Spring action clip for balusters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10604941-B2
Application number	US-201715463151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	Mar 20, 2017
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

A railing system includes an upper rail and a lower rail spaced from the upper rail. The railing system also includes a plurality of balusters positioned between the upper rail and the lower rail. The railing system further includes a clip configured to attach one baluster of the plurality of balusters to the lower rail or the upper rail. The clip includes a baluster engagement portion configured to be received within an open end of the one baluster. The clip further includes a tab extending from the baluster engagement portion. The tab includes a fin portion configured to be inserted within one aperture of a plurality of apertures of the upper rail or the lower rail. The tab also includes a spring portion coupled to the fin portion. The spring portion is configured to secure the clip to the upper rail or the lower rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A railing system comprising:
an upper rail comprising a planar surface, the planar surface comprising a plurality of apertures, the apertures each having a respective ridge;
a lower rail spaced from the upper rail and comprising a planar surface, the planar surface comprising a plurality of apertures, the apertures each having a respective ridge;
a plurality of balusters positioned between the upper rail and the lower rail; and
a clip to attach one baluster of the plurality of balusters to the lower rail or to the upper rail, the clip comprising:
a baluster engagement portion inserted within an open end of the one baluster, the baluster engagement portion seated on the planar surface of the lower rail or the upper rail; and
a tab extending from the baluster engagement portion, the tab comprising:
a rotatable fin portion rotatably inserted within one aperture of the plurality of apertures of the upper rail or the lower rail wherein the engagement portion is secured over the ridge, the fin portion having a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface, wherein the first end surface has a curvilinear shape to allow rotation of the clip between a first rotated position and a second rotated position relative to the upper rail or the lower rail, and
a spring portion coupled to the fin portion, wherein the spring portion extends partially between the first end surface and the second end surface so that the clip is rotatable between the first rotated position and the second rotated position, and wherein, upon insertion of the fin portion by at least a predetermined distance within the one aperture, the spring portion secures the clip to one of the upper rail and the lower rail,
wherein the spring portion is elastically deformable between a normal state and a deformed state such that the spring portion is in the deformed state in the first rotated position of the clip and in the normal state in the second rotated position of the clip.

2. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of balusters is substantially perpendicular to the upper rail and the lower rail.

3. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of balusters is positioned at an angle of from about 29 degrees to about 41 degrees relative to the upper rail and the lower rail.

4. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the baluster engagement portion comprises a mounting surface seated on the planar surface of one of the upper rail and the lower rail in the first position of the clip, and wherein the mounting surface is inclined with respect to the planar surface in the second position of the clip.

5. The railing system of claim 4 , wherein a width of the mounting surface is greater than a width of each of the plurality of apertures of the upper rail or the lower rail.

6. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the baluster engagement portion further comprises at least one support portion, wherein the at least one support portion comprises:
a first support surface to support the baluster engagement portion on the planar surface of the upper rail or the lower rail in the first position; and
a second support surface extending from and inclined with respect to the first support surface, the second support surface to support the baluster engagement portion on the planar surface of the upper rail or the lower rail in the second position.

7. The railing system of claim 6 , wherein the baluster engagement portion further comprises a recess between a mounting surface and the at least one support portion.

8. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the spring portion comprises a curvilinear shape.

9. The railing system of claim 1 , wherein the fin portion extends from a mounting surface, the fin portion comprising:
an upper part located adjacent to the mounting surface;
a middle part extending from the upper part and having a curvilinear shape; and
a lower part extending from the middle part, wherein the spring portion projects from the lower part towards the upper part.

10. A railing system comprising:
a rail comprising a planar surface, the planar surface comprising at least one aperture; and
a clip to attach a baluster to the rail, the clip comprising:
a baluster engagement portion received within an open end of the baluster, the baluster engagement portion seated on the planar surface of the rail; and
a tab extending from the baluster engagement portion, the tab comprising:
a rotatable fin portion rotatably inserted within the at least one aperture on the planar surface of the rail, the fin portion having a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface, wherein the first end surface has a curvilinear shape to allow rotation of the clip between a first rotated position and a second rotated position relative to the rail, and wherein a middle part of the fin portion has a curvilinear shape and extends between the first end surface and the second end surface; and
a spring portion coupled to the fin portion, wherein the spring portion forms a curvilinear shape and extends partially between the first end surface and the second end surface so that the clip is rotatable between the first rotated position and the second rotated position, in which the curvilinear shape of the middle part of the fin portion accommodates the curvilinear shape of the spring portion, and wherein, upon insertion of the fin portion by at least a predetermined distance within the at least one aperture, the spring portion secures the clip to the rail,
wherein the spring portion is elastically deformable between a normal state and a deformed state such that the spring portion is in the deformed state in the first rotated position of the clip and in the normal state in the second rotated position of the clip.

11. The railing system of claim 10 , wherein the baluster engagement portion comprises a mounting surface seated on the planar surface of the rail in the first position of the clip, and wherein the mounting surface is inclined with respect to the planar surface in the second position of the clip.

12. The railing system of claim 11 , wherein a width of the mounting surface is greater than a width of the at least one aperture of the rail.

13. The railing system of claim 10 , wherein the baluster engagement portion further comprises at least one support portion, the at least one support portion comprising:
a first support surface to support the baluster engagement portion on the planar surface of the rail in the first position; and
a second support surface extending from and inclined with respect to the first support surface, the second support surface to support the baluster engagement portion on the planar surface of the rail in the second position.

14. The railing system of claim 10 , wherein the baluster engagement portion further comprises a recess between a mounting surface and the at least one support portion.

15. The railing system of claim 10 , wherein the fin portion extends from a mounting surface, the fin portion comprising:
an upper part located adjacent to the mounting surface;
the middle part extending from the upper part; and
a lower part extending from the middle part, wherein the spring portion projects from the lower part towards the upper part.

16. A clip for attaching a baluster to a rail, the clip comprising:
a baluster engagement portion to be received within an open end of the baluster, the baluster engagement portion comprising a mounting surface to be seated on a planar surface of the rail; and
a tab extending

Assignees

• Barrette Outdoor Living Inc

Inventors

• Schneider Christopher Michael
• Dixon Wayne Elbert
• Desalle Michael Matthew

Classifications

• E04F2011/1821

  between balustrade posts and handrails · CPC title

• E04F11/1817 Primary

  Connections therefor (E04F11/1812 and E04F11/1836 take precedence) · CPC title

• E04F11/1834

  with adjustable angle, e.g. pivotal connections · CPC title

• E04F2011/1827

  between balusters and handrails · CPC title

• E04F11/1842

  Balusters; Grille-type elements · CPC title