Adjustable mounting bracket for a stair rail assembly

Abstract

A bracket for mounting a rail to a vertical post. The bracket includes a base with an arcuate front wall and a housing that is selectively movable along that front wall. The housing itself has an arcuate front wall that is oriented at right angles to the arcuate front wall of the base. The bracket further includes a rail connector that is selectively movable along the front wall of the housing. The rail connector engages an end of the rail and holds the rail at both a vertical and a horizontal angle relative the post. The vertical and horizontal angle of the rail to the post can be changed by selectively moving the rail connector along the front wall of the housing and moving the housing along the front wall of the base.

1 . A bracket for mounting a rail to a vertical post, wherein said bracket comprises:
 a base adapted to abut a side wall of the post; said base having a first axis extending between a first and second end thereof, and wherein a front wall of said base describes an arc about a second axis that is oriented at right angles to the first axis;   a housing engageable with the base and being adjustably movable along the front wall thereof; and wherein said housing includes a front wall that describes an arc about an axis substantially parallel to the first axis of the base; and   a rail connector engageable with the housing and being adjustably movable along the front wall of the housing; and wherein said rail connector is adapted to engage an end of the rail; and wherein movement of the housing along the front wall of the base changes the orientation of the rail in one of a vertical and a horizontal plane and movement of the rail connector along the front wall of the housing changes the orientation of the rail in the other of the vertical and horizontal plane.   
   
   
       2 . The bracket as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the front wall of the base is substantially semicircular and convex in shape. 
   
   
       3 . The bracket as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the front wall of the housing is convex in shape. 
   
   
       4 . The bracket as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the base further includes a pair of opposed side walls, each side wall extending between the first and second ends and joining the front wall of the base along an outer edge. 
   
   
       5 . The bracket as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the front wall of the base further includes a lip formed along each of the outer edges, and wherein each lip extends for a distance outwardly beyond one of the side walls. 
   
   
       6 . The bracket as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the base further includes at least one projection that extends inwardly from an interior surface of the front wall and substantially parallel to the side walls, and wherein said projection defines a bore adapted to receive a fastener therethrough and said bore has an opening in the front wall of the base. 
   
   
       7 . The bracket as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the housing further includes at least two side walls extending rearwardly away from the front wall of the housing; and wherein each of the side wall of the housing defines an arcuate groove therein; each groove being complementary to one of the lips on the base; and wherein said lips are engageable in the grooves to secure the base and housing together. 
   
   
       8 . The bracket as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the housing is adjustably movable on the front wall of the base by sliding the housing along the lips of the base. 
   
   
       9 . The bracket as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the front wall of the housing includes one of a dovetail socket and a tail that is oriented substantially at right angles to the first axis of the. 
   
   
       10 . The bracket as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the rail connector includes an arcuate rear wall that is complementary in shape to the front wall of the housing. 
   
   
       11 . The bracket as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the rear wall defines the other of the dovetail socket and tail; and wherein the tail is receivable in the socket to retain the housing and rail connector together. 
   
   
       12 . The bracket as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the rail connector further includes a peripheral wall extending forwardly and outwardly away from the rear wall thereof; and wherein said peripheral wall is adapted to engage the end of the rail. 
   
   
       13 . The bracket as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the peripheral wall defines a receptacle which is adapted to receive the end of the rail therein. 
   
   
       14 . The bracket as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the rail connector further includes one detent extending from one of the peripheral wall and rear wall and into the receptacle, said detent being adapted to contact the end of the rail and limit its travel into the receptacle. 
   
   
       15 . The bracket as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener for securing the rail connector, housing and base together. 
   
   
       16 . A staircase assembly comprising:
 a pair of upper posts mounted vertically at the top end of a diverging staircase;   a pair of lower posts mounted vertically at the bottom end of the staircase, wherein the upper vertical posts are positioned horizontally closer to each other than are the lower posts;   at least two rails, each rail extending between one of the upper posts and one of the lower posts;   a plurality of brackets, each bracket engaging an end of one of the rails and being mounted to a side wall of one of the upper and lower posts, whereby the rail extends outwardly from the bracket and away from the post at an angle; and wherein said bracket is adjustable to change the angle at which the rail extends from the post in both a vertical and a horizontal direction.   
   
   
       17 . The staircase assembly as defined in  claim 16 , wherein each bracket comprises:
 a base that is secured to the post, said base having a front wall that defines an arc about one of a vertical and a horizontal axis;   a housing that is selectively movable along the front wall of the base between a first and second position; said housing having a front wall that defines a second arc about the other of the vertical and horizontal axes; and   a rail connector having a rear wall that is selectively movable along the front wall of the housing between a third and fourth position; and wherein the rail connector defines a receptacle that extends forwardly and outwardly away from the rear wall thereof; said receptacle receiving the end of one of the rails therein, whereby the rail extends outwardly away from the rear wall of the rail connector   
   
   
       18 . The staircase assembly as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the base is secured to the post so that a longitudinal axis of the base is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the post; and the front wall of the base defines a convex arc about an axis disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the base. 
   
   
       19 . The staircase assembly as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the front wall of the housing describes a convex arc about an axis disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base. 
   
   
       20 . A method of connecting a rail to a vertical post at one end of a diverging staircase, said method comprising the steps of:
 mounting a base onto the vertical post;   slidably engaging a housing onto an arcuate front wall of the base;   slidably engaging a rail connector onto an arcuate front wall of the housing;   sliding the housing in one of a first and a second direction along the front wall of the base and about an axis disposed substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the base;   sliding the rail connector in one of a third and a fourth direction along the front wall of the housing and about an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base; and   engaging an end of the rail in a receptacle on the rail connector.