EP3795768A1

EP3795768A1 - A connection element for connecting a glass element and a timber element

Info

Publication number: EP3795768A1
Application number: EP20197028.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: iga Unuk; Miroslav Premrov; Vesna egarac Leskovar
Original assignee: Univerza v Mariboru
Current assignee: Univerza v Mariboru
Priority date: 2019-09-19
Filing date: 2020-09-18
Publication date: 2021-03-24
Also published as: LU101392B1

Abstract

A connection element (10) for connecting a glass element (22) and a timber element (31), the connection element (10) comprises a body (11) for inserting into a hole (25) of the glass element (22) and/or placing over the hole (25) of the glass element (22), wherein the body (11) comprises at least two through holes (18) for receiving at least two screws (32) screwed into the timber element (31).

Description

The application claims the priority of the patent application no. LU101392 filed in Luxembourg on September 19, 2019. The disclosure of the patent application no. LU101392 is hereby incorporated by reference into the instant application.
The invention concerns a connection element for connecting a glass element and a timber element, a glass product, a timber-glass product and a method for attaching a glass element to a timber element.
The research field of timber-glass composites has become a dynamic segment of modern building construction where technical solutions are being developed and new applications are defined. The existing timber-glass composites reach from timber-glass beams (see, for example, Premrov M, Zlatinek M, Štrukelj A (2014) "Experimental analysis of load-bearing timber-glass I-beam", Construction of Unique Buildings and Structures 4:11-20) to timber-glass floor/roof panels (see, for example, Cruz P, Pequeno J (2008) "Timber-Glass Composite Structural Panels: Experimental Studies & Architectural Applications", in: Challenging Glass. Conference on Architectural and Structural Applications of Glass, Delft. pp 449-458) and also to timber-glass wall panels (see, for example, Ber B, Premrov M, Štrukelj A, Kuhta M (2014) "Experimental investigations of timber-glass composite wall panels", Construction and Building Materials 66:235-246"). These solutions are all meant for new structural elements.
Another possible application could be the strengthening of existing timber structures, thus adding glass to existing timber structures and forming load-bearing or structural timber-glass composites. The motivation behind such an attempt is the possibility of a visually unnoticeable strengthening or stiffening measure due to the transparency of glass. Such a measure would be especially favorable for renovation purposes where the originality of the building elements needs to be preserved in the highest possible extent, either due to architectural heritage demands or even due to the individual requests of architects, owners or investors. The current state of the art for connecting timber and glass elements and forming composites is the usage of flexible silicone adhesives, semi-stiff adhesives like polyurethane or stiff adhesives like acrylate and epoxy. In the renovation sense the usage of adhesives is not preferred as such a measure is not reversible and the majority of adhesives suitable for this task are not transparent.
In the sense of the supported glass area, two types of glass supports exist. The first type are linear supports and the second type are point supports. In the sense of appearance preservation, point supports seem to be superior to linear supports as they cover a relatively smaller area of the to be strengthened element. Point supports are further divided to point supports at glass panel edges and supports in holes. A somewhat newer development are point supports that are adhesively bonded to the glass surface (see, for example, Dispersyn J, Belis J (2016) "Numerical research on stiff adhesive point-fixings between glass and metal under uniaxial load", Glass Structures & Engineering 1:115-130) and friction supports (see, for example, Belis J, D'Haese D, Sonck D (2016) "Investigation of a friction-grip connection in laminated glass", Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Structures and Buildings 169:432-441). Another type are supports where a steel strip is bonded in the lamination plane between the glass panels (see, for example, Bedon C, Santarsiero M (2018) "Transparency in Structural Glass Systems Via Mechanical, Adhesive, and Laminated Connections - Existing Research and Developments", Advanced Engineering Materials).
In Baitinger M, Feldmann M (2010) "Ein Bemessungskonzept fur SL-belastete Anschlüsse im konstruktiven Glasbau", Stahlbau 79:60-69 and Baitinger M (2010) "Zur Bemessung von SL-belasteten Anschlüssen im konstruktiven Glasbau" stress distribution in glass holes is discussed. In Katsivalis I, Thomsen OT, Feih S, Achintha M (2018) "Strength evaluation and failure prediction of bolted and adhesive glass/steel joints", Glass Structures & Engineering 3:183-196 it was shown that adhesively bonded point supports result in higher connection strengths when compared to classic point supports in glass holes.
It is an underlying object of the invention to provide a connection element that allows to connect a glass element to a timber element in a reversible and minimally invasive way and that provides a connection between the glass and timber elements with sufficient load-bearing capacity and stiffness. It is further an object of the invention to provide a glass product, a timber-glass product and a method for attaching a glass element to a timber element.
The object underlying the invention is satisfied by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments and aspects of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.
In a first aspect of the instant application a connection element for connecting a glass element and a timber element is provided. The timber element may be an existing load-bearing or structural timber element. The connection element may be used for connecting one or two or more glass elements with the timber element.
The connection element has a body that can be at least partially inserted into a hole of the glass element or can be placed at least partially over the hole of the glass element, i.e., the body covers the hole at least partially. The body can also be designed such that a portion of the body is inserted in the hole and a portion of the body is placed over the hole.
Further, the body comprises at least two through holes. In particular, the body may comprise more than two through holes. Each of the at least two through holes is configured to receive at least one screw, in particular a self-tapping screw, that is screwed into the timber element. In particular, a respective screw is inserted into each of the through holes of the body.
The connection element may also be denoted as glass-timber connection element.
The connection element may be attached to the glass element by means of adhesive material.
