Picket assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides embodiments of wrought iron picket assemblies having fasteners for mounting wooden hand rails for use in constructing railings, said fasteners also serving a fixing function during surface treatment of a picket.

1 . A picket assembly for mounting a handrail, comprising: 
 a picket having first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis therebetween;    a coupling member having a shaft with first and second ends, and having a head coupled to the first end;    wherein the first end of the picket has a cavity along the longitudinal axis to conform to the shaft of the coupling member; and    wherein the shaft of the coupling member is positioned inside the cavity of the first end of the picket.    
   
   
       2 . The picket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head of the coupling member is disposed coaxially with the shaft, as one of (i) a cylinder, (ii) a conical section, (iii) a polygonal prism, or (iv) a tapered polygonal prism.  
   
   
       3 . The picket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head of the coupling member defines a hole therethrough, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the picket.  
   
   
       4 . The picket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head further comprises at least one feature formed in the surface thereof to grip a hole in a handrail.  
   
   
       5 . The picket assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a feature formed in the surface of the head comprises one of (i) a circumferential ridge, (ii) an axial ridge, (iii) an embossment, or (iv) a knurling.  
   
   
       6 . The picket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is threaded and the cavity is tapped with complementary threads, and wherein the shafte is positioned within the cavity by screwing.  
   
   
       7 . The picket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is threaded with self-tapping threads, and wherein the shaft is positioned within the cavity by screwing.  
   
   
       8 . The picket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head of the coupling member has a structure formed in a surface thereof distal to the threaded shaft of the coupling member for torquing the coupling member.  
   
   
       9 . The picket assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a washer having a breakaway appendage disposed on the shaft of the coupling member between the coupling member and the picket.  
   
   
       10 . The picket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head further comprises at least one feature formed in the surface thereof to grip a hole in a pickett.  
   
   
       11 . The picket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a feature formed in the surface of the head comprises one of (i) a circumferential ridge, (ii) an axial ridge, (iii) an embossment, or (iv) a knurling.  
   
   
       12 . A picket assembly for mounting a handrail, comprising: 
 a picket having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween;    a sleeve having with first and second ends, a longitudinal axis therebetween, the exterior of the sleeve formed as one of (i) a cylinder, (ii) a conical section, (iii) a polygonal prism, or (iv) a tapered polygonal prism, and forming a hole extending through the longitudinal axis thereof;    a bolt comprising a threaded shaft having first and second ends, and having a bolt head at a first end;    wherein the first end of the picket has a tapped hole along the longitudinal axis thereof to conform to the threaded shaft of the bolt;    wherein the sleeve is disposed coaxially with the threaded shaft of the bolt, between the first and second ends of the bolt; and    wherein the second end of threaded shaft of the bolt, is screwed into the tapped hold of the first end of the picket.    
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a washer with a breakaway appendage disposed between the bolt head and the sleeve.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a washer with a breakaway appendage disposed between the sleeve and the picket.  
   
   
       15 . A method for assembling a picket having first and second ends with a longitudinal axis therebetween and defining a hole along the longitudinal axis at the first end that is complementary to a shaft, and a connecting member having a head coupled to the shaft, comprising inserting the shaft into the complementary cavity.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a washer with a breakaway appendage is inserted on the shaft, prior to the inserting of the shaft into the cavity.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the bolt is threaded, the cavity is tapped with complementary threads, and the shaft is inserted into the cavity by screwing.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the bolt is threaded with self-tapping threads, and wherein the shaft is positioned within the cavity by screwing.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the shaft has at least one circumferentially positioned ridge or boss.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the head further comprises at least one feature formed in the surface thereof to grip a hole in a handrail.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the feature formed in the surface of the head comprises one of (i) a circumferential ridge, (ii) an axial ridge, (iii) an embossment, or (iv) a knurling.  
   
   
       22 . A picket assembly for mounting a handrail, comprising: 
 a picket having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween;    a coaxially stacked plurality of washers;    a bolt comprising a threaded shaft having first and second ends, and having a bolt head at a first end;    wherein the first end of the picket has a tapped hole along the longitudinal axis thereof to conform to the threaded shaft of the bolt;    wherein the coaxially stacked plurality of washers is disposed coaxially with the threaded shaft of the bolt, between the first and second ends of the bolt; and    wherein the second end of threaded shaft of the bolt, is screwed into the tapped hold of the first end of the picket.    
   
   
       23 . A cap with a coupled peg for assembling a picket and handrail having a picket mounting hole formed therein comprising: the cap defining a cavity for insertion over the end of the picket; and the peg coupled to the cap, distally to the picket insertion point, configured for insertion into the hole in the handrail.  
   
   
       24 . A picket for mounting into a handrail, comprising: a longitudinal axis between a first and second end, wherein the first end comprises a tapped cavity coaxially oriented to the longitudinal axis and conformed to hold a coupling member.