The invention is also related to a method of making a joint for connecting a first member of the joint and a second member of the joint together in transversal relationship to each other, in which method the first member is manufactured by attaching to each other, by gluing or other means, a plurality of blocks, and one or more housing-like or opening-like mounting spaces are formed in the first member for connection of the second member thereto.

The invention is also related to a member of a joint for connection to another member of a joint in transversal relationship thereto, including a plurality of adjacent blocks attached to each other by gluing or other means, and one or more mounting spaces for connection of the other member thereto.

The invention is also related to a method of making a member of a joint for connection to another member of the joint in transversal relationship thereto, in which method the member is manufactured by attaching to each other, by gluing or other means, a plurality of blocks, and one or more housing-like or opening-like mounting spaces are formed in the member for connection of the other member thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Today, the joint between a leg and a top of a table, for example, is made so that a hole is formed to a still entire top of the table, e. g. a blockboard, by boring, routing, or chiseling, and the leg is mounted to the hole. Similar solutions are used also in the joint between a side and a shelf of a bookcase or a storage cabinet. This type ofjoint solutions are generally known as finger joints, box joints, and mortise and tenon joints, for example. These solutions, however, require expensive investments to boring and routing machines, for example. Further on, this type of solutions require working time for forming the housings or openings. A further problem is that the appearance and strength of the joint made in this way are not necessarily the best one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a solution avoiding the above problems.

This object is achieved by ajoint of the kind presented in the preamble, which is characterized in that said mounting spaces in the first member are spaces confined by the blocks therebetween.

This object is achieved by a method of making a joint of the kind presented in the preamble, which is characterized in that said mounting spaces are formed by leaving spaces between the blocks in the phase of manufacturing the first member.

This object is achieved by a member ofajoint of the kind presented in the preamble, which is characterized in that said mounting spaces are spaces confined by the blocks therebetween.

This object is achieved by a method of making a member of a joint of the kind presented in the preamble, which is characterized in that said mounting spaces are formed by leaving spaces between the blocks in the phase of manufacturing the member.

The invention is based on the idea that the mounting spaces of the member of the joint, e. g. the housings in a top of a table or in a side of a bookcase, or openings (and by this way the end projections between the openings) are formed already when the blocks used to the manufacturing of the member of the joint are glued together. Preferably, a gluing template is used by means of which the mounting spaces, housings, or openings are achieved by using spacing pieces in the positions at which a mounting space, housing, or opening is to be formed.

Several advantages are achieved be the solution according to the invention. Saves are achieved in the machine investments because no boring and routing machines are needed. Further saves are achieved in the working time. The appearance and strength of the joints made according to the invention are of high class. The invention also makes possible the effective utilization of the waste blocks, as, for example, three blocks, which otherwise could be waste blocks, may be used to provide two housings or openings in a blockboard for a table leg with two projections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is now described in further detail in connection with some preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 presents manufacturing of a table top in a template; Fig. 2 presents the table top of Fig. 1 after removal of the spacing pieces; Fig. 3 presents manufacturing of a table leg in a template; Fig. 4 presents the table leg of Fig. 3 after removal of the spacing pieces;

Fig. 5 presents the table in which the top and the legs are manufactured according to the invention and in the way described in Figs. 1 to 4; Fig. 6 presents manufacturing of sides of a bookcase by slicing from one glued entity; Fig. 7 presents manufacturing of shelves of a bookcase by slicing from one glued entity; and Fig. 8 presents a rack in which a second member is connected to a first member obliquely from a transversal direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1 to 5, the joint includes in this case a first member 1 and a second member 2. The first member is in this case a table top 1, and the second member is a table leg 2. In the joint, the table top 1 and the table leg 2 are connected together. Naturally, also the other leg 3 of the table is connected to the first member, i. e.

the table top 1. The table top 1 and the legs 2 and 3 form a table 4.

