Structural post assembly for thermoplastic railing system

Abstract

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by a structural post assembly for a thermoplastic railing system in which a tubular metal support column is secured to the substrate upon which thermoplastic railing system is mounted by means of a base plate, the support column being internally threaded at its upper end, a slidably rotatable base rail connector of one piece construction having a segmented cylindrical core defining an aperture is slidably receivable over the support column and positioned at the lower end proximate the base plate thereof, and an adjustable upper rail connector generally cubic in shape positioned proximate the upper end of the metal support column, the adjustable upper rail connector and base connector adjustable for the slidable receipt of a thermoplastic sheath, the thermoplastic sheath being locked in position by a threaded fastener through the adjustable upper rail connector and into the internally threaded aperture of the support column thereby fixing the vertical support member for the thermoplastic railing system in the correct horizontal and vertical orientation for geometrical symmetry of the railing system.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/613,046, filed Sep. 27, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to thermo plastic rail systems, and more particularly, to a support post assembly for thermoplastic rail systems in which the vertical support posts are square in cross section.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Railing systems serve the purpose of guard rails, hand rails, grab rails, and in many instances serve as area dividers. Railings have long been used for a variety of applications such as stairways, balconies, patios and decks, industrial buildings, playgrounds and schools, as well as many other wide variety of uses. These uses are both indoors and outdoors.

Building codes require the use of high strength material, such as iron, steel, aluminum wrap or the like to provide sufficient rigidity and strength to insure adequate safety and security qualities depending upon the location and purpose of the railing systems. Thermoplastic railing systems have become popular due to certain intrinsic qualities. In order to meet building codes, thermoplastic railing sytems typically include a plurality of vertical posts which are mounted or secured to a substrate, base or decking member. These vertical posts are reinforced from within in order to meet the necessary rigidity and strength requirements.

The vertical support posts interconnect with one or more horizontal rails which in turn may have vertical balusters or other infill materials such as glass, etc., extending there between. Usually both of the horizontal rails include a support insert secured to the vertical support post in order to provide the necessary rigidity. For an explanation of thermoplastic tubular support posts which are circular in cross section, see Applicant's issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,233 issued Mar. 20, 2001.

One particular problem encountered with respect to thermoplastic support railings occurs when it is desired that the support railing be square or rectangular in cross section thereby mimicking a typical wooden railing which one might find on their back yard deck or patio. Numerous companies originally made their own plastic sheathing or sleeve members designed to over fit the wood support post, wooden railings and wooden balusters in order to protect the underlying wood from the effect of weather and climate. However, such thermoplastic railing systems must still rely upon the underlying wooden railing structure for the necessary strength and rigidity. The industry and market place would prefer a method or means of strengthening hollow thermoplastic posts without the need of the underlying wood post.

Attempts to overcome this problem have resulted in sheathing the vertical post support and the uppermost horizontal rail member in which the core would remain wood and the remaining horizontal rails and balusters would be constructed of tubular rail and balusters of a square or rectangular hollow cross section. This solution still requires the installation and sheathing of a vertical support post at certain incremental distances along the area to be railed, each of these vertical support posts normally being dimensions four inches by four inches on each side.

The necessity of maintaining the underlying four by four vertical posts makes the installation of a thermoplastic rail system both expensive and time consuming in that each individual vertical post must be individually sheathed and can present difficulties in alignment and the ultimate geometric symmetry of the railing system.

The sheathing difficulties and geometric symmetry arise because not every four by four vertical support post is exactly dimensioned and since the thermoplastic sheathing is prefabricated, its inner dimensions, which must conform to the outer dimensions of the vertical support posts are often incorrect as a result of the tolerances in fabrication, thus requiring remedial work at the installation site in order to effectuate a proper installation and geometric symmetry.

