Importance

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Abstract

A connector comprising a body having a body central bore defining a body axis, one end contoured to conform to a surface of a support member, and another end shaped to coaxially abut a free end of a hollow member. An expansion element is carried by the body for close entry into the hollow member when the body and the free end abut. A drive element passes through the body central bore and has one end adapted to engage the support member, and another end engaging the expansion element, to impart a radially outward force component to the expansion element as at least a portion of the drive element is drawn toward the one end of the body. The expansion element can be in the form of resilient fingers cantilevered from the body into the hollow member, and the drive element can be a wedge member drawn by a bolt, toward the one end of the body, for urging the resilient fingers outwardly. In an alternative configuration, the expansion element can be in the form of a metal clip having a plurality of transversely extending prongs which are preferably arranged such that cantilevered fingers pass between the prongs to maintain the prong orientation relative to the body axis. The drive element can, for example, be in the form of a threaded bolt which threadably engages and draws the clip toward the one end of the body such that the prongs are urged outwardly into engagement with the hollow member.

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First Claim