Quick deploy vertical cable railing

Abstract

A vertical cable railing having a configuration that allows for a more efficient installation. The vertical cable railing includes a top rail and a bottom rail pre-threaded with the cable forming the vertical cable segments of the railing. At installation, a tensioning member or bracket is adjusted to influence a distance between the top rail and the bottom rail, which translates into a tensioning of the individual cable segments.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vertical cable railing comprising:
 a top rail;   a bottom rail;   a plurality of cable sections extending between the top rail and the bottom rail; and   a tensioning member extending between the top rail and the bottom rail, wherein the tensioning member is adjustable between at least a first length and a second length that is longer than the first length, wherein the plurality of cable sections are under a first tension at the first length of the tensioning member and the plurality of cable sections are under a second tension at the second length of the tensioning member, the second tension is greater than the first tension.   
     
     
         2 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning member is comprised of a first segment and a second segment, the first segment is slidably received in the second segment. 
     
     
         3 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 2 , wherein the tensioning member is further comprised of a friction lock, the friction lock limits slidable movement between the first segment and the second segment when engaged. 
     
     
         4 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 2 , wherein the first segment or the second segment is comprised of a threaded portion. 
     
     
         5 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 4 , wherein the tensioning member is further comprised of a threaded nut engaged with the threaded portion, wherein rotation of the threaded nut about the threaded portion adjusts the tensioning member between the first length and the second length. 
     
     
         6 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 2 , wherein the first segment is comprised a protrusion extending axial outward and the second segment is comprised of a receiving aperture configured to receive the protrusion, wherein the protrusion and the receiving aperture mechanically engage to maintain the tensioning member at the second length. 
     
     
         7 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning member is comprised of a threaded portion proximate the top rail and/or the bottom rail. 
     
     
         8 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 7 , wherein the tensioning member is slidably engaged with the top rail and/or the bottom rail, such that a threaded nut on the threaded portion is configured to adjust a distance between the top rail and the bottom rail. 
     
     
         9 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 7 , wherein the tensioning member is slidably engaged with the top rail or the bottom rail through a bracket fixedly secured to the top rail and/or the bottom rail. 
     
     
         10 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 7 , wherein the tensioning member is removeably engaged with the top rail or the bottom rail through a bracket fixedly secured to the top rail and/or the bottom rail. 
     
     
         11 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein the top rail and/or the bottom rail comprise a bracket for securing the tensioning member, wherein the bracket is comprised of a threaded arrangement effective to adjust a distance between the top rail and the bottom rail as maintained by the tensioning member. 
     
     
         12 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cable sections are moveably secured to at least one of the top rail or the bottom rail. 
     
     
         13 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein a cable section of the plurality of cable sections is an adjustable length. 
     
     
         14 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein a cable section of the plurality of cable sections extends through at least one of the top rail or the bottom rail and terminates with a dimensional size that does not extend through the at least one of the top rail or the bottom rail through which the cable section of the plurality of cable sections extends. 
     
     
         15 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein the top rail has a length extending between a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction of the top rail, and the tensioning member is positioned in a middle third of the length the between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         16 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein the top rail has a length extending between a first end and a second end in a longitudinal direction of the top rail, and the tensioning member is positioned in a first third of the length the between the first end and the second end, wherein the first third of the length starts at the first end. 
     
     
         17 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning member is adjustably coupled with at least one of the top rail or the bottom rail. 
     
     
         18 . The vertical cable railing of  claim 17 , wherein the tensioning member is non-perpendicular to the top rail. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a vertical cable railing, the method comprising:
 supporting a top rail between a first post and a second post;   supporting a bottom rail between the first post and the second post;   extending a plurality of discrete cable sections between the top rail and the bottom rail, wherein each of the plurality of discrete cable sections extend through the top rail and the bottom rail prior to supporting the top rail and prior to supporting the bottom rail; and   increasing a distance between the top rail and the bottom rail to increase a tension of the plurality of discrete cable sections.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising unspooling one or more of the plurality of discrete cable sections prior to supporting the top rail and/or the bottom rail.