Abstract:
A railing attachment clip to couple a guardrail to a rail topper, the clip including left and right portions with respective surfaces contoured to match the guardrail and the rail topper, and a central portion laterally coupled to the left and right portion. The central portion separates the left and right portions by a fixed distance. The matching contoured surfaces determine a position of the railing attachment clip on the guardrail, and determine a position of the rail topper on the railing attachment clip. In some embodiments, the central portion is removed after the railing attachment clip is attached to the guardrail, but before the rail topper is attached to the railing attachment clip.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention, generally relate to railing systems and methods, and in particular relate to a rail top attachment clip that facilitates upgradable railing systems and methods to provide a customizable rail topper. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Railing systems are used extensively for a variety of functional purposes, e.g., as fencing to secure people, animals, and land, and to prevent entry into a specified area. Railing systems also may have aesthetic purposes, e.g., on decks and around yards, terraces, and gardens, etc. Railing systems often include at least one horizontal rail affixed to at least one vertical post, and optionally a plurality of balusters. 
     A variety of rail shapes exist to address functional and/or aesthetic preferences, e.g., a flat top, or a shape that includes hand-hold features, etc. In particular, one type of rail shape includes a lateral central crown and lengthwise edges and/or ridges, such that the rail resembles a loaf of some types of bread. Such a type of rail shape may be referred to as a “bread loaf” type shape. 
     Consumers sometimes want to change the look and feel of an installed railing system. Replacing the railing system or major portions of it is costly, inconvenient and time consuming. Upgrading the railing system (e.g., to change color or shape of rail toppings) is simpler, less costly, and thus more likely to be something that a consumer will do. 
     Traditionally, one method to upgrade a railing system is to screw a regular deck board onto an existing rail. However, this is not aesthetically pleasing since fasteners are exposed and visible. 
     Another traditional method to upgrade a railing system is to screw clips on top of a rail, then attach a regular deck board to the clips. However, clips by themselves on a rail have poor structural integrity, resulting in undesirable waving and bowing of the deck board. Any exposed clips will not be aesthetically pleasing. 
     Another drawback is that traditional upgrade methods require multiple components to change the look and feel of an installed railing system. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved railing system and method is needed to address the drawbacks of the traditional methods and systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a system and method to rigidly but removably attach a rail topper to a guardrail, by use of a railing attachment clip. The railing attachment clip includes left and right portions with respective surfaces contoured to match the guardrail and the rail topper, and a central portion laterally coupled to the left and right portion. The central portion separates the left and right portions by a fixed distance. The matching contoured surfaces determine a position of the railing attachment clip on the guardrail, and determine a position of the rail topper on the railing attachment clip. In some embodiments, the central portion is removed after the railing attachment clip is attached to the guardrail, but before the rail topper is attached to the railing attachment clip. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a railing system having customizable rail topper is provided herein. The railing system includes an elongated upper rail, an elongated lower rail, and a plurality of balusters extending between the elongated upper rail and the elongated lower rail. The elongated upper rail includes an elongated core member, an attachment clip, and a rail topper member. The attachment clip includes a left side portion, a right side portion, and a middle portion. The left side portion includes a first concave portion, a first curved portion and a first edge portion. The right side portion includes a second concave portion, a second curved portion and a second edge portion. The middle portion connects the first concave portion of the left side portion with the second concave portion of the right side portion. The rail topper member includes an elongated central body having a pair of opposing side walls defining a channel to receive the elongated core member, the rail topper member having a central ridge portion, at least one left flange on left side wall, and at least one right flange on right side wall. The middle portion of the attachment clip is breakable, and the rail topper member is snap-fitted over the attachment clip after breaking the middle portion of the attachment clip. The central ridge portion of the rail topper member contacts an upper portion of the elongated core member. The left flange of the rail topper member engages with the first edge portion of the attachment clip and the right flange of the rail topper member engages with the second edge portion of the attachment clip to lock the rail topper member over attachment clip and the elongated upper rail. 
