Modular element for shaping balustrades

Abstract: The purpose of this Patent is a "Modular element for shaping balustrades", the use of which is expained in the title of the invention. The element, coupled to another equal one, simultaneously operates as a loading base between two adjacent balustrades and as a lost formwork for the handrail and is made up of a rectangular plate. On one of the ends of its upper face it has an orthogonal rim (1) and the edges (2) folded upwards and inwards; a central casting (3) with the edges (4) folded in the same way but with more separation than the edges (2) of the first third ; and a serie of grooves (5) parallel to the smaller side. Its lower face has an orthogonal rim (6) on its smaller side, underneath the handle (1), which is embedded in the suitable groove (5) to attach the balustrades at the chosen distance.

Description: The present invention concerns a "modular element for shaping balustrades". A railing is made up of "a series of banisters placed between rails" to "form banisters or handrails for balconies, flat roofs and stairways". The banisters are "each small columns", independent, of different shapes but usually rounded, that are placed at equal separations underneath the rails or handrails and are finished off with plates or plugs on the top and bottom of different shapes and sizes that take on the same shape as the banisters. At present they are usually molded with concrete and reinforced with an iron rod axial framework projecting out at its ends to be secured to the rails and skirting boards. "H"-shaped joining parts have been used for shaping the banister, which are supported on the upper plugs of each of two consecutive banisters, on which the reinforced anchoring mortar of the longitudinal rods is extended and on this the handrail. So that the erection process can be developed in the described way, a careful leveling of the base or skirting boards, the verticality of the rails and their equal distance are necessary. Spanish Utility Model Publication No. 1 038 410 discloses a rectangular-shaped template for erecting balustrades having projections and holes for attaching adjacent templates. The templates also include flanges for receiving a pair of axially extending metal rods. French Patent Publication No. 2 728 003 discloses a profile having holes defined therein for receiving and supporting the upper ends of balustrades. U.S. Patent No. 3,955,800 discloses frame members that are connected by connector plates, which are slidably received in the frame members. It is an object of the invention to provide improved modular elements that satisfy the above described banister erection requirements and thereby improve the precision and speed of the erection operation. This object is achieved by the invention of claim 1. Further developments of the invention are recited in the sub-claims. In summary, in order to replace the known "H-shaped" joining parts, a modular element has been conceived and designed that operates mechanically as a T-head (i.e., a load part supports two end stanchions) and operates functionally as a lost form work when the modular element is embedded in anchoring morter for the handrail. To complement the description of the invention and facilitate the interpretation of the formal, structural and functional characteristics of its purpose, attached are drawings in which different aspects of a preferred embodiment of the "Modular element for shaping balustrades", constituting the purpose of this Patent, are schematically represented. Said drawings represent an element with a square central casting, which corresponds to the most frequent design of the end plugs of the balustrades; but it could have any other shape in order to be adapted to the shape of said plugs. Figure 1 represents an upper floor view of a modular element and Figure 2 is a front elevation view of same. Figure 3 shows a lower floor view of the modular element; Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the element in the same inverted position as in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-section of the inverted element along the axial plane represented by A-A in Figure 3. To clearly show the nature and scope of the advantageous application of the "Modular element for shaping balustrades", the following is a description of its structure and utilization, making reference to the drawings which, on representing a preferred embodiment of said object for information purposes, must be considered in the widest sense and not limiting of the application and content of the claimed invention. A set of two coupled modular elements (8) operates mechanically as a load part that supports two adjacent balustrades and operates functionally as a lost formwork when it becomes embedded in the anchoring mortar of the handrail. It is made of a rectangular base plate (10) of molded plastic, transversally divided into three zones (20,21,22) differentiated by their formal and functional characteristics, which zones are different on their upper and lower faces (12,13) when in the position to be used. On the upper face (12) when in the position to be used, one (22) of the end zones has a centered orthogonal flange (1) shaped like a rectangular triangle, with the vertex corresponding to the straight angle on the smaller side of the rectangular plate and the upper vertex (15) being rounded, which is able to be used as a handle for performing the coupling of two consecutive elements (8), whilst its edges (2), corresponding to the larger sides of the rectangular plate (10), are folded upwards and inwards to constitute an interior sliding coupling guide for two elements (8). The central zone of the element has a casting (3) to facilitate pouring the anchoring mortar, whilst its edges (4) are folded upwards and inwards to constitute, in its extrusion towards the other end zone (20) an exterior sliding coupling guide for two consecutive elements (8) and, at the same time, the edges (4) extend orthogonally downwards. The other end zone (20) of the upper face (12) has a series of slots or grooves (5) parallel to the smaller side of the rectangular plate (10) whilst its edges (9) are folded upwards and inwards as an extension of the edges (4) of the central zone (21) with a separation slightly larger than the separation of the edges (2) of the first end zone (22), to permit the coupling to slide along the inside of the edges (2) of the first end zone (22) of another consecutive modular element (8). On the lower face (13) when in the position to be used, the first end zone (22) has an orthogonal flange (6) embedded and centered in the smaller side of the rectangular plate (10), with a height proportional to the depth of the grooves (5) of the upper face (12), because the orthogonal flange must be inserted into one of the grooves (5) corresponding to the consecutive element (8) to prevent relative sliding and to establish and determine the separation between each two adjacent balustrades. The central zone (21) of the lower face (13) has the same casting (3) as the upper face (12), which is longitudinally delimited by the extension of the edges (4) of the upper face (12) and transversally delimited by two small partitions (7). Between one and the other, a framework adjusted to the sizes of the upper plug of the rails, which fit into said framework, is defined; whilst the other end zone (20) is completely flat as the depth of the grooves (5) of the upper face (12) is less than the thickness of the base plate (10) of the element (8). The coupling position of two consecutive elements (8) is determined by the lineal magnitude chosen between certain limits (normally between 8 and 12 cm) as the distance between rails. Said elements (8) are assembled in a sliding way by introducing the folded edges (2) of the end zone (22) of one element (8) into the folded edges (4) of the opposite end zone (20) of another element (8) and attaching them at the chosen separation between the centers of the casting (3) by means of inserting the end flange (6) into the suitable groove (5).