Here, the joining of the members 1 and 2 to each other is mainly considered, because the joining of the member 3 to the member 1 is equivalent. As is stated above, the invention is related to the joint which connects together the first member 1 of the joint and the second member 2 of the joint. At least the first member 1 of the joint includes a plurality of adjacent blocks attached to each other by gluing or other means.

Accordingly, the first member, i. e. the table top 1, is preferably a gluelaminated board or blockboard.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 the table top 1 includes eleven adjacent rows 101 to 111, and each row 101 to 111 has either one block or three separate blocks which are glued or otherwise attached to form the table top 1 as an integral entity. In the attachment, preferably by gluing, a template A is used. The rows indicated by odd reference numbers 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111 are advantageously one block rows, i. e.

each of them includes only one block lOla, 103a, 105a, 107a, 109a, lila, respectively.

On the other hand, the rows indicated by even reference numbers 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 include a plurality of blocks each, for example three blocks 102a, 102b, 102c; 104a, 104b, 104c; 106a, 106b, 106c; 108a, 108b, 108c; 110a, 110b, 110c, respectively. In this kind of solution the total amount of the blocks is small, which reduces assembling time.

With reference to Fig. 2, the table top 1 includes five mounting spaces 121 to 125, which are for the connection of the table leg 2 to the table top 1. The table top 1 includes also the other five mounting spaces 126 to 130, which are for the connection of the other leg 3 to the table top 1.

From figures, especially from Fig. 5, it is apparent that the leg 2 is connected to the table top 1 and to the one or more housing-like or opening-like mounting spaces 121 to 125, which are best shown in Fig. 2, transversally at an essentially 90 degrees angle.

Preferably, the spaces 121 to 125 and 126 to 130 are openings or holes through the table top 1, which makes the manufacturing of the table top 1 easier.

Instead of the connection at right angle, as in Fig. 5, a connection from an oblique transversal direction may be concerned. Fig. 8 presents an alternative in which a rack 4' to be mounted on the wall or some other place is concerned, and in which the second member 2' is connected to the first member 1' transversally at an oblique angle. In the rack of Fig. 8 or equivalent, a preferable angle between the first and second member may be in the range of30 to 60 °.

According to the invention, the joint is such that the one or more mounting spaces in said first member 1 of the joint, like the spaces 121 to 125 and 126 to 130, are mounting spaces between the blocks 101a, 102a - c, 103 a, 104a-c, 105a, 106a-c, 107a, 108a-c, 109a, 1 l0a-c, and 11 la used to form the first member 1 and glued or otherwise attached to form an integral entity. With reference to Fig. 1, when assembling the blockboard 1, accurately dimensioned spacing pieces 131 to 140 are used to make the mounting spaces 121 to 130 accurately dimensioned.

Thus, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting spaces are formed already in the gluing template or other accessory equipment A by leaving voids 121 to 125 and 126 to 130 at the positions to which the second parts, like the table legs 2 and 3, are to be mounted. No boring or routing is needed afterwards.

The invention may be considered also as a method of making ajoint. In the method, with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, the first member 1 of the joint, the table top, including a plurality of blocks attached to each other by gluing or otherwise, i. e. blocks 101a, 102a - c, 103a, 104a-c, 105a, 106a-c, 107a, 108a-c, 109a, 110a-c, and lllaoftherows 101 to 111, and the second member 2 of the joint, the table leg, to be connected transversally to the first member are connected together in such a way that said second member 2 is mounted to the mounting spaces 121 to 125 in the first member 1, as may be seen in Figs. 2 and 5. In the method, it is essential that said mounting spaces, like mounting spaces 121 to 125, are mounting spaces which are formed during the assembling phase of the first member 1 between separate blocks in said first member 1, as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, during the assembling of said first member 1, the openings 121 to 125 and 126 to 130 are filled with the corresponding amount of spacing pieces 131 to 140, which are removed when said first member 1 is

finished. The spacing pieces may be separate pieces, or they may be integral or interchangeable structures of the template A, a gluing template, for example. By means ofthe spacing pieces 131 to 140, accurately dimensioned mounting spaces 121 to 125 and 126 to 130 may be accomplished simply.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a first member 1 and a second member 2 of the joint are members of a piece of furniture. For example, the first member may be a table top, a seat, or some other planar part, or a side of a bookcase, as in Fig 6, and the second member may be a vertical or other support, like a preferably planar leg, as in Figs. 3 and 4, or a shelf of a bookcase, as in Fig. 7.

