Joining

Abstract

A joint is formed by pushing a grooved tenon into a dovetail-shaped mortise containing a barbed wedge such that the wedge is forced into the tenon groove, thereby spreading the tenon to the dovetail shape of the mortise and anchoring the barbs into the tenon, thus securing the joint and preventing the tenon and mortise from separating.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A joint comprising, a first piece of material having a projection with a groove,   a second piece of material having a slot embraced by angled walls with the width of the slot opening slightly greater than the width of said projection and less than the slot width at its base,   and wedge means located within said slot and said groove, for expanding said groove and urging said projection into engagement with the walls beside said slot,   said wedge means being formed with a slit having an opening adjacent to the base of said slot.   
     
     
       2. A joint in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wedge means is formed with barbs on each side for engagement with inside walls of said projection beside said groove. 
     
     
       3. A joint in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wedge means slit is of triangular cross section with the triangular base at the base of said slot. 
     
     
       4. A joint in accordance with claim 3 wherein the triangle height is substantially 70% of the wedge means height. .Iadd. 5. A joint comprising, a first piece of material having a projection with a groove,   a second piece of material having a slot embraced by angled walls with the width of the slot opening slightly greater than the width of said projection and less than the slot width at its base,   and wedge means located within said slot and said groove and having means defining a flat surface engaging the base of said slot for expanding said groove and urging said projection into engagement with the walls beside said slot,   said wedge means being formed with barbs on each side for engagement with inside walls of said projection beside said groove and being sufficiently resilient so that the span across said barbs is reduced as said wedge means expands said groove and urges said projection into engagement with the walls beside said slot. .Iaddend.