U.S. patent number 3,879,017 [Application Number 05/371,384] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-22 for balcony railing assemblies of extruded metal.
This patent grant is currently assigned to W-T Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard A. Hubbard, Frederic R. Maxcy.
United States Patent |
3,879,017 |
Maxcy , et al. |
April 22, 1975 |
Balcony railing assemblies of extruded metal
Abstract
A metallic railing assembly, comprised of vertical posts,
horizontal rails and pickets of extruded aluminum or alloys
thereof, which are interconnected by means of bolts and screw
fasteners without welding procedures. Splines of special and simple
construction, which are severed from a length of extruded alloy,
are affixed to the posts to provide a secure support for the ends
of the rails to transmit the horizontal loadings to the anchored
vertical posts, without loosening any of the component parts.
Inventors: |
Maxcy; Frederic R. (Ellicott
City, MD), Hubbard; Richard A. (Severna Park, MD) |
Assignee: |
W-T Industries, Inc.
(Baltimore, MD)
|
Family
ID: |
23463774 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/371,384 |
Filed: |
June 19, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
256/65.08;
256/22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B
7/187 (20130101); E04B 2/766 (20130101); E04F
11/181 (20130101); B62D 33/044 (20130101); E06B
3/9687 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62D
33/00 (20060101); B62D 33/04 (20060101); E06B
3/968 (20060101); E04F 11/18 (20060101); E04B
2/76 (20060101); E06B 3/96 (20060101); F16B
7/18 (20060101); E04h 017/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;256/65,59,21,22,66-70,24 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,570,598 |
|
May 1969 |
|
FR |
|
819,147 |
|
Oct 1951 |
|
DT |
|
Primary Examiner: Taylor; Dennis L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lebowitz; Samuel
Claims
We claim:
1. A metallic railing assembly comprising
a. a vertical post of extruded metal having a longitudinal vertical
slot extending along the central portion of at least one face
thereof,
b. a horizontal rail having one end thereof connected to said post
at said face,
c. a discrete segment severed from a continuous extrusion having a
pair of continuous screw bosses projecting symmetrically with
respect to the longitudinal axis of the extrusion from one face
thereof, for interconnecting said post and rail,
d. said screw bosses adapted to receive self-engaging screw
fasteners adapted to extend through openings in said end of said
rail which is in overlying engagement with the upper severance
plane of said segment, and
e. means for securing said segment at a predetermined level of said
vertical post to adjust the plane of attachment of said horizontal
rail to said post.
2. A device as set forth in claim 1, including means on said
continuous extrusion on the face thereof opposite said screw bosses
for cooperation with the longitudinal slot in said vertical
post.
3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said last-mentioned
securing means comprises a bolt fastening assembly extending
through an opening in said segment at said longitudinal axis for
clamping said segment to said post at the opposite face of said
segment.
4. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said last-mentioned
means comprises continuous ribs projecting slightly from the
opposite face of said segment, said ribs fitting along the opposite
edges of said longitudinal vertical slot for facilitating the
alignment of said segment at said slot.
5. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said bolt fastening
means comprises a headed bolt having the head thereof disposed
between said screw bosses, and a cooperating nut for engagement
with the free end of said bolt.
6. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said bolt fastening
assembly comprises a headed bolt having the head thereof disposed
between said screw bosses, and a cooperating nut positioned in the
interior of said post adjacent to the slot therein.
7. A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said cooperating nut
is provided with a roughened surface adjacent to said slot, to
enhance the gripping effect thereof with the inner surfaces of said
post which borders said slot.
8. A device as set forth in claim 6, including a continuous groove
of predetermined width in said first-mentioned face of said
continuous extrustion at the longitudinal axis thereof, for
accommodating the head of said headed bolt and restraining it
against rotation.
9. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said last-mentioned
means comprises a projection of bulbous cross-section on the face
thereof opposite said screw-bosses, with an intermediate narrowed
neck therebetween for movement along said vertical slot.
10. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said last-mentioned
means comprises a projection of bulbous cross-section diverging
from the narrowed central portion of the segment which is adapted
to be embraced by the wall of the post adjacent to said vertical
slot, with the inner faces of the bulbous portions in contact with
the rear face of said last-mentioned wall.