Applicant has developed a structural post assembly for utilization with a thermoplastic railing system which is square or rectangular in cross section which eliminates the need for a solid vertical wooden support post and provides for a tubular metal support post secured to the substrate of the railing system, the tubular metal support post supporting spaced apart tubular engagement members which are adjustable to the inner diameter of the thermoplastic railing system and which allow for the thermoplastic sheathing of the vertical support posts to be adjusted and secured in situ at the installation site to achieve proper vertical and horizontal orientation and geometrical symmetry and to allow the thermoplastic sheathing of the vertical support post to be secured to the these connectors with the concomitant intermediate horizontal rails connected and secured to the thermoplastic sheathing and the vertical balusters secured to the horizontal rails.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide for a novel structural support post for a thermoplastic railing system in which the cross section of the thermoplastic railing system is square or rectangular.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel structural post assembly for a thermoplastic rail system which eliminates the need for a continuous, fixed solid vertical support post underlying the thermoplastic sheathing of the rail system.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel support post assembly for a thermoplastic railing system in which the structural post assembly provides for internal connectors which allow the installers to adjust the vertical and horizontal orientation and geometric symmetry at the installation site with little modification to the underlying support or thermoplastic sheathing.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel structural post assembly for thermoplastic rail system in which the inner support connectors for the thermoplastic sheathing are adjustable to accommodate minor differentials in the actual internal diameter of the thermoplastic sheathing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by a structural post assembly for a thermoplastic railing system in which a tubular metal support column is secured to the substrate upon which thermoplastic railing system is mounted by means of a base plate, the support column being internally threaded at its upper end, a slidably rotatable base rail connector of one piece construction having a segmented cylindrical core defining an aperture is slidably receivable over the support column and positioned at the lower end proximate the base plate thereof, and an adjustable upper rail connector generally cubic in shape positioned proximate the upper end of the metal support column, the adjustable upper rail connector and base connector adjustable for the slidable receipt of a thermoplastic sheath, the thermoplastic sheath being locked in position by a threaded fastener through the adjustable upper rail connector and into the internally threaded aperture of the support column thereby fixing the vertical support member for the thermoplastic railing system in the correct horizontal and vertical orientation for geometrical symmetry of the railing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:

FIG. 1 is a planar front view of a typical fence or railing system of the prior art utilizing wooden components;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the support post as sheathed by the thermoplastic sheathing of the prior art;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a support post of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top planar view of the base rail connector of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side planar view of the base rail connector of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adjustable upper rail connector of the present invention with the support column;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a second embodiment of an adjustable upper rail connector of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is the exploded view of the support column in cooperation with the thermoplastic sheathing member;

FIG. 9 is a side exploded view of a third embodiment of the structural post assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the structural post assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a top planar view of the fourth embodiment of the structural post assembly as illustrated in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a planar front view of a wooden railing assembly 10 incorporating support posts and railings and balusters of either square or rectangular cross section. The typical railing assembly 10 incorporates a plurality of vertically positioned, spaced apart support posts 12 generally characterized in the lumber trade as four by fours. The vertical support posts 12 are secured to the substrate 14 by means of a base plate 16. Spanning the distance between adjacent vertical support posts 12 are a plurality of horizontal rails 18 which are secured to the vertical support posts 12. The horizontal rails 18, in many instances, also support a plurality of vertical balusters 20.

Railings of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 are found in many installations and are commonly used for railings for outdoor decks or patios and in a variety of commercial settings such as handicap ramps and the like.

The wood construction, even if treated, suffers deterioration from the climate. Periodic treatment of the lumber would reduce or delay the deterioration, but other solutions have been explored. One such solution was to sheath the lumber or wood in a thermoplastic sleeve 22 (See FIG. 2). However, to attempt to sheath the vertical support posts 12, horizontal railings 18, and vertical balusters 20, proved to be time consuming and expensive. The next progression in attempting to solve the problem was to sheath only the vertical support posts 12 and to use thermoplastic railing of a square or rectangular cross section as the railings and balusters for the railing assembly. FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which a vertical support post 12 fabricated of wood or lumber and primarily identified as a four by four would be secured to the substrate 14 by a base plate 16 and then sheathed in a thermoplastic sleeve 22 extruded or molded such that its inner diameter dimensions equaled the outer diameter dimensions of the vertical support post. Once the thermoplastic sleeve 22 was in place, a suitable thermoplastic cap 24 would be affixed to the top of the support post. Railings of a square or rectangular cross section and formed with a thermoplastic material would then be installed between adjacent sheathed vertical support posts 12. In order to comply with relevant building codes, several of the railings between adjacent sheathed vertical support posts 12 would have to include a wooden railing member sheathed in a similar thermoplastic sleeve. Some of the railing members could comprise a thermoplastic tubular railing of square or rectangular cross section and be hollow, but all railings could not be installed as such and meet the building code requirements.

