Railing assembly and method

Abstract

A balcony or other metal railing assembly which can be readily prefabricated. This assembly includes a top rail and a lower rail, spaced from each other, between which extend vertically a plurality of parallel spaced pickets or spindles. The assembly may be mounted on vertical posts embedded in decking. The top and bottom rails are hollow and configured to receive the ends of the pickets and to snap-lock them in orifices in the top of the bottom rail, and in orifices in a locking cover plate which clips in to recessing in the underside of the top rail. While the bottom rails only extend between mounting posts, since the top rails may be clamped down, and thereby secured, onto the upper ends of the mounting posts, the top rails may extend over the posts without interruption. The bottom rails may also be snap-locked onto specially configured adapters laterally projecting from and secured to the posts. In addition, provision is made for suitable corner attachment of the mitered ends of abutting rails. Moreover, because of the unique snap-on type construction of this railing system, a method is provided wherein sections of such railing may be prefabricated at an assembly plant and shipped either in condition to be attached to posts, or with the post pre-attached so that all that is necessary to erect the railing is to embed the lower ends of the post into a suitable opening in he decking for cementing or other type of securing.