Apparatus and method for assembling a balustrade system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for assembling ad balustrade system. The balustrade system comprising one or more primary members. One or more toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal rings are secured to the primary member. One or more socket fittings are secured to one toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring. Each socket fitting defines a socket bore. A secondary member is secured within the socket bore.

1 . An apparatus for connecting the primary and secondary members of a balustrade system, the apparatus comprising: 
 a toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring adapted to be positioned on a primary member;    one or more socket fittings adapted to receive a secondary member; and    a means for engaging the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring with the socket fitting.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means to engage the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring with the socket fitting comprises one or more grub screws, the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring having one or more threaded bores and the one or more grub screws accommodated within the threaded bores to lock the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring to the primary member, the grub screw comprising a threaded extension extending beyond the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the socket fitting comprises a threaded socket bore, the threaded socket bore engageable with the threaded extension of the grub screw.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring defines a cylindrical bore collinear with the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring's axis.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the cylindrical bore has a diameter sized to provide an easy sliding fit on the primary member.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring defines one or more grooves in the cylindrical bore and one or more O-rings are positioned in the grooves.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the primary member is a stanchion and the secondary member is a rail.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the primary member is a rail and the secondary member is a cross rail.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the diameter of the socket bore is sized to provide an easy sliding fit with the secondary member.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more plugs positioned inside the primary members to support the primary members against the collapsing forces applied by said grub screws.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the socket fitting comprises a cylindrically-shaped portion containing the socket bore and a conically-shaped portion containing the threaded socket bore.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the conically-shaped portion comprises an end surface distal to the cylindrically-shaped portion, the end surface shaped to complement the shape of the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the socket fitting defines one or more grooves in the socket bore and one or more O-rings are positioned in the grooves.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a plug-type cap adapted to close off an end of a primary member, the cap comprising a hollow cylindrical shank conformed to slidably fit within the cylindrical bore of a the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, the cylindrical shank secured in place within the cylindrical bore by one or more grub screws  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a plug-type cap adapted to close off an end of a primary member, the cap comprising a substantially solid cylindrical shank conformed to slidably fit within the cylindrical bore of a the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, the substantially solid cylindrical shank sufficiently long to extend into the primary member, and adapted to be secured in place within a bore of the primary member by one or more grub screws to support the primary member against collapsing forces applied by said grub screws.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for connecting the primary and secondary members of balustrade system, the apparatus comprising: 
 a toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring adapted to be positioned on a primary member;    the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring having one or more threaded bores;    one or more grub screws accommodated within the threaded bores to lock the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring to the primary member, the grub screw comprising a threaded extension extending beyond the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring;    one or more socket fittings having a threaded socket bore, the threaded socket bore attachable with the threaded extension of the grub screw; and    the socket fitting comprising a socket bore, the socket bore adapted to engage the secondary member, so that the secondary member is connectable to the primary member.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the threaded bores are radially arranged on the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the threaded bores are positioned at an angle to a plane normal to the primary member.  
   
   
       19 . A balustrade system comprising: 
 one or more primary members;    one or more toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal rings secured to the primary member;    one or more socket fittings secured to one toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, each socket fitting defining a socket bore; and    one or more secondary members, an end of the secondary member secured within the socket bore.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system further comprises one or more locking bars inserted in the primary member and one or more circumferential grooves defined inside the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, the locking bar passing through one or more apertures defined in the primary member and engaging with the circumferential groove.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the locking bar is elastically deformable to allow the locking bar to be removable.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the locking bar comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and second end are formed into points, the points engageable with the surface of the circumferential groove to prevent toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring from rotating on the primary member.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system further comprises one or more grub screws accommodated within one or more threaded bores defined by the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, so that the grub screws are capable of securing the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring to the primary member.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system further comprises an adhesive substance adapted to secure the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring to the primary member.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system further comprises an adhesive substance adapted to secure the socket fitting to the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system further comprises one or more panels and one or more supporting members secured to the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, the supporting member defining a channel adapted to receive the panel.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system further comprises: 
 one or more grub screws accommodated within one or more threaded bores defined by the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, the grub screws comprising a threaded extension extending outward from the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring; and    the socket fitting defining a threaded socket bore, the threaded socket bore engaging with the threaded extension of the grub screw.    
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the system further comprises: 
 one or more hollow bolts;    the hollow bolts defining a threaded interior bore;    the socket fitting defining a bolt bore;    the hollow bolt passing through the bolt bore;    the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring defining one or more counterbores collinear with the threaded bore of the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, the counterbores having a depth less than the threaded bore, the counterbore adapted to receive the hollow bolt; and    the hollow bolt positioned in the counterbore and the threaded interior bore of hollow bolt engaging the grub screw, so that the hollow bolt secures the socket fitting to the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the bolt bore comprises one or more splines and hollow bolt comprises one or more grooves engaging the splines, so that the hollow bolt is prevented from rotating independently of the socket fitting.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the system further comprises: 
 a spring retaining pan positioned in the secondary member, the spring retaining pan comprising a first spring locating boss;    the hollow bolt comprising a head, the head comprising a second spring locating boss; and    a bolt projection spring, the bolt projection spring positioned between first spring retaining boss and the second spring retaining boss, so that the spring forces the hollow bolt to contact the grub screw when the secondary member is joined with the socket fitting.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system further comprises a support piece inserted in the primary member to reinforce the primary member.  
   
   
       32 . A method of assembling a balustrade system comprising: 
 positioning a toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring onto a primary member;    securing the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring to the primary member;    securing a socket fitting to the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring; and    securing a secondary member within a socket bore defined by the socket member.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring is secured to the primary support member by placing a locking bar within the primary member and engaging the ends of the locking bar with a groove defined by the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, through one or more apertures defined by the primary member.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring is secured to the primary member by tightening one or more grub screws against the primary member, the grub screws accommodated within one or more threaded bores defined in the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , the method further comprising the step of securing the socket fitting to the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring by engaging a threaded socket bore defined by the socket fitting, with a threaded extension of the grub screw extending beyond the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32 , the method further comprising the step of protecting the surface of the primary member by fitting one or more O-rings within a groove defined by the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring, so that the O-ring frictionally retains the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring in place during assembly.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 32 , the method further comprising the step of fixing an end of the primary member to a supporting surface  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , the method further comprising the steps of: 
 fitting a dress piece around the primary member, the dress piece defining one or more threaded dress piece bores;    abutting the dress piece to the supporting surface; and    securing the dress piece to the primary member with one or more dress piece grub screws extending through the threaded dress piece bores.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the primary member is fixed to the support surface by casting the end into the support surface.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the primary member is fixed to the support surface by casting an anchor tube into the support surface, sliding the primary member into the anchor tube, and securing the primary member to the anchor tube by engaging a fastening means through the primary member and the anchor tube.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the primary member is fixed to the support surface by casting an anchor bolt into the supporting surface, securing a mounting boss to the anchor bolt by tightening a nut, and securing the mounting boss to the primary member by engaging a fastening means through the primary member and the mounting boss.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the primary member is fixed to the support surface by: 
 fastening a mounting flange to the support surface, the mounting flange comprising a mounting bore adapted to form a sliding fit around the primary member, the mounting bore defining one or more threaded holes;    placing the primary member in the mounting flange; and    engaging one or more mounting bore grub screws with the exterior surface of the primary member, the mounting bore grub screws positioned in the threaded holes.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 32 , the method further comprising the steps of securing a second socket fitting to a fixing surface with a double ended bolt and securing one end of the secondary member within the second socket fitting.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 32 , the method further comprising the step of forming the socket fitting in a decorative shape.