GB2117477A - Joint between rail and bar - Google Patents

Abstract

A jointing system between a hollow rail 1 and a bar 7, the rail having an aperture 12 for receiving an end of the bar, oppositely disposed formations 5 within the rail facing one another and separated by a distance slightly less than a lateral dimension of the bar end so that the external surface of the bar end and/or the formation is/are distorted upon passage of the bar and through the aperture and between the formations and means 8 for locating the bar and relative to the rail after passage of the bar end between the formations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Railjoint This invention relates to a jointing system which is particulariy but not exclusively applicable to the bars and rails of railing orfencing.

Many railing systems comprise spaced apartvertical posts separated by panels having upper and lower rails joined by spaced apart, parallel bars. The rails may for example be hollow metallic extrusions and the bars may be tubular.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved jointing system which may be used to connect together the rails and bars of a railing or fencing panel.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a jointing system between a hollow rail and a bar, the rail having an aperture for receiving an end of the bar, oppositely disposed formations within the rail facing one another and separated by a distance slightly less than a lateral dimension of the bar end so that the external surface of the bar end and/or the formation is/are distorted upon passage of the bar end through the aperture and between the formations and means for locating the bar end relative to the rail after passage of the bar end between the formations.

The rail may be of box section having a base of generally inverted -U- formation, the ends of the arms thereof having inward projections constituting said formations and being shaped to receive, as a clip or slide fit, a cover plate to be formed with said aperture and the locating means being a pair of spaced apart ridges on the inner surface of the web of the base.

The above and other aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the single Figure of the accompanying drawing which shows, in section the manner in which a bar end may be secured within a hollow rail.

Referring to the drawing a rail 1 comprises a cap 2 having flat side walls 3 and a flat web 4. The cap may be extruded from an aluminium alloy and the outer ends of the side walls have formations 5 projecting inwardly therefrom. These formations are initially formed with inward projections one of which is shown at 6; the distance between opposed ridges being less than the lateral dimension D of a bar 7 to be engaged therein. A pair of inwardly directed symmetrically disposed, ridges 8 are provided on the web 4 and spaced apart to embrace the end of the bar 7.

A cover plate 9 also extruded from aluminium has end formations 10 to engage over the formations 5 as a slide or clip fit and a flat web 11, the latter is initially formed without an aperture so that the rail 1 is a closed box section. It will also be apparent that the bar 7 may conveniently be a rectangular section tube.

To assembly the rail and bar the web 11 is pierced to provide an aperture 12 for receiving the bar 7 with slight clearance and it will be understood that where the bar is to be at an angle to the rail other than a right angle then the aperture 12 needs to be elongated.

The end of the bar 7 is forced between the formations 5 until it is lodged between the ridges 8.

During this process the plate 9 prevents any springing apart of the side walls 3 so that the formations 6 bite into the outer surface of the bar 7 and ensure that the latter is jammed tightly within the rail 1.

If desired the bar may be provided with a simple locking means positively to prevent its withdrawal from the rail. For this purpose a spring clip 13 (only part of which is shown) has a web 14 resting against the inner surface of the web 4 and a lower end 15 extending through an aperture 17 in the bar wall.

The end 15 has an upper inclined part 18 and a lower flat part 19. It will be understood that the clip 13 is symmetrical and has another limb (not shown) similarly engaging through an aperture in the opposed wall of the bar.

As the end of the bar, with the clip in place, is inserted into the rail 1 the limbs of the clip are forced inwardly until the position shown when the lower portion 19 of the clip 13 is free to pass through the aperture 17 and engage above the formations 5.

Thus withdrawal of the bar from the rail is positively prevented.

