Fences – Rail – Connection
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-10-30
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Fences
Rail
Connection
C256S066000, C403S187000, C403S192000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308937
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to railing systems, and in particular, relates to a connection system for connecting railings to upright posts.
There are a number of railing systems which attempt to provide a simple railing for use in association with decks and porches, and angled railings for stairs. Many systems use ports provided in plastic extruded vertical posts, which ports are sized to receive the end of an extruded railing. These ports are typically provided in the upright posts at the time of manufacture and many different posts are required for different configurations. In other systems the user roughly cuts a port in the post and an insert is located in the rough opening for finishing the surface about the port. Systems of this type reduce the number of specialized posts required, however, the difficulty in installing the system increases as the user must determine the position of ports and cut the ports.
It is also known to have fittings with exterior collars which are applied over the ends of the rails. These fittings are mechanically secured to the outside of the post. Other proposed systems use a plug type insert which is mechanically connected to the outside post and the rail slides over and locks with the plug member. The various types of connectors typically require some sort of mechanical screw type fastening of the components which can reduce the visual appearance of a product with plug type connecting systems. It is critical to cut the rails precisely to achieve the desired visual appearance and as such, the installation is more difficult. Rails cut off at an incorrect angle or cut too short, seriously detract from the appearance of the installed product.
With these types of systems, the rails and posts are of an extruded vinyl material and can include metal reinforcing placed in the length of the railings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A connector for a tubular rail according to the present invention includes a generally flat base with passageways therein through which a mechanical fastener can pass for securing of the connector. An exterior collar extends from one side of the base and is sized for receiving the end of a rail in close engagement with the collar. The collar cooperates with an insert positioned next to the collar to define a gap therebetween into which the open end of the tubular rail is inserted. With this arrangement the rail is trapped and snugly engaged by the collar and/or the insert.
According to an aspect of the invention the collar extends outwardly from said base at least one inch.
According to a further aspect of the invention the gap is of a depth of at least one inch and narrows from an open end of the collar towards the base.
According to an aspect of the invention the insert is an inside collar and the gap is defined between the inside collar and the exterior collar.
According to an aspect of the invention the base about each passageway includes bosses shaped for engaging and retaining against rotation the head of a bolt.
According to a further aspect of the invention the base on a side thereof opposite the exterior collar includes a small peripheral shoulder extending about the base for engaging a planar surface to which said collar is to be secured.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3520561 (1970-07-01), Rininger
patent: 4386870 (1983-06-01), Baroody
patent: 4541600 (1985-09-01), Vieglins
patent: 4648517 (1987-03-01), Schafer
patent: 4697949 (1987-10-01), Perez
patent: 4737047 (1988-04-01), Oshita
patent: 4786203 (1988-11-01), Conner et al.
patent: 5931598 (1999-08-01), Wang
Browne Lynne H.
GSW Inc.
Hutton Doug
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