Claims: Modular element (8) for shaping balustrades, wherein the modular element (8) is adapted, when coupled to another equal modular element (8), to operate mechanically as a load part for supporting two adjacent balustrades and to operate functionally as a lost form work when the modular element is embedded in anchoring mortar of a handrail, the modular element comprising: a rectangular base plate (10) made of molded plastic, which base plate (10) is transversally divided into a first end zone (22), a central zone (21) and a second end zone (20), which zones (20, 21, 22) are differentiated by their formal and functional characteristics, and wherein the upper and lower faces (12, 13) of the rectangular base plate (10) are different, characterized in that the upper face (12) of the first end zone (22) has: a centered orthogonal flange (1) shaped like a rectangular triangle, with the vertex corresponding to the straight angle of the rectangular triangle on the shorter side of the rectangular base plate (10), wherein the upper vertex (15) thereof is rounded, and the flange (1) is useable as a handle for performing the coupling of two consecutive modular elements (8), and edges (2) disposed along the longer sides of the rectangular plate (10), the edges (2) being folded upwards and inwards so as to form an interior sliding coupling guide for two consecutive modular elements (8). Modular element (8) for shaping balustrades according to claim 1, wherein the central zone (21) has: a casting (3) adapted to facilitate pouring of the anchoring mortar, and edges (4) that are folded upwards and inwards to form, in its extension towards the second end zone (20), an exterior sliding coupling guide for two consecutive modular elements (8), wherein the edges (4) also extend orthogonally downwards. Modular element (8) for shaping balustrades according to claim 2, wherein the upper face (12) of the second end zone (20) has: a series of slots or grooves (5) parallel to the shorter side of the rectangular plate (10), and edges (9) that are folded upwards and inwards as an extension of the edges (4) of the central zone (21), wherein the edges (9) are spaced farther apart than the edges (2) of the first end zone (22), whereby the edges (9) are adapted to permit the exterior sliding coupling to slide along the inside of the edges (2) of the first end zone (22) of another consecutive modular element (8). Modular element (8) for shaping balustrades according to claim 3, further comprising an orthogonal flange (6) embedded and centered on the lower face (13) of the first end zone (22), the orthogonal flange (6) being disposed on the shorter side of the rectangular base plate (10), wherein the height of the orthogonal flange (6) is proportional to the depth of the slots or grooves (5), whereby the orthogonal flange (6) is adapted to be inserted into one of the slots or grooves (5) of a consecutive modular element (8) so as to prevent relative sliding and to establish and determine the separation between two adjacent balustrades. Modular element (8) for shaping balustrades according to claim 4, wherein the lower face (13) of the central zone (21) has the same casting (3) as the upper face (12), the casting (3) being longitudinally delimited by the extension of the edges (4) of the upper face (12) and being transversally delimited by two small partitions (7), whereby between two castings (3), a framework can be adjusted to the sizes of upper plugs of rails, which fit into said framework, and wherein the lower face (13) of the second end zone (20) is completely flat.

Inventors: MOYA ALVARO JULIO, MOYA ALVARO, JULIO
Applicants: HORMIGONES MOLDEADOS DE LEVANT, HORMIGONES MOLDEADOS DE LEVANTE, S.L.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E04F11
IPC codes: E04F11