Fastening device for support structures

A support structure frame adapted for ease of assembly and disassembly, comprising

• (a) a plurality of tubular members having a rectangular cross section, said tubular members being subdivided into a first group wherein all members have one end with an end slot including a wider end portion and a narrower inner portion and have another end with an access opening proximate said another end, and a second group;
• without said end slot;
• (b) a plurality of locking devices adapted for insertion into the ends of tubular members of the first group, each of said locking devices comprising a first spreadable end section having a threadable set screw between spreadable ends, said set screw becoming aligned with said access opening when said first spreadable end section is inserted into an end of a tubular member of the first group;
• a second spreadable end section having a threadable keyed screw between spreadable ends, said keyed screw being alignable with said end slot;
• and an intermediate locking section having a slot therein;
• and
• (c) a plurality of end connectors adapted for insertion into the ends of tubular members of the second group, each of said end connectors having a male end sized for fitting into said intermediate locking section slot.

A fastener and lock for use in support structures, comprising

• (a) a plurality of tubular structural members;
• (b) a fastening device having a center section intermediate two end sections, and having an elongate slot in said center section, said two end sections each being insertable and attachable to a tubular structural member;
• (c) an end connector insertable and attachable to a tubular structural member, said end connector having a projecting head on a narrowed neck, said head being adapted to be received by said elongate slot in said fastening device center section to produce locking engagement between the end connector and fastening device;
• and
• (d) adjustment means connected to one of said fastening device end sections, said adjustment means being frictionally engageable against a tubular structural member to lock said one end section in a partially inserted position into said tubular structural member or to lock said one end section in a fully inserted position into said tubular structural member wherein the tubular structural member abuts said center section of said fastening device.

A support structure frame adapted for ease of assembly and disassembly, comprising

• (a) a plurality of hollow tubular members of substantially square cross section, said tubular members including a first group wherein all tubular members in said first group have at least one slot in a first end, said slot having a first end access opening, and having an access hole proximate a second end;
• said tubular members including a second group wherein all tubular members in said second group are without said end slot;
• (b) a plurality of locking devices, each said locking device having three sections;
• including a first end section adapted for insertion into the slotted first end of any of said first group of tubular members and further comprising a threadable locking member for clamping said tubular member against said first end section, and intermediate section having a cross section size proximately equal to said tubular member cross section and having a slotted opening therethrough, and a second end section having a pair of spreadable walls adapted for engagement inside a second end of any of said first group of tubular members and a threadable screw engaged between said pair of spreadable walls, said screw being accessible through said tubular member second end access hole when said second end section is inserted into said tubular member second end;
• and
• (c) a plurality of end connectors adapted for insertion and affixing into either end of a tubular member of said second group, each of said end connectors having means for engaging into said slotted opening in said locking device intermediate section.