Patent Publication Number: US-9896864-B2

Title: Direct-insertion baluster connecting device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. CN201510618598.5, filed on Sep. 25, 2015, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a baluster connecting device, and particularly relates to a direct-insertion baluster connecting device, belonging to the field of fences. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In existing fence systems, common baluster installing methods are relatively complex and cumbersome. Some requires to weld on site a baluster to an upper rail and a lower rail, however appearance treatment are needed after welding. Some involves fabricating a plurality of balusters into a whole piece, and then splicing the same on site, but the whole rail structure is large in volume and unadjustable in the splicing size. These bring great trouble to on-site installation and need great human and material resources. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention sets forth a direct-insertion baluster connecting device which is convenient for disassembly and assembly, safe and beautiful. 
     To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts a technical solution as follows: a direct-insertion baluster connecting device includes a fence frame and a plurality of balusters uniformly arranged within the fence frame; the fence frame is a square frame jointly formed by two vertical posts, an upper rail and a lower rail; the fence frame and the balusters are all hollow tubes; and a plurality of rivet nuts are arranged about the lower end of each vertical post. 
     Preferably, a plurality of preformed holes for installing the balusters are provided uniformly and symmetrically in the upper rail and the lower rail respectively. 
     Preferably, an upper plastic sleeve and a lower plastic sleeve are embedded at the two ends of each baluster respectively, the upper plastic sleeve being installed in the preformed hole of the upper rail, the lower plastic sleeve being installed in the preformed hole of the lower rail, and the length of the upper plastic sleeve being larger than that of the lower plastic sleeve. 
     Preferably, the two ends of the lower rail are installed between the lower ends of the two vertical posts respectively by connectors. 
     Preferably, the connector, as a rectangular frame, is provided with a boss in a middle position therein, and provided with opening support bars at both sides of the lower part thereof respectively; the lower rail is a hollow rectangular tube, and the two ends of the lower rail are inserted into inner frames of the connectors, and sleeved on the bosses; the width between edges of the two opening support bars is larger than that of the lower rail; to install the lower rail, the lower rail is directly inserted into the inner frames of the connectors and sleeved on the bosses, thus achieving preliminary positioning of the lower rail to prevent deviation of the installed lower rail. 
     Preferably, shims are provided at both ends of the lower rail respectively, and the shims are U-shaped pieces, sleeved on the lower part of the lower rail; the width of the shims is larger than that between the edges of the two opening support bars; after positioned, the lower rail is lifted up, and the shims slide into the inner frames of the connectors and rest on the opening support bars, thus well positioning the lower rail in the connectors, the opening support bars playing a supporting role, and the lower rail being propped up by the U-shaped pieces and placed within the connectors, which is very convenient. 
     Preferably, the upper rail is a composite section, which may include flexible extrusion layer and aluminum substrate, or decorative thin metal layer and aluminum substrate, for the purpose of bringing in more comfort of grasping after the upper rail is externally provided with a clad layer of various materials, and the clad layer on the vertical posts may also be subjected to various decorative surface treatment so that the upper rail appears more elegant and beautiful. 
     Preferably, the connector is also provided with a plurality of screw holes, and the assembled lower rail is fixed by anti-detachment screws. The lower rail being fixed by the anti-detachment screws after positioned and assembled prevents stealthy disassembly of the fence, being very safe. Moreover, the lower rail is directly inserted into the connectors with no need to weld or expose the lower rail, thus appearing very beautiful. 
     Preferably, the vertical posts are hollow rectangular tubes, and connectors are arranged on four faces of the lower ends of the vertical posts respectively. The rivet nuts are arranged in different directions of the vertical posts. Connectors of one or more directions can be installed according to requirement of connection of the vertical posts. Of course, the vertical posts may also be cylindrical tubes. 
     The present invention has the beneficial effect that the direct-insertion baluster connecting device adopted in the present invention can be used for the installed fence frame formed by the vertical posts, upper rail and lower rail, and then it only needs to directly insert the balusters and make connection in a specified manner. The whole connecting process is a welding-free process, and only needs manual assembly in a DIY manner, thus ensuring beauty and safety, as well as convenient and labor-saving assembly, and it can be accomplished without too much auxiliary work. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a structure diagram of an exemplary direct-insertion baluster connecting device consistent with various disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a structure diagram of a fence frame consistent with various disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an installation diagram of a lower rail consistent with various disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a partial structure diagram of a baluster consistent with various disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a partial enlarged view of A in  FIG. 4  consistent with various disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a partial enlarged view of B in  FIG. 4  consistent with various disclosed embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a structure diagram before a shim is inserted into a connector inner frame consistent with various disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a structure diagram after a shim is inserted into a connector inner frame consistent with various disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a structure diagram of a shim consistent with various disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a structure diagram of a connector consistent with various disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an installation diagram of a baluster and upper and lower plastic sleeves consistent with various disclosed embodiments; and 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a partial structure diagram of an upper rail consistent with various disclosed embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Reference numerals:  1 . vertical post,  2 . upper rail,  3 . connector,  4 . shim,  5 . lower rail,  6 . baluster,  7 . upper plastic sleeve,  8 . lower plastic sleeve,  9 . connector, rivet nut,  10 . preformed hole,  11 . screw hole,  2 A. boss,  2 B. opening support bar. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is further described below in detail in conjunction with specific implementations. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , a direct-insertion baluster connecting device includes a fence frame and a plurality of balusters  6  uniformly arranged within the fence frame; the fence frame is a square frame jointly consisting of two vertical posts  1 , an upper rail  2  and a lower rail  5 ; the fence frame and the balusters  6  are all hollow tubes; and a plurality of connectors  3  are arranged about the lower end of each vertical post  1 . 
