AU2005200644B2 - Furniture Joint System - Google Patents

Description

1 Furniture joint system Field of the invention [001] This invention relates to a furniture joint system. Background of the invention [002] Furniture jointing systems are many and varied, however, the furniture market has had a long felt need for an easy to use joint system to assemble furniture and furniture components or accessories. Summary of the invention [003] The present invention provides a furniture joint system including: a first furniture component having an elongate rail; and a second furniture component defining a passage corresponding to the elongate rail, the second component having a locking element associated with the passage, wherein the passage is configured to receive the elongate rail and a locking element is movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, wherein in the locked condition the locking element has moved into the passage and engages the elongate rail to prevent removal of the rail from the passage, and wherein in the unlocked condition the locking element is substantially clear of the rail to permit removal of the rail from the passage. [004] The first furniture component can include a second elongate rail, and the second component can have a second passage to receive the second rail, the second component also can include a second locking element associated with the second passage, wherein the second locking element can be movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, wherein in moving to the locked condition the second locking element moves into the second passage and engages the second elongate rail to prevent removal of the second rail from the second passage, and wherein in the unlocked condition the second locking element is substantially clear of the second rail to permit removal of the second rail from the second passage. [005] The locking element, or the second locking element when present, can be moved between the locked and unlocked conditions by an actuator which holds the locking element in the locked or unlocked conditions. [006] The locking element and the second locking element are present and can be joined to a toggle actuator which is movable between the locked condition in which each locking element 2 joined thereto is in its respective locked condition and the unlocked condition in which each such locking element is in its respective unlocked position. [007] The second component can include at least one support portion and each actuator can include a pair of elongate arms which are rotatably connected by a first rotatable connector to each other at a first end of each arm, each arm being rotatably mounted on the at least one support portion towards a second end of that arm by a respective second rotatable connector. [008] Each arm can have a respective locking element joined, or integrally formed therewith, to the arm at the second end of that arm. [009] The system can include a plurality of first locking elements and a plurality of second locking elements. [010] The system can include one first locking element and one second locking element joined to the actuator and another first locking element and another second locking element joined to another actuator. [011] The passage or passages can be configured to permit the respective corresponding rail or rails to be slid axially into a respective passage and to prevent the removal therefrom of the respective rail in a direction transverse to the rail. [012] The first component can be a first part of a furniture frame. [013] The furniture can be a desk. [014] The second component can be a connection device adapted for connecting the first part of the furniture frame to a second part of the furniture frame. [015] The second part of the furniture frame can be a leg assembly. [016] The system can include a plurality of second components and corresponding second parts of the furniture frame. [017] The second component can be a support bracket. [018] The support bracket can be adapted for supporting one or more of the following: a computer central processing unit (CPU) tower; a desktop-accessory concealment screen; an office-partition connection bracket. [019] The first component can be a part of an elevated support structure.

