A rail connector includes a base and an outwardly extending projection rotatably connected with the base. The base has a flat lower portion and an upper portion which contains an opening that is parallel to the base lower portion. The projection includes upper and lower ends, the lower end being arranged in the base opening and the upper end having a threaded outer surface and extending outwardly from the base. The base is connected with a rail and the projection is connected with a baluster. The projection is rotatable relative to the base and allows the baluster to pivot to a desired angle.

A railing and baluster plug system that facilitates installation of balusters at a plurality of angular orientations, such as installations for level railing and installations for non-level or angled railings such as for stairs. The baluster plugs are configured to cooperate with the balusters and include both a level mounting surface and an angled mounting surface for alternatively mounting the balusters in a level or an angled orientation.

A locking member for a gate apparatus comprises a body mountable to a gripping array of a support, said body having a mating form mutually engageable with the gripping array, whereby axial motion of said body relative to said gripping array is inhibited. A member extends away from said body, said member defining a cross-tie mount for receiving a mating end of a cross-tie. The cross-tie mount has a cross-tie end retainer which is movable between a first position securing said cross-tie in said cross-tie mount, and a second position permitting release of said cross-tie from said cross-tie mount, whereby the cross-tie may be moved to function as a gate.

A clip is described which has a T-Keeper which fits into a slot in a picket, and bent edges that apply even and constant pressure to the inside of a rail. The T-Keeper member is inserted into a picket and rotated, and then then picket with the clip are inserted through an opening in a rail, thereby securing the picket to the rail.

A connector assembly and method for constructing a no-weld pipe fence, a no-weld fence end brace, or a no-weld fence corner brace. The connector assembly includes (a) a bolt, a threaded pin, or a hinge knuckle structure which is attachable to a fence post and (b) an attachment sleeve which can be slidably nested on the end of a pipe rail or brace member. The attachment sleeve is connectable to the bolt, threaded pin, or hinge knuckle structure in a manner which allows the pipe rail or brace member to be pivoted to a horizontal position or to any other desired angle on the fence post and then locked in place.

A framework structure for providing a barricade or support structure comprising a frame comprising a single pair of pivotally connected supports, the pair of supports rotatable relative to one another about a first axis to adjust the framework structure between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the footprint of the frame being larger in the expanded configuration than in the collapsed configuration and a connecting element pivotally connected to the frame and adapted to releaseably connect to an adjacent body or structure, the connecting element being rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being parallel to or the same as the first axis.

A railing and baluster plug system that facilitates installation of balusters at a plurality of angular orientations, such as installations for level railing and installations for non-level or angled railings such as for stairs. The baluster plugs are configured to cooperate with the balusters and include both a level mounting surface and an angled mounting surface for alternatively mounting the balusters in a level or an angled orientation.

A connector apparatus has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion mounts to an upright that has knobby hand grip protrusions. The second portion provides a connection for a laterally extending cross-member. The first portion interacts with the knobby hand grip protrusions to have a combination of a first degree of freedom permitting motion in one direction, while inhibiting motion in a second degree of freedom. The second portion has a releasable connection to the cross-member, and when engaged, has a degree of freedom of motion about an axis of the second portion cross-wise to the axis of the upright. The second portion has a releasable, retained, pin connector with a quarter-turn lock to prevent accidental disengagement. The connection of the second portion is offset such that when two connectors are seated back-to-back their cross-tie connections stand in substantially the same horizontal plane relative to the ground.

A fencing/railing assembly adapted to be positioned between a pair of posts and mounted thereto includes a plurality of pickets, a plurality of rails extending transverse to the pickets, and one or more pivoting, sliding connectors for connecting a picket to a rail, with the sliding, pivotal connection concealed by the rail. The connector is slidably mounted to the rail and is pivotally connected to the picket. In one embodiment, an elongated connector strip is concealed by the rail and spans multiple pickets. In another embodiment, the assembly includes a plurality of shorter connectors, one for each picket/rail connection.

A fully welded fence panel comprises a plurality of vertical pickets and a pair of horizontal metal rails. The top and bottom portions of the pickets are pressed in a mechanical or hydraulic press to create flattened surfaces and welded to the rails. The flattened surfaces may either be oriented parallel or perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the metal rails to facilitate welding or to enable the fence panel to be racked when used as a railing. Indentations are pressed into opposite sides of the flattened surfaces at the same location and are perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the picket to further enable the fence panel to be racked. The railing is therefore adjustable at a customer's site to change the angle between the pickets and rails and avoid the need for perfect angle measurements prior to manufacture.