WO2016193806A1

WO2016193806A1 - Profile for connecting panelling to a building element

Info

Publication number: WO2016193806A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/000757
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matteo PAOLINI; Gabriele ROMAGNOLI
Original assignee: Faraone S.R.L.
Priority date: 2015-06-05
Filing date: 2016-06-01
Publication date: 2016-12-08
Also published as: EP3303727B1; EP3303727A1; ITUB201543392U1

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a profile (1) for connecting one or more panellings (2) to a building element (E) comprising: a bottom (10) capable of being anchored to said building element (E), a first (11) and second (12) vertical wing, opposed and substantially parallel to each other, a cavity (13) for the insertion of at least the lower edge (20) of said one or more panellings (2) resting at the bottom on a support surface (6; 10), adjusting means (4, 4', F) of the inclination of said one or more panellings (2). The adjusting means (4, 4', F) comprise: at least one upper actuator (41) and one lower actuator (41'), manoeuvrable from the outside, capable of translating crosswise within said cavity (13) of said profile (1) and of pressing on a face of said one or more panellings (2) placed in rotation about a fulcrum (F) substantially located at an abutment element (40) fixed and projecting from said second wing (12). The height of said abutment element (40) from said support surface (6; 10) by the lower edge (20) of said one or more panellings (2) is intermediate between those of said upper (41) and lower (41') actuators.

Description

PROFILE FOR CONNECTING PANELLING TO A BUILDING ELEMENT

D E S C R I P T I O N

The object of the present invention is an apparatus for adjusting the inclination of panellings intended to be installed on a building element so as to define technical structures for the protection and/or delimitation and/or furnishing, such as, by way of an example, parapets, railings, balustrades, fences, partition walls, glass windows, cantilever roofs, roofs and the like.

More precisely, the object of the present invention is a system for connecting panels, in particular glazed, of any thickness, comprising means for the quick adjustment of their inclination relative to a building component.

The invention therefore falls within the building field, particularly in the sector of transparent architecture.

Of course, nothing prevents the application of the finding to be extended also to fields different from the building one.

It is known that for the installation of panels on supporting building structures and/or surfaces to be delimited or that need protection metal profiles are often used, preferably of aluminium, which can be anchored to the building component and adapted to serve as a seat and support for said panels, retaining them in a substantially vertical set-up.

These known systems, despite being widely widespread and used for a long time, are not free from difficulties in the positioning of the panels.

If we can certainly admit that all the elements making up an apparatus for connecting panellings are perfect from the dimensional point of view or better that their imperfections are absolutely imperceptible and irrelevant from a functional point of view, the same can not be said of the building components whereon such devices must be constrained that may have defects and unacceptable dimensional inaccuracies.

Very often, therefore, to compensate for defects of the lying plane of the horizontal installation surface of said profiles, ensuring, as a result, the optimal verticality of the panellings that they support, fitting works, adjustments and the masking of said dimensional defects are required; this ends up inevitably with complicating and extending the installation times in addition to requiring great care and technical preparation of the installers.

Moreover, it is not always easy to place panellings in their correct and desired vertical set-up, especially if the operator operates in rather uncomfortable or dangerous places and positions: very often, in order to carry out the assembly of the panellings and any adjustment of the set-up thereof, the installer must operate from the outside of the building component of installation, leaning in the mid-air or using special equipment, such as aerial platforms or ladders, at the risk of his own safety.

An imperfect positioning of the panelling on the support profile leads to aesthetically unsatisfactory and not fully functional installations.

Set-up defects are in fact very visible on an array of consecutive panellings, especially if having a glossy and/or reflecting surface.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art listed above, by designing an innovative apparatus for connecting panellings, preferably glazed, to a building component and defining technical structures for the protection and/or delimitation and/or furnishing, such as, by way of a non- limiting example, parapets, railings, balustrades, fences, partition walls, cantilever roofs, roofs and similar elements.

More in particular, the object of the present invention is to provide an innovative profile capable of retaining panellings of any thickness in use in the building industry and of compensating for any defects of the lying surface of the installation surface of said profile.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a profile adapted to retain panellings of any thickness easily and conveniently installable by an installer operating in totally safe conditions.

These and other objects are achieved according to the invention, with the features listed in the annexed independent claim 1.

