Fencing and railing post

Abstract

A post configured for use as a vertical member in a railing system comprising a post member for mounting to a base surface. The post member defines an elongated opening configured to receive a panel therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post configured for use as a vertical member in a railing system comprising a post member for mounting to a base surface, the post member defining an elongated opening on at least one side of the post, the post having at least one retainer positioned adjacent the elongated opening, configured to slidably receive and position a panel in register with the at least one opening. 
     
     
         2 . The post of  claim 1  wherein the post has an elongated opening on two sides of the post, and at least one retainer positioned adjacent each of the elongated openings. 
     
     
         3 . The post of  claim 1  wherein the elongated opening on at least one side of the post comprises an elongated opening on opposite sides of the post, and at least one retainer positioned adjacent each of the elongated openings. 
     
     
         4 . The post of  claim 1  wherein the post member comprises a pair of juxtaposed channel members interconnected by at least one web of material, each channel member comprises a first tab at each end, a second tab spaced inwardly from each end, and a positioning tab located between the first and second tabs, wherein the positioning tab is smaller in lateral size than the first and second tab, the space between the juxtaposed channel members defines the elongated opening on each side of the post. 
     
     
         5 . The post of  claim 1  and further comprising a panel member slidably received into each elongated opening of the post. 
     
     
         6 . The post of  claim 1  and further comprising a base member adapted to be mounted to a base surface and to interconnect the post to the base surface. 
     
     
         7 . The post of  claim 1  wherein the post member is formed from a pair of juxtaposed channel members, each channel member comprising a generally C-shaped member having a first end, a second end, each of the first and second ends of each C-shaped member comprises a laterally, inwardly extending portion having a distally-extending retainer thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The post of  claim 7  and further comprising at least one panel having a pair of retainer slots on a rearward portion thereof, the retainer slots sized to receive the distally-extending retainer on the corresponding first or second ends of the pair of juxtaposed channel members of the post member, whereby, the post is formed by a pair of the juxtaposed channel members with oppositely-disposed panels on opposite sides thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The post of  claim 1  wherein the post member comprises a pair of juxtaposed channel members, each channel member comprising a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end of the channel member comprising an inwardly-extending tab, and the retainer comprises a pair of retainers extending inwardly from each channel member spaced centrally from the first and second ends of each channel member. 
     
     
         10 . The post of  claim 9  wherein the pair of retainers each comprise a slotted socket on a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The post of  claim 10  and further comprising a retainer panel with a bulbous edge on each end thereof, wherein one of the pair of channel members can be interconnected to the other of the pair of channel members by receiving the bulbous edge of the retainer panel within a corresponding slotted socket on each of the juxtaposed channel members. 
     
     
         12 . The post of  claim 1  wherein the post member is an extruded article. 
     
     
         13 . The post of  claim 1  wherein the color of the post can be changed by changing out a first panel for a second panel of a different color. 
     
     
         14 . The post of  claim 1  wherein the post member defines a vertically contiguous central channel.