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A support arm for supporting an item from a tapered member such as a tapered chair arm includes an arm portion having a proximal end and a distal end. At or toward the distal end is an arrangement for mounting an item. At or toward the proximal end is an attachment portion defining an internal tape

A support arm for supporting an item from a tapered member such as a tapered chair arm includes an arm portion having a proximal end and a distal end. At or toward the distal end is an arrangement for mounting an item. At or toward the proximal end is an attachment portion defining an internal taper. The support arm is engageable on the tapered member in a taper lock between the tapered member and the attachment portion and disengageable manually and without the use of tools, to mount the support arm to the tapered member. The item is preferably a tablet. One or more release shuttles may be provided within the attachment portion to enhance the disengagement of the support arm from the tapered member.

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What is claimed is: 1. A furniture component comprising: a support arm for supporting an item from a tapered member of a further furniture component, the support arm comprising: an arm portion having a proximal end and a distal end; an arrangement for mounting an item substantially at the distal en

What is claimed is: 1. A furniture component comprising: a support arm for supporting an item from a tapered member of a further furniture component, the support arm comprising: an arm portion having a proximal end and a distal end; an arrangement for mounting an item substantially at the distal end; and an attachment portion substantially at the proximal end and which defines an internal taper, whereby the support arm is engageable on the tapered member in a taper lock between the tapered member and the attachment portion and disengageable manually and without the use of tools, to mount the support arm to the tapered member. 2. A furniture system comprising: a furniture component as claimed in claim 1; and a further furniture component including a tapered member, the attachment portion of the support arm of the furniture component being engaged on the tapered member, the tapered member defining a taper, wherein the internal taper of the attachment portion of the support arm of the furniture component substantially corresponds to the taper of the tapered member of the further furniture component. 3. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal taper in the attachment portion of the support arm converges towards its upper end, so that moving the attachment portion downwardly relative to a tapered member that converges towards its upper end, engages the respective tapers together. 4. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of the attachment portion has a cross-sectional shape configured to engage with a tapered member having a non-circular cross section, so that rotation between the attachment portion and tapered member is inhibited when the tapers are engaged. 5. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm portion is curved upwardly from the attachment portion such that an item mounted to the arrangement for mounting an item is located above and forward of the attachment portion when the support arm is attached to a tapered member. 6. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion has an open part so that the interior of the attachment portion may be engaged with a tapered member having a longitudinal direction, by moving the attachment portion in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tapered member, and then sliding the attachment portion along the tapered member so that the tapers engage. 7. A furniture component as claimed in claim 6, wherein the open portion of the attachment portion comprises an open side so that the interior of the attachment portion may be engaged with the tapered member by moving it into contact from the side of the tapered member, and then sliding the attachment portion along the tapered member so that the tapers engage. 8. A furniture component as claimed in claim 6, wherein the attachment portion is substantially "C" shaped in internal cross section. 9. A furniture component as claimed in claim 8, wherein the attachment portion includes protrusions extending from the edges of the substantially "C" shape, partially across the open part, to define one or more spaces between the protrusion, the protrusions sized to make it more difficult for the attachment portion to be removed in a sideways manner from the tapered member when the tapered member and attachment portion are engaged, but to allow the attachment portion to be removed through the spaces between the protrusions when the tapered member and attachment portion are not engaged. 10. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of the attachment portion includes one or more release shuttles, each of the one or more release shuttles being slidable relative to the attachment portion and arranged to engage the outer surface of the tapered member when the tapered member and the attachment portion are engaged. 11. A furniture component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the attachment portion is substantially "C" shaped in internal cross section, and the or each release shuttle is substantially "C" shaped. 12. A furniture component as claimed in claim 11, wherein the or each release shuttle has spaced apart ends and wherein the spaced apart ends of the release shuttles each define a space and wherein the ends of the substantial "C" shape of the or each shuttle extends so as to make it more difficult for the attachment portion to be removed in a sideways manner from the tapered member when the tapered member and attachment portion are engaged, but to allow the attachment portion to be removed through the spaces between the ends of the or each shuttle when the tapered member and attachment portion are not engaged. 13. A furniture component as claimed in claim 12, wherein the attachment portion includes protrusions extending from the edges of the substantially "C" shape, and the or each release shuttle is substantially aligned with respective protrusions extending from the substantially "C" shaped attachment portion. 14. A furniture system comprising: a furniture component as claimed in claim 10; and a further furniture component including a tapered member, the attachment portion of the support arm of the furniture component being engaged on the tapered member, wherein the tapered member of the further furniture component has front and rear outer surfaces with an included angle between the front and rear outer surfaces and the or each release shuttle of the furniture component has front and rear inner surfaces with an included angle between the front and rear inner surfaces, and wherein the included angle between the front and rear inner surfaces of the or each release shuttle substantially corresponds to the included angle between the front and rear outer surfaces of the tapered member. 