EP0818593A1 - Balustrade structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The fixed or movable balustrade assembly consists of vertical bars (1) and at least two horizontal rails (2). At least one of the rails is made from two members, fitted together face to face. The two members of the horizontal rails are joined together and to the vertical bars by brackets (6). Each bracket has two jaws (8, 11) which grip the rail members when a screw (14) passing through them is tightened. The jaw (11) situated between the horizontal rail and vertical bar has teeth (13,13') projecting from both sides to grip the upper surface of the rail members and the lower surface of the vertical bar.

Description

The present invention relates to a balustrade structure, barrier or the like fixed or mobile of the type comprising an element of filling and covering called baluster and at least two smooth supports of which at least one of the rails has at least two profiles carriers extended opposite.

The barriers of the type under consideration generally consist of load-bearing profiles pre-drilled to allow the anchoring of rods reminder oriented perpendicular to the plane of the baluster and used to support the constituent elements of the baluster embedded between the faces of joining of bearing profiles which exposes said rods to stress significant tearing under the action of side impacts. Moreover, the rods define a greater or equal spacing between bearing profiles to the width of the baluster which limits the rigidity of the beam.

The object of the present invention is to obtain beams of better rigidity, assembled by means of securing devices acting in jaws on the supporting profiles so as to allow cohesion of a smooth assembly, the internal faces of the railing of profiles allow the baluster to be supported.

The invention allows easier assembly of the baluster on the smooth supports and better cohesion of the supporting profiles when are subject to side impact.

To this end, the invention applies to a balustrade structure, fixed or movable barrier or the like of the type comprising an element of filling and covering called baluster, possibly made up vertical bars and at least two support beams, one of which minus includes at least two load-bearing profiles extending opposite so as to jointly ensure the rigidity of the heddle, said sections possibly being associated with a handrail on their external face to the balustrade called "external face of the profiles".

According to the invention, the baluster is connected on the internal face to the balustrade of the supporting profiles called "internal face of the profiles" and the structure includes a device for securing the supporting profiles comprising at least two cross section anchors appropriate to rest, concordantly and astride, on the profiles juxtaposed by acting on their jaws.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the structure comprises connecting elements (for example constituted by return rods, screws or rivets) connecting two to two of the anchor jumpers arranged in concordance, said connecting elements being arranged in the gap between two juxtaposed profiles and being likely to be actuated to move in said opening in the direction going from one to the other of the jumpers that they connect.

This embodiment makes it possible to exercise compression the side edges of the anchor jumpers on the profiles.

According to a particular embodiment, support means such that grooves are formed on the joining face of the profiles serving of stops at the lateral edges of at least one of the anchor jumpers.

Preferably, a connecting branch, oriented substantially parallel to the plane opposite the bearing profiles, connects, according to a suitable temporary spacing, two anchor jumpers positioned in concordance; said branch being liable to be deformed under the action of the connecting elements.

For example, the securing device is shaped in profile of cross section in general H shape which determines two anchor branches extending longitudinally on the profiles and a intermediate link branch, extending in the plane opposite load-bearing profiles, able to deform under the action of connecting elements adjustable through the H profile following the connecting branch.

According to a variant using the connecting elements (advantageously constituted in this case by rods), one of the two jumpers connected by these elements rests on the internal face of the profiles and is part of the baluster.

Advantageously, the device is associated with elements of junction between the baluster and the supporting profiles. For example, these elements are put in compression by the fastening device between the internal face of the profiles and the end of components of the baluster (which can play the role of an anchor rider); said junction elements have protruding edges able to be embedded respectively towards the internal face of the profiles and towards the end of the constituent elements of the baluster when compressed.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one at least of the anchor jumpers has two wings oriented towards the load-bearing profiles substantially symmetrically with respect to the plane opposite profiles and supported on them under a cantilever suitable so that compression of said wings on the profiles causes the bearing profiles to come together on their plane opposite.

