Handrail assembly

A knockdown handrail assembly comprising:

• at least one vertically oriented support stanchion having a hollow interior, said stanchion including a tubular plastic sheath and a tubular metal post defining an open upper end, said tubular plastic sheath having an inside dimension and an outside dimension, said tubular metal post having an outside dimension less than or equal to said inside dimension of said tubular plastic sheath, said tubular plastic sheath having at least one aperture thorough both sides of said tubular plastic sheath, said tubular metal post having at least one aperture through both sides of said tubular metal post, said tubular metal post being located in said tubular plastic sheath such that said apertures in said tubular plastic sheath and said tubular metal post align with each other, said stanchion further including a base at a lower end thereof and a receiving cup on said base, said receiving cup opening into said metal post;
• a top horizontal rail having a top plastic pipe and a top metal pipe, said top plastic pipe having an inside dimension and an outside dimension, said top metal pipe having an outside dimension less than or equal to said inside dimension of said top plastic pipe, said top plastic pipe having at least one aperture through both sides of said top plastic pipe, said top metal pipe having at least one aperture through both sides of said top metal pipe, said top metal pipe being located in said top plastic pipe such that said apertures in said respective pipes align with each other, said top horizontal rail extending through said aperture of said stanchion whereby said aligned apertures of said top horizontal rail are vertically oriented within said stanchion after placement of said rail in said stanchion;
• a retaining rod positioned within said stanchion, said retaining rod having an upper end and a lower end, said retaining rod being removably fitted into said aligned apertures of said horizontal rail with said lower end disposed within said receiving cup, whereby said retaining rod maintains said top horizontal rail in position in said stanchion and remains accessible from outside said rail assembly through said upper end and said hollow interior of said stanchion for easy removal of said retaining rod after placement of said retaining rod in said stanchion and fitting of said retaining rod into said aligned apertures and without removal of said top horizontal rail;
• an end plate fixed to said upper end of said retaining rod, said end plate dimensioned to fit the interior of said stanchion;
• and
• an end cap disposed within and covering the open upper end of said stanchion.