Connecting device and furniture

A connecting device for coupling furniture components, comprising:

• a connecting element which comprises a main body that is positionable in a corresponding groove in a first furniture component, the main body comprising a housing having a semi-cylindrical disc shape having a pair of opposing semi-circular side walls, an arcuate rear side wall and an upper side wall defining a hollow interior therein;
• one or more spring elements for matingly engaging one or more corresponding openings in a mating connecting element positioned in a corresponding groove in a second furniture component, each spring element comprising:
• a resilient spring portion which projects away from the upper side wall of the main body,
• a spring projection disposed at a distal end of the spring portion for engaging the corresponding opening in the mating connecting element, and
• a stabilizing portion integrally formed with the spring portion, which extends from the spring projection in the direction of the main body,
• wherein the main body comprises at least one spring seating, each spring seating comprising an opening in the upper side wall for accommodating a respective one of the at least one spring elements,
• wherein the spring element is compressible through the spring seating, completely within the hollow interior, such that the spring projection no longer projects beyond the upper side of the main body, and
• wherein, during assembly of the first and second furniture components, corresponding surfaces of the components are able to abut one another in an assembly direction such to compress the spring elements completely within the interior housing, and the components are able to be relatively displaced in a transverse direction until the spring elements are aligned with and resiliently project into the corresponding openings in the mating connecting element;
• and
• a retaining element rotatably disposed within the hollow interior of the main body about an axis extending between the opposing side walls, the retaining element rotatable between a release position in which the retaining element is completely retracted within the hollow interior during assembly of the components, and a retaining position in which the retaining element extends through an opening in the upper side wall and lockably engages a corresponding retaining contour in the mating connecting element to couple the components.