Railing Assembly with Detachable and Upgradeable Components

• US 20080265232A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barrette Outdoor Living Incorporated (CRH PLC)
• Original Assignee: Railing Dynamics Incorporated (CRH PLC)
• Inventors: Schneider, Christopher Michael, Terrels, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 256/65.04
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1844 Grille-type elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1853 Glass panels
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1819 between balustrade posts and horizontal or sloping balustrade members
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1821 between balustrade posts and handrails
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1827 between balusters and handrails
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1868 Miscellaneous features of handrails not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1897 mainly of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0456 Ladders or other supports

Abstract

A railing system includes an upper core member having a cap connector. In a first embodiment, a railing system includes a cap member having a cap flange that detachably couples with the cap connector on the upper core member. The cap member forms an enclosed conduit between the cap member and the upper core member. In a second embodiment, a kit for fabricating a railing span is contained in a packaging. The kit includes an upper core member and lower core member having selected lengths and a plurality of balusters for connection between the upper and lower core members. In a third aspect of the invention, a method of routing an opening for a baluster used in an inclined railing structure includes the step of plunging a router bit into a side of a component at an angle based on the installed angle of the inclined railing structure.

Claims

1. A railing system comprising:

A. an upper core member comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion comprising a cap connector, and said lower portion comprising a base connector;

B. a cap member comprising a cap flange detachably coupled with said cap connector on the upper core member, said cap member having a hollow interior forming an enclosed conduit between said cap member and said upper core member; and

C. a base member comprising a base flange detachably coupled with the base connector on said upper core member, said base member and said cap member substantially enclosing the upper core member.

2. The railing system of claim 1 comprising a utility line extending through said conduit between said core member and said cap member, wherein said utility line is concealed beneath said cap member.

3. The railing system of claim 2, wherein the utility line comprises a line associated with a light fixture, an audio component, a video component, a computer, a telephone, a plumbing fixture, a grill, or a device powered by compressed air.

4. The railing system of claim 1 comprising a substantially vertical baluster having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end engaging with the base member.

5. The railing system of claim 4, wherein the base member forms a routed opening adapted to receive the upper end of said baluster, said upper end extending through the routed opening and engaging the lower portion of the upper core member.

6. The railing system of claim 5, wherein the base member extends along a longitudinal axis, and the routed opening extends through the base member at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base member.

7. The railing system of claim 6, wherein the angle is between about 29 and about 41 degrees.

8. The railing system of claim 1 comprising a lower core member extending generally parallel with said upper core member, said lower core member comprising a channel facing the lower portion of the upper core member.

9. The railing system of claim 8 comprising a panel supported along a first edge by the lower portion of the upper core member and supported along a second edge by the channel in the lower core member.

10. The railing system of claim 8 comprising a cover extending over the lower core member, said cover comprising a routed opening generally aligned with the channel in the lower core member, said channel adapted to receive the lower end of a baluster, said lower end of the baluster extending through the routed opening in the cover and engaging with the lower core member.

11. The railing system of claim 10 comprising a surface treatment on at least one of said cap member, base member and cover.

12. The railing system of claim 11 wherein the surface treatment comprises a metallic jacket.

13. The railing system of claim 10, wherein said railing system has a load bearing capacity operable to resist deflection of the railing, said upper and lower core members being mounted to a support structure to provide said load bearing capacity, said cap member, base member and cover member comprising decorative components that are detachable from said core members without reducing the load bearing capacity of the railing system.

14. The railing system of claim 1, comprising a bracket and mounting hardware connected with said upper core member, said bracket and mounting hardware being disposed within and completely concealed by said cap member and said base member.

15. The railing system of claim 14, wherein the bracket comprises one or more inwardly facing ribs configured for connection with the upper core member in a press fit.

16. The railing system of claim 15, wherein the bracket comprises a socket for receiving an end of the upper core member, the socket forming a clearance gap between the bracket and the end of the upper core member to accommodate expansion of the upper core member.

17. A kit for fabricating a railing span having a selected length, said kit contained in a packaging and comprising an upper core member having said selected length, a lower core member having said selected length, and a plurality of balusters for connection between said upper and lower core members at a selected uniform spacing.

18. The railing kit of claim 17 comprising a decorative cover for connection over one of said upper and lower core members.

19. A method of routing an opening for a baluster used in an inclined railing structure, comprising the steps of determining the installed angle of the inclined railing structure relative to horizontal;

providing a router with a router bit;

selecting a router bit angle based on the installed angle of the inclined railing structure, pivoting the router bit to the selected router bit angle; and

plunging the router bit into a side of a component into which the baluster will be inserted, said side being oriented horizontally.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the installed angle of the inclined railing structure is from about 29 degrees to about 35 degrees relative to horizontal.