The connection between the glass and timber elements established by the connection element can be considered as a hybrid connection since it is a mixture of a bonded point support and a glass hole point support. The connection element assures force transfer from the glass element to the timber element in a way that the stresses in the glass element are held at reasonable levels. It also enables the force transfer with friction forces developed at the contact between the glass element and the timber element. Since the connection element is screwed to the timber element, it can be easily removed. In addition, the connection between the glass and timber elements is minimally invasive and provides sufficient load-bearing capacity and stiffness.
Per one connection point two self-tapping screws may be used, which means that the connection element has two through holes that are configured to receive the screws. In case the connection element has an appropriate size, it may be provided that more than two self-tapping screws are used for one connection point.
The body of the connection element may include a first portion and a second portion. The at least two through holes may extend through the first portion and the second portion. In particular, the body may comprise more than two through holes and each of the through holes may extend through the first portion and the second portion. In addition, the diameter of the first portion may be smaller than the diameter of the second portion.
The first portion may be the insertion portion of the body and may be configured to be inserted into the hole of the glass element. The second portion may be placed over the hole of the glass element.
The first portion and/or the second portion may have the shape of a cylinder. In particular, the cylinders may be circular cylinders meaning that their bases are circular. Further, the axes of the two cylinders may be aligned. The cylinders of the first and second portions may be arranged such that a base surface of one of the cylinders is attached directly to a base surface of the other cylinder. The bases of both cylinders may be parallel. Further, both cylinders may be made in one piece.
Instead of having a first portion that is inserted into the hole of the glass element and a second portion that is placed over the hole of the glass element, the body may have the shape of a single cylinder. For example, the body may have such a size that the body can be inserted into the hole of the glass element. Alternatively, the body may have such a shape that the body cannot be inserted into the hole of the glass element, but can be placed over hole of the glass element thus covering the hole of the glass element at least partially. In this case, the diameter of the body may be larger than the diameter of the hole of the glass element.
In one embodiment, the connection element is made of aluminum. The use of aluminum is advantageous as the elastic modulus of aluminum is similar to the elastic modulus of glass. There is also no contact corrosion danger between typical self-tapping screws and aluminum.
The angle that is defined by each through hole and a main surface of the body may depend on the thickness of the glass element. Each through hole may form an angle with a main surface of the body in the range from 30° to 60°. In case the glass element has a thickness in the range from 8 mm to 10 mm, the angle formed by a through hole with the main surface of the body may be around 45°. The main surface of the body may be one of the base surfaces of the cylinder and, in particular, one of the base surfaces of the cylinders of the first and second portions.
In case the body includes two or more through holes, these through holes may not be in contact, i.e., they do not overlap in order to ensure that screws can be inserted into each through hole.
Each of the at least two through holes may have a first section and a second section, wherein the diameter of the first section is smaller than the diameter of the second section. The first section may be extend through a first outer surface of the body and the second section may extend through a second outer surface of the body. In particular, the first section may extend through an outer surface of the first portion and the second section may extend through an outer surface of the second portion. The second section having the larger diameter is meant for the installation of the screw head, whereas the first section having the smaller diameter provides space for the screw thread. The two or more self-tapping screws are screwed through the connection element to the timber element.
According to a second aspect of the application, a glass product comprises at least one connection element according to the first aspect and a glass element that has at least one hole. The body of the at least one connection element is inserted at least partially into the at least one hole of the glass element and/or is placed at least partially over the at least one hole of the glass element.
The glass product can be prefabricated in a factory by attaching the at least one connection element to the glass element. This grade of prefabrication allows the attachment of the glass element to the timber element at the construction site only by installing the self-tapping screws.
If the body of the at least one connection element has a first portion and a second portion as described above, the first portion of the body is inserted into the at least one hole of the glass element.
The diameter of the second portion of the body of the connection element may be larger than the diameter of the corresponding hole in the glass element so that an outer surface of the second portion of the body of the connection element, which protrudes beyond the first portion, abuts on a first surface of the glass element. The first surface of the glass element is an air surface by means of glass production. The glass element will be attached to the existing timber element in a way that a second surface of the glass element that is opposite to the first surface is in contact with the glass element.
Each of the connection elements may be adhesively bonded to the glass element via at least one surface and, in particular, two surfaces.
Adhesive material may be deposited between the outer surface of the second portion of the body and the first surface of the glass element, which is the air side of the glass element.
Further, adhesive material may be deposited between the first portion of the body of the connection element and the inner surface of the at least one hole of the glass element.
The two adhesive materials, i.e., the adhesive material deposited between the outer surface of the second portion of the body and the first surface of the glass element and the adhesive material deposited between the first portion of the body of the connection element and the inner surface of the at least one hole of the glass element, may be of a different type.
