Methods and apparatuses for assembling railings

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatuses for assembling railings. The methods may include assembling the railing components so that the fasteners are small in size and disposed in an inconspicuous location. The apparatuses may include a bracket that may be used to mount railing components at different horizontal and vertical orientations, and a railing assembly tool that may be used to space, align, and / or level railing components.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling railings. The methods preferably include assembling the railing components so that the fasteners are small in size and disposed in inconspicuous locations. The apparatuses may include a bracket that may be used to mount railing components at different horizontal and vertical orientations, and a railing assembly tool that may be used to space, align, and / or level railing components. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Decks and porches typically include a frame, a main surface, and a railing assembly composed of a variety of railing components. The railing assembly may include mounting posts either affixed to the main surface or the frame or secured in a hole in the ground. The railing assembly may also include railings running horizontally and / or diagonally between the mounting posts at any vertical level of the post. The railings may be affixed to the top and / or side portion of the mounting...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

There are some problems, however, associated with prior known methods and apparatuses for assembling railings.

This generally results in imprecision with regards to the alignment and spacing of the railing assembly components, and often takes a great deal of time.

Moreover, manual measuring requires training the work crew, which can be costly and time consuming, especially when work crews often have high and rapid turnover rates.

However, many current methods and apparatuses for using fasteners are either aesthetically undesirable because the fasteners are exposed, or require fastener covers to be placed over the fasteners once the fasteners have been installed.

Fastener covers, may increase the cost and complexity of the railing assembly, as installing them requires additional components and takes time.

Furthermore, as with manual measurement, installing fastener covers requires training the work crew, which can be costly and time consuming, especially when work crews often have high and rapid turnover rates.

Moreover, fasteners may be limited as to the orientations they can accommodate between the railing assembly components.

For example, particular fasteners may not be effective to connect two railing assembly components at a specific, desired horizontal and / or vertical orientation.

Thus, a single railing assembly may require a variety of different fasteners, increasing both complexity and cost.

Additionally, even if the fasteners are able to connect the two railing assembly components at the desired orientation, the connection may not be effective to withstand normal stresses and / or forces to which the railing assembly may be exposed.

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