Split vertical railing

Abstract

Aspects hereof provide apparatuses, systems, and/or methods directed to utilize split top rails and bottom rails to build a vertical railing structure or panel. Specifically, a railing is a panel comprised of a top rail including a first section and a second section, a bottom rail including a first section and a second section, and a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railing system comprising:
 a top rail including a first section with a plurality of open-ended slots and a second section capable of being attached to the first section;   a bottom rail including a first section with a plurality of open-ended slots and a second section capable of being attached to the first section;   a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail;   wherein when the top rail's second section is attached to the top rail's first section, an upper end of a baluster is secured in the top rail slot by way of the top rail's second section closing the top rail slot;   wherein when the bottom rail's second section is attached to the bottom rail's first section, a lower end of a baluster is secured in the bottom rail slot by the bottom rail's second section closing the top rail slot.   
     
     
         2 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the top rail's first section has a connecting channel extending along at least a portion of its length and the top rail's second section has a connecting lip extending along at least a portion of its length, wherein the lip engages the channel to secure the top rail's second section to the top rail's first section. 
     
     
         3 . The railing system of  claim 2 , including a bracket connected to the top rail for connecting the top rail to a vertical support member, the bracket including a connecting channel for receiving a head of a connecting bolt attached to the support member. 
     
     
         4 . The railing system of  claim 3 , wherein the bracket connecting channel includes a wide portion and a narrow portion, and wherein the connecting bolt head is received in the wide portion of the channel first and a body portion of the connecting bolt is received in the narrow portion of the connecting channel as the top rail is moved downwardly. 
     
     
         5 . The railing system of  claim 1 , wherein the balusters are connected via a flexible strap prior to assembly with the top rail and the bottom rail. 
     
     
         6 . A method of constructing a railing system including a top rail split into a first section and a second section capable of attachment to the top rail's first section, a bottom rail split into a first section and a second section capable of attachment to the bottom rail's first section, and a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail, the method comprising:
 positioning the top rail's first section on a generally flat support surface;   positioning the bottom rail's first section on a generally flat surface in a spaced-apart arrangement from the top rail's first section;   positioning a top end of the balusters in a plurality of open slots formed in the top rail's first section;   positioning a lower end of the balusters in a plurality of open slots formed in the bottom rail's first section;   attaching the top rail's second section to the top rail's first section to secure the top ends of the balusters; and   attaching the bottom rail's second section to the bottom rail's first section to secure the lower ends of the balusters.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the completed railing system is positioned between two adjacent vertical support members. 
     
     
         8 . A railing system comprising:
 a first vertical support member including at least one attachment bolt;   a preconstructed railing panel including an attachment bracket, the attachment bracket including a connection channel;   wherein the connection channel includes a wide portion for receiving a head of the attachment bolt and a narrow portion for receiving the body of the attachment bolt; and   wherein the head passes through the wide portion prior to the body engaging the narrow portion during attachment.   
     
     
         9 . The railing system of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment bracket includes a connecting flange with an attaching aperture for securing the bracket to the preconstructed railing panel. 
     
     
         10 . The railing system of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment bracket further includes a vertical tab extending from the connecting flange, and wherein the connection channel is formed in the vertical tab. 
     
     
         11 . The railing system of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment bolt includes a bolt head and a bolt body, and wherein the bolt head has a larger diameter than the bolt body. 
     
     
         12 . The railing system of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment bracket includes a retention spring that deflects outwardly as the bracket is moved downwardly over the bolt head and snaps back inwardly to engage a bottom surface of the bolt head to prevent upward movement of the bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The railing system of  claim 8 , wherein the preconstructed railing panel comprises a top rail having a first section with a plurality of open-ended slots and a second section attached to the first section, a bottom rail having a first section with a plurality of open-ended slots and a second section attached to the first section, and a plurality of balusters extending between the top rail and the bottom rail. 
     
     
         14 . The railing system of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment bracket is an upper connecting bracket attached to the top rail, and further comprising a lower connecting bracket attached to the bottom rail. 
     
     
         15 . The railing system of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment bracket is a stair bracket having an angled attachment flange for use in stair configurations. 
     
     
         16 . The railing system of  claim 15 , wherein the stair bracket includes a bracket tab extending from the angled attachment flange, and wherein the connection channel is formed in the bracket tab. 
     
     
         17 . The railing system of  claim 8 , further comprising a second vertical support member including at least one attachment bolt, wherein the preconstructed railing panel is positioned between the first vertical support member and the second vertical support member. 
     
     
         18 . The railing system of  claim 17 , wherein each vertical support member includes a post cover positioned around the vertical support member to provide a decorative appearance. 
     
     
         19 . The railing system of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment bracket further includes securing apertures configured to receive fasteners for additional securement of the preconstructed railing panel to the first vertical support member. 
     
     
         20 . The railing system of  claim 19 , wherein the fasteners operate as securing structures in addition to the attachment bolt.