Mechanical connection device for assembling a railing

A device for connecting, in a railing, one end of a generally elongated rail member to a hollow post formed with a slot therein, comprising:

• first and second substantially flat sections separated by a pair of lateral shoulders;
• said first section to be secured to said one end of the rail member;
• and
• said second section comprising between said lateral shoulders an outer semicircular edge surface extending over more than 180.degree. and being formed with a hole defining an inner semicircular edge surface generally concentric with said outer semicircular edge surface, said second section to be inserted in said slot so that said second section extends at least partially inside said hollow post for enabling insertion, from the inside of said hollow post, of a fastener in said hole, said fastener resting on both said inner semicircular edge surface and an inner surface of said hollow post to secure said second section in said slot and therefore said one end of the rail member to the hollow post.

A system for connecting one end of a generally elongated member to a hollow member, comprising:

• a slot in said hollow member;
• a connection device including first and second substantially flat sections separated by a pair of lateral shoulders, said first section secured to said on end of the elongated member, and said second section comprising between said lateral shoulders and outer semicircular edge surface extending over more than 180.degree. and being formed with a hole defining an inner semicircular edge surface generally concentric with said outer semicircular edge surface, said second section inserted in said slot to extend at least partially inside said hollow member;
• and
• a fastener mounted in said hole to rest on both said inner semicircular edge surface and an inner surface of said hollow member to thereby secure said second section in said slot and therefore said one end of the elongated member to said hollow member.

A system for connecting, in a railing, one end of a generally elongated rail member to a hollow post, comprising:

• a slot in said hollow post;
• a connection device including first and second substantially flat sections separated by a pair of lateral shoulders, said first section secured to said one end of the rail member, and said second section comprising between said lateral shoulders and outer semicircular edge surface extending over more than 180.degree. and being formed with a hole defining an inner semicircular edge surface generally concentric with said outer semicircular edge surface, said second section inserted in said slot to extend at least partially inside said hollow post;
• and
• a fastener mounted in said hole to rest on both said inner semicircular edge surface and an inner surface of said hollow post to thereby secure said second section in said slot and therefore said one end of the rail member to said hollow post.