Patent ID: 7543802

Claim:
A railing system, comprising: a) a plurality of balusters each baluster having an upper end and a lower end b) an upper rail mounted to the upper ends of the balusters; c) the upper rail comprising a proximal member secured to the upper ends of the balusters, a reinforcement member for mounting each end of the rail to a post, the reinforcement member having a first attachment element coupled to the proximal member, and a cover member coupled to at least one of the reinforcement member and the proximal member enclosing the reinforcement member between the proximal member and the cover; d) fasteners each having a threaded shank and a head at one end thereof, the head bearing against the proximal member opposite the balusters, and the threaded shank extending through the proximal member and into the balusters: and wherein each head is disposed between the reinforcement member and the proximal member; and e) a newel post supporting an end of the reinforcement member, the railing system further comprising a bracket having a first flange securable to the reinforcement member and a second flange securable to the newel post, wherein the newel post comprises an extruded body having an outer surface supporting the second flange of the bracket, the bracket having an aperture for receiving a fastener therethrough, and the outer surface of the newel post comprising an integrally molded score line aligned with the aperture of the bracket for laterally positioning the bracket on the post.