Further features of the present invention shall be better highlighted by the following description of a preferred embodiment, in accordance with the patent claims and illustrated, purely by way of a non-limiting example, in the annexed drawing tables, in which:

- Fig. 1 globally shows a section view of an apparatus for connecting panellings to a building element according to the invention;

- Figures 2a and 2b show the apparatus for connecting panellings to a building component of Fig. 1 according to two different operating configurations, respectively;

- Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show details of Fig. 1 ;

- Fig. 4 globally shows a section view of a second possible embodiment variant of the apparatus for connecting panellings to a building element according to the invention;

- Fig. 5 globally shows a section view of a different use of the apparatus of Fig.

4;

- Fig. 6 globally shows a section view of a different use of the apparatus of Fig.

1.

The elements of the apparatus according to the invention are now described using the references contained in the annexed figures. It should be noted that any dimensional and spatial term (such as "lower", "upper", "right", "left", "vertical", "horizontal" and the like) refers, unless otherwise indicated, to the position according to which the object of the invention is shown in the drawings which not necessarily coincides with the position of the finding in operating conditions. With the purpose of highlighting some features instead of others, not necessarily what described in the annexed drawings is perfectly to scale.

Not all the elements shown in the figures are also essential for the purposes of the invention; those that are will be explicitly indicated.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates, as a whole, a profile for connecting one or more panellings 2 to a building element E, which, in general, may consist of a usable floor or a wall in whole or in part in masonry work or metalwork or other.

In the example of the figure, given by way of a non-limiting example, the building element E may consist of a balcony E and the profile 1 serves as a support of one or more panellings 2 that are part of the parapet provided for such balcony E.

The support profile 1 is preferably made of one of the metal alloys (aluminum alloys, in general) suitable for obtaining profiles but nothing prevents, if the structural requirements allows it, that it is made of other material, e.g. wood or PVC.

The support profile 1 has a substantially U-shaped section with a base 10 for anchoring (by known means not shown) to an installation surface SE of said building element E and a first 1 1 and second 12 wing, opposite and substantially parallel to each other.

Between said wings 1 1, 12 and the bottom 10 a cavity 13 is thus made that serves as a seat for at least the lower bottom 20 of the panelling 2 that projects upwards for its remaining part.

Said lower edge 20 of the panelling rests on a special support surface 6, 10 internal to said cavity 13.

Preferably, said lower edge 20 of the panelling 2 rests on a base 6 that extends horizontally between the two wings 11, 12 of the support profile 1 , in the proximity the its bottom 10, parallel to it.

Nothing obviously prevents the possibility that said edge 20 of the panelling 2 may rest directly on the bottom 10 of the profile 1. As shown in Fig. 1, locking means 4 allow to retain the panelling 2, inserted within the cavity 13 of the profile 1, in a substantially vertical set-up.

More precisely, said locking means 4, 4', F may comprise elements capable of mutually acting on the opposite faces of the panelling 2, locking it in said cavity 13.

What described thus far does not substantially depart from the prior art and the panelling 2 thus installed will be in a substantially vertical set-up.

However, as already partly mentioned, the panelling 2 retained on the corresponding support profile 1 may require an adjustment of its set-up to compensate for gradients and planarity defects of the installation surface SE of the building element E.

For this purpose, adjusting means 4, 4', F are provided, suitably designed to impart a controllable rotation about a fulcrum F to the lower edge 20 of the panelling 2.

More in detail, such adjustment may be obtained by allowing a rotation on a horizontal axis about said fulcrum F of the lower edge 20 of said panelling 2 within the cavity 13 of the support profile 1, between the first 11 and second 12 wing thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said adjusting means 4. 4', F may preferably comprise:

- on the first wing 1 1 of the profile 1, at least a first and second actuator 41, 41 ' (similar to each other) at a distance "H" from each other and respectively located at the bottom 10 of said profile 1 and of its apical zone, said actuators 41, 4 being capable of cooperating and pressing, in the ways that will be seen, on the opposite face of the panelling 2 to cause said rotation of at least the lower edge 20 thereof

- an abutment element 40, fixed, projecting from the inner wall of the second wing 11 and capable of associating in front coupling with the other face of the same panelling 2.

For the purposes of the invention, the vertical projection of said abutment element 40 on the opposite first wing 11 is such as to "fall" .substantially in the space H comprised between the two upper and lower actuators 41, 4 Γ.

