Swivel connector

Abstract

A railing assembly may include a first rail portion including a first aperture, a second rail portion including a second aperture, a first swivel connector disposed in the first rail portion and extending through the first aperture, a second swivel connector disposed in the second rail portion and extending through the second aperture, and a baluster. The baluster may be secured to the first rail portion via the first swivel connector and may be secured to the second rail portion via the second swivel connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railing assembly, comprising:
 a first rail portion including a first aperture;   a second rail portion including a second aperture;   a first swivel connector disposed in the first rail portion and extending through the first aperture;   a second swivel connector disposed in the second rail portion and extending through the second aperture; and   a baluster;   wherein the baluster is secured to the first rail portion via the first swivel connector and is secured to the second rail portion via the second swivel connector.   
     
     
         2 . The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first swivel connector comprises:
 a first side wall;   a second side wall disposed opposite the first side wall;   a curved third side wall disposed between and perpendicular to the first side wall and the second side wall; and   a planar fourth side wall disposed perpendicular to the first side wall and the second side wall.   
     
     
         3 . The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baluster is secured to the first swivel connector via a projection coupled to a projection connecting element of the first swivel connector. 
     
     
         4 . The railing assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the projection connecting element includes an enlarged top portion. 
     
     
         5 . The railing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first swivel connector comprises a projection connecting element that extends from the fourth side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The railing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first swivel connector comprises a projection connected to the projection connecting element. 
     
     
         7 . The railing assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the projection includes a plurality of ribs, and an outer diameter of the ribs is at least as great as an inner dimension of the baluster. 
     
     
         8 . The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first swivel connector is configured to rotate at least 45 degrees while at least partially disposed in the first aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The railing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first swivel connector includes an aperture extending through the first side wall and the second side wall. 
     
     
         10 . The railing assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the aperture extending through the first side wall and the second side wall includes at least two linear sides and one curved side. 
     
     
         11 . The railing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first swivel connector and the second swivel connector permit the railing assembly to be rackable. 
     
     
         12 . A swivel connector for a railing assembly, the swivel connector comprising:
 a swivel connector body comprising:
 a first side wall; 
 a second side wall disposed opposite the first side wall; 
 a curved third side wall disposed between and perpendicular to the first side wall and the second side wall; and 
 a planar fourth side wall disposed perpendicular to the first side wall and the second side wall. 
   
     
     
         13 . The swivel connector of  claim 12 , comprising a projection connecting portion extending from the fourth side wall, the projection connecting portion configured to secure a projection to the swivel connector body. 
     
     
         14 . The swivel connector of  claim 12 , comprising a projection secured to the fourth side wall. 
     
     
         15 . The swivel connector of  claim 14 , wherein the projection is secured to the fourth side wall via a projection connecting portion of the swivel connector body. 
     
     
         16 . The swivel connector of  claim 15 , wherein the swivel connector body is formed as a single unitary component. 
     
     
         17 . The swivel connector of  claim 14 , wherein the projection is secured to the fourth side wall via at least one of a screw and a pop rivet. 
     
     
         18 . The swivel connector of  claim 14 , wherein the projection includes a plurality of ribs configured for securing a baluster to the swivel connector body. 
     
     
         19 . The swivel connector of  claim 12 , wherein the swivel connector body includes an aperture that extends through the first side wall and the second side wall, and the aperture includes at least two linear sides and a curved side. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling a railing, the method comprising:
 providing a first rail portion, a second rail portion, a first swivel connector, a second swivel connector, and a baluster;   inserting the first swivel connector into the first rail portion so that the first swivel connector extends at least partially through an aperture in the first rail portion;   inserting the second swivel connector into the second rail portion so that the second swivel connector extends at least partially through an aperture in the second rail portion;   securing, without fasteners or tools, the baluster to the first rail portion by pressing the baluster over a projection of the first swivel connector;   securing, without fasteners or tools, the baluster to the second rail portion by pressing the baluster over a projection of the second swivel connector; and   rotating the first swivel connector and the second swivel connector such that an angle between the baluster and the first rail portion and/or the second rail portion changes.