US1797883A - Baluster - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1931 p, QVSTRIUBEL 1,797,883

BALUS TER Original Filed y 7, 1928 ATTORNEYS.

'15 are bevelled so as to fit the bottom rail.

Pat ent ed Mar. 24, 1931 PATENT oFFI E PHILIP C. STR-U'BEL, F HOLLIS, NEW YORK BALUSTER Application filed July 7, 1928, Serial No. 290,930. Renewed January 10, 1931.

My invention relates to a baluster and particularly to means for securing the same in place.

Heretofore, so far as I know, in the construction of balustrades and more particularly where the balusters are of metal, it has been an exceedingly difficult and painstaking procedure to accurately fit the balusters between the top railand the bottom support, either the stair tread or a bottom rail. At

that portion of the balustrade which is inclined the balusters are usually faced off at the proper angle to fit the underside of the top rail and when the bottom rail is employeld is a difiicult matter to form the baluster ends so that a nice fit results. If the baluster be either too short or too long, thetop rail is likely to be wavy and unworkmanlike in appearance. Hand operations on balusters particularly metal balusters performed on the job where a balustrade is being erected are costly and often unsatisfactory.

It is the general object of the invention to provide an improved form of baluster which may be easily and accurately fitted and secured between a top rail and a stair tread or bottom rail. 7

It is a more specific object to provide a baluster which is adjustable as to length so as to enable an accurate fit to be made with the ultimate baluster supports.

It is another object to provide a baluster support for one or both ends of a baluster and 7 '35 permitting adjustment of the effective baluster length. I v

It is another object to provide baluster end members which may be rigidly secured to a top rail and to a bottom rail or to stair treads directly, and having a baluster secured to the baluster end members.

Briefly stated, in the preferred form of the invention I employ a baluster which may be of wood or metal, but the invention is of baluster. The end or end members of the baluster are secured tov a top rail and to a bottom rail or to a stair tread.

In the drawings which show for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention v Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a balustrade illustrative of my invention Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a baluster in place, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 8is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '-is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a different type of balustrade. In said drawings, 5 indic ates'generally a stairway including treads 6-6 and risers 7 -7. An ornamental hand-railing 8 is secured upon a top rail 9 which is supported by balusters designated generally 1010. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the balusters l0- 10 are secured directly to the stair treads 66and to the landing 11. In that particular form shown in Fig. 4 the balusters 10- 10, instead of being secured directly to the treads 6 and landing 11 are secured to a bottom rail 12, which is in turn suitably supported from the stairway.

The invention resides particularly in the provision for adjusting the effective length I and fit of the balusters between suitable sup ports. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, I employ a support for the lower end of the baluster 10 which in the form shown is a socket member 13 to receive the lower end 14 of the baluster 10. The bottom of the socket member 13 may be apertured for receiving securing means such as a screw 15 screwed tothe tread 6. The baluster 10, if desired may beheld in the socket 13 by suitable means such as aset-screw 16 passing through a threaded aperture in a side wall of the sotlzet 13 and engaging the inserted baluster en The upper end of the baluster 10 may be secured to the top rail 9 by suitable means such as a socket member 17 which receives the upper end of the baluster. The supporting base or face 18 of the top socket orsupport is bevelled off at the proper angle to accurately fit the top rail 9 at such portions there of as are inclined. The socket 17 may be provided with a threaded aperture for receiving a screw 19 for holding the socket 17 in place on the top rail 9. Suitable means such as the set-screw may be provided for holding the upper end of the baluster 10 in the socket 17 In that portion of a balustrade as shown in Fig. 1 which is inclined, two sockets, such as 13 and 17 would be ordinarily'employed.

In that portion of the 'balustrade such as a stair landing 11 the upper socket would preferably be a duplicate of the lower socket,

that is to say, the base portion of the sockets would be at right angles to the sockets.

In a. balustrade as shown in Fig. 4 both .the upper and lower baluster sockets would preferably be similar to the socket 17 shown in Fig. gum is to say, both would be bevelled off so as to accurately tit and be secured to the top and bottom rails 79 and 12.

It is to be observed that the sockets may be accurately made in a factory under proper supervision. The rod portion 10 of the baluster need be of accurate length only between rather wide limits for the reason that the portion of each baluster 10 maybe varied between the limits of the socket depths at the top and bottom of each baluster. All parts of a baluster involving my invention may be factory made products and shipped to the location where they are to be used and there readily assembled and set up by relatively unskilled workmen.

WVhen set-screws such as. 1620 are employed for positioning the balusters in the upper and lower sockets, andthe set-screws have been set up, the ends may be cut off, as shown in Fig. 3 so as to present a finished appearance in the completed balustrade.

By means of my invention a great deal of labor may be saved and balustrades erected.

quickly and permanently and the finished job will present a neat and workmanlike appearance.

, While the invention has been described in considerable detail as to the preferred form, it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a baluster, a socket member having 7 a socket therein, said socket member having a base face inclined to the socket portion thereof, means for securing said socket mem v her to an inclined rail with the inclined base face thereof fitting said inclined rail, a baluster rod having one end fitting within said. socket, a second socket member having asocket therein fitting the opposite end ofsaidbalusterrod, means for securing said second mentioned socket member to a support, and means'for rigidly securing said baluster rod in at least one of said socket members.

2. In a baluster, a baluster rod, a member

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