Baluster retaining member

Abstract

A baluster retaining member for connecting an end of a baluster to an opening in a rail of a railing system includes a rail section dimensioned to fit within the opening and a baluster section dimensioned to be secured to an end of the baluster. The rail and baluster sections are oriented with respect to one another at a predetermined angle so that when the baluster is connected to the rail by the member and the rail is positioned for use adjacent a stairway at an angle from the horizontal, the baluster is oriented vertically.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A railing system for a stair way, comprising: 
 (a) a pair of rails each having a plurality of openings extending laterally into one side of the rails in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rails;    (b) a plurality of balusters for extending between the rails; and    (c) a plurality of retaining members for connecting an end of a baluster to one of the openings, the retaining members having a rail section dimensioned to fit within the opening and a baluster section dimensioned to be secured to an end of the baluster,    wherein the rail and baluster sections are oriented with respect to one another at a predetermined angle so that when the balusters are connected to the rails by the members and the rails are positioned for use adjacent a stair way at an angle from the horizontal, the balusters are oriented vertically.    
     
     
         2 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the rail section is of an outer diameter and the opening is of a corresponding diameter to provide a friction fit of the rail section within the opening.  
     
     
         3 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the baluster comprises a baluster opening at one end dimensioned to accept the baluster end of the retaining member into the baluster opening.  
     
     
         4 . The railing system of  claim 3 , wherein the baluster section is of an outer diameter and the baluster opening is of a corresponding diameter to provide a friction fit of the baluster section within the opening.  
     
     
         5 . The railing system of  claim 2 , wherein the baluster comprises a baluster opening at one end dimensioned to accept the baluster end of the retaining member into the baluster opening.  
     
     
         6 . The railing system of  claim 5 , wherein the baluster section is of an outer diameter and the baluster opening is of a corresponding diameter to provide a friction fit of the baluster section within the baluster opening.  
     
     
         7 . The railing system of  claim 6 , wherein the rail section is connected to the opening by a tighter fit resulting in a higher level of friction fit as compared to the baluster section in the baluster opening.  
     
     
         8 . The railing system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined angle is between 30 degrees and 36 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . The railing system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined angle is about 32.5 degrees.  
     
     
         10 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is about 30 degrees.  
     
     
         11 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is about 36 degrees.  
     
     
         12 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is about 35 degrees.  
     
     
         13 . The railing system of  claim 1  wherein the baluster section is contoured with a frusto-conical outer periphery with the larger diameter at the end adjacent the rail section.  
     
     
         14 . The railing system as described in  claim 1  wherein the rail section comprises a plurality of ribs defining the outer periphery of the rail section.  
     
     
         15 . The railing system as described in  claim 1  wherein the baluster section comprises a plurality of ribs defining the outer periphery of the baluster section.  
     
     
         16 . The railing system as described in  claim 14  wherein the baluster section comprises a plurality of ribs defining the outer periphery of the baluster section.  
     
     
         17 . The railing system as described in  claim 1  wherein the rail section and baluster section are of unitary construction.  
     
     
         18 . The railing system as described in  claim 3  wherein the baluster section is of a lesser diameter than the rail section and wherein a lip is formed at the region where the rail and baluster sections meet.  
     
     
         19 . The railing system as described in  claim 18  wherein the lip defines a lip plane that is perpendicular with the outer periphery of the rail section.  
     
     
         20 . The railing system as described in  claim 19  wherein the lip acts as a contact region contacting the end of the baluster when the baluster is attached to the baluster section, the lip preventing further insertion of the baluster section into the baluster.  
     
     
         21 . The railing system as described in  claim 19  wherein the rail section is dimensioned in length equal to the depth of the opening so that when the rail section is in the opening contacting the end of the opening the lip plane is co-planar with a plane defined by the side of the rail into which the opening extends so that when the baluster is attached to the baluster section to cover the entire baluster section the lip acts as a contact region contacting the end of the baluster.  
     
     
         22 . The railing system as described in  claim 1  wherein the ends of the baluster are parallel with one another and form a plane which is at a baluster end angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the baluster.  
     
     
         23 . The railing system as described in  claim 22  wherein the baluster end angle is the same as the predetermined angle.  
     
     
         24 . The railing system as described in  claim 22  wherein the baluster end angle is between 30 degrees and 36 degrees.  
     
     
         25 . The railing system as described in  claim 22  wherein the baluster end angle is about 32.5 degrees.  
     
     
         26 . The railing system as described in  claim 1  further comprising waterproofing material positioned in the opening between the rail section and the opening when the rail section is positioned in the opening.  
     
