Hollow post anchoring systems for decking and related methods

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods for securing anchoring posts to a decking surface without the use of a metal plate or washer to redirect force from a single central fastener on an internally mounted anchor, or the use of an externally visible connector. An anchor member having a generally planar upper surface and vertical sidewalls has connection ridges extending out from those sidewalls that correspond to channels formed in the internal sidewalls of a hollow post member. Using a press, the anchor member is pressed into a secured position in the post. A plurality of attachment holes are disposed in a pattern around the anchor member, passing through the body thereof. For installation, a post with the fitted anchor is placed on a decking surface and a plurality of screws are attached to the decking surface to secure the anchor member and post thereto.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method for installing posts to decking for a railing system, the method comprising:
 determining the number, height, type and placement of posts for a railing to be installed at a location with a surface faced with decking material;   assembling the determined number of posts, by securing anchor members in a set of posts, each post having an internal bore with at least a first lateral channel formed in a sidewall of the hollow bore by inserting a separate anchor member into the hollow bore of each post of the set of posts, each anchor member including a body with an upper surface and a downwardly extending sidewall, with at least a first ridge extending laterally from the downwardly extending sidewall, the at least a first ridge shaped and configured to be retained in the first lateral channel, a plurality of holes, each passing from the upper surface of the body through a bottom of the body and sized to receive a lag screw for attachment to a deck, such that the at least first ridge passes through an end of the hollow post to reside in the at least first lateral channel;   placing each post with the inserted anchor member at its determined position over the surface faced with decking material for installation; and   placing a plurality of lag screws through the plurality of holes and driving each lag screw into the surface faced with decking material.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein placing the plurality of lag screws through the plurality of holes and driving each lag screw into the surface faced with decking material comprises contacting the head of a lag screw directly to the upper surface of the anchor member. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein placing the plurality of lag screws through the plurality of holes and driving each lag screw into the surface faced with decking material comprises placing four lag screws through four holes of the plurality of holes and driving each of the four lag screws into the surface faced with decking material. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein securing anchor members in a set of posts, each post having an internal bore with at least a first lateral channel formed in a sidewall of the hollow bore by comprises securing anchor members in a set of posts, each post having an open end with a taper formed at the open end as a lower edge that is beveled from an outer surface of the post to the internal bore. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising forming the taper at the open end of each post by beveling a lower edge of a sidewall of the post from an outer surface of the post to the internal bore. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein inserting a separate anchor member into the hollow bore of each post of the set of posts comprises inserting an anchor member comprising at least one vertical ridge disposed on the downwardly extending sidewall, the at least one vertical ridge extending from the top of the at least first ridge to an upper end of the anchor member. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein inserting an anchor member comprising at least one vertical ridge disposed on the downwardly extending sidewall comprises inserting an anchor member comprising a set of parallel vertical ridges arranged to prespread the hollow deck post by interacting with the taper at the end of the post to thereby allow the anchor to slip past said open end of said post. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein inserting a separate anchor member into the hollow bore of each post of the set of posts comprises inserting an anchor member having a set of opposing longer sides corresponding to major sides of the post and a set of shorter sides disposed between the opposing longer sides that correspond to corners of the post. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein inserting a separate anchor member into the hollow bore of each post of the set of posts comprises inserting a separate anchor member where the at least first ridge is generally convex, with a furthest lateral extension from the downwardly extending sidewall corresponding to a midpoint of an opposing longer side. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein inserting a separate anchor member where the at least first ridge is generally convex, with a furthest lateral extension from the downwardly extending sidewall corresponding to a midpoint of an opposing longer side comprises flexing the sidewall of the post over the at least first ridge until the at least first ridge aligns with the at least first lateral channel. 
     
     
         48 . A method for installing an anchor in a post for a railing system, the method comprising:
 providing an anchor having an insertion side and a trailing side, where the insertion side is wider than a widest space between walls of a hollow post and the insertion side is narrower than a widest portion of the anchor;   inserting the anchor, insertion side first, into a tapered open end of the hollow post to thereby cause the insertion side to spread walls of the hollow post into a first expanded position;   advancing the anchor further into the post until a widest portion of the anchor is received within the hollow post to thereby cause said widest portion of the anchor to spread the walls of the hollow post into a second expanded position such that said walls are further apart than they were when in the first expanded position; and advancing the anchor further into the post until the widest portion of the anchor is received into receiving grooves formed in interior sides of the walls of the hollow post, at which point the walls of the post contract and capture the anchor.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein providing an anchor having an insertion side and a trailing side, where the insertion side is wider than a widest space between walls of a hollow post and the insertion side is narrower than a widest portion of the anchor comprises providing an anchor having a body with an upper surface and a downwardly extending sidewall corresponding in shape to the internal bore of the hollow post with at least a first laterally extending member disposed on the sidewall. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein providing an anchor having a body with an upper surface and a downwardly extending sidewall corresponding in shape to the internal bore of the hollow post with at least a first laterally extending member disposed on the sidewall comprises providing an anchor having at least one vertical ridge disposed on the downwardly extending sidewall, the at least one vertical ridge extending from a top of the at least first laterally extending member to an upper end of the anchor member. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein inserting the anchor, insertion side first, into a tapered open end of the hollow post to thereby cause the insertion side to spread walls of the hollow post into a first expanded position comprises inserting the anchor comprising at least one vertical ridge disposed on the downwardly extending sidewall such that the at least one vertical ridge prespreads the hollow deck post to the first expanded position by interacting with the taper at the end of the post to thereby allow the anchor to slip past said open end of said post. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the at least one vertical ridge comprises a set of parallel vertical ridges inserting the anchor prespreads the hollow deck post to the first expanded position by interacting with the taper at the end of the post to thereby allow the anchor to slip past said open end of said post. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein advancing the anchor further into the post until a widest portion of the anchor is received within the hollow post to thereby cause said widest portion of the anchor to spread the walls of the hollow post into a second expanded position such that said walls are further apart than they were when in the first expanded position comprises advancing an anchor where the at least first laterally extending member is generally convex and causes a sidewall of the post to flex thereover as it is advanced.