Patent ID: 8235623

Claim:
A fastening assembly for connecting two hollow cylindrical handrail sections, each section having a passage there through and a surface hole in communication with each respective passage, the fastening assembly comprising: a homogenous one-piece connector having a flat rectangular body, and two substantially identical flat rectangular leg portions extending from opposite sides of the body in a common direction perpendicular to the body, each leg portion forming a rounded corner with the body portion, each leg portion connected to a knee portion extending inward over at least a portion of the body and each knee portion connected to a foot portion at an end opposite the knee portion; and at least one threaded fastener threadably engaged within at least one threaded bore formed in the body of the one-piece connector; wherein adjustment of the at least one fastener toward the leg portions causes the fastener to engage the knee portions extending over the body and the engagement of the fastener and the knee portions forces the leg portions outward and causes free ends of the foot portions to bear against inner surfaces of each of the handrail sections thereby locking the handrail sections together in alignment in the longitudinal direction.