This arrangement promotes the maintenance of the structure under side impact and is likely to allow invisible assembly load-bearing profiles.

Optionally, at least one of the bearing profiles receives a seal flexible extending longitudinally on one of the edges external to the core of the rail of the profile and able to match the profile of organs, such as connecting elements or connecting elements, extending between said outer edges of two juxtaposed supporting profiles.

Very advantageously, the anchor jumpers are associated with reinforcement profiles extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smooth as a jumper on two supporting profiles juxtaposed and maintained in compression on these by two consecutive securing devices resting on the terminal ends of said reinforcement profiles.

The connecting elements between the baluster and the supporting profiles previously mentioned may, alternatively, present extensions which extend between the joining faces of the profiles carriers and which are provided with protuberances. These extensions, by example made in the form of two divergent branches, can fit into the anchor jumper located opposite under the effect of a sliding in the longitudinal direction of the arm, which has a suitable conformation (for example, it has a shaped groove complementary to that of the extensions). These connecting elements are supported on the jumper located opposite and on the internal face of the load-bearing profiles. The junction elements are part of the secured to the baluster and includes any means suitable for this purpose. In particular, if the baluster includes a panel such as a glazed panel, the joining elements may have a U-shaped groove suitable for receive the end of the panel.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the support profiles are curved (definitively or by means of flexion) and these profiles are secured by at least two securing devices arranged in the vicinity of the ends of said profiles.

The bent support profiles thus secured at their ends retain their bending after removal of the setting means appropriate deflection.

• La figure 1 est une vue partielle en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation de la structure de l'invention ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues partielles en perspective de variantes de réalisation de la structure de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues partielles en perspective d'autres modes de réalisation de la structure de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows of various embodiments of the structure of the invention, description given by way of example only and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a first embodiment of the structure of the invention;
• Figures 2 and 3 are partial perspective views of alternative embodiments of the structure of Figure 1;
• Figures 4 and 5 are partial perspective views of other embodiments of the structure of the invention.

In the following, we will call "internal face" of the profiles that of their faces which is turned towards the inside of the balustrade, that is to say towards the balusters, when they are placed to form a smooth. By example, for the profiles of the bottom rail, the internal face is their upper side. The external face is opposite to the internal face. The faces internal and external of the boom are defined correspondingly. The joining faces of two profiles assembled to form a rail are those of their respective faces which are turned towards each other. The lateral faces are the opposite faces to the joining faces.

In the structure shown in Figure 1, more particularly intended for the realization of wooden railings, the baluster is made up by vertical bars 1 resting on two load-bearing profiles 2 identical shaped as half-elements forming a section partial transverse of the bottom rail and positioned symmetrically by report to the plan of the baluster.

The profiles have, on their internal face 3 to the balustrade, a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bars 1 and, on their face external 4, a groove 5.

The vertical bars 1 are associated with anchor jumpers made from the same plate of suitable material shaped so as to define, in 6 and 7 superimposed plates bearing on the external face of the heald and provided with wings 8 and 9 capable of fitting into the grooves 5, 10 of the connecting branches extending between the faces for joining profiles 2, and at 11 a junction plate interposed at flat between the end 12 of the bars 1 and the internal face 3 of the profiles 2. Said plate 11 determines in 13 and 13 'oriented projecting parts respectively towards the internal face of the profiles and towards the end of the bars.

Return rods, for example constituted by screws 14, are inserted between profiles 2 through bores 15 made on the plates 6, 7 and 11, and bear on the external plate 6 and on the end 12 of the bar 1 brought into concordance. These rods bring the anchor jumpers formed by this plate 6 and this end 12 and to keep them in compression on the load-bearing profiles.

The device is possibly associated with a stiffening post consisting of a base 16 on which are anchored a rod 17, fixed in its upper end (not shown) at the top of a bar 1, and a jack 18 made of nested tubes, the end of which can be placed on the head of the return screws 14 during compression of the railing.

