IP Library Granted Patent US 12,123,215
Granted Patent B2
US 12,123,215 · App. 17/139,658 · Granted Oct 22, 2024

Vertical cable rail barrier

Inventors: Kevin T. Burt (Dallas, TX); Matthew Carlyle Sherstad (Dallas, TX)
Assignee: Fortress Iron, LP
E04H17/1417E04F11/1859E04H17/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,123,215
App. No.
17/139,658
Granted
Oct 22, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A barrier panel is formed of a first rail member and a second rail member with at least one vertical support member mounted to and extending between the first rail member and second rail member. The first rail member includes first openings spaced apart along its length. The second rail member includes second openings spaced apart along its length. Vertical cables are mounted to and extend between the first rail member and second rail member. A first end of each vertical cable is secured within one of the first openings and a second end of each vertical cable is secured within an opposite one of the second openings. End members configured to adjust tension in the vertical cables are concealed by a pair of leg members of the second rail member.

Claims (52)

1. A vertical cable rail panel, comprising:

a top rail comprising a cap member coupled to a top web member, the top web member defining a plurality of top through holes spaced apart along the top web member and the top rail having a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end;

a bottom rail defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, the bottom rail comprising a bottom web portion and a pair of bottom leg portions, the bottom web portion and the pair of bottom leg portions forming a channel, the bottom web portion defining a plurality of bottom through holes spaced apart along the bottom web portion and aligned with the plurality of top through holes;

an internal member disposed within the channel and defining a bearing surface spaced apart from the bottom web portion and further defining a bottom opening having at least one flat side, the internal member being secured to inner surfaces of the channel;

a rigid support member vertically extending between the top rail and the bottom rail and disposed between the first end of the top rail and the second end of the top rail;

a vertical cable comprising a cable member, a top hollow tubular member, and a bottom hollow tubular member, the vertical cable disposed adjacent the rigid support member and having a top end and a bottom end disposed opposite the top end, the top end of the vertical cable extending through one of the plurality of top through holes, and the bottom end of the vertical cable extending through the bottom opening and extending through one of the plurality of bottom through holes disposed in vertical alignment with the one top through hole;

wherein the top hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member and at least a portion of the top hollow tubular member being larger in size than the one top through hole such that the vertical cable is maintained through the one top through hole;

wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member;

a nut coupled to the bottom hollow tubular member, the nut being larger in size than the bottom opening, wherein adjusting the nut adjusts a tension in the vertical cable, a bearing surface of the nut contacting the bearing surface of the internal member; and

wherein each of the first and second ends of the top rail and the bottom rail are configured to be received by respective brackets.

2. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a threaded member, the threaded member being sized to fit through the bottom opening, the bottom hollow tubular member having a flat surface, the nut in threaded engagement with the threaded member.

3. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a threaded swage fitting, the threaded swage fitting including a threaded member, the threaded member being sized to fit through the bottom opening, the threaded swage fitting having a flat surface, the nut in threaded engagement with the threaded member.

4. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a bottom cable fitting further comprising a shank member, the shank member having a square outer shape and each of the plurality of bottom through holes is square shaped.

5. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a bottom cable fitting further comprising a shank member, the shank member being integral with a threaded member.

6. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein at least one end of the rigid support member includes a threaded opening, and further including a threaded connector configured to engage with the threaded opening and mount the at least one end of the rigid support member to either the top rail or the bottom rail.

7. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the top hollow tubular member extends through the one top through hole and the bottom hollow tubular member extends through the one bottom through hole.

8. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the internal member comprises a U-shaped channel member.

9. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the top rail comprises a U-shaped channel member.

10. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the internal member is welded to the inner surfaces of the channel.

11. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the internal member includes an internal web member and a pair of opposed internal leg members extending from the internal web member.

12. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the top hollow tubular member is a portion of a top cable fitting further comprising a ball larger in size than the one top through hole.

