Rail-to-post mounting bracket
AssigneeErwin Industries, Inc.
InventorRonald D. Erwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molded bracket for attaching a plastic rail to a plastic post. The bracket comprises outwardly extending fastener bosses for attaching the bracket to a post and providing the bracket with added support. The bracket further comprises a peripheral wall defining a shaped receptacle for receiving the end of a rail therein. The outwardly extending fastener bosses allow the bracket to be fastened to upright posts and to provide against vertical, horizontal and rotational movement.
Claims20
A bracket for use with fasteners for attaching a rail to a post, comprising:
- a peripheral wall defining a rail receptacle adapted to be correspondingly shaped to a cross-sectional shape of the rail, and adapted for receiving an end of the rail within said rail receptacle;
- and
- a plurality of fastener flanges extending outwardly from said peripheral wall for attaching said bracket to the post using fasteners, wherein said fastener flanges each have a rear surface, a front surface with a first portion that is angled relative to said fastener flange rear surface, and a mounting throughhole defined through said fastener flange rear surface and front surface first portion and angled relative to said peripheral wall.
A bracket for use with fasteners for attaching a rail to a post, comprising:
- a panel having a front surface and a rear surface;
- a peripheral wall extending forwardly from said panel, said peripheral wall defining a rail receptacle having a profile adapted to correspond to a cross-sectional shape of the rail and adapted for receiving an end of the rail therewithin;
- a plurality of fastener bosses positioned along said peripheral wall and protruding therefrom for fastening said bracket to the post;
- and
- a plurality of spacers extending from said front surface of said panel, wherein said spacers provide a gap between said panel and an end of the rail when inserted in said rail receptacle.
A molded, one-piece bracket for use with fasteners for attaching a rectangular rail to a post, comprising:
- a panel having a front surface and a rear surface;
- a rectangular peripheral wall extending forwardly from said front surface of said panel, said peripheral wall defining a rectangular rail receptacle having a profile adapted to correspond to a rectangular cross-sectional shape of the rail, and adapted for receiving an end of the rail therewithin;
- and
- four fastener bosses positioned along said peripheral wall and protruding laterally therefrom for fastening said bracket to the post, wherein pairs of said fastener bosses are located on opposing sides of said peripheral wall, and wherein said fastener bosses each have a rear surface that is parallel with said panel rear surface, a front surface with a first portion that is angled relative to said fastener boss rear surface, and a fastener bore defined through said fastener boss rear surface and front surface first portion that is angled relative to said peripheral wall;
- and
- a plurality of spacers extending forwardly from said front surface of said panel, wherein said spacers provide a gap between said panel and an end of the rail when inserted therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.