1. Ajointing system between a hollow rail and a bar, the rail having an aperture for receiving an end of the bar, oppositely disposed formations within the rail facing one another and separated by a distance slightly less than a lateral dimension of the bar end so that the external surface of the bar end and/or the formation is/are distorted upon passage of the bar end through the aperture and between the formations and means for locating the bar end relative to the rail after passage of the bar end between the formations.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which the rail is of box section having a base of generally inverted -U- formation, the ends of the arms thereof having inward projections constituting said formations and being shaped to receive, as a clip or slide fit, a cover plate to be formed with said aperture and the locating means being a pair of spaced apart ridges on the inner surface of the web of the base.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Railjoint This invention relates to a jointing system which is particulariy but not exclusively applicable to the bars and rails of railing orfencing. Many railing systems comprise spaced apartvertical posts separated by panels having upper and lower rails joined by spaced apart, parallel bars. The rails may for example be hollow metallic extrusions and the bars may be tubular. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved jointing system which may be used to connect together the rails and bars of a railing or fencing panel. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a jointing system between a hollow rail and a bar, the rail having an aperture for receiving an end of the bar, oppositely disposed formations within the rail facing one another and separated by a distance slightly less than a lateral dimension of the bar end so that the external surface of the bar end and/or the formation is/are distorted upon passage of the bar end through the aperture and between the formations and means for locating the bar end relative to the rail after passage of the bar end between the formations. The rail may be of box section having a base of generally inverted -U- formation, the ends of the arms thereof having inward projections constituting said formations and being shaped to receive, as a clip or slide fit, a cover plate to be formed with said aperture and the locating means being a pair of spaced apart ridges on the inner surface of the web of the base. The above and other aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the single Figure of the accompanying drawing which shows, in section the manner in which a bar end may be secured within a hollow rail. Referring to the drawing a rail 1 comprises a cap 2 having flat side walls 3 and a flat web 4. The cap may be extruded from an aluminium alloy and the outer ends of the side walls have formations 5 projecting inwardly therefrom. These formations are initially formed with inward projections one of which is shown at 6; the distance between opposed ridges being less than the lateral dimension D of a bar 7 to be engaged therein. A pair of inwardly directed symmetrically disposed, ridges 8 are provided on the web 4 and spaced apart to embrace the end of the bar 7. A cover plate 9 also extruded from aluminium has end formations 10 to engage over the formations 5 as a slide or clip fit and a flat web 11, the latter is initially formed without an aperture so that the rail 1 is a closed box section. It will also be apparent that the bar 7 may conveniently be a rectangular section tube. To assembly the rail and bar the web 11 is pierced to provide an aperture 12 for receiving the bar 7 with slight clearance and it will be understood that where the bar is to be at an angle to the rail other than a right angle then the aperture 12 needs to be elongated. The end of the bar 7 is forced between the formations 5 until it is lodged between the ridges 8. During this process the plate 9 prevents any springing apart of the side walls 3 so that the formations 6 bite into the outer surface of the bar 7 and ensure that the latter is jammed tightly within the rail 1. If desired the bar may be provided with a simple locking means positively to prevent its withdrawal from the rail. For this purpose a spring clip 13 (only part of which is shown) has a web 14 resting against the inner surface of the web 4 and a lower end 15 extending through an aperture 17 in the bar wall. The end 15 has an upper inclined part 18 and a lower flat part 19. It will be understood that the clip 13 is symmetrical and has another limb (not shown) similarly engaging through an aperture in the opposed wall of the bar. As the end of the bar, with the clip in place, is inserted into the rail 1 the limbs of the clip are forced inwardly until the position shown when the lower portion 19 of the clip 13 is free to pass through the aperture 17 and engage above the formations 5. Thus withdrawal of the bar from the rail is positively prevented. CLAIMS

1. Ajointing system between a hollow rail and a bar, the rail having an aperture for receiving an end of the bar, oppositely disposed formations within the rail facing one another and separated by a distance slightly less than a lateral dimension of the bar end so that the external surface of the bar end and/or the formation is/are distorted upon passage of the bar end through the aperture and between the formations and means for locating the bar end relative to the rail after passage of the bar end between the formations.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which the rail is of box section having a base of generally inverted -U- formation, the ends of the arms thereof having inward projections constituting said formations and being shaped to receive, as a clip or slide fit, a cover plate to be formed with said aperture and the locating means being a pair of spaced apart ridges on the inner surface of the web of the base.