WO2006090422A1

WO2006090422A1 - Modular parapet

Info

Publication number: WO2006090422A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ugo Avvanzini
Original assignee: Erreti S.R.L.
Priority date: 2005-02-25
Filing date: 2006-02-16
Publication date: 2006-08-31
Also published as: EP1856347A1; ITRA20050004A1

Abstract

Modular parapet (1) including at least two adjoining portions (10) defining a barrier (15) which is capable of continuously delimiting a spatial region and including at least one joint (21) shaped so as to connect by their shape the two portions (10) adjoining to each other according to a spatial angle (δ) definable at will in the course of installation, in such a way as to simplify installation operations and reduce the technical times for the identification of the actual said spatial angle between the said adjacent portion (10) at the design stage.

Description

MODULAR PARAPET

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a modular parapet. In particular, the present invention relates to a parapet rigidly connectable to a portion of edge of an architectural cantilever. In more detail, the present invention refers to a parapet having at least two adjoining portions rigidly connectable to a portion of edge of an architectural cantilever and rendered continuous with each other through a joining device, suitable for connecting them to each other rigidly, to allow persons to face out in safety from such an architectural cantilever, and especially a balcony, an upper floor or a staircase.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is known that, in the sector of supplies for building, respect for legislation is an indispensable requirement which can suddenly render a product obsolete or, in the most disadvantageous of hypotheses, make its installation illegal. The practice is known of constructing parapets for balconies, stairs or upper floors including substantially vertical portions connected rigidly to the floor and to each other, to delimit an open architectural volume laterally or perimetrally in such a way as to render the corresponding portion of floor freely walkable, and in total safety, without the fear of falling involuntarily into the void. The substantially vertical portions may be delimited in height by a handrail, suitable for functioning as a support, and this handrail may be continuous or interrupted according to the design specifications.

The regulations referring to parapets for balconies, staircases or upper floors provide that the vertical portions be self-supporting, irrespective of whether they have a rectilinear or curved layout. This means that every element of the parapet must be capable of defining an effective barrier for preventing accidents, which could be serious especially in the case of parapets installed on upper floors, or in staircases for buildings with several floors.

However, assuming that the sensation of security transmitted by an architectural element is greater if the latter also transmits it visually, it is common to observe in architectural schemes parapets built in masonry or other kinds of material, usually in ferrous material, combining continuity with plurality of vertical portions which are self-supporting through joining devices.

In the case of barriers constructed in metal, the known continuous parapets normally include a plurality of uprights connected rigidly together by grilles or by a plurality of transverse elements. The rigid connections can be of permanent or dismantlable type, and can therefore be made by welding or by means of threaded elements. It must be pointed out that in the most recent constructions, prefabricated barriers are observed which are made exclusively in metallic materials because of their lower cost of supply and installation, due principally to their versatility of application which is easily adaptable to balconies and staircases of various shapes. The connection between the respective self-supporting sections is usually made by dismantlable connections, frequently with threaded components .

The need to allow the threaded coupling to be easily assembled demands great care in the detailing of the parapet at the design stage. Indeed, the angles between portions of ends of adjoining sections must be determined with precision, and in the process of installation, care must be taken to position the connections consistently, otherwise modifications will have to be made to the parapet, with consequent increase in the labour time and rise in costs.

Examples of screw connections between end portions of consecutive vertical portions have been observed for some time. For example, compass joints are known, fitted with shanks for assembly by slotting or bolting together where the extremities meet of two adjoining sections of parapet. In US Patent No. 1467153 by J. G. Selden, fastenings are described for an adjustable parapet, and means for the rigid connection of cylindrical handrails for railings, usable in the construction of barriers for staircases . Each cylindrical joint is configured to be arranged at the intersection between vertical planes of different stretches of barrier, and is made up of at least two half-shells, assemblable to each other by means of a common diametral restraint, and may be oriented at will with respect to this diameter, in such a way as to permit the connection between the stretches of barrier at any angle .

In document EP0599757 a joint is described between two portions of extremity of which one is concave and the other convex, in which the connection is made rigid by a bolt. The housing for the bolt is formed upstream to the installation, according to the angle which must be maintained between the two stretches of handrail which meet each other, and this represents a constraint to the inclination of the two stretches to be assembled together, given that sometimes the angle envisaged by the designer may be very different from the angle actually determined in the course of assembly. Other examples are known of coupling of extremities between elongated components. In the case of patent US6588967, a spherical joint is described between the extremities of two mechanical links but it relates to a coupling of ball-and socket type in which an elastic retention portion allows three-dimensional movement of the joint. In particular, according to the teaching provided, the presence is always envisaged of an elastomeric element with determinate shape factor. Also in patent US5362229, the teaching refers to the construction of a fluid-tight spherical joint between consecutive branches of a conduit, but both in the case of patent ^λ967, and in the case of patent US5362229, the problem resolved by the teachings provided, is different from that of giving continuity to two lateral portions of a balustrade, and transmitting the sensation of safety with the minimum cost and the maximum respect for design and installation constraints with a solution of minimal cost.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a modular parapet. In particular, the present invention relates to a parapet rigidly connectable to a portion of edge of an architectural cantilever. In more detail, the present invention refers to a parapet having at least two adjoining portions rigidly connectable to a portion of edge of an architectural cantilever and rendered continuous with each other through a joining device, suitable for connecting them to each other rigidly, to allow persons to face out in safety from such an architectural cantilever, and especially a balcony, an upper floor or a staircase.

