Method and apparatus for construction when vertical and horizontal members are used

Abstract

An apparatus including a first rail and a first locking strip, each having a first opening, and a first picket, having a first slot. The first locking strip may be inserted into the first rail so that the first openings of the first rail and the first locking strip align in a non locked state. At least part of the first picket may be inserted into the first openings of the first locking strip and the first rail, when the first openings of the first locking strip and the first rail are aligned in the non locked state. The first locking strip is configured to slide into a locked state in which part of the first locking strip is within the first slot of the first picket, while the first locking strip is within the first rail, and while the first picket is inserted in the first rail.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first rail having a first opening;   a first locking strip having a first opening;   a first picket having a first slot;   wherein the first locking strip is configured to be at least partially inserted into an inner chamber of the first rail so that the first opening of the first rail aligns with the first opening of the first locking strip in a first state; and   wherein at least part of the first picket is configured to be inserted into the first opening of the first locking strip and into the first opening of the first rail, when the first opening of the first locking strip and the first opening of the first rail are aligned in the first state;   and wherein the first locking strip is configured to slide into a second state in which part of the first locking strip is within the first slot of the first picket, while at least part of the first locking strip is inside the inner chamber of the first rail, and while at least part of the first picket is inside the inner chamber of the first rail.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the first rail has first, second, and third sides; and 
 wherein the first and third sides are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second side; 
 and wherein the second side has the first opening of the first rail. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the first picket is elongated such that the first picket has a length and a width, and the length of the first picket is substantially longer than the width; 
 and wherein the first slot of the first picket runs the entire width of the first picket. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein
 and wherein the first slot of the first picket runs a distance along the length of the first picket which is substantially less than the width of the first picket. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the first rail has first and second internal ribs inside the inner chamber of the first rail which run the majority of the length of the first rail, and on which the first locking strip can slide inside the inner chamber of the first rail; and 
 wherein the first and second internal ribs are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the first rail has a length and a width, and the length of the first rail is substantially greater than the width of the first rail; and 
 wherein the first opening of the first locking strip has a first part having a first width and a second part having a second width, wherein the first and the second width of the first locking strip are in the direction of the width of the first rail. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising
 one or more further pickets, each of which has a first slot; and 
 and wherein the first rail has one or more further openings and the first locking strip has one or more further openings; 
 wherein the first locking strip is configured to be at least partially inserted into the inner chamber of the first rail so that each of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the first rail align with one of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the first locking strip in the first state; 
 and wherein at least part of the one or more further pickets is configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening of the one or more further openings of the first locking strip and a corresponding opening of the one or more further openings of the first rail, when each of the one or more further openings of the first locking strip and the corresponding one or more further openings of the first rail are aligned in the first state 
 and wherein the first locking strip is configured to slide into the second state in which part of the first locking strip is within each first slot of the first picket and each of the one or more further pickets, while at least part of the first locking strip is inside the inner chamber of the first rail, and while at least part of the first picket and the one or more further pickets is inside the inner chamber of the first rail. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising
 a second rail; 
 a second locking strip; 
 wherein each of the first picket and the one or more further pickets has a second slot; 
 and wherein the second rail has a first opening and one or more further openings and the second locking strip has a first opening and one or more further openings; 
 wherein the second locking strip is configured to be at least partially inserted into an inner chamber of the second rail so that each of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the second rail align with one of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the second locking strip in a third state; 
 and wherein at least part of the first picket and the one or more further pickets is configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the second locking strip and a corresponding opening of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the second rail, when each of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the second locking strip and the corresponding first opening and the one or more further openings of the second rail are aligned in the third state; 
 and wherein the second locking strip is configured to slide into a fourth state in which part of the second locking strip is within each second slot of the first picket and each of the one or more further pickets, while at least part of the second locking strip is inside the inner chamber of the second rail, and while at least part of the first picket and the one or more further pickets is inside the inner chamber of the second rail. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising
 a first post having a first opening; and 
 a second locking strip having a first opening; and 
 wherein the second locking strip is configured to be inserted into an inner chamber of the first post so that the first opening of the first post is aligned with the first opening of the second locking strip in a third state, while at least part of the first rail is inserted into the first opening of the first post and the first opening of the second locking strip. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising
