The invention may also be used in buildings, for instance, to join together internal or external partitioning walls in houses.

The present invention can be used wherever at least two panels or other structural elements are to be fixed together with particular angular relationships therebetween.

Background to the Invention Many types of joints are known for fixing together panels and other structural <BR> <BR> elements. For example, "but joints"and"dovetail joints"can be bonded, nailed and/or screwed to structural elements in order to fix them together. Conventional dovetail joints require a high level of carpentry skill or customised machining operations and usually form castellations along the panel edge. Another system which is commonly used to fix together at least two structural elements is the"Addspace Furniture"system which uses two separate components cast in metal. The two parts locate to features machined out of the panel edges and lock together when one is turned through 90 degrees.

Statements of Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a joint comprising a plurality of joint members, each joint member extending along a panel edge during use, wherein said joint member is formed with a plurality of male linking elements and/or corresponding female linking elements, each linking element extending parallel to a panel edge during use and being engaged with a corresponding linking element of another joint member, said linking element being shaped so that, when two

corresponding linking elements are engaged together, separation of the joint members is only possible by relative sliding movement therebetween.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure comprising at least two panels, or other structural members, joined together along adjacent edges thereof, the structure including a joint comprising a plurality of joint members, each extending along at least one panel edge and each being formed with a plurality of male and/or corresponding female linking elements, each linking element extending parallel to a panel edge and being engaged with a corresponding linking element of another joint member, said linking element being shaped so that, when two corresponding linking elements are engaged together, separation of the joint members is only possible by relative sliding movement therebetween.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a structure comprising a plurality of panels and also a plurality of joints, wherein a single joint can be used to join a plurality of panels together at fixed angles without the need for screws or other fastening means. The nature of the joint means that no tools are required for the construction of the furniture. The joint also allows the furniture to be disassembled easily, again with no need for extra tools. The joint is made up of a hard, non-flexible material. Preferably the joint is made of plastic, though it is envisaged that it may also be made out of other materials with the same properties. For example, the joint could also be made out of metal or ceramic materials. The size and shape of the structure can be varied according to the number of panels and joints used to make up the structure.

The present invention has several advantages over the prior art. The end user of the present invention requires no tools in the embodiments where either the joint features are integral to the panel edge, or the panel and joint are pre-fabricated. Only one part (and multiples thereof) is/are required to make the joint, thus simplifying both manufacturing and assembly. This also reduces the cost of manufacture.

The present invention also enables modularity with a standardized panel size, whereas in the prior art panel sizes differ to allow one end to overlap another.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it enables a modular system consisting of panels or other structural elements to be added to at a later date. The present invention can also be made out of any resilient material to suit different environments or applications. Further, there is no manufacturing requirement to finish the panel edge, thus simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the cost of production.

Preferably, the joint is of square cross-section.

Preferably, the joint comprises four joint members.

In a preferred embodiment, each joint member comprises one male and one corresponding female linking element.

In a particular embodiment, the plurality of joint members together define a central bore extending generally parallel to the panel edges. The central bore may be occupied by an infill. Said infill may be in the form of elongate cylindrical rod.

Alternatively, the infill may be in the form of, for example, end/finishing caps, connectors plugs, back plate fixings or door hinges.

In one embodiment, the structure comprises a joint wherein the joint members are integral with the edge of the panels. In an alternative embodiment, the joint member is separate initially from the panel edge and is connected to the panel edge by fastening means. Preferably, the fastening means are countersunk fixing screws.

Alternatively, the joint members could be bonded to the panel edge.

In another embodiment, the structure comprises a joint wherein the male and female linking elements are integral to the panel edge. For example, the male or female element may be moulded, extruded, machined or routed to the panel edge.

The structure may comprise a joint wherein the plurality of joint members together define a central bore extending generally parallel to the panel edges. The central bore may be occupied by an infill. Said infill may be in the form of elongate cylindrical rod. Alternatively, the infill may be in the form of, for example, end/finishing caps, connectors plugs, back plate fixings or door hinges.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of joint members each comprise a flat outer surface. The flat outer surface of a joint member abuts an associated panel edge. Said flat outer surface may comprise a lip feature. Said lip feature can be used to guide the joint member along the panel edge to its correct position before the joint member is fixed to the panel edge.

