Railing system

Abstract

A railing system for mounting to railings of a fence includes a first strip and a second strip. The first and second strips each have a generally planar surface. The first and second strips can be mounted to respective fence railings. The first and second strips each have a plurality of openings extending for receiving a plurality of anchors. Each anchor has a flared portion to prevent passage of the flared portion through the respective opening and anchor the anchor against one of the first and second strips. A plurality of elongated barriers each of a fixed length extends from the first strip to the second strip when mounted to respective fence railings. Each barrier is connectable to a pair of anchors, and when connected to respective anchors, extends linearly from the first strip to the second strip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railing system for mounting to railings of a fence, comprising:
 a first strip and a second strip, the first and second strips each having a first surface and a generally planar second surface opposite the first surface, the first and second strips adapted to be mounted to respective fence railings, each second surface adapted to face and engage a railing of a fence, the first and second strips each defining a length and a width and having a thickness substantially less than the length or the width, the thickness of the first and second strips being generally uniform along the length, the first and second strips each having a plurality of openings extending therethrough;   a plurality of anchors, each anchor having a leading edge, a shank and a flared portion, the leading edge and the shank having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the respective opening to permit the leading edge and the shank to extend, in a direction from the second surface to the first surface, through a respective opening of one of the first and second strip, the flared portion having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the respective opening to prevent passage of the flared portion through the respective opening and anchor the anchor against the second surface of the one of the first and second strips; and   a plurality of elongated barriers, each barrier having a first end and a second end, the first end being connectable to one of the anchors when anchored to the first strip and the second end being connectable to one of the anchors when anchored to the second strip, each barrier, when connected to respective anchors is held in tension by a spring force and prevented sagging from the first and second strips.   
     
     
         2 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the shank of each anchor extends in a direction non-perpendicular with respect to the second surface of the first or second strip through which the anchor extends. 
     
     
         3 . The railing system of  claim 2 , wherein the shank is bendable with respect to the flared portion of each anchor. 
     
     
         4 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of each barrier having a stopper. 
     
     
         5 . The railing system of  claim 4 , wherein the stopper is of cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The railing system of  claim 5 , wherein the stopper is welded to or integrally formed with the barrier. 
     
     
         7 . The railing system of  claim 5 , wherein the shank of each anchor has an internally threaded portion for fastening the first barrier to the first and second strips. 
     
     
         8 . The railing system of  claim 7 , wherein the stopper comprises an externally threaded portion, the externally threaded portion of the stopper engaging with the internally threaded portion of the anchor. 
     
     
         9 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is one of a cable and a rod. 
     
     
         10 . The railing system of  claim 9 , wherein the barrier is a cable pre-cut to a predetermined length. 
     
     
         11 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the flared portion of the anchor is beveled. 
     
     
         12 . A railing system for mounting to railings of a fence, comprising:
 a first strip and a second strip, the first and second strips each having a first surface and a generally planar second surface opposite the first surface, the first and second strips adapted to be mounted to respective fence railings, each second surface adapted to face and engage a railing of a fence, the first and second strips each defining a length and a width and having a thickness substantially less than the length or the width, the thickness of the first and second strips being generally uniform along the length, the first and second strips each having a plurality of openings extending therethrough;   a plurality of anchors, each anchor having a leading edge, a shank and a flared portion, the leading edge and the shank having a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the respective opening to permit the leading edge and the shank to extend, in a direction from the second surface to the first surface, through a respective opening of one of the first and second strip, the flared portion having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the respective opening to prevent passage of the flared portion through the respective opening and anchor the anchor against the second surface of the one of the first and second strips;   a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve being connectable with the shank of a respective anchor, each sleeve having a hollow portion; and   a plurality of elongated barriers, each barrier having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends being receivable by the hollow portion of a respective sleeve, the first end being connectable to the first strip and the second end being connectable to the second strip when received by the hollow portion of a respective sleeve, each barrier, comprising
 at least one compression spring positionable between the first end and a first sleeve of the plurality of sleeves, the compression spring configured to generate a spring force such that each barrier when connected to respective strips, is held in tension by the spring force and prevented sagging from the first and second strips. 
   
     
     
         13 . The railing system of  claim 12 , wherein each anchor comprises an externally threaded portion for fastening the first barrier to the first and second strips. 
     
     
         14 . The railing system of  claim 13 , wherein each sleeve comprises an internally threaded portion for engaging with the externally threaded portion of each anchor. 
     
     
         15 . The railing system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second ends each comprise a spherical stopper coupled or integrally formed with the first and second ends, the spherical stopper being received by a respective hollow portion of each sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The railing system of  claim 15 , wherein each compression spring is sized such that the compression spring does not slide past the spherical stopper and a first side of each sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The railing system of  claim 12 , wherein the spring force generated by each compression spring is generally oriented along an axis of each barrier. 
     
     
         18 . The railing system of  claim 12 , wherein the spring force generated by each compression spring is directed generally toward the first and second strip such that the barrier is held in tension, the barrier extending substantially linearly between the first and second strips when held in tension. 
     
     
         19 . The railing system of  claim 12 , wherein each barrier of the plurality of barriers are in a generally vertical orientation. 
     
     
         20 . The railing system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second strips are in a generally horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         21 . The railing system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second strips are in a generally non-horizontal orientation.