From Figs. 1, 2, and 5 it is apparent that in an advantageous embodiment the blocks used to form the first member 1 confine the mounting space, e. g. mounting space 121, at four sides, and that the form of the mounting space, e. g. mounting space 121, is quadrangular. The mounting spaces, like mounting space 121, include rectangular corners. Said solution is easy to make, and good strength is achieved thereby. For example, the mounting space or hole 121 is confined by the only block 101 a of the row 101, the two first blocks 102a and 102b ofthe row 102, and the only block 103a ofthe row 103. In the alternatives of Figs. 1 to 7, the mounting spaces extend at an essentially right angle through the first member 1. In Fig 8, the angle is oblique.

From figures it is apparent that the blocks glued or otherwise attached to each other in the first member 1, e. g. block 101 a, are parts which have a quadrangular cross section, and which preferably are longitudinal parts, like battens or similar parts, in accordance with Figs. 1 to 5. The block having a suitable thickness may directly define the thickness ot the member 1 or 2, and a further advantage may be that waste pieces produced by sawmill or woodworking industries may be utilized, for example.

The invention is also related to a member of a joint, a first member of a joint as well as a second member of a joint. Above, mainly the first member of the joint was considered. Now, the second member of the joint is considered, the second member being advantageously, for example, a planar table leg 2, with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, or a shelf, with reference to Fig. 5. As compared to the table top 1 of Figs. 1 and 2 or the bookcase side of Fig. 6, the difference in Figs. 3 and 4 is that the spaces 221 to 226 accomplished by means of the gluing template A, or otherwise, are now made at the end, or edge, of the member, like the table leg 2 of Figs. 3 and 4. The blocks 201 to 211 used to form the second member 2 confine the mounting spaces 222 to 225 at three sides thereof, the spaces having a form of a rectangular letter U.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, and the planar table leg application thereof, the member 2 includes a plurality of adjacent blocks 201 to 211 attached to each other by

gluing or other means. The member 2 of the joint includes one or more spaces 221 to 226 formed between the blocks when attaching them to form an integral entity. The spaces 222 to 225 are interstices which, together with the spaces 221 and 226 at the corners, form one or more projections 231 to 235 therebetween at the end of the member 2 of the joint. The blocks 201 to 211 used to form the second member 2 confine the mounting spaces 222 to 225 at three sides thereof, the spaces having a form of a rectangular letter U. In Figs. 3 and 4, five projections 231 to 235 are shown, by means of which the member of the joint, the table leg 2, may be connected to another member 1 of the joint, the table top, i. e. to the housings or mounting spaces 121 to 125 or 126 to 130 therein. The middle blocks 103, 105, 107 and 109 (4 pieces) between the mounting spaces 121 to 125 and the outer blocks 101 and 111(2 pieces) included in the first member 1 ofthe joint are mounted to the interstices or mounting spaces 221 to 226 (6 pieces) of the second member 2 of the joint, respectively.

The invention may also be seen as a method of making a member of a joint, like making the first member 1 or the second member 2, in which method the member 1 and I or 2 is manufactured by attaching blocks, e. g. blocks of the member 1, by gluing or other means to form an integral entity. According to the invention, one or more free spaces, like spaces 121 to 130, are formed between the blocks included in the member of the joint already during the manufacturing of the member, when attaching separate blocks, like separate blocks included in the rows 101 to 111 to form the member as an integral entity. With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, in the member 2 of the joint the spaces 221 to 226 are concerned.

