four sprung tube elements to fit inside the first support tubes a first horizontal element comprising apertures to receive the first sprung tube elements, the apertures being dimensioned such that the first support tubes may not enter the apertures, the horizontal element resting on the upper ends of the first support tubes four second support tubes, and a second horizontal element comprising receiving locations to receive either the sprung tube elements, or to receive the upper ends of the second support tubes, the second horizontal element resting on the upper ends of the second support tubes.

In some embodiments the article may comprise second sprung tube elements mounted into the open ends of the second support tubes, to be received into the receiving locations on the second horizontal elements.

In this way the support tubes may be joined together by sprung tube elements, so allowing an extended tube length to be achieved from a set of shorter components. In this way the invention provides an article of furniture that may be assembled from a set of standard parts into a range of configurations, and is not limited by the size of the individual components, such as the length of the support tubes, as in prior art designs.

Optionally the sprung tube element may be glued in place within the first support tubes such that the second support tubes may be removed leaving the sprung tube elements in place.

The sprung tube element may be formed from a sheet material such as rolled paper, plastic, or metal sheet having a degree of spring characteristic, and may be formed for example from a tubular section having a portion cut out along the length of the section, such as between 5% and 25% of the circumference, for example, around 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% or 25% of the circumference.

The support tube may be formed from a material having sufficient strength under axial compression along the tube to support further components resting on it. The material may be for example rolled paper or cardboard, optionally treated with a binder such as resin, plastic, metal or ceramic.

The horizontal element may be formed from a range of materials, such as wood composites, for example melamined chipboard, traditional woods, steel, glass or plastic, such as acrylic.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a set of components for assembly of an article of furniture comprising: a support tube open at a first end and having an internal surface and a wall thickness, a sprung tube element configured to be compressible from a first configuration to a second configuration to fit within the said first end of the support tube, so as to expand within the said first end of the support tube to provide a frictional contact between the outer surface of the sprung tube element and the internal surface of the support tube, and a horizontal element comprising a receiving location into which the sprung tube element may enter when in the second configuration and which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of constructing an article of furniture using components as described herein comprising the steps of: assembling a plaurality of sprung tubular elements into the open ends of a plurality of support tubes such that the ends of the sprung tubular elements project from the open ends, and placing a horizontal element over the ends of the sprung tubular elements such that these are received within the receiving locations provided on the horizontal element and the horizontal element is supported by the upper edges of the support tubes.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a construction joint suitable for use in design of an article of furniture comprising: a support tube open at a first end and having an internal surface and a wall, a sprung tube element comprising an open tube having a cut long its length, configured to be compressible from a first configuration to a second configuration to fit within the support tube, so as to expand within the support tube to provide a frictional contact between the outer surface of the sprung tube element and the internal surface of the support tube, a horizontal element comprising a receiving location into which the sprung tube element may enter when in the second configuration and which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

The construction joint may comprise: a horizontal element wherein the receiving location comprises an aperture through which the sprung tube element may pass, but through which the support tube may not pass, and a further support tube adapted to receive the sprung tube element such that the further support tube is retained on top of the horizontal element by the sprung tube element.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a view of an embodiment of an article of furniture according to the invention partially assembled, comprising a first set of support tubes, a first horizontal element, with sprung tube elements awaiting assembly of the second set of support tubes onto them.

Figure 2 shows the embodiment as in figure 1 with the second set of support tubes assembled onto the sprung tube elements.

Figure 3 shows the embodiment as in figures 1 and 2 with a second horizontal element mounted on the second support tubes.

Figure 4 shows the components of the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 shows a partial view of a construction joint forming part of the article of furniture as shown in figures 1 to 3, (a) showing the components before assembly and (b) the assembled components.

Figure 6(a) shows a detailed view of a horizontal component forming part of the invention, comprising a receiving component having a receiving location for a sprung tube element, mounted on the underside of the horizontal element.

Figure 6(b) shows a detailed view of a horizontal component forming part of the invention, comprising a receiving location for a sprung tube element formed in the underside of the horizontal element.