While the sheathing method provided a solution to the problem, it raised additional problems in the field in the installation in that there are many manufacturers of the thermoplastic tubing or railing. Not all of their inner diameters were of a tolerance sufficient to accept the underlying vertical support post four by four in a tight fitting manner. Still further, when utilizing a solid vertical support post of wood or lumber, of the four by four variety, it was often difficult with the sheathing solution to achieve the proper orientation of the vertical support post such that a geometric symmetry could be achieved in the resultant railing system.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a support post assembly of the present invention which permits the installation of a thermoplastic tubular vertical support post without the need of a continuously solid vertical wooden support post and which allows for the corrective orientation of the vertical support post during assembly and meets all building code requirements for rigidity, strength and safety. The support post assembly 30 of the present invention includes a base plate 32 which is securable to the substrate 34 upon which the railing assembly is to be erected. Secured in the base plate member is the first end 36 of a tubular support post 38 fabricated from a suitable metal. The second end 40 of the support post 38 is formed with a plug member 42 having an internally threaded aperture 44 for receipt of a fastening means 46. The height of the tubular support post 38 is slightly less than the desired height of the upper railing for the railing assembly.

Slidably receivable onto vertical tubular support post 38 is a slidable, rotatable base rail connector 48, preferably of one piece construction (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Base rail connector 48 is slidably receivable over the support post 38 and positioned proximate the lower end 36 of support post 38. The base rail connector 48 is preferably molded or extruded polymer and is comprised of a segmented cylindrical core 50 defining a central aperture 52, and four radiating arms 54 radiating outwardly from the segmented cylindrical core 50 in 90 degree relationship to each other, each of said radiating arms 54 defining a corner 56 with adjacent planar vertical surfaces 58 and 60. The adjacent planar surfaces 58 and 60 of each defined corner 56 are set apart from the adjacent planar surfaces of the next adjacent corner by a gap 62.

The distance from each adjacent corner 56 of the base rail connector 48 approximates the side distance on a standard wooden post four by four. The problem with sheathing or encapsulating a standard wooden four by four support post is the fact that often times the inner diameter of the thermoplastic sheathing or sleeve was not of sufficient tolerance to exactly match the outer diameter dimensions of the vertical wooden support posts. Applicant's base rail connector 48 with segmented cylindrical core 50 allows for some tolerance give and flex of radiating arms 54 when sliding the thermoplastic sleeve over the base rail connector 48 thus allowing the base rail connector 48 to adapt to different types of thermoplastic sleeves and the interior tolerance dimensions with which they were fabricated.

At the upper end of the tubular support post 38 there would be positioned an adjustable upper rail connector 70 (See FIG. 6). Adjustable upper rail connector 70 would be rectangular in shape and made of suitable materials such as a polymer, the outer dimensions approximating the inner dimensions of the thermoplastic sleeve. The adjustable upper rail connector 70 would be formed with a slot 72 extending through upper rail connector 70 from its upper surface 74 to its lower surface 76. The width of slot 72 would be less than the diameter of support post 38 and thus upper rail connector 70 would not be slidably receivable on support post 38 but would be maintained on top thereof. The slot 72 is designed to receive a threaded fastener 46 which would pass there through slot 72 and be secured into the internally threaded aperture 44 formed in the plug member 42 at the upper end 40 of support posts 38. The diameter of the threaded fastener 46 would be less than the width of the slot 72.

