Spring tube connecting member

Claim 2

A connecting member for connecting together at least two hollow tubes each of which has an opening defined therein for the passage of a fastener element therethrough, said connecting member comprising a base portion, and an insert portion which is secured to said base portion and which is adapted to be inserted into a said hollow tube, the insert portion having two substantially parallel prongs, the prongs having free ends which terminate in respective oppositely facing flanges, the insert portion having a maximum cross section in a direction normal to said prongs which is somewhat larger than the internal cross section of the hollow tubes, the said flanges being such that their free ends are normally slightly spaced apart, but when they are compressed towards each other, the insert portion may be inserted into one of said hollow tubes and the said free ends define therebetween a bore which is alignable with the opening in said one tube for the passage of a fastener element through said opening and said bore.

Claim 3

A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connecting member is substantially rectangular in section with the oppositely facing flanges constituting one of the sides which is parallel with the said base portion.

Claim 4

A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said base portion and the said insert portion are formed of aluminum.

Claim 5

A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said base portion and the said insert portion form a unitary structure.

Claim 6

A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said base portion has a hole defined therein which is alignable with the opening in a said tube.

Claim 7

A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said base portion has a hole defined therein which is alignable with an opening defined between the respective openings of two of said tubes placed side-by-side.

Claim 8

A connecting member as claimed in claim 5 wherein the axis of the hole in the said base portion is substantially at right angles with the axis of the bore defined between said flanges.

Claim 9

A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bore is a threaded bore.

Claim 10

A connecting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connecting member has a common base portion to which are secured two of said insert portions.

Claim 11

A connecting member as claimed in claim 9 wherein said insert portions extend substantially at right angles to each other.

Claim 12

A constructional unit comprising at least tWo hollow tubes connected together by means of a connecting member, each tube having an opening defined therein for the passage of a fastener element therethrough, said connecting member comprising a base portion, and an insert portion which is secured to said base portion and which is adapted to be inserted into a said hollow tube, the insert portion having two substantially parallel prongs, the prongs having free ends which terminate in respective oppositely facing flanges, the insert portion having a maximum cross section which is somewhat larger in a direction normal to said prongs than the internal cross section of the hollow tubes, the said flanges being such that their free ends are normally slightly spaced apart, but when they are compressed towards each other, the insert portion may be inserted into one of said hollow tubes and the said free ends define therebetween a bore which is alignable with the opening in said one tube for the passage of a fastener element through said opening and said bore.

Claim 13

A constructional unit comprising at least tWo hollow tubes connected together by means of a connecting member, each tube having an opening defined therein for the passage of a fastener element therethrough, said connecting member comprising a base portion, and an insert portion which is secured to said base portion and which is adapted to be inserted into a said hollow tube, the insert portion having two substantially parallel prongs, the prongs having free ends which terminate in respective oppositely facing flanges, the insert portion having a maximum cross section which is somewhat larger in a direction normal to said prongs than the internal cross section of the hollow tubes, the said flanges being such that their free ends are normally slightly spaced apart, but when they are compressed towards each other, the insert portion may be inserted into one of said hollow tubes and the said free ends define therebetween a bore which is alignable with the opening in said one tube for the passage of a fastener element through said opening and said bore.

Claim 14

A constructional unit assembly comprising, in combination, three hollow tubes connected together, two of said tubes having respective beveled ends placed side-by-side and defining therebetween an opening for the passage of a fastener element, each said tube being provided with a further opening, a connecting member connecting together the said two tubes at said beveled ends, the said connecting member comprising a common base portion, and two insert portions which are secured to said base portion and which are adapted to be inserted into respective hollow tubes, the insert portion having two substantially parallel prongs, the prongs having free ends which terminate in respective oppositely facing flanges, the insert portion having a maximum cross section which is somewhat larger in a direction normal to said prongs than the internal cross section of the hollow tubes, the said flanges being such that their free ends are normally slightly spaced apart, but when they are compressed towards each other, the insert portion may be inserted into one of said hollow tubes and the said free ends define therebetween a bore which is alignable with the opening in said one tube for the passage of a fastener element through said opening and said bore, the hole in the base portion of the said connecting member being aligned with the first-mentioned opening, a further connecting member comprising a base portion, and an insert portion which is secured to said base portion and which is adapted to be inserted into a said hollow tube, the insert portion having two substantially parallel prongs, the prongs having free ends which terminate in respective oppositely facing flanges, the insert portion having a maximum cross section which is somewhat larger than the internal cross section of the hollow tubes, the said flanges being such that their free ends are normally slightly spaced apart, but when they are compressed towards each other, the insert portion may be inserted into one of said hollow tubes and the said free ends define therebetween a bore which is alignable with the opening in said one tube for the passage of a fastener element through said opening and said bore, the hole in the base portion of said further connecting member being also aligned with the first-mentioned opening the insert portion of said further connecting member being inserted into the third of said tubes, the bores of said connecting members being aligned with the further openings of said tubes, the said assembly being held rigidly together by securing fasteners in said openings, bores and holes.

Claim 15

A constructional unit assembly comprising, in combination, three hollow tubes connected together, two of said tubes having respective beveled ends placed side-by-side and defining therebetween an opening for the passage of a fastener element, each said tube being provided with a further opening, a connecting member connecting together the said two tubes at said beveled ends, the said connecting member comprising a common base portion, and two insert portions which are secured to said base portion and which are adapted to be inserted into respective hollow tubes, the insert portion having two substantially parallel prongs, the prongs having free ends which terminate in respective oppositely facing flanges, the insert portion having a maximum cross section which is somewhat larger in a direction normal to said prongs than the internal cross section of the hollow tubes, the said flanges being such that their free ends are normally slightly spaced apart, but when they are compressed towards each other, the insert portion may be inserted into one of said hollow tubes and the said free ends define therebetween a bore which is alignable with the opening in said one tube for the passage of a fastener element through said opening and said bore, the hole in the base portion of the said connecting member being aligned with the first-mentioned opening, a further connecting member comprising a base portion, and an insert portion which is secured to said base portion and which is adapted to be inserted into a said hollow tube, the insert portion having two substantially parallel prongs, the prongs having free ends which terminate in respective oppositely facing flanges, the insert portion having a maximum cross section which is somewhat larger than the internal cross section of the hollow tubes, the said flanges being such that their free ends are normally slightly spaced apart, but when they are compressed towards each other, the insert portion may be inserted into one of said hollow tubes and the said free ends define therebetween a bore which is alignable with the opening in said one tube for the passage of a fastener element through said opening and said bore, the hole in the base portion of said further connecting member being also aligned with the first-mentioned opening the insert portion of said further connecting member being inserted into the third of said tubes, the bores of said connecting members being aligned with the further openings of said tubes, the said assembly being held rigidly together by securing fasteners in said openings, bores and holes.