GB2392457A

GB2392457A - Arrangement for mounting plate-like bodies

Info

Publication number: GB2392457A
Application number: GB0221042A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew James Harold Rawlings
Original assignee: STAR METALWORK Ltd
Current assignee: STAR METALWORK Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-24
Filing date: 2002-08-24
Publication date: 2004-03-03
Also published as: GB0221042D0

Abstract

A mounting bracket (4) comprises first and second mounting members (5, 12), each of the members having a mounting end and a joining end, the mounting ends having attachment means (6, 7) thereon and where each of the joining ends comprises part of an articulation joint (21), where the articulation joint permits three types of movement, rotational movement of the second member with respect to the first about the X axis, rotational movement of the second member about the joint in the direction of arrow Z and translational movement of the second member along the X axis. The attachment means may include a pair of clamping plates (6, 7) which grip a plate like body (2, 3) and a compressible member (28) located between the clamping plate and the body. Also claimed is a clamping assembly which comprises a pair of clamping plates in conjunction with compressible members such as O rings.

Description

A Mounting Arrangement Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the mounting of plate like bodies, such as glass, and in particular to a mounting bracket for mounting plate like bodies, and a method of construction using such mounting brackets.

Background to the Invention

Large plate like bodies are used in buildings as architectural features. For example, multiple sections of plate glass are often used, together with suitable mount post, to form walls or partitions in shops, cafes, of rices and the like.

Clearly, some method of mounting is required to attach the plate glass sections to the mounting posts in order to form a partition. Known mounting methods are often inflexible. For example, there is often a desire on the part of an architect to specify curved walls. However, the known mounting brackets suitable for attaching glass to a mount post, do not easily provide for this.

Furthermore, where a wall is made up of multiple pieces of relatively large plate like bodies, it is important that when viewed by the passer by, the bodies look correct, i.e. squarely aligned with the mounting posts, and adjacent plate like bodies. This can be very difficult due to the very broad tolerances worked to in the constructions industry.

Known mount brackets do not readily provide for this.

Whereas the construction industry as a whole tends to work to broad tolerances, the glass industry does not. It would be desirable to be able to use components supplied by the glass industry without the need to lther modify those components on site, or make adjustments to other parts of the structure.

Some plate like bodies, for example glass, are relatively bride, and the method of securing the body to its mounting posts can significantly influence the amount of energy the body can absorb before it breaks. This aspect can be of significance where such structures are used in public places, where there is the possibility of people falling against the structure. Also, even where there is little chance of a person falling against the structure, there are circumstances where the strength of dhe structure is of great importance. For example, if dhe structure is located above an a public area, it is important that the structure is sufficiecdy strong to widhstand an impact which would otherwise result in part of the structure felling on dhe public area below.

It would derefore be desirable to provide an improved mounting structure for the construction of walls, partitions, and the like.

It would also be desirable to provide an improved mounting bracket for use in such mounting structures.

It would also be desirable to provide an improved method of construction of walls, partitions and dhe like featuring large plate like bodies.

Summalg of dle Invention According to a first aspect of dhe present invention, there is provided a mounting bracket as specified in claim 1.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attachment means according to Claim 7. Preferably, the attachment means is suitable for use wide

the m, ounting bracket according to dhe first aspect of doe invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting structure as specified in claim 10.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of eon3'L"cuon as spec ed "i c'^ n 12.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a glass mounting assembly; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of a glass-mounting bracket of the assembly shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a structure comprising a plurality of glass mounting brackets as shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view of a support member; Figure 5 is a cross-section of components of a structure according to the invention; Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a glass mounting structure comprising a sheet of plate glass 2, a pair of spaced apart support posts 3, and a plurality (three shown) of mounting brackets 4.

Figure 2 illustrates a mounting bracket 4 in detail. The mounting bracket 4 comprises first and second mounting members 5, 12. The first mounting member 5 is clamped to the support post 3 by a clamping assembly comprising inner and outer clamping plates 6, 7 arranged on either side of the support post 3 and secured on either side of the support post and to the mounting member 5 by means of a threaded rod 8. The mounting

member 5 includes an internally threaded bore 8a. The clomping plate 7 includes an internally threaded stem 7a, the clamping plate 6 including an aperture 6a.

