US20150021535A1

US20150021535A1 - Railing post shoe anchor apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: US20150021535A1
Application number: US13/943,219
Authority: US
Inventors: Tomasz Tomczak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-16
Filing date: 2013-07-16
Publication date: 2015-01-22

Abstract

The present invention provides a means to achieve enhanced load distribution and bearing capacity for posts in the construction environment. In particular, the present invention provides a means to secure a load bearing post to a substrate such as concrete in applications including the construction of high-rise building balconies. Additionally, the present invention provides ease and versatility in mounting at the site of the work. The application of the present invention provides increased reliability and longevity under environmental and load stresses. Further, the unique geometry of the present invention contributes to an ease, cost effectiveness, and consistency of manufacture unattainable by competitive technologies while reducing material waste and product failure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to mounting technologies used to secure railing posts to solid substrates. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus employed to provide a means to engage railing systems at the site of installation in the construction environment. The application of the present invention for anchoring railings is appropriate where increased stress capacity, ease of installation, and resistance to failure is desired. This invention finds particular application in the anchoring of balcony railing posts in high-rise building construction wherein significant environmental stresses affect railing performance and where considerable longevity and reliability are desirable. Additionally, the present invention provides the installer with increased options in means of fastening to substrates. The present invention may be fastened to a variety of substrates including concrete, steel, and wood substrates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art embodiments of shoe anchors are of a variety of geometries generally exploiting the advantages of the structural strength provided by L and U shaped railing cradles and engagements. These anchoring devices may be of stainless steel, cast iron or alloy, or aluminum construction. Prior art embodiments have limitations in terms of the environmental stresses that they are able to withstand over extended periods of time and exposure. Aluminum material generally provides the greatest performance albeit at increased and occasionally prohibitive cost due to manufacturing difficulties in addition to the raw material cost. Present technologies have limited lifetimes particularly those employing stainless steel, iron, or alloy constructions. Failure rates increase over time and require extensive and costly maintenance in the high-rise environment. The currently employed shoe anchor geometries have load limitations which necessitate increased redundancies in high stress environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits the installation and is of enhanced benefit to the builder in the anchoring of fences, balconies, and safety railings in the substrates common to these applications including wood, steel, and concrete. The present invention provides particular advantages to the builder of high rise units with balconies wherein environmental stresses are of increased and immediate concern in terms of safety, reliability, and longevity. Such environments are susceptible to stresses arising from wind, rain, snow, and a variety of other factors impacting the performance of exposed external elements such as railings and their mounting components. While providing enhanced performance in the provision of railing mounting means, the present invention additionally eases manufacturability and reduces material waste therein. Within the manufacturing process, the current invention allows the production of railing post shoe anchors through extrusion and subsequent machining to arrive at a precision, quality, and consistency generally unachievable with standard technologies. Furthermore, the ease of manufacture of the present invention allows the builder to select aluminum material for the construction of anchoring devices without the burden of undue costs generally associated with the implantation of this material. The application of the present invention increases the structural integrity of railing post mounting, increases mounting versatility, minimizes failure, and reduces requirements for redundancy. In production, the present invention reduces material cost and eases manufacturability. The implementation of the present invention enhances application safety, longevity, and reliability thereby providing a method and apparatus generally free of the deficiencies of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a frontal cross-section of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a side profile of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a side profile of two railing post shoe anchors positioned in opposition to one another prior to separation from a single block of material.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor prior to final processing.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a single block of material prior to separation into discrete railing post shoe anchors.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a single block of material prior to separation into discrete railing post shoe anchors.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a shoe anchor of the present invention engaged with a section of railing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to better understand the embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10. An embodiment of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG. 1 wherein said railing post shoe anchor 1 is of rigid material equipped with a post receptacle 3, and mounting holes such as holes 5, 7, and 9. Mounting holes such as holes 5, 7, and 9 provide means to anchor the railing post shoe anchor 1 directly to a substrate such as concrete, steel, or wood as required. The railing post shoe anchor 1 is provided with a flat surface on its mounting side 10 in order to facilitate substrate engagement. A rectangular post receptacle 3 is shown on the engagement side of the base shoe anchor 1 for the ready engagement of a rectangular post however it is understood that the depicted rectangular geometry may be altered to accommodate a variety of post forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. The engagement side of the base shoe anchor 1 is provided such that material thickness tapers from its thickest at the post receptacle 3 end to thinner material at the mounting end at a constant angle providing advantages both in structural integrity and manufacturability.
Another view of an embodiment of a shoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG. 2. A shoe anchor 11 is provided with post receptacle 13, deep recessed mounting holes 15 and 25, recessed mounting holes 17 and 23, and apertures 19, 21, and 27. Herein, deeply recessed mounting holes 15 and 25 may be tapped to facilitate fastening said shoe anchor apparatus 11 to a substrate as required by means of screw. Additional fastening facility is provided by recessed mounting holes 17 and 23 wherein said holes may be tapped to allow screw mounting or a bolt configuration may be used. Apertures 19, 21, and 27 may be used to provide additional mounting or handling means. Upon mounting said shoe anchor 11 using any of the mounting methods described, holes may be filled with material, generally grout, to promote and reinforce the structural integrity provided by the tapered geometry.
An embodiment of a shoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG. 3. A shoe anchor 29 is illustrated frontally with deeply recessed mounting holes 31 and 37 as in previous views. Recessed mounting positions 33 and 35 are also provided as before.
An embodiment of a shoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG. 4. The deeply recessed mounting holes 41 and 47 of the railing post shoe anchor 39 are shown in cross section. Said deeply recessed mounting holes 41 and 47 are provided with tapped holes 43 and 45 terminating at the substrate mounting surface 46 of the shoe anchor 39. Said tapped holes 43 and 45 can provide screw fastening facility of the shoe anchor 39 to the desired substrate at the site of the work.
Another embodiment of the shoe anchor apparatus is provided as in FIG. 5. The shoe anchor 49 is shown in side profile to demonstrate the constant taper of the apparatus from post engagement end 50 to the mounting end 52. Material is shown to be removed from the contiguous material of the device at recessed hole 51 corresponding to the relative positions of recessed mounting holes in other views such as recessed mounting holes 17 and 23 of FIG. 2 and recessed mounting holes 33 and 35 of FIG. 3.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is provided as in FIG. 6 wherein 2 shoe anchors 53 and 59 are shown in opposing positions in profile view. This view is provided to demonstrate that 2 identical shoe anchors 53 and 59 may be cut from a single rectangular block of material. In order to achieve said identical shoe anchors 53 and 59, a cut is made along the diagonal 61. Equal amounts of material may be removed at end points 63 and 55 to reduce the length of said shoe anchors and as required by the application. Material may be further removed at recessed holes 65 and 57 corresponding to recessed mounting holes 17 and 23 of FIG. 2 and recessed mounting holes 33 and 35 of FIG. 3.
An embodiment of the present invention and specifically one of the shoe anchors depicted in FIG. 6 is provided as in FIG. 7 shown from above. Herein, the shoe anchor 67 is provided with post receptacle 69, mounting holes 71, 73, 79, and 81, and apertures 83, 77, and 75 as before. Mounting holes 71, 73, 79, and 81 are shown to be of identical diameter prior to further processing as required by the application.
An embodiment of the present invention prior to separation into discrete shoe anchors is provided as in FIG. 8. A single block of multiple shoe anchors 85 is shown from above provided with a left post receptacle 87 and a right post receptacle 93. Mounting holes of identical diameter such as holes 89 and 91 are shown to demonstrate potential mounting options once shoe anchors are separated from the single block of shoe anchors 85 and processed to meet the mounting requirements of the desired application.
Another embodiment of the present invention prior to separation into discrete shoe anchors is provided as in FIG. 9. A single block of multiple shoe anchors 95 is shown in perspective view. Said single block of multiple shoe anchors 95 is provided with a left post receptacle 99 and a right post receptacle 97 to demonstrate the relative position of these apertures within said block and corresponding to those described in previous figures. Holes and further mounting and handling apertures are also provided as before demonstrating their relative positions.
An embodiment of the present invention is provided as in FIG. 10. Herein, a shoe anchor 103 is engaged with a section of post 101. Said section of post 101 is mechanically engaged with said shoe anchor 103 at post receptacle 111. Once the flat shoe anchor base 109 is fastened to an appropriate substrate using mounting holes such as holes 105 and 107, the shoe anchor 103 distributes load placed upon said post 101 along its base 109 and thus transfers said load to the substrate as intended by the application of the present invention. Set screws and holes therefore may be introduced to mechanically secure said post 101 within said post receptacle 111. Various other means of securing said post 101 within said post receptacle 111 may be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus comprising:

