Patent Application
20250179807
Various embodiments described herein generally relate to a railing anchor pin and a railing supported by the pin.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,615,964, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, identifies problems repairing concrete balcony edges and installing/replacing railings. Corrosion occurs when the aluminum of the railing is embedded in concrete in a harsh (e.g., beach or salty) environment, which causes the concrete to degrade. The problem arises in part because the concrete is reinforced with steel reinforcement bars. These reinforcement bars are located between 1.5″-2″ from the edge of the concrete slab. Typically, a post must be embedded into the concrete when installing railing. Thus, it is necessary to drill a large hole, which oftentimes cuts or contacts the steel reinforcements. Consequently, when the aluminum posts are installed, they can contact the steel reinforcement bars and cause a galvanic reaction, in which the aluminum becomes the sacrifice metal and expands. When the aluminum expands, it disintegrates, and the surrounding concrete spalls.
Another problem is that most bases around the aluminum post are composed of gypsum, which deteriorates over time. When the posts are used in a coastal setting, the deterioration produces a pocket and allows for saltwater intrusion. When this occurs, the surrounding concrete becomes less alkaline, which causes the reinforcement to expand and form hairline fractures in the concrete. When moisture seeps into the pocket around the post, the aluminum oxidizes and expands.
The combination of these effects creates a safety issue because the concrete loses strength and structure. The 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium complex in Florida highlighted the corresponding dangers of such concrete degradation.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,615,964 discloses a methodology to install a railing that minimizes disruption of the supporting surface (e.g., a concrete slab). The methodology embeds a mounting rod into the ground surface and then fits a hollow post over the mounting rod. The mounting rod is smaller than the post and only requires excavation of a small area (length by width) in the ground surface for its placement.
The commercial implementation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,615,964 press fits the mounting rod into a cavity of the post to form a permanent connection. Such a press fit requires the application of thousands of pounds of pressure provided by large and expensive installation equipment that both increases installation cost and limits scalability. The permanent nature of the press fit also prevents future removal of the post for post-repair or adjustments.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin support for a post, including: a central shaft; a flared base at and end of the central shaft; first and second arms extending upward from a top of the central shaft and defining a gap therebetween; each of the first and second arms having at least two sets of aligned holes, each shaped to receive a connector.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, wherein the connector is removeable.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, further including at least one recess around the central shaft.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, wherein the holes on the first arm have recesses shaped to receive a head of the connector.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, wherein the at least two sets of aligned holes are threaded to receive threaded connectors.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, wherein the flared base has a circular shape.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, wherein the flared base has a diameter of approximately 1.75 inches, and the central shaft has a diameter of approximately 1.25 inches.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, further including a height pin inserted into a bottom of the anchor pin, where the position of the height pin is adjustable relative to the bottom of the anchor pin to change a height of the anchor pin.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, further including an I-beam shaped to be mounted in the gap of the anchor pin and connected to the anchor pin.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, further including a post shaped to be (a) mounted over the I-beam and (b) connected to the I-beam and the anchor pin.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an anchor pin, further including a railing connected to the post.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a support for a post, including: an anchor pin, including: a central shaft; a flared base at one end of the central shaft; first and second arms extending upward from a top of the central shaft and defining a gap therebetween; each of the first and second arms having a first set of aligned holes, each shaped to receive a connector; an I-beam having two arms and a web, the web shaped to insert into the gap, the web of the I-beam having at least one hole; a connector insertable into the first set of aligned holes of the anchor pin and one of the holes of the web of the I-beam to attach the anchor pin to the I-beam.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a support, wherein the connector is removeable.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a support, further including a height pin inserted into a bottom of the anchor pin, where the position of the height pin is adjustable relative to the bottom of the anchor pin to change a height of the anchor pin.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a support, further including a post shaped to be (a) mounted over the I-beam and (b) connected to the I-beam and the anchor pin.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a support, further including a railing connected to the post.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a post support assembly, including: an anchor pin, including: a central shaft; a flared base at one end of the central shaft; first and second arms extending upward from a top of the central shaft and defining a gap therebetween; each of the first and second arms having a first set of aligned holes, each shaped to receive a connector; an I-beam having two arms and a web, the web shaped to insert into the gap, the web of the I-beam having at least one hole; a post mountable over the I-beam, the post having at least one hole; a first connector insertable into the first set of aligned holes of the anchor pin, another of the holes of the web of the I-beam, and one of the holes of the post, to attach the anchor pin, the I-beam, and the post together.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a post support assembly, wherein the first connector is removeable.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a post support assembly, further including a height pin inserted into a bottom of the anchor pin, where the position of the height pin is adjustable relative to the bottom of the anchor pin to change a height of the anchor pin.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a post support assembly, further including a railing connected to the post.
