U.S. patent application number 10/216649 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-12 for baluster retaining member.
Invention is credited to McLean, Frederick Bruce.
Application Number | 20040025452 10/216649 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28454357 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040025452 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McLean, Frederick Bruce |
February 12, 2004 |
Baluster retaining member
Abstract
A baluster retaining member for connecting an end of a baluster
to an opening in a rail of a railing system includes a rail section
dimensioned to fit within the opening and a baluster section
dimensioned to be secured to an end of the baluster. The rail and
baluster sections are oriented with respect to one another at a
predetermined angle so that when the baluster is connected to the
rail by the member and the rail is positioned for use adjacent a
stairway at an angle from the horizontal, the baluster is oriented
vertically.
Inventors: |
McLean, Frederick Bruce;
(West Vancouver, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHLESINGER, ARKWRIGHT & GARVEY LLP
3000 SOUTH EADS STREET
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Family ID: |
28454357 |
Appl. No.: |
10/216649 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/182 ; 256/19;
256/59; 256/65.01; 256/65.02; 256/65.03; 256/65.08; 52/184 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 11/1842 20130101;
E04F 11/02 20130101; E04F 2011/1821 20130101; E04F 11/181
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/182 ; 52/184;
256/19; 256/59; 256/65.01; 256/65.02; 256/65.03; 256/65.08 |
International
Class: |
E04H 017/14; E04H
017/00; E04H 017/20; E04H 017/22; E04H 017/24; E04F 011/00; E04F
019/10 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A railing system for a stair way, comprising: (a) a pair of
rails each having a plurality of openings extending laterally into
one side of the rails in a direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the rails; (b) a plurality of balusters for
extending between the rails; and (c) a plurality of retaining
members for connecting an end of a baluster to one of the openings,
the retaining members having a rail section dimensioned to fit
within the opening and a baluster section dimensioned to be secured
to an end of the baluster, wherein the rail and baluster sections
are oriented with respect to one another at a predetermined angle
so that when the balusters are connected to the rails by the
members and the rails are positioned for use adjacent a stair way
at an angle from the horizontal, the balusters are oriented
vertically.
2. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the rail section is of an
outer diameter and the opening is of a corresponding diameter to
provide a friction fit of the rail section within the opening.
3. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the baluster comprises a
baluster opening at one end dimensioned to accept the baluster end
of the retaining member into the baluster opening.
4. The railing system of claim 3, wherein the baluster section is
of an outer diameter and the baluster opening is of a corresponding
diameter to provide a friction fit of the baluster section within
the opening.
5. The railing system of claim 2, wherein the baluster comprises a
baluster opening at one end dimensioned to accept the baluster end
of the retaining member into the baluster opening.
6. The railing system of claim 5, wherein the baluster section is
of an outer diameter and the baluster opening is of a corresponding
diameter to provide a friction fit of the baluster section within
the baluster opening.
7. The railing system of claim 6, wherein the rail section is
connected to the opening by a tighter fit resulting in a higher
level of friction fit as compared to the baluster section in the
baluster opening.
8. The railing system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined angle is
between 30 degrees and 36 degrees.
9. The railing system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined angle is
about 32.5 degrees.
10. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle
is about 30 degrees.
11. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle
is about 36 degrees.
12. The railing system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle
is about 35 degrees.
13. The railing system of claim 1 wherein the baluster section is
contoured with a frusto-conical outer periphery with the larger
diameter at the end adjacent the rail section.
14. The railing system as described in claim 1 wherein the rail
section comprises a plurality of ribs defining the outer periphery
of the rail section.
15. The railing system as described in claim 1 wherein the baluster
section comprises a plurality of ribs defining the outer periphery
of the baluster section.
16. The railing system as described in claim 14 wherein the
baluster section comprises a plurality of ribs defining the outer
periphery of the baluster section.
17. The railing system as described in claim 1 wherein the rail
section and baluster section are of unitary construction.
18. The railing system as described in claim 3 wherein the baluster
section is of a lesser diameter than the rail section and wherein a
lip is formed at the region where the rail and baluster sections
meet.
19. The railing system as described in claim 18 wherein the lip
defines a lip plane that is perpendicular with the outer periphery
of the rail section.
