Table Legs that Use Spring Tension Rather than Joinery

These Oak Shock Absorber tables are by Austrian furniture company RIOF. The legs-to-table joinery method is highly unusual: They include two little L-shaped pieces that you use to spread the legs for installation:With our spring-loaded leg system, we’ve solved one of the oldest challenges in furniture making: how to connect a tabletop and legs securely without using glue or metal screws? Our answer lies in nature itself. We utilize the spring force of partially split wood to create a strong, purely mechanical connection. This is what makes the strut system special:- Monomaterial: A detachable connection that holds together solely through the physical properties of the wood.- Volume-optimized: The table legs and the associated assembly tools are inserted directly into the underside of the tabletop. This saves space during transport and conserves resources. – High quality: We combine a solid oak or walnut tabletop with oak table legs – a wood that is particularly elastic and tough.- Thoughtful design: A flush-milled crossbar on the table leg prevents the wood from splitting further than is necessary for the spring effect.