Connecting mechanism for tubular frame members

The connector for joining hollow elongate frame meters to a support structure, comprising:

• a first one-piece base portion having an inner face and an outer face, a second one-piece base portion having an inner face and an outer face, the second one-piece base portion being separate from and engageable with said first one-piece base portion, wherein said inner faces of said first and second base portions form an opening therebetween for conforming to a shape of an adjacent surface of said support structure for being joined thereto;
• at least one spreading mechanism extending outwardly from said first base portion and having external transverse dimension for enabling the spreading mechanism to be inserted into one end of one of said elongate frame members and to fit closely within an internal cross-section of said respective elongate frame member;
• said spreading mechanism having substantially parallel first and second arms located adjacent to each other, said second arm being further subdivided into two parallel prongs having a slit therebetween, said first arm having a transverse threaded hole extending therethrough and being aligned with said slit;
• and
• an elongate threaded member located in said threaded hole and able to be turned in said threaded hole so as to extend into said slit and push said prongs apart and thereby also spread said first and second arms apart,
• wherein said first base portion has an aperture formed therein to receive an elongate fastener for connecting said first base portion to said support structure, said aperture extending from said outer face to said inner face of said first base portion and having a central axis, said central axis extending at an acute angle to longitudinal axes of said first and second arms.