In this configuration (See FIG. 8), slidable rotatable base rail connector 48 would be slidably positioned at the lower end 36 of support post 38. Adjustable upper rail connector 70 would be positioned on the upper end of support post 38 with threaded fastener 46 loosely threaded into the internally threaded aperture 44 of plug member 42 in the upper end of support post 38. A thermoplastic sleeve 22 of four by four configuration would then be slidably positioned over support post 38 with the lower end of thermoplastic sleeve 22 being engaged with base rail connector 48 and the upper end of the thermoplastic sleeve 22 being engaged with the adjustable upper rail connector 70. Any differences in the tolerances of the thermoplastic sleeve 22 would be adjusted at the lower end by the base rail connector 48 and its segmented cylindrical core 50 allowing the radiating arms 54 thereof to shift slightly in order to accommodate the lower end of the thermoplastic sleeve. The upper end of the thermoplastic sleeve 22 would be adjusted by means of upper rail connector 70 by way of sliding upper rail connector 70 in relationship to the threaded fastener 46 in slot 72. Further, since slot 72 is wider than the diameter of the threaded fastener 46, there is leeway for the installer to maneuver upper rail connector 70 in a direction perpendicular to the orientation of slot 72. When the installer is satisfied that the thermoplastic sleeve has been positioned over the support post and is oriented in the correct horizontal and vertical position in order to achieve geometric symmetry in the railing system, the installer would then securely tighten threaded fastener 46 into the internal threaded aperture of the support column 38. Each vertical support post of a railing system of the type described would be secured and installed in the manner provided. The thermoplastic sleeve 22 would be secured to the underlying support by means of a threaded fastener or the like extending through the thermoplastic sleeve 22 and into the vertical planar surfaces defined by the slidably rotatable base connector and into the side surfaces of the cap connector. The railing systems would then be installed between adjacent vertical support posts with fasteners engaging the base rail connector and upper rail connector.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a second embodiment of the adjustable upper rail connector identified as 90 for positioning on the upper end of tubular support member 38. Upper rail connector 90 is of two piece construction comprising two rectangular-shaped blocks 92 and 94 positioned in overlying 90 degree relationship so as to form a cross. Each of the rectangular blocks 92 and 94 has a longitudinal slot 96 and 98 formed there through, the width of the slot being slightly greater than the width of the fastening means 46. Further, the widths of the slots are less than the diameter of the support pole 38 and therefore the blocks 92 and 94 which form the second embodiment of the upper rail connector are positioned atop the support column 38.

The linear dimensions of the upper rail connector blocks 92 and 94 approximate the inner dimensions of the side walls of the thermoplastic sheathing 22. In this configuration, blocks 92 and 94 can be adjusted independently in order to achieve the correct horizontal and vertical orientation of the thermoplastic sheathing 22 when thermoplastic sheathing 22 is slidably received onto the support post assembly 30. Once the installer has determined that the correct vertical, horizontal and geometric orientation has been achieved, the fastening means 46 would be threaded firmly into the threaded aperture 44 at the upper end of support column 38. In this embodiment, as with the first embodiment, a suitable, aesthetic cap 39 member would be secured to the sheath column in order to cover the fastener means 46.

In both embodiments of the support post assembly, the horizontal railings 18 and balusters 20 would be secured to the sheath spaced apart support post assemblies in conventional manner.

FIG. 9 is a side exploded view of a second embodiment of the structural post assembly 30 of the present invention in which the adjustable upper rail connector is of similar design to the slidable, rotatable base rail connector 48 of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the upper adjustable upper rail connector 170 is slideably receivable over the support post 38 and positioned proximate the upper end of support post 38. Upper adjustable upper rail connector 170 is preferably molded or extruded of polymer and is substantially identical to base rail connector 48 comprising a segmented cylindrical core defining a central aperture and four radiating arms radiating outwardly from the segmented cylindrical core, in 90 degree relationship to each other, each of said radiating arms defining a corner with adjacent vertical surfaces. The adjacent planar surfaces of each defined corner are set apart from the adjacent planar surfaces of the next adjacent corner by a gap. The distance from each adjacent corner of upper adjustable cap connector approximates the side distances of a standard wooden post 4×4. Adjustable upper rail connector 170 functions in the same manner as the rotatable base rail connector 48 of the first embodiment in allowing the thermoplastic sheathing or sleeve 22 to slidably engage the upper adjustable upper rail connector 170 and the base rail connector 48 and upper adjustable upper rail connector 170 allows for the installer to obtain the correct vertical or horizontal orientation of the support post.

