OA20647A - Device for fixing a panel in a groove by clamping wedges arranged on one side of the panel only. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (18) for fixing a panel (14) in a groove (28), the fixing device (18) comprising: - a cradle (40) housed in the groove (28) comprising a sole (42) bearing against the bottom of the groove (28) and a vertical outer wing (44) interposed transversely between an outer face (22) of the panel (14) and a face (34) of the groove (28); - a first upper corner (36A) which is interposed between a fixed upper ramp (52A) of the groove (28) and an inner face (22) of the panel (14); - A second lower corner (36B) which is interposed transversely between a fixed lower ramp (52B) of the groove (28) and the inner face (22) of the panel (14); characterized in that the lower ramp (52B) is carried by an inner vertical wing (55) of the cradle (40).

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Device for fixing a panel in a groove by clamping wedges arranged on one side of the panel only

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for fixing a vertical panel in a longitudinal groove, the panel being delimited transversely, in the direction of its thickness, by an inner vertical face and by an outer vertical face, the fixing device comprising a cradle which is intended to be housed in the groove and clamping corners of the panel which are intended to be interposed only between the interior face of the panel and an interior lateral face of the groove.

Technical background

It is known to produce railings by fixing a vertical panel in the groove of a rail. Such a panel is for example made of glass.

Conventionally, positioning and securing a railing panel in the groove is accomplished by inserting a wedge into one side of the panel. The panel is then clamped against an opposite face of the groove by driving in the wedge.

Such an arrangement in which the clamping is carried out unilaterally, that is to say from a single side, is particularly desirable when the panel is easily accessible only from a single side, said interior side. This is particularly the case when the guardrail is arranged at altitude, in which the outer side overlooks the void.

Such an arrangement having only one clamping wedge does not make it possible to obtain a strong fixing.

One of the aims of the invention is to obtain a strong fixing, from a single side of the panel, by means of a device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Summary of the invention

The invention relates to a device for fixing a vertical panel in a longitudinal groove, the panel being delimited transversely, in the direction of its thickness, by an inner vertical face and by an outer vertical face, the fixing device comprising:

- a cradle which is intended to be housed in the groove and which comprises a flange bearing against the bottom of the groove and a vertical outer wing which is intended to be interposed transversely between the outer face of the panel and an outer lateral face of the groove ;

- panel clamping means which are intended to be interposed only between the inner face of the panel and an inner side face of the groove, the clamping means comprising:

- a first upper corner which is interposed transversely between a first fixed upper ramp of the inner side face of the groove and the inner face of the panel;

- a second lower corner which is arranged below the first upper corner and which is interposed transversely between a second fixed lower ramp of the inner side face of the groove and the inner face of the panel;

- each corner being received sliding vertically in the groove from a loosened position to a tight position;

characterized in that the lower ramp is carried by an inner vertical wing of the cradle which is intended to be interposed transversely between the inner lateral face of the groove and the lower corner.

According to another aspect of the invention, the upper ramp is made in one piece with the inner side face of the groove.

According to another aspect of the invention, the outer wing of the cradle is intended to rest flat against the outer face of the panel.

According to another aspect of the invention, the outer flange of the cradle bears flat against the flat vertical outer face of the groove.

According to another aspect of the invention, the outer wing is directly in contact with the outer face of the panel.

According to another aspect of the invention, the cradle is made from a single piece of rigid plastic.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lower wedge and the upper wedge are controlled towards their clamped position by mutual approximation along their vertical sliding direction.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lower ramp has an inclination with respect to the vertical direction so as to be turned towards the bottom of the groove.

According to another aspect of the invention, the lower corner and the upper corner are controlled between their loosened position and their tightened position by at least one common control screw.

According to another aspect of the invention, the cradle is intended to be housed immobile in the groove.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which will follow for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a panel fixed in a rail mounted on the edge of a concrete slab, the panel being fixed by means of a fixing device produced according to the teachings of the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the rail and a fixing device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along a vertical transverse section plane passing through the center of clamping wedges which equip the fixing device and which represents the rail and the fixing device of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the same sectional plane as Figure 3 which shows the panel mounted tight in a groove of the rail by means of the fastening device of the invention;

Figure 5 is a side view which shows the panel being fixed in the rail by means of the fixing device of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

In the remainder of the description, the longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations indicated by the trihedron L, V, T of the figures will be adopted without limitation.

