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A joint for joining two tubes together that provides a connection that is highly resistant to relative rotational movement of the two tubes and that provides for connecting the tubes without requiring tools. A tube with a swaged end of smaller diameter that is to be joined to a second tube with a la

A joint for joining two tubes together that provides a connection that is highly resistant to relative rotational movement of the two tubes and that provides for connecting the tubes without requiring tools. A tube with a swaged end of smaller diameter that is to be joined to a second tube with a larger diameter contains an interconnection member disposed within the swaged end of the tube. The interconnection member is a button that is spring-biased to extend through a hole in the swaged tube. The end of the swaged tube also includes two slots, disposed on opposing sides of the tube, that receive within them a rivet that extends transversely through the larger diameter tube. As the swaged tube is inserted into the larger diameter tube, the button in the swaged tube springs into a corresponding hole in the larger diameter tube when the holes in the swaged tube and the large diameter tube are in alignment. Alignment of the button holes also aligns the slots of the swaged tube with the transversely extending rivet in the larger diameter tube such that the rivet is received within the slots of the swaged tube. Any rotational force that is applied to either tube will be resisted due to the rigid engagement of the rivet with the sides of the slots that are disposed on opposing sides of the swaged tube.

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[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A joint for connecting two support members comprising:a first swaged tubular support member having a first portion having a first outside diameter, a third, end portion having a second outside diameter smaller than said first outside diameter, a wall, a longitudinal axis,

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A joint for connecting two support members comprising:a first swaged tubular support member having a first portion having a first outside diameter, a third, end portion having a second outside diameter smaller than said first outside diameter, a wall, a longitudinal axis, an end, and a slot formed in said wall and extending axially from said end, and a second portion extending between said first and third portions, and tapering inwardly in diameter from said first portion to said third portion;a second tubular support member having an inner bore bounded by a wall with an inside diameter larger than said second outside diameter, a first aperture in said wall of said second support member, and an elongate rotation restraint member disposed in said bore and extending radially inwardly from said wall, said first support member being slidingly receivable within said bore of said second support member; anda connecting member coupled to said first support member and selectively extendable radially outwardly from said wall of said first support member to an extended position and being engageable with said aperture when in said extended position and when said first support member is disposed in said second support member with said rotation restraint member disposed in said slot,engagement of said connecting member with said aperture preventing axial withdrawal of said first support member from said second member, and engagement of said rotation restraining member and said slot preventing rotation of said first support member with respect to said second support member.