Patent Publication Number: US-10316523-B2

Title: Baluster joint block

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a baluster joint set, and more particularly to a baluster joint set providing higher offset allowance. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Currently, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the conventional baluster joint has a block  50  and a bolt  51 , and the block  50  is provided with a through hole  52  at one end and a through aperture at another end. The diameter of the through hole  52  is larger than the diameter of the through aperture  53  and aligned with each other. One end of the bolt  51  is provided with a head portion  511 , and the bolt  51  is placed through the through aperture  53  such that the head portion  511  pushes against the through hole  52 . Therefore, the block  50  is capable of being secured onto the floor and the rail to assemble baluster with the floor and the rail. However, the following problems exist: 1. the block  50  needs to be aligned with the bolt  511 , if the block  50  at the upper end is not aligned with the block  50  at the lower end the baluster cannot be installed. Also the misalignment of the bolt  51  can complicate assembly. 2. The block  50  is only suitable for horizontal surface installation. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a baluster joint set to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An objective of present invention is to provide a baluster joint set which provides more assembly tolerance. 
     In order to achieve the above mentioned objective, a baluster joint set comprises: a first block, a second block and a screwing member. The first block has a base and a plurality of elastic members evenly disposed around the base and having respective gaps therebetween. The first block is further provided with a tubal opening formed by the elastic members, and the base is provided with a through hole at its center. The through hole and the tubal opening are axially aligned, and the base is further provided with a circular slot at an end opposite the elastic members. The elastic member further has a tapered thickness close to the base to provide an adjustment gap. The elastic members each further has a cut angle on an outer edge of the end opposite the base, and the elastic members further have a plurality of slots on a side facing the tubal opening. The second block has a connecting portion at one end, and the connecting portion is provided with a circular ring. The second block further has a supporting portion at another end and is further provided with a through aperture through the connecting portion and the supporting portion. The connecting portion of the second block pushes against the base of the first block such that the circular ring engages with the circular slot. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded drawing of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing showing an application of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is another schematic drawing showing the application of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is another schematic drawing showing the application of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is another schematic drawing showing the application of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing showing another application of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-section view of a conventional art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . A baluster joint set comprises: a first block  10 , a second block  20  and a screwing member  30 . The first block  10  has a base  11  and a plurality of elastic members  12  evenly disposed around the base  11  and having respective gaps  13  therebetween. The first block  10  is further provided with a tubal opening  14  formed by the elastic members  12 , and the base  11  is provided with a through hole  111  at its center. The through hole  111  and the tubal opening  14  are axially aligned, and the base  11  is further provided with a circular slot  112  at an end opposite the elastic members  12 . The elastic member  12  further has a tapered thickness close to the base  11  to provide an adjustment gap  121 . The elastic members  12  each further has a cut angle  122  on an outer edge of the end opposite the base  11 , and the elastic members  12  further have a plurality of slots  123  on a side facing the tubal opening  14 . The second block  20  has a connecting portion  21  at one end, and the connecting portion  21  is provided with a circular ring  211 . The second block  20  further has a supporting portion  22  at another end and is further provided with a through aperture  23  through the connecting portion  21  and the supporting portion  22 . The connecting portion  21  of the second block  20  pushes against the base of the first block  10  such that the circular ring  211  engages with the circular slot  112 . The first block  10  and the second block  20  are both tubal. Moreover, The first block  10  has four gaps  13  and which are placed in a cross arrangement as shown in  FIG. 9 ; or the first block  10  has two gaps  13  which are evenly placed at two opposite ends of the tubal opening  14  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, the first block  10  and the second block  20  are both rectangular, and the first block  10  has four gaps  13  which are placed at four corners of the first block  10 . The connecting portion  21  of the second block  20  is larger than the base  11  of the first block  10 . The screwing member  30  has a head portion  31  at one end, another end of the screwing member  30  is placed through the through hole  111  and the through aperture  23 , such that the head portion  31  pushes against the base  11  to lock the first block  10  and the second block  20  together. Therefore, the elastic member  12  of the first block  10  is capable of jacketing onto a baluster rod  40  (as shown in  FIG. 4 .). 
     For an actual application, please refer to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 7 . The base  11  of the first block  10  is positioned in the connecting portion  21  of the second block  20 , the circular slot  112  of the base  11  engages with the circular ring  211  of the connecting portion  21 , such that the through hole  111  of the first block  10  is connected to the through aperture  23  of the second block  20 . The screwing member  30  is placed from the first block  10  through the through hole  111  and the through aperture  23 . In order to assemble the baluster onto an inclined stairway, the first block  10  and the second block  20  are secured onto the inclined slop via the screwing member  30 , the supporting portion  22  of the second block  20  is placed directly onto the inclined surface, such that the elastic member  12  of the first block  10  is up straight. One end of the baluster rod  40  is inserted into the elastic member  12  of the first block  10 , and the cut angle  122  of the elastic member  12  helps the insertion of the baluster rod  40 . When the baluster rod  40  jackets onto the elastic member  12 , the tubal opening  14  and the gap  13  of the elastic member  12  are flexibly deformed to quickly secure the baluster rod  40 . Since the connecting portion  21  of the second block  20  is larger than the base  11  of the first block  10 , a lower end of the baluster rod  40  pushes against the connecting portion  21  of the second block  20 , and the second block  20  is capable of providing support for the baluster rod  40 . Similarly, the first block  10  and the second block  20  are installed onto a rail  41 , such that the rail  41  can be installed onto another end of the baluster rod  40 . Please refer to  FIG. 8 . For flat surface installation, the second block  20  is omitted, and the screwing member  30  secures the first block  10  onto the surface to keep the elastic member  12  to be vertical. 
     With the above mentioned structure, following benefit can be obtained: when the first block  10  is secured to the surface or the rail  41 , the first block  10  at two ends of the baluster rod  40  can be adjusted accordingly with the offset due to the flexibility provided by the elastic member  12  and the gap  13 . Furthermore, with the adjustment gap  121  formed between the elastic member  12  and the base  11 , the baluster rod  40  can have a better assembly tolerance. 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of invention as hereinafter claimed.