GB2595867A

GB2595867A - Balcony access apparatus, balcony access system and balcony access method

Info

Publication number: GB2595867A
Application number: GB2008623.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Parsons Andrew
Original assignee: Mydek Ltd
Current assignee: Mydek Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-08
Filing date: 2020-06-08
Publication date: 2021-12-15
Also published as: GB202008623D0

Abstract

A balcony 20 access apparatus, comprising a platform (12 figure 1) with a safety barrier (14 figure 1) on the perimeter, a raising/lowering mechanism; and a set of steps 42, 44 that may be deployed and stored which extend from the platform in an opening in the safety barrier over the balustrade 22 of a balcony 20 to access it. The apparatus may also comprise a vertical track follower 72,74 to aid movement of the platform up and down a building. The steps may pivot, fold or extend 44, and/or have a horizontal landing section 40a. When stored the steps may comprise part of the platform’s safety barrier. The steps may also comprise a ladder 72,44. A system and method for accessing a balcony attached to a building are also disclosed whereby a track is positioned next to balconies on a building.

Description

BALCONY ACCESS APPARATUS, BALCONY ACCESS SYSTEM AND BALCONY ACCESS METHOD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a balcony access apparatus, a balcony access system and a balcony access method. The invention has particular, although not exclusive, applicability to issues of maintenance and/or repair of balconies, such as for replacement or repair of decking of the balcony.

Background

It is known to provide a balcony for a building in the form of a balcony cassette. The building is first constructed, typically leaving balcony attachment points at positions on the exterior of the building at which it is intended to affix balconies. Subsequently, balcony cassettes, assembled off site, are lifted into position and attached to the building at the balcony attachment points. The balcony cassettes typically have an arrangement of beams (also referred to as joists or rafters) which provide support for a balustrade, decking and soffits. It is the balustrade, decking and soffits which provide the balcony with its external appearance.

The decking of the balcony provides support to a user standing and walking on the balcony. It is necessary for the decking to be weather resistant and to provide a substantially continuous underfoot surface without substantial gaps and yet providing suitable grip and drainage. Previously, suitable decking for balconies has used plastics or engineered wood. Such materials are useful because they can be manufactured at low cost and can provide the benefits mentioned above. However, in the light of increased scrutiny of fire safety performance, it is necessary to consider the combustibility of such materials.

Accordingly, at the time of writing there are many installed balconies that have decking that does not conform to the highest standards of fire safety. This applies in particular to high rise residential buildings. It is therefore necessary in many cases for that decking to be replaced with non-combustible decking. For example, extruded aluminium decking is of interest for this purpose.

However, buildings with balconies requiring decking replacement are typically occupied. Removal of the balconies to allow off-site decking replacement is not usually practical, and gives rise to a safety risk. It would be possible to allow trade professionals access to the balcony through the interior of the building, but this gives rise to significant inconvenience and disruption to the occupiers of the building, and also risks damage to the interior of the building due to the movement of building materials through the building.

The present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations.

Summary of the Invention

It is therefore of interest to develop a different approach to allow trade professionals to access balconies that have already been installed on buildings, such access being from the exterior of the building. Although it is possible for relatively low level balconies to use cherry pickers, for higher rise buildings this is not possible.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a balcony access apparatus for providing access to a balcony attached to a building, the balcony having a balustrade at a perimeter of the balcony, the balcony access apparatus comprising: a platform having a safety barrier at a perimeter of the platform; a raising/lowering mechanism for adjusting a vertical position of the platform with respect to the building and the balcony; and a set of steps configurable between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein, in the storage configuration, the set of steps is disposed to allow the vertical position of the platform to be adjusted, and wherein, in the deployed configuration, the set of steps extends from the platform via an opening in the platform safety barrier over the balustrade and onto the balcony, to enable a user to access the balcony from the platform.

