Collapsible construction assembly

Claim 1

A construction assembly for making a collapsible structure, the assembly comprising: an elongated post extending along and defining a normally upright post axis and having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being formed with a transverse web having an axially centered threaded bore open in an upward axial direction away from the lower post end and with an axially upwardly open notch; a lower planar plate fixed at the lower end of the post, extending generally perpendicular to the post axis, and formed with at least one axially throughgoing lower cutout offset from the post axis and radially offset relative thereto from the post; a frame having a lower fitting formed with an axial projection extending axially down through the lower cutout and formed directly underneath the lower plate with a passage that is throughgoing parallel to the lower plate, and an upper fitting at the upper post end and formed with an upper projection extending axially upward away from the lower post end and provided with a stud extending through the notch and having inside the post a stud head larger than the notch, whereby the stud secures the upper fitting on the post against downward or horizontal movement relative thereto; a locking member engaged through the passage and bearing axially upward toward the upper end on the lower plate; an upper planar plate extending generally perpendicular to the post axis, formed at the axis with a throughgoing bore and offset from the axis with an axially throughgoing cutout through which extends the upper projection of the upper fitting; and a bolt threaded in the bore of the web, passing through the bore of the upper plate, and having a bolt head bearing axially downward on the upper plate, whereby the bolt head presses the upper plate down on the upper fitting to lock the frame to the post.