(a) a rigid body;

(b) a post receptacle;

(c) mounting holes;

(d) handling apertures.

2. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said rigid body is of contiguous material providing structural integrity as required by the application.

3. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said rigid body is tapered from the post engagement end to the mounting end in order to distribute load stress as required by the application.

4. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said rigid body is tapered from the post engagement end to the mounting end in order to promote ease of manufacture.

5. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said post receptacle is of geometry to mechanically engage a railing post as required by the application.

6. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said post receptacle may be equipped with set screws to secure a post upon installation.

7. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said mounting holes are provided for mounting the apparatus to a substrate.

8. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said mounting holes may be configured to provide facility to fasten the apparatus to a substrate by means of tapped screw.

9. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said mounting holes may be configured to provide facility to fasten the apparatus to a substrate by means of nut and bolt.

10. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said mounting holes may be of a combination of tapped screw, nut and bolt, and other configurations providing substrate fastening means.

11. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said mounting holes are of configuration and number to provide fastening means sufficient to bear the load requirements of the application.

12. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said mounting holes may be filled with material, such as grout, in order to promote structural integrity upon installation on a substrate.

13. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said handling apertures provide ease of transport and positioning at the site of installation of the apparatus.

14. A railing post shoe anchor apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said handling apertures may be filled with material, such as grout, in order to promote structural integrity upon installation on a substrate.

15. A railing post shoe anchor method comprising:

(a) a single contiguous block of material;

(b) mirrored apertures;

(c) symmetrical separation.

16. A railing post shoe anchor method as in claim 15, wherein said a single contiguous block of material may be extruded to form the profile of the railing post shoe anchor apparatus thereby providing an ease of manufacture of multiple railing post shoe anchor apparatus.

17. A railing post shoe anchor method as in claim 15, wherein said mirrored apertures are comprised of mounting holes, handling apertures, and post receptacles mirrored along a centre line of the profile of the single block of material.

18. A railing post shoe anchor method as in claim 17, wherein said mirrored apertures allow the ease of manufacture of opposed pairs of identical railing post shoe anchor apparatus upon separation.

19. A railing post shoe anchor method as in claim 15, wherein said symmetrical separation describes the separation of pairs of opposed railing post shoe anchor apparatus into identical components.

20. A railing post shoe anchor method as in claim 15, wherein said symmetrical separation is performed along a diagonal providing the taper from the receptacle end to the mounting end of a railing post shoe anchor apparatus thereby providing a load bearing and distribution advantage to the railing post shoe anchor apparatus upon implementation in the intended application.