US2006006372A1PendingUtilityA1

Barrier system with multi-position rail

54
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 26, 2003Filed: May 5, 2005Published: Jan 12, 2006
Est. expiryMay 26, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John T. ForbisRoy Kaltenbach
E04F 2011/1821E04F 2011/1827E04F 11/1836E04F 2011/1897
54
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A rail is disclosed for use in forming a barrier system, such as a railing for a deck, porch, walkway or fence. The rail has a versatile configuration in that either a top or bottom side of the rail may be received in a rail cover. The rail may have side walls and a cross wall on the top or bottom side of the rail. A channel may be formed on the side of the rail opposite the cross wall. Upright members, such as pickets, planks, balusters, or walls may be received in either the top side or the bottom side of the rail, in the channel or through the cross wall. A cap having openings for receiving the upright member may be placed on the channel. The rail may be positioned on the top or bottom of the barrier system and the rail may be symmetrical to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A barrier system comprising: 
 a rail cover;    a rail having a longitudinal axis, said rail being attachable to said rail cover in a first orientation and a second orientation with respect to said rail cover, said rail being configured to be supported in a laterally extending orientation, said rail including supporting means for (i) supporting a first boundary-defining barrier means in position with respect to said rail when said rail is disposed in said first orientation, and (ii) supporting a second boundary-defining barrier means in position with respect to said rail when said rail is disposed in said second orientation, wherein said second orientation is rotated about said longitudinal axis by substantially 180 degrees from said first orientation; and    a boundary-defining barrier means configured and arranged to be supported by said rail.    
     
     
         16 . The barrier system of  claim 15 , wherein said rail further comprises means for engaging the rail cover.  
     
     
         17 . The barrier system of  claim 16 , wherein said means for engaging comprises protrusions disposed toward a top side and a bottom side of said rail.  
     
     
         18 . The barrier system of  claim 16 , wherein said rail cover comprises receiving means for receiving said engaging means.  
     
     
         19 . The barrier system of  claim 15 , wherein said supporting means comprises a cap.  
     
     
         20 . The barrier system of  claim 19 , wherein said cap comprises at least one opening for receiving said boundary-defining barrier means.  
     
     
         21 . The barrier system of  claim 19 , wherein said cap comprises attaching means for attaching said cap to said rail.  
     
     
         22 . The barrier system of  claim 21 , wherein said attaching means comprises a shaped portion of the cap configured for receiving engaging means disposed on the rail in an interference fit.  
     
     
         23 . The barrier system of  claim 19 , wherein said cap comprises at least one ledge for holding said cap into position with respect to said rail.  
     
     
         24 . The barrier system of  claim 15 , wherein said supporting means comprises a cross wall formed on said rail.  
     
     
         25 . The barrier system of  claim 15 , wherein said rail comprises a channel defined by a first side wall, a second side wall and a brace member.  
     
     
         26 - 44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . A barrier system comprising: 
 a rail configured for being supported in a laterally extending orientation, said rail having a top side, a bottom side, and at least one protrusion;    a rail cover configured for attaching to said rail at one of said top side and said bottom side; and    a cap configured for attaching to said rail at the other of said top side and said bottom side, said cap having at least one opening for receiving a boundary-defining barrier means;    wherein said rail cover comprises receiving means for receiving said at least one protrusion on said rail to form an interference fit between said rail and said rail cover.    
     
     
         46 . The barrier system of  claim 45 , wherein said cap comprises attaching means for attaching said cap to said rail.  
     
     
         47 . The barrier system of  claim 46 , wherein said attaching means comprise a shaped portion of the cap configured for receiving said protrusion in an interference fit.  
     
     
         48 . The barrier system of  claim 45 , wherein said cap comprises at least one ledge for holding said cap into position with respect to said rail.  
     
     
         49 . The barrier system of  claim 45 , wherein said rail comprises a first side wall and a second side wall.  
     
     
         50 . The barrier system of  claim 49 , wherein said rail further comprises a cross wall between said first side wall and said second side wall.  
     
     
         51 . The barrier system of  claim 49 , wherein said rail comprises a channel defined by said first side wall and said second side wall.  
     
     
         52 . The barrier system of  claim 51 , wherein said rail further comprises a brace member between said first side wall and said second side wall.  
     
     
         53 . The barrier system of  claim 52 , wherein said rail defines a chamber between said first side wall, said second side wall, said brace member and said cross wall.  
     
