Importance

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Abstract

An article of knock-down furniture that can be easily assembled by an end-user comprises a plurality of pieces and contact joint arrangements that prevent unwanted separation of the pieces, while permitting the pieces to rotate and flex relative to each other. The contact joint arrangements also have lateral flexibility to permit the pieces to be coupled and shaped into a contour. The contact joint arrangement has a flexible tube that is extended through a continuous bore through each of the pieces. A hanger bolt is threaded into each end of the tube. A cap nut is threaded onto each hanger bolt and is in bearing contact with the end pieces. Each of the cap nuts are tightened against the end surface of the end pieces in order to place the tube in tension. The pieces are, consequently, held in longitudinal compression between the two cap nuts, while remaining free to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the tube. The hanger bolt and cap nut arrangement can be replaced by a screw assembly threaded into each end of the tube and contacting the end surfaces of the end pieces. The screw assembly in one end of the tube is threaded into the tube through a hole or notch cut hear the particular end of the tube. Once the screw assembly has been engaged through the hole or notch, the excess lead portion of the tube can be separated from the tube. Additionally, the screw assembly, or the hanger bolt and cap nut arrangement at one end of the flexible tube can be replaced by a restraining element situated in fixed relationship with the tube, such as a molded stop or a cotter pin inserted through a transverse hole in cut one end of the tube.

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First Claim