Patent ID: 7628164

Claim:
A base for connecting a hollow tubular member to a support surface by means of engagement with an inner surface of the tubular member, the base comprising: a base member configured to engage said support surface; at least one wedge guide member extending upwardly from the base member along an axis generally perpendicular to said base member, the wedge guide member having at least one surface inclined relative to said axis; and at least one wedge member comprising a flange extending perpendicular to said axis and outwardly from a side surface of the at least one wedge member and being slidable on the inclined surfaces of the at least one wedge guide member towards the base member, wherein a sliding movement of the at least one wedge member relative to the at least one wedge guide member increases a combined effective cross-sectional area of the at least one wedge guide member and the at least one wedge member transverse to the axis of said base, to provide, in use, engagement with the inner surface of said tubular member; wherein the flange is contacted, in use, by a lower end of the tubular member when the tubular member is advanced over the base, to move the at least one wedge member relative to the at least one wedge guide member.