RAILING SYSTEM

Abstract

The railing system comprises at least one elongated rail having a plurality of spaced-apart openings. It also has a plurality of elongated pickets having opposite ends, each picket having at least one end provided with at least two spaced-apart retaining tabs initially extending lengthwise and configured to be inserted through a corresponding one of the openings of the rail. The tabs of the pickets are outwardly bendable to rigidly connect the pickets to the rail. This type of connection can be quickly achieved and lowers the manufacturing costs of railing systems.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an isometric exploded view of an example of a section of a railing system with an example of the improved way of connecting the pickets and the rails, the parts being shown prior to connection.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and partial cross-sectional view of one of the pickets at the side of the section of the railing system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing an example of a portion of a rail with tabs of a picket bended to provide the rigid connection between them.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the example of the section of the railing system shown in FIG. 1 once the pickets are connected to the rails.

Claims

1. A railing system comprising: at least one elongated rail having a plurality of spaced-apart openings; anda plurality of elongated pickets having opposite ends, each picket having at least one end provided with at least two spaced-apart retaining tabs initially extending lengthwise and configured to be inserted through a corresponding one of the openings of the rail, the tabs of the pickets being outwardly bendable against the rail to rigidly connect the pickets to the rail.

2. The railing system as defined in claim 1, wherein the openings in the rail are H-shaped, the tabs at the end of the pickets being two in number and initially parallel.

3. The railing system as defined in claim 2, wherein the tabs are bended orthogonally with reference to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding picket once connected.

4. The railing system as defined in claim 1, wherein each picket has a rectangular outer cross section.

5. The railing system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least the tabs are made of a ductile material including aluminium.

6. The railing system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one end of the rail includes a bracket provided to connect the rail to a vertically-extending surface.

7. The railing system as defined in claim 6, wherein the bracket is made in a bended portion of the rail.

8. A railing system comprising: two spaced-apart and parallelly-disposed elongated rails having mutually-facing sides, each rail having a plurality of spaced-apart openings disposed lengthwise; anda plurality of elongated pickets rigidly connected to the rails, each picket having a central portion extending between the mutually-facing sides of the rails and having two opposite ends, each end having at least two spaced-apart retaining tabs extending through one respective opening among the openings of the rails, the tabs being outwardly deformed against the rails on sides opposite the mutually-facing sides.

9. The railing system as defined in claim 8, wherein the openings in at least one of the rails are H-shaped, the tabs at the end of the pickets being two in number and initially parallel.

10. The railing system as defined in claim 8, wherein the tabs are bended orthogonally with reference to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding picket once connected.

11. The railing system as defined in claim 8, wherein each picket has a rectangular outer cross section.

12. The railing system as defined in claim 8, wherein at least the tabs are made of a ductile material including aluminium.

13. The railing system as defined in claim 8, wherein at least one end of the rails includes a bracket provided to connect the rail to a vertically-extending surface.

14. The railing system as defined in claim 13, wherein the bracket is made in a bended rail portion.

15. A method of connecting a picket and a rail of a railing system, the picket having at least two spaced-apart tabs at one end thereof, the tabs initially-extending lengthwise with reference to the picket, the method comprising: inserting the tabs of the picket into an opening provided through two major sides of the rail, the picket having a shoulder defined between roots of the tabs at the end of the picket, the shoulder abutting against a first of the major sides of the rail after insertion of the tabs into the opening; andbending the tabs outwardly against a second of the major sides of the rail to rigidly connect the picket and the rail together.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein the openings in the rail are H-shaped, the tabs at the end of the pickets being two in number and initially parallel.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the tabs are bended orthogonally with reference to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding picket once connected.

18. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein at least the tabs are made of a ductile material including aluminium.

19. The method as defined in claim 15, further comprising making a bracket at one end of the rail to connect the rail to a vertically-extending surface.

20. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein the bracket is made by bending a portion of the rail before inserting the tabs of the pickets into the rail.