The rod 8a is threaded at both ends thereof, the threads engaging with the internally threaded bore 8a and stem 7a to secure the mounting member 5 to the support post 3.

The second mounting member 12 also comprises inner and outer clamping plates 15, 16 respectively, to clamp the plate glass 2 to the mounting bracket 4. The inner damping plate 15 indudes an aperture 17 which is anally aligned with an internally threaded axial bore 18 in the second mounting member 12, an aperture 19 in the plate glass 2, and an internally threaded stem 20 of the outer clamping plate 16. The clamping plates 15, 16 are secured to the second mounting member 12 by a rod opposite ends of which are threaded. Rotating the outer clamping plate 16, and/or the mounting member 12 closes the gap between the damping plates 15, 16, thereby holding the sheet of plate glass 2 in position. The inner and outer clamping plates 6, 7 of the first mounting member 5, and the inner and outer damping plates 15, 16 of the second mounting member each comprise recesses 23 and 24 respectively.

In each recess, formed between a clamping plate and either the glass 2, or the support post 3, there is located an annular compressible member in the form of an 'O' ring 28, which may be formed from any suitable material, for example rubber or nit ile (see Figure 5 for detail of the 'O' ring).

The 'O' ring located between the clamp members and the object, ice. the glass 2 or support post 3, filfils a number of purposes:

First, it prevents metal to glass, or metal to metal contact (the thickness of the 'O' ring oeiiig selected reuitive to -e dep o' Me recess 23, 24, such that when the 'amp is Hut and the 'O' ring is compressed there is not contact between the clamping plate and the glass 2 or support post 3).

Clearly, metal to glass contact is undesirable, since it would damage he surface of the glass thereby weakening it.

Second, the 'O' ring distributes the compressive force exerted by the clamping plates 15, 16 or 6, 7 on the glass 2 or support 3, evenly around its annulus, thereby avoiding point loading. In the case of the glass 2 it is important to avoid high point loads.

Third, the even distribution of the force exerted by the clamping plates around the 'O' ring generates a substantially constant frictional force between the clamping plates and the glass 2 or support 3.

Finally, by using clamping plates 6, 7 and 15, 16 of a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the aperture 3a, 19, any wide tolerances in the diameter of the apertures 3a, 19 can be taken up.

As best depicted in Figure 2, the mounting bracket 4 comprises an articulation joint 21.

The joint 21 permits three different types of movement First it permits rotational movement of the second mounting member 12 with respect to the first mounting member 5 about the X axis.

Second, it permits rotational movement of the second mounting member 12 about the intersection of the X and Y axes in the direction indicated by arrow Z. Third, it permits translational movement of the second mounting member 12 along the X axis.

. 1

The structure providing for these types of movement will now be elaborated on.

The articulation joint 21 is formed by the respective end portions of first and second mounting members 5, 12. The end portion of the second support member 12 comprises a spherical portion 13, which includes a bore 14. The wall of the bore 14 is cut at an angle to the X axis. The bore comprises an opening in the form of an aperture 25, and an end wall 26.

The first mounting member 5 comprises an end portion in the form of a cylindrical shaft 9. The diameter of the aperture 25 is fractionally greater than the external diameter of the shaft 9, such that the shaft may slide in the aperture 25. The shaft 9 includes an axial bore 10 housing a spring 11. The spring 11 engages with the end wall 26 of the bore 14, and the blind end 27 of the bore 10 to force the first and second mounting members apart The reason for this will become apparent from he description in relation to Figure

1. The angled wall of the bore 14 allows the angle of intersection of the X an Y axes to vary between 60 and 120 degrees, thereby providing for the construction of curved walls.

The support post 3 can therefore be other than square to the glass 2.

The cylindrical shape of the shaft 9, and the circular shape of the aperture 25 permits the second mounting member 12 to pivot about the X axis. Further more, the shaft 9 can slide into and out of the bore 14, permitting translational movement of the second mounting member 12 with respect to the first.

Referring again to Figure 1, there is shown a structure comprising a sheet of plate glass 2, a pair of spaced apart posts 3, and a plurality of mounting brackets 4, of which only three are illustrated for the sake of clarity. The fourth mounting bracket is attached to the left hand support post 3 beneath the mounting bracket 4 attached to said post.