In the rest of the description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions will be designated by the same reference.

There is shown in Figure 1 a guardrail 10 which is mounted on the edge of a slab 12, for example a concrete slab. The edge of the slab 12 is difficult to access here, it is for example arranged at altitude.

The guardrail 10 comprises a vertical panel 14 and an assembly 13 for fixing the panel 14. The panel 14 is preferably made of glass.

The fixing assembly 13 comprises a rail 16 for supporting the panel 14. The fixing assembly 13 also comprises at least one device 18 for fixing the panel 14 in the rail 16. The panel 14 is preferably held vertically in the rail 16 of support by several fixing devices 18 which are distributed over the length of the rail 16. Only a section of rail 16 comprising a single fixing device 18 is shown in FIG. 1. Each fixing device 18 is designed to make it possible to fix 5 firmly the panel 14 in a vertical position and to withstand very heavy loads. Since the fixing devices 18 are identical, only one of these devices 18 will be described in detail below, the description being applicable to the other fixing devices 18.

The panel 14 is delimited transversely, in the direction of the thickness, by an inner face 20 which faces the accessible side of the rail 16, and by an outer face 22 which faces the inaccessible side of the rail 16. The panel 14 in mounted position and divides the space into an interior side 24 accessible and an exterior side 26 inaccessible. For the remainder of the description and in the claims, elements located on the interior side of the panel 14 will be qualified by the adjective interior, while elements located on the exterior side will be qualified by the adjective exterior.

As illustrated in more detail in Figures 2 and 3, the support rail 16 is formed by way of example by an aluminum section. The rail 16 has a U-shaped cross-section defining a groove 28 for receiving the panel 14 and the fixing device 18. The support rail 16 extends continuously in the longitudinal direction. The support rail 16 is intended to be fixed to the slab 12 prior to the assembly of the panel 14.

In side view, the groove 28 has a U-shape. It is delimited at the bottom by a bottom 30 of flat horizontal shape. It is delimited transversely by an inner side face 32, on the one hand, and by an outer side face 34, on the other hand, which are arranged transversely opposite one another. The groove 28 has an upper opening 35. The width of the groove 28 between the inner face 32 and the outer face 34 is greater than the thickness of the panel 14. The inner face 32 is located on the inner side 24, while the outer face 34 is located on the outer side 26.

The fixing device 18 comprises means 36 for clamping the panel 14 which are intended to be interposed only between the inner face 20 of the panel 14 and the inner side face 32 facing the groove 28. The means 36 of tightening comprise an upper corner 36A and a lower corner 36B.

io Each corner 36A, 36B is here made of a rigid plastic material. Each corner 36A, 36B is more particularly made in one piece, for example by molding.

As shown in Figure 4, no clamping means, in particular no clamping wedge, is provided between the outer face 22 of the panel 14 and the outer side face 34 of the groove 28.

The fixing device 18 also comprises a cradle 40 which is intended to be housed in the groove 28. The cradle 40 comprises a horizontal base 42 which is intended to rest flat against the bottom 30 of the groove 28. The cradle 40 also comprises an outer flange 44 which extends vertically from an outer end edge of the sole 42. Thus, in cross section, as shown in Figure 3, the sole 42 and the outer flange 44 form an L. L The outer flange 44 is intended to be interposed transversely between the outer face 22 of the panel 14 and the outer side face 34 facing the groove 28, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The outer wing 44 is in the form of a flat plate. Thus, the outer flange 44 has an inner face 46, facing the outer face 22 of the panel 14, which is flat and which extends in a transverse vertical plane. The outer wing 44 is here directly in contact with the outer face of the panel.

The outer wing 44 also has an outer face 48 opposite the inner face 46. The outer face 48 is planar and it extends in a transverse vertical plane. The inner side face 34 of the groove 28 has a flat shape extending 5 in a transverse vertical plane from the bottom 30 to the opening 35 so that the outer face 48 of the outer flange 44 is in plane support. against the inner side face 34 of the groove 28. The outer flange 44 is here directly in contact with the outer face 22 of the panel 14.

io The cradle 40 is here made of rigid plastic. The cradle 40 is here made in one piece, for example by molding.

