BALUSTER

Abstract

Various implementations include a baluster. The baluster includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion. The first portion has a first length. The first portion has a constant cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the entire first length. The second portion has a second length. The second portion has a constant cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the entire second length. The intermediate portion is disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The intermediate portion has an intermediate length as measured along the longitudinal axis. The intermediate portion has a varied cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the intermediate length. An end of one of the first portion opposite the intermediate portion or the second portion opposite the intermediate portion defines a dowel opening.

Claims

1. A baluster comprising: a first portion having a first length as measured along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first portion has a constant cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the entire first length; a second portion having a second length as measured along the longitudinal axis, wherein the second portion has a constant cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the entire second length; and an intermediate portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the intermediate portion having an intermediate length as measured along the longitudinal axis, wherein the intermediate portion has a varied cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the intermediate length, wherein an end of one of the first portion opposite the intermediate portion or the second portion opposite the intermediate portion defines a dowel opening.

2. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the second length or first length of an other of the second portion opposite the intermediate portion or the first portion opposite the intermediate portion, respectively, is 4 inches or more.

3. The baluster of claim 2, wherein the second length or first length of the other of the second portion opposite the intermediate portion or the first portion opposite the intermediate portion, respectively, is 8 inches or more.

4. The baluster of claim 3, wherein the first length or the second length of the one of the first portion opposite the intermediate portion or the second portion opposite the intermediate portion, respectively, is 4 inches or more.

5. The baluster of claim 4, wherein the first length or the second length of the one of the first portion opposite the intermediate portion or the second portion opposite the intermediate portion, respectively, is 6 inches or more.

6. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the first length or the second length of the one of the first portion opposite the intermediate portion or the second portion opposite the intermediate portion, respectively, is 4 inches or more.

7. The baluster of claim 6, wherein the first length or the second length of the one of the first portion opposite the intermediate portion or the second portion opposite the intermediate portion, respectively, is 6 inches or more.

8. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the dowel opening has a depth as measured along the longitudinal axis, wherein the depth is 1.25 inches or more.

9. The baluster of claim 8, wherein the depth is 2.0 inches or more.

10. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional size of the first portion is different than the cross-sectional size of the second portion.

11. The baluster of claim 10, wherein the cross-sectional size of the first portion is smaller than the cross-sectional size of the second portion.

12. The baluster of claim 11, wherein the end of the second portion opposite the intermediate portion defines the dowel opening.

13. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the first portion has a circular shape.

14. The baluster of claim 13, wherein the cross-section of the second portion has a circular shape.

15. The baluster of claim 13, wherein the cross-section of the second portion has a square shape.

16. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the second portion has a circular shape.

17. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the second portion has a square shape.

18. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the baluster has a total length as measured along the longitudinal axis, the total length including a sum of the first length, the intermediate length, and the second length, wherein the total length is 36 inches or more.

19. The baluster of claim 18, wherein the total length is 40 inches or more.

20. The baluster of claim 19, wherein the total length is 42 inches or more.

21. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion and an other of the second portion opposite the intermediate portion or the first portion opposite the intermediate portion are solid.

22. The baluster of claim 1, wherein the dowel opening extends parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Example features and implementations of the present disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. Similar elements in different implementations are designated using the same reference numerals.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a baluster, according to one implementation.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the baluster of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a right-side view of the baluster of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a left-side view of the baluster of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a top end view of the baluster of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a bottom end view of the baluster of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a front view of the baluster of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a back view of the baluster of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a detail view of the bottom end of the baluster of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the detail view of the baluster of FIG. 9.

[0024] FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of a baluster, according to another implementation.

[0025] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the baluster of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein provide for a universal baluster that can be cut to various lengths without losing functionality. Traditional balusters include a dowel permanently installed in the bottom end of the baluster. If a shorter length baluster is needed (e.g., for the various lengths needed for an open rake stairway), cutting a baluster would mean cutting away the dowel opening.

[0027] Furthermore, many balusters have varying cross-sections along their length to produce different aesthetic designs. Cutting the length of the balusters could cause the designs of adjacent balusters to not be aligned (e.g., on the same stairway tread).

[0028] The balusters designed herein have constant cross-sectional size and shape along their top portion and their bottom portion. This provides for the ability to cut either the top or the bottom of the baluster to create a different total length without disturbing the decorative shape of the intermediate portion of the baluster. The balusters also include a dowel opening without a dowel permanently installed. This dowel opening is deep enough that, if the bottom portion of the baluster is cut, the dowel opening is still able to accept a dowel.

[0029] Various implementations include a baluster. The baluster includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion. The first portion has a first length as measured along a longitudinal axis. The first portion has a constant cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the entire first length. The second portion has a second length as measured along the longitudinal axis. The second portion has a constant cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the entire second length. The intermediate portion is disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The intermediate portion has an intermediate length as measured along the longitudinal axis. The intermediate portion has a varied cross-sectional size as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the intermediate length. An end of one of the first portion opposite the intermediate portion or the second portion opposite the intermediate portion defines a dowel opening.

[0030] FIGS. 1-10 show a baluster 100 according to one implementation. The baluster 100 includes a first portion 110, a second portion 120, and an intermediate portion 130.

[0031] The first portion 110 of the baluster 100 of FIGS. 1-10 is configured to be the upper portion of the baluster 100 relative to a gravitational axis when installed in a railing system. The first portion 110 has a first length 112 as measured along a longitudinal axis 102 of the baluster 100. The first portion 110 has a constant cross-sectional size along the entire first length 112 as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 102. As used herein, the cross-sectional size is the area and shape of the cross-section.

