Abstract:
A support structure ( 21 ) supports a glazing panel in a laid down attitude at a support zone. The structure provides access permitting a technician to move bodily into and/or out of the support zone and/or one or more support elements having a respective locating formation for locating the glazing panel with respect to the support structure such that the glazing panel can be tilted or pivotally moved with respect to the support structure. The structure provides for improved handling of glazing panels.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from PCT/GB/2010/000300 filed on Feb. 22, 2010 and from GB 0902953.9, filed Feb. 20, 2009, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a glazing panel handling system. 
     2. State of the Art 
     There are various activities in which individuals are required to lift and handle relatively heavy glazing panels. Frequently such panels are required to be lifted by a lone operative and handing the glazing panels in such circumstances can be difficult and can lead to health and safety problems if good lifting/handling practices are not followed. Particularly, problems may be encountered for example in situations where vehicle windscreens are handled by operatives, as these are often heavy and cumbersome to lift and handle. 
     The present invention is intended to provide a glazing panel handling system to promote an facilitate the safe handling, turning and lifting of glazing panels, particularly vehicle windscreens, primarily by allowing operations to be carried out with the minimum of effort and promoting safe lifting practices for operatives. 
     It is particularly, but not exclusively, envisaged that the glazing panel handling system of the present invention will be of use in conjunction with other handling tools and installations which use a positioning and or lifting aid, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,411. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An improved system and technique has now been devised. 
     According to the invention, there is provided a glazing panel handling system comprising:
         a support structure arranged to support the glazing panel in a laid down attitude at a support zone; wherein the support structure includes:
           i) access means permitting a technician to move bodily into and/or out of the support zone; and/or,   ii) one or more support elements having a respective locating formation for locating the glazing panel with respect to the support structure such that the glazing panel can be tilted or pivotally moved with respect to the support structure.   
               

     In a preferred embodiment, the system includes both the access means permitting a technician to move bodily into and/or out of the support zone; and also the one or more support elements having a respective locating formation for locating the glazing panel with respect to the support structure such that the glazing panel can be tilted or pivotally moved with respect to the support structure. 
     It is preferred that the support structure comprises a plurality of upstanding supports, the upstanding supports being configured to support the glazing panel in the laid own attitude at the support zone. 
     Beneficially three or more upstanding supports are provided to support the glazing panel in the laid own attitude. Preferably four upstanding supports are provided each positioned at a respective corner of the support zone. 
     In one or more embodiments, the spacing between the upstanding supports may be adjustable. 
     In one or more embodiments, one or more of the upstanding supports may be height adjustable. 
     Beneficially, the upstanding supports are provided at a perimeter of the support zone and the access means permits a technician to move bodily into and/or out of the support zone across the perimeter. Accordingly, the access means may comprise a space or passage gap between the upstanding supports through which the technician may bodily pass. 
     In a preferred embodiment an entry and an exit space or passage gap is defined at opposed sides of the support zone permitting the technician to bodily walk through the support zone from one side to the other. 
     In one or more embodiments, a plurality of upstanding supports may be mounted to a base means. 
     The structure is preferably freestanding and transportable. The structure may beneficially be collapsible. 
     In one or more embodiments, the support structure may comprise a plurality of connected frame elements, including upstanding posts to support the glazing panel in the laid down attitude at the support zone. 
     It is preferred hat the support elements (which may be in the form of support pads) are provided at the upper end of upstanding supports to support the glazing panel in the laid own attitude at the support zone. 
     Beneficially, the locating formation of the support element comprises a groove or channel provided on an upper part of the respective support element. The groove or channel preferably extends entirely across the support element intersecting with opposed edges of the support element. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the groove or channel comprises a concave, (preferably an arc-form) channel or groove. Beneficially, a respective support element comprises a generally planar surface with the groove or channel being recessed with respect to the generally planar surface. 
     In a preferred realisation of the invention, the system further comprises a handling tool provided with mounting means for mounting the handling tool to be secured on to a face of the glazing panel, the handling tool including means for engagement with the locating formation of the support structure for locating the glazing panel with respect to the support structure such that the glazing panel can be tilted or pivotally moved with respect to the support structure. 