15. A furniture system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the included angle between the front and rear inner surfaces of the or each release shuttle is about 2 to 3 degrees. 16. A furniture component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each release shuttle has front and rear inner surfaces with an included angle between the front and rear inner surfaces, and front and rear outer surfaces with an included angle between the front and rear outer surfaces, and the attachment portion in the region of the or each release shuttle has front and rear inner surfaces with an included angle between the front and rear inner surfaces, and wherein the included angle between the front and rear inner surfaces of the attachment portion in the region of the or each release shuttle, and the included angle between the front and rear outer surfaces of the or each release shuttle, is greater than the included angle between the front and rear inner surfaces of the or each release shuttle. 17. A furniture component as claimed in claim 16, wherein the included angle between the front and rear outer surfaces of the or each release shuttle, and the included angle between the front and rear inner surfaces of the attachment portion in the region of the or each release shuttle, is about 14 degrees. 18. A furniture system comprising: a furniture component as claimed in claim 10; and a further furniture component including a tapered member, the attachment portion of the support arm of the furniture component being engaged on the tapered member, wherein the tapered member of the further furniture component has side surfaces with an included angle between the side surfaces, and the or each release shuttle of the furniture component has side inner surfaces with an included angle between the side inner surfaces, and wherein the included angles between the side inner surfaces of the or each release shuttle substantially corresponds to the included angle between the side surfaces of the tapered member. 19. A furniture system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the included angle between the side inner surfaces of the or each release shuttle is about 2 to 3 degrees. 20. A furniture system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the or each release shuttle has side outer surfaces with an included angle between the side outer surfaces, and the attachment portion of the furniture component has side inner surfaces with an included angle between the side inner surfaces, and wherein the included angle between the side outer surfaces of the or each release shuttle, and the included angle between the side inner surfaces of the attachment portion in the region of the or each release shuttle, is greater than the included angle between the side inner surfaces of the or each release shuttle. 21. A furniture system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the included angle between the side outer surfaces of the or each release shuttle, and the included angle between the side inner surfaces of the attachment portion in the region of the or each release shuttle, is about 14 degrees. 22. A furniture component as claimed in claim 10, wherein all inner and outer surfaces of the or each release shuttle, and of the attachment portion in the region of the or each release shuttle, are tapered. 23. A furniture component as claimed in claim 22, wherein included angles between all opposing outer surfaces of the or each release shuttle, and between all opposing inner surfaces of the attachment portion in the region of the or each release shuttle, are greater than included angles between all opposing inner surfaces of the or each release shuttle. 24. A furniture component as claimed in claim 23, wherein the included angles between all opposing internal surfaces of the or each release shuttle are about 2 to 3 degrees. 25. A furniture component as claimed in claim 24, wherein the included angles between all opposing outer surfaces of the or each release shuttle, and between all opposing inner surfaces of the attachment portion in the region of the or each release shuttle, are about 14 degrees. 26. A furniture component as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least a substantial part of a remainder of the interior of the attachment portion, other than one or more regions corresponding to the one or more release shuttles, has an angle substantially corresponding to that of the tapered member. 27. A furniture component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each release shuttle is biased towards the tapered end of the attachment portion. 28. A furniture component as claimed in claim 27, wherein the or each release shuttle is biased by one or more compression springs. 29. A furniture component as claimed in claim 27, wherein the or each release shuttle is biased by one or more leaf springs. 30. A furniture component as claimed in claim 27, wherein the or each release shuttle is arranged such that as the attachment portion of the support arm is moved in the direction of its taper to detach it from the tapered member, the or each release shuffle initially moves with the tapered member, relative to the attachment portion, in a direction away from the taper and then snaps out of engagement with the tapered member to release the attachment portion from the tapered member. 31. A furniture component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the or each release shuttle has a respective stop provided in the interior of the attachment portion to limit the movement of the or each release shuffle in a direction away from the taper. 32. A furniture component as claimed in any claim 10, wherein the or each release shuffle is made of a plastics material. 33. A furniture component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the one or more release shuffles comprises two spaced apart release shuttles. 34. A furniture system comprising: a furniture component as claimed in claim 1; and an item mounted on the arrangement for mounting, wherein the arrangement for mounting comprises a joint to which the item is attached. 35. A furniture system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the item is permanently mounted to the joint. 36. A furniture system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the position of the item is fixed relative to the arm assembly. 37. A furniture system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the joint is configured to allow pivoting and rotating movement of the item relative to the arm portion. 38. A furniture system as claimed in claim 37, wherein the joint allows movement of the item between a use position in which it extends in a substantially perpendicular manner from the arm portion and a storage position in which it hangs beside the arm portion. 39. A furniture system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the joint is indexed for rotation. 40. A furniture system as claimed in claim 39, wherein the joint is indexed for rotation such that the item may be rotated up to about 20 degrees towards a user and up to about 30 degrees away from the user in a substantially horizontal plane. 