The upper corner 36A of the fixing device 18 is interposed between the inner side face 32 of the groove 28 and the inner face 20 of the panel 14, as illustrated in FIG. 4. A first upper ramp 52A is fixedly arranged on the inner side face 32 of the groove 28. The upper corner 36A is interposed between the first upper ramp 52A and the inner face 20 of the panel 14. The upper corner 36A 20 comprises an inclined face 50A which is intended to cooperate with the first upper ramp 52A to allow its clamping between the panel 14 and the upper ramp 52A by sliding vertically downwards. In this regard, the first upper ramp 52A is inclined relative to the vertical so as to face upwards, while the inclined face 50A of the upper corner 36A is inclined relative to the vertical so as to face downwards. down.

In the examples illustrated in the figures, the first upper ramp 52A is made in one piece with the inner side face 32 of the groove 28. In the example shown in the figures, the upper ramp 52A is therefore made in one piece with the rail. 16. More particularly, the inner face 32 of the groove 28 has an upper longitudinal band in the form of a bevel.

The second lower corner 36B is arranged below the first upper corner 36A. The second lower corner 36B is interposed transversely between the inner side face 32 of the groove 28 and the inner face 20 of the panel 14, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. A second lower ramp 52B is fixedly arranged on the inner side face 32 of the groove 28. The lower corner 36B is interposed between the second lower ramp 52B and the inner face 20 of the panel 14. The lower corner 36B has an inclined face 50B which is intended to cooperate with the second ramp 52B lower to allow its clamping between the panel 14 and the lower ramp 52B by vertical sliding upwards of the lower corner 36B. In this respect, the second lower ramp 52B has an inclination with respect to the vertical so as to be turned downwards and overhanging with respect to the bottom 30 of the groove 28, while the inclined face 50B of the lower corner 36B is inclined relative to the vertical so as to face upwards.

The lower ramp 52B is carried by an inner wing 55 of the cradle 40. The outer wing 55 extends vertically from an inner end edge of the sole 42. The inner wing 55 is intended to be interposed transversely between the face 20 inside the panel 14 and the inner side face 32 vis-à-vis the groove 28. The inner flange 55 is more particularly in abutment against the inner side face 32 of the groove 28. The inner flange 55 does not s does not extend to the top of the inner side face 32. It is delimited by an upper edge 57 which is arranged below the level of the upper ramp 52A, here substantially halfway up the groove 28.

Each wedge 36A, 36B is slidably received vertically in groove 28 from a loosened position to a tight position. Each corner 36A, 36B has a clamping face 54A, 54B which is intended to be clamped against the panel 14. Each clamping face 54A, 54B extends in a vertical plane. The clamping faces 54A, 54B can be clamped directly against the interior face 20 of the panel 14.

However, it is also possible to insert a wedge 56 between the corners 36A, 36B and the panel 14, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. This is a wedge 56 which is common to the two corners 36A, 36B . The wedge 56 is in the form of a longitudinal vertical plate. It has fins 58 which extend outward from each longitudinal end edge. Fins 58 cooperate with sides of upper corner 36A and sides of inner flange 55 of cradle 40 to hold wedge 56 longitudinally in position in groove 28.

In the tight position, each wedge 36A, 36B is clamped transversely between the inner side face 32 of the groove 28 and the inner face 20 of the panel. downwards, while the sliding of the lower wedge 36B from its loosened position to its tight position takes place vertically upwards. In the clamped position, a major part of the clamping force is directed transversely towards the panel 14, the corners 36A, 36B resting against their respective ramp 52A, 52B.

In the tight position, the lower wedge 36B also clamps the inner flange 55 of the cradle 40 against the inner side face 32 of the groove 28. The inner flange 55 more particularly has ribs 60 which extend behind the lower ramp 52B in direction of the inner side face 32 of the groove 28 to form a solid support which makes it possible to avoid any deformation of the lower ramp 52B under the effect of the transverse tightening force.

When the lower corner 36B is slid vertically upwards, a minority part of the clamping force is directed in a vertical direction which tends to lift the cradle 40 relative to the bottom 30. To prevent this from happening, the face 32 inner side of the groove 28 is provided with a projecting longitudinal lug 62 against which a stop face 63 of the inner wing 55, here formed by an upper face of the ribs 60, bears vertically to hold the sole 42 of the cradle 40 in contact with the bottom 30 of the groove 28. Thus, the lower ramp 52B remains fixed relative to the inner side face 32 of the groove 28.

