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  Apparatus and method for assembling a balustrade systemUSPTO Application #: 20070102690Title: Apparatus and method for assembling a balustrade system Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling ad balustrade system. The balustrade system comprising one or more primary members. One or more toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal rings are secured to the primary member. One or more socket fittings are secured to one toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring. Each socket fitting defines a socket bore. A secondary member is secured within the socket bore. (end of abstract) Agent: D'ambrosio & Associates, P.l.l.c. - Houston, TX, US Inventor: Anthony Kastropil USPTO Applicaton #: 20070102690 - Class: 256065010 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Fences, Rail, Connection The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070102690. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to construction systems for the provision of railings, fencing, balustrading or the like. In particular the invention relates to construction systems which are pre-fabricated and installed on-site. BACKGROUND [0002] In the provision of railings, fencing, balustrading or the like, it is common for more or less horizontal railing members to be welded to stanchion members on-site, with the welded parts subsequently being ground smooth and polished. Welded assembly is the most common construction method where components are made from stainless steel, as is the case in many architectural applications. Hand welding of stainless steel is a skilled process which adds to the installed cost of railings or balustradings and frequently results in unsightly local heat distortion of welded components. Lower cost construction systems in which structural components are simply bolted or clamped together are well known in the art, but these are frequently aesthetically unattractive. As a result, they are unsuited for many architectural applications. [0003] Where railing and balustrading construction systems incorporate aesthetically attractive joining means, these usually involve the employment of specially manufactured, expensive components. In some examples, generally cylindrical joint members are employed to join stanchion and rail members. The joint members are complex in shape, clearly expensive to manufacture, are somewhat limited in the structural arrangements which they permit and, from an aesthetic standpoint, appear somewhat mechanical. [0004] In other examples, specially manufactured, shanked fittings are permanently fixed to stanchions with suitable fastenings and the ends of rail members are slipped over the shanks of the fittings. The internal and external diameters, respectively, of the rail members and shanks are such as to provide a neat sliding fit and the ends of the rail members are retained in place on the shanks by the wedging action of O-rings accommodated in suitably shaped, tapered grooves in the shanks. While this arrangement provides some ease of assembly, in some applications, long-term hardening and deterioration of the O-rings as a result of temperature extremes may be expected with a possible loss of structural integrity. Additionally, where they are required, intermediate vertical rails between upper and lower horizontal rails are still required to be welded into place. The arrangement thus does not properly fill the need for a relatively low cost, easily assembled, permanent structure. [0005] Consequently, there is a need for a cost-effective balustrade system which allows on-site assembly without the need for welding. SUMMARY [0006] The present invention is a balustrade system which allows on-site assembly without welding and a method for assembling the balustrade system. [0007] In one embodiment, the balustrade system comprises one or more primary members. One or more toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal rings are secured to the primary member. One or more socket fittings are secured to one toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring. Each socket fitting defines a socket bore. A secondary member is secured within the socket bore. [0008] In one embodiment of an apparatus for connecting the primary and secondary members of the balustrade system, the apparatus comprising a toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring. The toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring is adapted to be positioned on the primary member. The apparatus also comprises one or more socket fittings adapted to receive a secondary member and a means for engaging the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring with the socket fitting. [0009] In one embodiment of a method for assembling the balustrade, the method comprises positioning a toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring onto a primary member and securing the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring to the primary member. The method also comprises securing a socket fitting to the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring and securing a secondary member within a socket bore defined by the socket member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a view of a nodal assembly fixed at an intermediate position on a stanchion member; [0011] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a nodal assembly and cap fitting fixed at the top of a stanchion member; [0012] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of alternative means of fixing a toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring to a stanchion member; [0013] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring depicted at FIG. 3 fixed to a stanchion member using alternative means; [0014] FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the arrangement depicted at FIG. 4; [0015] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of further alternative means of fixing a toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal ring to a stanchion member; [0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of panel members supported between adjacent stanchion members; [0017] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of further alternative means of fixing stanchion members to a supporting surface; [0018] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of means of fixing stanchion members to a supporting surface; [0019] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of alternative means of fixing stanchion members to a supporting surface; [0020] FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of alternative means of fixing socket fittings to toroido-cylindrical shaped nodal rings; Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatus and method for assembling a balustrade system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and method for assembling a balustrade system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus and method for assembling a balustrade system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Cable barrier guardrail system with steel yielding support posts Next Patent Application: Silver-selenide/chalcogenide glass stack for resistance variable memory Industry Class: Fences ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus and method for assembling a balustrade system patent info. 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