Advantageously, the anchor jumpers have means of appropriate connection to a load-bearing element. For this purpose, on the external face stringers, the ends of the screws 14 close to their heads are arranged in end pieces 19 of tube, possibly tapped, and in tubular stops 20, possibly threaded, suitable for allowing a connection on the upper end of the jack 18.

The high rail shown in Figure 2 is more particularly intended for the production of metal or plastic railings.

For this purpose, the profiles 24 are hollow and have faces of open joint and anchor jumpers are shaped into sections 21 and 21 'of two complementary metal profiles fitted to intercalation with each other and arranged inside the smooth formed by two profiles 24; some sections shaped into channels 21 receive the end of other sections 21 ′ of cross section in general shape of U whose wings 22, parallel, are oriented towards the external faces 23 of the profiles 24.

The channels 21 have two substantially parallel wings 25 to the lateral faces of the profiles, oriented respectively towards the faces internal 26 of the profiles 24 and bearing on them (on the internal side to the profile) according to an appropriate overhang. Bores in the base of the channels 21 allow the passage of a return screw 27, inserted between the external faces of the profiles 24, and the screwing of pressure screws 28 inserted between the internal faces of the profiles. These screws 28 exert a vertical thrust on the sections 21 'so as to position the wings 22 of these in support grooves 29 shaped longitudinally under the external face 23 of the profiles.

The return screws 27 bear on the channels 21 and exert compression of the end of the vertical bars 30 of the baluster with cross section in X on the internal face of the profiles.

A junction branch 31 formed longitudinally on the face internal of the profiles abuts on the side 32 of the bars under the support cantilevered channels 21.

In fact, in the example of Figure 2, the supporting profiles are taken in jaws between the bases of the channels 21 and the ends of the bars 30. We can therefore consider that the channels 21 and the bars 30 constitute anchor jumpers and that the sections 21 'form reinforcement profiles.

The structure is possibly associated with a fixing plate 33 on a carrier element and a device forming a corner angle. The plate 33, similar in shape to the cross section of the heald, is fixed using screws 27 'which, through holes 34 and 34', are inserted into bores 35 profiles. A hole 36 allows attachment to the carrier element to using another screw.

The angle bracket device consists of two brackets 37 and 38, of respective section similar to sections 21 and 21 ', associated with two pressure screws 28 screwed on the bracket 37 and likely to exert a vertical thrust on the bracket 38.

The device shown in Figure 3, more particularly intended for the realization of a child safety barrier, is composed of leaves 39 positioned between uprights 40. Each of the leaves is provided with a high beam 41 and a low beam (not shown) each consisting of two identical sections 42 forming beams of convex profile, on their internal face to the balustrade, suitable for receiving the concave end of the bars 43 and of suitable profile, on their face external, to receive anchor plates, similar to plate 6 of the device of Figure 1, serving as a support for return screws (not shown), inserted between profiles 42 towards the bars 43. The top rail 41 receives a handrail 44 fixed by means of screws recall 45 inserted between profiles.

The uprights 40 receiving the end 46 of the beams distant from the axis of rotation of the leaves 39 are provided with catches 47 capable of fit between the sections 42. At their end 48 close to the axis of leaf rotation, the beams receive an anchor plate 50 plus long, associated with a hinge 49 capable of fitting into a ring 68 fixed to the amount 40. This hinge 49 has a tip 70 which is swollen to come in abutment against the ring 68 in order to limit the movement of the leaves upwards, the amplitude of this movement being sufficient, however, to allow the rails to be mounted on the cleats 47. The hinge has, in in addition, a hole 69 in which one can insert a key 71 for hinder sliding.