Adjustable upper rail connector 170 also has an additional feature in that one of the walls forming the segmented cylindrical core is formed with a vertical slot 180. The building codes in various jurisdictions dictate the required height of a railing system depending upon its use. In many jurisdictions, the building codes have specified a residential railing system with a height of 36 inches and in commercial installations require a railing system with a height of 42 inches. By adjusting the height of adjustable upper rail connector 170 and the length of slot 180, an installer can use a standardized length of metal support post 38 for either commercial or residential installations. The additional height for a commercial installation is achieved by a threaded fastener 182 and cooperative threaded aperture 184 in the metal support post 38. Threaded fastener 182 fits into slot 180 on adjustable upper rail connector 170 and can be tightened down to secure the height at which adjustable upper rail connector 170 is positioned. If additional height is required for a commercial installation, the threaded fastener 180 is loosened, adjustable upper rail connector 170 is slid upwardly to achieve the required height and the threaded fastener 180 is retightened to secure adjustable upper rail connector 170 at this increased height position.

FIG. 10 is a side exploded view of a another embodiment of the present structure post assembly and FIG. 11 is a top view of this additional embodiment. In this embodiment, the support post 38 and slidable rotatable base rail connector 48 are installed as previously described with the other embodiments. In this embodiment, the adjustable upper rail connector 270 is identical to the slibable rotatable base rail connector 48 in its structure. However, in this configuration, adjustable upper rail connector 270 would sit atop support post 38 as opposed to being slidably received thereon. This is accomplished by positioning a first washer 190 on the upper surface 40 of support post 38, then positioning adjustable upper rail connector 270 on this washer with the central aperture 252 of segmented cylindrical core 250 in alignment with the aperture in first washer 190 and the threaded bore in the top of the support post. A second washer 192 and optional third washer 194 are positioned on top of adjustable upper rail connector 270 in alignment with the central aperture 252 of segmented cylindrical core 250. A threaded fastener 46 is then passed through the apertures of the upper washers 192 and 194, the central aperture 252 of segmented cylindrical core 250 of adjustable upper rail connector 270 and the aperture of first washer 190 and is threaded affixed in the threaded aperture 44 on the top surface of the support post 38. Threaded fastener 46 is tightened so as to secure upper adjustable cap connector 270 to support post 38 is less than the diameter of the apertures of the washers 190, 192, and 194, and the central aperture 252 of segmented cylindrical core 250, such that there is some play or tolerance in the adjustable upper rail connector 270 to allow the installer to achieve the correct vertical orientation when the thermoplastic sleeve is secured on the support post assembly. Once this orientation has been correctly achieved, threaded fastener 46 is further tightened to secure adjustable upper rail connector to support post 38.

Washers 192 and 194 are utilized in this particular assembly because of the unique shape of the upper surface of the adjustable upper rail connector 270 so there is achielved sufficient contact surface area with the upper surface to maintain it in position once the threaded faster 46 is fully threaded downwardly into the aperture 44 formed in support member 38.

While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.

Claims

1. A structural support post assembly for thermoplastic railing systems of the type having a plurality of vertical support posts having horizontal rails there between said rails having a plurality of vertical balusters secured thereto, said structural support post assembly comprising:

a base member secured to a substrate, said base member having a centrally disposed aperture therethrough;

a support pole, cylindrical in cross sectional area, having a lower end and an upper end, said lower end receivable and securable within said aperture of said base plate;

an adjustable base rail connector slidably receivable on said support post and positionable proximate said lower end of said support post, said base rail connector defined by a segmented cylindrical core having four outward corner projections in 90 degree flexed relationship to each adjacent corner projection, each projection defining a corner, defined by adjacent planar vertical surfaces, the cross section of said base rail connector defined by said corner projections equaling the interior cross section of a thermoplastic support post sleeve slidably engageable over said base rail connector;

an adjustable upper rail connector securable on said upper end of said support post, said upper rail connector for the slidable receipt within a thermoplastic support post sleeve, said base rail connector and said upper rail connector allowing for the correct orientation and squaring of the thermoplastic support post sleeve before the connection of horizontal rails of said thermoplastic railing system.

2. The structural support post assembly for a thermoplastic railing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said base rail connector and said upper rail connector are identical.

