Fences – Rail – Connection
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-27
2001-10-09
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Fences
Rail
Connection
C256S019000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299142
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to plastic post and railing systems which use components of extruded rigid plastics materials and of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,540,160, 4,722,514, 4,809,955, 5,161,783 and 5,651,534. In any such system, it is desirable for the vertical posts and the horizontal rails to provide high strength and durability in addition to a clean and neat appearance with no maintenance. It is also desirable for the system to be designed for rapid and convenient installation with a minimum number of components and fasteners while also using economically produced components. While some of these features are provided by some of the systems disclosed in the above patents, none of the systems provide all of the desirable features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved post and railing system which provides all of the desirable features and advantages mentioned above including high strength and durability with no maintenance, easy and rapid assembly and a clean and neat appearance which may be easily modified. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a series of horizontally spaced vertical posts each has a square extruded plastic outer sleeve which slides over a tubular metal square reinforcing post having outwardly and downwardly projecting tabs or barbs for positively securing the outer sleeve. The lower end portion of each metal reinforcing post has a keyhole slot and a bottom vertical slot within each side wall for receiving and securing threaded fasteners preassembled to a supporting frame.
Upper and lower rails extend between two posts, and each rail includes an extruded plastic tubular body which also defines a longitudinal extending open cavity. A U-shaped steel reinforcing channel extends within the tubular body of the lower rail, and a similar inverted U-shaped channel extends within the body of the upper rail. The opposite end portions of each rail body and its enclosed reinforcing channel extend into corresponding openings within the vertical posts, and a series of horizontally spaced vertical spindles have upper and lower end portions which project into the corresponding plastic rail bodies and metal reinforcing channels. The upwardly facing cavity within the upper rail body is covered by an extruded plastic rail cap which extends between the sleeves of the two posts and has longitudinally extending snap clips which engage opposing flanges or lips at the top of the cavity. The downwardly facing cavity within the lower rail body is adapted to receive an optional lighting strip. Opposite end portions of the upper and lower rail bodies have outwardly projecting tabs or barbs which snap-fit into the post sleeves and retain the end portions of the rails within the posts.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3822053 (1974-07-01), Daily
patent: 4107767 (1978-08-01), Anquetin
patent: 4389134 (1983-06-01), Colas
patent: 4439818 (1984-03-01), Scheib
patent: 4540160 (1985-09-01), Zanavich et al.
patent: 4722514 (1988-02-01), Pettit
patent: 4809955 (1989-03-01), Veilleux
patent: 4892434 (1990-01-01), Miller
patent: 5161783 (1992-11-01), German
patent: 5581868 (1996-12-01), Bisch
patent: 5601278 (1997-02-01), Graber
patent: 5651534 (1997-07-01), Yoder
patent: 6017019 (2000-01-01), Erwin
patent: 6131888 (2000-10-01), Brown
Chaney Michael T.
Hauberg Jonathan C.
Siudzinski Paul A.
Browne Lynne H.
Dayton Technologies, L.L.C.
Jacox Meckstroth & Jenkins
Walsh John B.
LandOfFree
Post and railing system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Post and railing system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Post and railing system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2562477