     
         27 . A retaining member for connecting a baluster to a rail of a railing system for use adjacent a set of stairs, the rail having an opening perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail, the retaining member comprising: 
 (a) a first end dimensioned to be attachable to the baluster;    (b) a second end dimensioned to fit within the opening in the rail; and    (c) the first and second ends attached together at an angle so that the baluster is retained by the opening in the rail in a vertical orientation when the rail is positioned adjacent the set of stairs, the rail angled from the horizontal to correspond to the angle of the set of stairs.    
     
     
         28 . The railing system as described in  claim 27  wherein the retaining member further comprises a buffer section interposed between the first end and second end and dimensioned to contact a baluster secured to the first end preventing the baluster from being moved past the first end in a direction toward the second end.  
     
     
         29 . The railing system as described in  claim 28  wherein the buffer section further comprises a flange for contacting the baluster secured to the first end to prevent the baluster from being moved past the first end in a direction toward the second end.  
     
     
         30 . The railing system as described in  claim 28  wherein the buffer section further comprises a cylindrical section having a wedge shaped cross-section, a first face adjacent the first end and a second face adjacent the second end, wherein the diameter of the cylindrical section is greater than the diameter of the first end to contact the baluster secured to the first end to prevent the baluster from moving past the first end in a direction toward the second end.  
     
     
         31 . The railing system as described in  claim 30  wherein the plane defined by the first face is positioned with respect to the plane defined by the second face at an angle equal to the predetermined angle.  
     
     
         32 . The railing system as described in  claim 30  wherein the plane defined by the first face is positioned with respect to the plane defined by the second face at an angle of between 30 degrees and 36 degrees.  
     
     
         33 . The railing system as described in  claim 30  wherein the plane defined by the first face is positioned with respect to the plane defined by the second face at an angle of 32.5 degrees.  
     
     
         34 . The railing system as described in  claim 28  wherein the buffer section further comprises a cylindrical section having a wedge shaped cross-section, a first face adjacent the first end and a second face adjacent the second end, wherein at least a portion of the diameter of the cylindrical section is greater than the diameter of an opening in a rail to which the baluster is to be attached to prevent the retaining member from moving into the opening past the second end.  
     
     
         35 . The railing system as described in  claim 30  wherein at least a portion of the diameter of the cylindrical section is greater than the diameter of an opening in a rail to which the baluster is to be attached to prevent the retaining member from moving into the opening past the second end.  
     
     
         36 . The railing system as described in  claim 27  wherein the second end further comprises a plurality of barbs at an outer periphery of the second end to assist in securing the second end into an opening in a rail to which the baluster is to be attached.  
     
     
         37 . The railing system as described in  claim 27  wherein the first end further comprises a plurality of barbs at an outer periphery of the first end to assist in securing the first end to a baluster.  
     
     
         38 . The railing system as described in  claim 1  wherein the retaining members further comprise a buffer section interposed between the rail section and baluster section and dimensioned to contact a baluster secured to the baluster section preventing the baluster from being moved past the baluster section in a direction toward the rail section.  
     
     
         39 . The railing system as described in  claim 38  wherein the buffer section further comprises a flange for contacting the baluster secured to the baluster section to prevent the baluster from being moved past the baluster section in a direction toward the rail section.  
     
     
         40 . The railing system as described in  claim 38  wherein the buffer section further comprises a cylindrical section having a wedge shaped cross-section, a first face adjacent the baluster section and a second face adjacent the rail section, wherein the diameter of the cylindrical section is greater than the diameter of the baluster section to contact the baluster secured to the baluster section to prevent the baluster from moving past the baluster section in a direction toward the rail section.  
     
     
         41 . The railing system as described in  claim 40  wherein the plane defined by the first face is positioned with respect to the plane defined by the second face at an angle equal to the predetermined angle.  
     
     
         42 . The railing system as described in  claim 40  wherein the plane defined by the first face is positioned with respect to the plane defined by the second face at an angle of between 30 degrees and 36 degrees.  
     
     
         43 . The railing system as described in  claim 40  wherein the plane defined by the first face is positioned with respect to the plane defined by the second face at an angle of 32.5 degrees.  
     
     
         44 . The railing system as described in  claim 38  wherein the buffer section further comprises a cylindrical section having a wedge shaped cross-section, a first face adjacent the baluster section and a second face adjacent the rail section, wherein at least a portion of the diameter of the cylindrical section is greater than the diameter of the rail section opening to prevent the retaining member from moving into a rail section opening past the rail section.  
     
     
         45 . The railing system as described in  claim 40  wherein at least a portion of the diameter of the cylindrical section is greater than the diameter of the rail section opening to prevent the retaining member from moving into a rail section opening past the rail section.  
     
     
         46 . The railing system as described in  claim 1  wherein the rail section further comprises a plurality of barbs at an outer periphery of the rail section to assist in securing the rail section in the opening.  
     
     
         47 . The railing system as described in  claim 1  wherein the baluster section further comprises a plurality of barbs at an outer periphery of the baluster section to assist in securing the baluster section to a baluster.