11. A metallic railing assembly comprising
a. a vertical post of extruded metal having a longitudinal vertical
slot extending along the central portions of the opposite faces
thereof,
b. horizontal rails having their adjacent ends connected to said
post at said faces for extension in opposite directions,
c. discrete segments severed from a continuous extrusion having a
pair of continuous screw bosses projecting symmetrically with
respect to the longitudinal axis of the extrusion from one face
thereof, for interconnecting said post and rails, with the opposite
face of each of said segments in contact with said opposite faces
of said vertical post,
said screw bosses adapted to receive self-engaging screw fasteners
adapted to extend through openings in said adjacent ends of said
rails which are in overlying engagement with the upper severance
planes of said segments, and
e. a bolt fastener for rigidly connecting said segments to said
vertical post at the opposite faces thereof, comprising a headed
bolt extending from the outer face of one segment through an
opening in the midportion of the latter and through said
longitudinal slots in the opposite faces of said vertical post, and
a nut for engagement with the free end of said bolt extending
through an opening in the midportion of the second segment beyond
said slots, and positioned exteriorly of said post.
12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said vertical
post includes an internal longitudinal reenforcing web in a plane
parallel to said opposed faces, said web provided with an opening
for permitting the passage of said headed bolt extending between
the opposite faces of said post.
13. A metallic railing assembly composed of a plurality of
laterally displaced vertical posts with vertically spaced
horizontal rails extending between said posts as set forth in claim
1 for mounting a plurality of vertical metallic pickets
therebetween,
a. said last-mentioned pickets being of rectangular contour, each
comprising two parallel sides disposed in displaced parallel
planes, extending in parallel relation between said vertically
spaced horizontal rails at longitudinally displaced points
therealong,
b. each of said picket rails having a pair of vertically aligned
longitudinal slots at said points displaced correspondingly to the
displacement of the parallel sides of each picket,
c. each of said pickets having said sides extending transversely in
parallel planes relative to the length of the rails and terminating
in centrally disposed trapezoidally-shaped tongues with slightly
sloping edges, and bases which are smaller than said transverse
parallel sides of said pickets, and
d. said tongues projecting into said slots and bent into planes
parallel to said picket rails and in juxtaposition to the internal
picket rail surfaces containing said slots, with the bases of said
tongues wedged into said slots, and with the edges of said
transverse parallel sides adjacent to the external surfaces of said
picket rails in tight engagement with the latter.
14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said metallic
pickets are of a closed perimetric contour in cross-section.
15. An assembly as set forth in clalim 13, wherein said bases of
said tongues are slightly longer than said slots to attain a swaged
connection between the pickets and rails in consequence of the
bending of said tongues at said bases.
Description
This invention relates to aluminum railing systems and more
particularly to railings formed of extruded aluminum components
which may be combined in unique architectural designs to create
distinctive and structurally sound arrangements.
It is the object of the present invention to provide aluminum
railing systems composed of extruded aluminum sections which are
rugged and economical in design, and which may be assembled with
minimal labor costs to produce structural units of maximum
safety.
It is another object of the invention to provide especially strong
mechanical connections between vertical posts of a rail assembly
and the rails extending therebetween which are easily adapted to
the use of either picket elements or panels of solid or reticulated
sheet material. The resulting assemblies, in addition to presenting
pleasing architectural effects, are characterized by a high factor
of safety, which is a very important consideration in view of the
wide use of such railings on balconies in modern high-rise building
constructions.
It is another object of the invention to provide spline connections
between vertical posts and horizontal rails by providing a strong
tamper-proof connection for transferring horizontal loads to high
strength vertical posts, without need for any welding procedures at
these joints. The joints between the posts and the picket rails are
maintained in tight connection without loosening therebetween in
the course of time.
It is also the object of the invention to provide tight connections
between picket rails and the pickets integrated therewith by simple
metal bending operations, without welding or soldering.
Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed
description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a railing system for building
balconies, patios, porches or other enclosures, showing vertical
pickets at one part thereof and panels of sheet material at other
parts thereof;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the continuous length of extruded
aluminum wherefrom is cut the spline segments for mounting on
vertical posts;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a corner post of square
cross-section showing one end of a horizontal rail affixed thereto
in a manner indicated by the phantom view of the components adapted
to be afixed to the adjacent face of the corner post, for
supporting the end of another rail;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, with certain parts in
elevation, of the completed connections of the horizontal rails to
the corner post shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of an intermediate post, with
the spline segments connected to the opposite faces thereof, for
supporting the horizontal rail sections adapted to extend from the
opposite faces of the post;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a continuous
aluminum extrusion wherefrom is cut spline segments for mounting on
the vertical posts;
FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, with certain parts in
elevation, of a vertical post which supports spline segments of the
type illustrated in FIG. 6, at the right portion, and a spline as
shown in the preceding figures, in dotted lines, in the left
portion, for supporting panels extending in obtuse directions;
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view along line 8--8 of FIG. 1,
illustrating the mounting of a panel between the intermediate and
bottom rails of the railing section in the right portion of FIG.
