Abstract: A wooden stair rail assembly having a wooden handrail, a wooden shoe rail, and wooden balusters, is provided with a limited range of movement from about 29 degrees to 43 degrees, to accommodate the normal range of variations in the inclination or pitch of stairways. The ends of the balusters are provided with axially extending pins which engage the handrail and the shoe rail. The handrail and the shoe rail are provided with recesses into which the ends of the balusters extend, and clearance between the balusters and the rails is provided to permit the pins to flex so that the balusters may remain vertical despite the change in inclination of the handrail and the shoe rail. The pins are of high strength material having a low elastic limit and the quality of remaining deformed after having been bent, so that the assembly will retain its "racked" configuration once it has been shifted to the desired angle of inclination. Polyvinyl chloride plastic provides suitable mechanical properties for the dowels or pins.

Abstract: A variable rack stair rail assembly includes a hand rail and a shoe rail. A plurality of elongated balusters extends intermediate the shoe rail and the hand rail. Means are provided for joining each of the balusters to the hand rail and the shoe rail. The hand rail and shoe rail may be channel-shaped. The means for joining comprises an elongated first member and a generally sleeve shaped second member. The first and second members are dimensioned and configured for engagement. One of the members is disposed in cooperating relationship with one of the rails and the other of the members is disposed in cooperating relationship with one axial extremity of a baluster. Each baluster may be joined at each axial extremity in substantially the same manner. One axial extremity of each sleeve shaped member may have the contour of a section of a cone.

Abstract: A variable rake stair rail assembly includes a hand rail, a show rail, a plurality of balusters extending in spaced relation between the shoe and hand rails, and means for joining each baluster to the hand rail and the shoe rail, the joining means comprising a joining element extending into at least one end of each baluster and engaging one of the rails, thus to permit relative angular movement between baluster and rails to provide a variable rake assembly, when the assembly is forced or racked to a slightly different angular configuration of the balusters relative to the hand and shoe rails. In one preferred form, the means for joining comprises a dowel extending into the baluster end and engaging one of the rails. The dowel may be of flexible material. In another form of the invention, the joining means comprises plate means attached to one of the rails and a threaded fastener retained by the rail and extending into the baluster end. The plate may be attached to the rail by threaded members.

Abstract: A variable rake stair rail assembly which includes a hand rail, a shoe rail, and a plurality of elongated balusters extending intermediate the shoe rail and the hand rail. Means are provided for joining each of the balusters to the hand rail and the shoe rail. The hand rail and shoe rail may be channel shaped. The means comprises an elongated member extending into at least one end of each baluster and having a generally enlarged axial extremity disposed in spaced relationship to the baluster which cooperates with a strip shaped member fixed to at least one of the rails. The strip shaped member has an opening disposed therein for accepting the enlarged axial extremity of the elongated member, without removal from the end of the baluster. In a preferred embodiment, each of the strip shaped members may include a tongue shaped portion defining one side of each of the openings. Each of the tongues may be elongated and have a width at a first axial portion which is smaller than at a second axial portion.