An object of the present invention is to create a prefabricated modular parapet having at least two adjoining portions and at least one joint shaped in such a way as to allow such adjoining portions to be connected rigidly to each other according to an angle definable in the course of installation. In addition, this joint must allow the assembly of adjoining portions which are inclined to each other both with respect to a vertical axis and with respect to a transverse axis, even differently from what was envisaged at the design stage. Each joint, therefore, must be capable of connecting adjoining portions of a prefabricated modular parapet with minimal design costs, substantially limited to aesthetic evaluations of the parapet, and at all events with maximum respect for the preparations for installation for putting into service, with the clear effect of a considerable reduction in costs, and of the capacity to resolve the disadvantages illustrated above with reference to the prior art cited above .

A further object of the present invention is to create a joint usable for rigidly connecting to each other two consecutive portions of a parapet in such a way as to permit such portions to be orientable in space according to a spatial angle of any size, even if such an angle were to be determinable only in the course of installation.

In particular, it will be noted that, wile apparently referring to constructional types geometrically known, the present invention provides teachings capable of modifying the current picture of parapets and the relative design and installation, and is therefore capable of satisfying a group of needs which in the current state of affairs are not yet satisfied, and of representing a new and original source of economic advantage, because of the positive consequences which the choice of such a type of product brings about in the course of installation, and therefore at the stage of design and preparation for installation.

According to the present invention a parapet is created having at least two portions to be connected rigidly to each other, the principal characteristics of the parapet being described in at least one of the claims which follow.

The present invention, furthermore, refers to a connecting joint usable between distinct portions of the said parapet, the principal characteristics of the parapet being described in at least one of the claims which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the parapet according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, explained by reference to the attached drawings which illustrate some non-limiting examples of application. In particular: figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a parapet according to the present invention used for making a staircase safe;

- figure 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of a detail taken from figure 1; figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of the embodiment of figure 1 used for making the corner of a balcony safe;

- figure 4 illustrates on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, a detail taken from figure 3 in two views, one according to an external viewpoint and one according to an internal viewpoint; - figure 5 is an exploded view on an enlarged scale, and with parts removed for clarity, of figure 4, in which the inclination of the components represented has been varied for convenience; and figure 6 is a schematic perspective view, on an enlarged scale, with parts removed for clarity, of a particular type of assembly of a detail taken from figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In figure 1, no. 1 indicates, in its entirety, a modular parapet 1 capable of defining a barrier 15 capable of delimiting with continuity an architectural cantilever and including, to this end, at least two portions 10 adjoining and inclined to each other according to a spatial angle δ definable at will in the course of installation, according to the respective components in the space α, β and Y, measurable with respect to a Cartesian system of reference X, Y, Z, having origin 0, which will be better discussed below, visible in figure 4 only and therefore definable with precision in the course of installation. Parapet 1 includes a joining device 20 which is capable of connecting such adjoining portions 10 in rigid and continuous manner. This device 20 can be advantageously embodied by means of at least one spherical joint 21, better visible in figures 4 and 5, without this constituting a limitation to the present invention. From these drawings it becomes clearly evident that a concave first part 24 and a convex second part 25 of said joint 21 are spherically shaped in such a way as to be mutually couplable rigidly according to the spatial angle δ in conjugate manner by means of a connection by shape concentric to the origin 0 of the system of reference X, Y, Z.

The concave portion 24 and convex portion 25 of each joint 21 present respective shanks 27 for coupling to the corresponding elongated components 29, bars or handrails having generally, but without limiting effect, a similar section, and belonging to the respective adjoining portions 10. The concave portion 24 and convex portion 25 are delimited frontally by geometrical elements 30 and 31 spherically shaped in such a way as to be mutually couplable in conjugate manner according to the spatial angle δ between shanks 27 for the coupling. The geometrical elements 30 and 31 present, respectively, a first and a second spherical surface 32 and 33, whose radius R is substantially identical in order to permit the adhesion of surfaces 32 and 33, and therefore the conferring of continuity on parapet 1 across each joint 21.