In other terms, the height of said abutment element 40 from said support surface 6; 10 by the lower edge 20 of said panelling 2 is intermediate to those of said upper 41 and lower 41 ' actuators from the same surface 6, 10.

In this way, said abutment element 40 substantially acts as a fulcrum F of rotation of the panelling 2 within the cavity 13 of the profile 1 , towards the first 11 or second 12 wing thereof.

More precisely, each of said actuators 41 , 4 may be made translating crosswise within the cavity 13 of the support profile 1 to the most appropriate extent to the adjustment.

Even more precisely, by translating the actuator 41 close to the apical zone of the profile 1 towards the panelling 2 and by simultaneously withdrawing the actuator 4 in the opposite direction near its bottom 10, the panelling 2 will rotate in clockwise direction; vice versa if the actuators 41, 4Γ are translated in the opposite manner.

Once the desired rotation is obtained, both the actuators 41 , 4 are slightly tightened against the panelling 2.

Such translations shall obviously be prolonged until the desired inclination is reached for the panelling 2.

For example, the results of such rotation of the panelling 2 in the respective support profile 1 are well visible in Figs. 2a and 2b that show for said panelling 2 different inclinations a, relative to the vertical, such as to compensate for the gradients and the planarity defects of the installation surfaces SE of the building element E.

At the end of such adjustment, the adjusting means 4, 4', F also serve as said locking means 4 of the panelling 2 that in fact is firmly and permanently retained in the desired laying set-up, tightened between the actuators 41 , 4 and the opposed abutment element 40.

It is also noted that a plurality of actuators 41 , 4Γ of the type just described may be provided along the entire longitudinal development of the support profile 1 ; that is, there can be provided a first upper array of actuators 41, because it is located, as seen, in the proximity of the apical zone of said profile 1, and a second lower array close to the bottom 30 thereof. In this regard, please see Fig. 3a and/or 3b.

In order to facilitate the operations of adjustment of the inclination and locking of the panelling 2, the wing 11 whereon the actuators 41, 4Γ are provided is preferably that facing inwards of the building element E of installation, while the opposite wing 12 carrying the abutment element 40 is the outer one; in this way, the installer can operate totally safe by working comfortably from the inside of the parapet (or balustrade) that the panelling 2 contributes to make, without the need of leaning dangerously out of it or using aerial or suspended equipment. To manoeuvre the actuators 41 , 41' it is also possible to operate from the outside by inserting the most suitable tool (normally, a manoeuvring wrench) within the support profile 1 from its summit opening 14.

According to such preferred executive variant, it is however necessary that said first actuator 41 is misaligned and offset relative to said second actuator 4 ; in other terms, the projection of each of said first actuators 41 must be comprised in the interspace identified between two consecutive of said second actuators 41 ' or vice versa, so that they are all equally and easily reachable by the manoeuvring tool.

Of course, nothing prevents the possibility of accessing said actuators 41 , 4Γ sideways, i.e. by special side openings of the wing 1 1 of the profile 1 made in their correspondence.

It is clear that according to this latter variant, it is not necessary to misalign and offset vertically the upper and lower actuators 41, 41'.

Some details of the invention shall be now described without any limiting intent, it being understood the possibility of providing technically equivalent solutions. As clearly shown in the annexed figures, the actuators 41, 4Γ may consist of adjusting screws comprising, as is known: - a first head, fixed, 43, 43' retained in a seat 26, 26' of the inner wall of the first wing 11 of the profile 1 and to which is prevented from rotating by interference or shape coupling

- a threaded pin 44, 44' that projects crosswise from said seat 26, 26'

- a second head 45, 45' (said "thrust"), coaxial to the pin 44, 44' screwed/unscrewed thereon by means of the above manoeuvring tool, cooperating with a jaw 42, 42', preferably of (or coated with) elastic material, said second head 45, 45' having outer surface capable of shape-coupling with a manoeuvring tool (e.g., hexagonal to be engaged by a wrench).

Head 45, 45' and jaw 42, 42' may of course be also a single piece.

According to such configuration, a rotation of the thrust head 45, 45' on the threaded pin 44, 44', which is fixed and locked to the bearing profile 1 corresponds to one translatory motion thereof inside the cavity 13 and a consequent approaching/distancing of the relative jaw 42, 42' on the opposite face of the panelling 2 so as to adjust, in the manners already anticipated, the inclination thereof.

