Abstract: A device is provided for forming a joint between two panels. The device comprises a fastening element in the form of an elongate dowel (14) within a sleeve (15), and a tightening element in the form of a rotatable cam (10). The dowel (14) has a head (16) at one end for engagement by the cam (10). At its other end, the dowel (14) engages with an expandable section (19) of the sleeve (15) for anchoring the fastening element in a hole in one of the panels. The sleeve (15) is provided with a reduced diameter end section (22), which is arranged to engage in a rebate (27) on the cam (10), with the arrangement thus serving to block lateral movement of the fastening element in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A fastening element (20) is provided for use with a tightening element (14) in a device for forming a joint between two panels (18,22). The fastening element is elongate and has a head (13) at one end for engaging the tightening element, an expander (15) at the other end and a shank (11) extending there between. The fastening element further comprises a sleeve (10) having an expandable section (16) at one end extending over the expander, with the expander operatively engaging the sleeve to cause outward movement of its expandable section upon axial displacement of the fastening element relative to the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with at least one outwardly facing cutting edge (19) on its expandable section. The cutting edge has sufficient strength to cut into the panel material in use of the device, when the expandable section is inserted into a face hole in a first one of the panels.

Abstract: A fastening element (20) is provided for use with a tightening element (14) in a device for forming a joint between two panels (18,22). The fastening element is elongate and has a head (13) at one end for engaging the tightening element, an expander (15) at the other end and a shank (11) extending there between. The fastening element further comprises a sleeve (10) having an expandable section (16) at one end extending over the expander, with the expander operatively engaging the sleeve to cause outward movement of its expandable section upon axial displacement of the fastening element relative to the sleeve. The sleeve is provided with at least one outwardly facing cutting edge (19) on its expandable section. The cutting edge has sufficient strength to cut into the panel material in use of the device, when the expandable section is inserted into a face hole in a first one of the panels.

Abstract: A camming element (1) for forming a joint between two members has a pair of jaws (15,16) for engaging a head of a dowel member. The camming element has a torque drive connector (10) which is radially offset to its rotational axis. The camming element has a top plate (22) which is designed to sit below the surface of its mounting member in use. The camming element may be concealed in use by a cover cap.

Abstract: A fastener for a furniture jointing device is made in two parts. The first part (10), including head (12) and shank (11) portions, is made from a first material such as steel. The second part (13) is made from a second material such as zinc and is conveniently cast directly onto the first part (10). The second part (13) is made with thread formations to enable it to be anchored to a first furniture component (15). The head portion (12) of the first part (10) is designed to engage with a camming element (16) mounted in a second furniture component (18).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling movement of a first member relative to a second member in a piece of furniture includes a damper. When relative movement occurs between the first and second members, force is transmitted through a clutch drive mechanism to a movable member in the damper. A viscous damping medium in the damper resists movement of the movable member.

Abstract: A camming element (1) for forming a joint between two members has a pair of jaws (15,16) for engaging a head of a dowel member. The camming element has a torque drive connector (10) which is radially offset to its rotational axis. The camming element has a top plate (22) which is designed to sit below the surface of its mounting member in use. The camming element may be concealed in use by a cover cap.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling movement of a first member relative to a second member in a piece of furniture includes a damper. When relative movement occurs between the first and second members, force is transmitted through a clutch drive mechanism to a movable member in the damper. A viscous damping medium in the damper resists movement of the movable member.

Abstract: A damping device includes a cylinder (11) in which a piston (10) is housed for reciprocable movement. The piston has a skirt (12) which expands resiliently outwardly when the piston is moved in the direction of arrow A to provide a frictional damping force. The interior of the cylinder is undercut at its distal end (13a) to allow the skirt to relax.

Abstract: A fastener for a furniture jointing device is made in two parts. The first part (10), comprising head (12) and shank (11) portions, is made from a first material such as steel. The second part (13) is made from a second material such as zinc and is conveniently cast directly onto the first part (10). The second part (13) is made with thread formations to enable it to be anchored to a first furniture component (15). The head portion (12) of the first part (10) is designed to engage with a camming element (16) mounted in a second furniture component (18).

Abstract: A fastening element for a joint forming device includes an elongate dowel and a sleeve for the dowel. The dowel has a head portion at one end thereof which is engagable in use with a tightening element. The dowel is adapted at the other end thereof to co-operate with the sleeve to cause radial expansion of an expandable end section of the sleeve upon relative axial movement between the sleeve and dowel. The expandable end section of the sleeve is insertable axially into a mounting hole in a first panel. The head of the dowel is insertable axially into a mounting hole in a second panel whereby to enable engagement with said tightening element. The sleeve is configured to allow the position of the dowel within its mounting hole in the second panel to be adjusted to enable insertion of the expandable end section of the sleeve into its mounting hole in the first panel, in use, even if the axes of the two mounting holes are out of axial alignment.

Abstract: A device for fastening panels to tubular frames comprises a dowel element (10) and a sleeve element (11). An expander region (15) of the dowel element, comprising a plain cylindrical section (16) and a conically tapering section (17), is designed to react with a complementarily-tapering inner bore section (19) of the sleeve element when the dowel element is moved axially relative to the sleeve element to cause outward movement of an expandable section (20) of the sleeve element. The sleeve element has a flange (21) which acts as a depth stop and an undercut portion (22) so that a shoulder (23) of the expandable section lodges behind the hole in the tubular member when the fastener is set.

Abstract: A cam and expandable dowel type device is provided for joining together two members, e.g., furniture components. The cam is rotatably mounted in a first of the members and designed to engage a head portion of the sleeved dowel protruding from the second member. Rotation of the cam displaces the dowel relative to the sleeve, causing the end of the sleeve to expand and thus anchor the sleeved dowel in the second member. Further rotation of the cam causes the two members to be drawn tightly together. The sleeve is designed to be partially collapsible over its length in order to provide an improved tightening action.

Abstract: A cam and expandable dowel type device is provided for joining together two members, e.g., furniture components. The cam is rotatably mounted in a first of the members and designed to engage a head portion of the sleeved dowel protruding from the second member. Rotation of the cam displaces the dowel relative to the sleeve, causing the end of the sleeve to expand and thus anchor the sleeved dowel in the second member. Further rotation of the cam causes the two members to be drawn tightly together. The camming element is designed to have a working rotational capacity of at least 190°.