20. The railing system as described in claim 19 wherein the lip
acts as a contact region contacting the end of the baluster when
the baluster is attached to the baluster section, the lip
preventing further insertion of the baluster section into the
baluster.
21. The railing system as described in claim 19 wherein the rail
section is dimensioned in length equal to the depth of the opening
so that when the rail section is in the opening contacting the end
of the opening the lip plane is co-planar with a plane defined by
the side of the rail into which the opening extends so that when
the baluster is attached to the baluster section to cover the
entire baluster section the lip acts as a contact region contacting
the end of the baluster.
22. The railing system as described in claim 1 wherein the ends of
the baluster are parallel with one another and form a plane which
is at a baluster end angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of
the baluster.
23. The railing system as described in claim 22 wherein the
baluster end angle is the same as the predetermined angle.
24. The railing system as described in claim 22 wherein the
baluster end angle is between 30 degrees and 36 degrees.
25. The railing system as described in claim 22 wherein the
baluster end angle is about 32.5 degrees.
26. The railing system as described in claim 1 further comprising
waterproofing material positioned in the opening between the rail
section and the opening when the rail section is positioned in the
opening.
27. A retaining member for connecting a baluster to a rail of a
railing system for use adjacent a set of stairs, the rail having an
opening perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail, the
retaining member comprising: (a) a first end dimensioned to be
attachable to the baluster; (b) a second end dimensioned to fit
within the opening in the rail; and (c) the first and second ends
attached together at an angle so that the baluster is retained by
the opening in the rail in a vertical orientation when the rail is
positioned adjacent the set of stairs, the rail angled from the
horizontal to correspond to the angle of the set of stairs.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] i) Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a retaining member for connecting
balusters to rails of a railing system and more particularly
relates to a system which permits vertical orientation of balusters
into rails having openings perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of the rails, where the rails are oriented at an angle from the
horizontal when adjacent a stairway.
[0003] ii) Related Art
[0004] Railing systems which are made up of upper and lower rails
with balusters interposed between the rails are well known in the
art. As well, a railing system in which the balusters are inserted
into openings in a surface of each rail are well known. In those
systems, the upper and lower rails are rigidly connected to posts
on each end with the balusters interposed between the rails fitted
within openings in the lower surface of the upper rail and the
upper surface of the lower rail to hold the balusters in place. The
balusters are manually oriented in a vertical direction,
irrespective of the angle at which the rails are oriented. Because
rails positioned adjacent a stairway or set of stairs must be
angled downwardly at an angle corresponding to the angle of the
stairway (that is the angle corresponding to the "run" and "rise"
of the stairway), difficulties can arise in providing a method for
orienting the balusters vertically when interposed between rails
which are angled from the horizontal.
[0005] In the past, one method of manufacturing rails for this type
of railing system was to orient the openings in each rail into
which an end of a baluster is inserted at an angle in relation to
the longitudinal axis of the rail sufficient to result in a
vertical baluster orientation when the rails are angled in use
adjacent a stairway. This has meant that special tooling equipment,
or time consuming adjustment of existing equipment had to be
undertaken to drill these openings at the appropriate angle.
Furthermore, some railing systems are sold, without any pre-drilled
openings, to consumers and contractors who install these systems.
Consumers or contractors are then required to drill openings of
appropriate size and orientation in order to accept the balusters
between the rails when the railing system is assembled. It is much
easier for those consumers or contractors to drill openings in the
rails which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of those
rails, as compared to attempting to drill a plurality of openings
at the same angle, corresponding to the rise angle of the stairway,
to provide a consistent vertical orientation of a plurality of
balusters between the rails when those rails are positioned
adjacent a stairway at an angle from the horizontal. This
difficulty is compounded by the need to ensure that openings in the
top rail align with openings in the bottom rail. As well, the
ability to use rails which have an opening perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the rail permits consumers and contractors to
use the same rails for use in a railing system adjacent a set of
stairs as are used in a railing system adjacent a horizontal
surface. In addition, the rails may be oriented with a particular
end either at the high end of the stairway, or the low end of the
stairway, whereas rails having angled openings are required to be
oriented in one direction to properly align the openings so that
the balusters are oriented vertically.
