Railway assembly

Abstract

There is provided a section of a guard component of a railing assembly including a reinforced rail member and a guard component section. The reinforced rail member includes a reinforced rail member shell section defining a shell space, and also includes a cap member and a strut coupling member. There is also provided a reinforcement member disposed in the shell space and effecting reinforcement of the rail member shell section. The cap member is urged into a biased engagement with the reinforcement member by a biasing force. The biased engagement effects coupling of the cap member to the reinforcement member. The guard component section subassembly includes a one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and a strut extending between and coupled to each one of: (i) the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and (ii) the strut coupling member. The reinforced rail member defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member.

1 . A section of a guard component of a railing assembly comprising:
 a reinforced rail member including:
 a reinforced rail member shell section defining a shell space, and including a cap member and a strut coupling member; and 
 a reinforcement member disposed in the shell space and effecting reinforcement of the rail member shell section; 
 wherein the cap member is urged into a biased engagement with the reinforcement member by a biasing force, which thereby effects coupling of the cap member to the reinforcement member, 
   and   a guard component section subassembly including:
 a one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member; and 
 a strut extending between and coupled to each one of: (i) the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and (ii) the strut coupling member; 
   wherein the reinforced rail member defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member.   
   
   
       2 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforced rail member which defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member is a first reinforced rail member, and wherein the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member of the guard component section subassembly is a second reinforced rail member, and wherein the second reinforced rail member includes:
 a rail member shell section, including a cap member and a strut coupling member, wherein a space is defined between the cap member and the mounting member; and   a reinforcement member disposed in the space and effecting reinforcement to the rail member shell section;   wherein the cap member is urged into a coupling relationship with the reinforcement member by a biasing force, and thereby coupled to the reinforcement member.   
   
   
       3 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member is coupled to the strut coupling member with a fastener. 
   
   
       4 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strut coupling member is coupled to the strut with a fastener. 
   
   
       5 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling engagement between the cap member and the reinforcement member is effected by a snap-fit engagement. 
   
   
       6 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling relationship between the cap member and the reinforcement member is effected by a friction-fit engagement. 
   
   
       7 . A section of a guard component of a railing assembly comprising:
 a reinforced rail member including:
 a rail member shell section defining a shell space, and including a cap member and a strut coupling member; and 
 a reinforcement member disposed in the shell space and effecting reinforcement of the rail member shell section; 
   and   a guard component section subassembly including:
 a one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member; and 
 a strut extending between and coupled to each one of: (i) the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and (ii) the strut coupling member; 
   wherein the reinforced rail member defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member;   and wherein the disposition of the cap member relative to the mounting member defines an interrupted exterior surface of the shell section, and wherein the interrupted exterior surface is not visible from each one of a plurality of lines of sight, wherein each one of a plurality of lines of sight is disposed as follows: (i) above the reinforced rail member, and (ii) in a vertical plane in which is disposed an axis normal to a side surface portion of the shell.   
   
   
       8 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the disposition of each one of the plurality of lines of sight is at an acute angle of greater than about five (5) degrees relative to a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       9 . The section of the guard component a claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the interrupted exterior surface of the shell section is disposed on an opposite side of the shell section relative to the shell space. 
   
   
       10 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement member is coupled to the strut coupling member with a fastener. 
   
   
       11 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the strut coupling member is coupled to the strut with a fastener. 
   
   
       12 . A section of a guard component of a railing assembly comprising:
 a reinforced rail member including:
 a rail member shell section defining a shell space, and including a cap member and a strut coupling member; and 
 a reinforcement member disposed in the shell space and effecting reinforcement of the rail member shell section; 
   and   a guard component section subassembly including:
 a one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member; and 
 a strut extending between and coupled to each one of: (i) the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and (ii) the strut coupling member; 
   wherein the reinforced rail member defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member;   and wherein, from the point of view of a plurality of lines of sight, the visible portions of the combination of the cap member and the strut coupling member define an uninterrupted exterior surface, wherein each one of the plurality of lines of sight is disposed as follows: (i) above the reinforced rail member, and (ii) in a vertical plane in which is disposed an axis normal to a side surface portion of the shell.   
   
   
       13 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the disposition of each one of the plurality of lines of sight is at an acute angle of greater than about five (5) degrees relative to a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       14 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcement member is coupled to the strut coupling member with a fastener. 
   
   
       15 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the strut coupling member is coupled to the strut with a fastener. 
   
   
       16 . A section of a guard component of a railing assembly comprising:
 a reinforced rail member including:
 a rail member shell section defining a shell space, and including a cap member and a strut coupling member; and 
 a reinforcement member disposed in the shell space and effecting reinforcement of the rail member shell section; 
   and   a guard component section subassembly including:
 a one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member; and 
 a strut extending between and coupled to each one of: (i) the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and (ii) the strut coupling member; 
   wherein the reinforced rail member defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member;   and wherein the strut coupling member further includes a one of a locator element or a receiving element;   and wherein the reinforcement member includes the other one of a locator element or a receiving element, wherein the other one of a locator element or a receiving element of the reinforcement member co-operates with the one of a locator element or a receiving element of the strut coupling member to effect positioning of the reinforcement member relative to the strut coupling member during construction of the railing assembly, and wherein the locator element bears against the receiving element and is thereby coupled to the receiving element.   
   
   
       17 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the reinforcement member is coupled to the strut coupling member with a fastener. 
   
   
       18 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the strut coupling member is coupled to the strut with a fastener. 
   
   
       19 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the locator element is disposed in friction-fit engagement with the receiving element. 
   
