Patent Application
20220298799
The present disclosure relates generally to rail infill systems, and more particularly relates to anchoring devices, connection features, and the like for use with rail infill system. The rail infill systems may include one or more balusters arranged in any desired orientation, such as horizontally, vertically, or at some angle between horizontal and vertical, and may be used with any desired support member such as a post, column, wall, floor plate, railing, or the like.
A number of connecting devices are available for securing a free end of an elongate member such as a cable or rod/tube to a support structure such as a wall, post, rail, or the like. In one example, a connecting device is formed as a lag screw and is configured to be threaded into the support structure and act as an anchor for attachment of the elongate member to the support structure. In another example, the connecting device wraps around the support structure (e.g., post or rail) to provide connection of the elongate member to the support structure. In a further example, the connecting device extends completely through the support structure and is anchored on an opposite or back side of the support structure.
These known solutions for securing an elongate member to a support structure in an infill system have disadvantages depending on, for example, the shape, size and materials of the support structure and the load requirements for the elongate member. Some support structures are so large in size that it is impractical to wrap a connecting device and/or the elongate member around the support structure. Other support structures have a thickness or material composition that does not permit boring completely through the support structure or extending the connecting device through the support structure.
Opportunities exist for improvements in connecting devices used to secure an elongate member such as a tube or rod to a support structure.
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a rail infill system that includes an elongate baluster, a fitting, a baluster, and a fitting closer. The fitting includes a threaded end and is configured to be secured to an exterior surface of a support member with at least one fastener. The baluster attachment is mounted to an exterior surface of the baluster. The fitting closer is configured to threadably engage the threaded end of the fitting with the baluster attachment interposed there between to provide attachment of the baluster to the fitting. The baluster extends through the fitting closer.
The baluster attachment may include a compression collar or crimp ring. The crimp ring may be fixed to the baluster independent on connection of the fitting closer to the fitting. The compression collar may be fixed to the baluster upon tightening the fitting closer relative to the fitting. The compression collar may be split along its length. The compression collar may include a tapered portion. The fitting closer may have an internal tapered surface that is arranged at a reverse taper relative to the tapered portion of the compression collar. The rail infill system may further include a protection member that provides an interface between the fitting and the support member. The protection member may include a polymer material. The elongate baluster may be a hollow tube or solid rod. The fitting has an angled construction to orient the baluster at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the exterior surface of the support member. The baluster may have a circular cross-sectional shape. The baluster attachment may be mechanically connected at or adjacent to a free end of the baluster.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a rail infill system that includes a fitting having a threaded end and a mounting end, the mounting end configured to be secured to an exterior surface of a support member with at least one fastener, a baluster attachment configured to be mounted to an exterior surface of a baluster, and a fitting closer configured to threadably engage the threaded end of the fitting with the baluster attachment interposed there between. A connection of the fitting closer to the fitting is configured to secure the baluster to the fitting.
The fitting closer may include a pass-through bore, and the baluster may be configured to extend through the pass-through bore. The rail infill system may further include a protection member positioned at the mounting end of the fitting to provide an interface between the fitting and the support member. The threaded end may be arranged at an angle relative to the mounting end. The threaded end may be arranged coaxially with the mounting end.
A further aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method of connecting a baluster to a support structure. The method includes providing a fitting, a baluster attachment, and a fitting closer, the fitting having a threaded end, connecting the fitting to an exterior surface of the support structure with at least one fastener, positioning the baluster attachment on an exterior surface of the baluster, and threadably connecting the fitting closer to the threaded end of the fitting with the baluster attachment interposed between the fitting closer and the fitting to provide attachment of the baluster to the fitting.
Positioning the baluster attachment on the baluster may include crimping the baluster attachment to the baluster. The baluster attachment may include a compression collar, and threadably connecting the fitting closer to the fitting may compress the compression collar onto the baluster. The baluster attachment may be a crimp ring that is fixed to the baluster, and connecting the fitting closer to the fitting may apply an axial force to the baluster.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of examples according to the disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conception and specific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Features which are believed to be characteristic of the concepts disclosed herein, both as to their organization and method of operation, together with associated advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. Each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only, and not as a definition of the limits of the claims.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the embodiments may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label.
While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.
The present disclosure is generally directed to rail infill systems, devices, and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to systems, devices, and methods used to secure a baluster such as a rod, tube or cable to a support structure such as a post, wall, rail, flooring, or the like as part of a rail infill system. One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a rail infill system that provides a secure connection of a baluster to the support structure without having to access the inside of the support structure. Aspects of the present disclosure may be used with a variety of infill systems that include balusters such as rods, tubes or cable, wherein the balusters have any desired cross-sectional shape or size. The fittings and connection features disclosed herein may be positioned at various locations on a support structure, may be used with horizontal, vertical, or angled balusters, and may be used with various types of balusters (e.g., tubes, rods, cables, and the like), or different materials, shapes and sizes for components of the infill system and/or balusters.
Referring now to
Furthermore, the rail infill system 100 may provide for attachment of a baluster to an exterior surface of a support without having to have access to an interior of the support. That is, the connector features may be secured to the support along an exterior surface 190 of the support using any of a variety of attachment features including, for example, fasteners, adhesives, welding, or the like. In at least some arrangements, one or more fasteners extend completely through the support from one surface to an opposite side surface. In another embodiments, the one or more fasteners extend into an interior of the support and a connecting feature (e.g., a nut or connecting plate) is secured to the fastener on the interior side of the support. One of the advantages of at least some embodiments disclosed herein is the ability to mount the fitting assembly and baluster to the support without having to access the interior of the support or an opposite side of the support from where the baluster is positioned. Although a single fastener is shown in many of the embodiments, two or more fasteners or other connector features may be used for attachment of a single baluster to a support.