     According to another aspect of the present discourse, the railing system includes an elongated upper rail, an elongated lower rail, and a plurality of balusters extending between the elongated upper rail and the elongated lower rail. The elongated upper rail includes an elongated core member, an attachment clip, and a rail topper member. The attachment clip includes a left side flat portion, a right side flat portion, and a middle flat portion. The middle flat portion is connected to the left side flat portion through a first curved portion and is connected to the right side flat portion through a second curved portion. The rail topper member has an elongated central body having a rectangular top surface and a rectangular bottom surface. Each of the first curved portion and the second curved portion of the attachment clip includes mounting holes to receive fasteners and lock the attachment clip over the elongated upper rail. Each of the left portion and the right portion of the attachment clip includes mounting holes to receive fasteners and lock the rail topper member over attachment clip and the elongated upper rail. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method to assemble a railing system is provided. The method includes fixing an attachment clip over an elongated core member. The attachment clip including a left side portion, a right side portion, and a breakable middle portion. The method further includes breaking the middle portion of the attachment clip, and snap fitting a rail topper member over the attachment clip to lock the rail topper member over the attachment clip and the elongated core member. 
     The railing system, disclosed by the present invention, can be advantageously combined with the traditional railing system to offer a completely different look to the railing. There is no need to replace the whole bay with a different railing system. It can be added easily to existing railing purchased previously by customers as retro-fit. 
     Further, the present invention advantageously provides a snug snap fit railing assembly and solves structural integrity issues of conventional railing systems. The attachment clip facilitates self-centering of the rail cover or rail topper onto the attachment clip. Further, the present invention provides contact of the rail topper on the railing system, as the middle portion of the clip is snapped off. The center of gravity of the rail topper is lowered, hence providing a more compact structural integrity, which is more immune to bending, bowing, and weathering. 
     Further, the present invention advantageously provides completely hidden screws and increases the aesthetic appearance of the railing system. Further, the railing system can be put on different types of railings and provides freedom to the customer in their choice. Furthermore, the rail topper is easily detachable and hence, people can easily upgrade or change their existing rail topper time and again, as per their convenience and choice. 
     The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some aspects of embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of a railing system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a rail topper, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  illustrate perspective views of an attachment clip, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of the attachment clip, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a side view of the attachment clip, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a side view of another embodiment of an attachment clip, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of railing system after assembly of the rail topper and the attachment clip over elongated rail, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the railing system after assembly of the rail topper and the attachment clip over the elongated rail, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates another perspective view of the railing system after assembly of the rail topper and the attachment clip over the elongated rail, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of an attachment clip, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of the attachment clip shown in  FIG. 10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of the railing system after assembly of the rail topper and the attachment clip over the elongated rail, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a side view of the railing system after assembly of the rail topper and the attachment clip over the elongated rail, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of the railing system after assembly of the rail topper and the attachment clip over the elongated rail shown in  FIG. 13 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  depicts an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of assembly of a rail topper over the railing system with help of the attachment clip, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. 
     The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. 
     The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably. 
     The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers to any process or operation done without material human input when the process or operation is performed. However, a process or operation can be automatic, even though performance of the process or operation uses material or immaterial human input, if the input is received before performance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to be material if such input influences how the process or operation will be performed. Human input that consents to the performance of the process or operation is not deemed to be “material”. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of railing system  100 . In an embodiment of the present invention, railing system  100  includes an elongated rail  102  extending lengthwise and a plurality of balusters  104  extending vertically. The plurality of balusters  104  are connected to elongated rail  102  and extend downward to connect to another elongated rail (not shown in the  FIG. 1 ). Railing system  100  may be installed between a pair of vertical support elements, including but not limited to posts, columns or walls. In one embodiment of the present invention, railing system  100  extends along the periphery of a deck, terrace, or other elevated structure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, railing system  100  may be used in any location where a railing installation is desired. 
