A GLAZING SUPPORT

Abstract: A glazing support (1) for use in supporting suspended glazing panels (5) comprises a boss (6) having a central through hole (7) for receiving a but which is attached to a structural support (10). A number, in this case four, support arms (11) extend from the boss (6). Mounting feet (15), (16), (17), (18) are mounted at the ends of the respective arms (11) and these feet are used in bolting attachment to the glazing panels (5). The boss (6) is of generally frustroconical shape and has four threaded-sockets (20) which are equi-spaced circumferentially around the conical portion of the boss (6). The support arm (1) has a spigot (25) at one end for engagement in a socket (20) of the boss (6). A spigot (30) at an opposite end of the support arm (11) is screw threadingly engagable in a corresponding socket (35) of a mounting disc (15), (16), (17), (18). A kit comprising a boss (6), a number of arms (11) and a number of different mounting feet (15), (16), (17), (18) is used to assemble either on site or off site, appropriate glazing supports for a given structure. Fig. 1.

Description: "A GLAZING SUPPORT" Introduction The invention relates to a glazing support of the type comprising a boss for mounting to a structural support, the boss having a number of support arms for mounting to suspended glazing panels. Glazing supports of this type are widely used in providing large uninterrupted glass surfaces. A problem arises in use of such glazing supports in that a very large number of separate support types must be available to cater for the wide variation in the application of such supports. This is not only expensive but also leads to potential problems if the correct support for a particular structural requirement is not available on site. Cunently available supports comprise either fully casted support or a combination of part machined and part cast supports. These castings, even when of good quality require some fine machining and polishing to bring them to an acceptable standard both technically and aesthetically. This invention is therefore directed providing a glazing support which will overcome at least some of these problems. Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a glazing support for suspended glazing panels comprising a boss for mounting to a structural support and an arm extending from the boss, the arm having an outer foot mounted thereto for attachment to and support of a glazing panel, the support arm being releasably mounted to the boss. In one embodiment the boss comprises a socket for receiving a support arm. Preferably the support arm is a push fit in the socket. Ideally the support arm includes a spigot for engaging in the socket of the boss. In a preferred embodiment the boss engaging spigot has a hole for receiving a fixing. Preferably the fixing comprises a screw which is inserted into the boss engaging spigot through a screw-receiving hole in the boss. In one embodiment the foot is releasably mounted to the support arm. Preferably the foot is screw threadingly mounted to the support arm. In one arrangement the support arm comprises a foot-engaging spigot for engagement in a conesponding socket of the foot. Ideally the foot-engaging spigot screw threadingly engages the socket of the foot. In a preferred embodiment the boss comprises a through hole for receiving a fixing for mounting to a structure. Preferably the fixing is a bolt which extends through the fixing-receiving hole in the boss to engage a structure. In one case wherein the boss comprises one arm receiving socket and the glazing support comprises one support arm carrying a mounting foot. In another version the boss comprises two arm receiving sockets and the glazing support comprises two support arms, each carrying a mounting foot. In a further version the boss comprises three arm receiving sockets and the glazing support comprises three support arms, each carrying a mounting foot. In another version the boss comprises four arm receiving sockets and the glazing support comprises four support arms, each carrying a mounting foot. The mounting feet may be the same or different. The invention provides a glazing system comprising a number of glazing panels and at least one glazing support of the invention. In a further aspect the invention provides a glazing support system for suspended glazing panels comprising a boss for mounting to a structural support, a support arm for releasable attachment to and extension from the boss and an outer foot for the support arm for attachment to and support of a glazing panel. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a glazing support of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the glazing support; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the glazing support; Fig. 4 is a rear view of a centre boss forming part of the glazing support; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the boss of Fig. 4; Figs. 6a to 6d are front views of alternative bosses; Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 respectively are cross sectional and elevational views of a mounting foot of the glazing support; Figs. 9(a) to 9(c) are elevational views of alternative mounting feet; Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a support arm forming part of the glazing support; Fig. 11 is an end view of the arm of Fig. 10; Figs. 12(a) to 12(d) are diagrams illustrating the assembly of the glazing support; and Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the glazing support, in use. Detailed Description Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a glazing support 1 according to the invention for use in supporting suspended glazing panels 5. The support 1 comprises a boss 6 having a central through hole 7 through which a bolt is inserted for mounting the glazing support 1 to a structural support 10. Four identical support arms 11 extend from the boss 6. Respective mounting feet 15, 16, 17, 18 are mounted at the ends of each arm 11. The feet 15, 16, 17, 18 provide supports for bolting attachment to the glazing panels 5. Refening in particular to Figs. 4 to 6 the glazing support 1 may comprise one of four different bosses, each of which is of generally frustroconical shape. The boss 6 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, 6d and 13 has four sockets 20 which are equi-spaced circumferentially around the conical portion of the boss 6. A second boss 12 (Fig. 6a) has a single socket 20, a third boss 13 (Fig. 6b) has two sockets 20, and a fourth boss 14 (Fig. 16c) has three sockets 20. The selection of boss will depend on the number and configuration of support arms 11 required. It will be appreciated that a single boss may be provided with four