In one embodiment, the glass element may comprise at least two holes. Further, the glass product may comprise at least two connection elements as disclosed herein. The body of each of the at least two connection elements may be inserted at least partially into a respective one of the at least two holes of the glass element and/or may be placed at least partially over a respective one of the at least two holes of the glass element.
According to a third aspect of the application, a timber-glass product, in particular a load-bearing composite timber-glass product, comprises a glass product according to the second aspect, a timber element, and at least two screws, in particular two or more self-tapping screws, inserted into the at least two through holes of the body of the at least one connection element and screwed into the timber element.
The at least two screws may press the glass product to the timber element.
The at least two screws may have no direct contact with the glass element.
The timber element may be an existing load-bearing or structural timber element, which means that the load-bearing or structural timber element exists before the glass product according to the second aspect is attached to the timber element.
The timber element may be used as a timber column, a timber beam, a timber floor joist or a timber truss member. Further, the timber element may have been used as a timber column, a timber beam, a timber floor joist or a timber truss member before the glass product is attached to the timber element.
The glass product may function as a transparent structural reinforcement for the existing load-bearing timber element. The load-bearing composite timber-glass product may be used for the same purpose as the existing load-bearing timber element.
The glass element and the timber element may be parallel to each other.
An outer surface of the second portion of the body of the at least one connection element may abut on a first surface of the glass element. The timber element may abut on a second surface of the glass element opposite to the first surface of the glass element. In particular, the timber element may be in direct contact with the second surface of the glass element. This contact enables friction forces to develop which enlarge the stiffness and the strength of the connection between the existing load-bearing timber element and the glass product and which magnifies the composite action of the load-bearing composite timber-glass product.
The timber-glass product may comprise one or more of the glass elements as described herein.
According to a fourth aspect, a method for attaching a glass element to a timber element comprises providing the glass element, the timber element and at least one connection element according to the first aspect. The body of the at least one connection element is at least partially inserted into at least one hole in the glass element and/or the body is placed at least partially over the at least one hole in the glass element. Thereafter, at least two screws, in particular at least two self-tapping screws, are inserted into the at least two through holes of the body of the at least one connection element and are screwed to the timber element. In particular, a respective screw is inserted into each of the two or more through holes of the body.
In one embodiment, the glass element may comprise at least two holes and at least two connection elements may be provided. Each body of the at least two connection elements may be at least partially inserted into a respective one of the at least two holes in the glass element and/or each body may be placed at least partially over a respective one of the at least two holes in the glass element. Thereafter, at least two screws, in particular at least two self-tapping screws, are inserted into the at least two through holes of each body of the at least two connection elements and are screwed to the timber element. In particular, a respective screw is inserted into each of the two or more through holes of each body.
The timber element may be an existing load-bearing or structural timber element, which means that the load-bearing or structural timber element exists before the glass product according to the second aspect is attached to the timber element.
The timber element may be used as a timber column, a timber beam, a timber floor joist or a timber truss member. Further, the timber element may have been used as a timber column, a timber beam, a timber floor joist or a timber truss member before the glass product is attached to the timber element.
The at least two screws may be self-tapping screws. In the case of a cross-wise installation of the two self-tapping screws, which have no axial coupling other than the contact of the screw head with the connection element and can only transfer shear and tension loads, a connection rupture behavior under shear loading due to composite action is enabled, where firstly only one screw ruptures (depending on the load direction) and subsequently the connection stiffness is minimized and almost no forces are transferred to the second screw anymore. The second screw can then still carry the weight of the glass element.
If the body of the at least one connection element has a first portion and a second portion as described above, the first portion of the body is inserted into at least one hole in the glass element. Thereafter, the at least one screw is screwed to the timber element.
Before the first portion of the body of the at least one connection element is inserted into the at least one hole in the glass element, adhesive material may be deposited on an outer surface of the second portion of the body of the at least one connection element. Thereafter the first portion of the at least one connection element is inserted into the at least one hole such that the outer surface of the second portion of the body abuts on a first surface of the glass element, which is the air side surface. Alternatively, the adhesive material may be deposited on the first surface of the glass element before the first portion of the at least one connection element is inserted into the at least one hole in the glass element.
After the first portion of the at least one connection element has been inserted into the at least one hole in the glass element, adhesive material may be deposited in a gap between the first portion of the at least one connection element and the inner surface of the at least one hole in the glass element.
The adhesive material deposited on the outer surface of the second portion of the body of the at least one connection element may be of a different type than the adhesive material deposited in the gap between the first portion of the at least one connection element and the inner surface of the at least one hole in the glass element.
All embodiments described herein in connection with the connection element, the glass product and the timber-glass product according to the first, second and third aspect, respectively, can also be applied to the method according to the fourth aspect.
The invention will be described in more detail in the following in an exemplary manner with reference to embodiments and to the drawings. There are shown in the drawings:

