Patent Publication Number: US-6213452-B1

Title: Railing support post

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to railing systems, and in particular, to support posts easily secured to a generally horizontal support surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are a number of systems for vinyl railings including vinyl vertical posts secured to a support surface where the post engage the ends of handrails and bottom rails used to support spindles. With any handrail system, it is important that the system can withstand significant loads which are suddenly applied thereto when a person or persons fall against the rail and require the rail to oppose the load. This stability is largely provided by the vertical posts. 
     Vertical posts are typically anchored at the bottom thereof to the support surface to provide the required high strength connection. For example, the base of a post may include concrete anchors embedded in a horizontal concrete surface with a portion of these anchors extending upwardly into the base of the post and the base of the post being filled with concrete to secure the post to the support surface. In some systems, vinyl posts are applied over wooden support posts which are either anchored to the wooden deck themselves or embedded in concrete to provide the necessary strength. 
     There is a need to provide a railing system which can be strongly secured to a horizontal surface to provide the necessary structural stability but in a much simpler manner. It has been found that the typical do-it-yourselfer does not want to work with concrete and another arrangement for securing of the post to a horizontal surface is necessary. The present invention provides a mechanical securement of a post to a horizontal surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A support post for a railing system according to the present invention comprises a base plate, an interior support post and an exterior plastic tube. The base plate includes a horizontal plate with securement ports therethrough for attaching the horizontal plate to a support surface. The horizontal plate includes a series of upstanding flanges at the periphery of the plate positioned to snugly engage interior surfaces of the exterior plastic tube when the tube is sleeved over the flanges to fix the plastic tube to the base plate. The horizontal plate has, interior to the upstanding flanges, an upwardly extending rigid collar defining a support tube into which an end of the interior support post is inserted and secured. The fastening arrangement secures the end of the interior support post to the collar. The interior support post, at an end opposite the base plate, includes a series of adjustment screws spaced about the support post in engagement with the interior walls of the plastic tube. The screws are adjusted to orientate the tube in a generally vertical manner correcting for variations of the support post from vertical. The exterior plastic tube is oversized relative to the interior support post such that the exterior plastic tube conceals the interior support post therewithin. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the exterior plastic tube is of a generally square cross section and the base plate has four upstanding flanges in engagement with the interior walls of the exterior plastic tube. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vinyl post with a support tube shown in phantom lines located interior to the post; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a secured base and support tube; and 
     FIG. 3 shows additional details for securing of the support tube to the base. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The support post  2  has a vinyl tube  4 ; in this case having a generally square cross section which forms the outer cover of the support post. An interior metal support  6  is attached to a base plate  8  which is secured to a horizontal support surface. The interior metal support engages an upper part of the vinyl tube and opposes horizontal movement of the vinyl tube. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show the base plate  8  which is attached to a horizontal surface by having mechanical fasteners pass through the ports  30  provided at the corners of the base plate  8 . This provides a strong attachment of the base plate  8  to the horizontal surface. The base plate  8  includes a centering sleeve  24  extending upwardly and receiving within this sleeve the base of the metal support  6 . The metal support  6  is preferrably a tube and is secured to the base plate  8  by a bolt and nut arrangement, preferrably at four spaced positions. The bolts pass through the ports  26  in the sleeve  24  and through ports  10  in the metal support  6 . Nuts  52  are located interior to the metal support  6  and are accessible through the end of the tube. The base plate  8  includes upturned flanges  22  separated by open corners  32  which simplify installation of the bolts. The upturned flanges  22  provide reference edges which engage the interior faces of the vinyl tube  4  and provides a snug fit or slight interference fit therewith. 
     Preferrably, the user secures the base plate  8  to the horizontal support surface with the metal support  6  already secured to the base plate  8 . If the support surface is generally horizontal, the interior metal support  6  will be generally vertical. In most cases, the support surface and the base plate are not horizontal and as such the metal support  6  will not be vertical. The standoff screws  40  are secured within ports  42  of the support  6  and are adjusted to provide the desired support and vertical orientation of the vinyl tube  4 . Shimming of the base plate is only necessary for extreme variations. 
     With the base plate fastened securely to the mounting surface, a plumb or level is used to adjust the screws at the top of the post until it is plumb with the outside flange  22 . This step is repeated on a side 90° from the first side. The end of the vinyl post is then placed over the end of the support and the remaining two adjustments screws  40  are adjusted to fit inside the vinyl post. Any mechanical connectors used to connect a handrail or bottom rail to the vinyl posture are attached. The vinyl tube is then applied over the interior metal support  6  and the upturned flanges  22  are forced into the interior of the vinyl tube  4 . Thus, the base of the vinyl tube  4  is effectively located on the support surface. The vinyl tube  4  is secured to the upturned flanges  22  using self taping metal screws that penetrate both the tube and the upturned flanges. 
     It has been found that this arrangement provides a strong mechanical securement of the vinyl tube  4  to a generally horizontal support surface. If the support surface is wood, the securement of the base plate  8  is simple and straightforward. If the horizontal surface is concrete, the base plate can be appropriately placed on the concrete, the locations of the holes for securing of the base plate to the concrete can be marked, and the concrete can be drilled and plugged for securing of the base plate  8  to the concrete. The user does not need to mix concrete or effectively attach reinforcing bars to existing concrete. The system also has the advantage that the base plate is secured in a simple manner and final adjustment of the vinyl tube is provided at the upper end of the support tube. Basically, the interior support has various adjustments for providing a vertical orientation of the vinyl tube even though the support post may be at an angle to vertical. 
     Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.