3 [020] The second component can be one of the following: a bracket adapted to constitute a book-end; a connection device adapted for connecting a furniture accessory, such as a lamp, to the first component. [021] The present invention can also provide an article of furniture having at least one furniture joint system according to paragraphs [003] to [020]. Brief description of the drawings [022] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [023] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a connection device according to an embodiment of the invention, shown from above; [024] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the connection device of Figure 1 shown from below; [025] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the connection device of Figure 1; [026] Figure 4 is a schematic bottom view of the connection device of Figure 1; [027] Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of the connection device of Figure 1; [028] Figure 6 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a desk frame according to an embodiment of the invention; [029] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a connection device according to another embodiment of the invention, shown from below; [030] Figure 8 is a schematic side elevation of the connection device of Figure 7; [031] Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view, from the side, of the connection device of Figure 7 in an unlocked condition; [032] Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view, from the side, of the connection device of Figure 7 in a locked condition; [033] Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of a desk accessory in the form of a computer CPU tower support bracket; [034] Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of a desk accessory in the form of a desk accessory concealment screen; 4 [035] Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view, shown from below, of a desk accessory in the form of an office-partition support bracket; [036] Figure 14 is schematic side elevation of the accessory of Figure 13; [037] Figure 15 is a schematic plan view of the accessory of Figure 13; [038] Figure 16 is a schematic perspective view of a furniture accessory in the form of a book-end, shown from above mounted on rails; [039] Figure 17 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a furniture accessory in the form of a desk accessory mounting bracket, shown from above mounted on rails, and of a desk accessory in the form of a lamp; and [040] Figure 18 is a perspective view of a desk assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments [041] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown a connection device 10 which includes an upper plate 12 and side walls 14. Each side wall 14, at each of its two opposite ends, defines a partly circular recess 16. A pair of tubes 18 are provided, the tubes being located in the recesses 16 as shown, and are welded to the side walls 14 by welds 20. The tubes 18 each have a circumferentially extending slot 42 therein, whose function will be described in more detail below. [042] A bottom plate 22 extends between the tubes 18 and is welded to each of the tubes by welds 24. [043] The upper plate 12 includes screw holes 26 therethrough while the bottom plate 22 has screw holes 28. [044] Disposed on the inner side of each of the side walls 14 is a pair of elongated toggle actuator arms 32 having overlapping inner ends 34 which are rotatably joined to each other by a hinge connection 36. Each of the arms 32 is also rotatably mounted on the relevant side wall 14 by a further respective hinge connection 38. [045] Each arm 32, at its end opposite the inner end 34, has a locking element 40 formed integrally therewith. The locking elements 40 are disposed immediately adjacent to the circumferentially extending slots 42 in the tubes 18.

5 [046] Each pair of arms 32 is moveable between two conditions, being a locked condition as shown in Figure 5 and an unlocked condition. The position of the arms 32 when in their unlocked condition is shown in phantom lines in Figure 5. In the locked condition, the locking elements 40 protrude slightly through the slots 42 in the tubes 18. To move a pair of arms 32 from their respective locked condition to their respective unlocked condition, it is necessary to move the inner ends 34 of the arms 32, and accordingly the hinge connection 36, in a downward direction as indicated by the arrow 44 in Figure 5. When the arms 32 are moved in this manner, they rotate not only relative to each other about the hinge connection 36, but also rotate about the hinge connections 38 so that the locking elements 40 are pivoted out of the respective slots 42 in the tubes 18. [047] In considering the relative configuration of the arms 32 of each pair as shown in Figure 5, it will be appreciated that each such pair constitutes a toggle joint mechanism or over centre mechanism. Accordingly, when each pair of arms 32 is forced, as indicated by the arrow 44, towards the unlocked condition, the arms undergo compression which is then relieved when the arms 32 are fully in their unlocked condition. Thus, the toggle joint nature of the construction allows the arms 32 to be maintained stably in this condition. The same occurs when the pairs of arms 32 are forced into the locked condition. Accordingly, the toggle joint construction maintains the arms 32 stably in this condition as well. [048] In addition, the side walls 14 are provided with holes 45 into which the hinge connections 36 snap-engage when the arms 32 are moved into their locked condition. This serves to hold the arms 32 even more stably in this condition and prevents movement to the unlocked condition except when desired by a user. To disengage the hinge connections 36 from the holes 45, there are provided apertures 45.1 in the upper plate 12, through which a screwdriver or the like can be passed to lever the hinge connections 36 from the holes while forcing the arms towards the unlocked condition. [049] The connection device 10 may be used to releasably connect two furniture components to each other, where one of the components includes a pair of parallel rails such as the rails 46 as illustrated in Figure 6. Figure 6 is an exploded view of a furniture frame, generally designated 48. The frame 48 includes a pair of leg assemblies 50, the rails 46 referred to above, and a pair of connection devices 10. Each connection device 10 is for connecting a respective leg assembly 50 to the rails 46. [050] Each leg assembly 50 includes a pair of upper upright members 52 and a pair of lower upright members 54 and a brace 56 between the upper ends of the lower upright members 6 54. The upper upright members 52 are received telescopically within the lower upright members 54. The pair of lower upright members 54 of each leg assembly 50 is supported on a curved base portion 58, each base portion having a pair of ends connected, by respective connectors 60, to feet 62. Each leg assembly 50 further includes a pair of bushes 64 at the upper ends of the lower upright members 54, to facilitate insertion of the upper upright members 52 into the lower upright members. [051] Each upper upright member 52 has, at its respective upper end, a square connection plate 66. [052] The furniture frame 48 can be constructed as an interim step in the construction of furniture in the form of a desk 67 (see Figure 18). To construct the frame 48, each leg assembly 50 is attached to the bottom plate 22 of the respective connection device 10, by passing screws or bolts through holes in the connection plate 66, and through the holes 28 in the bottom plate 22. Once the leg assemblies 50 have been secured to the connection devices 10 in this manner, the connection devices can be connected to the rails 46 to complete the frame 48. This involves passing each end of each rail 46 into the passage defined by a respective tube 18. It will be appreciated that to effect this, each rail 46 is moved, relative to the respective connection device 10, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail. Thus, each rail 46 can be considered as moving, relative to the respective connection device 10, along an engagement path, into the respective tube 18. [053] Once the ends of the rails 46 are received in the tubes 18, they can only be removed by being slid in the direction parallel to their longitudinal axes, out of the tubes. The circumferentially closed nature of the tubes 18 thus prevents the ends of the rails 46 from being moved relative to the respective connection device 10 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axes of the rails. [054] When the ends of the rails 46 are inserted into the tubes 18 as described above, they are moved until they are in a suitable position. Once in position, the two pairs of arms 32 can be moved from their unlocked conditions as described above, to their locked conditions, also as described above, in which the locking elements 40 are made to protrude or pass through the slots 42. The locking elements 40 then engage the rails 46 so that friction forces established between the locking elements 40 and the rails 46 prevent the rails 46 from being removed from the tubes 18. It will be appreciated that the connection devices 10 constitute effective means for simply and releasably connecting the leg assemblies 50 to the rails 46 in constructing the furniture frame 48.

