Spring action clip for balusters

Abstract

A railing system includes an upper rail and a lower rail spaced from the upper rail. The railing system also includes a plurality of balusters positioned between the upper rail and the lower rail. The railing system further includes a clip configured to attach one baluster of the plurality of balusters to the lower rail or the upper rail. The clip includes a baluster engagement portion configured to be received within an open end of the one baluster. The clip further includes a tab extending from the baluster engagement portion. The tab includes a fin portion configured to be inserted within one aperture of a plurality of apertures of the upper rail or the lower rail. The tab also includes a spring portion coupled to the fin portion. The spring portion is configured to secure the clip to the upper rail or the lower rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railing system comprising:
 an upper rail comprising a planar surface, the planar surface comprising a plurality of apertures, the apertures each having a respective ridge;   a lower rail spaced from the upper rail and comprising a planar surface, the planar surface comprising a plurality of apertures, the apertures each having a respective ridge;   a plurality of balusters positioned between the upper rail and the lower rail; and   a clip to attach one baluster of the plurality of balusters to the lower rail or to the upper rail, the clip comprising:
 a baluster engagement portion inserted within an open end of the one baluster, the baluster engagement portion seated on the planar surface of the lower rail or the upper rail; and 
 a tab extending from the baluster engagement portion, the tab comprising:
 a fin portion inserted within one aperture of the plurality of apertures of the upper rail or the lower rail wherein the engagement portion is secured over the ridge, the fin portion having a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface, wherein the first end surface has a curvilinear shape to allow rotation of the clip between a first position and a second position relative to the upper rail or the lower rail; and 
 a spring portion coupled to the fin portion, wherein the spring portion extends partially between the first end surface and the second end surface so that the clip is rotatable between the first position and the second position, and wherein, upon insertion of the fin portion by at least a predetermined distance within the one aperture, the spring portion secures the clip to one of the upper rail and the lower rail. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of balusters are substantially perpendicular to the upper rail and the lower rail. 
     
     
         3 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of balusters are positioned at an angle of from about 29 degrees to about 41 degrees relative to the upper rail and the lower rail. 
     
     
         4 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the baluster engagement portion comprising a mounting surface seated on the planar surface of one of the upper rail and the lower rail in the first position of the clip, and wherein the mounting surface is inclined with respect to the planar surface in the second position of the clip. 
     
     
         5 . The railing system of  claim 4 , wherein a width of the mounting surface is greater than a width of each of the plurality of apertures of the upper rail or the lower rail. 
     
     
         6 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the baluster engagement portion further comprising at least one support portion, wherein the at least one support portion comprises:
 a first support surface to support the baluster engagement portion on the planar surface of the upper rail or the lower rail in the first position; and   a second support surface extending from and inclined with respect to the first support surface, the second support surface to support the baluster engagement portion on the planar surface of the upper rail or the lower rail in the second position.   
     
     
         7 . The railing system of  claim 6 , wherein the baluster engagement portion further comprises a recess between the mounting surface and the at least one support portion. 
     
     
         8 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring portion comprises a curvilinear shape. 
     
     
         9 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the fin portion extends from the mounting surface, the fin portion comprising:
 an upper part located adjacent to the mounting surface;   a middle part extending from the upper part and having a curvilinear shape; and   a lower part extending from the middle part, wherein the spring portion projects from the lower part towards the upper part.   
     
     
         10 . A railing system comprising:
 a rail comprising a planar surface, the planar surface comprising at least one aperture; and   a clip to attach a baluster to the rail, the clip comprising:
 a baluster engagement portion received within an open end of the baluster, the baluster engagement portion seated on the planar surface of the rail; and 
 a tab extending from the baluster engagement portion, the tab comprising:
 a fin portion inserted within said aperture, the fin portion having a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface, wherein the first end surface has a curvilinear shape to allow rotation of the clip between a first position and a second position relative to the rail; and 
 a spring portion coupled to the fin portion, wherein the spring portion extends partially between the first end surface and the second end surface so that the clip is rotatable between the first position and the second position, and wherein, upon insertion of the fin portion by at least a predetermined distance within said aperture, the spring portion secures the clip to the rail. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The railing system of  claim 10 , wherein the baluster engagement portion comprising a mounting surface seated on the planar surface of the rail in the first position of the clip, and wherein the mounting surface is inclined with respect to the planar surface in the second position of the clip. 
     
     
         12 . The railing system of  claim 11 , wherein a width of the mounting surface is greater than a width of the at least one aperture of the rail. 
     
     
         13 . The railing system of  claim 10 , wherein the baluster engagement portion further comprises at least one support portion, the at least one support portion comprising:
 a first support surface to support the baluster engagement portion on the planar surface of the rail in the first position; and   a second support surface extending from and inclined with respect to the first support surface, the second support surface to support the baluster engagement portion on the planar surface of the rail in the second position.   
     
     
         14 . The railing system of  claim 10 , wherein the baluster engagement portion further comprises a recess between the mounting surface and the at least one support portion. 
     
     
         15 . The railing system of  claim 10 , wherein the spring portion has a curvilinear shape. 
     
     
         16 . The railing system of  claim 10 , wherein the fin portion extends from the mounting surface, the fin portion comprising:
 an upper part located adjacent to the mounting surface;   a middle part extending from the upper part and having a curvilinear shape; and   a lower part extending from the middle part, wherein the spring portion projects from the lower part towards the upper part.   
     
     
         17 . A clip for attaching a baluster to a rail, the clip comprising:
 a baluster engagement portion to be received within an open end of the baluster, the baluster engagement portion comprising a mounting surface to be seated on a planar surface of the rail; and   a tab extending from the baluster engagement portion, the tab comprising:
 a fin portion to be inserted within an aperture of the rail, the fin portion having a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface, wherein the first end surface has a curvilinear shape to allow rotation of the clip between a first position and a second position relative to the rail; and 
 a spring portion coupled to the fin portion, wherein the spring portion extends partially between the first end surface and the second end surface so that the clip is rotatable between the first position and the second position, and wherein, upon insertion of the fin portion by at least a predetermined distance within the aperture, the spring portion to secure the clip to the rail. 
   
     
     
         18 . The clip of  claim 17 , wherein the baluster engagement portion comprising a mounting surface to be seated on the planar surface of the rail in the first position of the clip, and wherein the mounting surface is inclined with respect to the planar surface in the second position of the clip. 
     
     
         19 . The clip of  claim 18 , wherein a width of the mounting surface is greater than a width of said aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The clip of  claim 17 , wherein the fin portion extends from the mounting surface, the fin portion comprising:
 an upper part located adjacent to the mounting surface;   a middle part extending from the upper part and having a curvilinear shape; and   a lower part extending from the middle part, wherein the spring portion projects from the lower part towards the upper part.