Baluster connector

A connector for a railing system having a plurality of balusters disposed between an upper rail and a lower rail, the connector connecting a baluster to one of the upper and lower rails, the connector comprising:

• a base having a periphery and a central opening therein extending between a first surface and a second surface in an opposed relationship with the first surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are positioned at an inclined angle with respect to one another;
• and
• a retaining member having a mounting portion defining a central axis and configured to mount an end of a baluster at one end along the central axis, and an interengaging member at an opposite end configured to be rotatably mounted to the base in juxtaposition with respect to the second surface of the base, wherein the retaining member has a central aperture extending along the central axis between the mounting portion and the interengaging member at the opposite end thereof;
• wherein the second surface and the interengaging member comprise planar inclined surfaces which rotate relative to each other about the central axis between a horizontal position and an inclined position;
• wherein in the horizontal position, the interengaging member and the base form an axial relationship corresponding to an angle for the upper and lower rails in a horizontal orientation, and in the inclined position, the interengaging member and the base form an inclined relationship corresponding to an angle for the upper and lower rails on a inclined staircase;
• wherein, in both the horizontal position and the inclined position, the central axis extends through the central opening at the first and second surfaces of the base;
• and
• wherein in either the horizontal or the inclined relationship, the central opening and central aperture are aligned to receive a screw, with the screw extending along the central axis to allow the screw to be passed through the central opening in the base and the central aperture in the retaining member to mount the base and the retaining member to the upper or lower rail;
• wherein the central aperture of the retaining member comprises a tapered screw seat at the end of the central aperture corresponding to the interengaging member, wherein the tapered screw seat tapers toward the base and is configured to engage a tapered head of the screw extending along the central axis and through the base.

A kit comprising:

• only a single fastener;
• and
• a connector for a railing system having a plurality of balusters disposed between an upper rail and a lower rail, the connector connecting a baluster to one of the upper and lower rails, the connector comprising:
• a base having a periphery and a central opening therein extending between a first surface and a second surface in an opposed relationship with the first surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are positioned at an inclined angle with respect to one another;
• and
• a retaining member having a mounting portion defining a central axis and configured to mount an end of a baluster at one end along the central axis, and an interengaging member at an opposite end configured to be rotatably mounted to the base in juxtaposition with respect to the second surface of the base, wherein the retaining member has a central aperture extending along the central axis between the mounting portion and the interengaging member at the opposite end thereof;
• wherein the second surface and the interengaging member comprise planar inclined surfaces which rotate relative to each other about the central axis between a horizontal position and an inclined position;
• wherein in the horizontal position, the interengaging member and the base form an axial relationship corresponding to an angle for the upper and lower rails in a horizontal orientation, and in the inclined position, the interengaging member and the base form an inclined relationship corresponding to an angle for the upper and lower rails on a inclined staircase;
• wherein, in both the horizontal position and the inclined position, the central axis extends through the central opening at the first and second surfaces of the base;
• and
• wherein in either the horizontal or the inclined relationship, the central opening and central aperture are aligned to receive the single fastener, with the single fastener extending along the central axis and passing through the central opening in the base and the central aperture in the retaining member to mount the base and the retaining member to the upper or lower rail.