     Elongated rail  102  includes an elongated core member. The core member is rigid load bearing component and provides internal strength to elongated rail  102 . The core member may be formed of a material that distributes loads along the length of elongated rail  102 , for example, aluminum, wood, plastic, iron etc. In an embodiment, elongated rail  102  has a shape of a bread loaf. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in another embodiment of the present invention, elongated rail  102  may have different shape. In an embodiment, elongated rail  102  also couples to a load-bearing post  106 . Post  106  may include a top element to enclose an interior of post  106 , which may give post  106  a T-shape. In another embodiment, elongated rail  102  is free-standing without coupling to post  106 . 
     Railing system  100  further includes a rail topper  108  and an attachment clip  110 . Attachment clip  110  facilitates the snapping together of rail topper  108  and the elongated rail  102 . Attachment clip  110  also facilitates the detaching of rail topper  108  and the elongated rail  102 , however in some embodiments the detaching intentionally is difficult in order to help prevent an unintentional detachment. Detaching may be made difficult by a combination of stiffness of rail topper  108 , stiffness of attachment clip  110  and an amount of movement needed to disengage them from each other. Attachment clip  110  is fixed over elongated rail  102  and rail topper  108  is snap-fitted over attachment clip  110 . 
     Railing system  100  further includes a rail mounting bracket  112  and a mounting bracket cover  114 . Rail mounting bracket  112  may be connected to post  106  as well as elongated rail  102  and serves to connect and to support elongated rail  102  with post  106 . Mounting bracket cover  114  is connected to elongated rail  102 . Mounting bracket cover  114  includes one or more inwardly facing ribs configured for connection with the elongated core member in a press fit. Rail mounting bracket  112  and mounting bracket cover  114  include a number of mounting holes and a number of fastener slots that connect them to post  106  and elongated rail  102 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of rail topper  108 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the rail topper  108  is formed of a semi-flexible and resilient material (for example, plastic). In another embodiment of the present invention, the rail topper  108  may be formed of a rigid material. Rail topper  108  has a lower portion that detachably engages with the upper portion of attachment clip  110 . Rail topper  108  provides a decorative cover to the railing system, and increases aesthetic appearance of the railing system. Rail topper  108  is detachable from attachment clip  110 . This allows rail topper  108  to be replaced with another rail topper or a decorative cover without disassembling structural elements of the installed railing system (for example, elongated rail  102  or balusters  104 ). Rail topper  108  is removable, and can be replaced at any time with a different rail topper  108  having a different aesthetic appearance, and/or covers having different internal structures that may be specially adapted to house wires, conduits or other desired things being run within the railing. Further, rail topper  108  provides a substantial enclosure to attachment clip  110  and the core member of elongated rail  102  so that the core member and attachment clip  110  are not visible on the exterior of the railing system. 
     In the context of embodiments of the present invention, a semi-flexible and/or resilient material is a material that, when used for a rail topper  108  and given the dimensions of rail topper  108  (length and/or width), and size of a lip or other feature (e.g., horizontal surface  136 ) on a mounting attachment clip  110  used to secure mounted rail topper  108 , provides enough flexibility to allow rail topper  108  to be manipulated by hand or by simple hand tools (e.g., a prying tool such as a screwdriver) onto and over the lip or similar feature such as horizontal surface  136 . A similar amount of force and flexibility would be used to remove rail topper  108  if so desired. On the other hand, the semi-flexible and/or resilient material should not be so flexible that rail topper  108  would likely be dislodged upon ordinary use or ordinary contact not intended to dislodge rail topper  108 , for example, contact such as placing a relatively small object on rail topper  108  (e.g., a flowerpot, a coffee cup, etc.), a person leaning against rail topper  108 , and so forth. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, rail topper  108  has an elongated and substantially inverted U-shaped structure, which includes a pair of opposing sidewalls that define a channel to receive the elongated core member. In an embodiment, rail topper  108  includes a center ridge portion  116 , a left flange  118  on left sidewall, and a right flange  120  on right side wall. In another embodiment, rail topper  108  may have different internal structure. Rail topper  108  is capable of providing a decorative cover to elongated rail  102  and is configured to be fixed over attachment clip  110 . Center ridge portion  116  may touch or contact elongated rail  102 . The left and right flanges of rail topper  108  may engage with attachment clip  110  and facilitate locking of rail topper  108  over elongated rail  102 . 
