| 摘要 |
A system of precision, precut joints developed for tubular-framed, modular furniture enabling a user to assemble furniture pieces quickly and easily with the use of ordinary hand tools. In the primary joint of this system, a truncated corner of a horizontal panel or shelf is fastened to a vertically-disposed, grooved section of tubing. Receiving the corner is a groove which is cut in the tubing section transversely to the longitudinal centerline thereof and which has a height slightly greater than the thickness of the shelf or panel. Opposite the groove and midway between opposing distal ends of the groove, the section has a first hole formed therein for receiving a screw threadedly engageable with a second hole formed in the truncated corner. As the screw is tightened, it pulls the truncated corner into the groove, forming a strong joint. For joining together two otherwise stand-alone modular furniture units, a twist-lock joint, which becomes fully engaged as screws in proximate grooved section/truncated corner joints are tightened, is provided. The twist-lock joint comprises tubing part slideably insertable into a connector element. The connector element comprises a pin or indentation which, as the grooved sections are twisted together, rides in a curved channel formed in the swaged tubing part. A further joint in the system utilizes dowel pins inserted into matching closed-end holes formed between vertically- and horizontally-disposed panels. Each dowel pin joint is situated so that tightening the screw in a proximate grooved section/truncated corner joint locks the dowel pin in place.
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