Connector for furniture and method of frame manufacture and assembly

A method of manufacturing furniture, comprising:

• providing a first frame component;
• providing a second frame component;
• mounting a first interlocking member in the first frame component, wherein the first interlocking member comprises a first base member having first and second sides, a first raised portion, and a first support member extending between the first side of the first base member and the first raised portion, the first support member comprises an edge, wherein at least a portion of the first raised portion overhangs the edge of the first support member such that the at least a portion of the first raised portion that overhangs the edge of the first support member, the first support member adjacent thereto and the first base member opposite thereof define an elongate first aperture, and wherein the first raised portion and first support member define first and second ends and wherein the width of at least one of the first raised portion and first support member increases from the first end to the second end;
• and
• mounting a second interlocking member in the second frame component, wherein the second interlocking member comprises a second base member having first and second sides, a second raised portion, and a second support member extending between the first side of the second base member and the second raised portion, the second support member comprises an edge, wherein at least a portion of the second raised portion overhangs the edge of the second support member such that the at least a portion of the second raised portion that overhangs the edge of the second support member, the second support member adjacent thereto and the second base member opposite thereof define an elongate second aperture, and wherein the second raised portion and second base member define a groove having first and second ends, and wherein the width of the groove increases from the first end to the second end to correspond to the configuration of the width of the at least one of the first raised portion and first support member;
• and
• matingly engaging the second interlocking member with the first interlocking member in a female/male connection wherein the at least a portion of the first raised portion that overhangs the edge of the first support member is slidably received in the elongate second aperture and the at least a portion of the second raised portion that overhangs the edge of the second support member is slidably received in the elongate first aperture.

A connector, the connector comprising:

• a first interlocking member, the first interlocking member comprising a first base member having first and second sides, a first raised portion, and a first support member extending between the first side of the first base member and the first raised portion, wherein at least a portion of the first raised portion overhangs the edge of the first support member such that the at least a portion of the first raised portion that overhangs the edge of the first support member, the first support member adjacent thereto and the first base member opposite thereof define an elongate first aperture;
• a second interlocking member, the second interlocking member comprising a second base member having first and second sides, a second raised portion, and a second support member extending between the first side of the second base member and the second raised portion, wherein at least a portion of the second raised portion overhangs the edge of the second support member such that the at least a portion of the second raised portion that overhangs the edge of the second support member, the second support member adjacent thereto and the second base member opposite thereof define an elongate second aperture;
• wherein the second interlocking member is structured to matingly engage the first interlocking member in a female/male connection wherein the at least a portion of the first raised portion that overhangs the edge of the first support member is slidably received in the elongate second aperture and the at least a portion of the second raised portion that overhangs the edge of the second support member is slidably received in the elongate first aperture;
• and
• wherein the first raised portion defines first and second ends and further comprises an elongate groove along the center axis of the first raised portion extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the second base member comprises a U-shaped grove defining a flexible locking member, and wherein the second end comprises a cross rib that defines a snap lock attachment configured to receive the flexible locking member when the first and second interlocking members are mated together.

A connector, the connector comprising:

• a first interlocking member, the first interlocking member comprising a first base member having first and second sides, a first raised portion, and a first support member extending between the first side of the first base member and the first raised portion, wherein at least a portion of the first raised portion overhangs the edge of the first support member such that the at least a portion of the first raised portion that overhangs the edge of the first support member, the first support member adjacent thereto and the first base member opposite thereof define an elongate first aperture;
• a second interlocking member, the second interlocking member comprising a second base member having first and second sides, a second raised portion, and a second support member extending between the first side of the second base member and the second raised portion, wherein at least a portion of the second raised portion overhangs the edge of the second support member such that the at least a portion of the second raised portion that overhangs the edge of the second support member, the second support member adjacent thereto and the second base member opposite thereof define an elongate second aperture;
• wherein the second interlocking member is structured to matingly engage the first interlocking member in a female/male connection wherein the at least a portion of the first raised portion that overhangs the edge of the first support member is slidably received in the elongate second aperture and the at least a portion of the second raised portion that overhangs the edge of the second support member is slidably received in the elongate first aperture;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first base member and second base member comprises an elongate support member extension extending from the second side thereof, wherein the elongate support member extension defines a perimeter and a plurality of supports supporting the perimeter.