     The locating formation of the support element of the support structure preferably comprises a groove or channel provided on an upper part of the respective support element, and the handling tool beneficially includes a bearing portion to be received in the groove or channel, enabling the glazing panel to be tilted or pivotally moved with respect to the support structure. 
     The support structure preferably comprises a concave (preferably an arc-form) groove or channel provided on an upper part of the respective support element, and the handling tool preferably includes an elongate bar or rod arranged to be rotatingly received in the channel. 
     It is preferred that the bar or rod and the arc-form groove or channel have bearing surfaces which have matched radius circumferential surfaces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be further described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a glazing panel handling system according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of a part of the glazing panel handling system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of glazing panel handling system according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a glazing panel handling system tool that can form a part of the system of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic plan view of the glazing panel handling system of the invention, in use; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view corresponding to the view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an end view corresponding to the views of  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIGS. 8A to 8F  show a sequence of glazing panel handling using the glazing panel handling system of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective side view of a further embodiment of glazing panel handling system in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an alternative perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  shows an exemplary collapsed configuration of the glazing panel system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1  in particular, an exemplary glazing panel handling system  20  according to the invention consists of a panel support frame structure  21  comprising four spaced upright poles  1  mounted to a scissors linkage base  11  which enables the support frame  21  to be collapsed from the expanded configuration shown in  FIG. 1  to a collapsed configuration shown in  FIG. 11  for storage and transportation. The upright support poles may be height adjustable by being telescopic, for example. 
     At the top of each support post  1  is mounted a plastics or rubber support a pad  2 . The upper surface of the support pads  2  is generally planar. Some or all of the pads are provided with a radial surface channel  3  in the top surface. The channel  3  extends completely across the extent of the pad  2 . Typically the support pads  2  will be mounted on the support poles  1  in such a way as to allow some movement in order to accommodate curved glass. This may readily be achieved by means of pivotally mounting the pads  2  to the poles. 
     The frame design may vary but essentially is arranged to be open at opposed sides (i.e. the front and rear) to allow a person to pass through the frame structure  21  completely from one side to the other. An alternative configuration is shown in  FIG. 3  in which access is provided completely through the support structure from the front side to the rear by having an open front side  51  and an open rear side  52 . The support posts  1  may be cross braced  4  at the sides but the support pads  2  are positioned to have sufficient height clearance from any frame member to allow glass to be placed face downwards without any attached ancillary equipment (suction lifters, lifting and positioning aids etc) being obstructed by the support frame structure. 
     One or more of the support posts  1  may be adjustable to enable the position of the support pad  2  to be re-orientated. For example, an articulated joint or swivel arrangement  5  may be provided proximate an upper end of the respective support post  1 , to allow the pad  2  to be repositioned in order to allow any attached equipment sufficient clearance. 
     A handling tool  19  is used to enable efficient handling of glazing panels in combination with the panel support structure  20 . The handling tool  19  comprises a pivot bar  6  consisting of a rod  7  having mounted suction cups  8  in such a way to allow some movement of the suction cups in order to accommodate curved glass. A tilting or pivoting mounting  13  for the suction cups  8  to the bar may be provided for this purpose. The position of the cups  8  on the bar  7  (and their relative spacing) may beneficially be adjustable. The rod  7  is either circular in cross section or has circular section bearing surface portions arranged, and shaped an dimensioned, to fit into the arc surface groove  3  of the support pads  2  such that the rod  7  can rest and rotate in the groove  3 . In a preferred embodiment, the bearing surfaces of the rod and the groove are effectively matched radius circumferential surfaces. It will be appreciated that other surface profiles (such as octagonal, hexagonal, or even square) for the rod  7  will achieve a similar effect, but a circular surface profile is preferred. During use the handling tool  19  is mounted, using the suction cups  8  to a windscreen  9  in such a way that the rod  7  locates into the channel  3  in the top of the pad  2 . 
