AU2012101279A4 - An inclined railing assembly with threaded swivel connectors tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only. - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract This embodiment is an inclined railing assembly that includes at least two support members. At least one tie is fast and spans the support members. A right-hand threaded connector is fast with one end of the tie. A left-hand threaded connector is fast with the opposite end of the tie. A right-hand internal threaded fastener is perpendicular on one of the posts and a left-hand internal threaded fastener is perpendicular on an adjacent post. A left-hand swivel connector enables threaded engagement with the left-hand threaded connector and the left-hand threaded fastener. The left-hand swivel connector inclines one end of the tie. A right-hand swivel connector enables threaded engagement with the right-hand threaded connector and the right-hand threaded fastener. The right-hand swivel connector inclines the opposite end of the tie. The inclined tie is tensioned using only the tie as the tensioning mechanism. (N N (N N (N lcq cq cc -7 co - cq CV IV IV CV IV (IV ((V u u Li iS. CY) co Cv cl cl a,

Description

Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: AN INCLINED RAILING ASSEMBLY WITH THREADED SWIVEL CONNECTORS TENSIONED BY ROTATION OF THE TIE ASSEMBLY ONLY. Applicant: AUSTYIEH STAINLESS PTY LTD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing the invention known to me. Page 1 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 TITLE OF THE INVENTION An inclined railing assembly with threaded swivel connectors tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a swivel connector to incline a tie assembly and tension it by the rotation of the tie assembly only whilst the tie assembly is inclined to the railing assembly posts. The present invention also relates to a method for forming balustrades and a balustrade kit for staircases and inclined rails. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Railing assemblies for staircases, slopes and balconies, also called balustrades, are an important safety barrier. Not only are they required to be structurally sound, durable and comply with Building Code Regulations, they must also be pleasing in appearance. One popular form of rail is that defined by a series of tensioned steel cables extending between posts at the top and bottom of stairs or slopes. For the purposes of durability and appearance, such cables are generally made of stainless steel. A certain level of tension must be maintained in the cables if the rails are to function correctly and meet Building Code Regulations. Constructing the balustrades with tensioned wires will typically require the drilling of a series of evenly spaced holes through stainless tube, attaching a threaded connector to each wire and tensioning the wire with tensioning mechanisms located inside the posts or between the posts and the railing assembly. However, these mechanisms are difficult to apply to inclined balustrades, such as stairs. The invention allows for the fasteners to be inserted perpendicular to the inward face of an anchor post. This is much easier than drilling at an inclined angle. Left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors are threaded into left-hand and right-hand fasteners attached perpendicular to the inward face of support/fixing posts. The invention also allows the swivel connectors and tie assemblies that contain threaded ends to be tensioned using only the tie assembly as the tensioning system. The invention allows for a wider range of anchor points to be used, many of which cannot be fitted at an inclined angle to an anchor post. Many balustrade systems only allow the tie to be tensioned from one end and/or cannot be used where handrails change direction. The invention allows the tie to be inclined and tensioned from both ends by rotation of the tie assembly only and used where balustrades change direction. Some balustrade systems do not permit the tie to be removed once it is fitted to a hollow tube. The left-hand and right-hand threaded connectors fast with each end of the tie are wholly contained WITHIN the boundaries of the two support/fixing members and permit the inclined tie to be threaded onto or off left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors by rotating the tie only. Page 2 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION a left-hand swivel connector to tension and incline a tie by rotation of the tie assembly only, and threaded engagement with a left-hand threaded connector and a left-hand fastener perpendicular to the inward face of a support member; a right-hand swivel connector to tension and incline the opposite end of a tie by rotation of the tie assembly only, and threaded engagement with a right-hand threaded connector and a right hand fastener perpendicular to the inward face of an adjacent support member; a tie assembly consisting of a left-hand and right-hand threaded connector fast with each end of the tie wholly contained WITHIN the boundaries of the two support/fixing members that can be tensioned by rotating the tie assembly only; and left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors threaded into left-hand and right-hand fasteners perpendicular to the inward face of the anchor post. