Abstract:
Wire attachment and/or tensioning assemblies are described. The ends of wires may be fitted with mateable collar and wedge components to allow the wire to be securely attached to a supporting structure such as, for example, the surface of a railing post. The wire attachment assembly may be rotatably attached to a tensioning device that enables wire tension adjustments without rotating the wire itself, thereby avoiding the need to adjust the opposing end of the wire.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to railing systems, and more particularly to easily configurable fixtures for attaching and/or tensioning cabling, rope or wire rope to surfaces such as those of railing corner posts.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Traditional deck railings consist primarily of vertical balusters of wood or PVC in a variety of shapes, either set into specially shaped top and bottom rails, or attached to standard pieces of lumber. Most of the rail components are pressure-treated to resist rot and mildew but have to be cleaned, painted and/or sealed on a regular, often yearly basis, depending on the climate. Additionally, attaching such wooden balusters can be labor intensive and requires care while working with wood, due to the naturally occurring deformations and tendency to split.  
         [0003]     Some railing developers have endeavored to form railings employing horizontal wires or wire rope, spaced equally according to building regulations. Although most of the wire rope contemplated or used is stainless, the end fittings employed in such systems are either not stainless, and therefore corrode faster, or are stainless but require swaging by machine or manually with special hand swaging devices. In most cases, such end fittings are not reusable, and often must be discarded if not installed correctly, resulting typically in a significant waste of wire rope as well. In other systems, wire rope ends are formed into a loop and crimped, which is very unsightly. In yet other systems, several types of fittings are required for installation and tensioning the installed wire rope sections.  
         [0004]     A further significant disadvantage of existing railing systems is that average homeowners and even semi-skilled construction workers find installations to be difficult or impossible. The knowledge required to correctly swage for sufficient breaking strength, and to choose the correct fittings and wire rope is usually possessed only by specialty industrial or marine (i.e., sailing, rigging) companies, which greatly limits their use in standard residential installations. Furthermore, such specialized know-how makes stainless systems too expensive to be considered for standard houses, and impossible to mass market.  
         [0005]     Other existing systems have even more pronounced limitations that become evident when railings are to be installed on stairs leading from or to a deck. There are too many variables to make such systems easy to install; in every existing application different fittings have to be chosen, or standard ones modified, to allow them to be used. Presently, the scope of installations on stairs requires considerable knowledge, far beyond that of the average homeowner or general contractor.  
         [0006]     There is a well-established general trend and desire for homes and commercial structures to be largely maintenance free, which can be seen from the introduction of decking material made from recycled plastic, and the use of PVC posts and other more easily manipulated building materials.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to introduce maintenance-free deck railings that can be successfully installed with simple tools by either unskilled construction workers, or by very moderately skilled homeowners.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The objects set forth above as well as further and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the embodiments of the invention described hereinbelow.  
         [0009]     In one aspect, the present invention provides an assembly for easily attaching a wire to a rigid body, such as a free-standing bolt or a fixed surface of existing or new standard corner or end posts. As used herein, the term “wire” refers to unsheathed or sheathed wire or wire rope, of which 7×7, 1×19, and 7×19 are common constructions. The rigid body may be composed of any solid material (e.g., wood, plastic or metal.) The wire attachment assembly includes a collar component having a center aperture dimensioned to receive the wire, a threaded portion, and a tapered internal recess, a cylindrical member having a threaded end engaging the threaded portion of the collar, and a tapered wedge disposed between the collar and cylindrical member. The tapered wedge also has a center aperture dimensioned to receive the wire, but also has a groove extending along the length of the wedge such that when the cylindrical member and collar are screwed together, the tapered internal recess of the collar component compresses or crimps the tapered wedge tightly around the wire. The internal surface of the wedge may additionally have rough features to further secure the wire within the wedge.  
         [0010]     The collar component and cylindrical member preferably have shoulder portions (i.e., flats or hexes) allowing gripping and turning with a tool. The cylindrical member may optionally have a center recess that can receive an end portion of the wire passing through the collar and wedge. The entire assembly is preferably comprised of a hard material such as solid plastic or metal.  
