Tubular frame structure connector system

A multi-tubular structure having an improved tubular connector system connecting the multiple tubes of the multi-tubular structure, the structure comprising:

• a connector body having a plurality of radially spaced connector slots, each connector slot having an open end within a top face of the connector body and an open ended aperture through a side surface of the connector body in unobstructed communication with the open end within the top face;
• a first open fastener shaft centrally located within the connector body;
• a plurality of radially spaced deflectable legs about the first open fastener shaft connector to the connector body inserted within a first open end of a first tubular member, the plurality of radially spaced deflectable legs adjacent inner walls of the first tubular member;
• a wedge member sized and shaped to fit among the plurality of radially spaced deflectable legs, the wedge member having a second open fastener shaft positioned within the wedge member to be axially aligned with the first open fastener shaft of the connector body;
• an elongated fastener sized and shaped to fit through the first open fastener shaft of the connector body and the second open fastener shaft of the wedge member, the elongated fastener providing means for tensioning the wedge member against the plurality of deflectable legs to simultaneously radially deflect the plurality of deflectable legs against the first open end of the first tubular member;
• a first tubular connector end having a front face shaped to fit flushly against the side surface of the connector body and a connector tab extending from the front face of the connector end for unobstructed sliding insertion into the connector slot through the open end within the top face of the connector body into the open ended aperture through the side surface of the connector body;
• a plurality of radially positioned deflectable prongs connected to the first tubular connector end opposite the connector tab inserted within a first open end of a second tubular member, each of the plurality of radially positioned deflectable prongs having a smoothly sloped inner face, the plurality of radially positioned deflectable prongs adjacent inner walls of the second tubular member;
• a first expansion member having a plurality of smoothly sloped outer faces sized to coact with the inner faces of the deflectable prongs of the first tubular connector end;
• a second elongated fastener providing means for tensioning the expansion member against the inner faces of the deflectable prongs simultaneously radially deflecting the deflectable prongs against the first open end of the second tubular member.

A tubular connector system for multi-tubular structures, the system comprising:

• a connector body having a round peripheral side surface;
• a first open fastener shaft concentrically located within the connector body;
• a plurality of connector slots within the connector body radially spaced about the first open fastener shaft having an aperture through the side surface of the connector body, each connector slot and aperture having open ends within a top face of the connector body in unobstructed communication with the apertures through the side surface;
• a plurality of radially spaced deflectable legs about the first open fastener shaft connected to the connector body opposite the top face of the connector body, each deflectable leg having a smoothly sloped inner face, the deflectable legs offset from the peripheral side surface of the connector body so that an outer surface of a round tubular member is substantially flush with the peripheral side surface of the connector body;
• a wedge member having a plurality of smoothly sloped outer faces sized to coact with the inner faces of the deflectable legs and a second open fastener shaft through the wedge member, the second open fastener shaft positioned within the wedge member to be axially aligned with the first open fastener shaft of the connector body when the wedge member is placed among the deflectable legs;
• a connector cap sized and shaped to cover the connector slots and apertures of the connector slots, the connector cap having a fastener aperture positioned to be axially aligned with the first open fastener shaft of the connector body;
• an elongated fastener sized and shaped to fit through the fastener aperture of the connector cap, first open fastener shaft of the connector body, and second open fastener shaft of the wedge member, the elongated fastener providing means for tensioning the wedge member against the deflectable leg outwardly deflecting the deflectable leg;
• a plurality of tubular connector ends having a arcuate front face shaped to fit flushly adjacent the peripheral side surface of the connector body and connector tabs extending from the front face of each of the connector ends for unobstructed sliding insertion through the open end of the connector slots within the top surface of the connector body and into the apertures through the side surface of the connector body, the tubular connector ends having a connector portion sized and shaped to fit within an open end of a round tubular member.

A tubular connector system for mult-tubular structure, the system comprising:

• a connector body having a top face and a side surface;
• a first one fastener shaft through the connector tody;
• a connector slot within the connector body having an open end within the top face of the connector body and an aperture through the side surface of the connector body;
• a connector end having a first connector tab portion sized and shaped for sliding insertion through the open end of the connecting slot and a second connector tab portion for extension through the aperture through the side surface of the connector body;
• a connector cap sized and shaped to cover the open end of the connecting slot having a fastener aperture positioned to be axially aligned with the first open fastener shaft of the connector body when the connector cap is placed adjacent the top face of the connector body;
• an elongated fastener sized and shaped to fit through the fastener aperture of the connector cap and the first open fastener of the connector body fastening the connector cap to the top face of the connector body during use, seating the connector cap against the open end of the connecting slot for retention of the first connector tab portion within the connecting slot,
• a third fastener shaft through the connector end having a first open end within the first connector tab portion of the connector end;
• at least one deflectable leg connected to the connector end opposite the first and second connector tab portions having a smoothly sloped inner face adjacent the third fastener shaft of the connector end;
• and
• a wedge member having at least one smoothly sloped outer face sized to coact with the inner face of the deflectable leg and a fourth open fastener shaft through the wedge member, the fourth open fastener shaft positioned within the wedge member to be axially aligned with the third open fastener shaft of the connector end.