Apparatus and method for connecting a rail or structural member to a post or other structure

Abstract

A connector to connect a railing to a post comprising a male bracket that attaches to the railing and which has a front surface on which is provided an elongate tenon that widens outwardly from the front surface. The tenon is tapered from its bottom towards a wider top end, and it also narrows in thickness from the top end towards the thinner bottom end. The connector also includes a female bracket that attaches to the post and which has a front surface in which is provided a slot that widens inwardly from the front surface. The slot also tapers from a bottom end towards a wider top end, and it also narrows in thickness from the top end towards the thinner bottom end. The slot and tenon are complementary so as to together, providing a snug joint between the brackets when the tenon is completely received within the slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector for detachably connecting an end of a horizontal longitudinal member to a vertical support member, the connector comprising:
 a. a male bracket for attachment to one of said members, the male bracket defining a first rear surface for abutting the one of said members and a first front surface opposite the first rear surface, the first front surface having an elongate tenon thereon that widens outwardly from the first front surface, the tenon further being tapered from a first tenon end towards a wider second tenon end, and the tenon further narrowing in thickness from the second tenon end towards the thinner first tenon end;   b. a female bracket for attachment to the other of said members, the female bracket defining a second rear surface for abutting the other of said members and a second front surface opposite the second rear surface, the second front surface defining a slot therein that widens inwardly from the second front surface, the slot further being tapered from a first slot end towards a wider second slot end, and the slot further narrowing in thickness from the second slot end towards the thinner first slot end, wherein the second slot end extends to an edge of the female bracket to define a slot opening; and   c. wherein the slot and the tenon are complementary such that they provide a snug connection between the male bracket and the female bracket when the tenon is completely inserted into the slot.   
     
     
         2 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tenon and the slot are in full engagement when the tenon is completely received within the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tenon has tenon sides that are angled such that the tenon gradually widens outwardly from the first front surface, and the slot has slot sides that are angled such that the slot gradually widens inwardly from the second front surface. 
     
     
         4 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1  further including a plurality of projections on one or both of the first rear surface and second rear surface wherein said projections are sized to grip the material of one or both of said members. 
     
     
         5 . The connector as claimed in  claim 4  further including an extension from the first front surface of the male bracket that overhangs the edge of the female bracket to conceal the slot opening when the male bracket and female bracket are connected thereby providing a fully blind joint there between. 
     
     
         6 . The connector as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the edge of the female member defines a bore and the extension defines a hole that aligns with the bore, and wherein the hole and the bore are adapted to receive a fastener for securing the extension of the male bracket to the edge of the female bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The connector as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said brackets are sized such that when connected to each other they conform to the external dimensions of the end of the horizontal member thereby continuing the shape of the longitudinal member to the support member. 
     
     
         8 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1  further including an extension from the first front surface of the male bracket that overhangs the edge of the female bracket to conceal the slot opening when the male bracket and female bracket are connected thereby providing a fully blind joint there between. 
     
     
         9 . The connector as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said brackets are sized such that when connected to each other they conform to the external dimensions of the end of the horizontal member thereby continuing the shape of the longitudinal member to the support member. 
     
     
         10 . The connector as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the edge of the female member defines a bore and the extension defines a hole that aligns with the bore, and wherein the hole and the bore are adapted to receive a fastener for securing the extension of the male bracket to the edge of the female bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The connector as claimed in  claim 8  further including a plurality of projections on one or both of the first rear surface and second rear surface wherein said projections are sized to grip the material of one or both of said members. 
     
     
         12 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first front surface of the male bracket is angled relative to the first rear surface to provide an angled connection between the longitudinal member and the vertical support member. 
     
     
         13 . The connector as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second front surface of the female bracket is angled relative to the second rear surface to provide an angled connection between the longitudinal member and the vertical support member.