EP2492414B1 - Modular guardrail with adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates, in a general manner, to the technical field of guardrails intended, in the building sector, to be installed at the edge of slabs of balconies or terraces. More particularly, this invention is concerned with a railing of modular structure, provided with an adjusting device.

The railings of balconies or terraces are, usually, made with support bars at more or less important intervals, the tops of the support bars being interconnected by a horizontal handrail, while at intermediate heights these support bars are also interconnected by one or more horizontal rails. The smooth can be sufficiently close together to constitute by themselves a protective barrier. These rails may also remain relatively spaced, in which case they receive between them full or perforated filling elements such as panels of metal or laminated glass or plastic, or they are interconnected by a series of vertical bars sufficiently closer together.

The bases of the support bars are fixed at ground level, for example near the edge of a balcony slab, by means of hooves. Each shoe is itself fixed on the slab by means of a screw, advantageously with the interposition of a wedge allowing adjustment of inclination of the support bar.

In the simplest embodiments, the railings do not include any other height adjustment device. In this case, irregularities or inclinations of the edge of the slab echo to the top of the support bars, creating a lack of horizontality smooth and especially the handrail. This problem is posed not only in case of a construction defect on the front edge of the slab, but also in case of desired inclination of a side edge of the slab to facilitate the flow and evacuation of water rain by gravity.

Guardrails have already been designed with independent adjustment means for the rails and the handrail. This should theoretically allow a horizontal setting of the rails and the handrail. However, such a solution requires manual interventions at multiple points, at the time of installation of the railing, without guarantee the horizontality and parallelism of the rails and the handrail. This can result in a visual defect of the guardrail, or even a difficulty of setting up a filling panel between two smooth.

In a particular railing embodiment, described by the patent FR 2 857 395 B1 each support bar has at its base a shoe, on which are guided and immobilized two vertical sections to which are fixed the rails and the handrail. It is thus possible to vertically adjust the position of the rails and the handrail, maintaining their spacing and their parallelism, before immobilizing the assembly by means of a locking flange screwed on the shoe and simultaneously tightened against the bases of the two vertical profiles.

As conceived, such a railing embodiment does not allow an easy height adjustment and independent of the two sections, since it provides a common locking flange to these two sections.

In addition, the embodiment according to the aforementioned document eliminates any fixed and rigid support bar extending over the height of the railing, replacing such a support bar by two profiles to be fixed on the same low height shoe. This results in a mechanical weakness of the assembly, due to the fact that the guiding of the sections relative to the shoe is made over a very small length, and also to a risk of insufficient tightening of the locking flange against these profiles.

Moreover, even if it allows a certain adjustment in height, the solution mentioned here makes impossible any longitudinal adjustment, the two sections having a fixed horizontal gap because they are guided on a common shoe. However, it is important, when installing a railing, to be able to adjust it to the effective length of the balcony slab and / or to be able to compensate for differences or errors in horizontal dimensions.

A modular railing system quite similar to the previous one is described in the FR 2 741 903 A1 or its equivalent WO 97/21010 A1 . In particular, in this other document, the adjacent support bars which belong to two consecutive modules form a single pole, and are mounted on a single and common foot. Thus, the disadvantages of this system are substantially those described above.

Moreover, in this last document, the handrail is composed of successive elements, of length equal to that of a module.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages described above, and therefore aims to provide a railing with improved adjustment device, which allows a vertical as well as longitudinal adjustment, maintaining the spacing and parallelism of smooth and handrail, while avoiding to weaken the parts that participate in the mechanical strength of the railing and that undergo and transmit the efforts.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a modular railing with adjusting device, according to claim 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the two support bars of each module each comprise a lateral vertical groove into which a complementary part belonging to the associated bar is introduced and guided.

The locking means of each bar, in the set vertical position, comprise at least one locking screw, screwed into a corresponding threaded hole of the bar and adapted to be clamped against the bottom of the groove of the support bar.

Advantageously, the fastening means of the handrail consist of a connecting piece mounted at the top of each bar, the connecting piece covering the top of the associated support bar in the entire vertical adjustment range of the bar relative to the bar -support.

Thus, it is made a railing formed modules, in which the rails and the handrail are integral, these modules giving the possibility of adjusting the horizontality of the handrail by lifting more or less each bar. The rails being fixed between the bars, the vertical adjustment thus carried out preserves the spacing and the parallelism between the rails and the handrail. In addition, the constitution of the railing in initially independent modules, nevertheless interconnected by a common handrail to these modules, allows easy longitudinal adjustment at the time of installation of the railing, spacing more or less two adjacent support bars belonging to two consecutive modules, with a large adjustment range which, however, shall not exceed the maximum deviation set by the applicable standards or other safety requirements.