Figs. 1A to 1G: schematic representations of an exemplary embodiment of a connection element from various perspectives;
Fig. 2: a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a glass product;
Fig. 3: a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a method for manufacturing a timber-glass product;
Fig. 4: a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a timber-glass product;
Figs. 5A to 5G: schematic representations of a further exemplary embodiment of a connection element from various perspectives;
Fig. 6: a schematic representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a timber-glass product;
Figs. 7A to 7G: schematic representations of yet a further exemplary embodiment of a connection element from various perspectives;
Fig. 8: a schematic representation of yet a further exemplary embodiment of a timber-glass product; and
Fig. 9: a schematic representation of yet a further exemplary embodiment of a timber-glass product.

Figs. 1A to 1G of the drawings illustrate schematic representations of a connection element 10 for connecting a glass element and a timber element, in particular, an existing load-bearing or structural timber element. The connection element 10 is an embodiment of the connection element according to the first aspect of the application.
Figs. 1A and 1B show three dimensional views of the connection element 10 from below and above, respectively. Fig. 1C shows a top view. Fig. 1D shows a bottom view. Figs. 1E and 1F show side views from different perspectives. Fig. 1G show sectional views along lines A-A and B-B, which are defined in the representation at the top of Fig. 1G.
The connection element 10 is fabricated in one piece and consists of aluminum.
The connection element 10 has a body 11 that includes a first portion 12 and a second portion 13, which have cylindrical shapes with circular bases. The cylinders of the first and second portions 12, 13 are aligned along a central axis 14, which is depicted in Figs. 1C and 1D.
The diameter d₁ of the first portion 12 is smaller than the diameter d₂ of the second portion 13.
The first portion 12 has an outer surface 15, which is a base surface of the cylinder of the first portion 12. The outer surface 15 faces away from the second portion 13.
The second portion 13 has outer surfaces 16, 17, which are the bases of the cylinder of the second portion 13. The outer surface 16 faces away from the first portion 12 and the outer surface 17 faces towards the first portion 12. The outer surface 17 protrudes beyond the first portion 12. The outer surfaces 15 to 17 of the first and second portions 12, 13 are aligned in parallel.
Two through holes 18 extend through the first and second portions 12, 13. Both through holes 18 have openings at the outer surface 15 of the first portion 12 and the outer surface 16 of the second portion 13.
Each of the through holes 18 includes a first section 19 adjacent to the outer surface 15 of the first portion 12 and a second section 20 adjacent to the outer surface 16 of the second portion 13. The diameter of the first section 19 is smaller than the diameter of the second section 20.
The through holes 18 form an angle α with the outer surface 15 of the first portion 12 and the outer surface 16 of the second section 13. The angle α may be in the range from 30° to 60°.
The diameter d₁ of the first portion 12 may be 5 mm or larger. The diameter d₂ of the second portion 13 may be 5 mm or larger. The height h₁ of the first portion 12 may be 11 mm or larger. The height h₂ of the second portion 13 may be 5 mm or larger.
Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic sectional representation of a glass product 21. The glass product 21 is an embodiment of the glass product according to the second aspect of the application.
The glass product 21 includes a glass element 22 that has a first surface 23, a second surface 24 opposite to the first surface 23 and at least one hole 25, in particular at least two holes 25, extending from the first surface 23 to the second surface 24. The first portion 12 of the connection element 10 is inserted into the hole 25 of the glass element 22.
The outer surface 17 of the second portion 13 of the connection element 10, which protrudes beyond the first portion 12, abuts on the first surface 23 of the glass element 22.
Adhesive material 26 is deposited between the outer surface 17 of the second portion 13 of the connection element 10 and the first surface 23 of the glass element 22.
Moreover, adhesive material 27 is deposited between the first portion 12 of the connection element 10 and the inner surface of the hole 25 in the glass element 22.
The adhesive materials 26 and 27 may be of different types.
The outer surface 15 of the first portion 12 of the connection element 10 may be flush with the second surface 24 of the glass element 22.
Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a method 30 for manufacturing a timber-glass product 40, in particular a load-bearing composite timber-glass product. The timber-glass product 40 is schematically illustrated in Fig. 4. The timber-glass product 40 is an embodiment of the timber-glass product according to the third aspect of the application. The method 30 is an embodiment of the method for attaching a glass element to a timber element, in particular an existing load-bearing or structural timber element, according to the fourth aspect of the application.
The method 30 includes that the connection element 10 and the glass element 22 are provided. The adhesive material 26 is deposited on the outer surface 17 of the second portion 13 of the connection element 10 and thereafter the first portion 12 of the connection element 10 is inserted into the hole 25 of the glass element 22. Afterwards the adhesive material 27 is injected into a gap between the first portion 12 of the connection element 10 and the inner surface of the hole 25 in the glass element 22 in order to obtain the glass product 21 as shown in Fig. 2. The glass product 21 can prefabricated in the factory.