Figure 6(c) shows a detailed view of an embodiment of a sprung tube element suitable for use in the invention, comprising a tube with a portion of the tube wall cut out and the sprung tube element being compressed from the first configuration (left) to the second (right) such that it may be inserted into the support tube. Optionally the sprung tube element may be glued in place into the support tube as shown.

Figure 7 shows a detailed view of the sequence of assembly of a comer of an article of furniture as shown in figures 1 to 3.

Figure 8 shows the components as in figure 7 after assembly.

Figure 9 shows profile, underside and top views of a horizontal element suitable for use in the invention: (a) to (c): a first horizontal element suitable for the middle shelf in an article of furniture as shown in figures 1 to 3; (d) to (f): a second horizontal element suitable for use as top shelf of the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 3; (g) to (i): a worktop comprising receiving components mounted on the underside of the worktop as shown in figure 6(a). Such a worktop may be formed from glass, for example, in which it is not practical to form the receiving location as in figures 6(b) and 9(d).

Figure 10 shows an embodiment in which more than one horizontal elements are coupled laterally a part of the invention.

Figure 11 shows an embodiment in which a horizontal element may pivot around a sprung tube element.

Detailed Description of Figures

Referring to figures 1 to 9, an embodiment of an article of furniture 10 according to the invention comprises: a support tube 12 open at a first end 14 and having an internal surface and a wall thickness, a sprung tube element 16 configured to be compressible from a first configuration to a second configuration to fit within the said first end of the support tube, so as to expand within the said first end of the support tube to provide a frictional contact between the outer surface of the sprung tube element and the internal surface of the support tube, and a horizontal element 18 comprising a receiving location 20 into which the sprung tube element may enter when in the second configuration and which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

As shown in figures 1 to 3 the article comprises a first, second, third and fourth support tubes, a first, second, third and fourth sprung tube elements, and a horizontal element comprising first, second, third and fourth receiving locations, so as to provide a stable article having four legs provided by the support tubes, the horizontal element being supported on the tubes and held in place by means of the sprung tube elements, which are held in place within the support tubes by friction and engage with the receiving locations to hold the horizontal element in place on top of the support tubes.

In this embodiment a receiving location 20 in the horizontal element 18 is an aperture through the horizontal element through which the sprung tube element may pass when in the second configuration but which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not pass through it. In this way the horizontal element is supported by the upper edge of the support tube bearing on the portion of the horizontal element external to the perimeter of the aperture.

In such an embodiment the aperture may be around 1-2mm greater in diameter than the internal diameter of the support tube 12. In this way the sprung tube element may pass easily through the aperture while horizontal element is supported by the majority of the thickness of the wall of the support tube. The horizontal element may have a thickeness in the range 10mm to 40mm, such as 12mm to 30mm.

In this embodiment the support tube 12 is cylindrical and the sprung tube element 16 has the form of part of a cylindrical tube having a cut 22 parallel to its length, from a first end of the sprung tube element to the second.

In this embodiment the article of furniture has a first and a second horizontal element, and comprises in order, from the ground up: four first support tubes 12 four first sprung tube elements 16 to fit inside the first support tubes a first horizontal element 18 comprising apertures 20 to receive the first sprung tube elements, the apertures being dimensioned such that the first support tubes may not enter the apertures, the horizontal element resting on the upper ends of the first support tubes four second support tubes 24, and a second horizontal element 26 comprising receiving locations 28 to receive the sprung tube elements, the second horizontal element resting on the upper ends of the second support tubes.

Referring to figure 3, the second horizontal element may be a table top, in this case formed from wood and having a central recess for display of objects. The article of furniture is completed with a table top cover 30 as shown in the set of components in figure 4, having fitments 32 to interfit into the second support tubes through the receiving locations 28.

In this embodiment the sprung tube element is formed from a sheet material such as rolled paper or plastic and may be formed for example from a tubular section having a portion cut out along the length of the section, such as around 5% of the circumference.

