Abstract: Tube connectors are provided for connecting tubes together to form a framework where the connectors are substantially hidden from view by ends of the tubes. Each connector has a support body and several anchor bodies that are formed integrally with the support body or independent from it. The support body has six faces with at most six anchor bodies. For any face of the support body that does not have an anchor body, it is formed to be coplanar with a surface of an adjoining anchor body, allowing an end of a tube with a suitably shaped end portion to cover that face of the support body. A U-shaped aperture with a slanted through passage are provided at a junction of at least one anchor body with the support body. This allows a tool to be inserted into the connector to fix a final tube to the connector.

Abstract: Tube connectors are provided for connecting tubes together to form a framework where the connectors are substantially hidden from view by ends of the tubes. Each connector has a support body and several anchor bodies that are formed integrally with the support body or independent from it. The support body has six faces with at most six anchor bodies. For any face of the support body that does not have an anchor body, it is formed to be coplanar with a surface of an adjoining anchor body, allowing an end of a tube with a suitably shaped end portion to cover that face of the support body. A U-shaped aperture with a slanted through passage are provided at a junction of at least one anchor body with the support body. This allows a tool to be inserted into the connector to fix a final tube to the connector.

Abstract: A tube connector includes an anchor body having a lengthwise through-passage and a bolt head cavity. The through-passage and bolt head cavity are open to a side of the anchor body. One end of the anchor body has a tool-access opening and the other end has a tapered portion. A bolt extends through the tapered end portion and has its head located in the bolt head cavity. The bold is inserted into the anchor body via the side opening. A tightening body has a lengthwise through-passage through which the bolt extends and a tapered end portion facing the tapered end portion of the anchor body. A nut engages upon the bolt, and an expansion body has a pair of opposed inward facing ramp surfaces, one of which bears against the tapered portion of the anchor body and the other of which bears against the tapered portion of the tightening body. Upon relative rotation between the bolt and nut the tightening body moves toward the anchor body to expand the expansion body against an internal surface of the tube end.

Abstract: A connector for fixing a screw to a hollow tube comprises a rectangular elongate cylindrical sleeve that fits inside the tube. Opposing convergent members are drawn towards each other by threading forward the screw nut through rotating the converging member to urge the sleeve parts radially outwards to fix the connector firmly inside the tube. Alternatively the operation of the convergent members can be carried out by a screwdriver from the left-side by rotating the screw forward.

Abstract: A connector for fixing a hollow tube 16 to a plate 102 comprises a split cylindrical sleeve 104 that fits inside the tube. Threaded opposing cones 103 and 104 are drawn together by rotating a screw 101 to urge the sleeve parts radially outwards to fix the connector firmly inside the tube. The screw 101 at the same time holds the plate 101 firmly against the end of the tube. A resilient peripheral strap 107 holds the sleeve parts together before the connector is inserted in the end of the tube.