5 into position and soft latching to its respective node fitting 1 whenever convenient each connection is provided a final hard latchdown for a more convenient operation it is desirable to have a lever 25 that is able to swivel about the strut centerline fig5 shows a lock joint with a lever 25 that rotates 360 degrees about the strut centerline this embodiment is similar to fig2 except that it includes swivel rings 33 there are two such identical rings rings 33 contain a groove 34 and plates 14 and 18 have projecting lugs 35 which rotate inside of groove 34 one ring contains the pivot pin 24 about which handle 25 rotates the other ring contains rollers 27 which engage the camming slots 26 of the lever 25 see fig1 a third embodiment of the present invention will be seen in fig6 and 7 in which a rotating collar 36 provides the locking force collar 36 includes a groove 37 and a set of interior threads 38 collet guide plate 14 has a pair of projecting lugs 39 which engage the groove 37 in collar 36 follower plate 18 has a pair of lugs 40 and each lug 40 includes partial male threading 43 threaded lugs 40 engage the female threads 38 of collar 36 in operation collar 36 may be moved from right to left along the centerline of housing 12 in order to move collet 8 and rod 11 in unison to the left or vice versa however rotation of collar 36 causes follower plate 18 to move relative to guide plate 14 with the result that expander rod 11 causes fingers 53 to spread apart a key.