Pushed-in locking/anchoring system for connecting adjacent structure forming members

A method of connecting a first structure forming member to a second structure forming member, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first structure forming member with a first internal bore;
• (b) providing a second structure forming member with a second internal bore;
• (c) providing a locking system for connecting the first structure forming member to the second structure forming member, said locking system including a locking housing and an internal core, said locking housing having a first section and a second section, said first section having a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a first elongated opening formed in an exterior of said first section, a second elongated opening formed in an exterior of said first section opposite said first elongated opening and an elongated slot extending through said first section and connecting said first elongated opening to said second elongated opening, said first and second sleeves each having a plurality of anchoring members for locking or otherwise connecting said first section to the first structure forming member, said second section being annular and having an internal bore, said second section having a plurality of anchoring members for locking or otherwise connecting said second section to the second structure forming member;
• (d) inserting said first section of said locking member in the first internal bore formed in the first structure forming member;
• (e) inserting said internal core into said first section and said second section of said locking member;
• and,
• (f) inserting said second section of said locking member into the second internal bore formed in the second structure forming member.

A locking system that is pushed into place to lock or otherwise connect adjacent structure forming members, said locking system comprising:

• (a) a locking housing and an internal core operably associated with the locking housing to connect adjacent structure forming members together;
• (b) said locking housing having a first segment and a second segment, said first segment being configured to be inserted in an internal bore formed in a first structure forming member and said second segment being configured to be inserted in an internal bore formed in a second structure forming member, said first segment having a first expanding section, a second expanding section and an elongated slot being disposed between said first expanding section and said second expanding section, said elongated slot extending through said first segment, said first segment further including a breakable connecting member connecting a terminal end of said first expanding section to a terminal end of said second expanding section, said first segment having at least one anchoring member for locking or otherwise connecting said first segment to the first structure forming member, said second segment having at least one anchoring member for locking or otherwise connecting said second segment to the second structure forming member;
• and,
• (b) an internal core operably associated with said locking housing, said locking system being configured such that said internal core is initially inserted into said second segment and subsequently into said first segment, wherein said breakable connecting member breaks as said internal core extends into said first segment a predetermined distance and said first expanding section and said second expanding section expand outwardly to anchor said first segment in the internal bore formed in the first structure forming member.