US20090211196A1

US20090211196A1 - Fixing device to bearing structures for the support of panels e.g. in glass, marble or similar, with puctiform anchorage and spherical joint

Info

Publication number: US20090211196A1
Application number: US11/918,462
Authority: US
Inventors: Doriano Lilli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-13
Filing date: 2006-04-13
Publication date: 2009-08-27
Also published as: AU2006233951A1; ITPG20050021A1; CA2603399A1; EA011369B1; WO2006109345A8; JP2008536032A; EA200702101A1; WO2006109345A2; AU2006233951B2; UA89988C2; WO2006109345A3; CN101155970A; EP1869280A2

Abstract

A fixing device (D) for panels (2) made, for example, of glass or the like by means of anchorage means with spherical joint, comprises at least one support equipped with means for fastening the edge of the panels (2), in which each panel to be fixed intersects, with its own thickness, a spherical surface of rotation of the spherical joint itself. In this way, it is advantageously possible to prevent any need to make holes in the panels (2) themselves.

Description

The present invention basically regards the building sector for the construction of the fronts of buildings and of continuous roofing with panels made of glass and the like, and in particular to an innovative system for fixing said panels to load-bearing structures.
In the building sector, there is quite a widespread use, in the construction of fronts of buildings, roofs, floors, etc., of plates of glass for single glazing or double glazing, whether suspended or resting, with the utilization of spherical joints and holes made in the plates of glass.
Other systems envisage the use of supports, with resting of the pane of glass without any spherical joints and clamping thereof with an external pressure element.
Both of the known systems give rise to problems of both a technical and an economic nature.
In the first case, with the making of holes in the glass (an operation that is quite costly) there are concentrated stresses on the hole. Consequently, in order to withstand the loads to which the glass is subjected, it is necessary to increase its thickness. Furthermore, for the same reason the glass must always be tempered. The step of installation on the building site presents considerable difficulties, it being necessary to combine perfectly the holes made in the glass with the position of the supports for anchorage to the structure.
In the second case, since the pane of glass rests on the support and is blocked with an external pressure element, there is the risk of the glass breaking both on account of expansion or strain of the load-bearing structure and on account of the stresses induced in the glass by its own weight or by external actions, such as wind or snow.
The main purpose of the present invention is to overcome said drawbacks by providing a system for fixing the panels made of glass or the like using anchorage means with a spherical joint which will not require the making of holes in the panels themselves.
This has been obtained, according to the invention, by providing a fixing system which comprises at least one support equipped with means for fastening the edge of the panels, in which each panel to be fixed intersects, with its own thickness, the spherical surface of rotation of the spherical joint itself.
A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the ensuing detailed description of the invention with reference to the attached plate of drawings, which illustrate, purely by way of non-limiting example, some preferred embodiments thereof.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a median cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged details corresponding to components that can be used in specific cases;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are, respectively, a front view and a cross-sectional view of a component of the fixing device;
FIGS. 5A-5B, 6A-6B, 7A-7B, 8A-8B, 9A-9B, 10A-10B, all of which are similar, respectively, to the previous ones 4A-4B, regard other components of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a side view of the fixing screw of the device described;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 15 and 16 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectional view of the support of the device of FIG. 13;
FIGS. 17 and 18 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectional view of the pressure element of the device of FIG. 13;
FIGS. 19 and 20 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectional view of the support of the device of FIG. 12;
FIGS. 21 and 22 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectional view of the pressure element of the device of FIG. 12;
FIGS. 23 and 24 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectional view of the support of the device of FIG. 14; and
FIGS. 25 and 26 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectional view of the pressure element of the device of FIG. 14.
The fixing device D for supporting panels with punctiform anchorage and spherical joint according to the present invention, in addition to overcoming the drawbacks and defects of current systems, renders the operations of installation simpler and more economically advantageous.
In a first embodiment of the invention, the fixing device D of the panel 2 basically comprises a support 82 and a pressure element 32, set between which are two pairs of spherical caps 4 set opposite to one another, which press a panel 2 set between them, said caps 4 in turn housing purposely provided spherical seats made, respectively, in the support 82 and in the pressure element 32.
