Connecting element

In a connecting element for releasably connecting two structural members of a stand, particularly a frame member having a hollow interior and a support member having an undercut groove, said connecting element including a housing to be positioned in a stationary manner in the hollow interior of the frame member, at least one locking element having a longitudinal axis and positioned within said housing for movement in a longitudinal direction therein, said locking element having at a first end thereof a clamping portion extending from said housing to be introduced into the undercut groove of the support member and clamped therein, and an eccentric mounted in said housing for rotation about an axis transverse to said longitudinal direction, said eccentric having a head portion to engage in a bore through a wall of the frame member to enable selective rotation of said eccentric about said transverse axis and an eccentric portion for transducing rotation of said eccentric into longitudinal movement of said locking element, the improvement comprising:

• a pulling element separate from said locking element, said pulling element having a first end acting on by said eccentric portion to move said pulling element longitudinally and a second end loosely connected to a second end of said locking element such that longitudinal movement of said pulling element is transferred to said locking elements;
• said locking element and said housing having cooperating means for, upon said locking element moving longitudinally, causing said clamping portion to rotate about said longitudinal axis within a limited angular range;
• and
• said clamping portion comprising a bar extending transversely of said longitudinal axis.