It may also be used for fixing facia boards, guttering, suspended ceilings, partitions, components for knockdown furniture, the hanging of picture frames and many other applications. The invention also relates to a method of joining objects using the device.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION A need has been identified for a method of detachably joining two objects together and in particular joining two flat surfaces. For instance there is a need to manufacture cupboards or other items of furniture at a factory but be able to transport the completed article in a knockdown state for assembly at another site. As stated above there are many more applications where such a need arises. The present invention is aimed, at least in part, in meeting those needs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION A joining device according to the invention for removably joining two objects, comprises a male component and a female component, the male component having a base, a profiled neck, a head and means for mounting the male component on one object and the female component having a receiving aperture for receiving the head, a slide formation profiled to correspond to the profiles in the neck of the male component and means for mounting the female component on the second object, the arrangement being such that the male component may be introduced into the receiving aperture of the female component and then slid sideways so that the objects are firmly locked to each other.

In one form of a joining device according to the invention, the neck is profiled to provide a channel and the slide formation is a rib which engages the channel.

The components of a joining device according to the invention may be made of plastic and produced by injection moulding.

Alternatively the components may be made of metal by means of die casting.

The invention also covers a method of removably joining two objects which includes the steps of mounting male and female components according to the invention on the objects, pressing the male component into the receiving aperture of the female component and sliding the male component sideways relative to the female component into a locking position.

The invention also extends to objects designed to be joined together on which there are mounted male and female components of a joining device according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention and best mode for carrying out the invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1-is a perspective view of the invention showing the male component mounted on the underneath surface of one board and the female component mounted in a recess just below the surface of a second board.

FIGURE 2-is a side view of the male and female components showing the profile of the male component according to the invention.

FIGURE 3-is a perspective view from the top of the male and female components showing the internal features of the female component according to the invention.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6-show a longitudinal half-section through the female component and the position of the male component before insertion (Figure 4), after insertion (Figure 5), and after sliding the male component into locking position (Figure 6).

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9-is an orthographic view of a mid-section of the male and female components showing the male component before insertion into the receiving aperture of the female component (Figure 7), after insertion (Figure 8), and after sliding into locking position (Figure 9).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings there is shown a male component 1 and a female component 2.

These may be made of a suitable plastic by means of injection moulding or of metal by means of die-casting. The male component 1 has a head (not numbered) and an annular channel 4 in its neck. As can be seen best in Figures 7-9 the male component 1 is provided with a countersunk mounting hole (not numbered) and the female component 2 with two countersunk mounting holes (not numbered in Figures 7,8 and 9 but indicated at 6 in Figure 3). The female component 2 has a receiving aperture 5 and an inwardly projecting rib 3. The rib 3 has a profile that matches that of the annular channel 4 in the neck of the male component 1.

In use the female component 2 and the male component 1 are mounted on separate objects such as boards 11 and 12 (Figure 1). The female component 2 is mounted in a routered recess 9 in board 11. It is located just below the surface of board 11 so that the base 8 of the male component 1 does not project above the surface of board 11 when the male component 1 is in the locked position. The surfaces of boards 11 and 12 are held in contact against each other when the male component 1 has been slid into a locked position as shown in Figures 6 and 9.

The male component 1 and female component 2 may be mounted on their respective objects using any suitable means for example screws or masonry nails.

In order to join the two surfaces of boards 11 and 12 the male component 1 is inserted into the receiving aperture 5 of the female component 2 and then slid sideways into the slot defined by the rib 3 of the female component 2. The inwardly projecting rib 3 of the female component 2 can best be seen in Figures 3 to 9. Should it be necessary to separate the objects this can be done simply by reversing the process and sliding the one board relative to the other but in the opposite direction. The male component 1 may then be withdrawn from the receiving aperture 5.