7 [055] Once the frame 48 has been constructed, the desk 67 can be completed by securing a desktop 70 such as a suitable sheet of wood or other material, to the frame 48. In this regard, the connection devices 10 provide useful means for attaching the desktop 70 to the frame 48. In particular, the upper plates 12 of the connection devices 10 extend beyond the tubes 18, so that the holes 26 in the upper plates are easily accessible. Thus, once a desktop 70 has been placed on the frame 48, it can be secured thereto by passing screws through the holes 26 and into the desktop. To facilitate the steps for attaching the desktop 70 to the frame 48, the desktop can be placed inverted on a surface such as a floor, and the frame then secured to the desktop before setting the completed desk 67 right side up. [056] Referring to Figures 7 to 10, there is illustrated a connection device 10.1 which is similar to the connection device 10 but which does not have tubes 18 or a bottom plate 22. The features of the connection device 10.1 which corresponds to those of the connection device 10 have similar reference numerals to those of the device 10, but with the inclusion of the suffix [057] In the case of the connection device 10.1, when the pairs of arms 32.1 are in their locked condition, then as this connection device omits the tubes 18, the locking elements 40.1 do not extend through any slots similar to the slots 42. Instead, the locking elements 40 simply extend adjacent to respective recesses 16.1. While the arms 32 are in their locked condition when raised as shown in Figure 5 (with the locking elements 40 being in their locked positions), the reverse is the case in respect of the arms 32.1 which are in their locked conditions when lowered, as shown in Figure 8 (with the locking elements 40.1 being in their locked positions). [058] The connection device 10.1 provides a means for effecting a connection between one furniture component, which includes a pair of rails such as the rails 46, and another furniture component, which can be a furniture accessory. In particular, the connection device 10.1 can be used to releasably secure accessories to the furniture frame 48. [059] One type of accessory is as shown in Figures 13 to 15. In these drawings, the connection device 10.1 is shown with a bracket 72 connected to one end of the connection device. The bracket 72 can be connected to the connection device 10.1 by welding or any other suitable means. The bracket 72 has holes 74 therein and may be used to secure other furniture related components such as an office-partition screen 76 (see Figure 18) to the furniture frame 48, and hence to the desk 67. To firmly secure such a screen 76 to the desk 67, more than one such connection device 10.1, with the respective bracket 72 attached to it, can be used.

