Railing assemblies and related methods and apparatuses

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure The invention relates to railing assemblies, railing assembly components, methods of assembling railings, and/or apparatus used to assist in assembling railings.

1.  A railing assembly, comprising: 
     a railing post; 
     a railing configured to be fixed to the railing post; and 
     a member configured to be placed between the railing post and the railing, 
     wherein the member is configured to improve an aesthetic appearance of the railing assembly. 
   
   
       2.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the member is configured to cooperate with a top surface of the railing to form a substantially continuous surface. 
   
   
       3.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a side portion of the member is configured to cooperate with a side surface of the railing to form a substantially continuous surface. 
   
   
       4.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an outer portion the member is configured to cooperate with an exterior surface of the railing visible to the user to form a substantially continuous surface. 
   
   
       5.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the member substantially fills a gap between the railing and railing post. 
   
   
       6.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the member includes polyvinyl chloride. 
   
   
       7.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the member is deformable. 
   
   
       8.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket connected to the railing and the railing post, 
     wherein the member is configured to be disposed around at least a portion of a mounting bracket. 
   
   
       9.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the member has a substantially U-shaped configuration. 
   
   
       10.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the member has a greater thickness than another portion of the member. 
   
   
       11.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the member is substantially disposed in a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railing. 
   
   
       12.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the member is disposed in a plane that is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railing. 
   
   
       13.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of member is configured to extend at an angle relative to another portion of the member. 
   
   
       14.  The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the member is configured to resist being removed from between the railing and the railing post. 
   
   
       15.  A railing assembly, comprising: 
     a railing post; 
     a railing affixed to the railing post; and 
     a member connected to the railing, 
     wherein the member is configured to accommodate at least one of a baluster and a panel. 
   
   
       16.  The railing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the member is configured to grip the railing. 
   
   
       17.  The railing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the member is configured to form a snap-fit with the railing. 
   
   
       18.  The railing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein one of the member and the railing includes two tongues and another of the member and the railing includes two grooves, 
     wherein the two tongues are configured to be placed in the two grooves. 
   
   
       19.  The railing assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the two tongues are configured to grip the two grooves. 
   
   
       20.  The railing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the member is configured to form a snap fit with the at least one of the baluster and the panel. 
   
   
       21.  The railing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the member is configured to accommodate the at least one of the baluster and the panel at a plurality of angles. 
   
   
       22.  The railing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the panel is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       23.  A method for assembling a railing assembly, comprising: 
     providing a railing post, a railing, and a member; 
     connecting the railing to the railing post; and 
     placing the member between the railing post and the railing, 
     wherein the member is configured to improve an aesthetic appearance of the railing assembly. 
   
   
       24.  The method of  claim 23 , further comprising aligning a top portion of the member with a top surface of the railing. 
   
   
       25.  The method of  claim 23 , further comprising aligning a side portion of the member with a side surface of the railing. 
   
   
       26.  The method of  claim 23 , further comprising aligning an outer portion of the member with an exterior surface of the railing. 
   
   
       27.  The method of  claim 23 , further comprising deforming at least a portion of the member. 
   
   
       28.  The method of  claim 23 , providing a mounting bracket; 
     connecting the mounting bracket to the railing post; 
     connecting the railing to the mounting bracket; and 
     placing the member at least partially around the mounting bracket. 
   
   
       29.  The method of  claim 23 , further comprising placing the member in a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railing. 
   
   
       30.  The method of  claim 23 , further comprising placing the member in a plane that is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railing. 
   
   
       31.  The method of  claim 23 , wherein the member is configured to resist being removed from between the railing and the railing post. 
   
   
       32.  A method for assembling a railing assembly, comprising: 
     providing a railing post, a railing, and a member; 
     connecting the railing to the railing post; 
     connecting the member to the railing; and 
     connecting at least one of a baluster and a panel to the railing part. 
   
   
       33.  The method of  claim 32 , further comprising gripping the railing via the member. 
   
   
       34.  The method of  claim 32 , further comprising snap-fitting the member to the railing. 
   
   
       35.  The method of  claim 32 , further comprising placing two tongues on one of the member and the railing into two grooves of another of the member and the railing includes two grooves. 
   
   
       36.  The method of  claim 35 , further comprising gripping the two grooves via the two tongues. 
   
   
       37.  The method of  claim 32 , further comprising snap-fitting at least one of the baluster and the panel to the member. 
   
   
       38.  The method of  claim 32 , further comprising adjusting an angle of the at least one of the baluster and the panel relative to the member. 
   
   
       39.  The method of  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the panel is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       40.  A member for a railing assembly, the railing assembly including a railing post and a railing configured to be affixed to the railing post, the member comprising: 
     wherein the member is configured to be placed between the railing post and the railing, 
     wherein the member is configured to improve an aesthetic appearance of the railing assembly. 
   
   
       41.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein a top portion of the railing part is configured to cooperate with a top surface of the railing to form a substantially continuous surface. 
   
   
       42.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein a side portion of the member is configured to cooperate with a side surface of the railing to form a substantially continuous surface. 
   
   
       43.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein an outer portion the member is configured to cooperate with an exterior surface of the railing visible to the user to form a substantially continuous surface. 
   
   
       44.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein the member substantially fills a gap between the railing and railing post. 
   
   
       45.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein the member includes polyvinyl chloride. 
   
   
       46.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein at least a portion of the member is deformable. 
   
   
       47.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein the railing assembly further comprises a mounting bracket connected to the railing and the railing post, 
     wherein the member is configured to be disposed around at least a portion of a mounting bracket. 
   
   
       48.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein the member has a substantially U-shaped configuration. 
   
