CA1213767A - Stairs and balcony railing - Google Patents

Stairs and balcony railing

Info

Publication number
CA1213767A
CA1213767A CA000446867A CA446867A CA1213767A CA 1213767 A CA1213767 A CA 1213767A CA 000446867 A CA000446867 A CA 000446867A CA 446867 A CA446867 A CA 446867A CA 1213767 A CA1213767 A CA 1213767A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
rail
posts
pickets
facing slot
bottom rail
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000446867A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Domenico Murdaca
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000446867A priority Critical patent/CA1213767A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1213767A publication Critical patent/CA1213767A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04FFINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F11/00Stairways, ramps, or like structures; Balustrades; Handrails
    • E04F11/18Balustrades; Handrails
    • E04F11/181Balustrades

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A stair and balcony railing are disclosed made from extruded aluminum sections. The hand rail snaps together without requiring screws or rivets and has a minimum number of standard parts. The assembly comprises a one piece top rail having a cross section with curved top surface and a downward facing slot, the slot having side serrations along the length of the rail, a bottom rail having the same cross section as the top rail but reversed to have an upward facing slot, pickets are pro-vided with grooves adjacent top and bottom picket ends, which snap into the upward and downward facing slots, posts positioned between a number of pickets with a top end that snaps into the downward facing slot of the top rail and extending through an aperture in the bottom rail to a support means, and cover clip portions snapped into the upward facing slot of the bottom rail between the pickets and posts.

Description

The present invention relates to a stair and balcony railin~. More specifically, the present invention provides a hand railing formed from a minimum number of alu~num extruded parts which snap together to form a strong hand rail assembly.
There are many types of handrail assemblies made out of metal and wood available on the market today. Metal handrails have been available for some time, those made out of aluminum are generally made from extruded aluminum sections, however they invariably have two and three alum-inum sections in the top handrail and several more in the bottom rail to lock the pickets and posts in place. Further-more, in many cases it is necessary to punch ho~es in some of these aluminum sections as at predetermined spacings along the top and bottom rails in order for the pickets and posts to be assembled~ In some cases, screw~ or rivets are needed to assemble the handrail and this requires additional components which increase costs as well as assembly time.
It is one aim of the present invention to provide a handrail assembly which has a minimum number of parts and has no screws or rivets. The minimum parts are all extruded aluminum, the top rail requires no holes punched therein and the bottom rail requires holes only for posts but not for pickets. To provide maximum flexibility of the components, the pickets and posts may be positioned at any desired location along the top and bottom rails. Furthermore, the pickets and posts snap permanently into slots and the top and bottom rails and cover clips snap permanently into exposed sections of the slot between the pickets and posts in the bottom rail.
The present invention provides a hand railing assembly comprising a one piece top rail in the form of an aluminum extrusion having a cross section with a curved top surface and a downward facing slot, the slot having side serrations extending along the length of the rail, a bottom rail formed from a substant;.ally similar aluminum extrusion reversed to :. ~

37~7~

have a curved lower surface and an upward facing slot, pickets being rectangular in cross section, having grooves adjacent top and bottom picket ends, the top picket ends snap fitting in the downward facing slot oE the top rail, the bottom picket ends snap fitting in the upward facing slot of -the bottom rail, with -the side serra-tions of -the top rail and the bottom rail engaging with the grooves adjacent the bottom and top picket ends to hold the picke-ts between the top rail and the bottom rail, posts positioned between a predetermined number of pickets, the posts being rectangular in cross section and having grooves adjacent top post end, the top post ends snap fitting in the downward facing slot of the top rail with the side serrations of the top rail engaging with the grooves adjacent top post end to hold the posts to the top rail, the posts extending through and engaging an aperture in the bottom rail down to a supporting means, and cover clip portions snapping into the upward facing slot of the bottom rail between adjacent pickets and posts, acting as spacers to space the pickets and posts apart and covering the upward facing slot of -the bottom rail.
In further embodiments of this invention the one piece top rail may have a cross section whose sides are longer than the bottom rail cross section. Or alternatively tne onepiece toprail and thebottom rail have the same cross sectional shape. In another embodiment the cover clip portions in the upward facing slot of the bottom rail between pickets and posts are all the same length.
In a still further embodiment two posts are spaced apart with no pickets therebetween, and panel support strips are included snapped into the upward facing slot of the bottom rail and the downward facing slot of the top rail between the two pos-ts, with a panel, preferably a clear plastic sheet, supported by the panerl support clips between the two posts.
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing one embodiment of a hand railing assembly of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the hand railing shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an end view of the hand railing shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken at line 4-4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken at line 5-5 of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 showrL on the same page of drawings as Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a one piece top rail, Fig. 7 is a front elevational view showing another embodimen-t of the hand railing showing a panel replacing the pickets, Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken at line 8-8 of Fig. 7.
Referring now to the drawings, Figs.l, 2 and 3 show a hand railing assembly having a top rail 10 and a bottom rail 11. As can be seen in the drawings, the top rail 10 and the bottom rail 11 are both formed from the same aluminum extrusion. The top rail has a curved top surface 12 and a downward facing slot 13 and the bottom rail 11 has the extrusion rel~ersed from the top rail 10, with a curved lower surface 14 and an upward facing slot 15. Pickets 16 are located between the downward facing slot 13 of the top rail 10 and the upward facing slot 15 of the bottom rail 11. Details of the installation will be described here-after. Posts 17 spaced every so often in the hand railing assembly between a predetermined number of pickets 16, the posts 17 extend down through the bottom rail 11 and have a foot 18 which supports the assembly. Cover clip portions 19 fit into the upward facing slot 15 in the bottom rail 14 between the pickets 16 and posts 17.

