End threaded locking device and method for using same

Claim 1

A joining device for quickly and easily connecting together standards which comprises: a. a pair of standards having corresponding preformed apertures and cavities therein; b. at least two dowels each spaced apart, one being lower than the other and having a reduced section adjacent shoulders at both ends, said reduced sections being threaded in opposite directions; c. at least one pair of keepers provided for each of the at least two dowels for being threaded onto each end of the at least two dowels; and d. at least one rib spaced apart from and below said at least two dowels; whereby the first one of the pair of standards is selected and one end of each of the at least two dowels is inserted through succeeding ones of the corresponding preformed apertures provided therein and one of each of said at least one pair of keepers is started to be screwed onto each end of the at least two dowels which has been inserted through the corresponding preformed apertures in said selected one of the pair of standards, then, the second one of the pair of standards is moved toward the free and opposite ends of the at least two dowels said free and opposite ends of the at least two dowels being inserted through said preformed apertures therein, while said ribs are each positioned in respective ones of said preformed cavities, and the remaining one of each of said at least one pair of keepers is started to be screwed onto the corresponding free ends of the at least two dowels, and succeeding ones of the at least two dowels are each rotated until said shoulders butt tightly against said first one and second one of the pair of standards, forming a free standing fixture for supporting one or more articles with said at least two dowels and at least one rib.