Abstract: A connector for use in assembling railings. The connector includes a cylindrical shank for slip fit receipt inside a hollow section of a railing component. The shank has at least one groove having an abutment portion, a seating area, and a tapered portion. An O-ring with an outside diameter larger than the shank and larger than the inside diameter of the railing is set into the seating area of each tapered groove. Proximal movement of the railing component onto the shank of the connector during initial mounting presses the O-rings against the abutment portions and compresses them into the grooves. Subsequent distal movement of the railing component causes the O-rings to ride up the tapered portions of the grooves due to the friction with the inner surface of the railing component being mounted on the shank. The O-rings subsequently wedge between the outside surface of the shank and the inside surface of the railing component locking together the railing component and the connector.

Abstract: A connector for use in assembling railings. The connector includes a cylindrical shank for slip fit receipt inside a hollow section of a railing component. The shank has at least one groove having an abutment portion, a seating area, and a tapered portion. An O-ring with an outside diameter larger than the shank and larger than the inside diameter of the railing is set into the seating area of each tapered groove. Proximal movement of the railing component onto the shank of the connector during initial mounting presses the O-rings against the abutment portions and compresses them into the grooves. Subsequent distal movement of the railing component causes the O-rings to ride up the tapered portions of the grooves due to the friction with the inner surface of the railing component being mounted on the shank. The O-rings subsequently wedge between the outside surface of the shank and the inside surface of the railing component locking together the railing component and the connector.