Blow molded railing section

Abstract

The railing section includes an integral component defining an upper rail, a lower rail and a series of spindles or balusters or other screening or blocking structure therebetween which forms a structural connection between said rails. These components are interconnected by hollow cavities which can receive a reinforcing material. The railing section is preferrably made by blow molding and the upper and lower rails can receive structural members interior to the rails to improve the strength of the railing section.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A railing section for securement between upright members comprising a hollow upper rail, a hollow bottom rail and a series of hollow spindles or balusters integrally connected to said top and bottom rails, and wherein said railing section is made of plastic as a single integral structural.  
     
     
         2 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said hollow spindles or balusters are connected to said hollow upper and hollow bottom rails such that hollow cavities thereof are interconnected.  
     
     
         3 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said hollow upper rail is open at least one end thereof and a reinforcing member is inserted in and runs the length of said upper rail.  
     
     
         4 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  wherein said hollow bottom rail is open at least one end thereof and a separate reinforcing member is inserted in said open end and runs the length of said bottom rail.  
     
     
         5 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said upper rail forms the finished hand rail of said railing section.  
     
     
         6 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said upper rail and said bottom rail are of similar cross section.  
     
     
         7 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said rail section is made by blow molding.  
     
     
         8 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said railing section is of a length of at least five feet.  
     
     
         9 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the space between adjacent spindles or balusters is less than four inches.  
     
     
         10 . A railing section as claimed in  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  wherein said upper rail and said bottom rail are angled relative to said spindles or balusters to provide a railing section suitable for use with a ramp or stairs.  
     
     
         11 . A blow molded railing section comprising a hollow upper rail and a hollow lower rail integrally connected by a blocking structure which maintains the spacing of said rails and transfers loads therebetween, and wherein said railing section is of a plastic material and is blow molded as a single component.  
     
     
         12 . A blow molded railing section as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said blocking structure includes a series of hollow cavities which are interconnected to hollow cavities of said upper rail and said lower rail.  
     
     
         13 . A blow molded railing section as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said blocking structure is a series of parallel hollow spindles.  
     
     
         14 . A blow molded railing section as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said railing section is of a length suitable for securement between upright spaced on at least six foot centers.  
     
     
         15 . A blow molded railing section as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said upper rail has an elongate central cavity running the length thereof for receiving interior to said upper rail an elongate reinforcing member .  
     
     
         16 . A blow molded railing section as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said lower rail has an elongate central cavity running the length thereof for receiving interior to said lower rail an elongate reinforcing member.  
     
     
         17 . A railing system comprising a series of spaced uprights with a series of blow molded railing sections closing the space between said uprights, each railing section comprising a hollow upper rail and a hollow lower rail integrally connected by a blocking structure which maintains the spacing of said rails and transfers loads therebetween, and wherein said railing section is of a plastic material and is blow molded as a single component.  
     
     
         18 . A railing system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein each blow molded railing section is secured to adjacent uprights by means of connectors attached to said uprights.  
     
     
         19 . A railing system as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said upper rail and said lower rail of each section includes reinforcement to improve the structural characteristics of said rails within hollow cavities of said rails.  
     
     
         20 . A railing system as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said reinforcement is a structural member within each rail and extending the length thereof.