The prefabricated glass product 21 is transferred to a construction site and mounted onto a timber element 31, in particular an existing load-bearing or structural timber element. For this purpose, the glass element 22 is placed on the timber element 31 with the second surface 24 of the glass element 22 facing the timber element 31. Two self-tapping screws 32 are inserted into the through holes 18 of the connection element 10 and are screwed into the timber element 31.
Both screws 32 have screw threads 33 and screw heads 34. The first sections 19 of the through holes 18 receive the screw threads 33, whereas the larger second sections 20 accommodate the screw heads 34. The timber-glass product 40 manufactured by the method 30 is shown in Fig. 4.
The connection element 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 is meant for thicknesses of the glass element 22 in the range from 8 mm to 10 mm. For greater glass thicknesses the connection element 10 can be easily reconfigured: either self-tapping screws 32 with a smaller diameter should be considered or a greater angle α of the screws 32 in relation to the connection plane should be chosen. For lesser glass thicknesses the height h₁ of the first portion 12 of the connection element 10 can be simply shortened.
It may be provided that either the second portion 13 or the first portion 12 of the body 11 of the connection element 10 is omitted. Such embodiments are illustrated in Figs. 5A to 5G and Figs. 7A to 7G.
Figs. 5A to 5G illustrate schematic representations of a connection element 50 for connecting a glass element and a timber element, in particular an existing load-bearing or structural timber element. Figs. 5A and 5B show three dimensional views of the connection element 50 from below and above, respectively. Fig. 5C shows a top view. Fig. 5D shows a bottom view. Figs. 5E and 5F show side views from different perspectives. Fig. 5G show sectional views along lines A-A and B-B, which are defined in the representation at the top of Fig. 5G.
The connection element 50 consists of only the first portion 12 of the connection element 10 shown in Figs. 1A to 1G. The second portion 13 is omitted in the connection element 50. The same reference numerals are used in Figs. 5A to 5G as in Figs. 1A to 1G to denote the same or similar components of the connection element 50.
Since the connection element 50 does not have a second portion, it has an outer surface 51 opposite to the outer surface 15. Further, the first sections 19 and the second sections 20 of the through holes 18 are integrated into the first portion 12 of the connection element 50. The angle α, which the through holes 18 form with the outer surface 15, may be the same as in Figs. 1A to 1G.
Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a timber-glass product 60, in particular a load-bearing composite timber-glass product, which contains the glass element 22, the timber element 31, the two self-tapping screws 32 and the connection element 50. The connection element 50 is inserted into the hole 25 of the glass element 22. The adhesive material 27 is injected into a gap between the connection element 50 and the inner surface of the hole 25 in the glass element 22. The self-tapping screws 32 are inserted into the through holes 18 of the connection element 50 and are screwed into the timber element 31.
Figs. 7A to 7G illustrate schematic representations of a connection element 70 for connecting a glass element and a timber element, in particular an existing load-bearing or structural timber element. Figs. 7A and 7B show three dimensional views of the connection element 70 from below and above, respectively. Fig. 7C shows a top view. Fig. 7D shows a bottom view. Figs. 7E and 7F show side views from different perspectives. Fig. 7G show sectional views along lines A-A and B-B, which are defined in the representation at the top of Fig. 7G.
The connection element 70 consists of only the second portion 13 of the connection element 10 shown in Figs. 1A to 1G. The first portion 12 is omitted in the connection element 70. The same reference numerals are used in Figs. 7A to 7G as in Figs. 1A to 1G to denote the same or similar components of the connection element 70.
In the connection element 70, the first sections 19 and the second sections 20 of the through holes 18 are integrated into the second portion 13. The angle α, which the through holes 18 form with the outer surface 17, may be the same as in Figs. 1A to 1G.
Fig. 8 schematically illustrates a timber-glass product 80, in particular a load-bearing composite timber-glass product, which contains the glass element 22, the timber element 31, the two self-tapping screws 32 and the connection element 70. The connection element 70 is placed over the hole 25 of the glass element 22. Since the diameter of the connection element 70 is larger than the diameter of the hole 25, the connection element 70 fully covers the hole 25. Adhesive material 26 is deposited between the connection element 70 and the glass element 22. The self-tapping screws 32 are inserted into the through holes 18 of the connection element 70 and are screwed into the timber element 31.
Fig. 9 schematically illustrates a timber-glass product 90, in particular a load-bearing composite timber-glass product, which contains the glass element 22 with a plurality of holes 25, the timber element 31 and a plurality of connection elements 10. The connection elements 50 are inserted into the holes 25 of the glass element 22. Further, the self-tapping screws 32 are inserted into the through holes 18 of the connection elements 50 and are screwed into the timber element 31 in order to firmly attach the glass element 22 to the existing timber element 31.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10: connection element
11: body
12: first portion
13: second portion
14: central axis
15: outer surface
16: outer surface
17: outer surface
18: through hole
19: first section
20: second section
21: glass product
22: glass element
23: first surface
24: second surface
25: hole
26: adhesive material
27: adhesive material
30: method
31: timber element
32: screw
33: screw thread
34: screw head
40: timber-glass product
50: connection element
51: outer surface
60: timber-glass product
70: connection element
80: timber-glass product
90: timber-glass product

