Railing system

Abstract

A railing apparatus includes an upper rail, a lower rail spaced below and generally parallel to the upper rail, and a plurality of balusters extending generally vertically between the upper and lower rails. Each baluster includes a hollow casing and a brace extending lengthwise within the casing, the brace having an upper end secured to the upper rail and a lower end secured to the lower rail.

1 . A railing apparatus, comprising:
 a) an upper rail;   b) a lower rail spaced below and generally parallel to the upper rail;   c) a plurality of balusters extending generally vertically between the upper and lower rails, each baluster including a hollow casing and a brace extending lengthwise within the casing, the brace having an upper end secured to the upper rail and a lower end secured to the lower rail.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each brace is constructed of metal. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each brace comprises an extruded lineal cut to length. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper rail comprises an upper beam and the lower rail comprises a lower beam, each beam extending lengthwise of the respective rail. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the beams is constructed of metal. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the upper ends of each brace are secured to the upper beam, and the lower ends of each brace are secured to the lower beam. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each beam comprises a proximal face directed towards the balusters, and a distal face opposite the proximal face. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the upper rail comprises an upper cover generally covering the distal face of the upper beam, and the lower rail comprises a lower cover generally covering the distal face of the lower beam. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the brace engages an inner surface of the casing such that relative lateral movement between the casing and the brace is inhibited. 
   
   
       10 . A metal-reinforced railing system, comprising:
 a) an upper rail including an upper beam and an upper cover coupled to the upper beam, the upper beam constructed of metal and the upper cover constructed of plastic, the upper beam having an upwards directed upper distal face concealed by the upper cover;   b) a lower rail extending generally parallel to the upper rail and spaced vertically below the upper rail, the lower rail comprising a lower beam, the lower beam constructed of metal; and   c) a plurality of balusters extending generally vertically between the upper and lower rails, each baluster including a hollow plastic casing and a metal brace extending vertically within the casing, each brace having an upper brace end secured to the upper beam and a lower brace end secured to the lower beam.   
   
   
       11 . The railing system of  claim 10 , wherein each brace comprises at least two brace screw bosses at each of the upper and lower brace ends, and wherein the upper beam and the lower beam have apertures therethrough in registration with the brace screw bosses. 
   
   
       12 . The railing system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners, each fastener extending through one of the apertures and into a respective one of the brace screw bosses in registration therewith. 
   
   
       13 . The railing system of  claim 12  wherein the upper beam has an upper proximal face opposite the upper distal face and directed towards the balusters, the upper baluster ends bearing directly against the upper proximal face. 
   
   
       14 . The railing system of  claim 12 , wherein each brace has transversely spaced apart contact surfaces that engage opposed inner surfaces of the casing, wherein lateral movement of the casing relative to the brace is inhibited. 
   
   
       15 . The railing system of  claim 10 , wherein the upper beam comprises an extruded beam lineal including laterally spaced-apart attachment grooves extending lengthwise along the upper beam, and wherein the upper cover comprises an extruded cover lineal having sidewalls with laterally spaced apart and inwardly directed barbs extending lengthwise along the upper cover, the barbs received in the grooves for coupling the upper cover to the upper beam. 
   
   
       16 . The railing system of  claim 15 , further comprising a mounting bracket at each longitudinal end of the upper rail, each mounting bracket including a generally planar first flange oriented parallel to the upper rail and secured to the upper beam, and a generally planar second flange joined to the first flange and oriented vertically for securing the mounting bracket to an upright. 
   
   
       17 . The railing system of  claim 16 , wherein the extruded beam lineal includes integrally extruded bracket engagement members for engaging the first flange of the mounting bracket in sliding fit, the bracket engagement members including a transverse support surface spaced vertically above a base panel by a vertical web, the transverse support surface extending across a central portion of the upper beam, an underside surface of the first flange bearing against the transverse support surface. 
   
   
       18 . The railing system of  claim 17 , wherein the bracket engagement member further comprises a pair of top retaining segments extending horizontally inwardly from opposed sides of the upper beam, each top retaining segment having a bottom surface spaced vertically above the transverse support surface and receiving the thickness of the first flange therebetween in sliding fit. 
   
   
       19 . The railing system of  claim 18 , wherein the bracket engagement members further comprise a pair of sideways retaining segments each extending generally downwardly from respective ones of the top retaining segments, each sideways retaining segment having a side engagement surface spaced vertically intermediate the bottom surfaces of the top retaining segments and the transverse support surface, the side engagement surfaces configured to engage opposed lateral edges of the first flange, and to receive the lateral extent of the first flange between the side engagement surfaces in sliding fit. 
   
   
       20 . A baluster assembly for mounting between upper and lower rails of a railing section, comprising:
 a) an elongate hollow casing extending lengthwise between opposed first and second casing ends;   b) a brace extending within the hollow casing and having first and second brace ends generally coterminous with the first and second casing ends, the brace having brace screw bosses at each end for receiving fasteners to secure the brace to said upper and lower rails.