The fitting 110 may have various embodiments. For example, the fitting 110 may have a relatively straight, linear construction as shown as fitting 110-a in
The fitting 110 may include a mounting end 130 and a threaded end 132. The mounting ends includes a fastener bore 134 and a fastener seat 136, as shown in
The threaded end 132 may be arranged coaxially with the mounting end 130 as shown in the fitting 110-a in
The baluster attachment 112 may have a variety of different constructions. One construction for the baluster attachment 112 is a crimp ring as shown in at least
The fitting closer 114 includes an inner bore 150, a collar 156, internal threads 158, and one or more flats 160 provided on an exterior surface thereof. The inner bore 150 is sized for the baluster 118 to extend there through. The inner bore 150 may also be sized to permit the fitting closer 114 to extend over the baluster attachment 112 and engage with threaded end 132 of the fitting 110. The threads 158 may be configured as female threads and be sized and arranged to threadably engage with the threads 140 of the fitting 110. A rotational force may be applied to the fitting closer 114, such as via the flats 160.
The collar 156 may provide a structure that contacts the end surface 144 of the baluster attachment 112. Threadably connecting the fitting closer 114 and fitting 110 may result in application of an axial force to the baluster 118 via the baluster attachment 112.
The threaded end 132 of the fitting 110-b is arranged at angle θ relative to the mounting end 130. The fitting closer 114 is threadably connected to the fitting 110-b with the baluster attachment 112 interposed therebetween. Applying a rotation forced to the fitting closer 114 moves the fitting closer 114 axially towards the fitting 110-b thereby engaging the collar 156 against the end surface 144 of the baluster attachment 112. The application of this axial force may apply tension in the baluster 118. The application of this axial force may move the baluster 118 axially towards the support 120. In at least some examples, the free end 180 of the baluster 118 may move into the interior of the fitting 110-b (e.g., within the bore 138).
The baluster attachment 212 includes or is configured as a compression collar rather than the baluster attachment 112 described above. The baluster attachment 212 may include an end surface 244, a tapered exterior surface 246, and a split or gap 248 that extends along a length of the baluster attachment 112. Typically, the baluster attachment 212 is positioned at or adjacent to a free end 280 of the baluster 218, as shown in
The fitting closer 214 may include an inner bore 250, a collar 256, internal threads 258, an internal tapered surface 262, and one or more flats 260. The collar 256 may be sized to permit the baluster 218 to extend through the fitting closer 214. The collar 256 may engage against the end surface 244 of the baluster attachment 212. The threads 258 may be arranged internally as female threads and configured to threadably engage with the male threads 240 of the fitting 210. The fitting 210 includes a threaded end 232 having a bore 238. An opposite mounting end 230 of the fitting 210 includes a fastener bore 234 and a fastener seat 236.
The tapered surface 262 of the fitting closer 214 has a reversed tapered shape relative to the tapered surface 246 of the baluster attachment 212. Consequently, as the fitting closer 214 is threadably connected to the threads 240 of the fitting 110, the tapered surface 262 applies a radially inward force onto the tapered surface 246. This radially inward force compresses the baluster attachment 212 onto the exterior surface of the baluster 218. This radially inward force effectively applies a clamping effect on the baluster attachment 212 that provides a connection between the baluster 218, the baluster attachment 212, the fitting closer 214, the fitting 210. Since the fitting 210 is connected to the support 220 (e.g., as shown in
The tapered surface 246 may extend along an entire length of the baluster attachment 212. Alternatively, the tapered surface 246 extends along only a portion of the length of the baluster attachment 212, with remaining portions of the length having a constant diameter (e.g., see
Other types of baluster attachments may be used to secure the baluster to the support. The baluster attachments may be permanently or removably mounted to the baluster (e.g., using a mechanical connection). The baluster attachment 112 may be referred to as a permanent attachment due to being crimped onto the exterior surface of the baluster. The baluster attachment 212 may be considered a releasable or nonpermanent attachment that permits disassembly of the rail infill system for mounting of the baluster attachments to different balusters or at different locations along the length of the baluster.
Referring now to
The method 300 may include, at block 302, the step of providing a fitting, a baluster attachment, and a fitting closer. The fitting may have a threaded end. At block 304, the method 300 includes connecting the fitting to an exterior surface of the support member with a fastener or other connecting feature. At block 306, the method includes positioning the baluster attachment on an exterior surface of the baluster (e.g., at or adjacent to a free end of the baluster). The positioning may include, for example, crimping or otherwise permanently connecting the baluster attachment to the baluster with a mechanical connection. Alternatively, the positioning may include a non-permanent (e.g., releasable) mechanical connection. At block 308, the method 300 includes threadably connecting the fitting closer to the threaded end of the fitting with a baluster attachment interposed between the fitting closer and the fitting. This threadable connection may also provide attachment of the baluster to the fitting. Since the fitting is connected to a support with a fastener or other connection feature, the threadable connection between the fitting closer and the fitting provides connection of the baluster to the support.
The baluster attachment may be a compression collar, and threadably connecting the fitting closer to the fitting compresses the compression collar onto the baluster. The baluster attachment may be a crimp ring that is fixed to the baluster and connecting the fitting closer to the fitting may apply an axial force to the rail. This axial force may provide tension in the baluster and/or it may move the baluster in an axial direction relative to one or more of the fitting components.
There may be a variety of advantages associated with the various rail infill systems, components, and related methods of use, as described herein. Such advantages may include, for example:
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present systems and methods and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present systems and methods and various embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” In addition, for ease of use, the words “including” and “having,” as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.” In addition, the term “based on” as used in the specification and the claims is to be construed as meaning “based at least upon.”