     
         54 . The barrier system of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one protrusion comprises two protrusions.  
     
     
         55 . The barrier system of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one protrusion comprises four protrusions.  
     
     
         56 . The barrier system of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one protrusion comprises two protrusions disposed toward said top side and two protrusions disposed toward said bottom side.  
     
     
         57 . The barrier system of  claim 45 , wherein said rail comprises a slot for receiving an edge portion of the cap.  
     
     
         58 . A barrier system comprising: 
 a rail configured for being supported in a laterally extending orientation, said rail having a top side and a bottom side, said rail defining a channel on one of said top side and said bottom side and a chamber opposite said channel;    a rail cover configured for attaching to said rail at one of said top side and said bottom side; and    a cap configured for attaching to said rail to cover said channel.    
     
     
         59 . The barrier system of  claim 58 , wherein said rail comprises means for engaging with said rail cover to attach said rail to said rail cover in a first orientation in which said rail cover is on said top side of said rail, and a second orientation in which said rail cover is on said bottom side of said rail.  
     
     
         60 . The barrier system of  claim 59 , wherein said means for engaging are located toward both said top side of said rail and said bottom side of said rail.  
     
     
         61 . The barrier system of  claim 58 , wherein said means for engaging are configured as protrusions extending away from said rail to attach said cover with an interference fit.  
     
     
         62 . The barrier system of  claim 58 , wherein said cap comprises attaching means for attaching said cap to said rail.  
     
     
         63 . The barrier system of  claim 58 , wherein said cap comprises at least one ledge for holding said cap into position with respect to said rail.  
     
     
         64 . The barrier system of  claim 58 , wherein said rail comprises a first side wall and as second side wall.  
     
     
         65 . The barrier system of  claim 64 , wherein said rail further comprises a cross wall between said first side wall and said second side wall.  
     
     
         66 . The barrier system of  claim 64 , wherein said channel is defined by said first side wall and said second side wall.  
     
     
         67 . The barrier system of  claim 66 , wherein said rail further comprises a brace member between said first side wall and said second side wall.  
     
     
         68 . The barrier system of  claim 67 , wherein said chamber is defined by said first side wall, said second side wall, said brace member and said cross wall.  
     
     
         69 - 84 . (canceled)  
     
     
         85 . A barrier system comprising: 
 a rail cover;    a rail having a longitudinal axis, said rail being attachable to said rail cover in a first orientation and a second orientation with respect to said rail cover, said rail being configured to be supported in a laterally extending orientation, said rail including supporting means for (i) supporting a first boundary-defining barrier means in position with respect to said rail when said rail is disposed in said first orientation, and (ii) supporting a second boundary-defining barrier means in position with respect to said rail when said rail is disposed in said second orientation, wherein said rail is inverted in said second orientation with respect to said first orientation; and    a boundary-defining barrier means configured and arranged to be supported by said rail.    
     
     
         86 . (canceled)  
     
     
         87 . A barrier system comprising: 
 a top rail configured for being supported in a laterally extending orientation, said top rail comprising a first side wall, a second side wall, a top side and a bottom side, wherein a channel is defined between said first side wall and said second side wall on said bottom side, said channel being configured for receiving a boundary-defining barrier means therein;    a rail cover configured for attaching to said top rail at said top side; and    a bottom rail configured substantially identical to said top rail, said bottom rail comprising a bottom rail channel;    wherein said bottom rail is configured to be oriented for receiving said boundary-defining barrier means in said bottom rail channel.    
     
     
         88 . The barrier system of  claim 87 , wherein said top rail further comprises a cross wall between said first side wall and said second side wall.  
     
     
         89 . The barrier system of  claim 88 , wherein cross wall is located on said top side of said top rail.  
     
     
         90 . The barrier system of  claim 89 , wherein said top rail further comprises a brace member between said first side wall and said second side wall.  
     
     
         91 . The barrier system of  claim 90 , wherein said top rail comprises a chamber defined by said first side wall, said second side wall, said brace member and said cross wall.  
     
     
         92 . The barrier system of  claim 87 , wherein said first side wall and said second side wall are characterized by an absence of protrusions.  
     
     
         93 . The barrier system of  claim 88 , wherein said cross wall is characterized by an absence of openings.  
     
     
         94 - 101 . (canceled)

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