The abutment element 40 may without distinction consist of a sector of the inner wall of the wing 12 of the profile 1 whereon it is provided or preferably of a second fixed jaw 40, constrained (e.g., "snap" on special ribs 15 of said wing 12) and having a back adapted to associate in front coupling with the opposite face of the panelling 2. This second solution is preferred because it allows to choose such second jaw 40 of the most suitable material and/or thickness.

In the example of Fig. 3c, the second jaw 40 may consist of a single rigid bar although it is also possible to provide a plurality of jaws 40 distributed along the entire longitudinal development of the profile 1.

In Figs. 1 , 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 3c said abutment element 40, also defined as jaw, is shown with flat back, but nothing prevents that the back of said abutment element 40 may be convex to facilitate the rotation of the panelling 2 within the profile 1.

Such variant is shown in Fig. 4 and the convexity of the profile of the jaw 40 reduces the risk of breakage of the panelling 2 during the operation of adjustment of the inclination.

In general said convexity may be defined by a curved, circle arc profile or according to any geometric line suitable for the purpose, and advantageously may be accentuated or attenuated according to the installation needs, such as for example the thickness or the material of the panelling 2.

For descriptive completeness, it should be noted that the casings 3 may hook (by interference and/or snap, or by means of other known equivalent systems) on at least a part of the outer outline of the profile 1 giving it an increased aesthetic appeal. In this regard, reference should be made to the casing 1 of Fig. 1 which, once the adjustment and locking procedure of the panelling 2 is finished, it is hooked on top of the profile 1 to make inaccessible the inner cavity 13 thereof. The casing 1 may carry seals 140 (see Fig. 4) that allow sealing the same cavity 13 preserving it from infiltrations of rainwater, humidity and dirt.

The device according to the invention finally allows the possibility to insert inside the profile 1, between its bottom 10 and the overlying support base 6 for the panelling 2, a light source (e.g., LED) for the lighting, from below, of the panelling 2, particularly useful and scenographic in the case of glazed panellings 2.

It is clear that in the practical embodiment of the invention numerous modifications and further variants may be provided, all falling within the same inventive concept; all the various components and details previously described may also be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

For example, with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 it can be deduced that said profile 1 may also be installed on vertical building components E, such as for example partitions or walls, for making structures for the protection and/or delimitation and/or furnishing, such as, by way of a non-limiting example, cantilever roofs, roofs or similar elements.

In particular in Fig. 5 the profile 1 is provided with a jaw 40 with convex back, while in Fig. 6 the profile 1 is provided with a jaw 40 with flat back, in accordance with what already described above.

In both variants of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 the bottom 10 of the profile 1 is fixed to the said building element E.

Advantageously, said profile 1 may be provided with at least one appendix 16 equipped with a bottom 160 capable of being anchored to the installation surface SE of said building element E by suitable fixing means 161 , such as screws or the like, so as to give greater stability to the installation.

Furthermore, although not shown in the annexed Figs., nothing prevents that the said abutment element 40, instead of being a fixed element of the wing 12 of the profile 1, may consist, like the actuators 41 , 4Γ, of a jaw able to translate crosswise within the cavity 13 of the same profile 1 to impart to the same lower edge 20 of the panelling 2 a rotation and a simultaneous translation thereof (the latter to the extent compatible with the structural dimensions of the casing 3 and of the relevant seals).

With a profile 1 for connecting a panelling 2 to a building element E provided with the adjusting and locking means 4 herein described the stated objects are achieved because it makes possible a fast and accurate installation of one or more consecutive panellings 2 by compensating for defects in the planarity of the installation surface SE of a building element E.

Moreover, in the case of the making of balustrades or parapets, by manoeuvring said adjusting means from within the wall structure (e.g., from the walking surface of a balcony) without the need of leaning dangerously in the mid-air, the installer can operate in totally safe conditions preventing injuries and work accidents; the possibility of accessing from above on said adjusting means 4 with the most suitable instruments and tools ensures, finally, a greater convenience of installation of the panelling 2.

