Patent US3918686A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3918686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Railing system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A railing system including a top rail carrying a mounting member secured to spaced posts by fasteners, the mounting member being disposed below a top portion of the top rail having a longitudinal slot therein aligned with the mounting member, and an elongate insert strip removably received in the slot such that the fasteners are concealed from view by the insert strip. Various modifications of the railing system include pickets mounted between the top rail and a bottom rail, an insert strip for the bottom rail to conceal fasteners for the pickets, and channeled insert strips for the top and bottom rails to support top and bottom panels.
Inventors
- 👤 Ken E Knott
- 👤 Alan J Dodd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:50
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F11/00; E04F11/18; E04F11/181
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A railing system comprising a plurality of spaced posts having lower ends adapted to be mounted on a support and upper ends; an elongate top rail having a top portion defining a surface with a centrally positioned longitudinal slot therein, a longitudinal mounting member disposed below said top portion and accessible through said slot, and a pair of curved longitudinal legs depending from opposite sides of said top portion and terminating at confronting edges spaced below said mounting member and engaging said posts adjacent said upper ends such that said legs provide a spring tension on said posts to prevent said posts from rattling or working loose, said top portion, said legs and said mounting member being integrally formed as a one-piece component; means securing said upper ends of said posts to said mounting member; and an elongate insert strip removably received in said slot in said top portion of said top rail and having a width substantially the same as the width of said slot whereby said securing means are concealed from view by said insert strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A railing system comprising a plurality of spaced posts having lower ends adapted to be mounted on a support and upper ends; an elongate top rail having a top portion defining a surface with a centrally positioned longitudinal slot therein, a longitudinal mounting member disposed below said top portion and accessible through said slot, and a pair of curved longitudinal legs depending from opposite sides of said top portion and terminating at confronting edges spaced below said mounting member and engaging said posts adjacent said upper ends such that said legs provide a spring tension on said posts to prevent said posts from rattling or working loose, said top portion, said legs and said mounting member being integrally formed as a one-piece component; means securing said upper ends of said posts to said mounting member; and an elongate insert strip removably received in said slot in said top portion of said top rail and having a width substantially the same as the width of said slot whereby said securing means are concealed from view by said insert strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top rail is formed of an aluminum extrusion and said insert strip is formed of plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top rail and said insert strip are each formed of an aluminum extrusion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said posts each carry curved splines, said securing means includes screws extending through said mounting member of said top rail to engage said curved splines and said slot in said top portion of said top rail is aligned with said mounting member and has a width to receive a tool for tightening or loosening said screws.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongate insert strip has a channel formed therein and further comprising a plurality of panels received in said channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top rail is formed of an aluminum extrusion and further comprising an extruded aluminum reinforcing member having a configuration mating with the configuration of said top rail and slidably received therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a bottom rail disposed below said top rail having means projecting therefrom to form a channel, and means for mounting said bottom rail between a pair of said posts including a pair of angle braces, each of said braces having a vertical leg fixed to one of said posts and a barbed horizontal leg engaged in said channel in said bottom rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said top rail has a longitudinal channel with flat sides formed in said mounting member and further comprising a bottom rail secured to a pair of said posts below said top rail and having a longitudinal channel with flat sides formed therein, a plurality of spaced pickets square in cross section having curved splines centrally disposed therein, upper ends of said pickets being received in said longitudinal channel in said top rail and lower ends of said pickets being received in said longitudinal channel in said bottom rail, a plurality of screws extending through said mounting member of said top rail to engage said splines in said pickets, and a plurality of screws extending through said bottom rail to engage said splines in said pickets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said posts are square in cross section and have curved splines extending from the inner surface of each wall thereof, said top rail has curved longitudinal legs with edges engaging said posts, said mounting member has a plurality of spaced holes therein, said securing means for each of said posts includes a pair of screws extending through adjacent ones of said holes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a bottom rail secured to a pair of said posts below said top Rail having a mounting member with legs depending therefrom and terminating in spaced relation to define a track and an elongate insert strip removably received in said track in said bottom rail.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A railing system as recited in claim 10 wherein said bottom rail insert strip is formed with a channel therein and further comprising panel means received in said channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A railing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said confronting edges of said legs have tear-drop configurations to facilitate insertion of said posts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A railing system as recited in claim 12 wherein said posts are square in cross section and said posts and said top rail are constructed of aluminum.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |