Post and railing construction

Abstract

A post and railing construction permits construction of fences and railings from parts which are pre-molded from a resinous material such as rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The parts require no painting and are not prone to corrosion or rust when exposed to harsh environments. The posts have a rigid upright core element with a hollow shell mounted on the core element by one or more frames. In one embodiment of the invention, railings are supported on brackets mounted on the frames of the posts. In another embodiment of the invention, railings are supported directly on the frames of the posts by routed openings in the hollow shell. The present invention also provides an easy to assemble fence assembly having the appearance and style of a picket fence. Exterior fasteners may be covered with optional caps to avoid direct exposure to damaging elements, such as moisture.

1 . A bracket for coupling a railing member to a supporting structure, said supporting structure having a perimeter contour, said bracket comprising a socket end adapted to receive an end of the railing member and a mounting end for connection to the perimeter contour of the supporting structure, said bracket comprising at least one non-planar surface for visually blending the connection between the bracket and the support structure.  
   
   
       2 . The bracket of  claim 1  comprising a railing inserted through the socket end for connection with a post and railing assembly, said railing having an outer wall that engages the socket end in a friction fit.  
   
   
       3 . The bracket of  claim 2  comprising a plurality of resilient flexible spring sheets in the socket end in frictional engagement with the outer wall of the railing, each spring sheet having a fixed end connected substantially adjacent to the socket end and a cantilevered portion extending from the fixed end toward the mounting end of the bracket.  
   
   
       4 . The bracket of  claim 1  comprising a rear face contour on the mounting end of the bracket, wherein the rear face contour and the perimeter contour on the supporting structure have substantially identical non-planar geometries for visually blending the connection between the bracket and the support structure.  
   
   
       5 . The bracket of  claim 4 , wherein the perimeter contour of the supporting structure has a convex curvature and the rear face contour of the bracket has a concave curvature substantially identical to the curvature of the convex supporting structure so as to conform to the convex curvature on the supporting structure.  
   
   
       6 . The bracket of  claim 4 , wherein the perimeter contour of the supporting structure comprises an angular corner, and the rear face contour of the bracket has a V-shaped notch cut to substantially the same angle as the angular corner to conform to the angular corner on the supporting structure.  
   
   
       7 . The bracket of  claim 4 , wherein the bracket comprises a hole for receiving a bracket fastener to connect the bracket to the support structure, and a cover inserted in said hole, said cover having at least one side wall and a non-planar end wall, said side wall having a sidewall length and a longitudinal slot extending though the side wall, said side wall extending into the hole with the length of said side wall completely inserted within the hole and said non-planar end wall positioned flush with the exterior contour of the bracket with no portion of the end wall protruding out of said hole, so as to visually blend the connection between the bracket and the support structure.  
   
   
       8 . The bracket of  claim 7 , wherein the bracket has a curved exterior contour surrounding the hole, and the non-planar end wall of the cover has a curvature that conforms to the curved exterior contour surrounding the hole.  
   
   
       9 . A bracket for coupling a railing member to a supporting structure, said supporting structure having a non-planar perimeter contour, said bracket comprising a socket end adapted to receive an end of the railing member and a mounting end for connection to the perimeter contour of the supporting structure, said mounting end comprising a non-planar rear surface that conforms to and mounts flush against the perimeter contour of the supporting structure to visually blend the connection between the bracket and the support structure.  
   
   
       10 . The bracket of  claim 9  comprising a railing inserted through the socket end, said railing having an outer wall that engages the socket end in a friction fit.  
   
   
       11 . The bracket of  claim 10  comprising a plurality of resilient flexible spring sheets in the socket end in frictional engagement with the outer wall of the railing, each spring sheet having a fixed end connected substantially adjacent to the socket end and a cantilevered portion extending from the fixed end toward the mounting end of the bracket.  
   
   
       12 . The bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the perimeter contour of the supporting structure has a convex curvature and the rear face contour of the bracket has a concave curvature substantially identical to the curvature of the supporting structure so as to conform to the convex curvature on the supporting structure.  
   
   
       13 . The bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the perimeter contour of the supporting structure comprises an angular corner, and the rear face contour of the bracket has a V-shaped notch cut to substantially the same angle as the angular corner to conform to the angular corner on the supporting structure.  
   
   
       14 . A bracket for coupling a railing member to a post structure, said bracket forming a socket adapted to receive an end of the railing member, said bracket comprising at least one hole for receiving a bracket fastener to connect the bracket to the supporting structure, said bracket further comprising a cover inserted in said hole over said bracket fastener, said cover having at least one side wall and a non-planar end wall, said side wall having a sidewall length and a longitudinal slot extending through the side wall, said side wall extending into the hole with the length of said side wall completely inserted within the hole, and said non-planar end wall positioned flush with the exterior contour of the bracket to visually blend the connection between the bracket and the support structure.  
   
   
       15 . The bracket of  claim 14  comprising a railing inserted into the socket, said railing having an outer wall that engages the bracket in a friction fit.  
   
   
       16 . The bracket of  claim 15  comprising a plurality of resilient flexible spring sheets in the socket in frictional engagement with the outer wall of the railing, each spring sheet having a fixed end connected substantially adjacent to the socket and a cantilevered portion extending from the fixed end.  
   
   
       17 . The bracket of  claim 14 , wherein said hole comprises an interior wall and a tongue projection extending along the interior wall, said longitudinal slot configured to mate with said tongue projection when the cover is inserted in the hole to substantially prevent rotational displacement of the cover relative to the interior wall of the hole.  
   
   
       18 . The bracket of  claim 14  comprising a rear face contour, wherein the rear face contour and the perimeter contour on the supporting structure have substantially identical non-planar geometries.  
   
   
       19 . The bracket of  claim 18 , wherein the perimeter contour of the supporting structure has a convex curvature and the rear face contour of the bracket has a concave curvature substantially identical to the curvature of the convex supporting structure so as to conform to the convex curvature on the supporting structure.  
   
   
       20 . The bracket of  claim 18 , wherein the perimeter contour of the supporting structure comprises an angular corner, and the rear face contour of the bracket has a V-shaped notch cut to substantially the same angle as the angular corner to conform to the angular corner on the supporting structure.