Raking rail panel and bracket system and method

1. A raking rail panel system, comprising:

a raking rail panel comprising a top rail, a bottom rail, and a plurality of balusters pivotably coupled to the top rail and the bottom rail;

a first pivotable bracket assembly comprising:

a first post bracket configured to be coupled to an elevated vertical support post and having a first body comprising a first mounting surface and a first gap filling portion extending a first distance from the first mounting surface; and

a first rail support bracket hingedly coupled to the first post bracket;

a second pivotable bracket assembly comprising:

a second post bracket configured to be coupled to a descended vertical support post and having a second body comprising a second mounting surface and a second gap filling portion extending a second distance from the second mounting surface, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and

a second rail support bracket hingedly coupled to the second post bracket;

a third pivotable bracket assembly comprising:

a third post bracket configured to be coupled to the elevated vertical support post and having a third body comprising a third mounting surface and a third gap filling portion extending the second distance from the third mounting surface; and

a third rail support bracket hingedly coupled to the third post bracket; and

a fourth pivotable bracket assembly comprising:

a fourth post bracket configured to be coupled to the descended vertical support post and having a fourth body comprising a fourth mounting surface and a fourth gap filling portion extending the first distance from the fourth mounting surface; and

a fourth rail support bracket hingedly coupled to the fourth post bracket.

2. The raking rail panel system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first and fourth post brackets are sized and shaped the same;

the first and second rail support brackets are sized and shaped the same;

the second and third post brackets are sized and shaped the same; and

the third and fourth rail support brackets are sized and shaped the same.

3. The raking rail panel system of claim 2 , wherein:

each of the first and second rail support brackets include a pivot arm defining a distal through hole disposed above respective first and second floors and defining respective pivot axes; and

each of the third and fourth rail support brackets include a pivot arm defining a distal through hole disposed below respective third and fourth floors and defining respective pivot axes.

4. The raking rail panel system of claim 1 , wherein

the first post bracket defines a first cavity and the first rail support bracket comprises a first pivot arm received within the first cavity;

the second post bracket defines a second cavity and the second rail support bracket comprises a second pivot arm received within the second cavity;

the third post bracket defines a third cavity and the third rail support bracket comprises a third pivot arm received within the third cavity; and

the fourth post bracket defines a fourth cavity and the fourth rail support bracket comprises a fourth pivot arm received within the fourth cavity.

5. The raking rail panel system of claim 4 , wherein:

the first rail support bracket comprises a first arcuate surface and the first pivot arm extending from the first arcuate surface;

the second rail support bracket comprises a second arcuate surface and the second pivot arm extending from the second arcuate surface;

the third rail support bracket comprises a third arcuate surface and the third pivot arm extending from the third arcuate surface; and

the fourth rail support bracket comprises a fourth arcuate surface and the fourth pivot arm extends from the fourth arcuate surface.

6. The raking rail panel system of claim 4 , wherein:

the first post bracket defines a first cavity floor of the first cavity and rotation of the first pivot arm is constrained by the first cavity floor;

the second post bracket defines a second cavity floor of the second cavity and rotation of the second pivot arm is constrained by the second cavity floor;

the third post bracket defines a third cavity floor of the third cavity and rotation of the third pivot arm is constrained by the third cavity floor; and

the fourth post bracket defines a fourth cavity floor of the fourth cavity and rotation of the fourth pivot arm is constrained by the fourth cavity floor.

7. A raking rail panel system, comprising:

a raking rail panel comprising a top rail, a bottom rail, and a plurality of balusters pivotably coupled to the top rail and the bottom rail;

a first pivotable bracket assembly configured to couple to an elevated vertical support post and to support an elevated end of the bottom rail, the first pivotable bracket assembly comprising a first cup having a first floor and two first side walls, the first floor and the two first side walls configured to envelope the elevated end of the bottom rail;

a second pivotable bracket assembly configured to couple to a descended vertical support post and to support a descended end of the bottom rail, the second pivotable bracket assembly comprising a second cup having a second floor and two second side walls, the second floor and the two second side walls configured to envelope the descended end of the bottom rail;

a third pivotable bracket assembly configured to couple to the elevated vertical support post and to support an elevated end of the top rail, the third pivotable bracket assembly comprising a third cup having a third floor and two third side walls, the third floor and the two third side walls configured to envelope the elevated end of the top rail;

a fourth pivotable bracket assembly configured to couple to the descended vertical support post and to support a descended end of the top rail, the fourth pivotable bracket assembly comprising a fourth cup having a fourth floor and two fourth side walls, the fourth floor and the two fourth side walls configured to envelope a descended end of the top rail, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth floors are exposed to facilitate dropping in the raking rail panel raked at a non-perpendicular angle; and

wherein each of the balusters are coupled to the top rail at a respective top baluster pivot axis and the third and fourth pivotable bracket assemblies each have a respective pivot axis in alignment with the top baluster pivot axes, and

each of the balusters are coupled to the bottom rail at a respective bottom baluster pivot axis and the first and second pivotable bracket assemblies each have a respective pivot axis in alignment with the bottom baluster pivot axes.

8. The raking rail panel system of claim 7 , wherein:

the first pivotable bracket assembly comprises a first gap filling portion having a first size to close a first gap;

the second pivotable bracket assembly comprising a second gap filling portion having a second size to close a second gap, the second size being larger than the first size;

the third pivotable bracket assembly comprising a third gap filling portion having the second size to close a third gap; and

the fourth pivotable bracket assembly comprising a fourth gap filling portion having the first size to close a fourth gap.

9. The raking rail panel system of claim 7 , wherein:

the first gap is between the elevated vertical support post and the elevated end of the bottom rail;

the second gap is between the descended vertical support post and the descended end of the bottom rail;

the third gap is between the elevated vertical support post and the elevated end of the top rail; and

the fourth gap is between the descended vertical support post and the descended end of the top rail.

10. The raking rail panel system of claim 7 , wherein the raking rail panel and the first, second, third, and fourth pivotable bracket assemblies are pivotable over a range of 29-40 degrees measured from horizontal.

11. The raking rail panel system of claim 7 , wherein the first size includes an extension distance from a mounting surface in a range of 1.5-2.0 inches and the second size includes an extension distance from a mounting surface in a range of 2.0-2.5 inches.

12. The raking rail panel system of claim 11 , wherein the extension distance of the first size is 1.77 inches and the extension distance of the second size is 2.28 inches.

13. The raking rail panel system of claim 7 , wherein the raking rail panel comprises iron and the first, second, third, and fourth pivotable bracket assemblies each comprises aluminum.

14. The raking rail panel system of claim 7 , wherein the raking rail panel is preassembled.

15. The raking rail panel system of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of caps each configured to cover a rail portion and a portion of respective pivotable bracket assemblies.

16. The raking rail panel system of claim 7 , wherein the non-perpendicular rake angle is in a range of 29-40 degrees with respect to horizontal.