         [0011]     In another aspect, the present invention provides a wire attachment and tensioning device, including a rigid body having a threaded end, any means for attaching the wire to the rigid body, and a rotatable tensioning assembly attached to a support surface. The rotatable tensioning assembly has a threaded end that engages the threaded end of the rigid body, so that rotating the tensioning assembly adjusts the distance of the wire attaching means from the support surface, thereby tightening or tensioning the wire.  
         [0012]     In another aspect, the present invention provides a railing system that employs such wire attachment and/or wire tensioning means. In such a railing system, a wire of predetermined dimensions is fixed to a post, or a tensioning device affixed to the post, by means of a wire attachment assembly (e.g., a single gripping wedge inside a frustoconical collar.) The wire may pass through intermediate posts of the railing system that have channels or bore holes to receive the wire, until the wire reaches an opposing corner post, where it attaches to another tensioning device that is in turn attached to a corner post.  
         [0013]     Since each tensioning device includes a rotatable component, tensioning of the wire can be achieved at either or both mounting posts without either twisting the wire or un-tensioning the opposing tensioning device. This is preferably accomplished by gripping a feature such as a flat or hex on the wire attachment assembly with a wrench to hold the wire steady, and inserting a tool such as, for example, a screw driver, into the hole near the fixed end and turning till the desired tension is achieved.  
         [0014]     In a preferred embodiment, the tensioning device can be adjusted from 0 to 45 degrees from a position normal to the mounting post by means of a suitable recess in a plate used to affix the tensioner to the post. By appropriately orientating the plate and recess, one can achieve this angular attachment in any direction desired. Thus, the same type of tensioning device may be employed to attach wire on a staircase to railing posts at different elevations, and to be used for left hand or right hand corners.  
         [0015]     The following additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent when reading the descriptions and drawings: 
        multiple lengths of wire can be positioned at any vertical interval desired or prescribed by building codes, by securing the attachment assembly and/or tensioning device at proper positions on the post;     multiple tensioning devices will be have an aesthetically pleasing uniform distance from the surface(s) to which they are attached;     wire is easily attached to the tensioning device with simple tools;     the tensioning device is universally adaptable to any railing geometry and/or varying elevations, greatly simplifying installations and inventory required, as only three different types components are necessary regardless of the type of decking or stairway—the tensioning device, a suitably sized wire rope and suitable fasteners;     the tensioning device is maintenance free, if made from preferred stainless steel or other corrosion resistant material, yet can be re-tensioned at a later stage should wire ropes become slack through use or significant temperature changes;     there is no need to fit any wire rope terminal to intermediate posts, and since only the wire rope itself is fed through those posts, the holes can be of similar size to such wire rope, thus locating said wire rope precisely though the posts without any possible movement;     the fasteners used to affix the tensioning device to the surface can be sized to terminate within the surface, allowing the wire ropes to be attached at adjoining right angles and at precisely the same height, which is impossible for most existing fittings, as conventional systems typically require bolting through the posts;     the individual wire ropes do not need to be pre-cut, as the end of each can be fed through all intermediate posts before being attached to the first tensioning device, after which the wire ropes can be pulled straight, and eventually cut to the exact length required just before attaching them to the opposite tensioning device; this greatly simplifies installation, and eliminates waste as it makes pre-cut or pre-swaged lengths obsolete;     waste of wire is minimized as the wire needs to be cut only after it has been unfurled from a reel or spool.        
 
         [0025]     The tensioning device may include a feature such as, for example, a trans-axial hole through the assembly or a shoulder (i.e., flat or hex), to facilitate turning the device with a simple tool to effect the tension on the wire. Various embodiments of the tensioning device described below employ different configurations for rotatably attaching the device to a surface. In one embodiment, the attachment is achieved by a threaded connection to a threaded bolt protruding from the surface. In another embodiment, the attachment is made to a threaded swivel rotatably secured to the surface by a recessed plate and plate fasteners. Other attachment configurations are possible and are deemed to be with the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0026]     For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawing and detailed description, wherein:  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a exploded schematic view of a wire attachment and tensioning assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustrating the fastening of a mounting plate to a surface of a railing post;  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a schematic illustrating a lag bolt rotatably mounted through a railing post;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrating multiple wire attachment and tensioning devices mounted to one surface of a railing post;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustrating multiple wire attachment and tensioning devices mounted to two surfaces of a railing post; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustrating multiple wire attachment and tensioning devices mounted to two posts at different elevations. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     The present invention provides a wire rope attachment means, tensioning means, and railing systems incorporating such means.  