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an inclined railing assembly that includes at least two support members; a tie fast with and spanning the support members, tensioned by rotating the tie assembly only; a right-hand connector fast with one end of the tie for threaded engagement with a right-hand swivel connector; a left-hand connector fast with an opposite end of the tie for threaded engagement with a left hand swivel connector; a right-hand fastener perpendicular to the inward face of one of the posts for threaded engagement with a right-hand swivel connector; a left-hand fastener perpendicular to the inward face of an adjacent post for threaded engagement with a left-hand swivel connector; a left-hand swivel connector to incline the tie; and a right-hand swivel connector to incline the opposite end of the tie. Page 3 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 The threaded engagement of the tie assembly with the left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors results in either loosening or tightening the tension in the tie. The swivel allows the angle of the tie to be varied, depending on the slope of the stairs or incline. Existing tensioning mechanisms are either too bulky, do not readily allow the angle of the steel cable to be inclined on the inside edges of both ends of the rail assembly or are not sufficiently strong to provide the necessary tension in a tie. Hence they are not suitable for use where the rail assembly slopes, such as handrails for staircases or sloping walkways made from stainless steel tube. The present invention seeks to address this problem by using right-hand and left-hand swivel connectors attached to right hand and left-hand internally threaded fasteners at each end of a sloping railing assembly to incline the tie at the correct angle. In particular, the invention provides a means whereby the tie is tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only and it is not necessary to drill holes at an inclined angle through support members and tension the steel cable using tensioners located external to the outer sides of the support members. The swivel connectors can simply be threaded into fasteners inserted perpendicular to the inward face of the support members. Holes only need to be drilled in the inside face of a post or tube. This results in an aesthetically pleasing structure and, unlike systems that are tensioned externally, this assembly can be used where handrails change direction. The invention differs from toggle or similar fittings in that toggle fittings rely on the attachment point being predominantly inside the anchor post. The tie used with a toggle fitting is also partially held INSIDE the support/fixing post. The swivel connector is external to the anchor post and holds the wire EXTERNAL to the support/fixing posts. Toggle fittings attach the tie permanently to the anchor post and the toggle offers no means to tension the tie. The toggle fitting tie must be tensioned using another type of tensioning device on the other end of the tie. In an embodiment the right-hand and left-hand swivel connectors are made from stainless steel, however, in other embodiments the swivel connectors could be made from other materials or a combination of stainless steel and other materials. The swivel connector consists of an internally threaded cylinder with a hollow spherical end and an externally threaded rod with a sphere on one end. The sphere is secured inside the hollow spherical end of the internally threaded cylinder. In another embodiment, the sphere also comprises a retainer for retaining the sphere inside the hollow spherical end of the swivel connector. In another embodiment, a segmented connector permits a portion to be screwed perpendicularly into the face of a post and the other portion to incline whilst internally holding a tie. The right-hand and left-hand swivel connectors could be used in other applications where tensioning of a wire or rod on an incline is required and the invention covers all such applications. Page 4 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 The swivel connectors can be supplied separate from the fasteners, swage connectors, wire and support members, either for upgrading purposes or in the after-sales sector. Accordingly, a second aspect of the invention provides a tie assembly for an inclined railing assembly that includes at least two support members, a left-hand fastener and a tie fast to a left-hand threaded connector on one of the support members and a right-hand fastener and a tie fast to a right-hand threaded connector on an adjacent support member, the inclined tensioning assembly including a tie; a right-hand swivel connector to incline the tie and tension the tie by rotation of the tie assembly only, and for threaded engagement with the right-hand fastener and the right-hand threaded connector; a left-hand swivel connector to incline the tie and tension the tie by rotation of the tie assembly only, and for threaded engagement with the left-hand fastener and left-hand threaded connector. According to the third aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for a railing assembly, the kit including a tie; a right-hand threaded connector fast with one end of the tie, a right-hand fastener perpendicular to the inward face of one of the support members of the inclined railing assembly, a right-hand swivel connector to incline the tie and tension the tie by rotation of the tie assembly only, and threaded engagement with the right-hand threaded connector and the right hand fastener; and a left-hand threaded connector fast with an opposite end of the tie, a left-hand fastener perpendicular to the inward face of an adjacent support member of the inclined railing assembly, a left-hand swivel connector to incline the tie and tension the tie by rotation of the tie assembly only, and threaded engagement with the left-hand threaded connector and the left-hand fastener. The left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors may form part of the tie assembly or may be provided with left-hand and right-hand threaded connectors, fasteners and the support members. The support members may be hollow or solid. The swivel connectors may then be secured to fasteners which have only a small portion of the fastener visible outside the support member. Where the support members are hollow, the fasteners may be in the form of left-handed and right-handed rivet nuts so that access to a void within the support members is not required. Where the support members are solid timber, the fasteners may be in the form of left-handed and right-handed threaded timber inserts. Page 5 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 Where the support members are masonry or concrete, the fasteners may be in the form of left-handed and right-handed drop-in anchors. The swivel connectors may be dimensioned so that a threaded portion of the threaded connector fast with one end of a