The support tube may be formed from rolled paper or cardboard, optionally treated with a binder such as resin, plastic, metal or ceramic.

Figure 5 shows details of an assembly method of a construction joint according to the invention in which a first support tube 12 is pushed down over the sprung tube element 16 which this is compressed as shown. Horizontal element 18 and second support tube 24 are then moved downwards over the sprung tube element to assemble the joint. Sprung tube element 16 may have a tapered end 70 as shown.

Figures 6 to 9 show the components and assembly process for the articles of furniture and the construction joints forming part of them, according to the invention.

Figure 6(a) shows in more detail the assembly of locating element 32 onto horizontal element 30 by means of glue, shown hatched. Figure 6(b) shows a detail of the finish of the underside of the second horizontal element 26, which has a circular track, 2mm greater in width than the wall thickness of the support tubes, cut to the internal diameter of the sprung tube element when compressed into the support tube, and to a depth of around one third of the thickness of the horizontal element.

Figure 6(c) shows formation of the sprung tube element 16 by means of removal of a portion 23 of the circumference of a tube element 25 substantially similar to the support tube 12 to form a sprung tubular element 16 that may fit within the support tube. Optionally the sprung tube element may be glued into place in the first support tube 12 as shown.

Figure 7 shows the sequence of assembly of the corner of the article of furniture as shown in figures 1 to 3, in which sprung tube element 16, for example as formed as in figure 6, is inserted into support tube 12; first horizontal element 18 is mounted on the support tube 12, then second support tube 24 is mounted over sprung tube element 16 to sit on the upper surface of the first horizontal element; sprung tube element 16 the projects through the receiving location 28, and/or an annular receiving location 34 is formed in the underside of 26 to receive the upper edge of the second support tube; the table top 30 then fits onto the second horizontal element 26 to be held in place by means of features 32.

Figure 8(a) shows the assembly in figure 7 once completed; figure 8(b) shows the same assembly but without the table top 30.

Figure 10 shows an embodiment of the invention adapted to allow two or more horizontal elements 18a, 18b to be mounted on common support tubes 12 while providing the upper surface of 18a and 18b at the same level. A first horizontal element 18a comprises a recess 38a formed on its upper side, while a second horizontal element 18b comprises a matching recess 40b formed on its lower side. In this way, the recesses and the thickness of the material of the horizontal elements may be chosen to provide a substantially flat upper surface extending from the first element to the second. It will be apparent from figure 10 that the first and second elements may be substantially identical.

Figure 11 shows a movable joint that may form part of an article of furniture according to the invention, in which a first horizontal element 48a comprises a recess at its end on its upper surface, the recess having a straight profile 50, and the second horizontal element 48b comprises a matching recess, having a curved profile, here a semicircular profile, 52 on the matching recess. In this way the first and second horizontal elements may pivot one with respect to the other when mounted on a support tube 12 by means of a sprung tube element 16.

Referring to figure 4, in one embodiment the invention provides a set of components for assembly of an article of furniture comprising: a plurality of support tubes each open at a first end and having an internal surface and a wall thickness, a plurality of sprung tube elements each configured to be compressible from a first configuration to a second configuration to fit within the said first end of the support tubes, so as to expand within the said first end of the support tube to provide a frictional contact between the outer surface of the sprung tube element and the internal surface of the support tube, and a horizontal element comprising a plurality of receiving locations into which the sprung tube elements may enter when in the second configuration and which are dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

Referring to figure 5, in an embodiment of the invention a construction joint 60 suitable for use in design of an article of furniture comprises: a support tube 12 open at a first end and having an internal surface and a wall 60, a sprung tube element 16 comprising an open tube having a cut long its length, configured to be compressible from a first configuration 62 as shown in figure 5(a) to a second configuration 64 to fit within the support tube, so as to expand within the support tube to provide a frictional contact between the outer surface 66 of the sprung tube element and the internal surface 68 of the support tube, a horizontal element 18 comprising a receiving location 20 into which the sprung tube element may enter when in the second configuration 64 and which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