Figs. 6 and 7 present a preferred embodiment of the invention, the manufacturing of the members of the joint according to slicing principle. In Fig. 6, the entity 600 attached together is sliced to seven bookcase sides 651 to 657. The entity 600 is formed by gluing or otherwise of blocks 601 to 617, which are high enough for successful slicing. Spacing pieces 640 are used by means of which accurately dimensioned openings 621 to 628 are accomplished, the spacing pieces being already, for the sake of clearness, removed in Fig. 6 from the openings 626 to 628 after the drying of the glue. Of course, the sides of the bookcase, like the side 651, could be manufactured separately, like the table top 1 of Figs. 1 and 2. Constructionally, the bookcase side, like the side 651, is equivalent to the table top 1.

In Fig. the entity 700 attached together is sliced to seven bookcase shelves 751 to 757. The entity 700 is formed by gluing or otherwise of blocks 701 to 715, which are high enough for successful slicing. Spacing pieces 740 are used by means of which accurately dimensioned spaces 721 to 728 are accomplished. For the sake of clearness,

the spacing pieces are already removed from the spaces 721 to 728 in Fig. 7 after drying ofthe glue. The spaces 721 to 728 form a structure of projections 777 therebetween. For the sake of clarity, each adjacent row in Fig. 7 includes only one block, but could, naturally, include several ones. Of course, the shelves of the bookcase, like the shelf 751, could be manufactured separately, like the table leg 2 of Figs. 3 and 4. Constructionally, one end of the bookcase shelf, like the shelf 751, is equivalent to the upper end of the table leg 2.

The structure and method related to the lateral shelves 751 to 757Fig. 7 are principally similar to those described above in connection with a support, like the table leg 2. A difference is, of course, that with the shelves, like the shelf 751, the spaces and the projections must be made at both ends.

In an advantageous embodiment, the procedure is such that the spacing pieces 640 or 740, repectively, are not removed until after the slicing, because it is then most easily done.

With reference to Fig. 1, the mounting spaces 121 to 130 in the first member of the joint, the table top 1, are in the inner area of the table top 1, at a distance from the edges thereof, while the open spaces at the end of the shelf 751 are at the edge of the shelf 751.

With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, the blocks which are to be attached to each other by gluing or other means are plank-like, strip-like, or plate-like pieces, i. e. generally parts having a suitable thickness, like parts 601 to 617 in Fig. 6, or parts 701 to 715 in Fig. 7, whereby the structural entity 600, or respectively 700, formed after gluing or other attachment is then sliced to several separate parts to form several first members.

Thereby, an advantage is achieved that by only one gluing operation several members 651 to 657, or respectively 751 to 757, are obtained, having finished spaces which form mounting spaces 621 to 628 at a side of a board or through the board in the case of Fig.

6, or accomplish the projection structure 777 separated by spaces 721 to 728 at the end of the member in the case of Fig. 7.

The transversal relationship between the first and second member of the joint is thought to cover angles from about 5 ° to 90 ° between the directions of the members.

In addition to application of slicing principle in the manufacturing of the members of the joint, it is advantageous to manufacture entities which include several members in succession and I or side by side and then separate the members by sawing or cutting otherwise. This may be combined to slicing, too.

In the embodiments desdribed above in detail, the members of the joint are planar, but it is clear that the invention is not restricted thereto. For example, a conventional elongated table leg may be made of strip-like or stick-like blocks, and mounting space(s)

and corresponding projection(s) may be formed at the end of the leg in accordance with the invention. Also, many other forms of the members of the joint are possible.

The invention is described above mainly in relation to the first member of the joint, but it is clear that the subject matter presented is also applicable as to the accomplishment of the second member of the joint. Respectively, the embodiments and other subject matter presented in relation to each aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, too.

Although the invention is described above with reference to the examples presented by the drawings, it is clear that the invention is not restricted thereto but may be widely varied within the scope and the spirit of the invention presented by the appended claims.