8 [060] To connect the connection device 10.1 to the rails 46, the rails are moved into the passages defined by the recesses 16.1 of the connection device 10.1. This can be achieved in a manner similar to that described above in relation to the sliding of the rails 46 into the tubes 18. [061] However, each recess 16.1 is open-ended. Thus, the rails 46 can also be inserted into the recesses 16.1, and removed from the recesses, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axes of the rails. Accordingly, the configuration of the connection device 10.1 (unlike the connection device 10 where the rails 46 cannot be moved transversely into the tubes 18) does not require that the rails be exactly parallel to each other, but essentially only that the spacing between the rails match that between the relevant recesses 16.1. [062] The locking elements 40.1 of the connection device 10.1 can then engage the rails 46 so that the friction between the locking elements 40.1 and the rails 46 prevents the rails 46 from being moved relative to the connection device and hence prevents the connection device 10.1 from being slid relative to the rails 46 when the pairs of arms 32.1 are in their respective locked conditions. The locking elements 40.1 also serve to hold the rails 46 captive to prevent the rails from being moved transversely from the recesses 16.1. However, the locking elements 40.1, when in their unlocked positions (with the arms 32.1 in their unlocked conditions) are free of the recesses 16.1 thus allowing the rails 46 to be slid relative to, or moved transversely from, the recesses. [063] Another example of where the connection device 10.1 can be used, instead of in respect of furniture in the form of a desk, is in respect of furniture involving an overhead pair of rails, such as rails that can be used for supporting shelves or other furniture components at elevated positions, for example above a desk. In this regard, reference is made to Figure 17 where a pair of rails 78 serving such a function, is disclosed. [064] The rails 78, although not shown in Figure 17, can be supported at their respective ends or in any other suitable manner, at a desired elevated level, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art. In this case, the connection device 10.1 can be secured to the rails 78 in a similar manner to that described above, and can then serve as a support bracket for supporting other furniture components or accessories such as a desk lamp 80 or other overhead lighting. In this example, the desk lamp 80 has a base 82, pivotal arms 84 and a light fitting 86 configured to hold a light source such as a light bulb or fluorescent tube. The lamp base 82 is secured to the connection device 10.1 by means of screws (not shown) which pass through holes 88 in the lamp base and into aligned holes 26.1 in the connection device 10.1. The arms 32.1 of the connection device 10.1 can be moved in a similar manner to that described above in relation to the arms 32, 9 into their respective locked condition in which the locking elements 40.1 are in their locked positions and thus engage the rails 78, to fix the position of the lamp 80. [065] If it is desired to move the lamp 80 from one position to another along the rails 78, then the pairs of arms 32.1 can be moved from their locked condition to their unlocked condition with the locking elements 40.1 being in their unlocked positions to allow the connection device 10.1 to be slid along the rails. The connection device 10.1 can then be slid to a desired position, and the arms 32.1 once again moved to their respective locked condition, to engage the locking elements 40.1 with the rails 78, at that position. [066] The overhead rails 78 can be used not only for supporting a connection device 10.1 of the type shown, but for supporting other accessories which are attached to the rails using similar attachment principles. For example, such an accessory can be a support bracket 90 as shown in Figure 16, which constitutes a book-end. The support bracket 90 has a pair of side portions 92 and a rear portion 94 interconnecting the side portions. The side portions 92 each have a pair of recesses 96 and have pairs of arms 98 mounted on inner surfaces thereof. The arms 98 of each such pair are rotatably joined to each other by a hinge connection 100 at the overlapping ends of the arms 98, while the arms 98 are rotatably connected towards their opposite ends, by further hinge connections 102, to the side portions 92. Furthermore, the arms 98, at the ends opposite the hinge connection 100 have locking elements 104. It will be appreciated that the recesses 96 correspond to the recesses 16 and 16.1, the arms 98 correspond to the arms 32 and 32.1, the hinge connections 100 and 102 correspond to the hinge connections 36 and 36.1, 38 and 38.1, and the locking elements 104 correspond to the locking elements 40 and 40.1, respectively. [067] Thus, the support bracket 90 can be secured to the rails 78 in a similar manner to that described above in respect of the connection device 10.1. Once the support bracket 90 is in place as shown in Figure 16, it can be used in conjunction with the rails 78, as a book-end. The books to be supported can thus be supported on the rails 78 against the rear portion 94 and between the side portions 92 so that the rear portions and side portions together keep the books together and in an upright position. [068] Referring to Figure 11, there is shown a further furniture accessory in the form a computer CPU tower support bracket 106. The CPU tower support