The profile 1 according to the present invention allows to connect one or more panellings compensating for any gradients and planarity defects of the installation surfaces SE of the building element E whereon said profile is fixed. Said profile 1, therefore, allows to compensate for said planarity defects, allowing to achieve and maintain the desired laying set-up for said panellings. In particular said profile 1 allows to adjust the set-up and laying inclination of said panellings relative to the surface of the building element whereon it is fixed.

Claims

Profile (1) for connecting one or .more panellings (2) to a building element (E) comprising:

- a bottom (10) capable of being anchored to an installation surface (SE) of said building element (E)

- a first (11) and second (12) wing, opposed and substantially parallel to each other, between said wings (1 1 , 12) and said bottom (10) being defined a cavity (13) that serves as a seat for at least the lower edge (20) of said one or more panellings (2), said edge (20) resting at the bottom on a support surface (6; 10)

- adjusting means (4, 4', F) of the inclination of said one or more panellings (2), said adjusting means (4, 4', F), also serving as locking means (4, 4', F) adapted to retain said one or more panellings (2) in the desired laying set-up

characterised in that said adjusting means (4, 4', F) comprise:

- at least a first (41) and second (41 ') actuator:

- capable of translating crosswise within said cavity (13) of said profile (1) and of pressing on a face of said one or more panellings (2), said first (41) and second (4 ) actuator being substantially located on said first wing (1 1) of said profile (1) at a distance (H) from each other so as to determine at least a first actuator (41) and at least a second actuator (4Γ),

- manoeuvrable from the outside with a suitable manoeuvring tool

- at least one fulcrum (F) substantially located at an abutment element (40) fixed and projecting from said second wing (12), couplable with the other face of said one or more panellings (2), the height of said abutment element (40) from said support surface (6; 10) by the lower edge (20) of said one or more panellings (2) being intermediate between those of the said first and second actuators (41, 4 ) from the same surface (6; 10) the translation of said actuators (41, 4 ), keeping them in contact with the opposite face of said one or more panellings (2), allowing, within the cavity (13) of said profile (1), the rotation about said fulcrum (F) of said lower edge (20) of said one or more panellings (2) and the locking thereof in the desired laying set-up.

Profile (1) according to claim 1,

characterised in that said actuators (41, 4 ) are accessible from the outside by said manoeuvring tool by accessing them from the summit opening (14) of said profile (1), said at least one first actuator (41) being misaligned and offset relative to said at least one second actuator (4 ).

Profile (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that said actuators (41, 4 ) may consist of adjusting screws comprising:

- a first head, fixed, (43, 43') retained in a seat (26, 26') of the inner wall of said first wing (11) of said profile (1) and to which is prevented from rotating by interference or shape coupling

- a threaded pin (44, 44') that projects crosswise from said seat (26, 26')

- a second head (45, 45') coaxial to said pin (44, 44') whereon it is screwed/unscrewed by means of the above manoeuvring tool, and cooperating with a jaw (42, 42') capable of pressing on said one or more panellings (2), said second head (45, 45') having outer surface capable of shape-coupling with said manoeuvring tool.

Profile (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that it comprises a plurality of actuators (41, 4Γ) along its entire longitudinal development so as to form a first array of upper actuators (41) located in the proximity of the apical zone of said profile (1) and a second array of lower actuators (4Γ) close to its bottom (10). Profile (1) according to one or more of the previous claims,

characterised in that said abutment element (40) is at least one sector of the inner wall of said second wing (12) of said profile (1).

Profile (1) according to one or more of the claims 1 to 4,

characterised in that said abutment element (40) is at least a fixed jaw (40) constrainable to the inner wall of said second wing (12) of said profile (1), said jaw being able to consist of a rigid bar.

Profile (1) according to claim 1 to 4,

characterised in that said abutment element (40) is a jaw translatable crosswise in said cavity (13) of said profile (1).

Profile (1) according to one or more of the previous claims,

characterised in that the back of said abutment element (40) capable of associating in front coupling with a face of said one or more panellings (2) is a flat or convex surface.

Profile (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that said first wing (1 1) thereof is that facing inwards of the said building element (E) of installation while the said opposite second wing (12) thereof is that facing outwards.

Profile (1) according to any previous claim,

characterised in that said profile (1) is capable of being anchored:

- both to a building element (E) comprising a substantially vertical wall (SE);

- and to a building element (E) comprising a floor or a usable flooring (SE).