1;
FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a picket rail assembly along
line 9--9 of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 10 to 13 are sectional views of different extruded metal
pickets of rectangular outline, each comprising two parallel sides
displaced from each other;
FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the picket shown in FIG. 9,
illustrating the ends thereof;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the mode of interconnecting
vertical pickets of the type shown in FIG. 10, with a picket rail
as shown at the bottom of FIG. 9; and
FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view along line 16--16 of FIG.
9.
In the drawings is shown a metallic railing system for enclosing
balconies, porches, patios and the like, the components of which
are formed of metallic extrusions of aluminum or other ductile
metals. The fabricated extruded aluminum sections, especially the
supporting posts and rails, are assembled quickly with bolt and
screw fasteners, with the elimination of welding procedures and the
consequent labor costs. The fasteners which are employed in the
railing system in accordance with the invention are fabricated of
aluminum or stainless steel to eliminate any corrosive effects
resulting from outdoor exposure.
The alloys which are employed are generally designated in the
industry as 6063 T5, 6005 T5, or 6061 T6, and these may be
fabricated for both anodized and painted finishes. The castings
employed in the system are fabricated of alloy 214 or 356.
As shown in FIG. 1, the railing system in accordance with the
invention lends itself for construction on a balcony floor F of
concrete, which is prepared for mounting the railing system in
accordance with the invention by providing cupped openings at
predetermined points of the floor, of a depth of approximately 4
inches, and 3 inches in diameter, for receiving a hardenable cement
or other mixtures to securely fix the several vertical supporting
posts within the floor at displaced points along the latter.
As shown in the drawing, the railing comprises a corner post P at
one end of the floor for mounting vertically displaced horizontal
picket rails R which extend in directions perpendicular to each
other, and intermediate posts P' for supporting horizontal picket
rails in opposite directions along the length of the balcony. The
particular contour of the balcony floor accommodates a pair of
intermediate posts P" which support intermediate and bottom rails
which extend at obtuse angles of 135.degree. in order to complete
the enclosure of the railing system. The end posts p adjacent to
the building are set within the floor and are affixed to the
building wall in a manner well known in the art and are fitted with
spline connections to support the rail terminals in the same manner
as the latter are supported in the balance of the balcony
system.
The rugged and strong connection between the end posts, corner
posts and intermediate posts, and the horizontal picket rails which
extend therebetween, is attained by the provision of special spline
segments of extruded aluminum which are produced in continuous
lengths and sheared into segments of predetermined depth for secure
mounting against one or more faces of the vertical posts, whereupon
they serve as supports for the ends of the picket rails. Thus, in
FIG. 2 is shown the extruded aluminum splines S which may be cut
from a length of extruded aluminum alloy of 20 feet, into
individual lengths L, for mounting on one or more faces of the
extruded aluminum posts, which are suitably reenforced by internal
webs, and which are formed with longitudinal slots for permitting
the mounting of the splines at desired points along the length
thereof. In addition, both the splines and posts are extruded with
integral open cylindrical channels of curved cross-section, which
serve as arcuate openings for receiving self-tapping screws for
affixing the additional components of the assembly cooperating
therewith.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lengths L may be five-eights inch, and are
adapted to be cut and set into the position shown in FIG. 3 by
seating the face 3 thereof against the face 10 of the post P
containing the slot 14 extending longitudinally thereof along its
medial axis. The cross-section of the post P is preferably square,
2 inches on each side, with the slots on the faces 10 and 10' being
approximately five-sixteenths inch in width. The face 3 is provided
with ribs 2 at the central portion thereof in order to guide the
seating of the spline S within the longitudinal slots extending
along the central axes of the faces 10 and 10'.
Each spline is formed with a channel 4 on the face thereof opposite
the seating face 3, and enlargements 5 extending from each side
thereof project outwardly from the center of the spline to the
flanges 6 wherefrom the overhangs 7 are contoured to form curved
channels 8,8'. These channels are in the form of open cylindrical
passges of metal of approximately 300.degree.. An open sector of
about 60.degree., permits easy extrusion while leaving about
300.degree. as a screw boss for engagement with the threaded bits
of the screw fasteners. Thus, there is present sufficient metal to
form a biting engagement with fastening screws 27, which extend
through punched openings 26 in the horizontal rail R, to affix the
latter to the supporting face 1 of the spline after it is rigidly
fastened to the supporting post.
