Multi-element connection for structural members

A multi-element connection for joining structural members secured thereto into an automatically locked co-linear arrangement, and adapted to be rotated or folded to bring the structural members into such co-linear arrangement from an unlocked configuration, said connection comprising:

• (a) a latch member adapted to secure a structural member thereto, said latch member including an outwardly projecting latch tongue having a latching recess formed therein;
• (b) a clevis member adapted to secure a structural member thereto, said clevis member including a clevis channel for receiving said latch tongue;
• (c) pivot means joining said latch and clevis members in rotary reciprocable engagement, whereby said latch tongue is received in said clevis channel in a closed and locked configuration, and is pivotally displaceable to an open and unlocked configuration along an arcuate path;
• (d) latch means reciprocably received in said clevis member and transversely displaceable with respect to said path from a latched configuration, wherein said latch means projects into said path, to an unlatched configuration, wherein said latch means is displaced proximally away from said path, said latch means including latch pin means for engaging said latching recess;
• (e) said latch tongue being a generally wedge-shaped tongue having a first radial edge coincident with an abutment end wall of said latch plate member and a second radial edge at the distal end thereof, said radial edges joined by an arcuate edge, said latch tongue further including a camming surface at said distal end for displacing said latch means from said latched to said unlatched configurations as said latch tongue is pivoted from said open to said closed configurations.