BACKGROUND ART There are various known methods to attach a hand rail to a post to form a balustrade assembly. A simple method is to use fasteners such as bolts, screws and rivets. However, these can be quite unsightly and quite finicky to attach. Moreover, the handrail can usually not slide over the top of the post to a desired position prior to fastening.

It is also known to snap fit the handrail to the top of the post.

However, while this does away with fasteners, it is possible to inadvertently remove the handrail from the post if a sufficient twisting action is placed on the handrail.

Accidental removal of the handrail can lead to catastrophic results and severe injury.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an improved method of attachment of a handrail to a post which may overcome some of the above-mentioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in an attachment assembly to attach a handrail to a post, the attachment assembly comprising at least one member extending from the post and engageable to the handrail, and a wedge to lock the at least one member to the handrail.

In another form, the invention resides in a method for attaching a handrail to a post, the method comprising providing at least one member extending from the post, engaging the member to the handrail, and using a wedge to lock the at least one member to the handrail.

In this manner, the handrail can be securely attached to the post without the need for external screws, rivets and the like.

The handrail may be of any suitable shape and size. The handrail is

typically formed of metal such as extruded aluminium, although it is envisaged that the handrail may also be manufactured from other materials such as plastics, composite materials and the like. It is usual for the handrail to have a curved upper surface and a base wall. The base wall may be formed with an internal channel which is typically a longitudinal channel.

The post may be of any suitable shape and size. It is typical for the post to be square or rectangular, although a tubular post, oval post and the like may also be used. The post may be hollow or solid. If the post is solid, it is preferred that the upper part of the post is hollow or recessed. The post may have a length of anywhere between 0.5-2 m although no limitation is meant thereby. It is typical for the post to have a width of between 50-200 mm. If the post is hollow, it may have a wall thickness of between 1-5 mm although no limitation is meant thereby. The post may be made of metal such as extruded aluminium, although other materials are envisaged such as plastics, composite materials and the like. It is envisaged that the post may be formed in sections which are joined together to form the post.

The attachment assembly comprises at least one member extending from the post and engageable to the handrail. It is preferred that the at least one member forms part of a separate member which is attached to the post. This allows the post to be made more or less in a standard manner with the at least one member being separately attached to the post. However, it is also envisaged that the at least one member may form part of the post although this may make manufacture of the post more complicated.

The separate member may comprise a stake member. The stake member will typically contain the at least one member. The stake member may be attachable to the post. The attachment is preferably such that the stake member can be partially inserted into the top of a hollow post. However, other types of attachment are envisaged. For instance, if the post is solid, the stake member may be attached to the top, or other part of the solid post. Even if the post is hollow, the stake member need not be inserted into the top of the post and may be attached to the post by other means.

In an embodiment, the stake member is provided with at least one depending sidewall and preferably a pair of depending sidewalls which pass into the hollow top of the post to attach the stake member to the post. The depending

sidewalls are preferably positioned such that the stake member can be"press fitted" into the top of the post. Alternatively, the depending sidewalls are preferably positioned such that they are closely spaced from the inside walls of the post. One or more fasteners (such as screws) can then be used to securely fasten the stake to the post. Each sidewall is preferably substantially rectangular and may have a cross section length of between 20--100 mm and a width which is at least somewhat less than the opening in the post such that the sidewalls can pass into the opening. Of course, the sidewall need not be rectangular and may have other shapes. Furthermore, the sidewall may comprise finger members, or any other type of depending means to assist in the attachment of the stake member to the post.

The at least one member may comprise a flange or wall which can form part of the stake. Suitably, the flange or wall forms part of a top channel. Thus, the channel may be defined by a pair of sidewalls with one sidewall comprising the at least one member. It is preferred that a pair of members are provided and it is further preferred that each sidewall of the channel comprises one said member such that the pair of members are defined by the two sidewalls of the top channel.

The wedge is typically provided to clamp, fasten, lock etc the at least one member to the handrail. Typically, the wedge functions to urge or push the at least one member into some form of locking or clamping engagement with the handrail. If a pair of such members are provided and if these comprise the sidewalls of a channel as described above, the wedge may be positioned at least partially in the channel to allow the channel walls to be pushed outwardly into some form of locking or clamping engagement with the handrail.

The wedge typically comprises a wedge face which can be engaged with the at least one member to cause the at least one member to lock or clamp against the handrail. Suitably, the wedge comprises a wedge block or wedge portion which can move between a first position where the wedge block does not cause the at least one member to lock or clamp against the handrail, and a second position where the wedge block can engage with, or operatively with the at least one member. Suitably, the movement is a sliding movement or a linear movement but it is envisaged that a rotative movement may also be used. Suitably, the wedge comprises a plurality of wedge blocks and in a preferred embodiment the wedge is formed with a pair of wedge blocks. The wedge block may comprise a wedge face or wedge portion which

may be in the form of a ramped portion. Movement of the wedge face or wedge portion against the at least one member can result in the at least one member moving into its locking or clamping position against the handrail.

It is preferred that the wedge comprises a pair of wedge blocks, one wedge block containing an extending rod and the other wedge block being slidable on the rod between a non wedging position and a wedging position. Typically, the other wedge block is releasably held relative to the rod and this may be achieved using breakaway portions/frangible portions and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1. Illustrates an exploded view of an upper part of a hollow post and a stake member.

Figure 2. Illustrates the stake member of Figure 1 fitted into the top of the post, and a wedge positioned above the stake member.

Figure 3. Illustrates the wedge of Figure 2 fitted loosely into the top channel of the stake member but not yet in the wedging position.

