Balustrade anchor post and balustrade installation method

Abstract

An anchor post for mounting a baluster having a hollow interior. The anchor post has a body adapted to carry a fastening element for attaching said body to a support and a projection adapted to anchor a baluster.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anchor post for mounting one end of baluster, the anchor post having a body adapted to be fastened to a supporting surface and a structural member adapted to locate said one end of said baluster. 
     
     
         2 . An anchor post as in  claim 1 , wherein said anchor post is comprised of a polymeric plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . An anchor post as in  claim 1 , wherein said anchor post has a body with a flange with apertures therein for fastening elements. 
     
     
         4 . An anchor post as in  claim 1 , wherein said anchor post has a body with a central bore adapted to carry a fastening screw element. 
     
     
         5 . An anchor post as in  claim 1 , wherein said anchor post has a body and said body has generally vertically extending sides with a pair of diverging ridges on each of said sides. 
     
     
         6 . An anchor post as in  claim 1 , wherein said anchor post has a body with a flange with apertures therein for fastening elements, a central bore adapted to carry a fastening element, and sides with diverging ridges. 
     
     
         7 . An anchor post as in  claim 6 , wherein said anchor post is comprised of a polymeric plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . A balustrade system comprising a plurality of balusters supporting a handrail, each of said balusters being mounted to a supporting surface by an anchor post, each said anchor post having a body adapted to carry a fastening element for attaching said body to said support. 
     
     
         9 . A balustrade system as in  claim 8 , wherein said anchor post is comprised of a polymeric plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . A balustrade system as in  claim 8 , wherein said anchor post has a body with a flange with apertures therein for fastening elements 
     
     
         11 . A balustrade system as in  claim 8 , wherein said anchor post has a body with a central bore adapted to carry a fastening screw element. 
     
     
         12 . A balustrade system as in  claim 8 , wherein said body has a pair of diverging ridges on each side thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A balustrade system as in  claim 8 , wherein said anchor post has a body and said body has generally vertically extending sides with a pair of diverging ridges on each of said sides. 
     
     
         14 . A balustrade system as in  claim 8 , wherein said anchor post has a body with a flange with apertures therein for fastening elements, a central bore adapted to carry a fastening element, and sides with diverging ridges. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing a balustrade system, the method comprising the steps of:
 attaching an anchor post to a supporting surface, said anchor post having a body with a flange, said body having a bore therethrough adapted to carry a fastening element for attaching said body to a support and said body having side surfaces with outwardly diverging ridges thereon.   
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a balustrade system as in  claim 15 , wherein said anchor post is comprised of a polymeric plastic material. 
     
     
         17 . A method of installing a balustrade system as in  claim 16 , wherein said flange of said anchor post has apertures therein. 
     
     
         18 . A method of installing a balustrade system as in  claim 17 , wherein said bore has a screw element located therein. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a balustrade system as in  claim 18 , wherein said body has a pair of diverging ridges on each side thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a balustrade system as in  claim 19 , wherein said anchor post carries a baluster about said body.