Rubrail assembly

Abstract

Disclosed are rubrail assemblies used in vessels, such as boats or ships which include, among other elements, a base element and a trim or insert element. The base element has a main body portion and first and second end portions which extend from opposed lateral edges of the main body portion and define a longitudinal channel or gap therebetween. The elongated trim element includes a head portion and an engagement portion which is inserted into the longitudinal channel of the base portion so as to secure the trim element to the base element. One or both of the base element and the trim element include at least one sliding surface that has a coefficient of friction which facilitates insertion of the engagement portion of the trim element into the longitudinal channel of the base element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rubrail assembly comprising:
 a) a base element having a main body portion and first and second end portions which extend from opposed lateral edges of the main body portion and define a longitudinal channel therebetween; and   b) an elongated trim element including a head portion and an engagement portion which is inserted into the longitudinal channel of the base portion so as to secure the trim element to the base element; and   
       wherein at least one or both of the base element and the trim element include at least one sliding surface having a coefficient of friction which facilitates insertion of the engagement portion of the trim element into the longitudinal channel of the base element. 
     
     
         2 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the base element includes a first sliding surface and the second end portion of the base member includes a second sliding surface, each of the first and second sliding surfaces having a coefficient of friction which facilitates insertion of the engagement portion into the longitudinal channel of the base element. 
     
     
         3 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion of the trim element includes a collapsible barb. 
     
     
         4 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible barb includes third and fourth sliding surfaces each having a coefficient of friction which facilitates insertion of the engagement portion into the longitudinal channel of the base element. 
     
     
         5 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 2 , where the main body portion, first and second end portions and first and second sliding surfaces of the base element are formed as a unitary structure by coextrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the head portion, engagement portion and third and fourth sliding surfaces of the trim element are formed as a unitary structure by coextrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of each of the first and second end portions of the base element has a curved profile. 
     
     
         8 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the head portion of the trim element has a curved profile and extends over an inner edge of each of the first and second end portions of the base element. 
     
     
         9 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the main body portion of the base element is formed using a polymer having a hardness which is greater that of a polymer used to form the first and second end portions. 
     
     
         10 . A rubrail assembly comprising:
 a) a base element having a main body portion and first and second end portions which extend from opposed lateral edges of the main body portion and define a longitudinal channel therebetween; and   b) an elongated trim element including a head portion and an engagement portion which includes a collapsible barb that is inserted into the longitudinal channel of the base portion so as to secure the trim element to the base element.   
     
     
         11 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein at least one or both of the base element and the trim element include at least one sliding surface having a coefficient of friction which facilitates insertion of the engagement portion of the trim element into the longitudinal channel of the base element. 
     
     
         12 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first end portion of the base element includes a first sliding surface and the second end portion of the base member includes a second sliding surface, each of the first and second sliding surfaces having a coefficient of friction which facilitates insertion of the engagement portion into the longitudinal channel of the base element. 
     
     
         13 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the collapsible barb includes third and fourth sliding surfaces each having a coefficient of friction which facilitates insertion of the engagement portion into the longitudinal channel of the base element. 
     
     
         14 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 12 , where the main body portion, first and second end portions and first and second sliding surfaces of the base element are formed as a unitary structure by coextrusion. 
     
     
         15 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the head portion, engagement portion and third and fourth sliding surfaces of the trim element are formed as a unitary structure by coextrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of each of the first and second end portions of the base element has a curved profile. 
     
     
         17 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of the head portion of the trim element has a curved profile and extends over an inner edge of each of the first and second end portions of the base element. 
     
     
         18 . The rubrail assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the main body portion of the base element is formed using a polymer having a hardness which is greater that of a polymer used to form the first and second end portions.