TOW HITCH FOR VERTICAL RAILING

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/680,943, filed on Aug. 8, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002]Aspects hereof relate to a vertical railing system configured for easier installation.

BACKGROUND

[0003]A vertical railing is traditionally used in connection with decking and other surfaces as a barrier. Vertical railing is formed from a plurality of discrete balusters positioned between a top rail and a bottom rail. The assembly of individual vertical balusters between the top tail and the bottom rail is a tedious and labor-intensive task during installation.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004]Aspects hereof provide for a railing barrier having vertical balusters maintained between a top rail and a bottom rail. The vertical balusters are positioned between the top rail and bottom rail. A bracket is provided to allow easy attachment of a top rail or a bottom rail. The bracket includes a projection associated with either a support post or a rail, and an aperture associated with either a rail or a support post. The projection is received in an aperture and is secure thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]The present disclosure is described in detail herein with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

[0006]FIG. 1 depicts an example of an easy-attach bracket secured to a support post, in accordance with exemplary aspects hereof;

[0007]FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an easy-attach bracket secured to a rail, in accordance with aspects hereof;

[0008]FIG. 3 depicts an exploded perspective view of a rail positioned on an easy-attach bracket, in accordance with aspects hereof;

[0009]FIG. 4 depicts a cross-section view of an easy-attach bracket with a friction fit, in accordance with aspects hereof;

[0010]FIG. 5 depicts a cross-section view of an easy-attach bracket with a fastener configuration, in accordance with aspects hereof;

[0011]FIG. 6 depicts a cross-section view of an easy-attach bracket with a second fastener configuration, in accordance with aspects hereof;

[0012]FIG. 7 depicts a cross-section view of an easy-attach bracket with a third fastener, in accordance with aspects hereof; and

[0013]FIG. 8 depicts a cross-section view of an easy-attach bracket with a snap fit, in accordance with exemplary aspects hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014]Aspects hereof provide apparatuses, systems and/or methods directed to a quick-attach bracket for connecting a rail to a support post in a vertical railing system. The bracket is attached to a support post by any suitable structure and includes an upwardly extending projection. The upwardly extending projection is configured to engage an aperture formed in an end of the rail. The rail can be either a top rail or a bottom rail or both.

[0015]Installation of traditional vertical railing is a labor-intensive process that includes initially mounting a bottom rail between two post members or other structures. The bottom rail typically has holes precut therein to receive the balusters. After the bottom rail is installed, the individual balusters are positioned in the holes on the bottom rail. The top rail is then positioned above the upper ends of the balusters positioned on the bottom rail. The top rail also has precut holes therein that will receive the top ends of the balusters. The top ends of the balusters will have to be aligned with the holes in the top rail as the top rail is put in place between the post members. The balusters during this process are often not maintained in exact vertical position and may in essence “flop” around in the holes on the bottom rail. This makes positioning the top rail difficult and labor intensive, often requiring two people to do the installation. The above type of installation is referred to a “stick build” type installation. Another type of traditional installation is a “lay flat” or prebuild installation where the balusters are positioned between a top and bottom member or rail and secured thereto, before the railing section is positioned between the vertical posts. This is also a labor-intensive process where the entire railing framework needs to be lifted into place and secured to the posts. This can be particularly unwieldy as the rail sections can be anywhere from 6 to 10 feet long.

[0016]Aspects herein contemplate a quick-attach bracket for connecting a rail to a support post in a vertical railing system. The bracket is attached to a support post by any suitable structure and includes an upwardly extending projection. The upwardly extending projection is configured to engage an aperture formed in an end of the rail. The rail can be either a top rail or a bottom rail or both.

[0017]The aspects contemplated will be discussed in greater detail and with respect to the figures.

[0018]Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, which depicts an example of a quick-attach bracket 100 for use in connecting a top or bottom rail 102 to a support post 104. The bracket 102 includes a connection flange 106 that has apertures 108 formed therein for connection to the support post 104 by any suitable fastener or adhesive. Additionally, the bracket 100 includes an upwardly extending projection 110 that is configured to engage an aperture 112 formed in an end 114 of a top or bottom rail 102. Projection 110 is configured as a cylinder in the figures, but can have any other configuration such as a square, rectangular, oval or any other shape. The aperture 112 is depicted as being circular in shape, but as with the projection 114 can have any suitable shape. The bracket 100, rail 102 and support post 104 may be formed from any materials, such as aluminum, steel, wood, or any sort of plastic.

[0019]With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the rail 102 is attached to support post 104 via the bracket 100. The bracket 100 is secured to the support post 104 via apertures 108 by any suitable fasteners or adhesive. The end 114 of the rail 102 includes the aperture 112 for engaging the projection 110. With reference to FIG. 4 the projection 110 is sized to fit in aperture 112 such that a friction fit occurs to secure the rail 102 to the support post 104.

[0020]With reference to FIG. 5, a fastener 116 is depicted in a threaded aperture 118 of projection 110. Tightening of the faster 116 results in expansion of the projection 110 in the aperture 112 and thus securement of the rail 102 to the support post 104.

[0021]With reference to FIG. 6, the projection 110 is formed of two wing sections 120. The wing sections are configured, such that tightening of the fastener 116 in threaded aperture 118 results in the wings 120 expanding outwardly to secure the bracket 100 to the rail 102.