bracket 106 has a pair of side walls 108 and a floor 110 extending between the side walls. Each side wall 108 defines a pair of recesses 112 and has a pair of arms 114 mounted thereon, the arms being rotatably attached to each other at their inner ends by hinge connections 116 and being rotatably mounted on the side 10 walls 108 by further hinge connections 118, and including locking elements 120 at the ends of the arms opposite the hinge connections 116. [069] Once again, the recesses 112, arms 114, hinge connections 116 and 118 and locking elements 120 correspond, and have a similar configuration and manner of operation, to the recesses 16 and 16.1, arms 32 and 32.1, hinge connections 36 and 36.1 and 38 and 38.1, and locking elements 40 and 40.1, respectively. It is envisaged that the CPU tower support bracket 106 will be supported on rails such the rails 46 of the furniture frame 48, that is, on a desk, in the orientation shown in Figure 11. [070] Once the CPU tower support bracket 106 is in place on the rails 46, the arms 114 are moved into their respective locked condition in which the locking elements 120 are engaged with the rails 46, to fix the position of the CPU tower support bracket relative to the rails. Thus, the CPU tower support bracket 106 is suspended from the rails 46 as shown, so as to provide a useful compartment 122 for holding a computer CPU tower. [071] Referring now to Figure 12, there is shown a further furniture accessory in the form of a concealment screen support bracket 124. The support bracket 124 is for supporting a concealment screen which is for concealing a desk accessory on a desktop 70, such as a computer monitor. The support bracket 124 includes side walls 126, a pair of inwardly projecting flanges 127 at the top of each side wall, and a bottom wall 128 interconnecting the side walls. As in the case of the CPU tower support bracket 106, each side wall 126 defines recesses 130 corresponding to the recesses 16 and 16.1, and has a pair of arms 131 mounted thereon, these arms corresponding to the arms 32 and 32.1. The arms 131 of each such pair are rotatably connected to each other by a hinge connection 132 corresponding to the hinge connections 36 and 36.1, and have their opposite ends mounted on the side walls 126 by further hinge connections 134 corresponding to the hinge connections 38 and 38.1, respectively. Furthermore, each arm 131 has, at its end opposite the respective hinge connection 132, a locking element 136 corresponding to the locking elements 40 and 40.1. [072] The bottom wall 128 defines a slot 138. A bracket connector 140 is provided, and this also has side walls 142 and a bottom wall 144 interconnecting the side walls. [073] The dimensions of the bracket connector 140 are such that it is accommodated between the side walls 126 and between the flanges 127 and bottom wall 128, of the support bracket 124, as shown in Figure 12. Thus, the bracket connector 140 is slidable relative to the support bracket 124. The bracket connector 140 also has a slot 146 which at least partially 11 overlaps the slot 138 of the support bracket 124, with a suitable threaded connector 148, which can be in the form of a bolt and butterfly or wing nut combination, securing the bracket connector 140 to the support bracket 124. However, because of the overlapping of slots 138 and 146 through which the connector 148 extends, a certain amount of relative sliding between the bracket connector 140 and support bracket 124 is permitted. [074] At one end, the bracket connector 140 has an upwardly extending portion 150 with an outer wall 152. Attached to the outer wall 152 by means of threaded fasteners (not shown) passing through holes 154 in the outer wall, is a concealment screen 156. [075] The support bracket 124 can be mounted on the rails 46 as shown, in a similar manner to that described above in relation to the CPU tower support bracket 106, that is, extending underneath the desktop 70 of the desk 67, with the locking elements 136 being engaged with the rails. The bracket connector 140 extends beyond a rear edge of the desktop 70 with the screen 156 projecting above the level of the upper surface of the desktop. Thus, the screen 156 can serve to conceal, from a position rearwards of the desk 67, the rear of a computer monitor resting on the desktop 70, so as to enhance aesthetics. The slidability of the bracket connector 140 relative to the support bracket 124, as described above, allows the position of the screen 156 to be adjusted. [076] It will be appreciated that the connection devices 10 and 10.1, and similar constructions of furniture accessories such as the support bracket 90, CPU tower support bracket 106 and support bracket 124, can provide a means for effecting the simple connection, in a furniture joint system, of one furniture component to another where one of these components consists of, or includes, a pair of preferably parallel rails such as the rails 46 or 78. It will also be appreciated that the other component connected to the component which is, or includes, the pair of rails, can be merely a connection means such as the connection devices 10 and 10.1 for effecting connection to a furniture accessory or component, or can be the actual furniture accessory or component itself, such as the support brackets 90, 106 or 124. The manner of operating the toggle actuator arms 32, 32.1, 98, 114 or 131, as the case may be, as described above, also provides for a stable but easily releasable attachment means. [077] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

