Balustrade construction

Claim 2

A balustrade unit comprising an interchangeable pair of spaced-apart channel-section members each of which is of part-circular cross-section, mouths of said spaced-apart channel-section members, when said balustrade unit is assembled, being directed towards each other, each said channel-section member of said interchangeable pair having a pair of longitudinally-extending, spaced-apart engaging elements constituted by inwardly-facing beads of hook-shaped cross-section formed along the free edges of the said mouths of said channel-section members; a lateral dividing wall extending longitudinally within each said channel-section member, said lateral dividing wall having a central footing portion joined to a pair of flanking portions by outwardly-angled walls so as to form a channel, a mouth of which is directed towards the said mouth of said channel-section member; a plurality of balusters disposable between said interchangeable pair of spaced-apart channel-section members; and a plurality of spacers each one of which is adapted to extend between an adjacent pair of balusters of the balustrade unit so as to close the gap between said adjacent balusters, the free longitudinal edges of each said spacer being formed so as to constitute engaging portions of hook-shaped cross-section adapted to engage with said pair of longitudinally-extending, inwardly-facing beads at the channel-members' mouths; each said baluster comprising a hollow, square-section member having, cut into one side thereof, a pair of transverse slots one adjacent each end of said baluster, said two slots being parallel, and the ends of the said balusters being adapted to abut a said central footing portion of a said lateral dividing wall when said balusters are in position between said interchangeable pair of channel-section members, the said hook-like, inwardly-facing engaging elements engaging with said transverse slots; each said outwardly-angled wall of a said channel being provided with, adjacent said central footing portion, a longitudinally-extending, sharply-ridged deformable bead, between an opposed pair of which a said baluster end is adapted to be firmly wedged.

Claim 3

The balustrade unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each spacer is configured so that, when engaged with a channel-section member, it endoes the latter with a circular cross-section.

Claim 4

The balustrade unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said flanking portion of a said lateral dividing wall is formed with a longitudinally-extending, integral screw-flute on the side of said flanking portion remote from the mouth of said channel.

Claim 5

A balustrade unit comprising, in combination: a pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members constituting an upper and a lower rail of said balustrade unit; a plurality of balusters disposable between said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members; and a plurality of spacing members, each one of which is adapted to engagingly extend between an adjacent pair of balusters of the balustrade unit so as to close the gap between said adjacent balusters; each one of said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members being part-circular in transverse cross-section, mouths of a said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members being directed towards each other when said balustradeunit is assembled; each one of said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members being provided with a pair of longitudinally-extending, spaced-apart engaging elements constituted by inwardly-facing beads of hook-shaped cross-section formed along free edges of a said mouth of a said interchangeable, channel-section member; each one of said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members having, extending longitudinally therewithin, a lateral dividing wall which defines a closed interior cavity on a side of said lateral dividing wall which is remote from the mouth of a said interchangeable, channel-section member, said lateral dividing wall having a centrally-disposed footing portion joined to a pair of flanking portions by outwardly-angled walls so as to form a secondary channel, a mouth of which is directed towards the mouth of a said interchangeable, channel-section member, each said flanking portion of said lateral dividing wall being formed with a longitudinally-extending, integral screw-flute on a side of said flanking portion which lies within said closed interior cavity; each one of said plurality of balusters comprising a hollow, square-section member having, cut into one side thereof, a pair of transverse slots one adjacent each end of said baluster, said pair of slots being parallel, and the ends of the said balusters being adapted to abut a said centrally-disposed footing portion of a said lateral dividing wall when said plurality of balusters is in position between said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members, the said hook-like, inwardly-facing spaced-apart engaging elements thereof engaging with said transverse parallel slots; each said outwardly-angled wall of a said secondary channel being provided with, adjacent said centrally-disposed footing portion, an inwardly-facing, longitudinally-extending, sharply ridged deformable bead, between an opposed pair of which a said baluster end is adapted to be firmly wedged; free longitudinal edges of each one of said plurality of spacing members being formed so as to constitute engaging portions of hook-shaped cross-section adapted to engage with said pair of longitudinally-extending, spaced-apart engaging elements provided on the said free edges of the mouth of a said interchangeable, channel-section member; each one of said plurality of spacing members being configured so that, when engaged with an interchangeable, channel-section member, it endoes the latter with a circular transverse cross-section.

Claim 6

A balustrade unit comprising, in combination: a pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members constituting an upper and a lower rail of said balustrade unit; a plurality of balusters disposable between said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members; and a plurality of spacing members, each one of which is adapted to engagingly extend between an adjacent pair of balusters of the balustrade unit so as to close the gap between said adjacent balusters; each one of said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members being part-circular in transverse cross-section, mouths of a said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members being directed towards each other when said balustradeunit is assembled; each one of said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members being provided with a pair of longitudinally-extending, spaced-apart engaging elements constituted by inwardly-facing beads of hook-shaped cross-section formed along free edges of a said mouth of a said interchangeable, channel-section member; each one of said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members having, extending longitudinally therewithin, a lateral dividing wall which defines a closed interior cavity on a side of said lateral dividing wall which is remote from the mouth of a said interchangeable, channel-section member, said lateral dividing wall having a centrally-disposed footing portion joined to a pair of flanking portions by outwardly-angled walls so as to form a secondary channel, a mouth of which is directed towards the mouth of a said interchangeable, channel-section member, each said flanking portion of said lateral dividing wall being formed with a longitudinally-extending, integral screw-flute on a side of said flanking portion which lies within said closed interior cavity; each one of said plurality of balusters comprising a hollow, square-section member having, cut into one side thereof, a pair of transverse slots one adjacent each end of said baluster, said pair of slots being parallel, and the ends of the said balusters being adapted to abut a said centrally-disposed footing portion of a said lateral dividing wall when said plurality of balusters is in position between said pair of identical and interchangeable, spaced-apart channel-section members, the said hook-like, inwardly-facing spaced-apart engaging elements thereof engaging with said transverse parallel slots; each said outwardly-angled wall of a said secondary channel being provided with, adjacent said centrally-disposed footing portion, an inwardly-facing, longitudinally-extending, sharply ridged deformable bead, between an opposed pair of which a said baluster end is adapted to be firmly wedged; free longitudinal edges of each one of said plurality of spacing members being formed so as to constitute engaging portions of hook-shaped cross-section adapted to engage with said pair of longitudinally-extending, spaced-apart engaging elements provided on the said free edges of the mouth of a said interchangeable, channel-section member; each one of said plurality of spacing members being configured so that, when engaged with an interchangeable, channel-section member, it endoes the latter with a circular transverse cross-section.