Railing assemblies and methods of installation

Abstract

A railing system includes at least one post and at least one rod defining a first distal end and a second distal end. The railing system further includes at least one connector assembly. The at least one connector assembly operably couples one of the first distal end or the second distal end of the at least one rod to the at least one post.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railing system comprising:
 at least one post;   at least one rod defining a first distal end and a second distal end; and   at least one connector assembly operably coupling one of the first distal end or the second distal end of the at least one rod to the at least one post, wherein the at least one connector assembly is configured for movably coupling the at least one rod to the at least one post such that the at least one rod is pivotable relative to the at least one post in at least one plane of movement.   
     
     
         2 . The railing system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one post comprises at least a first post and a second post, the second post spaced apart from the first post, the at least one rod extending between the first post and the second post. 
     
     
         3 . The railing system of  claim 2  wherein the at least one connector assembly comprises at least a first connector assembly movably coupling the one of the first distal end or the second distal end to the first post and a second connector assembly movably coupling the other of the first distal end or the second distal end to the second post. 
     
     
         4 . The railing system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one connector assembly is configured for movably coupling the at least one rod to the at least one post such that the at least one rod is pivotable relative to the at least one post in multiple planes of movement. 
     
     
         5 . The railing system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one connector assembly is configured for movably coupling the at least one rod to the at least one post such that the at least one rod is pivotable relative to the at least one post in at least a vertical plane of movement and a horizontal plane of movement. 
     
     
         6 . The railing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rail extending perpendicularly from the at least one post. 
     
     
         7 . The railing system of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one support coupled to the at least one rod, the at least one support spaced from and extending generally parallel to the at least one post. 
     
     
         8 . The railing system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one support is further coupled to at least one of the rail and a support surface upon which the railing system is assembled. 
     
     
         9 . The railing system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one connector assembly comprises:
 a ball coupled to the one of the first distal end or the second distal end of the at least one rod; and 
 a seat coupled to the at least one post and adapted to at least partially retain and pivotably receive the ball within the seat, wherein pivotal movement of the ball within the seat operably couples the at least one rod for pivotable movement relative to the at least one post in the at least one plane of movement. 
 
     
     
         10 . The railing system of  claim 9  wherein the at least one connector assembly further comprises a socket at least partially defining the seat and a channel, the socket coupled to a wall of the at least one post such that the seat extends through the wall into an interior of the at least one post. 
     
     
         11 . The railing system of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the ball is positioned within the interior of the at least one post when the ball is retained within the seat, and further wherein at least a portion of the at least one connector assembly extends through the channel such that the orientation of the channel relative to the at least one post defines the plane of movement within which the at least one rod is pivotable relative to the at least one post. 
     
     
         12 . The railing system of  claim 9  wherein the connector assembly further comprises a plate received within a channel formed within a wall of the at least one post, the plate defining an opening forming at least a portion of the seat, wherein at least a portion of the ball is positioned within an interior of the at least one post when the ball is retained within the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The railing system of  claim 9  wherein the connector assembly further comprises a plate coupled to and protruding outwardly from a wall of the at least one post, the plate defining at least one opening forming at least a portion of the seat, wherein at least a portion of the ball is positioned behind the plate when the ball is retained within the opening. 
     
     
         14 . A connector assembly for operably coupling a rod to a post within a railing system, the connector assembly comprising:
 a ball coupled to an end of the rod; and   a seat coupled to the post and adapted to at least partially retain and pivotably receive the ball within the seat, wherein pivotal movement of the ball within the seat operably couples the rod for pivotable movement relative to the post in at least one plane of movement.   
     
     
         15 . The connector assembly of  claim 14  wherein at least a portion of the ball is positioned within an interior of the post when the ball is retained within the seat. 
     
     
         16 . The connector assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a socket at least partially defining the seat and a channel, the socket coupled to a wall of the post such that the seat extends through the wall into an interior of the post. 
     
     
         17 . The connector assembly of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the ball is positioned within the interior of the post when the ball is retained within the seat, and further wherein at least a portion of the connector assembly extends through the channel such that the orientation of the channel relative to the post defines the plane of movement within which the rod is pivotable relative to the post. 
     
     
         18 . The connector assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a plate received within a channel formed within a wall of the post, the plate defining an opening forming at least a portion of the seat, wherein at least a portion of the ball is positioned within an interior of the post when the ball is retained within the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The connector assembly of  claim 18  wherein the plate further defines at least one notch formed along a portion of the opening. 
     
     
         20 . The connector assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a plate coupled to and protruding outwardly from a wall of the post, the plate defining at least one opening forming at least a portion of the seat, wherein at least a portion of the ball is positioned behind the plate when the ball is retained within the opening.