This allows the considerable advantage to follow, that operations of installation are simplified, given that no preliminary operation of adaptation or adjustment of joining device/joint 21 is required to take account of any inaccurate operations of preparation for assembly, but especially because of the fact that the use of each joint 21 allows, at the design stage, a reduction in the technical times for the identification of the size of the effective spatial angle δ between adjoining portions 10, granted that the following trigonometrical relationship holds: δ ≤ 180° - arcsin(R_conc/R) - arcsin (R_conv/R) . For clarity, R_COnc is the radius of an aperture 35 of the concave portion 24 substantially coaxial with the corresponding shank 27, and R_COn_v is the radius of a circular interface 36 between the shank 27 of the convex portion 25 and the convex portion itself.

Naturally, even though the regulations do not require it, each joint 21 is able to contribute more to the capacity for resisting transverse forces acting on the barrier 15, the more the respective concave portion 24 and convex portion 25 interpenetrate each other. This can lead to a smaller angle of inclination δ between the portions 10 of parapet 1 adjoining each other in pairs, but will ensure a greater rigidity of connection by shape between elongated components 29 coupled by each joint 21.

Therefore, irrespective of whether parapet 1 has a linear or curved plan, and whether adjoining portions 10 are vertical or crooked, joint 21 is capable both of functioning as a rigidifying component for parapet 1 through the conformation of surfaces 32 and 33 coupled in conjugate manner, but also simply as a component which confers continuity on barrier 15, again through its morphological characteristics.

These characteristics could make joint 21 still more attractive and economic for joining together adjoining portions 10 if there occurred a possible change in regulations which recognised the installability of parapets 1 in which the resistive capacity depends also on the junctions between the respective portions 10 adjoining each other in pairs.

A much-appreciated peculiarity of the joint 21 described above is the possibility of exploiting the characteristics of free orientability of adjoining portions 10 of parapet 1 in a creative way, and therefore of allowing the creation of parapets 1 of unusual shape, combining together stretches of barrier 15 which are associated with values of δ in which the values of a, β and Y, known and not illustrated, are singularly different from 0 and from multiples of 90°, as in the parapets classically executed, and visible in figure 1. For example, while still respecting the geometrical relationship stated above, joint 21 allows parapets 1 to be defined in which portions 10 adjoining each other in pairs, are inclined differently with respect to a horizontal axis 40 which passes centrally through its own elongated component 29 and through the geometric centre 0 of joint 21, while completely maintaining the installability and mechanical functionality of joint 21. Furthermore, provided that the dimensional relationships between the radii of the surfaces 32 and 33 permit it, it will be possible to couple together in one junction 41 a plurality of concave portions 24 meeting together at one convex portion 25, as illustrated in figure 6, in which joint 21 is at the centre of a T-joint between several elongated components 29. In this case, one of the possible schemes of assembly of joint 21 can be with the respective convex part 25 carried by an elongated component 29 oriented vertically with the function of an upright. This particular configuration of assembly may prove to be particularly useful, while always maintaining the trigonometrical relationship stated above, for example in proximity to a portion of a staircase arriving at a landing, or in other similar cases of a junction with several arms .

From the description above, therefore, it emerges clearly that a parapet 1 having joints 21 for connecting respective adjoining portions 10 allows the full achievement of the technical object expounded, and the effective satisfaction both of aesthetic requirements and of the requirement to limit the effort involved and therefore the design and installation costs, because of the great versatility of the type of coupling between the components of each joint 21. Finally it appears clear that modifications and variations may be made to parapet 1 and joint 21 here described and illustrated without for this reason departing from the protective compass of the present invention.

Naturally, included within the scope of the present invention are also forms of joint 21 dissimilar from those described with reference to surfaces 32 and 33, provided that it be possible to join them to each other in such a way as to ensure the continuity of parapet 1 and the rigidity of the junction. For example, junctions are also part of the present invention in which the convex portion 25 and the concave portion 25 have lobes known and not illustrated distributed peripherally with respect to axis 40 to make an interwoven coupling 25 of anthropomorphic type, which recalls the interweaving of the fingers of at least two hands . In the event that the lobes known and not illustrated are of suitable transverse dimensions, or that rigidifying components are provided suitable for solidifying the connection between neighbouring lobes, to take up possible spaces and/or clearances, it will be possible to create a junction between several portions 10 in proximity to each joint.

Claims

1. Modular parapet (1) including at least two portions (10) adjoining and inclined to each other, defining a barrier (15) which is capable of continuously delimiting an open architectural volume; characterised by the fact of including means of rigid and continuous junction (20) shaped to connect by shape two said portions (10) adjoining each other according to a spatial angle (δ) definable at will in the course of installation, in such a way as to minimise the design times for the identification of the size of the actual said spatial angle (δ) between the said adjoining portions (10) and simplify the operations of installation .