12 [078] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. [079] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (20)

1. A furniture joint system including: a first furniture component having an elongate rail; and a second furniture component defining a passage corresponding to said elongate rail, the second component having a locking element associated with said passage, wherein said passage is configured to receive said elongate rail and a locking element is movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, wherein in said locked condition said locking element has moved into said passage and engages said elongate rail to prevent removal of said rail from said passage, and wherein in said unlocked condition said locking element is substantially clear of said rail to permit removal of said rail from said passage.

2. A furniture joint system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first furniture component includes a second elongate rail, and said second component has a second passage to receive said second rail, said second component also including a second locking element associated with said second passage, wherein said second locking element is movable between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, wherein in moving to said locked condition said second locking element moves into said second passage and engages said second elongate rail to prevent removal of said second rail from said second passage, and wherein in said unlocked condition said second locking element is substantially clear of said second rail to permit removal of said second rail from said second passage..

3. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said locking element, or said second locking element when present, is moved between said locked and unlocked conditions by an actuator which holds said locking element in said locked or unlocked conditions.

4. A furniture joint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said locking element and said second locking element are present and are joined to a toggle actuator which is movable between said locked condition in which each locking element joined thereto is in its respective locked condition and said unlocked condition in which each such locking element is in its respective unlocked position.

5. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein second component includes at least one support portion and each actuator includes a pair of elongate arms which are rotatably connected by a first rotatable connector to each other at a first end of each arm, each arm being rotatably mounted on the at least one support portion towards a second end of that arm by a respective second rotatable connector. 14

6. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims I to 5, wherein each arm has a respective said locking element joined, or integrally formed therewith, to the arm at the second end of that arm.

7. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein the system includes a plurality of first locking elements and a plurality of second locking elements.

8. A furniture joint system as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 7 when appended to claim 2, wherein the system includes one first locking element and one second locking element joined to said actuator and another first locking element and another second locking element joined to another said actuator.

9. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said passage or passages is or are configured to permit the respective corresponding rail or rails to be slid axially into a respective passage and to prevent the removal therefrom of the respective rail in a direction transverse to the rail.

10. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims I to 9, wherein the first component is a first part of a furniture frame.

11. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims I to 10, wherein, the furniture is a desk.

12. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second component is a connection device adapted for connecting the first part of the furniture frame to a second part of the furniture frame.

13. A furniture joint system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second part of the furniture frame is a leg assembly.

14. A furniture join system as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the system includes a plurality of second components and corresponding second parts of the furniture frame.

15. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims I to 14, wherein the second component is a support bracket.

16. A furniture joint system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the support bracket is adapted for supporting one or more of the following: a computer central processing unit (CPU) tower; a desktop-accessory concealment screen; an office-partition connection bracket.

17. A furniture joint system as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the first component is a part of an elevated support structure. 15

18. A furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the second component is one of the following: a bracket adapted to constitute a book-end; a connection device adapted for connecting a furniture accessory, such as a lamp, to the first component.

19. A furniture joint being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.

20. An article of furniture having at least one furniture joint system as claimed in any one of claims I to 19. Dated this 25th day of June 2009 BALMARK PTY LTD, by its patent attorneys HALFORD & CO