The structure shown in Figure 4, more particularly intended to the realization of mobile barriers for children, is composed of vertical tubular bars 53 provided with a longitudinal notch (not shown) and load-bearing sections 54 ′ comprising several sections 55 of cross section in C or the like capable of sliding together the others so as to obtain tubular beams 54 capable of to be adjusted in length by telescopic adjustment and to be locked by means of anchor jumpers 56 acting by pinching on several sections of two sections 54 'juxtaposed.

For this purpose the anchor jumpers 56, resting on the faces internal 57 and external 58 of the profiles, are linked two by two by a return screw 59 extending on the plane opposite the profiles at through bores 52 made on the anchor jumpers 56.

The return screws 59 cooperate with nuts 60 and 60 'in support on the outer faces 51 to the beam of the jumpers 56 and some of which 60 ' are likely to be inserted in sleeves on the end of the bars in order to define a structure comprising at least one rectangle of appropriate dimensions to allow the insertion of a taut net 61, constituting the baluster, fixed on the notched side of the bars and the face internal profiles by appropriate joining means.

Thus, flanges 62 are sewn on the edge of the net, each of flanges determines in 63 a narrow central part able to be inserted at sliding in the notches of the bars and likely to slide between the internal faces 57 of the profiles and at 64 one end more thick resting on the internal faces of the profiles (inside these) under elastic traction of the net.

At its ends, the arm receives a jack-sleeve 65 capable of to ensure a temporary immobilization of the structure between two fixed elements.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the bearing profiles include two series of profile sections, the butted sections of each series respectively forming a first and a second profile juxtaposed, said sections being arranged so that the butts of the sections of a series are inserted between the butts sections of the other series.

This allows the making of beams of variable lengths from sections of "standard" length sections. Furthermore, this provision allows for a smooth curve. Thus, the structure represented in Figure 5, more particularly intended for the realization of circular parks for children, consists of a baluster shaped into fabrics rectangular elastics 96 provided with junction loops 97 and 97 ' rigid respectively in vertical and horizontal position, of posts 98 and two rails, respectively high and low, whose supporting profiles define a succession of standard length sections abutted by so that two sections positioned facing each other determine a intercalation of abutments between sections.

For this purpose, each of the heddles comprises two support profiles 99 and 100 respectively determining the first and the second face side of the arm, the second side face facing the center of the park (which corresponds to the center of the boom on the boom). These profiles consist of sections 101 and 102 of cross section identical and of similar length.

Joining devices 103 positioned in concordance with the buttings 104 between sections 102 on the profiles 100 turned towards the interior of the park determine two sections of tube 105, oriented perpendicular to the plane of the profiles 99 and 100. Between these tube sections are fixed two anchor jumpers shaped in overlapping plates 106 and 106 '. The plate 106 is provided tapped holes 107 through which pressure screws 108 pass, inserted between the profiles and extending towards the baluster, these screws abutting on the juxtaposed plate 106 '. So the tubes 105, taking support in circular grooves 118 made on the joint face profiles, provide temporary immobilization of the ends of two successive sections 102 of the section 100 on a section 101 of the section 99. The plates, inserted into 109,109 'shaped support grooves longitudinally in the joining faces of the sections 101 and 102, have protrusions 110 oriented parallel to the plane of vis-à-vis the profiles and capable of ensuring a final immobilization in fitting into the bottom 111 of the grooves 109, 109 'under the action of the pressure screws.

Cuneiform posts 98 inserted between two sections 101 successive on profile 99 have bores 112 in their part upper allowing the positioning of nut-inserts 113 and sliding grooves 114 allowing the insertion of two loops 97, respectively of two elastic fabrics 96 juxtaposed, and of plates of recall 115 bored and tapped so that the insert nuts 113 and the plates 115 cooperate with return screws 116 bearing on the sections 102 of the top and bottom rails in order to set compression posts 98 on two sections 101 juxtaposed with external profiles 99 according to a suitable overhang to allow the bending of the healds.