2. Parapet according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said means of junction (20) include at least one spherical joint (21) including a concave first part (24) and a convex second part (25) shaped in such a way as to be rigidly mutually couplable in conjugate manner by means of a connection by shape according to the said spatial angle (δ)

3. Parapet according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the said concave portion (24) and convex portion (25) present respective shanks (27) for coupling to corresponding elongated components (29) belonging to the respective adjoining portions (10) ; the said concave portion (24) and convex portion (25) being delimited frontally by spherically shaped elements (30) , (31) in such a way as to be mutually couplable in conjugate manner according to the said spatial angle (δ) between the said shanks (27) for the coupling.

4. Parapet according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said spherically shaped elements (30) , (31) present, respectively, a first and a second spherical surface (32), (33) whose radius is substantially identical.

5. Parapet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said spatial angle (δ) between the said shanks (27) for the coupling is determined by the combination of a triad of angular spatial components measurable with respect to a Cartesian system of reference (X, Y, Z) , which has its origin at a central point 0 of the said joint (21) and, conventionally, a respective axis (X) oriented along the continuation of the said elongated component (29) of the said adjoining portion (10) which precedes the said joint (21) .

6. Parapet according to claim 5, characterised by the fact that the said surfaces (32), (33) measure a determinate radius (R) ; the said shank (27) of the said concave portion (24) terminating with an opening (35) in the direction of the said convex portion (25) ; the said opening (35) being substantially coaxial with the respective said shank (27) and delimited by a circular edge of a determinate first radius (R_Conc) ; the said shank (27) associated with the said convex portion (25) being separated from the said convex portion (25) by means of a circular interface (36) of a determinate second radius (R_Conv) ; the maximum size of the said spatial angle (δ) being calculated approximately by means of the relation: δ = 180° -arcsin (Rconc/R) - arcsin (Rconv/R) .

7. Parapet according to claim 6, characterised by the fact of including a junction (41) at which meet in mutual coupling a convex portion (25) and a plurality of concave portions (24) , said junction (41) being usable for a portion arriving at a landing in compliance with the said relation.

8. Spherical joint (21) for a modular parapet (1) including at least two portions (10) adjoining and inclined to each other, defining a barrier (15) capable of continuously delimiting a spatial region; the said joint (21) being characterised by the fact of including a concave first part (24) and a convex second part (25) shaped in such a way as to be rigidly mutually couplable in conjugate manner by means of a connection by shape according to a spatial angle (δ) definable at will in the course of installation, in such a way as to minimise the technical times at the design stage for the identification of the size of the actual said spatial angle (δ) between the said adjoining portions (10) , and simplify the operations of installation.

9. Joint according to claim 7, characterised by the fact that the said concave portion (24) and convex portion (25) present respective shanks (27) for coupling to corresponding elongated components (29) belonging to the respective adjoining portions (10) ; each of the said concave portion (24) and convex portion (25) being delimited frontally by spherically shaped elements (30) ,

(31) in such a way as to be mutually couplable in conjugate manner with the respective said shanks (27) for the coupling oriented to each other according to the said spatial angle (δ) .

10. Joint according to claim 8, characterised by the fact that the said spherically shaped elements (30) , (31) present, respectively, a first and a second spherical surface (32), (33) whose radius is substantially identical.

11. Joint according to claim 9, characterised by the fact that the said spherically shaped elements (30) , (31) present, respectively, a first and a second spherical surface (32), (33) whose radius is substantially identical.

12. Joint according to claim 10, characterised by the fact that the said spatial angle (δ) between the said shanks (27) for the coupling is determined by the combination of a triad of angular spatial components measurable with respect to a Cartesian system of reference (X, Y, Z) , which has its origin at a central point 0 of the said joint (21) and, conventionally, a respective axis (X) oriented along the continuation of the said elongated component (29) of the said adjoining portion (10) which precedes the said joint (21) .

13. Joint according to claim 11, characterised by the fact that the said surfaces (32) , (33) measure a determinate radius (R) ; the said shank (27) of the said concave portion (24) terminating with an opening (35) in the direction of the said convex portion (25) ; the said opening (35) being substantially coaxial with the respective said shank (27) and delimited by a circular edge of radius (R_COnc) ; the said shank (27) associated with the said convex portion (25) being separated from the corresponding convex portion (25) by means of a circular interface (36) of radius (R_COnv) ; the maximum size of the said spatial angle (δ) being calculated approximately by means of the trigonometrical relation: δ = 180° -arcsin (R_COnc/R) - arcsin (R_conv/R) •

14. Joint according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that, in respect of the said trigonometrical relation, the said convex portion (25) presents the respective surface (33) with extension sufficient to be couplable with a plurality of concave portions (24) meeting each other.

15. Joint according to claim 14, characterised by the fact that the said convex portion (25) presents the respective surface (33) with sufficient extension to be couplable in the form of a T with two concave portions (24) meeting each other.