tie extends out of the internal thread. Threaded lock nuts may be engaged with respective threaded portions to maintain tension in the wire cable. The tie may be a cable or a rod. The left-hand and right-hand threaded connectors may be threaded studs swaged onto respective ends of the tie to engage the left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors, respectively. The invention extends to a method of assembling inclined ties to a railing assembly having at least two support members, at least one tie fast with and spanning the support members, a right-hand threaded connector fast with one end of the tie, a left-hand threaded connector fast with an opposite end of the tie, a right-hand swivel connector to incline the tie and tension the tie by rotation of the tie assembly only, a left-hand swivel connector to incline the tie and tension the tie by rotation of the tie assembly only, a right-hand fastener fast perpendicular to the inward face of one of the support members for threaded engagement with the right-hand threaded swivel connector and a left-hand fastener fast perpendicular to the inward face of an adjacent support member for threaded engagement with the left-hand threaded swivel connector, the method including the steps of: positioning the support members. The support members should be firmly positioned with the base of the post unable to rotate or incline when ties or similar are inserted as infill. Likewise, it is recommended that the support posts be separated by a handrail or similar to prevent any deflection of the posts once ties or similar are inserted as infill; fixing right-hand and left-hand fasteners to the support members. Support members are drilled at pre-determined distances perpendicular to the inward face of adjacent support posts to accommodate the left-hand and right-hand fasteners that serve as anchor points. The left-hand and right-hand fasteners such as, but not limited to, blind rivet nut inserts, countersunk timber inserts, tapped holes and masonry anchors, are inserted into adjacent support posts; attaching right-hand and left-hand swivel connectors to the right-hand and left-hand fasteners, respectively; measuring and cutting the ties to the correct length. The ties are cut after measuring the distance between the correctly positioned left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors and deducting sufficient length to allow for the left-hand and right-hand threaded terminal swages; swaging a right-hand and left-hand threaded connector onto opposite ends of the tie to create a tie assembly with left-hand and right-hand ends; Page 6 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 threading the left-hand end of the tie assembly into the left-hand swivel connector and the right-hand end of the tie assembly into the right-hand swivel connector; rotating the tie assembly to tension the tie and incline the tie to the desired angle; and engaging threaded lock nuts with respective threaded portions to maintain tension in the tie. The support members may either be operatively vertical posts or operatively horizontal structural members, such as a top rail and a bottom rail. It is envisaged that the swivel connectors can be orientated so that the ties extend at any desired angle. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description of the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the preceding paragraphs or the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PHOTOS Figure 1 shows a plan and elevation of the swivel connector for connecting, tensioning and inclining a balustrade wire, in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 shows an elevation of an embodiment of the inclined railing assembly, in accordance with the invention, incorporating the swivel connector of Figure 1. Figures 3-6 are sequential views of the method by which the swivel connector is used to form, tension and incline a balustrade wire in the railing assembly. Figure 3: Drilling holes and inserting left-hand and right-hand fasteners to inward faces of adjacent staircase posts; Figure 4: Using a flat to tighten left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors into the left-hand and right-hand fasteners, respectively; Figure 5: Creating a tie assembly by measuring and swaging opposite ends of a tie to a left-hand and right-hand threaded terminal; Figure 6: Inclining the tie using left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors; tensioning the tie by threading left-hand and right-hand threaded terminals into the left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors and rotating the tie; securing the tensioned tie with lock nuts. Figure 7 shows an alternative swivel connector in accordance with the invention. Photo 1 shows a sample of the swivel connector made from stainless steel. Photo 2 shows the swivel connector tensioning and inclining a tie in a railing assembly made from hollow metal tube, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Page 7 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 Photo 3 shows the swivel connector tensioning and inclining a tie in a railing assembly made from timber posts, according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows the components of the swivel connector in accordance with the invention. One part consists of either a left-hand or right-hand internally threaded cylinder 1.1, open at one end to accept a left or right-hand threaded terminal and a hollow sphere 1.2 at the opposite end of the tubular body. Another part consists of either a left-hand or right-hand threaded rod 1.4 for threaded attachment to the fastener with a solid sphere 1.3 on the opposite end of the rod. When the swivel connector is assembled the solid sphere 1.3 is firmly secured inside the hollow sphere 1.2. A flat 1.5 on the rod secures the threaded end to the fastener. The inclined railing assembly, Figure 2, includes: a pair of support members in the form of posts 2.1; right-hand 2.2 or left-hand fasteners 2.3 fitted perpendicular to the inwardly facing walls of adjacent support members; a tie assembly comprising a wire cable 2.4 with a left-hand 2.5 and right-hand 2.6 