Guard rail system

Abstract

A guard rail system fabricated from standard-sized components, preferably extruded, comprises balusters fastened to a lower rail and to an upper retainer at fixed intervals. The balusters are provided with central bores for receiving fasteners such as screws through predrilled holes in the upper retainer and lower rail. A hand rail is slip-fitted over the upper retainer in locking relation, to provide integrated guard rail sections. Guard rail sections so assembled are fastened to end posts, preferably using mounting brackets having a flanged arm which nests in grooves or recesses in the upper retainer and lower rail to provide a safe, secure and aesthetically appealing guard rail.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A guard rail system, comprising 
 a top retainer and a bottom rail affixed between at least two posts,    a plurality of hollow balusters extending between the top retainer and the bottom rail, each baluster being extruded from a wood composite material and comprising a plurality of inner webs affixed to a wall of the baluster and to a closed bore for a fastener disposed within the baluster wall, and    a hand rail affixed to the top retainer, the hand rail having a bearing plate supported by an upper surface of the upper retainer,    wherein the top retainer has an exterior surface having a pair of opposed channels and the hand rail has an internal surface having a pair of complementary projections, whereby the hand rail is affixed to the upper retainer by sliding engagement between the projections and the channels.    
     
     
         2 . The guard rail system of  claim 1  wherein the top retainer and the bottom rail each have a series of pre-drilled holes for receiving the fastening members, to thereby align the balusters.  
     
     
         3 . The guard rail system of  claim 2  wherein a front of the bottom rail is provided with an upstanding lip spaced from the series of holes by a distance substantially corresponding to a distance between the bore and a front face of the baluster.  
     
     
         4 . The guard rail system of  claim 1  wherein the balusters are affixed between the top retainer and the bottom rail by fasteners disposed through the top retainer and the bottom rail and into the bore.  
     
     
         5 . A method of assembling a guard rail, comprising the steps of: 
 a. pre-drilling a top retainer and a bottom rail for attachment to a plurality of hollow balusters, the top retainer having an exterior surface having a pair of opposed channels and each baluster comprising a plurality of inner webs affixed to a wall of the baluster and to a bore for a fastener disposed within the baluster wall,    b. disposing fasteners through the holes into the bores to affix the balusters between the top retainer and bottom rail,    c. sliding a hand rail having an internal surface having a pair of projections complementary to the channels over the upper retainer to engage the projections in the channels, and    d. affixing the top retainer and the bottom rail to posts.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the hand rail comprises a bearing plate supported by an upper surface of the upper retainer.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  including, before step a., the step of extruding the top retainer, bottom rail, balusters and hand rail.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein each post is hollow and including the steps of anchoring a structural member and disposing the post over a structural member.  
     
     
         9 . A bracket for mounting a railing on a post having a plurality of faces, the railing comprising a top retainer and a bottom rail affixed to the post, a plurality of balusters extending between the top retainer and the bottom rail, and a hand rail affixed to the top retainer, the bracket comprising: a first member for affixing the bracket to a first face, and 
 a second member substantially perpendicular to the first member for affixing the bracket to the top retainer or the bottom rail,    such that when the railing is mounted on the post it is positionable at an angle to the first face of the post.    
     
     
         10 . The bracket of  claim 9  wherein the first member is angled to fit over a corner of the post.  
     
     
         11 . The bracket of  claim 9  wherein the second member is joined to the first member by a rotating fastener.