Railing support post with threaded receivers

Abstract

A railing support post with threaded holes or receivers for receiving threaded hardware, such as might be used for tensioned cable railing. A decorative sleeve or post cover may be used to at least partially enclose the railing support post. The railing support post may be manufactured, for example, by providing an elongated member of a prescribed length, drilling a plurality of holes spaced along the length of the elongated member, and tapping the plurality of holes to form a plurality of threaded receivers. The threaded receivers are configured to receive rail fittings or other fittings.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A railing post apparatus comprising:
 a support post;   one or more threaded receivers disposed in the support post, the threaded receivers comprising a plurality of flow-drilled holes in the support post, the holes spaced along a length of the support post and one or more of the threaded receivers configured to receive a cable rail fitting; and   a decorative sleeve element configured to cover two or more sides of the support post, the decorative sleeve element having one or more pre-drilled holes that are positioned to be aligned with one or more of the one or more threaded receivers, the one or more pre-drilled holes positioned to accommodate at least part of a threaded end portion of one or more cable railing fittings passed through one or more of the one or more pre-drilled holes of the decorative sleeve element,   where at least a portion of the support post has an increased thickness as a result of the one or more threaded receivers being formed by flow-drilling the support post.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , where at least one threaded receiver of the one or more threaded receivers comprises a tapped hole. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sleeve support member affixed to at least a portion of the support post.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , where the sleeve support member provides a surface of contact for the decorative sleeve element. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , where the sleeve support member has one or more holes thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , where the sleeve support member has one or more holes that correspond to holes of the decorative sleeve element. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , where the sleeve support member contacts at least three sides of the support post. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , where the support post is located within the interior of the decorative sleeve element. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , where the decorative sleeve element covers two or more sides of the support post. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , where the decorative sleeve element is poly vinyl chloride. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , where the decorative sleeve element is fiberglass. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , where the decorative sleeve element is a non-structural material. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a threaded fastener; and   a spacer adapted to receive the threaded fastener and the spacer configured to reduce load forces on the decorative sleeve element.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , where the support post is metal. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base member affixed to a portion of the support post.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a support post;   one or more threaded receivers disposed proximate to the support post, the threaded receivers comprising a plurality holes, the holes spaced along a length of the post; and   a decorative sleeve element, the decorative sleeve element having one or more holes that are positioned to be aligned with one or more threaded receivers to accommodate one or more cable medium passed through the one or more holes of the decorative sleeve element.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a base support member coupled to a lower end portion of the support post configured for location inside the decorative sleeve element such that a gap is maintained between the decorative sleeve element and the support post.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising a sleeve support member affixed to a portion of the support post and adapted to support the decorative sleeve element, when the decorative sleeve element is affixed to the support post. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , where the sleeve support member has one or more holes thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , where the sleeve support member contacts at least three sides of the support post.