[0032] The first length 112 of the first portion 110 of the baluster 100 shown in FIGS. 1-10 is 8 inches, but in some implementations, the first length is any length of 8 inches or more. In some implementations, the first length is any length of 4 inches or more.

[0033] The second portion 120 is configured to be the lower portion of the baluster 100 relative to a gravitational axis when installed in a railing system. The second portion 120 has a second length 122 as measured along the longitudinal axis 102 of the baluster 100. The second portion 120 has a constant cross-sectional size along the entire second length 122 as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 102.

[0034] The second length 122 of the second portion 120 of the baluster 100 shown in FIGS. 1-10 is 6 inches, but in some implementations, the first length is any length of 6 inches or more. In some implementations, the first length is any length of 4 inches or more.

[0035] The intermediate portion 130 is disposed between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120. The intermediate portion 130 has an intermediate length 132 as measured along the longitudinal axis 102 of the baluster 100. However, unlike the first portion 110 and the second portion 120, the intermediate portion 130 has a varied cross-sectional size along at least a portion of the intermediate length 132 as measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 102.

[0036] The end of the second portion 120 opposite the intermediate portion 130 defines a dowel opening 140. The dowel opening 140 shown in FIGS. 1-10 has a depth of 2.0 inches as measured along the longitudinal axis 102, but in some implementations, the depth of the dowel opening is 2.0 inches or more. In some implementations, the depth of the dowel opening is 1.25 inches or more. The dowel openings 140, 240 of the balusters 100, 200 shown in FIGS. 1-12 are 0.5 inch diameter openings, but in some implementations, the dowel openings can be any standard sized diameter opening, such as 0.25 inches, 0.3125 inches, 0.375 inches, 0.4375 inches, or greater. In some implementations, the diameter of the dowel opening can be 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, or greater.

[0037] As seen in FIG. 10, the dowel opening 140 extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 102. However, in some implementations, the dowel opening can extend in a direction that forms an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis. The dowel openings 140, 240 are each located in the center of the end of the second portion 120, 220, but in some implementations, the dowel opening can be offset from the center of the end of the second portion.

[0038] Although the first portion 110 of the baluster 100 shown in FIGS. 1-10 is configured to be the upper portion of the baluster 100 and the second portion 120 is configured to be the lower portion of the baluster 100 relative to a gravitational axis when installed in a railing system, in some implementations, the first portion is configured to be the lower portion and the second portion is configured to be the upper portion. In some implementations, the dowel opening is defined by the first portion.

[0039] In some implementations, the cross-sectional size of the first portion is different than the cross-sectional size of the second portion. In some implementations, the cross-sectional size of the first portion is the same as the cross-sectional size of the second portion. The cross-sectional size of the first portion 110 of the baluster 100 shown in FIGS. 1-10 is smaller than the cross-sectional size of the second portion 120. The intermediate portion 130 includes a tapered cross-sectional shape from the cross-sectional size of the relatively larger second portion 120 to the cross-sectional size of the relatively smaller first portion 110. However, in some implementations, the intermediate portion can have any irregular shape such that the intermediate portion changes in cross-sectional size adjacent each of the first portion and the second portion. In some implementations, the second portion can also have a smaller cross-sectional size than the first portion.

[0040] The cross-section of the first portion 110 can have the same or a different cross-sectional shape as the second portion 120. The term cross-sectional shape, as used herein, means the cross-sectional shape as viewed in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 102. For example, the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 of the baluster 100 shown in FIGS. 1-10 both have a circular cross-sectional shape. However, for the baluster 200 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first portion 210 has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the second portion 220 has a square cross-sectional shape. The intermediate portion 230 tapers from the square cross-sectional shape of the second portion 220 to the circular cross-sectional shape of the first portion 210. In some implementations, the first portion, the second portion, or both can have any cross-sectional shape, such as circular, ovate, triangular, square, rectangular, any quadrilateral, a pentagon, a hexagon, or any closed shape with any number of sides.

[0041] The total length 104 of the baluster 100 shown in FIGS. 1-10 as measured along the longitudinal axis 102 and including a sum of the first length 112, the intermediate length 132, and the second length 122 is 42 inches. However, in some implementations, the total length of the baluster is 42 inches or more. In some implementations, the total length of the baluster is 40 inches or more. In some implementations, the total length of the baluster is 36 inches or more. In some implementations, the total length of the baluster is any length that could be used to support any railing.

[0042] The first portion 110, 210, the second portion 120, 220, and the intermediate portion 130, 230 of the balusters 100, 200 shown in FIGS. 1-12 are solid. However, in some implementations, first portion, the second portion, and/or the intermediate portion of the baluster are fully or partially hollow. The first portion, the second portion, and/or the intermediate portion of the baluster can be made of metal, wood, stone, a polymer, or any other material known to be used in railing supports.

[0043] A number of example implementations are provided herein. However, it is understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term comprising and variations thereof as used herein is used synonymously with the term including and variations thereof and are open, non-limiting terms. Although the terms comprising and including have been used herein to describe various implementations, the terms consisting essentially of and consisting of can be used in place of comprising and including to provide for more specific implementations and are also disclosed.

[0044] Disclosed are materials, systems, devices, methods, compositions, and components that can be used for, can be used in conjunction with, can be used in preparation for, or are products of the disclosed methods, systems, and devices. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these components may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. For example, if a device is disclosed and discussed each and every combination and permutation of the device are disclosed herein, and the modifications that are possible are specifically contemplated unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Likewise, any subset or combination of these is also specifically contemplated and disclosed. This concept applies to all aspects of this disclosure including, but not limited to, steps in methods using the disclosed systems or devices. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be performed, it is understood that each of these additional steps can be performed with any specific method steps or combination of method steps of the disclosed methods, and that each such combination or subset of combinations is specifically contemplated and should be considered disclosed.