The guardrail design, object of the invention, retains an important and rigid fixed structure constituted by the support bars fixed on the slab by means of the shoes, and it provides a "long" guide of the bars by the grooves extending over the entire height of the support bars, which provides significant mechanical strength, the support bars can absorb and transmit significant effort.

The combination of each single-bar support bar allows vertical adjustment and individual tightening of all the bars, facilitating the installation of the railing, possibly with the use of appropriate shims to temporarily maintain a set position.

• deux barreaux-supports verticaux espacés, pourvus chacun à sa base d'un sabot de fixation,
• deux barrettes verticales respectivement guidées verticalement sur les deux barreaux-supports, les deux barrettes étant situées en vis-à-vis,
• au moins deux lisses horizontales reliant les deux barrettes,
• de préférence, un élément de remplissage ou une série de barreaux présents entre les lisses,
• des moyens de fixation d'une main-courante, portés par les sommets respectifs des deux barrettes, et
• des moyens de blocage de chaque barrette, relativement au barreau-support associé, dans une position verticale voulue.

A constituent module of a modular railing as defined above, is composed of:

• two spaced vertical support bars, each provided at its base with a fixing shoe,
• two vertical bars respectively guided vertically on the two support bars, the two bars being located vis-à-vis,
• at least two horizontal rails connecting the two bars,
• preferably, a filling element or a series of bars present between the rails,
• fastening means of a handrail, carried by the respective vertices of the two bars, and
• locking means of each bar relative to the associated support bar, in a desired vertical position.

• Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, d'un garde-corps modulaire conforme à la présente invention ;
• Figure 2 représente, en perspective, un module du garde-corps de la figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un barreau-support de ce garde-corps ;
• Figure 4 est une section horizontale du barreau-support de la figure 3 ;
• Figure 5 montre le détail de la base du barreau-support, avec son sabot de fixation ;
• Figure 6 montre un autre détail, dans la zone de liaison des lisses avec les barrettes ;
• Figure 7 montre le détail du sommet d'un barreau-support, avec la pièce de liaison prévue pour recevoir la main-courante.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of example, an embodiment of this modular railing with adjustment device:

• Figure 1 is an overview, in perspective, of a modular railing according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 represents, in perspective, a module of the railing of the figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a support bar of this railing;
• Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the support bar of the figure 3 ;
• Figure 5 shows the detail of the base of the support bar, with its fixing shoe;
• Figure 6 shows another detail, in the zone of connection of the smooth with the bars;
• Figure 7 shows the detail of the top of a support bar, with the connecting piece provided to receive the handrail.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 , the guardrail installed on a balcony slab 2 is made from independent modules 3, in the illustrated example several modules 3 placed one after another the along the front edge 4 of the slab 2, and another module 3 placed on a lateral edge 5 of this slab 2.

In a generally known manner, the railing comprises vertical support bars 6, horizontal rails 7, 8 and 9 which interconnect the support bars 6 at intermediate heights, and a handrail 10 interconnecting them the vertices of these support bars 6. In the example shown here, three rails 7, 8 and 9 are provided, with a lower rail 7, an intermediate rail 8, and a top rail 9. Filling panels 11 of shape rectangular are mounted between the lower rail 7 and the intermediate rail 8, while the upper rail 9 forms a simple protective bar. The bases of the support bars 6 are fixed on the slab 2 by means of shoes 12.

A module 3, as represented on the figure 2 , comprises two support bars 6 with their respective fixing shoes 12, the three rails 7, 8 and 9 connecting these two support bars 6, and the filling panel 11 which is mounted between the two rails 7 and 8. The bars -supports 2 are provided at their vertex respective connecting pieces 13, provided for the attachment of the handrail 10 which is common to all of the modules 3 and therefore does not belong to a particular module.

In detail, as shown by the figures 3 and 4 each support bar 6 comprises a main section 14 which constitutes the body of this support bar, the main section 14 comprising a single vertical lateral groove 15. In the groove 15 is introduced and guided vertically a complementary "T" part 16 , belonging to a vertical secondary profile, designated as a bar 17.

At the base of each support bar 6, and as shown in detail in the figure 5 , the lower end of the main section 14 is secured to the fixing shoe 12. The latter is intended to be clamped on the slab 2, with the interposition of a setting pad 18 with a toric surface, by means of a screw fixation 19. A cover 20 covers the fixing shoe 12, in particular to conceal and protect the fixing screw 19 (the cover 20 having been shown spaced from the shoe 12 for clarity of the drawing).

As shown in figure 6 , the different rails 7, 8 and 9 are all connected, by their ends, to the two bars 17 of a module 3, these two bars 17 being located vis-à-vis. The connection between the rails 7, 8, 9 and the bars 17 is made by means of screws (not shown), according to a technique known per se.