Figure 4. Illustrates the assembly of Figure 3 with a handrail positioned above the wedge and stake member.

Figure 5. Illustrates an end view of the handrail of Figure 4 fitted over the wedge and stake member but not yet clamped in place.

Figure 6. Illustrates the end view of Figure 5 with the wedge moved to the wedging position and where the handrail is securely clamped or locked against the stake member.

Figure 7. Illustrates a view of the stake member containing the wedge which has moved to the wedging position to push out the sidewalls of the top channel to lock the stake member against the handrail.

BEST MODE Briefly, the invention according to the embodiment works as follows.

A stake member 10 is pushed into the open top of post 11 and is fastened in place by screws 12,13. The stake member 10 has an open top channel 14 which is defined by a pair of sidewalls 15,16. A wedge 17 (see figure 3) can be placed in channel 14.

The wedge has two wedge portions 18,19 which are outside the end of channel 14. A

handrail 20 (see figure 4) can be placed over the top of the wedge inside channel 14.

The wedge portions 18,19 are then squeezed together such that the wedge adopts the position illustrated in figure 7. This squeezing action forces each wedge portion 18, 19 into channel 14 and causes the sidewalls of the channel to be pushed outwardly and into clamping engagement with a channel in handrail 20. The handrail 20 is then securely attached to post 11.

Referring now in greater detail to the embodiment, and initially to figure 1, there is illustrated a post 11. In the particular embodiment, post 11 is rectangular, hollow, typically having a length of between 0.5-1. 5 m, and made in two halves which can be slid together to form the post. The post is entirely hollow and therefore has an open top. The post is typically made of extruded aluminium.

A stake member 10 is fitted into the open top of post 11. Stake member 10 is typically made of extruded aluminium. Stake member 10 is formed with a pair of depending sidewalls 21,22 which comprise flat rectangular members which pass into the open top of post 11. The distance between sidewalls 21,22 is such that the sidewalls are closely spaced from the inside sidewalls of post 11. Once the stake member 10 has been pushed into the open top of post 11, screws 12,13 attach each sidewall to post 11, and also function to secure the two halves of post 11 together.

The top part of stake member 10 is formed with a channel 14. Channel 14 comprises a pair of sidewalls 15,16. Each sidewall 15,16 has a free end 23 which is curved inwardly to better accept the wedge 17. This will be described in greater detail below.

A pair of horizontal land portions 24 is provided to extend over the outer face of post 11 and to prevent stake member 10 from being pushed too far into post 11.

Referring to figure 2, stake member 10 has been pushed into the top of post 11 and has been fitted and secured in place by screws 13,12. A wedge 17 is placed into channel 14 this being best illustrated in figure 3. Wedge 17 has a particular design and comprises a pair of wedge blocks 25,26 which are spaced apart by a connecting rod 27. Importantly, one of the wedge blocks (for instance 26) is attached to rod 27 by breakaway tabs or other types of breakaway means such that this wedge block can be pushed against wedge block 25 by sliding along rod 27. This

provides the wedging action and will be described in greater detail below. Each wedge block 25,26 is provided with a wedging face 28. The wedging face 28 comprises a ramped or diverging portion.

Referring to figure 3, wedge 17 has been placed inside channel 14.

Importantly, the length of channel 14 and the shape of wedge 17 is such that only the innermost portion of each wedge block 25,26 is in channel 14 and, at this stage, the wedging face 28 of each wedge block 25,26 is outside of channel 14. At this stage, wedge 17 can be lifted out of channel 14.

Referring to figure 4, a handrail 20 is fitted over the top of the wedge and channel arrangement illustrated in figure 3. Handrail 20 is formed with an internal channel 29 which is sized such that it can fit over sidewalls 14,15 which define channel 14 in stake member 10. This arrangement is also illustrated in figure 5. Internal channel 29 of handrail 20 is formed with a pair of horizontal land portions 30 which are best illustrated in figure 5. It can be seen that land portions 30 engage underneath curved top portions 23 of the sidewalls 15,16 of stake member 10.

Similarly a further outwardly extending rib or land portion 31 of stake member 10 sits above a short land portion 32 on handrail 20. Thus, handrail 20 is attached over channel 14 by a sliding action. When in the position illustrated in figure 5, handrail 20 can slide relative to stake member 10 but is prevented from being lifted from stake member 10 due to the various land portions 30, 31.

Finally, handrail 20 is clamped to stake portion 10 by compressing wedge 17. In practice, a handheld clamping device or other suitable device (not illustrated) is placed against the outer face of each wedge block 25,26 and is squeezed. One of the wedge blocks (for instance 26) is attached to rod 27 by breakaway portions (not illustrated) such that squeezing the wedge blocks together will cause wedge block 26 to break away and to slide along rod 27 until it abuts against wedge block 25. This position is illustrated in figure 7 where wedge block 26 has been compressed against wedge block 25. During this action, both wedge blocks 25,26 are pushed into channel 14 such that the wedging face 28 on each wedge block 25,26 is pushed into the channel. This action causes the sidewalls 15,16 of channel 14 to be pushed outwardly. This position is illustrated in figure 6 showing how the sidewalls 15,16 have been pushed outwardly to strongly clamp against the inside of channel 29 in handrail 20. At this stage, handrail 20 is securely clamped to post 11.

To prevent the compressed wedge block from moving back to the uncompressed position (see for instance the position in figure 2) a pair of barbs 35 is provided on rod 27. When wedge block 26 is compressed against wedge block 25, it rides over barbs 35 which prevent the wedge block 26 from moving back to the uncompressed position.

Thus, the assembly allows a handrail (or other type of member) to be attached to post in a very secure manner.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.