Patent Publication Number: US-2004056241-A1

Title: Hidden connector system for railings

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to the field of mechanical connector systems in general and in particular to a hidden connector system to provide railings with a clean exterior appearance.  
       [0004] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0005] As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,952,092; 6,203,233; 5,054,953; 5,370,368; and, 5,364,077, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse hidden connector systems for handrails and the like.  
       [0006] While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical arrangement wherein, a basic railing unit forms the basis for connecting a plurality of basic railing units together using conventional fasteners deployed in a generally concealed fashion.  
       [0007] Unfortunately, there is a wide variety of railing constructions which, while imminently functional, are sorely deficient in their aesthetic appearance due to the visible presence of welds, conventional couplers and the like.  
       [0008] As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need among railing designers for a new and improved hidden connector system for railing constructions that provides a clean, modern and aesthetically pleasing appearance; and the provision of such an arrangement forms the stated objective of the present invention.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] Briefly stated, the hidden connector system for railings relies almost exclusively upon a basic railing unit wherein, a plurality of basic railing units may be joined together in a variety of different combinations and configurations relying primarily upon the use of conventional fasteners as well as some customized connector members wherein the juncture between the plurality of basic railing units is virtually seamless to the casual observer.  
       [0010] As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, the basic railing unit comprises an elongated hollow tubular railing member, the interior surface of which is provided with a generally C-shaped central core element flanked by a pair of opposed struts that suspend the central core element within the interior of the tubular railing member.  
       [0011] In addition, the exterior surface of the tubular railing member may be optionally provided with opposed channels or opposed cylindrical recesses that are adapted to suspend decorative panels between spaced railing members or connect a plurality of railing members together in a perpendicularly aligned fashion.  
       [0012] Furthermore, the central core element is specifically designed to be threadedly engaged by a plurality of conventional fasteners used either alone or in combination with a plurality of diverse connector elements and/or customized connector members. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013] These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handrail structure incorporating the hidden connector system of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a cut away view of the middle portion of the handrail structure;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lower portion of one of the handrail stanchions;  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the components depicted in FIG. 4 in their assembled relationship;  
     [0019]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of one version of a vertical connector arrangement;  
     [0020]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another version of a vertical connector arrangement;  
     [0021]FIG. 8 is a partial cut away view of a T-connector;  
     [0022]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the upper portion of a vertical railing connection; and,  
     [0023]FIG. 10 is an elevation view of both the upper and lower portions of a vertical railing connection. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0024] As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the hidden connector system for railings that forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally by the reference number  10 . The connector system  10  comprises in general a basic railing unit  11  and a plurality of diverse coupling units designated generally as  12 . These units will now be described in seriatim fashion.  
     [0025] As shown throughout the drawing figures, the basic railing unit  11  comprises a generally hollow tubular railing member  20  the interior of which is provided with a generally C-shaped central core element  21  that extends along the axis of the tubular railing member  20  and which is suspended within the interior of the tubular railing member  20  by a pair of diametrically opposed struts  22   22  that provide structural rigidity to the tubular railing member  20 .  
     [0026] Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 3, it can be seen that in one version of the preferred embodiment, the tubular railing member  20  is further provided with a plurality of elongated diametrically opposed channel elements  23  having a pair of opposed recesses  24  formed on their interior walls; wherein, the channel elements  23  are offset 90° from the struts  22  for reasons that will be explained presently.  
     [0027] In this version of the preferred embodiment, one of the channel elements  23  is designed to captively engage an elongated cap element  30  which matches the finish of the tubular railing member  20  to conceal the presence of the channel elements  23  wherein protrusions  31  on the exterior of the cap element  30  engage the recesses  24  in one of the channel elements  23 . Furthermore, the other channel element  23 ′ is designed to cooperate in a similar fashion to captively engage the protrusions  41  formed on one of a pair of connectors  40  provided on the top and bottom of a decorative panel  45  that is suspended between a pair of vertically spaced railing members  20   20 ′.  
     [0028] In another version of the preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, the tubular railing member  20  is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed cylindrical recesses  25  that are offset from the struts  22  90°. In this version, the recesses  25  are dimensioned to receive generally cylindrical connector elements  51  that join a vertical railing strut member  20 ″ to a pair of horizontally disposed railing members  20   20 ′wherein, the opposite ends of the vertical railing strut member  20 ″ have an arcuate recess  26  formed therein; and, the cylindrical connector elements  51  are provided with a central aperture (not shown) that is dimensioned to receive a conventional fastener  50  that is adapted to threadedly engage the central core  21  of the vertical railing strut member  20 ″ in a well recognized fashion.  
     [0029] In addition, as can best be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 4 through 7, each end of the railing member  20  can be specially contoured to accommodate different structural requirements. For instance, in FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the vertical railing member  20  has an unaltered lower end that is dimensioned to be slidably received in the hollow central hub portion  61  of a base connector member  60 , wherein, the floor  62  of the hub portion  61  of the base member  60  is provided with a central aperture  63  that is dimensioned to receive a conventional fastener  50  that will threadedly engage the central core element  21  of the tubular vertical railing member  20  for securing the base member  60  to the vertical railing member in a well recognized fashion.  
     [0030] Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen that both the central core element  21  and the opposed support struts  22   22  of the tubular railing member  20  may be removed in a straight line indented fashion relative to the ends of the tubular railing member  20  to accommodate different connector members  70  and  80 . A shown in FIG. 6, the end of the railing member  20  is provided with a curved contoured cut that will accommodate a single fastener connector member  70  having a generally flat top surface  71  that is countersunk to receive the head  51  of a conventional fastener  50  and having a concave bottom surface  72  that conforms to the arcuate contoured end of the tubular railing member  20 .  
     [0031] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, when a multiple fastener connector member  80  is employed, the straight recessed edge arrangement of the central core element  21  and the struts  22   22  allow a central conventional fastener  50  to be inserted in an inverted fashion through the concave bottom surface  82  of the connector member  80  to engage the central core element  21  of the railing member  20  while a pair of flanking conventional fasteners  50   50  extends through the top surface  81  and projects beyond the concave bottom surface  82  to attach the connector member  80  to another substrate (not shown); wherein, the heads  51  of the downwardly facing conventional fasteners  50  are spaced from the recessed ends of the central core element  21  and struts  22   22  in a well recognized fashion.  
     [0032] As can also be seen by reference to FIG. 8, two opposed tubular railing members  20   20  can be operatively connected to one another by a double ended threaded fastener  150  that engages the central core element  21  of each railing member  20   20  such that the opposed railing members  20   20  can engage and be supported by a third railing member  20  in a generally Y-shaped configuration.  
     [0033] Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.  
     [0034] Having thereby described the subject matter of the present invention, it should be apparent that many substitutions, modifications, and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention as taught and described herein is only to be limited to the extent of the breadth and scope of the appended claims.