In this way, it is found that it is possible to access the balcony from the exterior of the building, in order to carry out repair and/or maintenance work, with reduced disturbance of the occupants of the building, but with suitable safety measures in place for protecting the operatives carrying out the repair and/or maintenance work.

The balcony access apparatus may further comprise a track follower for guiding the platform along a track disposed substantially vertically with respect to the building. The track follower may be fixed with respect to the balcony access apparatus and be provided with one or more guide wheels for bearing against the track. In this way, it is intended that the combination of the track and the track follower defines and limits the lateral movement of the balcony access apparatus with respect to the balcony and with respect to the building. This further increases the safety of use of the balcony access apparatus by reducing the risk of falling between the balcony access apparatus and the balcony.

There are two or more balconies attached to the building. These may be substantially oriented in alignment with each other in a vertical direction. The track may be disposed to be adjacent to each of said two or more balconies. In this way, the positioning of the track may be more clearly fixed.

Furthermore, it is possible for the operative to carry out repair and/or maintenance of two or more of the balconies in succession, which significantly improves efficiency.

The set of steps may be pivotable, foldable and/or extendable. In this manner, the configuration of the steps between the storage and deployed configurations may be made easy and adaptable to different balcony formats.

The set of steps may include a landing portion. In the deployed configuration the landing portion may be substantially horizontal. In the deployed configuration the landing portion may be positioned over the balustrade of the balcony. For example, the landing portion may define a step up from the platform of the balcony access apparatus. This can help the operative to correctly position the balcony access apparatus with respect to the balustrade, as the balcony is approached from above.

The set of steps may include a ladder portion. The ladder portion may be pivotably attached to the landing portion. This also provides a convenient way for the set of steps to form part of the safety barrier of the platform when in the storage configuration.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a balcony access system for providing access to a balcony attached to a building, the balcony having a balustrade at a perimeter of the balcony, the balcony access system comprising a balcony access apparatus and a track, wherein the track is releasably attached to the balcony in a substantially vertical orientation, and wherein the balcony access apparatus comprises: a platform having a safety barrier at a perimeter of the platform; a raising/lowering mechanism for adjusting a vertical position of the platform with respect to the building and the balcony; a track follower for guiding the platform along the track; and a set of steps configurable between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein, in the storage configuration, the set of steps is disposed to allow the vertical position of the platform to be adjusted, and wherein, in the deployed configuration, the set of steps extends from the platform via an opening in the platform safety barrier over the balustrade and onto the balcony, to enable a user to access the balcony from the platform.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of accessing a balcony attached to a building, the balcony having a balustrade at a perimeter of the balcony, the method comprising: providing a balcony access apparatus; and providing a track, wherein the track is releasably attached to the balcony in a substantially vertical orientation, wherein the balcony access apparatus comprises: a platform having a safety barrier at a perimeter of the platform; a raising/lowering mechanism for adjusting a vertical position of the platform with respect to the building and the balcony; a track follower for guiding the platform along the track; and a set of steps, wherein the method further comprises: raising or lowering the platform using the raising/lowering mechanism to adjust the vertical position of the platform, the set of steps being in a storage configuration, disposed to allow the vertical position of the platform to be adjusted; and configuring the set of steps from the storage configuration to a deployed configuration in which the set of steps extends from the platform via an opening in the platform safety barrier over the balustrade and onto the balcony, to enable a user to access the balcony from the platform.

The method may further include carrying out a repair and/or maintenance operation on the balcony, such as installing aluminium decking onto the balcony.

The invention includes any single or multiple combination of the aspects and preferred features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.

Summary of the Figures

Embodiments and experiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Fig. 1 shows a front perspective view of a balcony access apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, with the steps in a deployed configuration.

Fig. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the balcony access apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the balcony access apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a front perspective view of a balcony access system according to an embodiment of the invention, also showing a balcony being accessed by the system.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative front perspective view of the balcony access system of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a rear perspective view of the balcony access system of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows a front perspective view of a guide track attached to a balustrade of a balcony, for use with a balcony access apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of the guide track of Fig. 7, showing in more detail the mode of attachment of the guide track to the balustrade.