[0006] As a consequence, there is a need for a railing system which
permits the use of rails having openings to accept balusters
between the rails which are formed into the rails in a direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rails and which
enables vertical orientation of the balusters interposed between
the rails when the rails are oriented at an angle from the
horizontal such as when the rails are used adjacent a stairway.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] This invention provides a railing system for a stairway
which includes a pair of rails, each having a plurality of openings
extending laterally into one side of the rails in a direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rails. A plurality of
balusters are provided for extending between the rails and a
plurality of retaining members are provided for connecting an end
of a baluster to one of the openings. The retaining members include
a rail section dimensioned to fit within the opening and a baluster
section dimensioned to be secured to an end of the baluster. The
rail and baluster sections are oriented with respect to one another
at a predetermined angle so that when the balusters are connected
to the rails by the members and the rails are positioned for use
adjacent a stairway at an angle from the horizontal, the balusters
are oriented vertically.
[0008] In a further embodiment, the rail section is of an outer
diameter and the opening is of a corresponding diameter to provide
a friction fit of the rail section within the opening.
[0009] In a further embodiment, the baluster includes a baluster
opening at one end dimensioned to accept the baluster and of the
retaining member into the baluster opening.
[0010] In a further embodiment, the baluster section is of an outer
diameter and the baluster opening is of a corresponding diameter to
provide a friction fit of the baluster section within the
opening.
[0011] In a further embodiment, the rail section is connected to
the opening by a tighter fit resulting in a higher level of
friction fit as compared to the baluster section and the baluster
opening.
[0012] In a further embodiment, the predetermined angle is between
30 degrees and 36 degrees.
[0013] In a further embodiment, the predetermined angle is about
32.5 degrees.
[0014] In a further embodiment, the baluster section is contoured
with a frusto-conical outer periphery with the larger diameter at
the end adjacent the rail section.
[0015] In a further embodiment, the rail section includes a
plurality of ribs defining the outer periphery of the rail
section.
[0016] In a further embodiment, the baluster section comprises a
plurality of ribs defining the outer periphery of the baluster
section.
[0017] In a further embodiment, the baluster section is of a lesser
diameter than the rail section and a lip is formed at the region
where the rail and the baluster sections meet.
[0018] In a further embodiment, the lip defines a lip plane that is
perpendicular with the outer periphery of the rail section.
[0019] In a further embodiment, the lip acts as a contact region
contacting the end of the baluster when the baluster is attached to
the baluster section, the lip preventing further insertion of the
baluster section into the baluster.
[0020] In a further embodiment, the rail section is dimensioned in
length equal to the depth of the opening so that when the rail
section is in the opening contacting the end of the opening, the
lip plane is coplanar with a plane defined by the side of the rail
into which the opening extends so that when the baluster is
attached to the baluster section to cover the entire baluster
section, the lip acts as a contact region contacting the end of the
baluster.
[0021] In a further embodiment, the ends of the baluster are
parallel with one another and form a plane which is at a
baluster-end angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of he
baluster.
[0022] In a further embodiment, the baluster end angle is the same
as the predetermined angle.
DRAWINGS
[0023] By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention
will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rail system of the present
invention, adjacent a stairway;
[0025] FIG. 1A is a close-up view of a section of FIG. 1 showing a
retaining member of the present invention connecting a lower end of
a baluster to an opening in the lower rail of the railing
system;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the railing system of FIG.
1;
[0027] FIG. 2A is a close-up view of a section of FIG. 2 in an
exploded view showing a baluster interposed between upper and lower
rails with baluster retaining members interposed between each end
of the baluster and each rail;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a baluster retaining member
of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a side view of the baluster retaining member of
FIG. 3;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a front view of the baluster retaining member of
FIG. 3; and
[0031] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the baluster retaining member of
FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0032] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 1A, railing system 10 is
shown adjacent stairway or set of stairs 12. Railing system 10
includes balusters 14 interposed between upper rail 16 and lower
rail 18.
[0033] Stairway 12 includes a pair of parallel-spaced opposed
stringers 20 and 22 attached at an upper end to beam 24. Lower ends
of stringers 20 and 22 rest on a support surface (not shown). A
plurality of tread members 26 are positioned horizontally on
corresponding plurality of vertical support sections 27 of
stringers 20 and 22.
[0034] A typical stairway 12 has a 7 inch rise 30 and a 111/4 inch
run 32 which is equivalent to a rise angle 28 from a horizontal
support surface of about 32.5 degrees.