threaded terminal fastened to each end; and left-hand 2.7 and right-hand 2.8 swivel connectors threaded onto the tie assembly. Each of the studs 2.5, 2.6 is sufficiently long to permit left-hand 2.9 and right-hand 2.10 locking nuts to secure the tie assembly. It will be readily appreciated that the support members can also be in the form of top and bottom rails, so that ties can incline from the top to the bottom rail. Furthermore, the support members can be any suitable structural elements positioned to achieve a desired orientation of ties to the assembly. The tie 2.4 is a stainless steel cable but, in another embodiment, it could be a rod. Most staircase railings have more than two posts or support members. In this embodiment, only two posts are described for the sake of convenience. It should be understood that the invention is intended to cover any number of posts or support members. Each post 2.1 could be a hollow metal tube; a solid metal, timber or masonry post; a timber or masonry wall; or other suitable material, depending on the application. The fasteners 2.2, 2.3 and ties 2.4 can be sourced from a variety of suppliers. It will be appreciated that tie assembly will require holes to be drilled perpendicular to the posts so that the fasteners can be secured in the posts. In some embodiments, the fasteners could be pre-installed in the posts and taken to the site for assembly. Figures 3 to 6 show the steps to install a railing assembly using the invention. Figure 3 shows the support members 2.1 firmly positioned with the base of each post unable to rotate or incline when ties or similar are inserted as infill. The posts can be separated by a hand rail or similar to prevent any deflection of the posts once ties or similar are inserted as infill. Page 8 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 The inwardly facing walls of adjacent support members 3.1 are drilled at pre-determined distances to accommodate either left-hand or right-hand fasteners that serve as anchor points on opposite posts. The left-hand and right-hand fasteners such as, but not limited to, blind rivet nut inserts 3.2, countersunk timber inserts 3.3, tapped holes 3.4 and masonry anchors, are secured perpendicular to and inside the inwardly facing walls of the adjacent support posts 3.1. Figure 4 shows how the swivel connectors 2.7 are threaded into the fasteners 2.2 and secured using a flat 1.5. The tie assembly is made by cutting a tie 2.4 equal to the distance between the internal threaded ends of the left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors, less a suitable distance to allow for the length of the threaded terminals and hydraulically swaging a threaded terminal 2.5 onto each end of the tie Figure 5. Figure 6 shows the tie assembly 6.1 tensioned by threading the left-hand end of the tie assembly 6.2 into the left-hand swivel connector 2.7 and the right-hand end of the tie assembly 6.3 into the right hand swivel connector 2.8 and rotating the tie assembly only. The tie assembly is contained wholly WITHIN the boundaries of the two support/fixing members. The left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors 2.7, 2.8 incline the tie to the desired angle. Usually the tie assembly 6.1 is required to be tensioned to a significant extent. It will be appreciated that the design of the swivel connectors 2.6, 2.8 enhances the integrity of the connecting assembly. Finally, threaded lock nuts 2.9, 2.10 are used to secure the left-hand and right-hand ends of the tie assembly and to maintain tension in the tie. In contrast to present systems for fitting ties to inclined balustrades, such as stairs, the steps described above are simple and involve relatively little time. Benefits of the invention include, but are not limited to: The fasteners being inserted perpendicular to the inward face of an anchor post which is much easier than drilling at an inclined angle; The swivel connectors and tie assemblies that contain threaded ends being tensioned using only the tie assembly as the tensioning system; Using a wider range of anchor points, many of which cannot be fitted at an inclined angle to an anchor post; Being used where balustrades change direction; Allowing the tie assembly to be easily removed and replaced after it is fitted. Photo 1 shows components of a swivel connector P1 made from stainless steel. The internally threaded cylinder P1.1 with a hollow sphere P1.2 is at the opposite end of the tubular body. A solid sphere P1.3 is Page 9 Aust Yieh Stainless 2012 secured firmly to a threaded rod P1.4 for threaded attachment to a fastener. A flat P1.5 on the rod secures the threaded end to the fastener. Photo 2 shows one end of a tie assembly attached to a tubular post with a swivel connector and a fastener in the form of a right-hand rivet nut. The fastener is secured perpendicular to the inward face of a tubular post so that a major portion of the rivet nut is positioned in the associated post. The swivel connector is secured to the fastener using the flat. The tubular post may be round, square, rectangular or any other cross-section. In another embodiment, Photo 3, a fastener, in the form of a threaded timber insert, is secured perpendicular to the inward face of a timber post so that a major portion of the threaded insert is positioned in the associated post. The swivel connector is secured to the fastener using the flat. It is to be understood that Photo 2 and Photo 3 show just one end of a tie assembly for convenience. In use, each tie assembly has two ends and a number of tie assemblies will be required to form an inclined railing assembly. The swivel connectors may form part of a balustrade kit. Such a kit may consist of at least two posts, a plurality of wires for extending between the posts, left-hand and right-hand swage connectors, left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors and left-hand and right-hand fasteners. It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without precluding the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. The invention is capable of being practiced with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Page 10

