Pivot-load vertical railing

Abstract

A side-load vertical railing is comprised of a top rail, a bottom rail, and a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail. The balusters are loaded into the structure by first positioning each baluster to a securing structure on the bottom rail and then pivoting the baluster into engagement with the top rails extending between adjacent vertical posts. The top rail has a structure that holds the balusters in a spaced horizontal relationship. The top rail has a first “tilted” position that allows the balusters to engage the holding structure of the top rail. The top rail also has a second “locked” position that locks the balusters into the railing system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railing system comprising:
 a top rail;   a bottom rail; and   a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail;   wherein the bottom rail has a plurality of securing structures horizontally securing a bottom portion of each baluster while allowing tilting of the baluster to a vertical position;   wherein the top rail has a plurality of slots that receive the upper ends of the balusters when they are tilted into a vertical position during assembly; and   wherein the top rail has a first position that allows the slots to engage the upper ends of the balusters and a second position that secures the balusters in the slots.   
     
     
         2 . The railing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot bracket secured to a vertical post and configured to engage the top rail to allow the top rail to move between its first position and its second position. 
     
     
         3 . The railing system of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot bracket has a longitudinal detent, and the top rail has a projection segment with a cylindrical end, wherein the cylindrical end engages the longitudinal detent to secure the top rail to the pivot bracket when the top rail is in its second position. 
     
     
         4 . The railing system of  claim 3 , wherein the pivot bracket includes a bracket ledge, and the top rail includes a rail ledge, wherein the rail ledge engages the bracket ledge to hold the top rail in its first position. 
     
     
         5 . The railing system of  claim 4 , wherein the pivot bracket further comprises a circular groove that receives the cylindrical end of the projection segment when the top rail is in its first position. 
     
     
         6 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of securing structures comprise apertures formed in a top surface of the bottom rail, and wherein each aperture is configured to receive a bottom end of a respective baluster. 
     
     
         7 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the top rail comprises a downward channel formed by a front wall and a back wall, and wherein the plurality of slots are formed within the downward channel between adjacent projection segments. 
     
     
         8 . A pivot bracket for a railing system, comprising:
 a longitudinal channel configured to receive a projection from a top rail;   a longitudinal detent within the longitudinal channel configured to engage the projection to secure the top rail in a locked position;   a bracket ledge configured to support the top rail in a tilted position; and   a circular groove configured to engage the projection when the top rail is in the tilted position.   
     
     
         9 . The pivot bracket of  claim 8 , further comprising an attachment aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the pivot bracket to a vertical post. 
     
     
         10 . The pivot bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the longitudinal channel is configured as a locking channel that receives a cylindrical end of a projection segment from the top rail. 
     
     
         11 . The pivot bracket of  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal detent is positioned within the locking channel to create a snap-fit engagement with the cylindrical end when the top rail moves to the locked position. 
     
     
         12 . The pivot bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the circular groove is positioned to maintain the cylindrical end in the tilted position while the rail ledge of the top rail rests on the bracket ledge. 
     
     
         13 . The pivot bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the pivot bracket is configured to allow the top rail to pivot from the tilted position to the locked position about the bracket ledge. 
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling a railing system, comprising:
 securing a bottom rail between vertical posts, the bottom rail having a plurality of securing structures;   positioning a top rail on brackets in a tilted position, the top rail having a plurality of slots;   inserting bottom ends of balusters into the securing structures of the bottom rail;   tilting the balusters to engage upper ends of the balusters with the slots of the top rail while the top rail is in the tilted position; and   pivoting the top rail from the tilted position to a locked position to secure the balusters in the slots.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the securing structures comprise apertures formed in a top surface of the bottom rail, and wherein inserting the bottom ends comprises placing each bottom end into a respective aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the brackets comprise pivot brackets secured to the vertical posts, and wherein positioning the top rail comprises engaging a rail ledge of the top rail with a bracket ledge of each pivot bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein positioning the top rail in the tilted position further comprises engaging a cylindrical end of a projection segment of the top rail with a circular groove of each pivot bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein pivoting the top rail to the locked position comprises moving the cylindrical end from the circular groove into a locking channel of each pivot bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein moving the cylindrical end into the locking channel creates a snap-fit engagement between the cylindrical end and a longitudinal detent within the locking channel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the slots are formed within a downward channel of the top rail between adjacent projection segments, and wherein pivoting the top rail to the locked position causes a front wall of the top rail to pass over the upper ends of the balusters to secure the balusters within the slots.