[0035] Railing system 10 includes upper post 34 and lower post 36.
Upper post 34 is secured to a top face 38 of beam 24 and lower post
36 is attached to, or rests on, the support surface and is attached
to a lower region of stringer 22. Lower post 36 may further be
attached to the lowermost tread member 26 at notch 40. Upper and
lower rails 16 and 18 are positioned between the posts 34 and 36
and extend downwardly from upper post 34 to lower post 36 at an
angle of about 32.5 degrees from the horizontal so as to correspond
with rise angle 28 of stairway 12. Upper and lower rails 16 and 18
have parallel ends which are cut at an angle of about 32.5 degrees
from that perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rails 16 and 18
which also corresponds to the rise angle 28. When railing system 10
is assembled adjacent stairway 12, rails 16 and 18 are attached to
a side of posts 34 and 36 so that the ends of rails 16 and 18 lie
flush with adjacent sides of posts 34 and 36. This ensures that the
angle of rails 16 and 18 from the horizontal, that is angles 80 and
82 shown in FIG. 2A, correspond to rise angle 28 ensuring that
rails 16 and 18 are positioned generally at an angle from the
horizontal corresponding to rise angle 28 of stairway 12.
[0036] A plurality of balusters 14 are interposed between rails 16
and 18 and are rigidly secured between those rails in a vertical
orientation, while rails 16 and 18 are oriented at an angle from
the horizontal as discussed above. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2A, in
order to provide for a vertical orientation of balusters 14 in
conjunction with rails 16 and 18 which are angled from the
horizontal by angles 82 and 80, retaining members 42 are employed
to attach balusters 14 to rails 16 and 18. Upper face 44 of rail 18
includes a plurality of openings 46 extending laterally into face
44, representing a side of rail 18, in a direction perpendicular to
face 44 also perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rail 18.
[0037] Retaining member 42 fits within opening 46 and includes rail
section 64 which is dimensioned in width with respect to the width
of opening 46 to provide a friction fit engagement within opening
46. Baluster 14 includes opening 48 in an end of baluster 14 into
which baluster section 62 of retaining member 42 may be inserted.
Baluster section 62 of retaining member 42 is dimensioned in width
with respect to opening 48 to provide a friction fit engagement
with opening 48 into which baluster section 62 retaining member 42
is inserted. This is best seen in FIG. 2A.
[0038] As best depicted in FIGS. 2 and 2A, upper rail 16 includes a
lower face 50 into which a plurality of openings 52 are formed.
Openings 52 extend laterally into face 50 and thereby into one side
of rail 16. Openings 52 are of the same diameter and length as
openings 46. Openings 52 extend in a direction perpendicular to
face 50 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rail 16. Rail
section 64 of retaining member 42 and opening 52 are dimensioned to
provide a friction fit engagement of rail section 64 within opening
52. Baluster 14 includes an opening (not shown) at its upper end
54, similar to opening 48 in lower end 56 of baluster 14 as
described above. Baluster section 62 of retaining member 42 and the
opening in end 54 are dimensioned to provide a secure friction fit
engagement of baluster section 62 of member 42 within the opening
at end 54.
[0039] Ends 54 and 56 are cut at an angle from the longitudinal
axis equal to rise angle 28 of about 32.5 degrees and are parallel
with one another. This ensures that upper face 58 and lower face 60
are coplanar with faces 50 and 44, respectively. Lower face 60 is
shown in its assembled position coplanar with face 44 in FIG.
1A.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, retaining member 42 is
depicted in perspective, side, front and rear views. Retaining
member 42 includes baluster section 62 integrally joined to rail
section 64. Baluster section 62 includes four ribs 66 oriented at
right angles to one another and extending the length of baluster
section 62. Ribs 66 are integrally joined with four ribs 68
oriented at right angles with respect to one another of rail
section 64. Ribs 68 of rail section 64 are wider than ribs 66
providing a larger diameter 70 as compared to diameter 72 of
baluster section 62 (best seen in FIG. 4). While not shown, ribs 66
may be tapered with a larger diameter adjacent ribs 68 to provide a
general frusto-conical outer periphery to facilitate insertion of
baluster section 62 into baluster 14.
