초록 ▼

A support for a hollow post of the type used to support horizontal rails for railing or fencing systems, and having a hollow, constant cross-section, the support comprising a rigid support member, such as a steel pipe, having upper and lower end portions, the lower end portion adapted to be fixed in

A support for a hollow post of the type used to support horizontal rails for railing or fencing systems, and having a hollow, constant cross-section, the support comprising a rigid support member, such as a steel pipe, having upper and lower end portions, the lower end portion adapted to be fixed in vertical position while the upper end portion extends within the hollow post. At least one spacer, preferably extruded from plastic material or aluminum, has a tubular portion with an inner bore sized to snugly receive the rigid support member, and has longitudinal protrusions, for example ribs, ribs projecting outwardly from the tubular portion and suitable for firm engagement within internal cavity of the post. The ribs provide clear spaces between the post wall and the tubular portion which are suitable for receiving end portions of the rails when inserted into apertures formed in side walls of the post.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A post and rail system, comprising:a plurality of extruded tubular posts of plastic material, each said post having uniform internal dimensions and having an integrally formed sidewall of generally constant wall thickness, said sidewall defining an internal cavity and having apertures leading int

1. A post and rail system, comprising:a plurality of extruded tubular posts of plastic material, each said post having uniform internal dimensions and having an integrally formed sidewall of generally constant wall thickness, said sidewall defining an internal cavity and having apertures leading into said cavity; rigid support members comprising cylindrical metal pipes, each of the members having upper and lower end portions, the upper end portion respectively extending within said internal cavity of said tubular posts while the lower end portion respectively extends below a lower end of said posts and said lower end portion is adapted to be fixed in a vertical position; spacers extruded from plastic and located wholly within said posts, each spacer having a tubular portion sized to snugly receive one of said metal pipes, and each spacer having four longitudinal ribs projecting outwardly from the tubular portion and suitable for firm engagement within said internal cavity, said ribs being perpendicular to each other when seen in cross-section, said ribs providing a clear space of at least one-half inch adjacent the interior of the post sidewall at the locations of said apertures; said tubular portion of each spacer having four internal surface portions suitable for gripping one of said metal pipes at spaced locations around the pipe, said internal surface portions being evenly spaced around an interior of the tubular portion and each being located midway between a pair of said ribs, the tubular portion having flexibility to allow distortion of its shape so that said internal surface portions can positively locate on pipes of slightly varying dimensions; said system also including normally horizontal rails supported between said posts and extending into said apertures in the sidewalls of said posts, each said rail including an end portion which extends beyond internal surfaces of a post sidewall and towards said metal pipe; and wherein said rails include upper rails and lower rails, and said spacers being positioned to support the posts at locations both at bases of the posts and adjacent said upper rails.