Claims (6)

1. A inclined railing assembly that includes: at least two support members; at least one tie fast with and spanning the support members; a right hand threaded connector fast with one end of the tie for threaded engagement with the right-hand swivel connector; a left-hand threaded connector fast with an opposite end of the tie for threaded engagement with the left-hand swivel connector; a right-hand fastener perpendicular on one of the posts for threaded engagement with a right-hand swivel connector; a left-hand fastener perpendicular on an adjacent post for threaded engagement with a left hand swivel connector; a left-hand swivel connector to incline the threaded tie assembly; a right-hand swivel connector to incline the opposite end of the threaded tie assembly, and the inclined tie tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only.

2. A tie assembly for an inclined railing assembly that includes at least two support members; a left-hand fastener perpendicular on one of the support members, a right-hand fastener perpendicular on an adjacent support member, a right-hand threaded connector fast with one end of the tie, a left-hand threaded connector fast with an opposite end of the tie, a tie tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only, the tie assembly including: an inclined tie tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only; a left-hand swivel connector that contains threaded ends only to incline the tie assembly; and a right-hand swivel connector that contains threaded ends only to incline the opposite end of the tie.

3. A kit for railing assembling, the kit including: An inclined tie tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only; a right-hand threaded connector fast with one end of the tie for threaded engagement with a right-hand swivel connector; a right-hand fastener perpendicular to the inward face of a support member of the railing assembly for threaded engagement with a right-hand swivel connector; a right-hand swivel connector to incline the tie assembly; a left-hand threaded connector fast with one end of the tie for threaded engagement with a left-hand swivel connector; a left-hand fastener perpendicular to the inward face of a support member of the railing assembly for threaded engagement with a left-hand swivel connector; and a left-hand swivel connector to incline the opposite end of the tie. Aust Yieh Stainless 12012

4. Left-hand and right-hand swivel connectors, substantially as described herein, with reference to the drawings.

5. An inclined railing assembly, tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only, substantially as described herein, with reference to the drawings.

6. An inclined tie assembly, tensioned by rotation of the tie assembly only, substantially as described herein, with reference to the drawings.