According to a peculiar characteristic of the present invention, the height of the caps 4 set opposite to one another is such that, added to the thickness of the panel 2, it is equal to the diameter of the sphere that generates both the caps 4 and their seats, in the support 82 and in the pressure element 32.
Said spherical caps 4 are preferably made of nylon or of Derlin® (an extremely resistant and stable plastic material).
The panel 2 that is withheld between the spherical caps 4 is preferably made of glass (whether single-glazed or double-glazed) and can advantageously be set horizontally, vertically or however inclined in space.
The external pressure element 32 is fixed to the support by means of a screw 6 preferably with a conical head, designed to be tightened in the stem G of the support 82. To prevent the screw 6 from possibly loosening off, an appropriate conical ring (locking spring washer) 7 is provided.
In the first embodiment that is described (FIGS. 1-12 and 19-22), the stem G of the support 82 has a second threaded hole coaxial with the hole for locking of the screw 6, in which a bolt 9 is inserted to render the support fixed to a load-bearing structure 10.
It may be readily understood that, on account of a strain of the glass or of the support, there is a rotation of the panel/spherical caps ensemble with respect to the fixing device without dangerous stresses being induced in the panel 2 (preferably made of glass), which may cause breaking thereof.
The spherical caps 4 and the glass 2 are simply in contact, and since the spherical caps are made of plastic material, such as, for example, Derlin®, there may easily arise a relative sliding originated either by the stresses induced by external agents or by possible thermal expansion, without thereby jeopardizing stability of the fixing device.
In the case where a pane of glass 2 made of a single plate is used, the thickness of the ensemble formed by the glass and the spherical caps will generate a sphere of diameter different from the one generated with double glazing. In this case, in order to enable use of the same support 82 and of the same pressure element 32, an adapter 12 made of nylon or Derlin® is provided, which externally is spherical, with a radius equal to that of the seat of the support 82 and of the pressure element 32, and internally has a spherical seat with a diameter equal to the sphere generated by the two spherical caps 4 for the single glazing 2 (FIG. 3). As an alternative to said solution, it is possible to use only the spherical caps 4, employing supports and pressure elements with spherical seats having a radius equal to that of the spherical caps 13.
In the case where, during installation, the glass were not to rest correctly on one or more spherical caps of the support, use of adapters with variable thickness 14 designed to slot into the spherical cap 4 is envisaged (FIG. 2).
In the case where an adjustment of the entire support were necessary, a purposely provided lock nut 16 is released, and the support 82 is turned by screwing it or unscrewing it on the bolt 9 until it reaches the desired position, and is then locked in position by tightening the same lock nut 16.
In order to be certain that, during installation, the spherical caps of the support 82 and of the pressure element 32 are coaxial, a pin 15 is inserted, which renders the support and the pressure element fixed.
To prevent the glass from coming into direct contact with the metal of the support, a shim 18 made of soft, preferably plastic, material is set in between.
The invention envisages that the gap between the various panes of glass that will constitute the finished work, fronts of buildings, roofings, etc., will be sealed with a silicone sheath and silicone on the outside. Said operation must be carried out before installing the external pressure element 32.
With installation of the pressure element 32, stable fixing of the panes of glass to the support is ensured.
The description provided herein relates to a fixing device D with two punctiform spherical rests. Clearly, the fixing devices can have one rest, or else two, three, four or more than four rests.
The technical considerations set forth above and the mode of operation of the invention apply irrespective of the number of spherical rests.
A second embodiment of the invention, particularly suitable for fixing of the terminal panels, is shown in FIGS. 13 and 15-18, which regard a fixing device D with a single rest (a pair of spherical caps), comprising a support 81 and a pressure element 31.
A third embodiment of the invention, particularly suitable for fixing the corner ends of adjacent panels, is shown in FIGS. 14 and 23-26, which regard a fixing device D with four rests.
The use of the supports forming the subject of the present patent application for industrial invention, enables construction of fronts of buildings, roofings, tunnels, etc., with panes of glass set horizontally, vertically or however inclined in space with spherical joints, without there being any need to make holes in the glass, thus simplifying considerably the operations of installation so that the final cost of the work will be much lower than what can be obtained with current solutions.
The present invention has been described and illustrated in some of its preferred embodiments, but it is clear that modifications and/or replacements that are technically and functionally equivalent may be made thereon by any person skilled in the branch, albeit remaining within the sphere of protection of the present industrial patent.