 a first post having a first and a second opening; and 
 a second locking strip having a first and a second opening; and 
 wherein the second locking strip is configured to be inserted into an inner chamber of the first post so that the first and the second opening of the first post is aligned with the first and the second opening of the second locking strip in a third state, while at least part of the first and the second rails are inserted into the first and the second openings of the first post and the first and the second openings of the second locking strip, respectively. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising
 inserting a first picket having a first slot into a first opening of a first rail and a first opening of a first locking strip in a first state, in which the first opening of the first rail and the first opening of the first locking strip are aligned; and   sliding the first locking strip into a second state so that a part of the first locking strip lies in a first slot of the first picket and thereby inhibits removal of the first picket from the first rail.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the first rail has first, second, and third sides; and 
 wherein the first and third sides are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the second side; 
 and wherein the second side has the first opening of the first rail. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method  claim 11  wherein
 the first picket is elongated such that the first picket has a length and a width, and the length of the first picket is substantially longer than the width; 
 and wherein the first slot of the first picket runs the entire width of the first picket. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein
 the first slot of the first picket runs a distance along the length of the first picket which is substantially less than the width of the first picket. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the first rail has first and second internal ribs inside the inner chamber of the first rail which run the majority of the length of the first rail, and on which the first locking strip can slide inside the inner chamber of the first rail; and 
 wherein the first and second internal ribs are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein
 the first rail has a length and a width, and the length of the first rail is substantially greater than the width of the first rail; and 
 wherein the first opening of the first locking strip has a first part having a first width and a second part having a second width, wherein the first and the second width of the first locking strip are in the direction of the width of the first rail. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising
 inserting one or more further pickets, each of which has a first slot, into one or more further openings of the first rail, and into one or more further openings of the first locking strip; and 
 wherein the first locking strip is configured to be at least partially inserted into the inner chamber of the first rail so that each of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the first rail align with one of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the first locking strip in the first state; 
 and wherein at least part of the one or more further pickets is configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening of the one or more further openings of the first locking strip and a corresponding opening of the one or more further openings of the first rail, when each of the one or more further openings of the first locking strip and the corresponding one or more further openings of the first rail are aligned in the first state 
 and wherein the first locking strip is configured to slide into the second state in which part of the first locking strip is within each first slot of the first picket and each of the one or more further pickets, while at least part of the first locking strip is inside the inner chamber of the first rail, and while at least part of the first picket and the one or more further pickets is inside the inner chamber of the first rail. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising
 inserting a second locking strip at least partially into a second rail, so that a first opening and one or more further openings of the second locking strip align with a first opening and one or more further openings of the second rail in a third state; 
 inserting at least part of the first picket and the one or more further pickets into the corresponding first opening and one or more further openings of the second rail and the second locking strip; 
 wherein each of the first picket and the one or more further pickets has a second slot; 
 and wherein at least part of the first picket and the one or more further pickets is configured to be inserted into a corresponding opening of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the second locking strip and a corresponding opening of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the second rail, when each of the first opening and the one or more further openings of the second locking strip and the corresponding first opening and the one or more further openings of the second rail are aligned in the third state; 
 and wherein the second locking strip is configured to slide into a fourth state in which part of the second locking strip is within each second slot of the first picket and each of the one or more further pickets, while at least part of the second locking strip is inside the inner chamber of the second rail, and while at least part of the first picket and the one or more further pickets is inside the inner chamber of the second rail. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising
 inserting a second locking strip into a first post; 
 wherein the first post has a first opening; 
 wherein the second locking strip has a first opening; and 
 wherein the second locking strip is configured to be inserted into an inner chamber of the first post so that the first opening of the first post is aligned with the first opening of the second locking strip in a third state, while at least part of the first rail is inserted into the first opening of the first post and the first opening of the second locking strip. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising
 inserting a second locking strip into a first post; 
 wherein the second locking strip has a first and a second opening; 
 wherein the first post has a first and a second opening; 
 wherein the second locking strip is configured to be inserted into an inner chamber of the first post so that the first and the second opening of the first post is aligned with the first and the second opening of the second locking strip in a third state, while at least part of the first and the second rails are inserted into the first and the second openings of the first post and the first and the second openings of the second locking strip, respectively.