Apparatus for retractable, tool-less connector

A locking assembly connecting two or more modular structural elements, the locking assembly comprising:

• a female fitted structural element having a female fitting and a cavity;
• a male fitted structural element having a male fitting, wherein the male fitting further comprises a through hole and a chamfered lead edge;
• wherein when the male fitted structural element is fully inserted into the female fitted structural element, the through hole of the male fitted structural element is nearly concentric with a minor diameter of the cavity of the female fitted structural element;
• a connector mounted within the cavity of the female fitted structural element comprising:
• a top surface including a center piece, user interface, tabs, and a raised surface,
• a bottom surface including an opening to receive the center piece, a groove entrance, a spring groove, and rapid transition lines;
• and
• a first spring located between the top surface and bottom surface;
• wherein an end of the first spring rests in the spring groove of the bottom surface and an opposite end of the first spring is pressed against an underside of the user interface;
• and
• wherein the user interface is inserted into the groove entrance of the bottom surface and is configured to be twisted such that the tabs of the top surface enter the groove entrance by way of the rapid transition lines of the bottom surface such that the center piece is compressed through the base surface thereby locking the connector;
• wherein the connector is capable of being toggled from a locked position, in which the center wedge extends into the through hole of the male fitting, to an unlocked position, in which the center wedge is retracted within the cavity of the female fitting, and vice versa using a button-press motion.