     In an embodiment, the left flange and right flange are spaced apart at a distance, which is slightly less than the width of the elongated core member. Further, the internal structure of rail topper  108  and attachment clip  110  is formed with resilient flexible flanges and ridges that snap over the exterior of attachment clip  110  and elongated rail  102 , and firmly hold attachment clip  110  and elongated rail  102 , without the use of fasteners or adhesives. The snapping connection between rail topper  108  and elongated rail  102  allows rail topper  108  to be readily attached and removed. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  illustrate perspective views of attachment clip  110 . The XYZ coordinate directions are marked in the figures. Unless otherwise indicated, horizontal refers to a direction or plane parallel to the X-Y plane, and vertical refers to a direction or plane perpendicular to horizontal. In an embodiment of the present invention, attachment clip  110  provides a mounting interface between rail topper  108  and elongated rail  102 . In an embodiment, width of attachment clip  110  is substantially equal to elongated rail  102 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any other width of attachment clip  110  is also possible that can provide compact fitting of rail topper  108  and elongated rail  102 . 
     In an embodiment of the present disclosure, attachment clip  110  includes a left portion  122 , a right portion  124 , and a middle portion  126  that connects left portion  122  with right portion  124 . Middle portion  126  may be breakaway or not breakaway, either of which provides benefits that will be apparent below. In an embodiment, middle portion  126  is connected to left portion  122  and right portion  124  with a narrow physical interface such that it is easily breakable with the help of a screw driver (or any other edged or prying tool). In an embodiment, the width of middle portion  126  is chosen such that it provides desired lateral spacing between left portion  122  and right portion  124  so that the rail topper  108  is automatically self-centered on the elongated rail  102 . 
     In an embodiment, left portion  122  includes a first planar surface  129  substantially parallel to the X-Y plane, a first inclined surface  130  that extends from first planar surface  129  to a first horizontal surface  136 . First horizontal surface  136  extends from first inclined surface  130  to a first vertical surface  132 . Some embodiments of left portion  122  may include a first cavity  128 , such that first planar surface  129  forms at least a portion of a perimeter around first cavity  128 . Left portion  122  may include a mounting hole  134  to receive a fastener (such as a screw). Mounting hole  134  and its fastener facilitate secure attachment of left portion  122  to elongated rail  102 . In some embodiments, first inclined surface  130  facilitates sliding a portion of rail topper  108  over attachment clip  110  with minimal resistance when rail topper  108  is snapped onto attachment clip  110 . Rail topper  108  may be snapped onto attachment clip  110  when a portion of rail topper  108  (e.g., a left flange) mates with first horizontal surface  136 . In some embodiments, inclined surface  130  may have a curvature in the Y-Z plane. 
