Plastic-coated hand rails, guard rails, and the like

Abstract

The present invention includes at least two spaced apart vertical rails and two spaced apart horizontal rails, which engage the vertical rails and are positioned above the lower ends of the vertical rails. Multiple slip-on or slip-in structural fittings engage the horizontal rails with the vertical rails and include a security mechanism that secures the rails to the fittings. A plastic coating covers and seals the vertical and horizontal rails and the structural fittings.

1 . A hand rail system comprising: 
 at least two spaced apart vertical rails having upper and lower ends;    at least two spaced apart horizontal rails engaged with said vertical rails and positioned above said lower ends of said vertical rails;    a plurality of slip-on structural fittings for engaging said horizontal rails with said vertical rails, each fitting having a securing mechanism that secures said rails to said fitting; and    a plastic coating covering and sealing the vertical and horizontal rails and the structural fittings.    
     
     
         2 . The hand rail system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fittings comprises a T-shaped member having a hollow interior, each leg of the T-shaped member having an interior matching the exterior profile of the horizontal rails and the vertical rails, the interior profile having a diameter equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of the rails.  
     
     
         3 . The hand rail system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fittings comprises an L-shaped member having a hollow interior, each leg of the L-shaped member having an interior profile matching the exterior profile of the horizontal rails and the vertical rails, the interior profile having a diameter equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of the rails.  
     
     
         4 . The hand rail system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third vertical rail, the horizontal rails being engaged with the third vertical rail; and    the plastic coating covering the third vertical rail.    
     
     
         5 . The hand rail system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the spaced-apart vertical rails and the spaced-apart horizontal rails define a framed area, the system further including an infill panel having an area which substantially consumes the framed area; the panel being mounted in the framed area, and the plastic coating covering and sealing the infill panel.  
     
     
         6 . The hand rail system as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising one or more sections of U-channel affixed to each of the vertical rails and the horizontal rails for mounting the infill panel.  
     
     
         7 . The hand rail system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the infill panel is a mesh screen.  
     
     
         8 . The hand rail system as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the infill panel is a solid panel.  
     
     
         9 . The hand rail system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the plastic coating is a spray on polyurea.  
     
     
         10 . A hand rail assembly comprising: 
 a perimeter frame composed of steel tubing covered with plastic sheathing, the perimeter frame surrounding a framed area;    an infill panel disposed in the framed area such that the panel is surrounded by the perimeter frame; and    a plastic coating covering and sealing the perimeter frame and the infill panel.    
     
     
         11 . A hand rail assembly comprising: 
 a pair of spaced apart vertical posts each having a lower end and an upper end, the lower ends being configured to engage a support surface;    an upper rail extending between the upper ends of the vertical posts;    a lower rail extending between the vertical posts and positioned below the upper rail;    the vertical posts and the rails together defining a perimeter frame having a framed area defined therein, the framed area having a top edge defined by the upper rail, a lower edge defined by the lower rail, and sides defined by the vertical members;    an infill panel supported in the framed area; and    a plastic coating covering the posts and rails and infill panel.    
     
     
         12 . The hand rail assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising structural fittings interconnecting the rails with the posts, at least one of the structural fittings comprising a slip-in fitting having a base with a radiused end surface matching the outer diameter of one of the posts or rails, the fitting further having an engagement member extending from the base, the engagement member configured to engage the inner diameter of one of the posts or rails.  
     
     
         13 . The hand rail assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the structural fitting further comprises a connector operable to connect the fitting to one of the posts or rails such that the end surface mates with the outer diameter of the post or rail.  
     
     
         14 . The hand rail assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the base of the structural fitting has an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the rails.  
     
     
         15 . The hand rail system according to  claim 12 , wherein the engagement member comprises a pair of engagement fingers shaped to fit into the inner diameter of the post or rail.  
     
     
         16 . The hand rail assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising structural fittings interconnecting the rails with the posts, at least one of the structural fittings comprising a slip-on fitting having an inner diameter greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the posts or rails.  
     
     
         17 . A hand rail assembly with an infill panel, comprising: 
 a pair of spaced apart vertical posts each having a lower end and an upper end, the lower ends being configured to engage a support surface;    an upper rail extending between the upper ends of the vertical posts and engaged to the upper ends of the vertical posts;    a lower rail extending between the vertical posts and positioned below the upper rail, the lower rail engaged to the vertical posts;    the vertical posts and the rails together defining a perimeter frame having a framed area defined therein, the framed area having a top edge defined by the upper rail, a lower edge defined by the lower rail, and sides defined by the vertical posts;    an infill panel supported in the framed area; and    a spray on polyurea coating covering the posts and rails and infill panel.    
     
     
         18 . The hand rail assembly according to  claim 17 , further comprising structural fittings interconnecting the rails with the posts, at least one of the structural fittings comprising a slip-in fitting having a base with a radiused end surface matching the outer diameter of one of the posts or rails, the fitting further having an engagement member extending from the base, the engagement member configured to engage the inner diameter of one of the posts or rails, the polyurea coating covering the fittings along with the posts and rails so as to seal the fittings to the posts and rails.  
     
     
         19 . The hand rail assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the structural fitting further comprises a connector operable to connect the fitting to a post or rail such that the end surface mates with the outer diameter of the post or rail.  
     
     
         20 . The hand rail assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the base of the structural fitting has an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the rails.  
     
     
         21 . The hand rail system according to  claim 18 , wherein the engagement member comprises a pair of engagement fingers shaped to fit into the inner diameter of the post or rail.