A balustrade is proposed wherein a hinge device (66) connects each baluster (56) to the rail (55) in such manner as to permit limited pivotal and translational movement therebetween. The hinge device (66) comprises a flat spring of generally J-shape the elongate body (67) of the spring being secured to the rail and the curved end (68) of the spring being secured to the baluster. An inflexible plate (70) overlies the body (67) to restrain the same against movement. Opening of the curved end (68) permits relative pivotal and translational motion between the baluster (56) and rail (55). The arrangement offers advantages in collapse of the balustrade for transportation purposes and also permits of adjustment of the angle between the rail and balusters to accommodate facture and other tolerances.

This invention relates to a balustrade, particularly but, not exclusively, 
for domestic use. 
In European Patent No. 246057 there is described a balustrade which 
includes hand and base rails interconnected by a plurality of balusters. 
The balusters are pivotally connected to the rails and this offers very 
significant advantages in the manufacture, transportation and installation 
of such balustrades. For example, it is possible for the entire balustrade 
to be manufactured under factory conditions, leading to higher quality and 
less possibility of damage due to poor site conditions and perhaps 
inferior labour. 
Further, because of its pivotable nature the entire balustrade can be 
collapsed to a position wherein the two rails are close together and the 
balusters are disposed nearly parallel thereto. This provides a very 
compact package enabling storage, transportation and packaging costs to be 
reduced. 
There is the further advantage (described in the specification) that the 
balustrade can be arranged to fit stairs of slightly varying height and 
pitch simply by varying the inclination of the rails, whilst always 
maintaining the balusters vertical. By leaving slightly extra material at 
the ends of the two rails the only operation needed on site, once the 
newal posts have been positioned, is the transverse cutting of the two 
rails to fit the post. This is an operation which can be carried out 
accurately on site. 
The aforementioned patent also describes how the invention is applicable 
principally to balustrades made out of wood or comparable materials such 
as moulded plastics material or composite materials which do not have thin 
section strength as do metal balustrades. There is much prior art (for 
example exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3174727 to Burt) which describes a 
pivotal connection between a rail and a baluster in a metal balustrade. 
Because metal is inherently much stronger than wood, the provision of a 
pivotal connection between metal balusters and metal rails is very easy, 
particularly if the metal rail is a hollow section. However, a comparison 
of the problem of machining wood to such tolerances and the necessary 
thicknesses and strength which would be required make it quite clear that 
the methods and constructions of Burt and the like are quite unsuitable 
for use in relation to wooden balustrades. 
There is the further disadvantage in the construction described in Burt 
and, indeed, almost all the metal constructions and many of the old wooden 
constructions, in that, although the pivoting mechanism can very often be 
effectively shielded from view by being disposed wholly or partly in the 
underside of the handrail, the pivot mechanism on the lower rail is 
exposed. This can be unsightly and is undesirable in a domestic 
environment. A further disadvantage is that the lower rail very often has 
to be provided with cavities in its upper surface to accommodate either 
fastenings or the lower ends of the balusters. As such cavities are 
upwardly open, they tend to collect finishing material such as varnish or 
waxes. In use they become reservoirs for dirt and dust and can become most 
unattractive. 
The invention described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 246057 did 
avoid this problem, but the connection between the balusters and the rails 
in that earlier patent did have certain disadvantages. 
FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a balustrade 10 on a stair 11. The 
balustrade 10 has a hand rail 12 and base rail 13 pivotally interconnected 
by balusters. To the left of FIG. 1 are shown balusters 14 pivoted by the 
means described in U.S. Pat. No. 246057. It will be seen that the end of 
each baluster is part cylindrical and effectively makes only line contact 
with the rails 12 and 13. Whilst the interconnecting devices which allow 
such pivoting are strong and effective, the apparent point contact which 
is visible at 15 in FIG. 1 is found in many cases to be aesthetically 
unattractive. A balustrade which has such apparent point contact appears, 
to the purchaser, to be more flimsy or fragile than a conventional 
balustrade wherein an impression of extra strength is given by the fact 
that the ends of the balusters are (or appear to be) fully housed within 
the rails. 
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a 
balustrade which is a further improvement over and above the balustrade of 
the aforementioned patent. 
The invention provides a balustrade which includes a hand rail and a base 
rail interconnected by a plurality of parallel balusters, each end of each 
baluster being pivotally attached to its respective rail by a pivot 
arrangement which includes a socket in the rail adapted closely to 
surround and receive an end portion of the baluster and a hinge device 
connecting the baluster end to the rail and constructed and arranged to 
allow first relative pivotal movement between the baluster and the rail 
about an axis extending transversely of the rail and baluster and a second 
translational motion of said end portion of the baluster into and out of 
said socket. 
