Collapsible structural frame strut with pop-in connector

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a collapsible support structure strut comprising, which may include a strut member; a hollow tubular terminal end portion of the strut member having an inner surface; and a detachable looped eyelet having at least one loop and a pair of extending legs, the legs being springedly biased to engage the tubular terminal end of the strut, thereby frictionally holding the looped eyelet in place at the terminal end of the strut. The apparatus and method may also employ a holding plug having at least a portion thereof that is shaped and sized to frictionally engage the inner surface of the tubular terminal end of the strut to frictionally hold the holding plug in engagement with the strut; and first and a second holding groove opposingly placed in the periphery of the holding plug and extending axially of the holding plug and adapted to either jamb a portion of a leg of the detachable looped eyelet against the inner surface of the tubular terminal end of the strut or to frictionally engage the leg of the detachable looped eyelet or to do both, to thereby improve the frictional holding of the eyelet in the tubular terminal end. The tubular terminal end of the strut may also have a pair of opposing holes in the tubular end, each positioned and sized to receive the respective protrusion from a respective leg portion of the detachable looped eyelet. The detachable looped eyelet may also have at least two loops.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.