In one embodiment, the female member is positioned generally opposite the flat outer surface. Preferably, the female member in cross section has an opening and a body, the opening being of smaller diameter than at least a part of the body of the female member in a direction parallel to said opening. More preferably, the female member is trapezoidal in shape with the shorter of the two parallel sides forming the opening of the female member. In an alternative embodiment, the female member may be a lozenge or circular in shape.

The present invention further provides a joint for use in a structure of the invention, the joint comprising a plurality of joint members.

The present invention also provides a kit for forming a structure of the invention, the kit comprising a plurality of panel members and a plurality of joints.

The present invention further provides a method of forming a structure comprising the steps of : a) providing a plurality of panels and a plurality of joints, wherein said joint comprises a plurality of joint members, each extending along at least one panel

edge and each being formed with a plurality of male and/or corresponding female linking elements, each linking element extending parallel to a panel edge and being engaged with a corresponding linking element of another joint member, said linking element being shaped so that, when two corresponding linking elements are engaged together, separation thereapart is only possible by relative sliding movement therebetween; b) slidably engaging said joint members together to form said joint such that the plurality of panels is joined together.

Accordingly, the invention provides a method for forming a jointed structure wherein said joint members are slidably engaged with each other such that the linking element of one joint engages the corresponding linking element of adjacent joint members. In one embodiment, the plurality of panels are attached to said joint member using fastening means. Preferably, the fastening means includes a plurality of fixing screws. In an alternative embodiment, the joint members are integral with said panel members. In a further alternative embodiment, the male and female linking elements are integral with said panel members.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la to Id show end elements of joint members forming part of a joint of the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevation on one side of the joint member of Figure 1 a ; Figure 3 is an elevation on the other side of the joint member of Figure la ; Figure 4 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows a further alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7 shows further embodiments of the infill of the invention.

Referring to Figure la and 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, a joint 1 is used to secure the edge of a panel 3 to the edge of at least one more panel at a fixed angle.

The panels are fixed together at an angle of 90,180 or 270 degrees. Up to a maximum of four panels can be fixed together using this particular embodiment of the present invention.

The joint comprises four identical joint members 5, and optionally a cylindrical rod 7. Each member comprises a flat outer surface 9, a female linking element 11 and a corresponding male linking element 13. Each joint member also comprises a pair of flanges 15, 17 at each end of the joint member cross section. The flanges extend inwardly and define the inner surface of a recess 19. The flanges are the same shape and height. The recess of the female linking element is positioned between the two flanges and generally opposite and parallel to the flat outer surface of the joint element. The recess is trapezoid and has an inwardly facing opening 21. The cross- sectional length of the opening is less than the body 23 of the recess in a direction parallel to the flat outer surface 9 of the joint member. The male linking element includes an arm 25 which has a flat outer surface 27 which extends from one of the flanges 15 at generally right angles to the flat outer surface 9 of the joint member 5.

The arm 25 is attached to flange 15 by narrow portion 29. The male linking element 13 also has an inner surface 31 which is curved. The distal end of the male linking element 13 angles to a point 33. The point of the male linking element corresponds to a corner of the female linking element of the adjoining joint member 5. The male linking element is a trapezoid shape which corresponds to the shape of the recess of the female linking element.

The joint 1 is attached to the edge of the panel 3 at the flat outer surface 9 of the joint member 5. The edge of the panel can be fixed by any fastening means. In particular, the flat outer surface of the members comprising the joint may contain holes 35 to enable the edge of the panel to be screwed to the joint. Alternatively, the joint member can be integral to the panel edge and thus no fastening means are required.

Figure 3 and Figure 4 show the positioning of the hole in the joint member. Figure 6

shows an alternative embodiment wherein the flat outer surface 9 of the joint member 5 comprises a lip 2. The lip 2 extends outwardly from flange 17 of the joint member 5.

As shown in Figure la to ld, to form the joint 1, the four joint members 5 are slid relative to each other in a longitudinal direction to interconnect with each other.

Firstly, the male linking element 13 of the first joint member slides into the female linking element 11 of the second joint member such that the flat outer surfaces 9 of the first and second joint members 5 form a corner at 90 degrees to each other (see <BR> <BR> Figure l (b) ). The male linking element 13 of the second joint member 5 similarly engages with the female linking element 11 of the third joint member 5. The third joint member 5 is slid in a longitudinal direction so that the third joint member female linking element 11 connects with the male linking element 13 of the second joint member. Thus the second and third member are connected such that the flat outer surfaces 9 of the second and third members lie at right angles to each other.