The invention provides, as a further feature, a baluster/rail connecting 
hinge device including a first part adapted to be connected to the rail 
and a second part adapted to be connected to the baluster, said two parts 
being interconnected in a manner to permit relative pivoting of the two 
parts and translational movement of one part relative to the other in a 
direction at right angles to the pivot axis. 
Preferably each part is adapted to be essentially a push-fit in its 
component. 
In one embodiment the translational movement can be provided by one of the 
parts having two members, a first member which is connected to its 
relevant component and a second member which is connected to the other 
component and which is telescopically movable relative to the other 
member. Desirably said telescopic motion is spring loaded in a manner 
tending to draw the rail and baluster together. To facilitate assembly it 
is desirable that the part which has two members is connected to the rail. 
In particular, it is desirable in this case for the rail to be made of two 
components, the telescopic part of the hinge member being fastened to a 
lower functional part of the rail which is, in turn, covered by a higher 
decorative portion to constitute a hand rail. 
On the base rail the part of the device having two members can be simply 
attached to a plain rail as the projection of the said part beneath the 
base rail will not be visible in use. In the event that the method is used 
in relation to a balustrade in which the underside of the base rail can be 
seen in use (for example in an open-plan building) the ends of those parts 
visible beneath the lower rail can be covered with a cover strip extending 
the full length of the rail. 
As an alternative, the translational motion between the two parts can be 
provided by the two parts being connected by a bridge, the bridge 
functioning to space the two parts and being pivotally connected to each. 
In this case each part can be a simple plug fit into its respective 
component. 
The socket in the appropriate surface of the rail can be such as to suit 
the baluster. Normally the top and bottom ends of the baluster (even if 
turned) will be left rectangular. In the past this has been done to 
improve connection between the baluster and the rail and therefore has 
become aesthetically accepted. In this case the sockets will be 
rectangular. However, the invention works equally well with 
non-rectangular balusters, for example circular balusters which could be 
accommodated within circular sockets. 
For accommodation in the socket the end of each baluster will be provided 
with an angled face. The part of the baluster which is nearest the acute 
angle between the face and the length of the baluster will have to be 
chamfered so as to fit snugly within the socket. In the case of a 
non-rectangular baluster such chamfering will need to be progressive 
around the upper side of the baluster. 
In the second embodiment, each part of the hinged device can comprise a 
pair of headed pegs, the heads being connected by a pin. The bridge can 
comprise a strip of spring steel having a hook at each end rendering the 
bridge generally of an S-shape. Each hook can be a snap-fit on the 
respective pin. Thus, after driving the parts into the respective 
components of each pivot assembly, the two parts can be connected simply 
by hooking the bridge respectively over the two pins. This solves any 
problem in driving the members whilst the rail and balustrade are closely 
interconnected. 
In a further arrangement the pivot arrangement between each balluster and 
the rail is in the form of a spring which is secured to the rail and to 
the end of the balluster, the spring being J-shaped, a longer body of the 
spring being secured to the rail and the curve of the spring having an end 
secured to the balluster.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 6, a preferred balustrade of the invention has 
a hand rail 17, a base rail 18 and a plurality of interconnecting 
balusters 16. Each baluster 16 is connected to its respective rail 17,18 
by means of a pivot arrangement indicated at 19 in FIG. 2. The rail 17 
only is shown and the construction described relates to connection to the 
handrail 17. However, an inverse condition exists at the base rail 18. At 
the pivot arrangement the baluster face of the rail is provided with a 
rectangular socket 20. An end portion of the baluster 16 is accommodated 
within the socket 20 in the operative position shown in FIG. 2. In order 
to be accommodated within the socket 20 the baluster 16 is formed with an 
inclined face 21. At the upper end of inclinded face 21 (considered in 
relation to the staircase) the baluster 16 is arcuately chamfered to form 
a face 22 which is part cylindrical. Adjacent the lower end the baluster 
16 is pivotally connected to the rail by means of a hinge assembly 23. The 
hinge assembly 23 includes a first part 24 which connect with the baluster 
16 and a second part 25 which connects with the rail. The first part 24 
includes a saw tooth plug 26 which is accommodated in a slightly 
undersized hole formed in the baluster 16. At its outer end the plug 26 
has a body 27 through which passes a pivot pin 28. The pivot pin 28 also 
passes through a two part body 29 of the second part 25 of the hinge 
assembly. Each body part 29 is connected to a respective first piston 
member 30 of the part 25. Each piston member 30 is accommodated within a 
cylinder part 31. Each cylinder part 31 is a push fit in an aperture in 
the rail 17 (see FIG. 2) and is restrained from passing through the rail 
by an annular flange 32. Internally each cylinder part 31 has an annular 
shoulder 33. A screw 34 passes through the shoulder 33 and engages with a 
respective piston part 30. A compression spring 35 is disposed between the 
head of the screw 34 and the shoulder 33 so that the body 29 of the 
assembly 23 is resiliently urged towards the rail 17. 