         [0034]     In a preferred embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1  in an exploded perspective view, the present invention provides wire attachment assembly  6  that can be combined with a tensioning assembly to form a wire attachment and tensioning device  1 . Each sub-assembly is preferably made entirely from stainless steel, or other corrosion resistant materials. In a preferred embodiment, the device is comprised of a threaded swivel  3 , a mounting plate  4  having a center aperture  13 , a tubular body  5  and the threaded wire rope attachment assembly  6  including a gripping wedge  22 , collar  24  and rigid threaded stud  18 .  
         [0035]     The tensioning assembly is rotatably attachable to (or through) a support surface such as a railing post or a wall and includes a threaded end  17  to engage a threaded end of the stud  18  such that rotating the tensioning assembly adjusts the distance between wire  7  and the support surface. The threaded swivel  3  preferably includes a substantially hemispherical portion  8  and a threaded stud  9  that engages a threaded end  15  of tubular body  5  through the center aperture  13  of plate  4 . The plate  4  has an internal recess  10  dimensioned to rotatably receive the hemispherical portion  8  such that the threaded swivel  3  will turn when the plate  4  is mounted to a support surface. The center aperture  13  may also be formed to follow the contours of the hemispherical portion  8 , thus allowing easy rotation of the threaded swivel  3  even when under tension. About the perimeter of center aperture  13  is disposed a cylindrical flange  30  having a groove  11  that is of a size permitting the threaded swivel to be positioned at an angle of up to 45 degrees with respect to an imaginary center axis of the center aperture  13 .  
         [0036]     With respect to  FIG. 2 , the internal recess  10  of the plate  4  is dimensioned so as to completely contain the hemispherical portion  8 , even when the swivel  3  is oriented in an off-axis position. The plate  4  may be attached to the support surface by any conventional means, including through the use of fasteners or adhesives. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, a plurality of recessed holes  12  of a suitable size and shape are symmetrically spaced about the face of the plate  4 . Fasteners such as stainless standard wood decking screws  14  are used that have a thickness and length sufficient to securely affix the plate to an end or corner post  2  and to transfer the desired tension to the wire attachment and tensioning device.  
         [0037]     With reference again to  FIG. 1 , the tubular body  5  is a substantially cylindrical shaped tube, hollow on the inside and preferably smooth on the outside. Threaded end  15  is preferably internally threaded in a way to accept the threaded stud  9  of the swivel  3 . Alternatively, the threaded end  15  could be externally threaded while swivel  3  has an internal thread. After engaging threaded stud  9  with threaded end  15 , the thread positions can be locked mechanically or with a suitable liquid thread locking compound, so as to firmly bond the swivel  3  to the tubular body  5 . In yet another embodiment, the swivel  3  and tubular body  5  could comprise one single part. Once the plate  4  has been attached to a post  2 , the tubular body  5  and the swivel  3  will always rotate together without changing their combine total length. The rotation of the combined swivel  3  and body  5 , which will be referred to hereinafter as the tensioner or tensioning subassembly when engaged with threaded stud  18  is what provides the ability to tension an attached wire.  
         [0038]     In an alternative configuration, the threaded tubular body  5  may consist of a lag bolt, with or without a washer, that is rotatably mounted through a post (such as shown in  FIG. 3 ), thereby eliminating the need for a mounting plate.  
         [0039]     Referring once again to  FIG. 1 , the tensioning subassembly preferably includes one or more features that allow gripping and turning with a tool. For example, hole  16  is disposed trans-axially through the tensioning subassembly to allow insertion of any suitably sized awl, screwdriver or similar tool for turning the subassembly. Other features, such as a circumferential shoulder (not shown) with flats or a hexed shape are equally useful for this purpose.  
         [0040]     Stud  18  of the wire rope attachment assembly  6  has a threaded section (internal or external depending on the threaded end  17 ) long enough to engage completely threaded end  17  of the tubular body  5  and, optionally, to accommodate a lock nut  27 . Lock nut  27  is used to secure the assembly after the desired tension has been achieved. At the opposite end of stud  18  is a shoulder  19  preferably in the shape of a hex, and a threaded portion  20  of a length and diameter suitable to accept an internal thread with collar  24 . Collar  24  has a center aperture dimensioned to receive wire rope  7 , a threaded portion for engaging stud  18 , and a tapered internal recess.  