[0022]With reference to FIG. 7, the bracket 110 includes a securement aperture 122 into which a fastener 124 is threaded. The securement aperture 122 passes through a different location than the body of projection 110. The fastener 124 also engages with an aperture 126 formed in the rail 102.

[0023]With reference to FIG. 8, the bracket 100 includes a projection 110 that is split into halves 128, with each half 128 having a detent 130. This arrangement provides for a snap fit to the rail 102. More specifically, the halves 128 are compressed towards one another as they pass through the aperture 112 of the rail 102. After the detents 130 pass the upper end of the aperture 112, they snap outwardly to secure the bracket 100 to the rail 102.

[0024]From the foregoing, it will be seen that this disclosure is one well-adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious, and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

[0025]While specific elements and steps are discussed in connection to one another, it is understood that any element and/or steps provided herein is contemplated as being combinable with any other elements and/or steps regardless of explicit provision of the same while still being within the scope provided herein. Since many possible embodiments may be made of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0026]As used herein and in connection with the claims listed hereinafter, the terminology “any of clauses” or similar variations of said terminology is intended to be interpreted such that features of claims/clauses may be combined in any combination. For example, an exemplary clause 4 may indicate the method/apparatus of any of clauses 1 through 3, which is intended to be interpreted such that features of clause 1 and clause 4 may be combined, elements of clause 2 and clause 4 may be combined, elements of clause 3 and 4 may be combined, elements of clauses 1, 2, and 4 may be combined, elements of clauses 2, 3, and 4 may be combined, elements of clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 may be combined, and/or other variations. Further, the terminology “any of clauses” or similar variations of said terminology is intended to include “any one of clauses” or other variations of such terminology, as indicated by some of the examples provided above.

[0027]The following clauses are aspects contemplated herein.

[0028]Clause 1. A railing system comprising: a top rail, the top rail having a connection aperture associate therewith, the aperture extending in a generally vertical orientation; a bottom rail; a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail; a bracket configured to be attached to a vertical support surface, the bracket including an upwardly extending projection; and wherein the projection is positioned in the aperture to connect the top rail to the support surface.

[0029]Clause 2. The rail system of clause 1, wherein the projection engages the aperture in a friction fit manner.

[0030]Clause 3. The railing system of clause 1, wherein a fastener is positioned in the projection so that tightening the fastener expands the projection to secure the bracket to the top rail.

[0031]Clause 4. The rail system of clause 1, wherein the projection has a first half and a second half.

[0032]Clause 5. The rail system of clause 4, wherein the first half and the second half engage a fastener that expands the first and second halves away from one another to secure the projection to the top rail.

[0033]Clause 6. The rail system of clause 4, wherein the first half includes a detent, and the second half includes a detent, wherein the detents expand outwardly to secure the projection within the aperture of the top rail.

[0034]Clause 7. The railing system of clause 3, wherein the projection includes wing sections that expand outwardly when the fastener is tightened.

[0035]Clause 8. A quick-attach bracket for connecting a rail to a support post in a vertical railing system, the bracket comprising: a connection flange configured to be attached to the support post; and a vertical projection extending from the connection flange and configured to engage an aperture formed in an end of the rail to secure the rail to the support post.

[0036]Clause 9. The quick-attach bracket of clause 8, wherein the vertical projection is configured to engage the aperture in a friction fit manner.

[0037]Clause 10. The quick-attach bracket of clause 8, wherein the vertical projection includes a fastener positioned therein, and wherein tightening the fastener expands the vertical projection to secure the bracket to the rail.

[0038]Clause 11. The quick-attach bracket of clause 10, wherein the vertical projection includes wing sections that expand outwardly when the fastener is tightened.

[0039]Clause 12. The quick-attach bracket of clause 8, wherein the vertical projection comprises a first half and a second half.

[0040]Clause 13. The quick-attach bracket of clause 12, wherein the first half includes a detent, and the second half includes a detent, and wherein the detents expand outwardly to secure the vertical projection within the aperture of the rail.

[0041]Clause 14. The quick-attach bracket of clause 8, wherein the connection flange includes mounting apertures configured to receive fasteners for attachment to the support post.

[0042]Clause 15. A method of installing a railing system comprising: providing a bracket having a vertical projection; attaching the bracket to a support post; providing a rail having an aperture formed in an end thereof; and positioning the vertical projection of the bracket into the aperture of the rail to connect the rail to the support post.

[0043]Clause 16. The method of clause 15, wherein positioning the vertical projection into the aperture comprises creating a friction fit between the vertical projection and the aperture.

[0044]Clause 17. The method of clause 15, further comprising a step of tightening a fastener positioned within the vertical projection to expand the vertical projection and secure the bracket to the rail.

[0045]Clause 18. The method of clause 17, wherein tightening the fastener causes wing sections of the vertical projection to expand outwardly within the aperture.

[0046]Clause 19. The method of clause 15, wherein the vertical projection comprises a first half and a second half, and wherein positioning the vertical projection into the aperture comprises compressing the first half and second half toward one another as they pass through the aperture.

[0047]Clause 20. The method of clause 19, wherein each of the first half and second half includes a detent, and further comprising a step of allowing the detents to expand outwardly after passing through the aperture to secure the vertical projection within the aperture.