Connecting rods

A stiff integral connecting rod adapted to longitudinally and bi-directionally transmit tensile forces as well as compressive forces, said rod having a hollow tubular body (1) in the shape of a generally cylindrical main portion (1a) ending with two generally frusto-conical tapering extremities (2) and formed of a plurality of layers (T1, T2) of tapes (T) composed of high-strength parallel fibers (f) bonded together by synthetic resin, at least one (T1) of said layers having its fibers (f) extending longitudinally parallel to the generatrix of said tubular body and at least one other (T2) of said layers being wound helically around said tubular body (1), an end fastening member (6) of hardware fitted onto said tubular body (1) at each tapering extremity (2) thereof, each of said end fastening members (6) having at one end a skirt (9) which extends inside said tubular body (1) in engagement with the inner surface of the corresponding tapering extremity (2) thereof and an end extension (15) engaging an adjacent length of said main portion (1a), said extension (15) being axially notched (16) adjacent its free inner end so as to be resiliently yieldable in a radial direction, each of said end fastening members (6) having further a radially projecting collar (8) at its outer end opposite to said skirt with an intermediate section (6a) of reduced diameter between said collar (8) and said skirt (9), said layers (T1, T2) of the tubular body (1) being applied and bonded in situ over said tapering extremities (2) to tightly engage the exterior surface of said skirt (9) and said reduced diameter intermediate section (6a) of each end fastening member (6), and ringlike means (12) encircling the layers of said tapering extremities over said reduced diameter section (6a) of each end fastening member (6) to firmly anchor the ends of said layers (T1, T2) to said end members.