..1 ~, qa lr Details of the assembly arrangement between the pickets 16 and t.he top rail 10 and the bottom rail 11 are shown in Fig. 4. The downward facing slot 13 in the top rail 10 which is similar to the upward :Eacing slot 15 in the bottom rail 11, has a side serration 20 on each side of the slot 17. The serrations 20 have notches ~1 extending in from the opening of the slot 13.
The slot 13 has sides 22 extending in from the opening of the slot 13 t:erminatinc3 at flanges 23 across the end of the slot 13. The flanges 23 have raised portions 24 extending towards the opening of the slot 13 with sloping faces and notched ends 25 serving two purposes which will be described hereafter.
The pickets 16 preferably have a rectangular cross section, by the word rectangular this could mean a square cross section, and may be formed from sol.id or tubular material preferably aluminum. The pickets 16 have grooves 30 cut adjacent to the top and bottom ends posi-tioned so thatwhen the ends are pushed into either the downward facing slot 13 of the -top rail 10 or the upwards facing slot 15 of the bottom rail 11, the picket end rests on the notched ends 25 inside the slots 13 and 15 and the serrations 20 Oll the sides 22 of the slots 13 and 15 fit into these grooves 30 adjacent the ends of the pickets 16.
Cover clip portions 19 fit into the upward facingslot 15 of the bottom rail 11 between pickets 16 and posts 17.
The cover clip portion 19 has a top surface 40 curved to match the shape of the top surface of the bottom rail 11 adjacent to the slot 15 to provide a smooth contoured surface and preventing dirt etc. from entering the slot 15. The clip portion 19 has flanges 41 which extend down from each side of the top surface 40 and have tapered ends 42 each with a step to engage with the notched end 25 of the upward facing slot 15 and thus hold the cover clip portion 19 firmly in place. Side protrusions 43 beneath each end of the top surface 40 of the clip portion 19 extend into the notches 21 of the slot 15 to provide a solid and firm assembly.
To assemble the unit, a special oval shaped tool (not shown) is inserted into the upward facing slot 15 of the bot-tom rail 11, or the downward facing slot 13 of the top rail 10, adjacent to where the picket is to be located. The oval tool is rotated so that the s]ot is distorted and widened allowing the end of -the picket 16 to be inserted therein. The oval tool is then rotated again so that the slots 13 and 15 close and the serrations 20 grip the picket ends to hold it firmly in place. The cover clip portions 19 are merely pushed into the upward facing slots 15 where the tapered ends 42 engage with the notched ends 25 of the slots 13 and 15. Once the cover clip portion 19 is installed, it is a permanent install-ation and cannot be removed without damage. A detail of the assembly arrangement between the post 17, and the top rail 10 and the bottom rail 11 is shown in Fig. 5.The post 17 is preferably rectangular in cross section and is generally wider than the pickets 16. The top end 50 of the post 17 is c~t down to exactly fit into the downward facing slot 13 of the top rail 10 so that it becomes the same shape as the end of a picket 16 and has grooves 51 which engage with the serrations 20 on the sides 22 of the downward facing slot 13. An aperture 52 is cut in the bottom rail 11 through which the post 17 fits. As illustrated in F~g. 5, the post 17 is a reasonably tight fit in the aperature 52 and this is the only aperature that has to be cut in the bottom rail 11. The post 17 may be solid or tubular and extends down the foot 18 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
A different arrangement of a top rail 10 is shown in Fig. 6 which has higher or taller sides 60 -than the type of rail shown in the other drawings. The curved top surface ~3'~

12 and the downward facing slot 13 are the same as the other configuration of rail and this configuration couId be used for the top rail 10 only as it is primarily concerned with providing a large hand grip or it may be used for the top rail 10 and the bo-ttom rail 11 providing a more substantial hand railing assembly.
Screw holes 61 are shown in the corners of the rail cross section to allow an end panel to be screwed in place. In the smaller rail, a snap in end panel may be used at the ends.
Figs. 7 and 8 show another arrangement wherein the pickets 16 normally located between the posts 17 are replaced with a panel 70. The panel may be a clear plastic sheet, sold under the trade mark PLEXIGLAS, or any other suitable sheet material. Panel support clips 71 as shown in Fig. 8 are provided which snap into the slots on the top rail 10 and the bottom rail 11. The clips 71 are similar in shape to the corner clip portions 19 shown in Fig. 4 but have an opening for a plastic or rubber molding 72 to hold the edge of the panel 70.
Various changes may be made to the specific details illustrated in the figures without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.

Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. Hand railing assembly comprising a one piece top rail in the form of an aluminum extrusion having a cross section with curved top surface and a downward facing slot, the slot having side serrations extending along the length of the rail, a bottom rail formed from a substantially similar aluminum extrusion reversed to have a curved lower surface and an upward facing slot, pickets rectangular in cross section, having grooves adjacent top and bottom picket ends, the top picket ends snap fitting in the downward facing slot of the top rail, the bottom picket ends snap fitting in the upward facing slot of the bottom rail with the side serrations of the top rail and the bottom rail engaging with the grooves adjacent the top and bottom picket ends to hold the pickets between the top rail and the bottom rail, posts positioned between a predetermined number of pickets, the posts being rectangular in cross section and having grooves adjacent top posts ends, the top posts ends snap fitting in the downward facing slot of the top rail with the side serrations of the top rail engaging with the grooves adjacent the top post ends to hold the posts to the top rail, the posts extending through and engaging an aperture in the bottom rail down to a supporting means, and cover clip portions snapping into the upward facing slot of the bottom rail between adjacent pickets and posts, acting as spacers to space the pickets and posts apart and covering the upward facing slot of the bottom rail.
2. The hand railing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the one piece top rail has a cross section whose sides are longer than the bottom rail cross section.
3. The hand railing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the one piece top rail and the bottom rail have the same cross sectional shape.
4. The hand railing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the cover clip portions in the upward facing slot of the bottom rail between pickets and posts are all the same length.
5. The hand railing assembly according to claim 1 wherein two posts are spaced apart with no pickets there-between and including panel support clips snapped into the upward facing slot of the bottom rail and the downward facing slot of the top rail between the two posts with a panel supported by the panel support clips between the two posts.
6. The hand railing assembly according to claim 5 wherein the panel is formed from a clear plastic sheet.
CA000446867A 1984-02-06 1984-02-06 Stairs and balcony railing Expired CA1213767A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000446867A CA1213767A (en) 1984-02-06 1984-02-06 Stairs and balcony railing

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000446867A CA1213767A (en) 1984-02-06 1984-02-06 Stairs and balcony railing

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1213767A true CA1213767A (en) 1986-11-12

Family

ID=4127123

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000446867A Expired CA1213767A (en) 1984-02-06 1984-02-06 Stairs and balcony railing

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1213767A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2611782A1 (en) * 1987-03-06 1988-09-09 Frot Marin Improvements to guard-rails
US5350156A (en) * 1993-03-19 1994-09-27 Ravnald Cote Mechanical connection device for assembling a railing
WO2006119246A2 (en) * 2005-05-03 2006-11-09 Terrels Christopher J Railing assembly with detachable and upgradeable components
US7731160B2 (en) 2007-09-28 2010-06-08 Railing Dynamics, Inc. Post and railing assembly with support bracket covers
US20150247340A1 (en) * 2005-11-30 2015-09-03 Cpg International, Inc. Rail system and method for assembly

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2611782A1 (en) * 1987-03-06 1988-09-09 Frot Marin Improvements to guard-rails
US5350156A (en) * 1993-03-19 1994-09-27 Ravnald Cote Mechanical connection device for assembling a railing
US7744065B2 (en) 2005-05-03 2010-06-29 Railing Dynamics, Inc. Railing assembly with detachable and upgradeable components
WO2006119246A2 (en) * 2005-05-03 2006-11-09 Terrels Christopher J Railing assembly with detachable and upgradeable components
WO2006119246A3 (en) * 2005-05-03 2007-05-24 Christopher J Terrels Railing assembly with detachable and upgradeable components
USD784559S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-04-18 Cpg International Llc Rail
USD787707S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-05-23 Cpg International Llc Rail
USD782697S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-03-28 Cpg International Llc Rail
USD782698S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-03-28 Cpg International Llc Rail
US9611650B1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-04-04 Cpg International Llc Rail system and method for assembly
US10358841B2 (en) * 2005-11-30 2019-07-23 Cpg International Llc Rail system and method for assembly
USD785199S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-04-25 Cpg International Llc Rail
US20150247340A1 (en) * 2005-11-30 2015-09-03 Cpg International, Inc. Rail system and method for assembly
USD788329S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-05-30 Cpg International Llc Post cover
USD797307S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-09-12 Cpg International Llc Rail assembly
USD797953S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-09-19 Cpg International Llc Rail assembly
US9822547B2 (en) 2005-11-30 2017-11-21 Cpg International Llc Rail system and method for assembly
USD807527S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2018-01-09 Cpg International Llc Rail
USD809157S1 (en) 2005-11-30 2018-01-30 Cpg International Llc Rail
US7731160B2 (en) 2007-09-28 2010-06-08 Railing Dynamics, Inc. Post and railing assembly with support bracket covers

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