Latch connector for profile beams and tubes

A construction comprising:

• first and second extrusions each having identical rectangular profiles, each profile having a width, four sides, four corners, a central portion, and four channels with each channel positioned between adjacent corners, each elongated member having an end;
• a strike plate comprising a rectangular member having a flat surface and a width dimensioned to overlap the profile, the rectangular member having four side edges with each side edge having a pair of hooks projecting from the flat surface, each pair of hooks being separated by a distance which is less than the width of the strike plate, the rectangular member having a hub mountable to the central portion of the extrusions, the strike plate mounted to the end of the first extrusion such that the rectangular member aligns with the profile of the first extrusion;
• a latch mounted to the side of the second extrusion adjacent the second extrusion's end for perpendicularly mounting the end of the second extrusion to end of the first extrusion, the latch having a bail which is movable between locked and opened positions, the bail being dimensioned and configured to be less wide than the width of the strike plate but wide enough to engage the pair of hooks at one of the side edges of the strike plate when the latch is in it's locked position, the latch configured to position the bail to be free of the hooks when the bail is in its opened position, the latch being further configured to bias the first extrusion towards the second extrusion when the bail is in its locked position.

A mounting device for mounting up to five elongated members at their ends, each elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a rectangular profile, the rectangular profiles being identical and having a width, four sides, four corners, and a central portion, the mounting device comprising:

• a strike plate having a central portion and four sides, each side having a pair of hooks, the strike plate dimensioned and configured to mount transversely on the end of the elongated member;
• at least one latch for latching one of the elongated members onto the strike plate, the latch having a base and a bail, the base configured to attach to one of the sides of said elongated member parallel to the longitudinal axis of said member, the bail dimensioned to engage one of the pair of hooks, the bail being pivotally mounted to the base and movable between an open position wherein the bail is positioned away from the base and a locked position wherein the bail engages the pair of hooks and is positioned closer to the base, the latch mounted sufficiently close to the end of said elongated member to permit the bail to engage the hooks and bias said elongated member towards the strike plate when the bail is in its locked position, and
• the strike plate, bails and hooks being dimensioned and configured such that up to four of the latches can be latched to the strike plate simultaneously to mount four elongated members around a fifth elongated member.