     A plurality of preformed holes  10  for installing the balusters  6  are provided uniformly and symmetrically in the upper rail  2  and the lower rail  5  respectively. 
     An upper plastic sleeve  7  and a lower plastic sleeve  8  are embedded at the two ends of each baluster  6  respectively, the upper plastic sleeve  7  being installed in the preformed hole  10  of the upper rail  2 , the lower plastic sleeve  8  being installed in the preformed hole  10  of the lower rail  5 , and the length of the upper plastic sleeve  7  being larger than that of the lower plastic sleeve  8 . 
     The two ends of the lower rail  5  are installed between the lower ends of the two vertical posts  1  respectively by connectors  3 . 
     The connector  3 , as a rectangular frame, is provided with a boss  2 A in a middle position therein, and provided with opening support bars  2 B at both sides of the lower part thereof respectively; the lower rail  5  is a hollow rectangular tube, and the two ends of the lower rail  5  are inserted into inner frames of the connectors  3 , and sleeved on the bosses  2 A; the width between edges of the two opening support bars  2 B is larger than that of the lower rail; to install the lower rail  5 , the lower rail  5  is directly inserted into the inner frames of the connectors  3  and sleeved on the bosses  2 A, thus achieving preliminary positioning of the lower rail  5  to prevent deviation of the installed lower rail  5 . 
     Shims  4  are provided at both ends of the lower rail  5  respectively, and the shims  4  are U-shaped pieces, sleeved on the lower part of the lower rail  5 ; the width of the shims  4  is larger than that between the edges of the two opening support bars  2 B; after positioned, the lower rail  5  is lifted up, and the shims  4  slide into the inner frames of the connectors  3  and rest on the opening support bars  2 B, thus well positioning the lower rail  5  in the connectors  3 , the opening support bars  2 B playing a supporting role, and the lower rail  5  being propped up by the U-shaped pieces and placed within the connectors  3 , which is very convenient. 
     The upper rail  2  is a composite section, which may include flexible extrusion layer and aluminum substrate, or decorative thin metal layer and aluminum substrate, for the purpose of bringing in more comfort of grasping after the upper rail is externally provided with a clad layer of various materials. The clad layer on the vertical posts may also be subjected to various decorative surface treatment so that the upper rail appears more elegant and beautiful. 
     The connector  3  is further provided with two screw holes  11 , and the assembled lower rail  5  is fixed by anti-detachment screws. The lower rail  5  being fixed by the anti-detachment screws after positioned and assembled prevents stealthy disassembly of the fence, being very safe. Moreover, the lower rail  5  is directly inserted into the connectors  3  with no need to weld or expose the lower rail  5 , thus appearing very beautiful. 
     The vertical posts  1  are hollow rectangular tubes, and rivet nuts  9  are arranged on four faces of the lower ends of the vertical posts  1  respectively. The rivet nuts  9  are arranged in different directions of the vertical posts  1 . Connectors  3  of one or more directions can be installed according to requirement of connection of the vertical posts  1 . Of course, the vertical posts  1  may also be cylindrical tubes. 
     The assembly process is as follows: 
     (1) the vertical posts  1 , the upper rail  2  and the lower rail  5  are assembled according to tube interfaces to form a square frame, and the balusters  6  are inserted into the preformed holes  10  of the upper rail  2  and the lower rail  5 ; 
     (2) to install the lower rail  5 , first the connectors  3  are installed at the lower ends of the two vertical posts  1 , and then the two ends of the lower rail  5  are inserted into the connectors  3 ; 
     (3) in inserting the lower rail  5  into the inner frames of the connectors  3 , the lower rail  5  is sleeved on the bosses  2 A, thus achieving preliminary positioning; 
     (4) after the lower rail  5  is positioned, the lower rail  5  is lifted up, the shims  4  are sleeved at the lower parts of the two ends of the lower rail  5 , the shims  4  slide into the inner frames of the connectors  3  and rest on the opening support bars  2 B, thus accomplishing assembly of the whole lower rail  5 ; and 
     (5) after assembly and positioning of the lower rail  5 , the lower rail  5  is fixed by anti-detachment screws, thus accomplishing assembly of the whole rail fence.