Panel rail system

Claim 2

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels having each an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between adjacent posts, an upper rail having a longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having a longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having an upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, each post having a chamber throughout its length and said retention means comprising a sleeve with a sliding fit within the chamber.

Claim 3

A panel rail system as in claim 1 wherein the retention means between the upper rail and the corresponding sleeve is at a location intermediate ends of the rail.

Claim 4

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels having each an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between adjacent posts, an upper rail having a longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having a longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having an upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, each post having a chamber throughout its length and retention means comprising a sleeve with a sliding fit within the chamber, a bolt-holding element within the sleeve and a bolt for said bolt-holding element adapted to interconnect the sleeve and the rail.

Claim 5

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels having each an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between adjacent posts, an upper rail having a longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having a longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having an upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, each post having a chamber throughout its length and retention means comprising a sleeve with a sliding fit within the chamber, a bolt-holding element within the sleeve and a bolt for said bolt-holding element adapted to interconnect the sleeve and the rail.

Claim 6

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels each having side edges adjacent to and free of engagement with said posts, an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between the adjacent posts, an upper rail having a downwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having an upwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, said slotted junctions each comprising interior walls within the rail forming an elongated pocket with an opening at the side in alignment with the slotted junction for reception of the corresponding edge of a panel, said interior walls including longitudinally extending groove elements, plugs having groove elements complementary with respect to the groove elements of the interior walls receptive of said last identified groove elements, there being a sleeve in the post for reception of a corresponding rail and a bolt connection between said plug and said sleeve.

Claim 7

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels each having side edges adjacent to and free of engagement with said posts, an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between the adjacent posts, an upper rail having a downwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having an upwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, said slotted junctions each comprising interior walls within the rail forming an elongated pocket with an opening at the side in alignment with the slotted junction for reception of the corresponding edge of a panel, said interior walls including longitudinally extending groove elements, plugs having groove elements complementary with respect to the groove elements of the interior walls receptive of said last identified groove elements, there being a sleeve in the post for reception of a corresponding rail and a bolt connection between said plug and said sleeve.

Claim 8

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels each having side edges adjacent to and free of engagement with said posts, an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between the adjacent posts, an upper rail having a downwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having an upwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, said slotted junctions each comprising interior walls within the rail forming an elongated pocket with an opening at the side in alignment with the slotted junction for reception of the corresponding edge of a panel, said interior walls including longitudinally extending groove elements, plugs having groove elements complementary with respect to the groove elements of the interior walls receptive of said last identified groove elements, there being a sleeve in the post for reception of a corresponding rail and a bolt connection between said plug and said sleeve, said plug having a longitudinally sliding engagement with the corresponding rail.

Claim 9

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels each having side edges adjacent to and free of engagement with said posts, an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between the adjacent posts, an upper rail having a downwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having an upwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, said slotted junctions each comprising interior walls within the rail forming an elongated pocket with an opening at the side in alignment with the slotted junction for reception of the corresponding edge of a panel, said interior walls including longitudinally extending groove elements, plugs having groove elements complementary with respect to the groove elements of the interior walls receptive of said last identified groove elements, there being a sleeve in the post for reception of a corresponding rail and a bolt connection between said plug and said sleeve, said plug having a longitudinally sliding engagement with the corresponding rail.

Claim 10

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels each having side edges adjacent to and free of engagement with said posts, an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between the adjacent posts, an upper rail having a downwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having an upwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, the slotted junctions in respectively the upper and lower rails each providing a space for reception of the upper and lower edge portions of the panel, the space provided by the slotted junction of the upper rail having a depth in excess of the depth of the space provided by the slotted junction of the lower rail whereby the lower edge of the panel is clear of the lower rail when the upper edge of the panel is within the upper rail to enable mounting of said panel in position and extraction of said panel from position spanning said area while said rails remain in place on said posts.

Claim 11

A panel rail system comprising posts adapted to be set at locations in an appropriate surface structure, unitary panels each having side edges adjacent to and free of engagement with said posts, an upper edge and a lower edge for substantially spanning the area between the adjacent posts, an upper rail having a downwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the upper edge of the panel, a lower rail having an upwardly facing longitudinal slotted junction for reception of the lower edge of the panel, said posts having upper and lower retention means for supporting retention of the rails, the upper retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the upper rail, the lower retention means having a rail-engaging means for reception of the lower rail, and a connector adapted to interconnect said respective rail-engaging means and the corresponding rail, the slotted junctions in respectively the upper and lower rails each providing a space for reception of the upper and lower edge portions of the panel, the space provided by the slotted junction of the upper rail having a depth in excess of the depth of the space provided by the slotted junction of the lower rail whereby the lower edge of the panel is clear of the lower rail when the upper edge of the panel is within the upper rail to enable mounting of said panel in position and extraction of said panel from position spanning said area while said rails remain in place on said posts.

Claim 14

The method for constructing and erecting a panel rail system as in claim 7 including preparing and positioning pads in the hollow interior of the lower rail for support of said panel.

Claim 15

The method for constructing and erecting a panel rail system as in claim 7 including forming seals between the surfaces of the panel and opposite sides of the slots in said rails.