Claims

1. A fixing device (D) for panels (2), made, for example, of glass or the like, by means of anchorage means with spherical joint, characterized in that it comprises at least one support equipped with means for fastening the edge of the panels (2), in which each panel to be fixed intersects, with its thickness, a spherical surface of rotation of the spherical joint itself, thus achieving prevention of the need to make holes in the panels (2) themselves.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it basically comprises at least one support (82, 81, 84) and at least one pressure element (32, 31, 34), between which are set one or more pairs of spherical caps (4) set opposite to one another, which press a panel (2) set between them, said caps (4) being housed in turn in purposely provided spherical seats made, respectively, in the corresponding support (82, 81, 84) and in the corresponding pressure element (32, 31, 34).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the height or thickness of the caps (4) set opposite to one another is such that, added to the thickness of the panel (2), it is equal to the diameter of the sphere that generates the caps (4).

4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that provided in the support (82, 81, 84) and in the pressure element (32, 31, 34) are spherical seats for said caps (4).

5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said spherical caps (4) are made of nylon, Derlin®, or other resistant and stable plastic material.

6. The device according to any one of claim 2, characterized in that the panel (2) that is withheld between the spherical caps (4) is made of glass, either single-glazed or double-glazed, and is designed to be set horizontally, vertically or however inclined in space.

7. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the external pressure element (32, 31, 34) is fixed to the support (82, 81, 84) by means of at least one screw (6) preferably with conical head, designed to be tightened in the support itself.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that, in order to prevent the screw (69 from possibly loosening off, an appropriate conical ring (locking spring washer) (7) is provided.

9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that said screw (6) is tightened in the stem (G) of the support (82, 84).

10. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the stem (G) of the support (82, 81, 84) has a second threaded hole, in which a bolt (9) is screwed so as to render the support fixed to a load-bearing structure (10).

11. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the spherical caps (4) and the glass (2) are mounted simply in contact so as to render possible relative sliding originated either by the stresses induced by external agents and by possible thermal expansion, without jeopardizing the stability of the fixing device.

12. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to enable use of a given support (82, 81, 84) and of a given pressure element (32, 81, 84) with panels (2) of different thickness, an adapter (12) made of plastic material, such as for example nylon or Derlin®, is provided, which externally is spherical with a radius equal to that of the seat in the support (82, 81, 84) and in the pressure element (32, 31, 34) and internally has a spherical seat with diameter equal to the sphere generated by the two spherical caps of small diameter (4′).

13. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the case where, during installation, the panel (2) were not to rest correctly on one or more spherical caps of the support, the use of adapters of different thickness (14) designed to interlock with the spherical cap (4) is envisaged.

14. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that, in the case where an adjustment of the entire support (82, 81, 84) were necessary, a lock nut (16) purposely provided on the bolt (9) is released, and the support (82, 81, 84) is turned, by screwing it or unscrewing it on said bolt (9) until it reaches the desired position, and then locking it again, by tightening the same lock nut (16).

15. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to be certain that, during installation, the spherical caps (4) of the support (82, 81, 84) and of the corresponding pressure element (32, 31, 34) are coaxial, a pin (15) is provided, designed to be inserted to render the support and the pressure element fixed.

16. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to prevent the panel (2) from being in direct contact with the metal of the support (32, 31, 34), a shim (18) made of soft, preferably plastic, material is provided, designed to be set between the panel and the corresponding support.

17. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure element (32, 31, 34) is designed to be mounted after sealing the usual gap existing between the panels (2) that constitute the finished work (fronts of buildings, roofings, etc.) with a silicone sheath and with silicone on the outside; the installation of the pressure element (32, 31, 34) ensuring a stable fixing of the panels (2) to the corresponding support (82, 81, 84).

18. A fixing device (D) for panels (2) made, for example, of glass or the like by means of anchorage means with spherical joint, substantially as described and illustrated in the present description and in the annexed plate of drawings.