Cable Railing Termination Assemblies Concealing Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metal cable railing systems face challenges with exposed fasteners, complexity in design, inability to use with solid wood or concrete support members, and difficulties in tensioning heavy gauge cables, especially in vertical configurations.
Innovation Solution
The development of straight and corner cable termination assemblies with elongated cylindrical tensioning tubes and receptacle assemblies that can be integrated into wood or concrete support members, allowing for easy installation and tensioning of heavy gauge cables while concealing fasteners, and enabling use with solid wood or concrete support members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fasteners (turnbuckles) are used to tighten cable rails, then the cable railing system achieves proper tension, but the fasteners become exposed and unsightly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fastening function from the visible exterior by placing the tensioning mechanism inside the hollow support member. The cable extends through the support member and is tensioned using a fastener located within the hollow interior, eliminating exposed fasteners while maintaining cable tensioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the cable tensioning mechanism within the hollow support member structure. The cable passes through the hollow interior of the support member, and the tensioning fastener is positioned inside this hollow space, creating a nested configuration where the fastening system is contained within the structural element.
2Device complexity
If a cable railing system uses hollow metal vertical stanchions, then fasteners can be concealed inside, but the system cannot be used with solid wood or concrete support members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal support member design with a hollow interior that can accommodate different support member types (metal, wood, concrete) by providing a standardized internal cavity. This hollow configuration allows the same cable tensioning mechanism to be used across different materials, achieving multi-functionality and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow interior of the support member acts as an intermediary space that mediates between the cable tensioning requirement and the external appearance requirement. This intermediate hollow cavity allows the fastener to be concealed while still providing access for cable installation and tensioning, serving as a mediator between conflicting requirements.
3Reliability
If cables are configured vertically to eliminate the ladder effect, then climbing resistance improves, but tensioning heavy gauge cables becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the vertical cable system to tension itself by providing a hollow support member that accommodates the tensioning fastener and cable adjustment mechanisms. The system is self-contained within the hollow structure, allowing heavy gauge vertical cables to be tensioned without external equipment or complex external mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Cable railing systems are described for commercial and residential settings. Although not limited to these applications, the cable railing systems can be used with solid wood support members or with solid concrete support members without weld plates. Some of the described examples include straight and corner cable termination assemblies that are designed to support a metal cable railing, particularly one that is heavy gauge.