Patent ID: 7674064

Claim:
A coupling apparatus for connecting structural members, said coupling apparatus comprising: a first coupler half and second coupler half defining an axial direction therethrough; each coupler half having an inner coupler main body sleeve and outer coupler main body sleeve, each said sleeve having a plurality of axial projections equally spaced on a circumferential end thereof, each axial projection having an engaging hook at a distal end thereof, each said sleeve rotatably mountable on one of the structural members, said inner sleeve of said each coupler half being received within said outer sleeve of said each coupler half, each coupler half having a biasing spring connecting said inner sleeve to said outer sleeve and biasing said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve in opposite circumferential biasing directions with respect to each other; wherein, said coupling apparatus is coupled when said plurality of axial projections of said first coupler half are inserted in said axial direction between said plurality of axial projections of said second coupler half, said circumferential biasing directions of said inner sleeves being opposite with respect to each other, and said circumferential biasing directions of said outer sleeves being opposite with respect to each other, such that said engaging hooks of said first coupler half are circumferentially locked with said engaging hooks of said second coupler half; and wherein said coupling apparatus is decoupled when said inner sleeves are rotated in circumferential directions that are opposite to said inner sleeve biasing directions thereby unlocking said first coupler half hooks from said second coupler half hooks and allowing separation of the first coupler half from the second coupler half in said axial direction.