Patent ID: 7618210

Claim:
A fastening assembly for connecting two hollow cylindrical handrail sections each section having a passage therethrough and a surface hole in communication with each passage, the fastening assembly comprising: a homogenous one-piece connector having a flat rectangular body with at least two threaded bores extending perpendicularly therethrough, and two identical flat rectangular thigh portions extending from opposite sides of the body in a common direction perpendicular to the body, each thigh portion forming a rounded corner with the body portion, and two identical flat rectangular shin portions each extending perpendicularly from an end of one of the thigh portions toward one another substantially in a common plane, the shin portions forming two bent knee portions with the thigh portions, and two identical flat rectangular foot portions each extending from an end of one of the shins away from one another at an angle with respect to the shins that is greater than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees, the foot portions forming two bent heel portions with the shins, wherein the base, thigh portions, shin portions and foot portions each have equal lengths in a common longitudinal direction; at least two threaded fasteners threadably engaged within the threaded bores, each fastener having a frustoconical end; and wherein adjustment of the fasteners causes the frustoconical ends to bear against the heel portions and drive the rounded corners and free ends of the foot portions to bear against inner surfaces of each of the handrail sections thereby locking the handrails together in alignment in the longitudinal direction.