Railing Systems Including Rail Assemblies With Integral Baluster Retention Members and Inserts

1 . A rail assembly configured to receive balusters, the rail assembly comprising:

an inner rail;

an outer rail configured for connection to the inner rail; and

an insert positioned within and directly supported by the outer rail such that, upon assembly of the rail assembly and insertion of the balusters, the insert is positioned laterally between the inner rail and the balusters.

2 . The rail assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner rail includes first retention members, and the insert includes second retention members configured for engagement with the first retention members.

3 . The rail assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first retention members are formed integrally with the inner rail.

4 . The rail assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second retention members are formed integrally with the insert.

5 . The rail assembly of claim 2 , wherein the outer rail includes deflectors configured for engagement with the first retention members such that, upon connection of the outer rail and the inner rail, the deflectors deflect the first retention members into engagement with the second retention members and thereby deflect the second retention members into engagement with the balusters.

6 . The rail assembly of claim 2 , wherein the insert further includes:

a backspan connecting the second retention members such that the second retention members extend from the backspan in a first direction; and

a foot extending from the backspan in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction.

7 . The rail assembly of claim 6 , wherein the foot includes a generally T-shaped cross-sectional configuration.

8 . The rail assembly of claim 6 , wherein the outer rail includes:

an outer wall;

sidewalls extending from the outer wall; and

a crossbeam extending between the sidewalls.

9 . The rail assembly of claim 8 , wherein the crossbeam includes a channel configured to receive the insert.

10 . The rail assembly of claim 9 , wherein the foot extends into the channel.

11 . A rail assembly configured to receive balusters, the rail assembly comprising:

an inner rail;

an outer rail configured for connection to the inner rail; and

an insert positioned within the outer rail, wherein the insert is configured to receive the balusters such that that balusters extend inwardly into the insert.

12 . The rail assembly of claim 11 , wherein the insert includes:

a body; and

a foot extending from the body, wherein the foot is configured for insertion into the outer rail.

13 . The rail assembly of claim 12 , wherein the body includes a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining a chamber configured to receive the balusters.

14 . The rail assembly of claim 12 , wherein the body includes:

a backspan; and

retention members extending from the backspan, wherein the retention members and the foot extend from the backspan in generally opposite directions.

15 . The rail assembly of claim 14 , wherein the retention members include:

first segments connected to the backspan;

second segments extending from the first segments, wherein the second segments are arcuate in configuration; and

third segments extending from the second segments.

16 . The rail assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second segments include a curvature extending laterally inward.

17 . The rail assembly of claim 16 , wherein the third segments extend laterally inward from the second segments.

18 . A method of assembling a rail assembly, the method comprising:

slidably inserting an insert into a channel of an outer rail;

approximating the outer rail and an inner rail; and

deflecting the inner rail to compress the insert into balusters extending through the inner rail.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further including:

positioning the insert laterally between the inner rail and the balusters.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further including:

locking the rail assembly together via engagement of locking surfaces on the inner rail and the outer rail.