Various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, as follows.
All mechanical drawings are to scale unless otherwise noted.
In the following description, various embodiments will be illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. References to various embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. While specific implementations and other details are discussed, it is to be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed subject matter.
Specific details are provided in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, systems may be shown in block diagrams so as not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known processes, structures and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring example embodiments.
References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are, references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments.
References to any “example” herein (e.g., “for example”, “an example of”, by way of example” or the like) are to be considered non-limiting examples regardless of whether expressly stated or not.
Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various features are described which may be features for some embodiments but not other embodiments.
The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, and no special significance should be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms discussed herein is illustrative only, and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.
Without intent to limit the scope of the disclosure, examples of instruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titles or subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.
Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.
The terms “substantial,” “substantially” or the like are defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term is used as a modifier to imply “approximate” rather than “perfect.” It is a term of approximation, not a term of degree.
The term “comprising” when utilized means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.
The term “a” means “one or more” unless the context clearly indicates a single element.
The term “about” or “approximately” when used in connection with a numerical value means a variation consistent with the range of error in equipment used to measure the values, for which ±5% may be expected.
“First,” “second,” etc., re labels to distinguish components or blocks of otherwise similar names, but does not imply any sequence or numerical limitation.
“And/or” for two possibilities means either or both of the stated possibilities (“A and/or B” covers A alone, B alone, or both A and B take together), and when present with three or more stated possibilities means any individual possibility alone, all possibilities taken together, or some combination of possibilities that is less than all of the possibilities. The language in the format “at least one of A . . . and N” where A through N are possibilities means “and/or” for the stated possibilities (e.g., at least one A, at least one N, at least one A and at least one N, etc.).
When an element is referred to as being “connected,” or “coupled,” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. By contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected,” or “directly coupled,” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between,” versus “directly between,” “adjacent,” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
As used herein, the term “front”, “rear”, “left,” “right,” “top” and “bottom” or other terms of direction, orientation, and/or relative position are used for explanation and convenience to refer to certain features of this disclosure. However, these terms are not absolute, and should not be construed as limiting this disclosure.
The terms “removeable” and “permanent” or the like, particularly in with respect to connections or connectors, refers to the ability or lack thereof to disassemble the components. Permanent connections would require the application of destructive force, and non-limiting examples of permanent connections include glue, rivets, or welding. Removeable connections can be disassembled, and non-limiting examples include bolts, screws, or pins.
Shapes as described herein are not considered absolute. As is known in the art, surfaces often have waves, protrusions, holes, recesses, etc. to provide rigidity, strength and functionality. All recitations of shape (e.g., cylindrical) herein are to be considered modified by “substantially” regardless of whether expressly stated in the disclosure or claims, and specifically accounts for variations in the art as noted above.
“Holes,” “aperture,” “opening,” or the like may be open at both ends or only one end (e.g., a blind hole).
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two steps disclosed or shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
Arms 120 and 125 have aligned holes 135 and 140, respectively to receive connectors, such as pins, bolts, and/or screws. Holes 135 and 140 may be threaded to receive threaded connectors.
The holes 135/140 may have a structure that accommodates specific connectors. By way of a non-limiting example, if the connector is a screw, the holes 140 may have recesses for receiving the heads of connectors, and the holes on the other side may have threads for receiving the threaded ends of the screws. For discussion purposes, the below embodiments are described with reference to the same, but the invention is not so limited, and other configurations as appropriate for other connectors may be used.
The bottom of central shaft 110 may include a recess (e.g.,
As seen in
Post 300 may support a railing segment 320, which may include a top, bottom, and intervening portion of rail such as a glass plane. The invention is not limited to any type of railing segment.
In
The web 205 of the I-beam 200 engages the gap 130 in the arms 120/125 of the anchor pin 100, and the base of the web 205 of the I-beam 200 may rest on the top of the central shaft 110. One or more connectors 215 are inserted through the holes in the web 205 of the I-beam 200 and corresponding holes 135/140 in the arms 120/125 of the anchor pin 100 to secure the anchor pin 100 to the I-beam 200. By way of non-limiting example, if connectors 215 are screws, then the screws connect the anchor pin 100 to the I-beam 200. However, the invention is not limited to any particular type of connector.