Fig. 9 shows a rear perspective view of the guide track of Fig. 7.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.

In order to provide external access to a balcony attached to a building, to allow repair or replacement of the balcony decking for example, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a balcony access apparatus in the form of a cradle that can be raised and lowered using a hoist (not shown) provided at the building roof (also not shown). Such a hoist is known in particular for allowing window cleaning and maintenance for the building, for example.

In the following discussion, various features shown in the drawings are described. The same features shown in different drawings are given the same reference numbers, where applicable, and may be described only once.

Fig. 1 shows a front perspective view of a balcony access apparatus 10 (also referred to herein as a cradle) according to an embodiment of the invention. The cradle 10 is for providing access to a balcony 20 attached to a building, the balcony 20 having a balustrade 22 at a perimeter of the balcony.

The cradle has a platform 12 in the form of a deck and a safety barrier 14 at a perimeter of the platform.

In the drawings, the safety barrier takes the form of an arrangement of upright bars 16 and horizontal bars 18 forming a cage around the platform 12. The bars are spaced to provide an adequate safety barrier to reduce the risk of an operative on the platform from accidentally falling from the platform.

The cradle has a raising/lowering mechanism 30 for adjusting a vertical position of the platform 12 with respect to the building and the balcony. The raising/lowering mechanism 30 is intended to operate using a building hoist as mentioned above, also being suitable for window cleaning. Structurally, as shown in Figs. 1-3, there is a horizontal beam 32 provided underneath platform 12 and a vertical beam 34 connecting the horizontal beam 32 to the raising/lowering mechanism 30. Raising/lowering mechanism 30 comprises pulley blocks 36, 38, for guiding a cable (not shown) linking the cradle to the building hoist (not shown).

The cradle also has a set of steps configurable between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration. In Figs. 1-3, the steps are shown in a deployed (or, more accurately, a partially deployed configuration). The steps comprise a landing portion 40, a first ladder portion 42 and a second ladder portion 44. Landing portion 40 comprises a foot plate 40a and upright side plates 40b, 40c. Landing portion is pivotably mounted with respect to upright bars 16b, 16c of the safety barrier 14, via pivot pins 46b, 46c. In the storage configuration (not shown), the footplate 40a is upright, whereas in the deployed configuration (as shown) the footplate 40a is horizontal. Stops 48b, 48c limit the travel of the landing portion 40 by bearing against the upright bars 16b, 16c.

First ladder portion 42 is pivotably connected to a forward region of each side plate 40b, 40c. In the usual manner, the first ladder portion includes rails with rungs extending between the rails. The upper region of each rail is pivotably connected to the respective side plate of the landing portion. Second ladder portion 44(also having rails and rungs) is slidably attached to the first ladder portion 42, allowing the second ladder portion to be extended with respect to the first ladder portion. In Figs. 1-3, the first ladder portion is shown in its fully retracted position, whereas in Fig. 4 the second ladder portion is partially extended. Accordingly, it is possible to have the extension of the second ladder portion 44 from the first ladder portion 42 adjusted to accommodate the distance between the landing portion and the balcony decking. This allows the apparatus to take account for example of different balustrade heights used for different balconies.

As can be seen from the drawings, in the deployed configuration, the set of steps provides access to the balcony from the platform 12 of the cradle 10. This is via an opening 50 provided in the safety barrier 14 which otherwise extends around the platform 12.

To configure the set of steps from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration, the second ladder portion 44 is retracted with respect to the first ladder portion 42 and then the first and second landing portions are rotated together upwardly. When the rails of the first ladder portion are approximately horizontal, they come into contact with the horizontal footplate 40. Further raising of the ladder portions also causes the landing portion to rotate inwardly into the cradle. In the storage configuration, therefore, the footplate 40a is approximately vertical and the first and second ladder portions 42, 44 are approximately vertical and fill the gap 50 in the safety barrier. They are then secured in the storage portion by securing means (not shown). In this way, the step of steps in the storage configuration contributes to the safety barrier. This is particularly of importance during transit of the cradle between balconies and during adjustment of the vertical position of the cradle.

