US20060107613A1

US20060107613A1 - Baluster assembly

Info

Publication number: US20060107613A1
Application number: US10/997,177
Authority: US
Inventors: Min-Ju Chung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-24
Filing date: 2004-11-24
Publication date: 2006-05-25

Abstract

A baluster assembly mountable between a base and a handrail includes a hollow post, a top connecting element, and a bottom connecting element. The hollow post has a pair of opposite end sections, and an intermediate patterned section between the end sections. Each of the end sections defines a hole. The top connecting element has a first plug portion fitted into the hole of one of the end sections, and a first anchor portion extending upward from the first plug portion and connected to the handrail. The bottom connecting element has a second plug portion fitted into the hole of the other one of the end sections, and a second anchor portion connected to the base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a baluster assembly, more particularly to a baluster assembly which is relatively light, and which is easy to install.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional baluster is formed with a solid configuration, and includes a post body 1, and lower and upper anchors 2, 3 forged directly onto two ends of the post body 1, respectively. Since the baluster is solid, it is relatively heavy. Furthermore, since the lower and upper anchors 2, 3 are connected to the ends of the post body 1 by forging, the production cost is relatively high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a baluster assembly which is relatively light and which is easy to install.
Accordingly, the baluster assembly of this invention is mountable between a base and a handrail, and includes a hollow post, a top connecting element, and a bottom connecting element. The hollow post has a pair of opposite end sections, and an intermediate patterned section between the end sections. Each of the end sections defines a hole. The top connecting element has a first plug portion fitted into the hole of one of the end sections, and a first anchor portion extending upward from the first plug portion and adapted for connection to the handrail. The bottom connecting element has a second plug portion fitted into the hole of the other one of the end sections, and a second anchor portion adapted for connection to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be come apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional baluster;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the first, second and third preferred embodiments of a baluster assembly according to this invention in a state of use;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the third preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 2, the first, second and third preferred embodiments of a baluster assembly 100, 100′, 100″ according to this invention is shown to be installed between a base 200 and a handrail 300. The base 200 is provided with a plurality of holes 210, and the handrail 300 is provided with a plurality of holes 310 corresponding to the holes 210 in the base 200.
Referring to FIG. 3, the first preferred embodiment of the baluster assembly 100 is shown to include a hollow post 10, a top connecting element 30 mounted on top of the hollow post 10, and a bottom connecting element 20 mounted on the bottom of the hollow post 10.
The hollow post 10 is made from a metal tube, has a top end section 112, a bottom end section 111 opposite to the top end section 112, and an intermediate patterned section 113 extending between the top and bottom end sections 112, 111 along a longitudinal axis (L). The first preferred embodiment of the baluster assembly 100 is suitable for mounting on a horizontal section 300′ of the hand rail 300. The top and bottom end sections 112, 111 define a top hole 122 and a bottom hole 121, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, each of the top and bottom holes 122, 121 has a rectangular cross-section. The top end section 112 has a horizontal end face 114 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L).
The top connecting element 30 can be made of wood, metal, plastic, resin, and the like, and has a first plug portion 31 fitted into the top hole 122 of the top end section 112, and a first anchor portion 32 extending upward from the first plug portion 31 and connected to the horizontal section 300′ of the handrail 300 by inserting the same into a corresponding one of the holes 310 in the handrail 300. The first anchor portion 32 is formed as a unitary piece with the first plug portion 31. In this embodiment, the first plug portion 31 is tapered downward, and has an upper end 312 with a larger cross-section, a lower end 313 with a smaller cross-section, and a tapered peripheral wall 311 extending between the upper and lower ends 312, 313. The first anchor portion 32 protrudes from the upper end 312 of the first plug portion 31. The first anchorportion 32 of the top connecting element 30 is provided with an anti-slip textured surface 321, which includes a plurality of inclined teeth 3211.
The bottom connecting element 20 can be made of wood, metal, plastic, resin, and the like, and has a second plug portion 21 fitted into the bottom hole 121 of the bottom end section 111, and a second anchor portion 22 extending downward from the second plug portion 21 and connected to the base 200 by inserting the same into a corresponding one of the holes 210 in the base 200. The second anchor portion 22 is formed as a unitary piece with the second plug portion 21. The second plug portion 21 is formed as a rectangular block corresponding to the bottom hole 121 of the bottom end section 111. The second anchor portion 22 of the bottom connecting element 20 is likewise provided with an anti-slip textured surface 221, which includes a plurality of inclined teeth 2211.
Referring to FIG. 4, when the baluster assembly 100 is installed, the second plug portion 21 of the bottom connecting element 20 is inserted into the bottom hole 121 of the hollow post 10, and the second anchor portion 22 is inserted into a corresponding one of the holes 210 in the base 200 so as to mount the bottom end section 111 of the hollow post 10 on the base 200. The first plug portion 31 of the top connecting element 30 is inserted into the top hole 122 of the hollow post 10, and the first anchor portion 32 is inserted into a corresponding one of the holes 310 in the handrail 300 so as to mount the top end section 112 of the hollow post 10 on the handrail 300.
Referring to FIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment of the baluster assembly 100′ according to this invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that the first plug portion 31′ of the top connecting element 30′ is connected removably to the first anchor portion 32′ of the top connecting element 30′, and has a recess 314′ to receive fittingly the first anchor portion 32′, and that the second plug portion 21′ of the bottom connecting element 20′ is connected removably to the second anchor portion 22′ of the bottom connecting element 20′, and has a recess 214′ to receive fittingly the second anchor portion 22′. The anchoring effect when connecting the first and second anchor portions 32′, 22′ to the first and second plug portion 31′, 21′ can be enhanced by the anti-slip textured surfaces 321′, 221′, respectively.
Referring to FIGS. 6, and 7, the third preferred embodiment of the baluster assembly 100″ according to this invention is shown to be similar to the second preferred embodiment, except that the top end section 112″ of the hollow post 10″ has a sloped end face 114″, and that the first plug portion 31″ of the top connecting element 30″ has a sloped end face 312″ flush with the sloped end face 114″. Therefore, the third preferred embodiment of the baluster assembly 100″ is suitable for mounting on an inclined section 300″ of the handrail 300.
In view of the aforesaid, the baluster assembly 100, 100′, 100″ according to this invention is relatively light, is relatively easy to install, and can be produced at a lower cost as compared to the prior art.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A baluster assembly mountable between a base and a handrail, comprising:

a hollow post including a pair of opposite end sections each defining a hole, and an intermediate patterned section between said end sections;

a top connecting element including a first plug portion fitted into said hole of one of said end sections and a first anchor portion extending upward from said first plug portion and adapted for connection to the handrail; and

a bottom connecting element including a second plug portion fitted into said hole of the other one of said end sections and a second anchor portion adapted for connection to the base.

2. The baluster assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first plug portion is tapered downward, and has an upper end with a larger cross-section and a lower end with a smaller cross-section.

3. The baluster assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first anchor portion is formed as a unitary piece with said first plug portion.

4. The baluster assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second anchor portion is formed as a unitary piece with said second plug portion.

5. The baluster assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first anchor portion of said top connecting element and said second anchor portion of said bottom connecting element is provided with an anti-slip textured surface.

6. The baluster assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said anti-slip textured surface includes a plurality of inclined teeth.

7. The baluster assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first plug portion is connected removably to said first anchor portion, and has a recess to receive fittingly said first anchor portion.

8. The baluster assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second plug portion is connected removably to said second anchor portion, and has a recess to receive fittingly said second anchor portion.

9. The baluster assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said one of said end sections has a sloped end face, said first plug portion of said top connecting element having a sloped end face flush with said sloped end face.