Claims

A connection element (10, 50, 70) for connecting a glass element (22) and a timber element (31), the connection element (10, 50, 70) comprising:
a body (11) for inserting into a hole (25) of the glass element (22) and/or placing over the hole (25) of the glass element (22), wherein

the body (11) comprises at least two through holes (18) for receiving at least two screws (32) screwed into the timber element (31).
The connection element (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (11) comprises a first portion (12) for inserting into the hole (25) of the glass element (22) and a second portion (13),
the at least two through holes (18) extends through the first portion (12) and the second portion (13), and
the diameter of the first portion (12) is smaller than the diameter of the second portion (13), wherein, in particular, the first portion (12) and/or the second portion (13) have the shape of a cylinder.
The connection element (50, 70) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (11) has the shape of a cylinder.
The connection element (10, 50, 70) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the at least two through holes (18) forms an angle with a main surface (15, 16) of the body (11) in the range from 30° to 60°.
The connection element (10, 50, 70) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (11) comprises two or more through holes (18), which do not overlap, and/or wherein each of the at least two through holes (18) has a first section (19) extending through a first outer surface (15) of the body (11) and a second section (20) extending through a second outer surface (16) of the body (11), and wherein the diameter of the first section (19) is smaller than the diameter of the second section (20).
A glass product (21), comprising:
a glass element (22) comprising at least one hole (25), and

