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US 9,908,207 B2Granted
In-rail connector
OwnerRussell H. Springborninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A railing assembly may include a first railing portion including a first aperture, a second railing portion including a second aperture, a first in-rail connector disposed in the first railing portion, and a second in-rail connector disposed in the second railing portion. A baluster may extend through the first aperture and may be connected to the first in-rail connector The baluster may extend through the second aperture and may be connected to the second in-rail connector.
Claims11
A railing assembly, comprising:
- a first rail portion including a first aperture;
- a second rail portion including a second aperture;
- a first in-rail connector disposed in the first rail portion, wherein the first in-rail connector comprises an elongated body and a projection extending from the elongated body towards the second rail portion;
- a second in-rail connector disposed in the second rail portion, wherein the second in-rail connector comprises an elongated body and a projection extending from the elongated body towards the second rail portion;
- and
- a baluster;
- wherein an upper end of the baluster extends through the first aperture and is frictionally connected to the first in-rail connector by movement of the upper end of the baluster in a direction transverse to the first rail portion, and wherein a lower end of the baluster extends through the second aperture and is frictionally connected to the second in-rail connector by movement of the lower end of the baluster in a direction transverse to the second rail portion.
4 more elements
A method of assembling a railing, the method comprising:
- providing a first rail portion,
- providing a second rail portion,
- providing a first in-rail connector, wherein the first in-rail connector comprises an elongated body and a projection extending from the elongated body towards the second rail portion,
- providing a second in-rail connector, wherein the second in-rail connector comprises an elongated body and a projection extending from the elongated body towards the second rail portion, and
- providing a baluster;
- inserting the first in-rail connector into the first rail portion;
- inserting the second in-rail connector into the second rail portion;
- inserting the baluster through an aperture in the first rail portion;
- securing the baluster to the first in-rail connector without fasteners or tools by pressing the baluster over the projection of the first in-rail connector such that a plurality of hooked projections of the first in-rail connector engage a first plurality of apertures of the baluster;
- inserting the baluster through an aperture in the second rail portion;
- and
- securing the baluster to the second in-rail connector without fasteners or tools by pressing the baluster over the projection of the second in-rail connector such that a plurality of hooked projections of the second in-rail connector engage a second plurality of aperture of the baluster.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.