The splines S may be fastened to the posts in different ways.
The preferred mode of attachment of the splines is shown in FIGS. 3
and 4. In this embodiment the spline element is bored mid-way of
its length in the channeled groove 4 to permit a bolt 22 to be
extended therethrough with the interposition of a washer 21
spanning the shoulders 5,5' of the spline. The spline is seated at
the mid-portion of the face 10 of the corner post P by means of the
ribs 2 which engage the edges of the longitudinal slot 14 at the
center of the post 10. A nut 23 of stainless steel, having a
threaded central opening 24, is disposed in the interior of the
post behind the longitudinal slot 14 for receiving the threaded end
of the bolt 22, and the surface 25 adjacent the slot is roughened
by serrations, knurling and the like, so that the relative turning
of the bolt within the nut effects a secure connection between the
spline member and the post, leaving the main portion of the spline
with its top susrface 1 in position to support the end of the rail
R thereon. The rail R, which is also formed of extruded aluminum,
may have the openings 26 bored therein at the factory, for these,
of necessity, must be in alignment with cylindrical passages or
screw bosses 8,8' in the spline, to interconnect the rail with the
post.
As stated above, the extruded aluminum post P may be 2 inches
square in cross-section, with the spline surface 1 being slightly
shorter in order to enable the picket rail to be supported by the
spline with the outer surface of the rail disposed in a common
plane with the adjacent face of the post.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a second picket rail R' may be affixed
to the face 10' of the corner post, provided with a longitudinal
slot 14' by a second bolt 22 with the washer 21 on the outer side
of the spline, and the threaded nut 23 on the interior of the post
for interconnecting the other rail section R' in the direction
perpendicular to the first, with the outer faces of the rails
coincident with the smooth faces 11 and 12 of the corner post
P.
The extrusion of the corner post P is designed to provide open
cylindrical channels 16 at different parts thereof in order to
accommodate screw fasteners for top clips and top rails for the
post. These serve the additional function of reenforcing the core
of the post in conjunction with the reenforcing webs 15 which
extend therethrough between the different faces of the post.
In the case of the intermediate posts P', individual bolt fasteners
for affixing the individual splines S to the opposite faces of the
posts may be employed in the same manner illustrated in FIG. 4 for
the individual mounting of the splines on the faces 10 and 10'
extending perpendicularly to each other. On the other hand, a
single bolt may be employed to connect the splines to the opposite
faces of the post P' as shown in FIG. 5. The medial reenforcing web
35 of the post P' is drilled at 36 to accomodate a long bolt 32
having a head 37 at one end and threads 38 at the opposite end, so
that the bolt can be passed through one of the splines and
reenforcing web 35 through the opposite wall of the post and the
spline device at the opposite end, whereat it is engaged by the
fastening nut 34 with the washer 33 adjacent it. Thus, a single
bolt and nut serves to interconnect the post with two splines for
supporting the picket rails extending from the opposite faces of
the post, which are fastened thereto by self-tapping screws
engaging openings 8 and 8', similar to those shown in FIG. 2.
The intermediate post P' is similarly extruded with open
cylindrical channels 39 for receiving therein self-tapping screws
which serve to affix additional components such as webs, ornamental
caps, and the like, to the fence post.
FIG. 7 illustrates a different style of post for supporting rails
extending at angles other than 90.degree. or 180.degree. to each
other, and this angularity can be varied in dependence upon the
directions sought to be attained for the mountings of the rails.
The reenforcing web 41 may be in a straight plane extending from
the inner and outer corners of the post, or this reenforcing web
may assume different contours as the same in directed and/or
branched towards the slotted faces of the post, in which case the
web would assume the form of a Y-section or T-section. These
internal webs reenforce the load-bearing properties of the posts,
but these are beyond the purview of the instant invention.
The faces 10a and 10b of the extruded posts P", to which the
splines are designed to be connected, are slotted longitudinally,
as described above. In the case of face 10a, spline S, in dotted
lines, is shown connected thereto by a bolt and nut assembly, as
described above, and as shown in detail in FIG. 4. The same type of
spline may be affixed to the other face 10b. On the other hand, a
different type of spline S' may be affixed to the post and FIG. 7
illustrates this mounting at face 10b of the latter. These
mountings may be used interchangeably, and FIG. 8 illustrates a
spline S affixed to the lower end of the post P" and spline S' to
the upper portion of the post.
