Top-load vertical railing

Abstract

Aspects hereof provide apparatuses, systems and/or methods directed to a top load vertical railing comprised of a top rail, a bottom rail, a spacer, and a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail. The bottom rail and the spacer have corresponding apertures for receiving the lower ends of the balusters. The spacer is temporally positioned on the bottom rail such that the apertures of the bottom rail align with the apertures of the spacer. The balusters are then positioned through the aligned apertures. The top rail is then positioned along the upper ends of the balusters. To finalize assembly, the spacer slides upwardly toward the top rail to engage a connecting structure on the top rail.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A railing system comprising:
 a top rail;   a spacer positioned having a plurality of apertures formed therein and configured to be connected to the top rail;   a bottom rail; and   a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail;   wherein the balusters are positioned in the apertures of the spacer; and   wherein the spacer has a first position adjacent the bottom rail with the balusters in the aperture and a second position wherein the spacer is slidable upwardly along the baluster and into engagement with the top rail.   
     
     
         2 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the top rail has a channel for engaging upper ends of the balusters. 
     
     
         3 . The railing system of  claim 2 , wherein the spacer has pressure flanges associated with each aperture, wherein the pressure flanges engage with the channel to squeeze the balusters to hold the balusters in place. 
     
     
         4 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom rail has a plurality of apertures configured to receive lower ends of the balusters and wherein the bottom rail apertures align with the apertures of the spacer. 
     
     
         5 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a bottom wall connected to a back vertical sidewall and a front vertical sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The railing system of  claim 5 , wherein the spacer further comprises detents formed on the back vertical sidewall and the front vertical sidewall for engaging with a connecting ledge of the top rail. 
     
     
         7 . The railing system of  claim 6 , wherein the detents are configured to snap into engagement with the connecting ledge when the spacer is in the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The railing system of  claim 1 , further comprising posts positioned at opposite ends of the bottom rail and the top rail. 
     
     
         9 . The railing system of  claim 8 , further comprising brackets for attaching the bottom rail and the top rail to the posts. 
     
     
         10 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the balusters are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, steel, wood, and plastic. 
     
     
         11 . A method of assembling a railing system, comprising:
 securing a bottom rail between two posts;   positioning a spacer on the bottom rail, the spacer having a plurality of apertures aligned with apertures in the bottom rail;   inserting balusters through the aligned apertures of the spacer and bottom rail;   securing a top rail between the posts above the balusters; and   sliding the spacer upwardly along the balusters into engagement with the top rail.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the spacer comprises a bottom wall connected to a back vertical sidewall and a front vertical sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the spacer further comprises detents formed on the back vertical sidewall and the front vertical sidewall for engaging with a connecting ledge of the top rail. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising snapping the detents into engagement with the connecting ledge when sliding the spacer into engagement with the top rail. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising securing the bottom rail and the top rail to the posts using brackets. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the top rail comprises a channel for engaging upper ends of the balusters, and wherein sliding the spacer upwardly comprises engaging pressure flanges of the spacer with the channel to squeeze the balusters and hold them in place. 
     
     
         17 . A railing assembly kit, comprising:
 a top rail having a channel for engaging upper ends of balusters;   a bottom rail having apertures for receiving lower ends of balusters;   a plurality of balusters configured to extend between the top rail and the bottom rail; and   a spacer having apertures for receiving the balusters, the spacer configured to slide along the balusters from a position adjacent the bottom rail to a position engaging the top rail.   
     
     
         18 . The railing assembly kit of  claim 17 , wherein the spacer comprises a bottom wall connected to a back vertical sidewall and a front vertical sidewall, the spacer further comprising detents formed on the back vertical sidewall and the front vertical sidewall for engaging with a connecting ledge of the top rail. 
     
     
         19 . The railing assembly kit of  claim 18 , wherein the detents are configured to snap into engagement with the connecting ledge when the spacer is slid into the position engaging the top rail. 
     
     
         20 . The railing assembly kit of  claim 19 , further comprising posts configured to be positioned at opposite ends of the bottom rail and the top rail, and brackets for attaching the bottom rail and the top rail to the posts.