Corner post assembly

A corner post assembly comprising a straight, vertically-extending, corner post tube having a plurality of outer bearing faces which, when viewed in a horizontal cross-section of said tube, define a regular polygon in which the included angles between adjacent faces are equal and obtuse;

• said faces having a plurality of vertical channels formed therein with each channel being externally accessible through a relatively narrow entry slit extending along and between a pair of vertical side flanges;
• a vertical riser extending along at least a portion of the length of said tube and having a planar side wall facing said tube;
• upper connecting means for releasably joining the upper end portion of said riser to said tube;
• said upper connecting means comprising a draw member movably carried by said upper end portion of said riser for horizontal movement between extended and retracted positions;
• said draw member projecting through said entry slit of one of said channels and having an enlarged head portion disposed within said one channel;
• said head portion being slidable in said one channel when said draw member is extended and, when said draw member is retracted, bearing against side flanges to urge said bearing face in which said one channel is formed against said planar wall of said riser;
• and lower connecting means for releasably joining the lower end portion of said riser to said tube and for stabilizing said tube and riser against relative twisting movement when connected;
• said lower connecting means comprising a pair of laterally-spaced support members projecting through entry slits for two of said channels in said tube immediately adjacent said one channel and along opposite sides thereof;
• said support members each being mounted upon said riser at the lower end thereof for movement between extended and retracted positions;
• said support members having head portions received in said two channels;
• said head portions of said support members being slidable in said two channels when said support members are extended and tightly engaging the side flanges of said two channels when support members are retracted;
• whereby, said draw member and said support members engage said tube at three traction zones to hold the bearing face of said one channel tightly against said planar wall of said riser when said draw member and said support members are retracted.