In use, folding of the balustrade for storage and transportation purposes 
after manufacture in a factory can be effected by moving the ends of the 
baluster 16 out of their recesses 20 and then pivoting them about the axes 
of the pins 28 so that the two rails are fairly close together and the 
balusters lie almost parallel to the rails. This is possible because the 
axle 28 can be moved relative to the rail 17,18 to allow pivoting of the 
balusters without interference between the sockets 20 and the upper ends 
of the balusters. This means that the balusters 16 can be folded parallel 
to each other and very close together and almost parallel to rails 17, 18 
to create a very small package for transportation and storage. As will be 
later described the second embodiment also has a comparable movable pivot 
axis which enables such moving and pivoting to be carried out 
Upon assembly the end portions of the balusters will be accommodated snugly 
and almost wholly within the sockets 20. The necessary slight adjustment 
which is usually necessary upon installation (typically the angle between 
the rails and the balusters only needs to vary between 38 and 42 degrees) 
can be accommodated by relative pivoting of the rails and balusters about 
the axis of the pins 28. This pivoting is illustrated in FIG. 2. It will 
be appreciated that due to the two degrees of freedom the downward face of 
the baluster actually pivots about the edge 36, whilst the face 22 (which 
is cylindrical about the axis of pin 28) slides relative to the top edge 
of the recess 20. 
As is shown in FIG. 2 there is no visible cavity which, in the case of the 
lower rail would form a catchment for dirt, dust, varnish , lacquer or the 
like which could become unsightly. At both ends the balusters appear to be 
solidly connected to the rails, and the pivotal nature of the connection 
cannot be seen. This greatly enhances the aesthetic appeal of the 
balustrade. 
As will be appreciated, the second part of the hinge assemblies 23 have to 
be assembled from a side of the rail remote from the baluster. How this is 
achieved is shown in FIG. 6. In the case of the lower end 16b of the 
baluster, the base rail 13 has a lower channel 37 in which the ends of the 
cylinder member 31 are concealed. As the channel 37 is directed downwards, 
the parts are not visible in use. However, in the case of a balustrade 
installed in a location where it might easily be seen frequently from 
below, the channel 37 could be filled with a cover strip. 
At the upper end, it would, of course, be unacceptable for the parts 25 to 
be visible. For this reason the hand rail 17 is made in two parts. An 
upper portion 17a which could be described as a decorative portion and a 
lower portion 17b which could be described as a functional portion. The 
respective cylinder members of the second parts 25 are first secured to 
the functional portion 17b as described earlier. Thereafter, the 
decorative portions 17a is mated with the portion 17b. It is very 
convenient if the portion 17b and the lower rail 13 are made identical. 
This allows a single machining tool configuration to be used to make for 
both parts. Connection between the parts 17a and 17b can be by means of an 
adhesive, and/or by means of discrete fasteners passing upwardly through 
the portions 17b into the portion 17. 
FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate how the faces of the portion 17b or the bottom 
rail 13 which are on the baluster side can be constructed. As will be 
appreciated, a rectangular socket 20 is required for each baluster. Whilst 
it is possible to create rectangular socket using woodworking machinery, 
it is not particularly easy. For this purpose, it can be more convenient 
to machine a continuous channel 40 in the surface of the rail 13 or 
portion 17b and then place individual spacing blocks 41 within the channel 
at appropriate intervals, the blocks being secured by adhesive and/or 
fasteners. 
Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 10 there is now described a second preferred 
embodiment of pivot arrangement of a baluster of the invention. When using 
this arrangement the ends of the balusters are shaped to have surfaces 21 
and 22 exactly as in the earlier embodiment. However, because of the 
nature of the hinge device used here, the hand rail 17 does not have to be 
in two parts. For this reason, a view comparable to FIG. 6 has not been 
provided. 
In this second embodiment the hinge assembly 42 has a first part 43 and a 
second part 44. The parts 43 and 44 are identical and each consists of a 
pair of pillars. All four pillars are identical and each consists of a saw 
tooth plug 45, 46 respectively and a dome-shaped head 47 and 48 
respectively. The heads 47 are connected by a pivot pin 49 (FIG. 9) and 
the heads 48 are connected by a pivot pin 50. In a manner exactly 
comparable to the insertion of the plugs 26, the plugs 45 and 46 are an 
interference press fit in slightly undersized apertures in the material of 
the rails and balusters. It is to be understood that the material of the 
balusters and rails will normally be wood, although the invention can be 
applicable to composite materials such as wood and/or plastics and/or 
other materials having similar strength, properties and hardness. 