Additionally, one or more connectors 430 connect the post 300, I-beam 200, and anchor pin 100, securing all three together. However, the invention is not so limited, and any combination of connectors could be used. By way of non-limiting example, four connectors could be used, all of which connect the post 300, I-beam 200, and anchor pin 100. In another example, one or more connectors could connect the post 300, I-beam 200, while one or more connectors could connect the I-beam 200 and anchor pin 100.
Railing materials of choice for a railing segment 320 can be mounted to two posts 300 to create a balcony, fence, guardrail or the like.
While the components herein are not limited to any particular size, for practical purposes, the components are large enough to provide the necessary strength for deployment and small enough to minimize disruption to the surface in which the railings are mounted. By way of non-limiting example, a base 105 of anchor pin 100 of about a 1.75″ diameter circle will meet both needs, requiring only a small excavation (length by width) of an existing ground surface to install, thereby minimizing the prospect that the excavation would encounter rebar or other material embedded in the surface.
The installation methodology includes various steps. By way of non-limiting example, the steps may include creating the ground recess 310 to receive the base 105 and lower portion of the central shaft 110 of the anchor pin 100, adjusting the height of pin 420 as desired to adjust the overall higher of the railing segment, inserting the lower portion of anchor pin 100 into the recess 310 and filling the recess 310 with sealant 415, inserting the I-beam 200 into the anchor pin 100, connecting the I-beam 200 to the anchor pin 100 with connectors 215, lowering the post 300 over the I-beam 200, and connecting the post 300 to the I-beam 200 (and possibly anchor pin 100 as well) with connector 430. Decorative floor caps (not shown) could be slid over the post to visually cover the connection of the base 105 to the support surface 305; the cap could also cover the connector 430 so that it is not visible. The railing segment 320 could be mounted to post 300 at any appropriate point in the above process.
However, the methodology is not limited to the order in which the above steps occur. By way of non-limiting example, the methodology could be a base-up sequence in which the ground recess 310 is filled with sealant 415, the base 105 (with or without prior height adjustment) is inserted into the recess 310, the I-beam 200 is lowered onto the anchor pin 100 and connected thereto, and the post 300 is lowered onto the I-beam 200 and connected thereto. In another non-limiting example, the anchor pin 100, the I-beam 200, and the post 300 could be connected together first, and then the base 105 could be lowered into the recess 310 as above. In another non-limiting example, the rail segment 320 with two posts could be connected together, and the whole unit with its two bases 105 lowered into the recesses 310 as above. Sealant 415 may be added before, during, and/or after insertion of the anchor pin 100 into the ground recess 310.
The sealant 415 once dried may create a permanent connection between the anchor pin 100 and the support surface 305. If removeable connectors 215 and 430 are used, then the remaining components can simply be removed by removing connectors 215 and 430 and lifting the components off the anchor pin 100. This allows for easy replacement of parts in response to any damage.
The above embodiment provides several improvements over the commercial implementation of the prior art. Since the post 300 is attached with easily removable connectors 215 and 430, there is no need for an onsite press fitting device as in the commercial embodiment of the prior art, which reduces installation cost and allows for scalability relative to the prior art. Personnel can remove or replace installed posts 300 and I-beams 200 by simply removing the connectors. The anchor pin 100 could be removed via excavation, dissolving the sealant 415, or sawing off the portion of anchor pin 100 that extends above the surface 305.
In the above embodiment, the base 105 of anchor pin 100 is inserted directly into a ground recess 310 created in the ground.
In another embodiment, the embodiment of
Referring now to
In the above embodiments, the flared base 105 and central shaft 100 are a unitary piece. However, the invention is not so limited, and they could be multiple components removably or permanently connected. By way of non-limiting example,
Some or all of the noted connections could also be made permanent if desired by the use of appropriate permanent connectors, adhesive, welding, etc. For example, the I-beam 200 and anchor pin 100 could be welded together as an addition to, or substitute for, the connectors.
The specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.
The instant application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/604,687, filed Nov. 30, 2023, entitled RAILING ANCHOR PIN AND RAILING, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63604687 | Nov 2023 | US |
