Baluster attachment system

Abstract

A baluster mount system includes a fastener, a fixed element and a pivot element. The fastener attaches the fixed element to the stairway substrate. The fixed element has a substrate portion and an attachment portion, and the attachment portion includes one of a clevis and a tang. The pivot element has a tubular portion and a secondary attachment portion. The secondary attachment portion includes the other of the clevis and the tang. A pin extends through the attachment portion and the secondary attachment portion to pivotally connect the fixed element and the pivot element. An end portion of the baluster is inserted into the tubular portion of the pivot element, and the baluster end may be retained in the tubular portion by a set screw extending into the tubular portion.

1 . A system for attaching a baluster to a stairway substrate, comprising:
 a screw having a first threaded end and a second threaded end opposite the first end, the first end threaded into the stairway substrate to secure the screw to the substrate;   a fixed element having a substrate portion and an attachment portion, the substrate portion threaded onto the second end of the screw, the attachment portion including one of a clevis and a tang extending from the substrate portion;   a pivot element having a tubular portion and a secondary attachment portion, the tubular portion including a sidewall defining an open end, the secondary attachment portion including the other of the clevis and the tang; and   a pin extending through the attachment portion and the secondary attachment portion to connect the fixed element and the pivot element.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  including a baluster having an end portion inserted into the open end of the tubular portion of the pivot element, the baluster end portion retained in the tubular portion by a set screw extending through the sidewall of the tubular portion and engaging the baluster. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the attachment portion is the clevis and the secondary attachment portion is the tang, the tang inserted into the clevis, and the pin inserted through the clevis and tang to connect the fixed element and the pivot element. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the substrate portion of the fixed element abuts the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the first threaded end has a first thread pitch and the second threaded end has a second thread pitch that differs from the first thread pitch. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the open end of the tubular portion has a cross sectional shape that matches the cross sectional shape of the baluster end. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the pin has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the pin defining a longitudinal length extending through the first and second ends, the longitudinal length defining an axis about which the pivot element is capable of pivoting with respect to the fixed element. 
     
     
         8 . A baluster attachment system for attachment to a stairway substrate, comprising:
 a fixed element having a substrate portion and an attachment portion opposite the substrate portion, the substrate portion affixed to the stairway substrate;   a pivot element having a secondary attachment portion at a first end and a baluster mount at a second end opposite the first end, the baluster mount adapted to attach to an end of a baluster; and   a pin extending through the attachment portion of the fixed element and the secondary attachment portion of the pivot element to pivotally connect the pivot element to the fixed element whereby the pivot element is capable of pivoting about the pin with respect to the fixed element and the stairway substrate until such time that another portion of the baluster is secured in position.   
     
     
         9 . The baluster attachment system of  claim 8  wherein the fixed element is attached to the stairway substrate with a fastener having a first threaded end and a second threaded end, the first end threaded into the stairway substrate and the second end threaded into the substrate portion of the fixed element. 
     
     
         10 . The baluster attachment system of  claim 9  wherein the attachment portion of the fixed element includes one of a clevis and a tang, and wherein the secondary attachment portion of the pivot element includes the other of the clevis and tang, the tang extending into the clevis, and the pin extending through the clevis and the tang to pivotally attach the pivot element to the fixed element. 
     
     
         11 . The baluster attachment system of  claim 10  wherein the baluster mount includes a tubular open end of the pivot element opposite the secondary attachment portion, the tubular open end capable of receiving and retaining a first end of a stairway baluster. 
     
     
         12 . The baluster attachment system of  claim 11  wherein the baluster mount defines a set screw opening, and the baluster mount includes a set screw extending into the set screw opening for retaining the first end of the stairway baluster in the baluster mount. 
     
     
         13 . The baluster attachment system of  claim 12  wherein the tubular open end has a cross sectional shape that matches a cross sectional shape of the first end of the stairway baluster. 
     
     
         14 . The baluster attachment system of  claim 13  wherein the stairway baluster includes a second end opposite the first end, and including a second one of the baluster attachment systems at the second end of the stairway baluster for attaching the second end of the stairway baluster to a second stairway substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The baluster attachment system of  claim 14  wherein the pivot element of the baluster attachment system is pivoted to a first angle with respect to the fixed element, and wherein the pivot element of the second baluster attachment system is pivoted to a second angle with respect to the fixed element of the second baluster attachment system, the first angle different from the second angle. 
     
     
         16 . The baluster attachment system of  claim 15  wherein the pin of the baluster attachment system extends parallel to the pin of the second one of the baluster attachment systems. 
     
     
         17 . A method for attaching a baluster to a stairway substrate, the method including the steps of:
 providing a fixed element having a substrate portion at a first end and an attachment portion at a second end opposite the first end;   providing a fastener having a first threaded end;   securing the fixed element to the stairway substrate by the first threaded end of the fastener;   providing a pivot element having a secondary attachment portion and a baluster mount;   attaching a first end of a stairway baluster to the baluster mount to secure the stairway baluster to the pivot element;   positioning the secondary attachment portion of the pivot element adjacent to the attachment portion of the fixed element with the pivot element extending at a desired angle with respect to the fixed element; and   inserting a pin through the attachment portion of the fixed element and the secondary attachment portion of the pivot element to connect the pivot element to the fixed element at the desired angle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the baluster mount of the pivot element is a tubular section with an open end, and the step of attaching the first end of the stairway baluster method includes inserting the first end of the stairway baluster into the open end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  including providing a set screw opening in the baluster mount, and inserting a set screw into the set screw opening to engage the first end of the baluster and retain the baluster in the baluster mount. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  including securing the second end of the baluster to a second stairway substrate using a second fastener, fixed element, pivot element and pin.