GB2117423A - Adjustable post structure and panel for railings or balustrade - Google Patents

Abstract

The post structure comprises a vertical post 9,10 having a pair of spaced-U-shaped formations, the web 20 of each formation being externally part-cylindrical, a pair of links 11,12 each having a wall with a part- cylindrical surface to mate with the webs and permit angular movement between the links and the post about a vertical axis, means 32,33 for securing the links and the post in the desired angular position and a pair of members each horizontally pivoted between the limbs of the formations. The members may be plugs for holding fence-rails 13,14 in position, Panels for disposing between the posts are also disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Railings This invention relates to railings or balustrading systems.

Many such systems are currently marketed, generally comprising spaced apart posts linked by a panel which may, for example, be a framework of rails and bars, or which may be wholly or partly of solid material. A well known difficulty has been to provide a system which can be used on gradients, including staircases, can accommodate corners and can still be produced with an acceptable number of standard fittings. Various proposals to these ends have been made with limited success.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved post structure for a railing or balustrading system. A further object is to provide an improved panel of rails and bars for such a system.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a post structure for a railing or balustrading system comprising a post to be disposed vertically, the post having a pair of -U- shaped formations at at least two spaced apart locations with the web of each formation being externally part cylinder, a pair of links each having a wall with a part cyiindrical surface to mate with the webs and permit angular movement between the links and the post about a vertical axis, means for securing the links and the post in the desired angular position and a pair of members each horizontally pivoted between the limbs of the formations. The links and the members may respectively be secured to a panel of the system.Each of the members preferably comprises a plastics plug to be inserted into a rail of the panel with a pivot pin passing through the rail, the plug and the limbs. The rail may be a clearance fit between the limbs.

In a preferred form the post structure comprises a pair of spaced apart posts arranged with the webs of their formations facing one another and the links are each double ended with a pair of said walls engaging corresponding formations on the posts so that each post may be turned relative to its joining links and the panel joined to each post may be separately tilted about a horizontal axis relative to the post structure. The links may be straight, vertically inclined or curved, or laterally inclined or curved.

In another embodiment of the invention a panel to be disposed between two post structures comprises generally horizontal top and bottom rails joined by generally vertical spaced apart bars, the rails each comprising a -U-shaped part the outer ends of the limbs of which have oppositely disposed symmetrical formations each having an inwardly directed part, the space between the parts being less than a lateral dimension of a bar to be engaged therebetween and the formations being for clip fit or slide engagement by the ends of a base plate the latter being formed with clearance apertures each to receive an end of a bar which is forced past and distorts the inwardly directed parts until its end engages the rail. Preferably the interior surface of the web of the rail is formed with spaced apart longitudinal ridges to embrace and locate the end of the bar.

-TheUshaped part and the base plate may form a rectangular box section, each being extruded Jongitudinally of the rail and the bars are preferably rectangular box section extrusions.

The above and other aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a part section on the line I-I of Fig. 3, Fig. 2 is a part section on the line Il-Il of Fig.

1, but showing a lower link, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a railing system, Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a post structure intermediate an incline, Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a panel construction, and Fig. 6 is a view similar to part of Fig. 1 showing a simplified arrangement.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings a railing system 1 has a multiplicity of post structures 2, 3 and 4 joined by panels 5, 6, 7 and 8. Each post structure comprises a pair of posts 9, 10 separated by top and bottom links 11, 12. The panel 5 has top and bottom rails 13, 14 an intermediate rail 1 5 and bars 16 joining the rails 14 and 1 5. The panels 6, 7 and 8 also have top and bottom rails 13 and 14 and bars 16 extending between them. The system extends along a level floor 17 up a staircase 18 and along a landing 19.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the posts 9 and 10 are -U-shape in cross section having a web 20 and limbs 21 and 22 are extruded from an aluminium alloy and are disposed vertically, "back to back", with their webs facing one another. The webs have a flattened central portion formed with an aperture 23 to receive an internally screwed grommet 24 and where the webs merge with the limbs part circular external surfaces 24, 25 are formed.

The links 11, 12 which may be cast from an aluminium alloy are each shaped as an inverted box having top, side and end walls 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. The end walls 28 and 29 are concavely curved so that their outer surfaces respectively mate with the surfaces 24, 25. Each end wall 28, 29 is formed with a horizontal slot 30, 31 to accommodate with clearance the shank of a bolt 32, 33 passing from within the link to engage with the grommets 24. It will be apparent that this arrangement enables the link to be turned about a vertical axis relative to the posts, with the curved end walls 28, 29 sliding around the surfaces 24, 25 and being locked in a desired position by tightening the bolts 32, 33, access to the latter being from below the link.

The top and bottom rails 13, 14 are, as shown in Fig. 5 of box section and where they are to be joined to the posts, plastic plugs 34 are inserted as a push fit into the rail ends. The plugs have a convex front surface 35 formed with an arcuate slot 36 and where the plugs project beyond the ends of the rails they are of increased width so that surfaces 37, 38 extend beyond the rails to engage tightly between the limbs 21, 22 of the posts 9 and 10 to hold the rails in spaced relationship thereto. Pivot pins 39 are a push fit through bores in the plugs, the rails and the limbs of the posts to permit each rail to tilt relative to its associated post. Screws 40 pass through the rails and plugs to engage a recess 41 in each pin to lock the latter in position with its outer ends flush with the outer surfaces of the links.The slots 36 permit the rails to tilt without fouling the inner ends of the bolts 32, 33.

Fig. 4 shows the pair of posts 9, 10 intermediate the staircase 18 with the post 10 being longer than the post 9. In this case the link 11 has horizontal end caps 42, 43 covering the posts and an intermediate inclined top 25 following the inclination of the panels 1 4.