When the first, second and third members are connected together, the flat outer edges 9 of the first and third members are positioned parallel to one another, as seen in Figure l (c).

To complete the joint structure, the fourth joint member is slid in a longitudinal direction such that the fourth joint member male linking element 13 is received by female linking element 11 of the first joint member 5 and the fourth joint member female linking element 11 receives the third member male linking element 13. The completed joint structure can be seen in Figure 1 (d).

The joint 1 is formed when the four joint members 5 are engaged with each other.

The inner surfaces 31 of the male linking elements 13 are curved such that, when the four members are connected together, the inner surfaces form a cylindrical, central bore 37 that runs in a longitudinal direction, generally parallel to the panel edge. The bore 37 runs the entire length of the joint 1 and has the same diameter throughout its length. The diameter of the bore may be varied in order to suit differing sizes of

panels to be fixed together or to accommodate differing additional components or differing sizes of rod. A cylindrical rod 7 may be placed in the bore. The rod is slid into the bore down the longitudinal axis of the joint 1 and may be the same length as the bore 37. Alternatively, the length of the rod 7 may differ from the length of the bore 37, depending on the intended nature of the structure. The central bore may also be filled by other structures such as end/finishing caps 6, connector plugs 8, back plate fixings 10 or door hinges (not shown). It is also envisaged that the central bore may also be filled with plumbing or electrical wiring. Figure 7 shows some alternative embodiments of the infill.

The panel 3 to be fixed is attached to the flat outer surface 9 of one of the joint members 5. It can be attached using any fastening means. In particular, the means for fastening the panel to the joint member are countersunk fixing screws (not shown).

Preferably, the flat outer surface 9 of the joint member 5 is provided with holes 35 which provide appropriate openings and champhers to suit such countersunk fixing screws. In an alternative embodiment, the joint member can be an integral part of the panel edge. In this embodiment, the panel edge obviously does not require any fastening means to attach it to the joint member. In yet another embodiment, the male or female linking elements may be integral to the panel edge.

The joint members are preferably made of a rigid, non-deformable material, such as plastic or metal. The cylindrical rod 7 can be made of any rigid material, but is preferably made of wood. It is envisaged that it can also be made of plastic, metal or any other material with similar properties.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The joint 1 comprises four identical joint members 5. Each member comprises a flat outer surface 9, a female linking element 11 and a corresponding male element 13. The joint member 5 has a triangular cross section and has a circular male linking element 13 attached to a side adjoining the flat outer surface 9. The male linking element 13 is attached to the main body of the joint member by a narrow portion 29. The

diameter and circumference of the male linking element 13 corresponds to the size and shape of the recess 19 of the female linking element 11. The female linking element 11 is circular in shape and comprises a recess 19. The recess of the female linking element is positioned opposite the flat outer surface 9 and has an inwardly facing opening 21. The cross-sectional length of the opening is less than the body 23 of the recess 21 in a direction parallel to the flat outer surface 9 of the joint member.

The female linking element also comprises a narrow portion 4 which corresponds to the narrow portion 29 of the male linking element 13.

The joint is formed as described above for the previous embodiment. However, in the present embodiment no central bore is formed when all four joint members have been fitted together. The panel 3 is fixed to the flat outer surface 9 of the joint member 5.

Alternatively, the joint members can be an integral part of the panel.

A large number of different shaped structures can be constructed using a differing number of panels and joints. The structure formed using these panels and joints can be free-standing or shelving to be fixed to walls. The structures formed can also be used as flat-packed packaging. The structures formed can also be used in the prefabricated building industry.

Joints constructed according to the invention are particularly useful in modular furniture construction because of their ease of assembly and disassembly. It is easy to disassemble the furniture simply by sliding the joint member to which the panel is attached in a longitudinal direction. This movement would move the panel away from the panel to which it is fixed. This movement has to extend to the length of the joint in order to disengage the panel edge. This type of joint also allows flexibility in the shape and size of panels used. Any panel as long as it is the same edge width as those it is being fixed to, can be attached to the joint member. This means that the size of the furniture being constructed can be altered e. g. if the joint is used in the construction of shelving, the length of the shelves can be altered by using different sized panels. When designing flat-packed furniture, the joint member can be attached to the panel edge at the time of manufacture. Alternatively, the joint can be provided separately and the panel can be fixed to the relevant joint member at the time of construction.