   
       20 . A section of a guard component of a railing assembly comprising:
 a reinforced rail member including:
 a rail member shell section defining a shell space, and including a cap member and a strut coupling member; and 
 a reinforcement member disposed in the shell space and effecting reinforcement of the rail member shell section; 
   and   a guard component section subassembly including:
 a one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member; and 
 a strut extending between and coupled to each one of: (i) the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and (ii) the strut coupling member; 
   wherein the reinforced rail member defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member;   and wherein the disposition of the cap member relative to the strut coupling member defines a fluid passage which communicates with the shell space and is configured for draining any liquid accumulating within the shell space, and wherein the fluid passage includes an outlet port disposed below the shell space.   
   
   
       21 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the reinforcement member is coupled to the strut coupling member with a fastener. 
   
   
       22 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the strut coupling member is coupled to the strut with a fastener. 
   
   
       23 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the fluid passage includes a minimum diameter of at least about one-sixtyfourth ( 1/64) of an inch. 
   
   
       24 . A section of a railing assembly comprising:
 a guard component section including:
 a reinforced rail member including:
 a rail member shell section defining a shell space, and including a cap member and a strut coupling member; and 
 a reinforcement member disposed in the shell space and effecting reinforcement of the rail member shell section; 
 
 and 
 a guard component section subassembly including:
 a one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and 
 a strut extending between and coupled to each one of: (i) the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and (ii) the strut coupling member; 
 
 wherein the reinforced rail member defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member; 
   a railing assembly component including a reinforcement member joint surface portion; and   a connector effecting coupling between the guard component section and the railing assembly component,   wherein the reinforcement member is disposed substantially flush relative to the reinforcement member joint surface portion of the railing assembly component.   
   
   
       25 . The section of a railing assembly as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the reinforcement member is coupled to the strut coupling member with a fastener. 
   
   
       26 . The section of a railing assembly as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the strut coupling member is coupled to the strut with a fastener. 
   
   
       27 . The section of a railing assembly as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the reinforcement member includes an end portion including an end surface, wherein the end surface is disposed substantially flush relative to the reinforcement member joint surface portion of the railing assembly component. 
   
   
       28 . The section of a rail assembly as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the connector includes an external connection portion coupled to the railing assembly component, and wherein the external connection portion includes a connection surface which is disposed substantially flush relative to a connector joint surface portion of the railing assembly component 
   
   
       29 . The section of a rail assembly as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein each one of the reinforcement member joint surface portion and the connector joint surface portion is substantially co-planar. 
   
   
       30 . The section of a rail assembly as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein each one of the reinforcement member joint surface portion and the connector joint surface portion is disposed in a substantially vertical plane. 
   
   
       31 . The section of a rail assembly as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the connection surface of the connection portion is substantially co-planar relative to the end surface of the reinforcement member. 
   
   
       32 . The section of a rail assembly as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the railing assembly component is a post. 
   
   
       33 . A section of a railing assembly comprising:
 a guard component section including:
 a reinforced rail member including:
 a rail member shell section defining a shell space, and including a cap member and a strut coupling member; and 
 a reinforcement member disposed in the shell space and effecting reinforcement of the rail member shell section, and including an end portion, wherein the end portion includes an end surface; 
 
 and 
 a guard component section subassembly including:
 a one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member; and 
 a strut extending between and coupled to each one of: (i) the one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member, and (ii) the strut coupling member; 
 
 wherein the reinforced rail member defines the other one of an upper rail member or a lower rail member; 
   a railing assembly component including a reinforcement member joint surface portion; and   a connector effecting coupling between the guard component section and the railing assembly component;   wherein a space is provided between the end surface of the reinforcement member and the reinforcement member joint surface portion, and wherein the maximum spacing between the end surface of the reinforcement member and the reinforcement member joint surface portion of the railing assembly component is less than about one-thirtysecond ( 1/32) of an inch.   
   
   
       34 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the reinforcement member is coupled to the strut coupling member with a fastener. 
   
   
       35 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the strut coupling member is coupled to the strut with a fastener. 
   
   
       36 . A section of a guard component of a railing assembly comprising:
 an upper rail member;
 a lower rail member; and 
 a strut extending between and coupled to each one of the upper rail member and the lower rail member; and 
 a strut reinforcement member effecting reinforcement of the strut and extending between and coupled to each one of the upper rail member and the lower rail member; 
   wherein the strut reinforcement member is disposed relative to the strut such that rotational movement of the strut reinforcement member, relative to a longitudinal axis of the strut, is resisted.   
   
   
       37 . The section of a guard component as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the rotational movement is substantially prevented. 
   
   
       38 . The section of a guard component as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the strut reinforcement member is slide-fit into the strut. 
   
   
       39 . The section of a guard component as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the strut reinforcement member includes opposite edge portions, and wherein each one of the opposite edge portions is slide-fit into a respective one of opposite corners provided within the strut. 
   
   
       40 . A section of a guard component of a railing assembly comprising:
 a shell portion including an upper rail member, a lower rail member, and a strut extending between and coupled to each one of the upper rail member and the lower rail member;   a reinforcing skeleton including an upper rail member skeleton, a lower rail member skeleton, and a strut skeleton extending between and coupled to each one of the upper rail member skeleton and the lower rail member skeleton;   wherein the shell portion is coupled to the reinforcing skeleton and disposed relative to the reinforcing skeleton such that each one of the upper rail member skeleton, the lower rail member skeleton, and the connector skeleton is configured to reinforce a respective one of the upper rail member, the lower rail member, and the strut skeleton.   
   
   
       41 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the shell portion is supported by the reinforcing skeleton. 
   
   
       42 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the shell portion is mounted over the reinforcing skeleton. 
   
   
       43 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the material of the shell portion
 includes plastic.   
   
   
       44 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the shell portion material is extruded plastic. 
   
   
       45 . The section of the guard component as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the material of the reinforcing skeleton includes metalliferrous material.