   
       49.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein a top portion of the member has a greater thickness than another portion of the member. 
   
   
       50.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein the member is configured to be substantially disposed in a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railing. 
   
   
       51.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein the member is configured to be disposed in a plane that is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railing. 
   
   
       52.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein a portion of member is configured to extend at an angle relative to another portion of the member. 
   
   
       53.  The member of  claim 40 , wherein the member is configured to resist being removed from between the railing and the railing post. 
   
   
       54.  A member for a railing assembly, the railing assembly including a railing post and a railing configured to be affixed to the railing post, the member comprising: 
     wherein the member is configured to be connected to the railing, 
     wherein the member is configured to accommodate at least one of a baluster and a panel. 
   
   
       55.  The member of  claim 54 , wherein the member is configured to grip the railing. 
   
   
       56.  The member of  claim 54 , wherein the member is configured to form a snap-fit with the railing. 
   
   
       57.  The member of  claim 54 , wherein one of the member and the railing includes two tongues and another of the member and the railing includes two grooves, 
     wherein the two tongues are configured to be placed in the two grooves. 
   
   
       58.  The member of  claim 57 , wherein the two tongues are configured to grip the two grooves. 
   
   
       59.  The member of  claim 54 , wherein the member is configured to form a snap fit with the at least one of the baluster and the panel. 
   
   
       60.  The member of  claim 54 , wherein the member is configured to accommodate the at least one of the baluster and the panel at a plurality of angles. 
   
   
       61.  The member of  claim 54 , wherein at least a portion of the panel is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       62.  A railing assembly kit for connection to a railing post, comprising: 
     a first railing portion; and 
     a second railing porttion, 
     wherein at least one of the first railing portion and the second railing portion is configured to be connected to the railing post, 
     wherein the first railing portion and the second railing portion are configured to be connected to each other, 
     wherein at least one of the first railing portion and the second railing portion is configured to accommodate a baluster, 
     wherein at least one of the first railing portion and the second railing portion is configured to be connected to the baluster. 
   
   
       63.  The railing assembly of  claim 62 , wherein the first railing portion is configured to cover the second railing portion. 
   
   
       64.  The railing assembly of  claim 62 , wherein the second railing portion is configured to substantially surround an end of the baluster. 
   
   
       65.  The railing assembly of  claim 62 , wherein the second railing portion includes a plurality of tongues configured to be placed on opposite sides of an end of the baluster, 
     wherein the plurality of tongues run substantially along the entire length of the second railing portion. 
   
   
       66.  A deck, comprising: 
     a railing post; 
     a first railing portion; 
     a second railing portion connected to the first railing portion; and 
     a plurality of balusters connected to at least one of the first railing portion and the second railing portion, 
     wherein at least one of the first railing portion and the second railing portion is connected to the railing post. 
   
   
       67.  The deck of  claim 66 , wherein the first railing portion is configured to cover the second railing portion. 
   
   
       68.  The deck of  claim 66 , wherein the second railing portion is configured to substantially surround ends of the plurality of balusters. 
   
   
       69.  The deck  of  claim 66 , wherein the second railing portion includes a plurality of tongues configured to be placed on opposite sides of ends of the plurality of balusters, 
     wherein the plurality of tongues run substantially along the entire length of the second railing portion. 
   
   
       70.  The deck of  claim 66 , further comprising a post sleeve disposed over substantially an entire length of the railing post. 
   
   
       71.  The deck of  claim 70 , further comprising a post skirt disposed over an end of the post sleeve and the railing post. 
   
   
       72.  The deck of  claim 66 , wherein the first railing portion and the second railing portion form one of an upper railing and a lower railing. 
   
   
       73.  The deck of  claim 72 , further comprising a third railing portion; and 
     a fourth railing portion connected to the third railing portion to form one of an upper railing and a lower railing different from the first railing portion and second railing portion; and 
     wherein the plurality of balusters are connected to at least one of the third railing portion and the fourth railing portion, 
     wherein at least one of the third railing portion and the fourth railing portion is connected to the railing post. 
   
   
       74.  The deck of  claim 70 , further comprising a post cap disposed on an end of the post sleeve. 
   
   
       75.  A method for assembling at least a portion of a deck, comprising: 
     providing a railing post, a first railing portion, and a second railing portion; 
     connecting at least one of the first railing portion and the second railing portion to the railing post; 
     connecting the first railing portion to the second railing portion; and 
     connecting a baluster to at least one of the first railing portion and the second railing portion. 
   
   
       76.  The method of  claim 75 , further comprising covering the second railing portion with the first railing portion. 
   
   
       77.  The method of  claim 75 , further comprising surrounding an end of the baluster with the second railing portion. 
   
   
       78.  The method of  claim 75 , wherein the second railing portion includes a plurality of tongues, the method further comprising placing the plurality of tongues on opposite sides of an end of the baluster. 
   
   
       79.  80. The method of  claim 75 , further comprising placing a post sleeve over substantially an entire length of the railing post. 
   
   
       80.  81. The method of  claim 80 , further comprising placing a post skirt over an end of the post sleeve and the railing post. 
   
   
       81.  82. The method of  claim 75 , wherein the first railing portion and the second railing portion form one an upper railing and a lower railing. 
   
   
       82.  83. The method of  claim 82 , further comprising providing a third railing portion and a fourth railing portion configured to be connected to the third railing portion to form one of an upper railing and a lower railing different from the first railing portion and the second railing portion; 
     connecting the baluster to at least one of the third railing portion and the fourth railing portion; and 
     connecting at least one of the third railing portion and the fourth railing portion to the railing post. 
   
   
       83.  84. The method of  claim 80 , further comprising placing a post cap on an end of the post sleeve.