         [0041]     In the preferred embodiment, a recess is located in the center of the threaded portion  20  of tubular body  5  of a size suitable to accept the end of wire rope  7 . Wire rope  7  is inserted first through the center aperture of collar  24 , which preferably includes a hex-shaped shoulder  25  on the outer surface of the internally threaded end, thus allowing the collar to be engaged and tightened onto the threaded portion  20  of stud  18 . After the wire rope is passed through the collar  24 , it is inserted through a center aperture  21  of tapered gripping wedge  22 , which is preferably made from aluminum, brass, copper or stainless, all sufficiently formable to allow compression onto the wire rope  7  during assembly and tightening. To ensure a tight fit and maximum fiction after assembly of the gripping wedge  22  on the wire rope  7 , a groove or slot  23  of suitable width is provided over the full length of the gripping wedge  22  allowing the wedge to compress onto the wire rope when the stud  18  is screwed to the collar  24 , forcing the wedge into the tapered internal recess of collar  24 . To improve the friction generated by the compressed gripping wedge  22  on the wire rope  7 , the inner surface of the tapered gripping wedge can optionally include features such as threads or serrations.  
         [0042]     After the plate  4  has been firmly attached to a support surface and the wire rope  7  has been secured inside the wire rope attachment assembly (i.e., the collar-wedge-stud assembly,) the threaded stud  18  can be connected to the threaded end  17  of the tensioning subassembly. A grippable feature, such as hex portion  19 , is held with a suitable tool, such as a wrench, to allow tightening of the wire without turning it or the wire attachment assembly. Only the tensioning subassembly (the tubular body  5  and swivel  3 ) rotates, preferably by means of a tool inserted through hole  16 , and will do so freely within the plate  4 . This enable tensioning at either opposing railing corner post without deforming the wire rope  7  or un-tensioning the opposing end.  
         [0043]     With reference again to  FIG. 4 , the device  1  is shown attached to an end post  2  in a horizontal wire configuration. In such a configuration, the plate  4  should preferably be oriented in a way that the groove  11  is oriented downwards. This allows downward deflection of the wire to facilitate accessing to the holes  12  of the mounting plate  4  with an electric tool such as a drill to tighten the fasteners. The groove  11  has therefore the dual purpose of allowing the tensioning device to move up to about 45 degrees from the horizontal, and to permit the use of larger power tools instead of hand tools during attachment to any corner or end post.  
         [0044]     In the railing system configuration depicted in  FIG. 4 , a plurality of tensioning devices are attached to the same support surface of a post, thus creating the desired or prescribed spacing between the individual strands of wire rope.  
         [0045]      FIG. 5  illustrates a configuration made possible by use of mounting plates  4 , wherein several pairs of tensioning devices attach at 90 degrees to each other on a corner post, at various heights.  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  illustrates an application of the present invention in stairway railings, steps or handicap access ramps. This configuration differs from the standard horizontal installation in that the wire attachment and tensioning devices  1  on the lower post  2 ′ are installed with each mounting plate groove  11  oriented upward and the devices  1  on the higher post  2 ″ have mounting plate grooves oriented downward. This will allow each swivel  3  freedom to tilt within the mounting plate. In general, the orientation of the groove  11  determines the allowable deflection of the wire rope  7 .  
         [0047]     It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the wire rope attachment assembly by itself could be used without the rest of the tensioning components. This would be usefull in applications where tensioning is not required or desirable. In one such embodiment, the threaded stud  18  would be long enough to fit through the posts and be secured by a nut or other internally threaded device. Yet a further variation would be to replace the threaded stud  18  with a lag bolt or stud having a wood thread on its surface. This would permit the installation into any wood or PVC post using a suitably drilled hole. Although these variations of the device cannot be tensioned, they would offer a very short length of wire connection, which could be desirable or esthetically pleasing.  
         [0048]     Although the invention has been described with respect to various embodiments, it should be realized this invention is also capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments within the spirit of the invention.