FIG. 6 illustrates the extruded length from which the spline
segments S' are severed. While the main portions of the body of the
splines S' are contoured similarly to those shown in FIGS. 2 to 5,
with the main surface 3' adapted to abut the vertical surface of
the post, a bulbous projection 40 extends from the center of the
vertical surface 3' which is adapted to be slid along the slot 14
of the supporting post and to be affixed along said slot by a
frictional fit as the narrowed section of the protuberance engages
the opposite edges of the longitudinal slot 14b. Such splines may
be used for mounting the picket rails at multiple levels, or may be
used in conjunction with splines which are fixed by bolts as shown
in FIGS. 3 to 5, and at the bottom of FIG. 8. The latter
illustrates an advantageous arrangement for the mounting of sheet
panels between upper and lower rails 45 and 46, the latter of which
is supported by splines which are fastened by bolts, as shown in
FIG. 4, while the rail 45 is affixed to splines S' of the character
shown in FIG. 6 and at the right of FIG. 7. The panels 48 rest
within the slots 45' and 46' of rails 45 and 46, respectively,
disposed between sloping surfaces of said rails remote from the
opposite planar faces which receive the fastening screws 27. These
panels may extend within the longitudinal slots of any of the posts
described above to reenforce the connections between the
components.
The railing system in accordance with the invention lends itself
ideally to the use of pickets of extruded aluminum which may be
interconnected with upper and lower rails to attain a tight
interengagement therewith comparable to welded structures. Such
pickets may assume different contours of closed perimetric section
of either rectangular or square cross-section as shown in FIGS. 10
and 11, respectively, or they may be of open section as shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13, so long as they present two parallel sides
displaced from each other with some connection therebetween at an
outer edge or at an intermediate web therebetween, as shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13. In FIGS. 10, 14 and 15, the parallel sides 50,
which are spaced from each other about three-fourths inch by the
end walls 51, terminate in trapezoidally-shaped tongues 52. The
sides of the latter have a slight symmetrical inclination from
about 0.400 inch at the juncture line of the tongue and picket base
of 1 inch, and 0.350 inch at the free end of the tongue.
Similar tongue extensions 52' may be provided on the 1 inch square
pickets defined by rectangularly extending walls 50' and 51', as
shown in FIG. 11.
The tongues 52" in FIGS. 12 and 13, project from the parallel side
walls 50", which are integrated by transverse walls 55 and 56, at
intermediate points and ends of the side walls 52", respectively.
The picket extrusions shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 may include
reenforcement channels of open cylindrical formation of the nature
described above.
The picket rails, with the integrated pickets therebetween, are
designed to be mounted on the splines affixed to the posts in the
manner described above. The secure connection between the vertical
pickets and the horizontal rails are effected by inserting the
above-mentioned trapezoidally-shaped tongues on the pickets into
parallel slots 60 in the rail surface 61, which slots are displaced
correspondingly, and which are designed to receive the tongues with
a close fit especially at the ultimate junction point between the
bases of the trapezoidal tongues and the picket sides. Preferably,
the bases of the tongues are slightly longer than the slots to
attain a swaged connection between the parts in consequence of the
bending of the tongues. The wedge fit between these tongues and the
slot is so tight that when the tongues are bent transversely on the
inner face of the rails, as shown in FIG. 16, the fit therebetween
is equivalent to a swaged engagement between the parts, which
clamps the end of the vertical picket to the horizontal rail. The
shouldered ends of the parallel sides of the picket adjacent to the
base of the trapezoidal tongues serve to hide the slots 60 and the
joint between the parts, which complement the engagement
therebetween. Also, the picket railing may be channeled, as shown
in FIG. 15, so that the swaged engagement between the pickets and
rail is clear and above the space for seating the spline into which
is threaded the fastening screws 27 (FIG. 9).
As shown in FIG. 9, a clip C, of limited length, such as 4", or a
continuous length of an extrusion of similar section, is adapted to
be affixed to the top of the posts P' as well as the others by
means of Phillips head self-tapping screws 27 engaging the open
cylindrical channels 16 in the interior of the vertical posts.
These clips are provided with camming flanges 65 onto which is
snapped lengths of top rails of any desired sectional outlines.
* * * * *