Figs. 4-6 show a balcony access system according to an embodiment of the invention, also showing a balcony being accessed by the system.

The balcony in this embodiment is in the form of a cassette-type balcony. Stubs 24 are connected to the building (not shown in Figs. 4-6) and have beams that extend into apertures 25 provided in a frame of the balcony. The frame of the balcony supports decking panels 26 and a balustrade 22 extending around the perimeter of the balcony.

For illustrative purposes, Figs. 4-6 show a replacement decking panel 26a being transported in the cradle.

The balcony access system comprises the cradle (balcony access apparatus) already described with respect to Figs. 1-3 and a track 70. As will be understood, certain design features of the cradle shown in Figs. 4-6 are different to those of the cradle of Figs. 1-3, but in substance the cradles will be treated here as interchangeable.

Track 70 is releasably attached to the balcony in a substantially vertical orientation. Track 70 comprises first and second vertical rails 72, 74 with spacers 76 formed between them to define the lateral spacing of the vertical rails Turning now to Figs. 7-9, in these drawings part of the building 100 is shown schematically. Balcony 20 is also shown but for illustrative purposes only part of the balustrade 22 is shown. In these drawings, the part of the balustrade that is substantially parallel to the building is shown, and the track 70 is shown as attached to this part of the balustrade (which is different to what is shown in Figs. 4-6 but the principle is similar).

Track 70 is first assembled and affixed to the top of the building, for example via arms 78. The track is suspended from the top of the building and aligned so that it extends to be close to balcony 20. Typically, the building will have a series of balconies arranged in vertical alignment. In this case, the track extends also in alignment with the series of balconies.

The track is temporarily attached to the balcony at the top of the balustrade 22. This is shown best in Fig. 8. Balustrade 22 may be formed, for example, from glass (e.g. tempered or laminated glass). At the top of the balustrade is formed a handrail 23, which in this example is a simple shaped cover which is fitted over the upper edge of the glass.

Temporary attachment of the track 70 to the balustrade is achieved by spacer extension 79, which attaches to spacer 76 and extends towards the balustrade 22, fitted holder 75 which fits over and snugly holds the handrail 23 and connecter 79 which connects the fitted holder 75 and the spacer extension 79.

The purpose of the temporary attachment of the track to the balustrade is not necessarily to support the weight of the cradle 10 (the weight of the cradle is supported by the hoist) but instead is to reduce or avoid horizontal movement of the track with respect to the balcony. In this way, the track is able to guide the cradle to remain close to the balcony in particular when the cradle has the steps in the deployed configuration.

Omitted from the views shown in Figs. 1-3 are track followers 80, 82. However, these are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each track follower is fixed with respect to the cradle and comprises upright bars 81 which have guide wheels rotatably fixed with respect to the upright bars. Bottom guide wheels 84, 86 are located at the bottom of the upright bars. Bottom guide wheels 84 bear against the side of the rail 72. Bottom guide wheels 86 bear against the front of the rail 72. Top guide wheels 83 bear against the side of the rail 72.

Top guide wheels 85 bear against the front of the rail 72. The track followers therefore guide the cradle along the track and therefore restrict the movement of the cradle away from the track.

In use, the embodiment therefore provides a method of accessing a balcony attached to a building. The track is first fixed with respect to the building and then attached to the balcony (and more typically attached to each balcony adjacent the track). The attachment of the track to the balcony is as shown in Figs. 7-9. The cradle is then suspended from a hoist from the top of the building and the cradle is fitted to the track by configuring the track followers around the track. An operative is placed in the cradle, and the set of steps is placed in the storage configuration in order to complete the safety barrier around the operative. The cradle is then lowered using the raising/lowering mechanism until the cradle is in a desired position adjacent a balcony requiring maintenance or repair. Typically, the vertical position of the platform of the cradle is higher than the decking of the balcony. The set of steps is then placed into the deployed configuration by releasing the steps from the storage configuration and folding out the landing portion and extending the ladder portion as necessary so that the set of steps extends from the platform via the opening in the platform safety barrier over the balustrade and onto the decking of the balcony.