The two pins 49 , 50 are, in use, interconnected by a bridge in the form of 
a strip of spring steel which, at each end, is formed with a re-entrant 
hook 52,53. Each re-entrant hook is adapted to be a snap fit on a 
respective one of the pins 49,50. In use, the part 44 is pressed into the 
rail 17/18, and the part 43 is pressed into the end of the baluster 16. 
Thereafter, the bridge 51 is hooked over one of the pins 50 and then the 
other component of the pivot arrangement is moved so that its pin engages 
the respective other hook. The spring hook arrangement overcomes any 
problem of inserting the push-fit plugs 45,46 in the constricted spaces 
available. 
In the second embodiment the relative pivoting between the rails and 
balusters is the same as in the first embodiment. 
Referring now to FIGS. 13 to 17 , a further preferred balustrade 54 of the 
invention (FIG. 13) includes a pair of rails, of which only the hand rail 
is illustrated at 55, and a plurality of ballusters 56 extending between 
the two rails. Each end of each balluster 56 is connected to its 
respective rail by a pivot assembly and the pivot assembly will be 
described in relation only to one connection, namely that between baluster 
56 and hand rail 55, it being understood that the other connections are 
comparable. 
In FIG. 13 the balluster 56 shown as part of a sloping balustrade. Its 
upper end 57 is provided with an angled end face 58. The hand rail 55 is 
provided with a plurality of generally rectangular recesses 59 which are 
formed in a groove which extends longitudinally of the inner face of the 
hand rail and which is divided up by spacers 60. The upper end of each 
spacer 60 is chamfered on its interior edge at 61 to create a generally 
triangular recess 82. The outer edge of the spacer 60 at the upper end 
thereof provides a fulcrum, at point 62, which engages with the face 63 of 
the baluster 56. The opposite face 64 and the surface 58 terminate at and 
are joined by a transition surface 65 which is cylindrical about point 62. 
To allow the end 57 of the balluster to pivot relative to the rail 55 and 
also to effect translational motion relative thereto into and out of the 
recess 59, a spring pivot device 66 is provided. Spring pivot device 66 is 
generally J-shaped in side view, and has an elongate body 67 and a curved 
head 68. The free end of head 68 is secured at 69 to the upper end of face 
63. To constrain movement of the body 67 of spring pivot device 66 an 
inflexible plate 70 sandwiches the body 67 against the base of a channel 
59a in the base of the recess 59. A common fastener 71 secures plate 70 
and spring pivot device 66. 
In use, the baluster 56 can pivot between the position shown in full in 
FIG. 13 and the position shown in dotted lines therein, for storage and 
transportation. 
In use, the spring (to be described in detail later) allows movement of the 
baluster ends relative to the recesses 59 such as to allow variation in 
the balustrade angle from perhaps 38.degree. to 42.degree., ample to 
accommodate facture and other tolerances. Of course, in different 
applications different angles can be chosen. 
FIG. 14 illustrates a slight variation wherein a foldable balustrade is to 
be provided for a landing or the like. Here, the balusters 72 have to be 
at right angles to the rail 73 and although the spacers 74 and the pivot 
arrangement including the spring 56 are the same, the upper face 75 of the 
baluster extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the baluster. 
In other respects the operation and function of the embodiment shown in 
FIG. 14 is analogous to that illustrated in FIG. 13. 
FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 show the pivot arrangement, including the spring pivot 
device 66 in more detail. 
The dimensions shown in FIG. 16 are in millimeters and illustrate a typical 
spring suitable for use with a domestic balustrade rising perhaps some 9 
feet and having balusters approximately 35 mm square or comparable size. 
The spring is approximately 0.5 mm in thickness and is made from CS70 
spring steel. This is adequate to allow the head 68 to wind and unwind to 
allow relative movement between the balusters and rails whilst maintaining 
a firm interconnection between them. It will be seen that at the end of 
the head 68 the spring is provided with a pair of outwardly extending lugs 
which have apertures 76 whereby the spring can be secured to the 
balustrade. Of course, other fastener means are possible. 
In particular, instead of the screws shown at 69 and 71, push-in fitments 
engageable by friction and/or adhesive within sockets bored into the 
material of the balusters can be advantageous and lead to easier assembly. 
The spacers will normally be applied after the springs have been attached 
to the rails. 
The embodiments herein described overcome the problem of providing a 
decorative, aesthetically pleasing balustrade wherein the ends of the 
balusters are housed within the rails, and where no open catchments are 
provided for dust or the like. The balustrade has all the appearance of a 
conventional rigid balustrade but has the advantages of minor 
adjustability for installation under varying conditions of the 
surroundings and also almost total folding for ease of storage, packaging 
and transportation. 
The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and 
variations can be made thereto within the scope of the invention.