Rod railing and method of installation

Abstract

A method of assembling and installing a rod infill deck railing system utilizing baluster and baluster connection apparatuses is disclosed in which rods are inserted through sound-dampening balusters, which are connected to upper and lower rails by a pressure coupling structure. The rod infill deck railing system largely eliminates rod rattling found in other rod railing systems, is easily adaptable for use on steps, and can be assembled into components before their attachment to posts.

1 . A baluster comprising a length, a longitudinal axis, an outside surface, an inside surface, a front, a first insert, a rear, a first side, and a second side;
 said first side comprising at least one hole, adapted to allow the insertion of a rod into said hole;   said inside surface of the baluster defining a longitudinal channel having a center;   said baluster further comprises a first strip of flexible material within said channel;   said first strip of flexible material forming an arc;   said arc being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the baluster;   said arc comprising a first terminus, a second terminus and an apex, in which the first terminus and the second terminus are in contact with the inside surface of the baluster.   The baluster of claim  1  further comprising a second strip of flexible material within the channel;   said second strip of flexible material forming an arc;   said arc being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the baluster;   said arc comprising a first terminus, a second terminus and an apex, in which the first terminus and the second terminus are in contact with the inside surface of the baluster;   the apex of the arc formed by the first strip of flexible material being proximal to the apex of the arc formed by the first strip of flexible material; and   each said arc being located proximal to the center of the channel of the baluster.   The baluster of claim  2  in which each said flexible strip has a length less than or equal to the length of the baluster.   A segment of rod infill railing comprising a rail and a baluster mount having a bottom portion, a rail connection point, and a top;   said bottom portion of the baluster mount configured to be in contact with the rail,   said rail connection point of bottom portion of the baluster mount being adapted to connect to the rail;   said top of the baluster mount being adapted to fit within a baluster and secure itself to the baluster.   A baluster mount adapted for connecting a rail to a baluster, said baluster mount comprising a bottom, a top, and a longitudinal axis,   said baluster mount comprising an internal surface defining a channel,   said bottom comprising a planar surface, and   said top comprising an apex transverse to the planar surface of the bottom of the baluster mount,   said bottom surface adapted to attach to a bottom rail; and   said top being adapted to at least partially fit within the channel of said baluster, creating a pressure fit between the apex of the baluster mount and the internal surface of the baluster.   The baluster mount of claim  5  in which said longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the plane of the bottom surface.   The baluster mount of claim  5  in which said longitudinal axis is transverse to the plane of the bottom surface.   The baluster mount of claim  5  in which said top further comprises a spring clip adapted to apply internal pressure to the baluster.   A method of assembling a section of rod infill railing comprising the steps of:   providing a first post and a second post, each said post having an inward side and an outward side;   providing a top rail comprising a longitudinal axis, a length, a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom comprising a plurality of holes, one or more baluster mounting points, and an internal space; and   providing a bottom rail comprising a longitudinal axis, length, a first end, a second end, a top comprising a plurality of holes, one or more baluster mounting points, a bottom, and an internal space; and   providing a plurality of balusters, each comprising a first side, a second side, an inner channel, a longitudinal axis, and at least one hole in one or more sides;   providing a number of baluster mounts;   providing at least one rod having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, a length, and being adapted to fit within at least one said hole of a baluster;   providing at least one insert adapted for placement within a baluster;   securing the first and second posts to a surface, so that the inner side of the first post faces the inner side of the second post, and the space between the two said inner sides is equal to the length of the bottom rail; and   assembling a unit of rod railing comprising the steps of:   placing a baluster onto a baluster mount located on said bottom rail, said baluster mount being adapted to press against the inner channel of said baluster; repeating with each desired baluster in a series, such that each series of balusters is comprised of a first baluster and a second baluster;   placing a first and a second insert into the internal channel of each placed baluster such that each said insert comprises defines an arc being perpendicular to the associated baluster and having an apex, each arc being a mirror image of the other, and each apex being proximal to the other;   inserting one or more rods through the holes of the placed balusters such that each rod is parallel to the bottom rail and the first end of each rod is contained within the inner channel of the first baluster and the second end of each rod is contained within the inner channel of the second baluster;   placing a top rail comprising one or more baluster mounts onto the top of the series of balusters such that each baluster contains a baluster mount associated with the top rail, each said baluster mount being adapted to press against the inner channel of the associated baluster; and   connecting the assembled unit of rod railing to the inward side of the first post and the inward side of the second post.   The method of claim  9  further comprising a number of baluster clips, each said baluster clip placed on a baluster mount prior to the placement of a baluster onto said mount.   The method of claim  9  in which said series of baluster further comprises at least one intermediate baluster, between the first and second balusters.   The method of claim  11  in which each said rod is inserted into the first baluster and each intermediate baluster before the second baluster is placed onto the positioned baluster mount and positioned to accept the second end of each said rod.