Resilient Flange Baluster Attachment for Angular Stress Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stairway railing systems face challenges in securely attaching balusters to treads and stringers at various angles, leading to stress on balusters and substrates during installation and potential breakage.

Innovation Solution

A multi-directional railing support system featuring a fastener with a securing portion and outwardly extending resilient flanges that adjust to create a receiving stud, allowing for angular orientation and secure attachment of balusters, preventing movement away from the substrate while allowing movement towards it.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing stairway railing systems attach balusters to treads and stringers at various angles, then the system can accommodate different angular orientations, but stress on balusters and substrates increases during installation leading to potential breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular orientation capabilityVSAvoidstress resistance of balusters and substrates

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving stud incorporates resilient flanges that are elastic and capable of deforming under load. These flanges dynamically adjust during installation to accommodate angular orientations while absorbing stress, preventing transmission of excessive forces to the baluster and substrate that would cause breakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient flanges change their physical state from a relaxed configuration to a compressed configuration when the baluster is installed at various angles. This parameter change allows the flanges to adapt to different angular orientations while maintaining stress resistance through elastic deformation rather than rigid constraint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a secure attachment mechanism is used to prevent baluster movement, then installation security improves, but the complexity of the attachment mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidattachment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient flanges automatically engage with the baluster during installation without requiring additional fastening steps or complex adjustment mechanisms. The elastic nature of the flanges allows them to self-adjust and secure the baluster in place through their own deformation, providing reliable attachment while maintaining simplicity of the overall mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If the securing portion is rigidly fixed to the substrate, then attachment stability improves, but the ability to accommodate angular variations and reduce stress decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidangular orientation adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient flanges provide a dynamic connection between the securing portion and the baluster, allowing angular variations while maintaining stability. The flanges can deform elastically to accommodate different orientations, yet their elastic recovery maintains a stable, secure attachment once installed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides a robust, adjustable, and stress-reducing mechanism for attaching balusters at various angles, ensuring secure installation and alignment with minimal worker effort, while preventing breakage and stress on balusters and substrates.

Implementation Method 1

outwardly extending resilient flanges are biased against an inner surface of the hollow end to generate an outward securing force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The outwardly extending resilient flanges cooperate with the hollow end to provide for movement of the baluster toward the substrate and contemporaneously prevent movement of the baluster away from the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic Recovery: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentUS11828068B2Baluster attachment mechanism having securing resilient flanges

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 NOVO BUILDING PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

A multi-directional railing support includes a fastener having a first threaded end that attaches to a substrate and a second threaded end. A securing portion is attached to the second threaded end and includes outwardly extending resilient flanges. The securing portion and the second threaded end define a receiving stud. The securing portion is axially adjustable relative to the second threaded end to adjust a clearance space between the securing portion and the substrate. A baluster includes a hollow end that extends over the outwardly extending resilient flanges of the receiving stud. The outwardly extending resilient flanges cooperate with the hollow end to provide for movement of the baluster toward the substrate and contemporaneously prevent movement of the baluster away from the substrate. The outwardly extending resilient flanges bias the baluster toward a rotational axis of the fastener.