Adjustable stair rail

Abstract

The present invention relates to an angle adjustable stair rail assembly comprising a top and bottom rail and a plurality of parallel balusters joined to the top rail and the bottom rail by deforming a cut-out opening in the baluster around a punched web openings in a wall of the top and bottom rails so that the rails and balusters can be moved to any angular disposition keeping the balusters parallel to each other and the top rail and bottom rail parallel to each other. The cut-out opening in the baluster can form a pair of legs. The retention of the baluster is accomplished by a simple clamping action after the legs of the baluster are received in the openings in the wall of the top or bottom rail.

1 . An angle adjustable stair rail assembly comprising:
 a top rail and a bottom rail, said top rail and said bottom rail including a pair of openings in a base wall of said top rail and said bottom rail, and   one or more balusters extending between said top rail and said bottom rail, said balusters including a pair of legs at each end thereof; each of said pair of legs being received and retained in respective said openings in said base wall of said top rail and said bottom rail,   wherein said balusters can be moved angularly within said openings of said top rail and said bottom rail.   
   
   
       2 . The stair rail assembly of  claim 1  wherein said openings are formed of a punched web in said base wall and a portion of said web extends between said pair of legs. 
   
   
       3 . The stair rail assembly of  claim 2  wherein said pair of legs are retained in said openings through crimping each of said legs toward one another and around said portion of said web. 
   
   
       4 . The stair rail assembly of  claim 1  comprising of a plurality balusters, wherein said balusters can be moved angularly within said openings in said top rail and said bottom rail while keeping each of said balusters parallel to each other and said top rail and said bottom rail parallel to each. 
   
   
       5 . The stair rail assembly of  claim 4  wherein said balusters can be moved at any angle of between about zero and about 40 degrees. 
   
   
       6 . The stair rail assembly of  claim 1  wherein a cut-out opening in each of said ends of said balusters forms said pair of legs. 
   
   
       7 . The stair rail assembly of  claim 6  wherein said cut out opening has a curved end and said web portion is retained in said curved end. 
   
   
       8 . The stair rail assembly of  claim 6  wherein a diameter of said curved end is larger than a diameter of said opening in said baluster. 
   
   
       9 . A method for forming an adjustable stair rail assembly comprising:
 forming a pair of openings in a base wall of a top rail and a bottom rail;   inserting an end of a baluster into said pair of openings, said end of said baluster including a cut-out opening forming a pair of legs which are received in said pair of openings; and   retaining said pair of legs in said pair of openings of said top rail and said bottom rail,   wherein said balusters can be moved angularly within said openings of said top rail and said bottom rail.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said openings are formed of a punched web in said base wall and a portion of said web extends between said pair of legs. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said step of retaining said pair of legs in said openings is performed by crimping each of said legs toward one another and around said portion of said web. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  comprising of a plurality balusters, wherein said balusters can be moved angularly within said openings in said top rail and said bottom rail while keeping each of said balusters parallel to each other and said top rail and said bottom rail parallel to each. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said balusters can be moved at any angle of between about zero and about 40 degrees. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein a cut-out opening in each of said ends of said balusters forms said pair of legs. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said cut out opening has a curved end and said web portion is retained in said curved end. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein a diameter of said curved end is larger than a diameter of said opening in said baluster.