41. A furniture system as claimed in claim 40, wherein the joint is configured such that with the support arm attached to an arm of a chair, a chair occupant can pivot the item in a substantially vertical plane towards the side of the chair so that it falls under the influence of gravity to the outside of the arm portion, or can rotate the item towards the front of the chair a sufficient distance that it will then pivot under the influence of gravity to the outside of the arm portion. 42. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm portion includes a projection at or towards the distal end thereof, thereby forming a dogleg configuration, with the arrangement to attach an item provided at or adjacent a distal end of the projection. 43. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement for mounting an item is configured to allow sliding of an item mounted thereto in at least one dimension relative to the arm portion. 44. A furniture component as claimed in claim 43, wherein the item is slidable in two dimensions relative to the arm portion. 45. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement for mounting an item comprises a joint to which the item is attachable. 46. A furniture component as claimed in claim 45, wherein the item is removable from the joint and interchangeable with a further item. 47. A furniture system comprising: a furniture component as claimed in claim 1; and an item mounted on the arrangement for mounting, wherein the item is selected from the group comprising: a work surface or tablet, a work box for containing writing implements, a keyboard, a mouse pad, a notebook computer, and a cup holder. 48. A furniture system as claimed in claim 47, wherein the item is a work surface mounted at or adjacent the distal end of the arm portion. 49. A furniture system as claimed in claim 48, wherein the work surface is in the form of a tablet. 50. A furniture system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the tablet includes a cup holder to hold a cup, glass, or tumbler. 51. A furniture system as claimed in claim 50, wherein the cup holder is arranged to move between a position located in a recess in the tablet and a position located adjacent the tablet. 52. A furniture system as claimed in claim 51, wherein the cup holder is pivotally connected to the tablet. 53. A furniture system as claimed in claim 51, wherein the cup holder is slidably mounted in the tablet. 54. A furniture system as claimed in claim 51, wherein the cup holder includes a four bar linkage to provide a cup supporting base when the cup holder is positioned adjacent the tablet, and which folds up upon returning the cup holder to the recess. 55. A furniture system as claimed in claim 51, wherein the cup holder includes an elastomeric section to stabilize an item therein. 56. A furniture component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapered member has an eccentric shape in cross section, with the interior of the attachment portion having a cross-sectional shape which substantially corresponds to at least part of the shape of the tapered member so that rotation between the attachment portion and tapered member is inhibited when the tapers are engaged. 57. A chair comprising a base supporting a seat, a back, and a pair of tapered arm members, with a support arm of a furniture component as claimed in claim 1 attached to one of the arm members, the support arm being disengageable from the arm member by moving it upwardly and outwardly relative to the arm member. 58. A support arm for supporting a work surface from a tapered chair arm, the support arm including: an arm portion having a proximal end and a distal end; a work surface mounted substantially at the distal end; and an attachment portion defining an internal taper substantially at the proximal end, whereby the support arm is engageable on the tapered chair arm in a taper lock between the tapered chair arm and the attachment portion and disengageable manually and without the use of tools, to mount the support arm to the tapered chair arm. 59. A support arm as claimed in claim 58, wherein the work surface is in the form of a tablet. 60. A support arm as claimed in claim 59, wherein the tablet includes a cup holder to hold a cup, glass, or tumbler, and wherein the cup holder is arranged to move between a position located in a recess in the tablet and a position located adjacent the tablet. 61. A support arm as claimed in claim 58, wherein the tapered chair arm converges towards its upper end, and the internal taper in the attachment portion of the support arm converges towards its upper end, so that moving the attachment portion downwardly relative to the tapered chair arm engages the respective tapers together. 62. A chair comprising a base supporting a seat, a back, and a pair of tapered arm members, with a support arm as claimed in claim 58 attached to one of the arm members, the support arm being disengageable from the arm member by moving it upwardly and outwardly relative to the arm member. 63. A support arm as claimed in claim 58, wherein the work surface is moveable between a position in which it extends in a substantially perpendicular manner from the arm portion and a storage position in which it hangs beside the arm portion. 64. A support arm for supporting an item from a tapered member, the support arm comprising: an arm portion having a proximal end and a distal end; an arrangement for mounting an item substantially at the distal end; and an attachment portion substantially at the proximal end and which defines an internal taper, whereby the support arm is engageable on the tapered member in a taper lock between the tapered member and the attachment portion and disengageable manually and without the use of tools, to mount the support arm to the tapered member; wherein the interior of the attachment portion includes one or more release shuttles, each of the one or more release shuttles being slidable relative to the attachment portion and arranged to engage the outer surface of the tapered member when the tapered member and the attachment portion are engaged. 65. A support arm for supporting an item from a tapered member, the support arm comprising: an arm portion having a proximal end and a distal end; an arrangement for mounting an item substantially at the distal end; and an attachment portion substantially at the proximal end and which defines an internal taper, whereby the support arm is engageable on the tapered member in a taper lock between the tapered member and the attachment portion and disengageable manually and without the use of tools, to mount the support arm to the tapered member; wherein the attachment portion has an open part so that the interior of the attachment portion may be engaged with a tapered member having a longitudinal direction, by moving the attachment portion in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tapered member, and then sliding the attachment portion along the tapered member so that the tapers engage.