Interlocking means and piece of furniture comprising the same

A piece of furniture comprising:

• a first panel having a first upper surface, a first lower surface, a first inner surface, and a first outer surface;
• a second panel having a second upper surface, a second lower surface, a second inner surface, and a second outer surface;
• a leg;
• and
• an interlocking means comprising:
• an elongated element;
• and
• a brace element;
• and wherein
• the elongated element comprises:
• a portion configured to be attached to the first upper surface of the first panel and the first upper surface of the second panel, and
• either a securing means configured to receive an interconnection element protruding from the leg or an interconnection element configured to match a securing means formed in the leg;
• and
• the brace element comprises:
• a portion configured to be attached to the second lower surface of the first panel and to the second lower surface of the second panel,
• a through opening configured to receive the interconnection element;
• and
• wherein the elongated element is configured to not extend over the outer surface of the first panel and to not extend over the outer surface of the second panel, and the brace element is configured to not extend over the outer surface of the first panel and to not extend over the outer surface of the second panel.

A method of manufacturing a piece of furniture, in particular, a mattress base for a bed, with the steps of:

• providing a first panel having a first upper surface, a first lower surface, and a first inner surface, and a first outer surface;
• providing a second panel having a second upper surface, a second lower surface, and a second inner surface, and a second outer surface;
• providing a leg;
• providing an interlocking mean comprising:
• an elongated element;
• and
• a brace element;
• and wherein
• the elongated element comprises:
• a portion configured to be attached to the first upper surface of the first panel and the first upper surface of the second panel, and
• either a securing means configured to receive an interconnection element protruding from the leg or an interconnection element configured to match a securing means formed in the leg;
• and
• the brace element comprises:
• a portion configured to be attached to the second lower surface of the first panel and to the second lower surface of the second panel,
• a through opening configured to receive the interconnection element;
• and
• wherein the elongated element is configured to not extend over the outer surface of the first panel and to not extend over the outer surface of the second panel, and the brace element is configured to not extend over the outer surface of the first panel and to not extend over the outer surface of the second panel;
• attaching the interlocking means to the first panel and the second panel comprising attaching the elongated element to the first upper surface, the second upper surface, the first inner surface and the second inner surface and attaching the brace element to the first lower surface and the second lower surface;
• and
• securing the interconnection element to the securing means through the through opening thereby securing the first panel, the second panel and the leg to each other.