Finally referring to the figure 7 , the connecting pieces 13 provided for fixing the handrail 10 are mounted at the top of the bars 17. For clarity of the drawing, the figure 7 represents the connecting piece 13 spaced from the top of the main profile 14 of the support bar 6, it being understood that in final configuration this connecting piece 13 covers the top of the main section 14.

At the time of mounting the railing, the two bars 17 of a module 3 are slid into the grooves 15 of the main profiles 14 of the two support bars 6, and these bars 17 come to a low abutment on the fixing shoes 12 of the support bars 6.

Each module 3 thus prepared is placed on the slab 2, and is fixed thereto by tightening the fixing screws 19. The modules 3 are thus fixed one after the other, the support bar 6 right of a module 3 being located near the support bar 6 left of the next module 3. The spacing e between the vertical axis of the right-hand support bar 6 of a module 3 and the vertical axis of the left-hand support bar 6 of the next module 3 is adjustable by the simple choice of the position of installation and fixing of the respective shoes 12 of these two support bars 6. The railing is thus adaptable to the length of the slab 2, to compensate for inaccuracies in the length of this slab.

After such introduction of the modules 3, the connecting pieces 13 are mounted at the top of the bars 17 (unless they have already been previously), and the handrail 10 is itself fixed on these 13. At this time, as symbolized by the arrow F, it is possible to adjust the horizontality of the handrail 10, above each module 3, by raising more or less strongly each bar 17 relative to the fixing shoe 12 by sliding of this bar 17 in the vertical groove 15 of the associated main section 14. After adjusting the height of the bar 17, it is immobilized relative to the main profile 14 associated, by means of at least one locking screw 21. The locking screw 21 is screwed into a corresponding threaded hole 22 of the bar 17, and tightly against the bottom of the groove 15.

The rails 7, 8, 9 and the handrail 10 being secured to the same bars 17, it is understood that during such a setting operation, the spacing and parallelism of all the rails 7, 8, 9 and the handrail 10 is preserved.

This height adjustment operation makes it possible in particular to compensate for the defects in horizontality or other irregularities of the front edge 4 of the slab 2, but also to compensate for a slight intentional inclination of this slab 2 and its lateral edge 4, inclination to favor the flow and evacuation of rainwater.

• par des modifications de détails, concernant par exemple les sections des profilés ou les formes des sabots de fixation et des pièces de liaison avec la main-courante ;
• par une modification du nombre des lisses horizontales ;
• en remplaçant les éléments de remplissage, placés entre ces lisses, par une série de barreaux ;
• en destinant un tel garde-corps non seulement à des balcons, mais aussi à des terrasses, des passerelles, etc.

It is not departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims:

• by modifications of details, for example concerning the sections of the profiles or the shapes of the fixing shoes and the connecting pieces with the handrail;
• by a modification of the number of horizontal rails;
• replacing the filling elements, placed between these smooth, by a series of bars;
• by appointing such a railing not only to balconies, but also to terraces, footbridges, etc.

Claims (4)

1. A modular railing with an adjusting device, comprising support bars (6) disposed at intervals, whose tops are linked to each other by a handrail (10) and which are also linked to each other, at intermediate heights, by horizontal rails (7, 8, 9) capable of receiving therebetween filling elements (11) or a series of vertical bars, characterized in that the railing is constituted by initially independent modules (3), nevertheless linked to each other by the handrail (10), each composed of:

   - two spaced vertical support bars (6, 14) each provided at its base with a fastening shoe (12),

   - two vertical strips (17) respectively guided vertically on the two support bars (6, 14), the two strips (17) being located opposite to each other,

   - at least two horizontal rails (7, 8, 9) linking the two strips (17),

   - means for fastening (13) the handrail (10), carried by the respective tops of the two strips (17), and

   - blocking means (21, 22) of each strip (17), relative to the associated support bar (6, 14) in a desired vertical position,

   the handrail (10) being common to an assembly of modules (3) and not belonging to a particular module.
2. The modular railing according to claim 1, characterized in that the two support bars (6, 14) of each module (3) each include a lateral vertical groove (15), in which a complementary portion (16) belonging to the associated strip (17) is introduced and guided.
3. The modular railing according to claim 2, characterized in that the blocking means of each strip (17) in the adjusted vertical position comprise at least one blocking screw (21) screwed into a corresponding threaded hole (22) of the strip (17) and intended to be clamped against the bottom of the groove (15) of the support bar (6, 14).
4. The modular railing according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for fastening the handrail (10) are constituted by a link part (13) mounted on the top of each strip (17), the link part (13) enclosing the top of the associated support bar (6, 14) in the whole vertical adjusting range of the strip (17) relative to the support bar (6, 14).

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