A connector assembly for connecting the free ends of the adjacent panels of a ready to assemble article of furniture together when assembled, said connector assembly comprising a male connector having opposite ends insertable into respective opposing receiving apertures provided in adjacent ends of the panels, each end of said male connector being provided with retaining means to retain the ends of the male connectors in said respective apertures and a ready to assemble article of furniture comprising a plurality of substantially rigid panels attached together end to end, the ends of the panels being bevelled or otherwise shaped such that the panels can be folded to bring said ends into abutting relationship to define a polygonal article, wherein said panels are attached together by means of a flexible sheet material extending between the panels.

In order to provide a connecting means for connecting a first component and a second component, in particular for connecting furniture parts or machine parts, by means of which the components may be connected to one another simply and reliably, it is proposed that the connecting means includes a first connecting element which in the connected condition of the components is arranged on the first component, and a second connecting element which in the connected condition of the components is arranged on the second component, wherein, for connecting the first component and the second component, a spring element of the first connecting element is configured to come into engagement with a receiving element of the second connecting element, wherein the connecting means, in particular the first connecting element and/or the second connecting element, includes a reinforcing element for reinforcing a spring force of the spring element.

An exemplary panel connecting system includes an elongate structural profile and two alignment means abutting opposite ends of the structural profile. The structural profile includes a main body and two elongate, elastically deformable tenons extending from the main body. Typically, the tenons are perpendicular to each other. Each tenon is bifurcated, thereby defining a pair of elongate prongs. Each prong has a stem portion and an enlarged distal end barb. The prongs are elastically deformable towards each other and thereby snappingly engaged in a matching channel of a corresponding panel. Each alignment means includes a pair of plugs, each of which is interferingly engaged in a matching hole of a corresponding panel. The structural profile also includes a slot channel, whereby it is attachable to another contiguous structural profile by an interlocking means when needed.

In order to provide a connecting means for connecting a first component and a second component, in particular for connecting furniture parts or machine parts, by means of which the components may be connected to one another simply and reliably, it is proposed that the connecting means includes a first connecting element which in the connected condition of the components is arranged on the first component, and a second connecting element which in the connected condition of the components is arranged on the second component, wherein, for connecting the first component and the second component, a spring element of the first connecting element is configured to come into engagement with a receiving element of the second connecting element, wherein the connecting means, in particular the first connecting element and/or the second connecting element, includes a reinforcing element for reinforcing a spring force of the spring element.

In order to be able to fix a connecting element for furniture and/or machine parts, for example in lightweight panels, it is proposed that an adapter element be used which comprises a receiving section for receiving the connecting element and a fixing section for fixing the adapter element in particular in the lightweight board.

A connecting device for connecting a first component and a second component, comprising: a first connecting element arranged on the first component in the connected state of the components; and/or a second connecting element arranged on the second component in the connected state of the components, wherein the first connecting element comprises a first housing and a holding element, which is movable relative to the first housing of the first connecting element, for releasably connecting the first connecting element to the second connecting element and/or to the second component, wherein the movable holding element comprises a first holding contour, wherein the second connecting element and/or the second component comprises a second holding contour behind which the first holding contour is able to engage, wherein at least one of the connecting elements comprises, on the respective housing, a curved face, which is in the form of a circular arc in longitudinal section.