# US 10,767,676 B2 · Hidden joining device for parts of furniture and furnishing items > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,676 B2 - Document ID: US10767676B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/751,224 - Filed: 2016-09-13 - Published: 2018-08-30 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-16 - Applicants: Leonardo S.r.l. - Inventors: Carlo Cattaneo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767676B2 ## CPC - F16B 12/2063: {with engaging screw threads as tightening means} - A47B 96/066: {Supporting means received within an edge of the shelf} - F16B 12/46: Non-metal corner connections - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) ## Abstract A hidden joining device for parts of furniture and furnishing items, in particular between a first panel, such as a shoulder of a piece of furniture, and a second panel, such as a base or shelf or top of a piece of furniture, which must be moved toward each other along an approach direction to bring the edge of one panel abutted in a tightening position against a surface of the other panel, includes a blocking group and a connection group coupled to those panels The blocking group is inserted inside a seat that is contained in the thickness of the panel on which the blocking group is applied. The seat has an axis perpendicular to the approach direction and extends from a rear edge of the panels toward the interior of the panels, forming a single visible hole in the two panels when connected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hidden joining device for parts of furniture and furnishing items, said parts including a first panel (11), and a second panel (12), which must be moved towards each other according to an approach direction (d) in order to bring an edge (B) of the first panel abutted in a tightening position against a surface (S) of the second panel, said hidden joining device comprising: a blocking group (GB) coupled to the first panel, said blocking group (GB) comprising an elongated bushing or tubular element (31) having: at least two traversal pass-through holes (40, 40′), and internally threaded sections in proximity to said traversal pass-through hole (40, 40′); and a connection group (GC) assembled on at the second panel (11, 12), said connection group (GC) comprising at least two pins (34, 34′) configured to engage with said at least two traversal pass-through holes (40, 40′), wherein said blocking group (GB) is inserted inside a seat (S1, S1′) that is contained in a thickness (SP) of the first panel (11, 12), and wherein said seat (S1, S1′) extends from one of the edges (B1) of the first panel towards an interior thereof, forming a single visible hole (30) in an assembly of the first and second panels; wherein blocking grub screws (39, 39′) engage with said internally threaded sections of said elongated bushing or tubular element (31) and said pins (34), and wherein one of said blocking grub screws is perforated so as to allow passage therethrough of a tool to engage with another of said blocking grub screws. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hidden joining device according to claim 1, wherein said seat (S1, S1′) has a substantially elongated configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hidden joining device according to claim 1 wherein said seat (S1, S1′) extends from the edge (B11) towards the interior of said panel (11, 12) according to an axis (X) that is perpendicular to said approach direction (d). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hidden joining device according to claim 1, wherein said seat is defined in a first hole (30, 30′) of said first panel and said blocking group acts on said pin (34, 34′; 34″), said connection group being positioned on said second panel (11 or 12) and said pin extending extends from a second hole (35; 32, 33) situated laterally with respect to said second panel (11 or 12). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hidden joining device according to claim 4, wherein said first hole (30) is disposed horizontally. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hidden joining device according to claim 1 wherein said blocking group (GB) is adapted to be actuated from said first visible hole (30, 30′) situated in rear position with respect to said first and second panels (11, 12) and wherein that said connection group (GC) is disposed to be coupled with said first panel (11) in a second hole (35) produced in said first panel (11). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hidden joining device according to claim 1 wherein the elongate bushing or tubular element (31) intersects a second and a third blind hole (32, 33), perpendicular to said first hole (30) and spaced apart therefrom, the second and the third blind hole being also formed in the first panel (12, 11), each of said second and third holes (32, 33) being each configured for receiving a protruding part of said pin (34, 34′, 34″). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hidden joining device according to claim 7, wherein said pin (34, 34′) is positioned with one of its ends in the second panel (11, 12) in a horizontal blind hole (35) blocked in a bushing (36) housed therein that is internally threaded for receiving a threaded end (37) of said pin (34, 34′). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The hidden joining device according to claim 7, wherein said pin (34, 34′) has protruding parts with housings (38, 38′) configured to receive tips of said blocking grub screws (39, 39′). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hidden joining device according to claim 9, wherein said two transversal pass-through holes (40, 40′) are positioned to be aligned with said second and said third blind holes (32, 33), spaced apart and formed in the first panel (12, 11), when the bushing (31) is completely inserted in the first blind hole (30). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hidden joining device according to claim 1, wherein a first one of the blocking grub screws (39) is centrally perforated so as to allow passage of a stem (46) of a rotation driving tool (45), whereas a second one of the grub screws (39′) has a seat (44) for a tip of a screwdriver (47). ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The hidden joining device according to claim 7, wherein said second and said third holes (32, 33) receive ends of an articulation element of a connection group (GC). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hidden joining device according to claim 12, wherein said articulation element is composed of two pins (34″) articulated by a central hinge (49) to the articulation element positioned at facing ends of said pins (34″), wherein said pins (34″) are inserted in holes (32, 33) present on the first and said second panels to be connected. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The hidden joining device according to claim 1, wherein said pin (34) has a protruding free end in the form of a gripping member (50) configured be positioned in a hole (35) situated laterally in said second panel (11 or 12) in a coupling. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hidden joining device according to claim 14, wherein said gripping member (50) comprises an expansion pin positioned in said hole (35) of said second panel (11 or 12). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The hidden joining device according to claim 15, wherein said expansion pin has outer toothings (52) for engagement with an internal wall of said hole (35). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hidden joining device according to claim 16, wherein said gripping member (50) has an internal portion formed on said protruding free end of said pin (34) which terminates with an enlarged portion (54) which tapers and then widens at the free end and which is slidingly inserted in an internally hollow outer tubular element (55) having a complementary form externally provided with teeth of said outer toothings (52). ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The hidden joining device according to claim 14, wherein said gripping member (50) is adapted to be actuated by means of said grub screw (39) blocking group (GB).