     Right portion  124  of attachment clip  110  is similar to the left portion and includes a second planar surface  129  substantially parallel to the X-Y plane, a second inclined surface  130  that extends from second planar surface  129  to a second horizontal surface  136 . Second horizontal surface  136  extends from second inclined surface  130  to a second vertical surface  132 . Some embodiments of right portion  124  may include a second cavity  128 , such that second planar surface  129  forms at least a portion of a perimeter around second cavity  128 . Right portion  124  may include a mounting hole  134  to receive a fastener (such as a screw). Mounting hole  134  and its fastener facilitate secure attachment of right portion  124  to elongated rail  102 . In some embodiments, second inclined surface  130  facilitates sliding a portion of rail topper  108  over attachment clip  110  with minimal resistance when rail topper  108  is snapped onto attachment clip  110 . Rail topper  108  may be snapped onto attachment clip  110  when a portion of rail topper  108  (e.g., a right flange) mates with second horizontal surface  136 . In some embodiments, inclined surface  130  may have a curvature in the Y-Z plane. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, attachment clip  110  is semi-flexible. In another embodiment, the left portion and right portion of attachment clip  110  are rigid and the middle portion is semi-flexible. Middle portion  126  is breakable with help of a screwdriver (or any other tool having edge) and creates space (void or groove) to receive the central ridge portion of rail topper  108 . This allows rail topper  108  to come in direct contact with elongated rail  102  and the center of gravity of the rail topper  108  is lowered. This allows improved structural integrity and stability between elongated rail  102  and rail topper  108 . Further, this allows self-centering of rail topper  108  over elongated rail  102 . Furthermore, this prevents movement (for example, rotational or side movement) of rail topper  108  over elongated rail  102 . 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6A  illustrate bottom view and side view of attachment clip  110  for railing assembly, respectively.  FIG. 6B  illustrates a side view of another attachment clip  150 , in which a central portion of the attachment clip  150  is not designed to be removable. Attachment clip  150  may be a single body such that attachment clip  150  includes a side surface  152  that extends from the left side of attachment clip  150  to the right side of attachment clip  150 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-section view of rail topper  108  snap-fitted over elongated rail  102  with help of attachment clip  110 . As shown in the figure, the central ridge portion of rail topper  108  stays intact with the left portion and the right portion of attachment clip  110  even after installation. Further, top surface of attachment clip  110  is contoured to the bottom surface of the semi-flexible rail topper  108 . As illustrated, the central ridge portion protrudes up, and mates with a depression or void in the bottom surface of the semi-flexible rail topper  108 . 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, attachment clip  110  includes left portion  122 , right portion  124 , and the middle portion  126 , as described above. In another embodiment of the present invention, attachment clip  110  may include only the left portion  122  or the right portion  124 . In this embodiment, a single-piece clip may be installed on each of the left side and right side of elongated rail  102 . The single-piece clip is equivalent to the left portion  122  or right portion  124  of attachment clip  110  described above, and the single-piece clip does not include the middle portion  126 , and there is no middle portion to be broken. Separate left portions  122  or right portions  124  may be installed independently of each other, e.g., at least one each but in unequal numbers, or at staggered locations along elongated rail  102 , and so forth. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates perspective view of an assembled railing system  800 . As shown in the figure, attachment clip  110  is not visible as it has been concealed by rail topper  108  and elongated rail  102 . Rail topper  108  has been snap-fitted on top of the elongated rail  102  with support of attachment clip  110 . Rail topper  108  sits on top of elongated rail  102  and substantially encloses elongated rail  102 . As shown in the figure, elongated rail  102  is also connected to a post  106  with support of the side cover and the bracket cover. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates perspective views of yet another assembled system  900 . As shown in the figure, balusters connect the elongated upper rail with the elongated bottom rail. Rail topper  108  has been snap-fitted over the elongated upper rail with help of attachment clip  110 , and attachment clip  110  is not visible. As shown in the figure, rail topper  108  provides attractive and unique aesthetic appearance to the railing system. Further, rail topper  108  is detachable and a different rail topper  108  having different color or design may be snapped over the upper elongated rail when desired by a user. 
       FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  illustrate a perspective view and side view of an attachment clip  210 , respectively, according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, attachment clip  210  includes a left side flat portion  212 , a middle flat portion  214 , and a right side flat portion  216 . Middle flat portion  214  is connected to left side flat portion  212  through a first curved portion, and to right side flat portion  216  through a second curved portion, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The first curved portion and the second curved portion may include mounting holes to receive fasteners (for example, screws) to fix attachment clip  210  to elongated rail  102 . In this embodiment of the present invention, attachment clip  210  has an elongated structure, and middle flat portion  214  is not broken or removed after attaching attachment clip  210  to elongated rail  102  (unlike attachment clip  110 ). Flat middle portion  214  may be made of same material as left side flat portion  212  and right side flat portion  216 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although attachment clip  210  has been drawn as having a significant length in the X-axis direction, a significant length may be not be necessary in some embodiments. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of a rail topper member  218  snapped over attachment clip  210 , in railing system  1200 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. Attachment clip  210  may be screwed to elongated rail  102  by use of screws extending through mounting holes of attachment clip  210 . Further, rail topper member  218  includes a left flange and right flange that engages with the left portion and the right portion of attachment clip  210 , respectively and facilitates locking rail topper member  218  to attachment clip  210 . Rail topper member  218  is locked to attachment clip  210  sufficiently to prevent significant unintended movement of rail topper member  218  either left/right (i.e., +/−Y-axis as illustrated in the figures) or up/down (i.e., +/−Z-axis as illustrated in the figures). A significant movement is at least one that may cause rail topper member  218  to disengage from attachment clip  210 , and the movement is unintended if it is not made for the purpose of removing rail topper member  218  from attachment clip  210 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates side view of a railing system  1300 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. System  1300  includes rail topper  220  rigidly fixed to attachment clip  210  using fasteners.  FIG. 13  illustrates an elongated rail  102 , an attachment clip  210 , and a rail topper member  220 . In this embodiment, rail topper member  220  has a central body elongated along the Z-axis (perpendicular to the plane of  FIG. 13 ), having a rectangular top surface and a rectangular bottom surface. Further, rail topper  220  may be a rigid member, or may be a semi-flexible member in other embodiments. To assemble railing system  1300 , attachment clip  210  first is fixed over elongated rail  102  with help of fasteners (such as screws) in mounting holes. In this embodiment, attachment clip  210  also includes mounting holes at each of the left side flat portion and the right side flat portion. Then, rail topper member  220  is coupled over and onto attachment clip  210  with help of fasteners (such as screws) in the mounting holes present on left side flat portion and the right flat portion.  FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of rail topper  220  fixed over attachment clip  210  using fasteners, in railing system  1300 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that railing system  1300  is easily detachable as the fasteners can be locked and unlocked any time to change or upgrade rail topper  220 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method  1500  for operation of fixing a rail topper member (e.g.,  108 ) over the railing system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Initially, at step  1502 , attachment clip  110  (or  210 ) is placed on the railing system, and a place to drill the railings is marked corresponding to the two holes of attachment clip  110 . The railings are then drilled at two marked places. 
     At step  1504 , the fasteners (for example, screws) are tightened, which locks attachment clip  110  over and onto the railings. In an embodiment of the present invention, attachment clip  110  is fastened to elongated rail  102  using screws. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in another embodiment, step  1502  and  1504  may be combined in a single step, where the attachment clip  110  may be fixed over the railing system through any other attachment means. 
     At optional step  1506 , the middle portion (if provided) of an attachment clip may be broken off or snapped off. A middle portion may not be provided if the attachment clip includes separate, unconnected left and right portions. In an embodiment of the present invention, the middle portion if provided may be snapped off using a screwdriver or device having an edge that can engage with the middle portion and snap it off. Removal of the middle portion creates space (e.g., a void or groove) to receive the central ridge portion of rail topper  108 . Step  1506  may be optional for clips such as attachment clip  210  that do not have a removable middle section. 
     At step  1508 , rail topper  108  is snapped fit over attachment clip  110  and pushed. Rail topper  108  is pushed over attachment clip  110  so that it encloses the railing system and attachment clip  110 . The central ridge portion of rail topper  108  makes direct contact with the top portion of the railings due to removal of the middle portion of attachment clip  110  in step  1506 . The left side and right side flanges of rail topper  108  engages with edge portion of attachment clip  110  to lock rail topper  108  in a sound fit over elongated rail  102 . The ridge portion of rail topper  108  can make contact more easily with the top portion of the railings when the middle portion of attachment clip  110  is snapped off. Hence, the center of gravity of rail topper  108  is lowered, thus providing improved structural integrity between rail topper  108  and the elongated rail  102 . 
     The foregoing discussion of the present invention has been presented for illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the present invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing detailed description, for example, various features of the present invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects to streamline the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspects may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention the present invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present invention. 
     Moreover, though the description of the present invention has included description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the present invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.