at least one connection element (10, 50, 70) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10, 50, 70) is inserted at least partially into the at least one hole (25) of the glass element (22) and/or is placed at least partially over the at least one hole (25) of the glass element (10, 50, 70).
The glass product (21) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one connection element (10) is embodied as claimed in claim 2 and the first portion (12) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) is inserted into the at least one hole (25) of the glass element (22),
wherein, in particular, an outer surface (17) of the second portion (13) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) abuts on a first surface (23) of the glass element (22),
wherein, in particular, adhesive material (26) is deposited between the outer surface (17) of the second portion (13) of the body (11) and the first surface (23) of the glass element (22).
The glass product (21) as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein adhesive material (27) is deposited between the first portion (12) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) and the surface of the at least one hole (25) of the glass element (20).
The glass product (21) as claimed in one of the claims 6 to 8, wherein the glass element (22) comprises at least two holes (25) and the glass product (21) comprises at least two connection elements (10, 50, 70) as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 5, and wherein the body (11) of each of the at least two connection elements (10, 50, 70) is inserted at least partially into a respective one of the at least two holes (25) of the glass element (22) and/or is placed at least partially over a respective one of the at least two holes (25) of the glass element (10, 50, 70) .
A timber-glass product (40, 60, 80, 90), comprising:
a glass product (21) as claimed in one of the claims 6 to 9,

a timber element (31), and

at least two screws (32) inserted into a respective one of the at least two through holes (18) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10, 50, 70) and screwed into the timber element (31).
The timber-glass product (40, 60, 80, 90) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least two screws (32) are self-tapping screws, which, in particular, press the glass product (21) to the timber element (31), and/or
wherein the at least two screws (32) have no direct contact with the glass element (22), and/or
wherein the timber element (31) is an existing load-bearing timber element (31), and/or
wherein the timber element (31) is used as a timber column, a timber beam, a timber floor joist or a timber truss member, and/or
wherein the glass element (22) and the timber element (31) are parallel to each other.
The timber-glass product (40, 60, 80, 90) as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein an outer surface (17) of the second portion (13) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) abuts on a first surface (23) of the glass element (22) and wherein the timber element (31) abuts on a second surface (24) of the glass element (22) opposite to the first surface (23) of the glass element (22) and wherein, in particular, the timber element (31) is in contact with the second surface (24) of the glass element (22).
A method (30) for attaching a glass element (22) to a timber element (31), the method (30) comprising:
providing at least one connection element (10, 50, 70) as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 5,

inserting the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10, 50, 70) at least partially into at least one hole (25) in the glass element (22) and/or placing the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10, 50, 70) at least partially over the at least one hole (25) in the glass element (22), and

inserting at least two screws (32) into the at least two through holes (18) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10, 50, 70) and screwing the at least two screws (32) into the timber element (31).
The method (30) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least two screws (32) are self-tapping screws.
The method (30) as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the at least one connection element (10) is embodied as claimed in claim 2 and the first portion (12) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) is inserted into the at least one hole (25) in the glass element (22),
wherein, in particular, adhesive material (26) is deposited on an outer surface (17) of the second portion (13) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) before the first portion (12) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) is inserted into the at least one hole (25) in the glass element (22), and wherein the outer surface (17) of the second portion (13) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) abuts on a first surface (23) of the glass element (22) after the first portion (12) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) has been inserted into the at least one hole (25) in the glass element (22), and/or
wherein, in particular, adhesive material (27) is deposited in a gap between the first portion (12) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) and the surface of the at least one hole (25) in the glass element (22) after the first portion (12) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (11) has been inserted into the at least one hole (25) in the glass element (22),
wherein, in particular, the adhesive material (26) deposited on the outer surface (17) of the second portion (13) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) is of a different type than the adhesive material (27) deposited in the gap between the first portion (12) of the body (11) of the at least one connection element (10) and the surface of the at least one hole (25) in the glass element (22).