IP Library Granted Patent US 7,731,160
Granted Patent B2
US 7,731,160 · App. 12/236,790 · Granted Jun 8, 2010

Post and railing assembly with support bracket covers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,731,160
App. No.
12/236,790
Granted
Jun 8, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A railing mounting assembly includes a U-shaped bracket having a pair of sidewalls and a bottom wall, the bottom wall comprising a pair of platform portions for supporting a railing, and a pair of recessed portions separated from one another by a channel, and a trim cover attached around the bracket, the trim cover having a slit and at least one locking member projecting through the channel of the U-shaped bracket.

Claims (18)

1. A railing mounting assembly for mounting the end of a railing to a post structure, the railing mounting assembly comprising:

a U-shaped bracket having a pair of sidewalls and a bottom wall, the bottom wall comprising a pair of platform portions for supporting a railing, and a pair of recessed portions that are offset from the platform portions so as to form a cavity in the bracket, the recessed portions being separated from one another by a channel having a longitudinal axis; and

a trim cover attached around the bracket, the trim cover having a ring-shaped wall surrounding a central opening, the wall comprising a slit and at least one locking member projecting through the channel of the U-shaped bracket into the cavity, wherein the locking member of the trim cover comprises a series of parallel ribs, and the channel comprises a flange in locked engagement with one of the parallel ribs, and wherein the locking member is adapted to engage and compress against the bottom of a railing when the railing is supported by the bracket.

2. The railing mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trim cover comprises a plurality of spacer bars projecting from the ring-shaped wall into the central opening.

3. The railing mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the bracket comprises a stop extending into the channel generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel to prevent the at least one locking member of the trim cover from moving out of the channel.

4. The railing mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a fastener hole through one of the sidewalls.

5. The railing mounting assembly of claim 1 , comprising a post structure, the bracket being mounted to the post structure.

6. The railing mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls include curved sections collectively forming a cradle with the bottom wall.

7. The railing mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket and the trim cover are coupled together solely by a snap connection.

8. A railing mounting assembly for mounting the end of a railing to a post structure, the railing mounting assembly comprising:

a U-shaped bracket having a pair of sidewalls and a bottom wall, the bottom wall comprising a pair of platform portions for supporting a railing, and a pair of recessed portions that are offset from the platform portions so as to form a cavity in the bracket, the recessed portions being separated from one another by a channel having a longitudinal axis; and

a trim cover attached around the bracket, the trim cover having a ring-shaped wall surrounding a central opening, the wall comprising a slit and at least one locking member projecting through the channel of the U-shaped bracket into the cavity, wherein the locking member comprises a bar that extends substantially parallel to the channel, the bar comprising a top surface adapted to engage and compress against the bottom of a railing when the railing is supported by the bracket.

9. A railing mounting assembly for mounting the end of a railing to a post structure, the railing mounting assembly comprising:

a U-shaped bracket having a pair of sidewalls and a bottom wall, the bottom wall comprising a pair of platform portions for supporting a railing, and a pair of recessed portions that are offset from the platform portions so as to form a cavity in the bracket, the recessed portions being separated from one another by a channel having a longitudinal axis; and

a trim cover attached around the bracket, the trim cover having a ring-shaped wall surrounding a central opening, the wall comprising a slit and at least one locking member projecting through the channel of the U-shaped bracket into the cavity, wherein the locking member comprises a pair of bars that extend substantially parallel to the channel, one of the bars extending on one side of the slit, and the other of the bars extending on the opposite side of the slit, and wherein the locking member is adapted to engage and compress against the bottom of a railing when the railing is supported by the bracket.

10. A railing mounting assembly for mounting the end of a railing to a post structure, the railing mounting assembly comprising:

a U-shaped bracket having a pair of sidewalls and a bottom wall, the bottom wall comprising a pair of platform portions for supporting a railing, and a pair of recessed portions that are offset from the platform portions so as to form a cavity in the bracket, the recessed portions being separated from one another by a channel having a longitudinal axis; and

a trim cover attached around the brackets the trim cover having a ring-shaped wall surrounding a central opening, the wall comprising a slit and at least one locking member projecting through the channel of the U-shaped bracket into the cavity, wherein the bracket comprises a series of ratchet teeth along the channel that engage the locking member on the trim cover, the ratchet teeth permitting insertion of the locking member into the channel in a first direction and substantially preventing removal of the locking member from the channel in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the locking member is adapted to engage and compress against the bottom of a railing when the railing is supported by the bracket.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2022
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: BARRETTE OUTDOOR LIVING, INC.
Reel/Frame 061002/0601 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 54280/0549 Recorded Jul 8, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS AGENT
To: BARRETTE OUTDOOR LIVING, INC.
Reel/Frame 060617/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT AT REEL/FRAME NO. 33820/0371 Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS AGENT
To: RAILING DYNAMICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054296/0220 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 2, 2020
From: BARRETTE OUTDOOR LIVING, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 054280/0549 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2020
From: BARRETTE OUTDOOR LIVING, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 054274/0768 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: RAILING DYNAMICS INC.
To: BARRETTE OUTDOOR LIVING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051736/0239 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2014
From: RAILING DYNAMICS, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 033820/0371 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2010
From: TERRELS, CHRISTOPHER J.; SCHNEIDER, CHRISTOPHER M.; WERNER, JASON M.
To: RAILING DYNAMICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024266/0306 →