Modular frame assembly and method for making same

A frame subassembly made from modular metal components comprising:

• a first frame member;
• a tubular post member extending outwardly from said first frame member and having a side wall;
• said post member having an opening through its side wall adjacent one end thereof, said one end having a configuration conforming to the exterior of said first frame member;
• weld means within said post member accessible through said opening for fixedly securing the interior of said one end of said post member to the exterior of said first frame member;
• a spring button disposed within said post member having a button portion movable within an aperture defined in said side wall and a spring portion within said post member urging the button portion outwardly through said aperture;
• and,
• a tubular frame member having an internal diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of said post member so that it may axially telescoped onto said post member, said tubular frame member having a side wall defining an aperture adapted to receive the button portion of said spring button, whereby the respective apertures of said post member and tubular frame member may be axially and radially aligned one over the other so that said spring button will span both apertures to releasably lock the two members together.

A method of constructing a modular frame from two or more component members comprising:

• defining a work opening in the side wall of a tubular post member;
• attaching said post member to a first component frame member by fixedly securing the interior of said post member to the exterior of said first frame member by operating through said work opening;
• moving a tubular component frame member over said post member;
• releasably locking said tubular frame member to said post member and hence to said first frame member;
• and,
• releasably mounting additional optional tubular component frame members on post members fixed to respective component frame members until a complete frame assembly is constructed.

A method of constructing a modular frame from two or more metal component members comprising:

• defining a work opening in the side wall of a tubular post member adjacent one end thereof;
• attaching said one end of said post member to a first frame component member by welding the interior of said post member to the exterior of said first frame member by operating through said work opening;
• positioning a lock button internally within said post member with a portion of said button being resiliently urged outwardly from said post member through an aperture defined in said post member side wall;
• moving a tubular frame component member having an internal diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of said post member axially onto said post member;
• aligning an aperture defined in the side wall of said tubular frame member with said button so that said button engages said second aperture to thereby releasably lock said tubular frame member to said post member and hence to said first frame member;
• and,
• releasably mounting additional optional frame component members on post members fixed to respective frame component members until a complete frame assembly is constructed.