Figure 1 shows that the two mounting brackets 4 attached to the right hand support 3 are spaced apart by a distance "d". The distance "d" is at least twice the &meter of the clamping plates 6, 7 and 15,16. This is necessary to prevent the glass 2 rotating about the X axis. The glass 2 does in fact become an active part of the structure, resisting the torque exerted there on by the clamping plates 15, 16 generated by the weight of the glass 2 acting downwards to rotate the second mounting member 12 about the X axis.

The spring 11 in each of the mounting brackets 4 pushes the second mounting member 12 away from the first mounting member 5 and hence away from the post 3, to which the mounting bracket 4 is attached.

The effect of the springs is to centralise the glass 2 between the posts 3. If there is a requirement to move the glass 2 off centre, this can be achieved by using springs of different strengths in the mounting brackets attached to opposing support posts 3.

Alternatively, more then one spring could be inserted into the bores 10 of the mounting brackets 4 attached to one of the support posts 3.

In cases where the Z and Y axes are not at right angles, the springs 11 ensure that all the mounting components are subject to a positive load at all-times. Further, the provision of springs 1 in the mounting brackets increases the ability of the glass 2 to withstand and impact. Referring now to Figures 3 and 5 illustrate a variant to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, insofar as an identical first mounting member 5 is mounted on the opposite side of the support 3. The clamping plate 7 is therefore replaced with a second clamping plate 6.

-Figure 3 illustrates a wall made up of a plurality of glass plates 2, each plate being set at an angle to the next. Two of the glass plates 2 are mounted by sets of mounting brackets

4 attached to supports (not shown). The sets of mounting brackets shall be referred to as a, b, and c. The end plates 15 of the sets of mounting brackets a and c are deeper then the end plates 15 of the set of mounting brackets b. This difference in depth of the mounting brackets allows the angle i between the glass plates 2 to be adjusted without changing the position of the supports to which the mounting brackets are attached. The same result may be achieved by inserting spacers between the outer face of the plate 15 and the glass 2.

The mounting brackets of set b are attached to the same support 3, but different glass plates 2. The obtuse angle i between the glass plates 2 is taken up by the mounting bracket 4, and hence the angle j between the first and second members of the mounting bracket 4 is acute, whereas the angle k between the first and second members of the mounting brackets of sets a and c is substantially a right angle.

Claims

Claims 1. A mounting bracket comprising first and second mounting

members, each of the mounting members having a mounting end and a joining end, the mounting ends having prodded thereon attachments means, and each of the joining ends comprising part of an articulation joint, wherein the articulation joint permits pivotal movement between the first and second mounting members through a limited angular range substantially about the point of intersection of the mounting members axial axes, and movement of the fist mounting member towards and away from the second mounting member axially of the said second mounting member.
2. A bracket according to Claim 1, wherein the joining ends of the fist and second mounting members comprise a shaft, and a bore respectively, the bore having an open end and a blind end, and the shaft being slidably mounted in the bore.
3. A bracket according to Claim 2, wherein the wall of the bore tapers outwards from its open end.
4. A bracket according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the articulation joint indudes a biasing means to bias the mounting member away from the first mounting member, and axially thereof
5. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means of at least one of said mounting members comprises a damping assembly, the damping assembly induding a pair of damping plates for gripping a plate like body located therebetween, and a compressible member which, in use is located between the clamping plate and the surface of said body.

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6. A bracket according to Claim 5, wherein the compressible member is an 'O' ring.
7. Attachment means for attaching a mounting member to a plate like body, said attachment means comprising a clamping assembly, the clamping assembly including a pair of clamping plates for gripping said plate like body located therebetween, and a compressible member which, in use is located between the clamping plate and the surface of said body.
8. Attachment means according to Claim 7, wherein the compressible member is an O' ring.
9. Attachment means according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein said plate like body is a sheet of glass.
10. A structure comprising a plate like body, at least two spaced apart supports, and at least three mounting brackets as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein one of the mounting members of each mounting bracket is attached to one of the at least two supports, and the other mounting member of each mounting bracket is attached to the plate like body.
11. A structure according to Claim 10, wherein said plate like body is a sheet of glass.
12. A method of construction comprising the steps of attaching a plate like body to at least two spaced apart supports with at least three mounting brackets according to any of Claims 1 to 6.
13. A mounting bracket substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, Figure 2 of the drawings.
14. A sttuchlre substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, Figure 3 oú=e a;.