Collapsible structural frame strut with pop-in connector

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a collapsible support structure strut comprising, which may include a strut member; a hollow tubular terminal end portion of the strut member having an inner surface; and a detachable looped eyelet having at least one loop and a pair of extending legs, the legs being springedly biased to engage the tubular terminal end of the strut, thereby frictionally holding the looped eyelet in place at the terminal end of the strut. The apparatus and method may also employ a holding plug having at least a portion thereof that is shaped and sized to frictionally engage the inner surface of the tubular terminal end of the strut to frictionally hold the holding plug in engagement with the strut; and first and a second holding groove opposingly placed in the periphery of the holding plug and extending axially of the holding plug and adapted to either jamb a portion of a leg of the detachable looped eyelet against the inner surface of the tubular terminal end of the strut or to frictionally engage the leg of the detachable looped eyelet or to do both, to thereby improve the frictional holding of the eyelet in the tubular terminal end. The tubular terminal end of the strut may also have a pair of opposing holes in the tubular end, each positioned and sized to receive the respective protrusion from a respective leg portion of the detachable looped eyelet. The detachable looped eyelet may also have at least two loops.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A collapsible support structure strut comprising: 
 a strut member;    a hollow tubular terminal end portion of the strut member having an inner surface;    a detatchable looped eyelet having at least one loop and a pair of extending legs, the legs being springedly biased to engage the tubular terminal end of the strut, thereby frictionally holding the looped eyelet in place at the terminal end of the strut.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a holding plug having at least a portion thereof that is shaped and sized to frictionally engage the inner surface of the tubular terminal end of the strut to frictionally hold the holding plug in engagement with the strut;  
 a first and a second holding groove opposingly placed in the periphery of the holding plug and extending axially of the holding plug and adapted to either jamb a portion of a leg of the detachable looped eyelet against the inner surface of the tubular terminal end of the strut or to frictionally engage the leg of the detachable looped eyelet or to do both, to thereby improve the frictional holding of the eyelet in the tubular terminal end.  
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 the tubular terminal end of the strut having a pair of opposing holes in the tubular end, each positioned and sized to receive the respective protrusion from a respective leg portion of the detachable looped eyelet.  
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 the tubular terminal end of the strut having a pair of opposing holes in the tubular end, each positioned and sized to receive the respective protrusion from a respective leg portion of the detachable looped eyelet.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 the detachable looped eyelet has at least two loops.  
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 the detachable looped eyelet has at least two loops.  
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 the detachable looped eyelet has at least two loops.  
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 the detachable looped eyelet has at least two loops.  
 
     
     
         9 . A collapsible support structure strut comprising: 
 a strut member;    a hollow tubular terminating means for providing an end portion of the strut member having an inner surface;    a detatchable eyelet means for retaining a flexible support member in proximity to the terminal end of the strut, having a means for engaging the terminal end of the strut for holding the detachable eyelet in place at the terminal end of the strut.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 holding plug means for enhancing the holding of the detachable eyelet means in place at the terminal end of the strut.  
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 the tubular terminal end of the strut having a locking means for preventing axial motion of the detachable eyelet means once the detachable eyelet means is in engagement with the locking means.  
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 the tubular terminal end of the strut having a locking means for preventing axial motion of the detachable eyelet means once the detachable eyelet means is in engagement with the locking means.  
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 the detachable eyelet means has at least two loops.  
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 the detachable eyelet means has at least two loops.  
 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 the detachable eyelet means has at least two loops.  
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 the detachable eyelet means has at least two loops.  
 
     
     
         17 . A method for providing detachable connection between a collapsible support structure strut at its terminal end and a flexible circumferential support member, comprising the steps of: 
 providing the struts with hollow tubular end portions having an inner surface and a side wall;    providing a detachable looped eyelet in detachable engagement with either the inside surface of the hollow tubular end portion or with at least one hole formed in the side wall of the hollow tubular end portion, or both.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an additional frictionally engaging member for frictionally engaging the interior surface of the hollow tubular end portion and either frictionally engaging the detachable looped eyelet, or jamming the detachable looped eyelet into engagement with the hollow tubular end portion, or both.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the detachable looped eyelet has at lest two loops.