The vertical sliding of the lower corner 36B is guided relative to the cradle 40 of the transverse vertical flanges 64 which are arranged longitudinally on either side of the lower ramp 52B.

In addition, the vertical sliding of the upper corner 36A is guided relative to the lower corner 36B by two tabs 66 which extend vertically downwards from an underside of the upper corner 36A. The tabs 66 embrace the lower corner 36B longitudinally. To ensure contact between the longitudinal end sides of the lower corner 36B and the legs 66, the legs are elastically constrained in bending against said sides of the lower corner 36B. These tabs 66 make it possible to guarantee vertical alignment of the two corners 36A, 36B.

The sliding of the upper corner 36A and that of the lower corner 36B is carried out simultaneously by common control means. Thus, the two corners 36A, 36B are simultaneously controlled towards their clamped positions by mutual approach in the vertical direction. The assembly formed by the two wedges 36A, 36B linked by their common control means is thus mounted floating vertically in the groove 28, in the loosened position of the wedges 36A, 36B, so that when the wedges 36A, 36B, the clamping force exerted by each of the corners 36A, 36B against the panel 14 is automatically balanced.

The control means are formed by at least one vertical axis control screw. The lower corner 36B and the upper corner 36A are here controlled between their loosened position and their tightened position by a single common control screw 68. The control screw 68 is received in an associated smooth hole 70 drilled in the upper corner 36A to the right of the lower corner 36B.

The lower end of the control screw 68 is screwed into engagement with the lower corner 36A, for example in a thread 72 of the lower corner 36B. The lugs 66 make it possible to guarantee vertical alignment of the smooth orifice 70 and the thread 72.

The tapping 72 of the lower corner 36B is for example made in a head 76 at the upper end of the corner 36B which is arranged above the clamping face 50B.

Thus, when the screw 68 is screwed in, the lower wedge 36A, locked in rotation by the cradle 40 and the panel 14, slides upwards to a tight position in which it is wedged between the lower ramp 52B and the panel. 14. Simultaneously, a head 74 of the control screw 68 rests on the upper corner 36A to cause it to slide downwards until it is wedged between the inner side face 32 of the groove 28 and the panel 14. The screwing can be continued until the inner corners 36A, 36B are tightened with the desired screwing force to obtain the vertical fixing of the panel 14 with a corresponding tightening force.

In addition to the speed of fixing, this system of simultaneous tightening of the upper inner corner 36A and of the lower inner corner 36B with the same control screw 68 makes it possible to balance the tightening force applied by each inner corner 36A, 36B against the panel. 14.

When the guardrail 10 is in place, the rail 16 is fixed beforehand to the ground 12. Then, the cradle 40 is housed in the groove 28 with the lower corner 36B in position between the flanges.

64, as shown in Figure 5. The panel 14 is then i inserted into the groove 28. A lower edge 78 of the panel 14 bears on the sole 42 of the cradle which then clamped against >

I i i! I the bottom 30 of the groove 28 under the effect of the very heavy weight of the panel 14.

Due to the shape of the cradle 40, and in particular its flat sole 42, the cradle 40 is housed immobile in the groove 28. This means in particular that the cradle 40 cannot pivot relative to the groove 28 around a longitudinal axis.

There is provided a longitudinal outer seal 80 which borders the upper opening 35 of the groove 28. The outer seal 80 prevents the panel 14 from coming directly into contact with the rail 16. The seal 80 is for example made of an elastomeric material. It is fixed to the outer side face 34 of the groove 28, for example by fitting into a mortise.

The outer seal 80 has a transverse thickness which is slightly greater than the thickness of the wing 44 outer. Thus, when the panel 14 bears against the outer side face 34 with the interposition of the outer flange 44, the seal 44 makes it possible to fill the gap present between the outer edge of the upper opening 35 of the groove 28 and the panel 14, for example to prevent water from entering the groove 28. However, the outer seal 80 has a sufficiently small thickness not to influence the vertical position of the panel 14 in the groove 28.

