| 摘要 |
2130261 9317201 PCTABS00025 A joint, particularly for use with banister assemblies, comprises a ball (14) fixed into position within a socket (13). The balls (14) formed at either end of a plurality of balusters (12), and sockets (13), formed in a base rail (10) and hand rail (11) are preformed at a work shop or factory and subsequently used for construction of a banister assembly. During the construction of such an assembly, the base rail (10) is fixed into position and the hand rail (11) placed in parallel, vertically spaced-apart relation to it, supported loosely by newel posts at either end. Next, balusters (12) are inserted between the base rail (10) and hand rail (11) by inserting a bottom ball of each baluster (12) into the base rail sockets (13) and adjusting the hand rail (11) to enable insertion of the upper balls into the hand rail sockets (13). Once all balusters are in position, the hand rail (11) can be firmly fixed into place. Special connectors (29, 30) are used to enable ajustment and subsequent fixing into position of the hand rail (11), and a special clamp used to assist the formation of the joints where necessary. Replacement ball assemblies (52, 53, 54) are provided to facilitate replacement of broken balusters within existing banister assemblies. Adhesive may be used. |