3. The structural support post assembly for a thermoplastic railing system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said base rail connector and said upper rail connector are each constructed of unitary construction of molded or extruded polymer and comprises a segmented cylindrical core defining a central aperture which is securable on said support post there being four radiating projections radiating outwardly from said segmented cylindrical core in 90 degree flexed relationship to each adjacent projection, each of said radiating projections defining a corner with adjacent planar vertical surfaces and defining a gap between each adjacent corner, the segmented cylindrical core and said radiating projections provide tolerance and flexure for receipt of said thermoplastic support post sleeve for the orientation and squaring of the sleeve prior to the attachment of said rails of said railing system.

4. The structural support post assembly for thermoplastic railing systems in accordance with claim 3 wherein said upper rail connector is formed with a vertical slot in a wall of said segmented cylindrical core, said vertical slot cooperable with an aperture formed in said support post so as to permit the vertical slidable adjustment of the upper rail connector and the support post and to secure the upper rail connector in position by means of a fastener means cooperable with said slot and said aperture in said support post.

5. The structural support post assembly for thermoplastic railing systems in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support pole is formed with a threaded bore on its upper end, said threaded bore in axial alignment with said support pole.

6. The structural support post assembly for thermoplastic railing systems in accordance with claim 5 wherein said upper rail connector is secured on said upper end of said support pole by means of a plurality of washers alignable with said segmented cylindrical core and a threaded fastener means passing through said plurality of washers and said segmented cylindrical core into said threaded bore securing said upper rail connector to said support post.

7. The structural support post assembly for thermoplastic railing systems in accordance with claim 5 wherein said upper rail connector comprises a rectangular block member having a longitudinal slot, said rectangular block member positioned on top of said support post, and secured thereto by a threaded fastener passing through said longitudinal slot into said threaded bore, said rectangular member having at least one dimension equal to the interior width of said thermoplastic support post sleeve, said rectangular member adjustable on said support post by means of said longitudinal slot so as to obtain correct orientation and squaring of said thermoplastic support post sleeve before connection of said horizontal rails of said thermoplastic railing system.

8. The structural support post assembly for thermoplastic railing systems in accordance with claim 5 wherein said upper rail connector comprises two rectangular block members each having a longitudinal slot there through, said two rectangular members secured to said upper end of said support pole by means of a threaded fastener passing through said longitudinal slots and into said threaded bore, said two rectangular members being oriented perpendicular to each other, each of said rectangular members having a dimension equal to the width of the interior cross section of said thermoplastic support post sleeve, said two rectangular members adjustable with respect to each other in order to correctly orient and square said thermoplastic support post sleeve before connection of said horizontal rails of said thermoplastic railing system.

9. A method of installation for a structural support post assembly for thermoplastic railing systems of the type having a plurality of vertical support posts having horizontal rails there between, said horizontal rails having a plurality of vertical balusters secured thereto, said method of installing said structural support post assembly comprising:

a. securing a base plate member to a substrate, said base plate member having a centrally disposed aperture there through;

b. positioning a vertical support pole having a lower end and an upper end, cylindrical in cross section into said aperture in said base member and securing said vertical support pole thereto;

c. slidably positioning an adjustable base rail connector onto said support pole and positioning said adjustable base rail connector proximate said lower end of said support pole, said adjustable base rail connector defined by a segmented cylindrical core having four outward corner projections in 90 degree flex relationship to each adjacent corner projection, each projection defining a corner, defined by adjacent planar vertical surfaces, the cross section of said base rail connector defined by said corner projections and equaling the interior cross section of a thermoplastic support post sleeve slidably engagable over said base rail connector;

d. positioning an upper rail connector securable on said upper end of said support pole, said upper rail connector for slidable receipt within said thermoplastic support post sleeve;

e. slidably positioning said thermoplastic support post sleeve over said upper rail connector, said lower rail connector, and said support post;

f. adjusting said thermoplastic support post sleeve utilizing said adjustable base rail connector and said adjustable upper rail connector to achieve the correct orientation and squaring of said thermoplastic support post sleeve;

g. securing said upper rail connector to said support post;

h. repeating steps a through g for an adjacent structural support post;

i. securing said horizontal rails between said adjacent thermoplastic support post sleeves by securing said rails to said adjustable base rail connector and said adjustable upper rail connector; and

j. repeating steps a through i to complete construction of said thermoplastic railing system.