Baluster

Abstract

A baluster comprising an elongate support member having a lower end for attachment to a wall or structure and a middle and upper portion for supporting a railing, fence, barrier or partition. The lower end of the baluster is generally hollow with a hollow interior and has a front face and a rear face for attaching to the wall or structure. The front face has at least two access holes therethrough in communication with the hollow interior. The access holes are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the lower end and aligned with at least two fastener holes extending through the rear face. The access holes are larger in diameter than the fastener holes to permit fasteners to be passed completely through the access holes. The fastener holes permit fasteners to pass only partially therethrough and into the wall or structure to secure the support member to the wall or structure.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A baluster comprising an elongate support member having a lower end for attachment to a wall or structure and a middle and upper portion for supporting a railing, fence, barrier or partition, said lower end of said baluster being of a generally hollow construction with a hollow interior and having a front face and a rear face for attaching to the wall or structure, said front face of said lower end of said support member having at least two access holes therethrough in communication with said hollow interior, said access holes spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of said lower end and aligned with at least two fastener holes extending through said rear face of said lower end of said support member, said access holes larger in diameter than said fastener holes to permit fasteners to be passed completely through said access holes, said fastener holes permitting fasteners to pass only partially therethrough and into the wall or structure to secure said support member to the wall or structure.  
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  including plugs releaseably receivable within said access holes, said plugs providing a means to enclose said access holes following attachment of said support member to a wall or structure through the use of fasteners passing partially through said fastener holes.  
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said plugs are relatively smooth and do not project appreciably beyond said front surface of said lower end of said support member.  
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3  including a load distribution plate receivable within said hollow interior of said lower end of said support member, said load distribution plate having holes therethrough alignable with said fastener holes such that the load transferred to said baluster through fasteners used to secure said lower end of said support member to a wall or structure is transferred from the fasteners to said load distribution plate and from said load distribution plate to said support member.  
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said access holes are of a sufficient size to allow for the passage therethrough of a tool to permit fasteners to be secured through said fastener holes into a wall or structure.