The repair or maintenance of the balcony can then be carried out.

S *.*

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and "include", and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", and "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term "about" in relation to a numerical value is optional and means for example +/-10%.

Claims

Claims: 1. A balcony access apparatus for providing access to a balcony attached to a building, the balcony having a balustrade at a perimeter of the balcony, the balcony access apparatus comprising: a platform having a safety barrier at a perimeter of the platform; a raising/lowering mechanism for adjusting a vertical position of the platform with respect to the building and the balcony; and a set of steps configurable between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein, in the storage configuration, the set of steps is disposed to allow the vertical position of the platform to be adjusted, and wherein, in the deployed configuration, the set of steps extends from the platform via an opening in the platform safety barrier over the balustrade and onto the balcony, to enable a user to access the balcony from the platform.
2. A balcony access apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a track follower for guiding the platform along a track disposed substantially vertically with respect to the building.
3. A balcony access apparatus according to claim 2 wherein there are two or more balconies attached to the building, substantially oriented in alignment with each other in a vertical direction, and wherein the track is disposed to be adjacent to each of said two or more balconies.
4. A balcony access apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the set of steps is pivotable, foldable and/or extendable.
5. A balcony access apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the set of steps includes a landing portion, in the deployed configuration the landing portion being substantially horizontal and being positioned over the balustrade of the balcony.
6. A balcony access apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the set of steps includes a ladder portion, the ladder portion being pivotably attached to the landing portion.
7. A balcony access apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein in the storage configuration the set of steps forms part of the safety barrier at the perimeter of the platform.
8. A balcony access system for providing access to a balcony attached to a building, the balcony having a balustrade at a perimeter of the balcony, the balcony access system comprising a balcony access apparatus and a track, wherein the track is releasably attached to the balcony in a substantially vertical orientation, and wherein the balcony access apparatus comprises: a platform having a safety barrier at a perimeter of the platform; a raising/lowering mechanism for adjusting a vertical position of the platform with respect to the building and the balcony; a track follower for guiding the platform along the track; and a set of steps configurable between a storage configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein, in the storage configuration, the set of steps is disposed to allow the vertical position of the platform to be adjusted, and wherein, in the deployed configuration, the set of steps extends from the platform via an opening in the platform safety barrier over the balustrade and onto the balcony, to enable a user to access the balcony from the platform.
9. A method of accessing a balcony attached to a building, the balcony having a balustrade at a perimeter of the balcony, the method comprising: providing a balcony access apparatus; and providing a track, wherein the track is releasably attached to the balcony in a substantially vertical orientation, wherein the balcony access apparatus comprises: a platform having a safety barrier at a perimeter of the platform; a raising/lowering mechanism for adjusting a vertical position of the platform with respect to the building and the balcony; a track follower for guiding the platform along the track and a set of steps, wherein the method further comprises: raising or lowering the platform using the raising/lowering mechanism to adjust the vertical position of the platform, the set of steps being in a storage configuration, disposed to allow the vertical position of the platform to be adjusted; and configuring the set of steps from the storage configuration to a deployed configuration in which the set of steps extends from the platform via an opening in the platform safety barrier over the balustrade and onto the balcony, to enable a user to access the balcony from the platform.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein them are two or more balconies attached to the building, substantially oriented in alignment with each other in a vertical direction, and wherein the track is disposed to be adjacent to each of said two or more balconies.
11. A method according to claim 9 or claim 10 further including the step of installing aluminium decking onto the balcony.