sockets 20 some of which may be blanked off with inserts, if required. Each support arm 11 has a spigot 25 at one end for engagement in a socket 20 of the boss 6. A spigot 30 at an opposite end of the support arm 11 is engagable in a corresponding socket 35 of a mounting foot 15, 16, 17, 18. There are four different mounting feet 15, 16, 17, 18 one 15 with a relatively small hole, another 16 with a larger hole and two 17, 18 (one right, one left) with an elongate slot. The arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 is typical to facilitate attachment to four adjacent glazing panes as illustrated in Fig. 13. A kit comprising a single boss type, a single arm type and a number of different mounting discs may be used to assemble either on site or off site, appropriate glazing supports for a given structure. This is achieved by mounting the support arms 11 to the boss 6 and mounting the appropriate mounting feet discs 15, 16, 17, 18 to the ends 30 of the support arms 11. The method of assembly is illustrated in Figs. 12(a) to 12(d). The spigot 30 of the support arm 11 is threaded and is first screw threadingly engaged with a coπespondingly threaded socket 35 of an appropriate mounting foot 15 as illustrated in Fig. 12(a). This is a simple attachment procedure. The spigot 25 of the arm 11 is then inserted into the appropriate socket 20 of the centre boss 6 (Fig. 12b). This is repeated for the required feet and arm combinations. The boss sub- assembly thus formed is then turned upside down and placed on a jig 50 on a table 51 to ensure the conect alignment of the feet 15 to the height of the boss. A counter-sunk screw 60 is inserted through a hole 61 in the back of the boss 6 and into a tapped hole 62 in the spigot 25 of the arm 11 and locked to fix the arm 11 to the boss 6. This procedure is repeated for the other arms 11 to provide an assembled glazing support. The push fit of the arms 11 into the boss 6 followed by fixing a screw 60 through the boss 6 into the arm 11 provides a substantial engagement of the arm 11 in the boss socket resulting in a strong connection of the arm 11 to the boss 6 and allows the assembly to carry high loads. This invention has considerable advantages in that a relatively simple kit may be used to assemble the very large number of different glazing supports required. Assembly is also optimised as the supports can be very quickly assembled as required. All the individual parts of the support assembly of the invention are manufactured by machining processes and therefore they are capable of achieving acceptable standard both technically and aesthetically directly from the machine without any further enhancement by polishing or otherwise. Other advantages include a more economical stocking arrangement because bosses, arms and mounting feet or discs can be procured in economical quantities and taken from stock and assembled as required. Lead-in times for procurement are much improved as the raw material (solid stainless steel tube) is a standard off the shelf item. In contrast, castings must be produced in large quantities to be economical due to set up charges involved. With the present invention, even small quantities can be procured quickly and at economic cost. It will be appreciated that while it is preferred that the mounting discs be releasably mounted to the support arms it may be possible to achieve some of the advantages of the invention by providing a plurality of different arms, each provided with a disc type. The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims: CLAJMS 1. A glazing support for suspended glazing panels comprising a boss for mounting to a structural support and an arm extending from the boss, the arm having an outer foot mounted thereto for attachment to and support of a glazing panel, the support arm being releasably mounted to the boss. 2. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the boss comprises a socket for receiving a support arm. 3. A support as claimed in claim 2 wherein the support arm is a push fit in the socket. 4. A support as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the support arm includes a spigot for engaging in the socket of the boss. 5. A support as claimed in claim 4 wherein the boss engaging spigot has a hole for receiving a fixing. ■ 6. A support as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fixing comprises a screw which is inserted into the boss engaging spigot through a screw-receiving hole in the boss. 7. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the foot is releasably mounted on the support arm. 8. A support as claimed in claim 7 wherein the foot is screw threadingly mounted to the support arm. 9. A support as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support arm comprises a foot- engaging spigot for engagement in a corresponding socket of the foot. 10. A support as claimed in claim 9 wherein the foot-engaging spigot screw threadingly engages the socket of the foot. 11. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the boss comprises a through hole for receiving a fixing for mounting to a structure. 12. A support as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fixing is a bolt which extends through the fixing-receiving hole in the boss to engage a structure. 13. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the boss comprises one arm receiving socket and the glazing support comprises one support arm carrying a mounting foot. 14. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the boss comprises two arm receiving sockets and the glazing support comprises two support arms, each carrying a mounting foot. 15. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the boss comprises three arm receiving sockets and the glazing support comprises three support arms, each carrying a mounting foot. 16. A support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the boss comprises four arm receiving sockets and the glazing support comprises four support arms, each carrying a mounting foot. 17. A glazing support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 18. A glazing system comprising a number of glazing panels and at least one glazing support as claimed in any preceding claim. 19. A glazing support system for suspended glazing panels comprising a boss for mounting to a structural support, a support arm for releasable attachment to and extension from the boss and an outer foot for the support arm for attachment to and support of a glazing panel. 20. A glazing support system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: KENNY SIMON JOSEPH, KENNY, SIMON, JOSEPH
Applicants: KENNY SIMON JOSEPH, KENNY, SIMON, JOSEPH
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: E06B3