13. The vertical cable rail panel of claim 1 wherein the internal member comprises an angled tab.

14. A method of forming a barrier, comprising:

positioning a first post spaced apart from a second post and a third post spaced apart from the second post;

supporting a first vertical cable panel with the first and second posts;

supporting a second vertical cable panel with the second and third posts;

wherein each of the first and second vertical cable panels, comprises:

a top rail comprising a top web member defining a plurality of top through holes spaced apart along the top web member and the top rail having a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end;

a bottom rail defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, the bottom rail comprising a bottom web portion and a pair of bottom leg portions, the bottom web portion and the pair of bottom leg portions forming a channel, the bottom web portion defining a plurality of bottom through holes spaced apart along the bottom web portion and aligned with the plurality of top through holes;

an internal member disposed within the channel and defining a bearing surface spaced apart from the bottom web portion and further defining a bottom opening having at least one flat side, the internal member being secured to inner surfaces of the channel;

a rigid support member vertically extending between the top rail and the bottom rail and disposed between the first end of the top rail and the second end of the top rail;

a vertical cable comprising a cable member, a top hollow tubular member, and a bottom hollow tubular member, the vertical cable disposed adjacent the rigid support member and having a top end and a bottom end disposed opposite the top end, the top end of the vertical cable extending through one of the plurality of top through holes, and the bottom end of the vertical cable extending through the bottom opening and extending through one of the plurality of bottom through holes disposed in vertical alignment with the one top through hole;

wherein the top hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member and at least a portion of the top hollow tubular member being larger in size than the one top through hole such that the vertical cable is maintained through the one top through hole;

wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member;

a nut coupled to the bottom hollow tubular member, the nut being larger in size than the bottom opening, wherein adjusting the nut adjusts a tension in the vertical cable, a bearing surface of the nut contacting the bearing surface of the internal member; and

wherein each of the first and second ends of the top rail and the bottom rail are configured to be received by respective brackets.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the top rail further comprises a cap member coupled to the top web member.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a threaded member, the threaded member being sized to fit through the bottom opening, the bottom hollow tubular member having a flat surface, the nut in threaded engagement with the threaded member.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a threaded swage fitting, the threaded swage fitting including a threaded member, the threaded member being sized to fit through the bottom opening, the threaded swage fitting having a flat surface, the nut in threaded engagement with the threaded member.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a bottom cable fitting further comprising a shank member, the shank member having a square outer shape and each of the plurality of bottom through holes is square shaped.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a bottom cable fitting further comprising a shank member, the shank member being integral with a threaded member.

20. A vertical cable rail panel, comprising:

a top rail comprising a top web member defining a plurality of top through holes spaced apart along the top web member and the top rail having a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end;

a bottom rail defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, the bottom rail comprising a bottom web portion and a pair of bottom leg portions, the bottom web portion and the pair of bottom leg portions forming a channel, the bottom web portion defining a plurality of bottom through holes spaced apart along the bottom web portion and aligned with the plurality of top through holes;

an internal member disposed within the channel and defining a bearing surface spaced apart from the bottom web portion and further defining a bottom opening having at least one flat side, the internal member being secured to inner surfaces of the channel;

a rigid support member vertically extending between the top rail and the bottom rail and disposed between the first end of the top rail and the second end of the top rail;

a vertical cable comprising a cable member, a top hollow tubular member, and a bottom hollow tubular member, the vertical cable disposed adjacent the rigid support member and having a top end and a bottom end disposed opposite the top end, the top end of the vertical cable extending through one of the plurality of top through holes, and the bottom end of the vertical cable extending through the bottom opening and extending through one of the plurality of bottom through holes disposed in vertical alignment with the one top through hole;

wherein the top hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member and at least a portion of the top hollow tubular member being larger in size than the one top through hole such that the vertical cable is maintained through the one top through hole;

wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member;

a nut coupled to the bottom hollow tubular member, the nut being larger in size than the bottom opening, wherein adjusting the nut adjusts a tension in the vertical cable, a bearing surface of the nut contacting the bearing surface of the internal member;

wherein each of the first and second ends of the top rail and the bottom rail are configured to be received by respective brackets; and

wherein the top rail, the bottom rail, the rigid support member, and the vertical cable are assembled into a panel before delivery to a job site.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: FORTRESS IRON, LP
To: FORTRESS IRON ACQUISITION CO, LLC
Reel/Frame 073579/0021 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: FORTRESS IRON ACQUISITION CO, LLC
To: FORTIFIED IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 073579/0161 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2023
From: LIN, SHIH-TE
To: FORTRESS IRON, LP
Reel/Frame 062823/0193 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2023
From: QUAN ZHOU YODDEX BUILDING MATERIAL CO., LTD.
To: FORTRESS IRON, LP
Reel/Frame 062823/0287 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: SHERSTAD, MATTHEW CARLYLE; BURT, KEVIN T.
To: FORTRESS IRON, LP
Reel/Frame 054788/0342 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15689502 · Aug 29, 2017
Continuation 14684810 · Apr 13, 2015
Provisional Application 61979055 · Apr 14, 2014
Related Publication 20210123263A1 · Apr 29, 2021