[0041] As best seen in FIG. 4, rail section and baluster section
are angled with respect to one another at angle 74 which is
equivalent to rise angle 28 of about 32.5 degrees. When rails 16
and 18 are oriented at an angle from the horizontal at angles 82
and 80, respectively, of about 32.5 degrees, rail section 64 may be
inserted into opening 46 or opening 52 with baluster section 62
oriented in a vertical direction (see FIG. 1A). As depicted in FIG.
2A, retaining member 42 is inserted into opening 52 so that
baluster section 62 faces vertically as is baluster section 62 of
retaining member 42 positioned within opening 46 of rail 18. This
properly orients baluster 14 in a vertical position as depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2 when attached to both baluster sections 62 of
retaining members 42.
[0042] Rail section 64 is dimensioned at diameter 70 which is
generally equivalent to diameter of openings 46 and 52 to provide a
friction fit of rail section 64 within either one of openings 46 or
52. As well, the length 76 of rail section 64 is equal to the depth
of openings 46 and 52. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, because ribs
68 are of larger diameter 70 as compared to diameter 72 of ribs 66,
lip 78 is formed at the inner end of ribs 68 where ribs 68 merge
with ribs 66. Lips 78 on ribs 68 are in coplanar alignment with
each other as ribs 68 are all of equal length 76.
[0043] Length 76 is equal to the depth of openings 46 and 52 and
when rail section 64 is positioned within opening 46 or opening 52
with rail section 64 contacting the end of opening 46 or opening
52, lips 78 are in coplanar alignment with the plane of
corresponding face 44 or 50. As a consequence, when baluster
section 62 is positioned within one of opening 48 or opening in end
54 of baluster 14, lips 48 act as a stop contacting corresponding
face 58 or 60 which rests against lip 78, as best depicted in FIG.
1A. This provides additional support to balusters 14 which contacts
lips 78, rather than faces 44 or 50 which are generally made of
wood or other soft material, softer than material used to construct
retaining members 42.
[0044] As well, because retaining members 24 have rail section 64
which is positioned at angle 74 with respect to baluster section
62, equivalent to angles 80 and 82 of rails 18 and 16, balusters 14
are oriented in a vertical position.
[0045] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment has
been directed to the most popular rise and run angle of a stairway,
namely a 7 inch rise and an 111/4 inch run, resulting in about a
32.5 degree angle from the horizontal. However, other stair angles
may also be accommodated and will similarly provide a vertical
baluster interposed between rails angled from the horizontal by
changing the predetermined angle of the retaining member 42. For
example, other popular stair run/rise ratios are: (i) a rise of
61/2 inches and run of 11 inches, resulting in a rise angle of
about 30 degrees; (ii) a rise of 71/2 inches and run of 10 inches
resulting in a rise angle of about 36 degrees; and a rise of 71/4
inches and a run of 101/4 inches resulting in a rise angle of about
35 degrees. By providing a predetermined angle 74 and positioning
rails 16 and 18 at angles 82 and 80 equivalent to 30 degrees a rise
of 61/2 inches and a run of 11 inches can be accommodated.
Similarly, a rise of 71/2 inches and a run of 10 inches can be
accommodated by providing angles 74, 82 and 80 of 36 degrees and a
rise of 71/4 and run of 101/4 accommodated by providing angles 74,
82 and 80 of 35 degrees.
[0046] Having thus described preferred embodiments of a railing
system for a stairway and a baluster retaining member, it will be
apparent by those skilled in the art how certain advantages of the
present invention have been achieved. It should also be appreciated
that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative
embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the
present invention. For example, while specific angles associated
with certain run/rise ratios have been described, it should be
apparent that the inventive concepts described above would be
equally applicable to any number of different rise/run ratios by
making appropriate adjustment to angles 74, 82 and 80, consistent
with rise angle 28. Moreover, the words used in this specification
to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be
understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined
meanings, but to include by special definition in this
specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the
commonly defined meanings. Thus, if an element can be understood in
the context of this specification as including more than one
meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being
generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and
by the word itself. The definitions of the words or elements of the
following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to
include not only the combination of elements which are literally
set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for
performing substantially the same function in substantially the
same way to obtain substantially the same result. The described
embodiments are to be considered illustrative rather than
restrictive. The invention is further defined by the following
claims.
* * * * *