In this embodiment the construction joint comprises: a horizontal element 18 wherein the receiving location 20 comprises an aperture through which the sprung tube element may pass, but through which the support tube may not pass, and a further support tube 24 adapted to receive the sprung tube element such that the further support tube 24 is retained on top of the horizontal element by the sprung tube element. A tapered end 70 is provided to facilitate movement of second support tube 24 onto the sprung tube element 16 while this is held compressed by the first support tube.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An article of furniture comprising: a support tube open at a first end and having an internal surface and a wall thickness, a sprung tube element configured to be compressible from a first configuration to a second configuration to fit within the said first end of the support tube, so as to expand within the said first end of the support tube to provide contact between the outer surface of the sprung tube element and the internal surface of the support tube, and a horizontal element comprising a receiving location into which the sprung tube element may enter when in the second configuration and which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

2. An article of furniture according to claim 1 comprising: at least a first, second and third support tubes, a first second and third sprung tube elements, and a horizontal element comprising first second and third receiving locations, so as to provide a stable article having at least three legs provided by the support tubes.

3. An article of furniture according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a receiving location is an aperture through the horizontal element through which the sprung tube element may pass when in the second configuration but which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not pass through it, such that the horizontal element is supported by the upper edge of the support tube bearing on the portion of the horizontal element external to the perimeter of the aperture.

4. An article of furniture according to any preceding claim wherein the support tube is cylindrical and the sprung tube element has the form of part of a cylindrical tube having a cut along its length.

5. An article of furniture according to any preceding claim comprising: four first support tubes four sprung tube elements to fit inside the first support tubes a first horizontal element comprising apertures to receive the first sprung tube elements, the apertures being dimensioned such that the first support tubes may not enter the apertures, the horizontal element resting on the upper ends of the first support tubes four second support tubes, and a second horizontal element comprising receiving locations to receive either the sprung tube elements, or to receive the upper ends of the second support tubes, the second horizontal element resting on the upper ends of the second support tubes.

6. An article of furniture according to any preceding claim comprising second sprung tube elements mounted into the open ends of the second support tubes.

7. An article of furniture according to any preceding claim wherein a sprung tube element is glued in place within the first support tubes.

8. An article of furniture according to any preceding claim wherein the sprung tube element and the support tube are formed from rolled paper, carboard, or plastic.

9. A set of components for assembly of an article of furniture comprising: a support tube open at a first end and having an internal surface and a wall thickness, a sprung tube element configured to be compressible from a first configuration to a second configuration to fit within the said first end of the support tube, so as to expand within the said first end of the support tube to provide contact between the outer surface of the sprung tube element and the internal surface of the support tube, and a horizontal element comprising a receiving location into which the sprung tube element may enter when in the second configuration and which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

10. A construction joint suitable for use in design of an article of furniture comprising: a support tube open at e first end and having an internal surface and a wall, a sprung tube element comprising an open tube having a cut long its length, configured to be compressible from a first configuration to a second configuration to fit within the support tube, so as to expand within the support tube to provide a frictional contact between the outer surface of the sprung tube element and the internal surface of the support tube, a horizontal element comprising a receiving location into which the sprung tube element may enter when in the second configuration and which is dimensioned such that the support tube may not enter it.

11. A construction joint according to claim 10 comprising: a horizontal element wherein the receiving location comprises an aperture through which the sprung tube element may pass, but through which the support tube may not pass, and a further support tube adapted to receive the sprung tube element such that the further support tube is retained on top of the horizontal element by the sprung tube element.

12. A method of constructing an article of furniture using components as described herein comprising the steps of: assembling a plurality of sprung tubular elements into the open ends of a plurality of support tubes such that the ends of the sprung tubular elements project from the open ends, and placing a horizontal element over the ends of the sprung tubular elements such that these are received within the receiving locations provided on the horizontal element and the horizontal element is supported by the upper edges of the support tubes.