The profiles have support means shaped into grooves 117 extending over their joining faces and allowing support of horizontal loops 97 'of the fabric stretched on the internal face to the railing of profiles.

According to an embodiment not shown, at least one of the anchor jumpers has a curved surface (which forms its shape to the free state or which is obtained by any suitable bending means) and, during the tightening of the jumpers and their compression on the beam profile, at least one of these profiles is likely to cooperate with this curved surface to give the stringer a shape curve. For example, the two jumpers can be in the form of half-tubes "bent" between which the profiles are clamped. Alternatively, one only jumpers can be curved, the other being longer weak and constituting a fulcrum to conform the profiles to this curve.

Advantageously, these curved surfaces form bracing profiles. which have at least two wings oriented towards the profiles carriers substantially symmetrically with respect to the plane opposite load-bearing profiles and bearing on them; the outer wings at bending centers are sectioned along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heald and receive shaped bending means in wedging members inserted between two successive sections said wings.

Claims (10)

Balustrade structure, barrier or the like fixed or mobile of the type comprising a filling and covering element called a baluster, possibly consisting of vertical bars (1) and at least two support beams, at least one of which comprises at least two bearing profiles (2, 24, 42, 54 ', 99, 100) extending vis-à-vis so as to jointly ensure the rigidity of the heald, said profiles possibly being associated with a handrail (44) on their external face (4, 23, 58) to the balustrade called "external face of the profiles"
characterized in that the baluster is connected to the rail on the face of the support profiles (3, 26, 57) internal to the balustrade called "internal face of the profiles" and in that it comprises a device for securing the support profiles comprising at least two anchor jumpers (6, 1; 21,21 ', 30; 56; 106,106') of cross sections suitable for bearing, in concordance and straddling, on the juxtaposed profiles by acting on their jaws . Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that it has connecting elements (14, 27, 28, 59, 108) connecting two to two of the anchor jumpers in concordance, said connecting elements being arranged in the gap formed between two profiles juxtaposed and being capable of being actuated to move in said crack in the direction going from one to the other of the jumpers that they link. Structure according to claim 2, characterized in that one (12) of the two jumpers connected by the connecting elements rests on the internal face (3) of the profiles and is part of the baluster (1). Structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the anchor jumpers (21) comprises two wings (25) oriented towards the support profiles (24) substantially symmetrically with respect to the plane with respect to the profiles (24) and rests on them (24) under an appropriate overhang of so that a compression of said wings on the profiles bearers brings the bearer sections closer together on their plane of vis-a-vis. Structure according to claim 4, characterized in that one at less of the anchor jumpers has a curved surface and in that, when tightening the jumpers, one of the profiles is likely to cooperate with said surface to give the heald a curved shape. Structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the supporting profiles are curved and are secured by at least two securing devices arranged at the vicinity of the ends of said sections. Structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises connecting means (19, 20, 49) to a carrier element (16, 18), said means cooperating with some at less (6; 50) of the anchor jumpers. Structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the supporting profiles (99,100) define a succession of sections (101, 102) having substantially the same length, abutted so that two juxtaposed sections (99,100) determine a intercalation of abutments (104) between sections. Structure according to claim 8 characterized in that the rail includes two supporting profiles (99,100) respectively determining the first and second side face of the heald and consisting of sections (101.102) of similar length, in that it includes devices for joining (103) positioned in accordance with the abutments (104) between sections (102) on the profile (100) which is located on the center side of the boom and in that it comprises posts (98) cuneiforms placed in compression between two juxtaposed sections (101) on the profile opposite (99) to the center of bracing of the boom according to a suitable overhang to allow the deflection of the smooth. Structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the supporting profiles (54 ') comprise several sections (55) of C cross section or the like capable of slide into each other so as to obtain smooth tubular (54) capable of being adjusted in length by adjustment telescopic and to be blocked by means of anchor jumpers (56) acting by pinching on several sections (55) of two sections (54 ') juxtaposed.

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