Optionally, the wedge 56 can then be inserted into the groove 28 between the panel 14 and the lower corner 36B, when the thickness of the panel 14 requires the use of such a wedge 56.

As shown in Figure 4, the upper corner 36A is then placed in the groove 28 above the lower corner 36B. Positioning is facilitated by the presence of guide lugs 66. Wedge 56 is inserted between corners 36A, 36B and the inside face of panel 14.

The control screw 68 is then inserted into the smooth hole 70 of the upper corner 36A, then screwed into the thread 72 of the lower corner 36B. By screwing the control screw 68, for example by means of a screwdriver, the two corners 36A, 36B approach each other vertically, causing them to slide towards their clamped position. This causes the panel 14 to press against the outer side face 34 of the groove 28 with clamping of the outer flange 44 of the cradle 40. The panel 14 is held straight and vertical by clamping against the vertical outer side face 34 of the groove 28. Due to the geometry of the outer flange 44, the vertical position of the panel 14 is defined as being parallel to the outer side face 34 of the groove 28.

At the end of the screwing operation, there remains a gap between an inner edge of the upper opening 35 of the groove 28 and the inner face 20 of the panel 14, due to the presence of the upper ramp 52A and the presence of corners 36A, 36B. To close this gap, a cover 82 is provided which is intended to be fitted with a longitudinal tenon 84 of the rail 16. A transverse end edge of the cover 82 is provided with a seal 86 which is intended to come into contact of the inner face 20 of the panel 14 to guarantee the watertightness of the groove 28.

The invention thus makes it possible to fix a panel 14 of 20 railings 10 in a rail 16 from the interior side alone by means of a fixing device 18 that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The fixing device 18 with two corners 36A, 36B makes it possible to obtain a particularly strong hold of the panel 14. In addition, the fixing device 18 whose cradle 40 is provided with a ramp 36B lower while offering a rail geometry 16 that is fairly simple and inexpensive to produce.

Claims (10)

1. Device (18) for fixing a vertical panel (14) in a longitudinal groove (28), the panel (14) being delimited transversely, in the direction of its thickness, by an inner vertical face (20) and by an outer vertical face (22), the fixing device (18) comprising: - a cradle (40) which is intended to be housed in the groove (28) and which comprises a sole (42) bearing against the bottom of the groove (28) and a vertical outer wing (44) which is intended to be interposed transversely between the outer face (22) of the panel (14) and an outer side face (34) of the groove (28); - means (36) for clamping the panel (14) which are intended to be interposed only between the inner face (20) of the panel (14) and an inner side face (32) of the groove (28), the means ( 36) clamp comprising: - a first upper corner (36A) which is interposed transversely between a first fixed upper ramp (52A) of the inner side face (32) of the groove (28) and the inner face (22) of the panel (14); - a second lower corner (36B) which is arranged below the first upper corner (36A) and which is interposed transversely between a second fixed lower ramp (52B) of the inner side face (32) of the groove (28) and the inner face (22) of the panel (14); - each wedge (36A, 36B) being received sliding vertically in the groove (28) from a loosened position to a tight position; characterized in that the lower ramp (52B) is carried by an inner vertical wing (55) of the cradle (40) which is intended to be interposed transversely between the inner lateral face (32) of the groove (28) and the corner ( 36B) lower. 15 . 2. Fixing device (18) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper ramp (52A) is made in one piece with the inner side face (32) of the groove (28). 3. Fixing device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer wing (44) of the cradle (40) is intended to bear flat against the outer face (22) of the panel ( 14). 4. Fixing device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer wing (44) of the cradle (40) bears flat against the flat vertical outer face (34) of the groove ( 28), 5. Fixing device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer wing (44) is directly in contact with the outer face (22) of the panel (14). 6. Device (18) for fixing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cradle (40) is made of a single piece of rigid plastic. 7. Fixing device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower wedge (36B) and the upper wedge (36A) are controlled towards their clamped position by mutual approximation along their vertical sliding direction. 8. Fixing device (18) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower ramp (52B) has an inclination with respect to the vertical direction so as to face the bottom of the groove (28). 9. Device (18) for fixing according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the corner (36B) lower and the corner i (36A) higher are controlled between their loosened position and! their position clamped by at least one common control screw (68). i i i 10. Fixing device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cradle (40) is intended to be housed immovably in the groove (28).