     In use, the technician  17  stands the windshield  9  on its lower edge located safely into the channels  3  in the upper surface of two of the pads  2 . The windshield  9  can then be viewed for the purpose of noticing any defects or scratches prior to fitment. This is the situation shown in  FIG. 8A . 
     The windshield  9  is next laid down to rest supported on the four support pads  2  with the outer face up. This allows for ancillary equipment (suction lifters, lifting and positioning aids etc) to be attached to the outer surface of the glass. The handling tool  19  may also be attached to the outer surface of the windshield  9 . This is the situation shown in  FIG. 8B . 
     The windshield may next be turned over, and the Pivot bar  6  of the handling tool  19  is located into the arc-form channels  3  in the upper surfaces of the support pads  2 , as shown in  FIG. 8C . As the windshield is laid down by rotating the pivot bar  6  in the arc-form channels  3 , if the ancillary equipment comes into contact with the pads  2  the swivel arrangement  5  may be moved to allow sufficient clearance. If required the height adjustment of the upright support posts  1  may be adjusted to allow the windshield to lay flat. This can be seen from  FIG. 8 c    in which the pad  2   a  is at a position higher than pad  2   b . In this orientation various operations may be conducted on the windshield  9 . For example, cleaning, priming and application of adhesive to the inside face of the glass may now be carried out. 
     From this position, the windshield can be easily moved to the upright position by lifting the top edge part while the bottom edge part rotates around, and is supported by, the pivot bar  6  resting in the channels  3 . this situation is shown in  FIG. 8D , where it can be seen that the technician  17  can walk via the open end of the structure across the perimeter of the structure and into the space between the support posts  1  at the perimeter of the structure. 
     The glass is now fully supported and the technician can adjust his grip, holding either pivot bar  6  of the handling tool  9  and/or additional suction lifters and/or ancillary positioning equipment. This situation is shown in  FIG. 8E . The windshield can next be lifted from the support frame structure in a safe manner with a straight back. If required the height adjustment of the upright poles  1  can be adjusted to suit the stature of the individual technician in order that lifting is done in the safest manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8E , the technician can continue walking through the perimeter of the support structure via the opposite open end of the frame, holding the windshield  9  in a safe manner with a straight back, and take the windshield to the vehicle to finish the installation. 
     An alternative configuration is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  in which access is provided completely through the support structure from the front side to the rear by having an open front side  151  and an open rear side  152 . The arrangement is generally similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . The support posts  101  may be cross braced by upper and lower cross braces  104   a ,  104   b  at the sides and a rear ground bar  131  is provided connecting across the rear posts  101   b . The cross braces are hinge mounted to the rear support posts  101  at hinge mountings  134 , enabling the structure to be collapsed for transportation and storage. 
     The forward support posts are effectively divided in two having upper support posts  101   a  offset spaced transversely to the axial direction, from lower support posts  101   b . This enables the support pads for engaging the glazing panel to be optimum spaced, whilst the ground engaging support posts are optimum spaced for stability. For this reason also, the ground engaging support posts  101   b  and  101  are inclined slightly toward one another from a more widely spaced base to a narrower upper portion. 
     As with the earlier described embodiments, the embodiment of  FIGS. 9 and 10  is arranged to be open at opposed sides (i.e. the front and rear) to allow a person to pass through the frame structure  121  completely from one side to the other. 
     The support pads of the earlier embodiments are provided at the corners but in this embodiment the two forward pads  102   a  are plastics or rubber and provided with a channel  3  for receiving the edge of the glazing panel, whereas the two rear pads  102   b  are customised friction mounts, which may be made low friction by having a central low friction material central proud standing button  102   c  or rotatable ball. Alternatively the custom friction mounts may be made high friction mounts for example by having a central rubber or other high friction material central proud standing button  102   c . In certain embodiments high and low friction custom mounts may be provided alternatively on each of the custom mounts  102   b.    
     Just below the rear mounts  102   b  are provided docking brackets  137  for receiving the opposed ends of the handling tool  19 .