It will be understood that the arrangement above described enables railing systems to be provided to extend in straight lines along level ground or up or down inclined surfaces. In the latter case where the panels are of rails and bars these need to be tiltable relative to each other as will be described later. At each post structure horizontal deviation from a straight line can be achieved; the twin post arrangement not only providing a greater degree of "turn" than a single post but in addition also providing a lighter post than would otherwise be necessary which is both aesthetically more agreeable and also enhances visibility.

It will also be appreciated that the links can be provided in a variety of shapes (not shown) for example curved about a horizontal axis through say 900 to give a neat corner structure. Another variant of link construction is to provide half the link shown in Fig. 1 with a blank end wall as a stop piece at an end of the railing system.

Fiq. 6 of the drawings shows a simplified arrangement of the construction of Fig. 1 where only a single post 9 is used and instead of the link 11 an open ended half link 11 a is employed, the internal dimension of which can receive a rail 1 3a as a close fit to be secured to the half link by means (not shown). It will be apparent that this arrangement does not provide the flexibility of operation of the construction of Figs. 1-4 since while the rail 13 and the remainder of its associated panel can tilt about the horizontal pin 39 the rail 1 3a and the remainder of its associated panel cannot tilt about a horizontal axis but can only turn through a small angle about a vertical axis.

Fig. 5 of the drawings shows to enlarged scale and in section the manner in which bars 1 6 may be secured to rails 13.

As shown the rail 13 comprises a cap 44 having flat side walls 45 and a fiat web 46. The cap may be extruded from an aluminium alloy and the outer ends of the side walls have formations 47 projecting inwardly therefrom. These formations are initially formed with inwardly projections one of which is shown at 48; the distance between opposed ridges being less than the lateral dimensions D of the bars 1 6. A pair of inwardly directed, symmetrically disposed, ridges 49 are provided on the web 46 and spaced apart to embrace the end of the bar 1 6.

A cover plate 50 also extruded from aluminium has end formations 51 to engage over the formations 47 and a flat web 52. The latter is initially formed without apertures so that the rail 13 is a closed box section. It will also be apparent from Fig. 5 that the rails 1 6 are conveniently rectangular section tubes.

To assemble a panel the web 52 is pierced at appropriate intervals along its length to provide apertures 53 for receiving the rails 1 6 with slight clearance and it will be understood that where the panel is to be tilted about a horizontal axis, for location on an incline or on a staircase, then these apertures need to be elongated.

The ends of the rail 1 6 are forced between the formations 47 until they are lodged between the ridges 49. During this process the plate 50 prevents any springing apart of the side walls 45 so that the projections 48 bite into the outer surface of the bar 16 and ensure that the latter is jammed tightly within the rail 13.

It will be understood that the lower end of the bar 16 will be similarly mounted in a rail 14 which is identical to the rail 13, but inverted.

This arrangement has been found to provide a particularly convenient panel which possesses considerable rigidity whatever the angle between the bars 16 and the rails 13.

If desired some or all of the bars may be provided with a simple locking means positively to prevent their withdrawal from the rails. For this purpose a spring clip 54 has a web 55 resting against the inner surface of the web 46 and a lower end 56 extending through an aperture 57 in the bar wall. The end 56 has an upper inclined part 58 and a lower flat part 59. It will be understood that the clip 54 is symmetrical and has another limb (not shown) similarly engaging through an aperture in the opposed wall 16.

It will be understood that as the end of the bar with the clip in place is inserted into the rail 1 3 the limbs of the clip are forced inwardly until the position shown in Fig. 5 is reached when the lower portion 59 of the clip 54 is free to pass through slot 57 and engage above the formation 47. Thus withdrawal of the bar 1 6 from the rail 13 is positively prevented.

Claims (8)

Claims

1. A post structure for a railing or balustrading system comprising a post to be disposed vertically, the post having a pair of -U- shaped formations at at least two spaced apart locations with the web of each formation being externally part cylindrical, a pair of links each having a wall with a part cylindrical surface to mate with the webs and permit angular movement between the links and the post about a vertical axis, means for securing the links and the post in the desired angular position and a pair of members each horizontally pivoted between the limbs of the formations.

2. A structure according to claim 1 in which the links and the members are respectively secured to a panel of the system.

3. A structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which each of the members comprises a piastics plug to be inserted into a rail of the panel with a pivot pin passing through the rail, the plug and the limbs.

4. A system according to claim 3 in which the rail is a clearance fit between the limbs.

5. A structure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a pair of spaced apart posts arranged with the webs of their formations facing one another the links each being double ended with a pair of said walls engaging corresponding formations on the posts so that each post may be turned relative to its joining links and the panel joined to each post may be separately tilted about a horizontal axis relative to the post structure.

6. A structure according to claim 5 in which the links are straight, vertically inclined or curved, or laterally inclined or curved.

7. A panel to be disposed between two post structures comprises generally horizontal top and bottom rails joined by generally vertical spaced apart bars, the rails each comprising a -Ushaped part the outer ends of the limbs of which have oppositely disposed symmetrical formations each having an inwardly directed part, the space between the parts being less than a lateral dimension of a bar to be engaged therebetween and the formations being for clip fit or slide engagement by the ends of a base plate the latter being formed with clearance apertures each to receive an end of a bar which is forced past and distorts the inwardly directed parts until its end engages the rail.

8. A panel according to claim 7 in which the interior surface of the web of the rail is formed with spaced apart longitudinal ridges to embrace and locate the end of the bar.