Patent Publication Number: US-2013248792-A1

Title: Panel railing

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/DE2011/002063, filed Dec. 1, 2011, and claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 20 2010 016 187.8, filed Dec. 6, 2010, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entity. The International Application was published in German on Jun. 14, 2012 as International Publication No. WO/2012/075995 under PCT Article 21(2). 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a panel railing, by means of which panels are held in a clamped manner in their base region, with the result that railing posts can be dispensed with. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Corresponding glass-pane railings are known, for example, from DE 20 2007 009 239 U1 or WO 2009/003452 A1. In railings of this type, it is provided to insert the glass panel, which can also consist, for example, of two individual panes which are connected to one another, such as, in particular, adhesively bonded to one another, into a U-shaped profile which holds the glass pane in a clamped manner. The inner walls of said U-shaped profile are of planar configuration. The base region of the glass pane is enclosed by way of a U-shaped profile body made from plastic which is inserted into the U-shaped profile before the mounting of the glass pane. An exact and tilt-resistant alignment of the glass pane takes place subsequently by means of wedge-like inserts. Here, the U-shaped profile body which encloses the base region of the glass pane reaches on both sides of the glass pane as far as into the opening region of the U-shaped profile. Before the glass pane is inserted into the U-shaped profile, said U-shaped profile has already been screwed or welded to a fastening profile which is arranged fixedly on a building. To this end, one of the two limbs of the U-shaped profile can have a bent-over portion, by means of which the U-shaped profile can be hooked onto the fastening profile. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Proceeding from this previously known prior art, the invention is based on the object of specifying an improved panel railing which can be produced in an economically favorable manner and makes mounting possible which is as simple and rapid as possible. 
     The panel railing according to the invention is produced by the features of the main claim. Appropriate developments of the invention are the subject matter of further claims which follow the main claim. 
     It is provided according to the invention to use a wedge body as spacer body in the upper, free edge region of at least one of the two limbs of the U-shaped profile. Said wedge body bears in a pressing manner with its one outer face against the limb of the U-shaped profile, whereas it bears in a pressing manner with its other outer face which lies opposite the former against the panel. A projection which is directed toward the limb is present on the upper edge region of the wedge body. A projection which is directed away from said limb is situated on the inner side of the limb. Said projection ensures bearing of the one outer surface of the wedge body in a pressing manner and prevents the wedge body from sliding down too far, since the wedge body rests with its projection on the projection of the limb in its state in which it is seated to the maximum extent in the U-shaped profile. 
     A wedge body of this type can be present on both sides of the panel. In one preferred embodiment, the panel can be held on its one side by a wedge body and on its other side by a spacer body, which does not have an effective wedge surface, such that it is pressed in between the two limbs of the U-shaped profile. In this way, the mounting can take place in a particularly simple manner by virtue of the fact that first of all the spacer body is positioned between the one limb of the U-shaped profile and the panel. Subsequently, the wedge body can be placed in the opening region between the other limb and the panel. If the panel is now pressed somewhat against the spacer body, the wedge body can automatically slide downward into the U-shaped profile until the panel is held in a clamped manner. As a result of the projections which are present on the wedge body and on the inner side of the limb of the U-shaped profile, the wedge body can slide into the U-shaped profile only as far as a predetermined point, with the result that excessively deep seating or falling down of the wedge body can be prevented. 
     The spacer body can be clipped into a groove on the inner side of the limb of the U-shaped profile. In this case, the spacer body could have a corresponding tongue which can be inserted or pushed into the groove of the U-shaped profile, in order to fasten the spacer body to the limb of the U-shaped profile in a positionally secure manner. Here, the groove of the U-shaped profile does not have to be filled completely by the tongue of the spacer body, but rather it can be sufficient to configure the tongue to be somewhat shorter than the groove. As an alternative or in addition to this, the tongue could be of somewhat wider configuration than the groove at least in some regions, with the result that the tongue would have to be compressed, in order for it to be possible to insert it into the groove. In order to facilitate compression of this type of the tongue, the tongue could have an approximately horizontal slot, as a result of which the tongue would spread open slightly within the groove. 
     As an alternative or in addition to this, the spacer body can be supported in terms of load on a profile body which is present in the base region of the U-shaped profile. This can be realized, for example, by virtue of the fact that the profile body is present in an integral form with the spacer body. The spacer body could also be present in a separate form from the profile body and could only reach into the U-shaped profile to such a depth that it rests on one of the walls of the profile body. 
     The upper opening region of the U-shaped profile can be covered laterally of the panel on both sides in each case by a covering profile. Said covering profile can prevent the ingress of moisture, for example as a result of rain, and can ensure a visually pleasing termination of the U-shaped profile. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the covering profile can be connected integrally to the spacer body. The covering profile and spacer body can therefore be mounted in a single work step; subsequent post-treatment of the upper opening region of the U-shaped profile is therefore not required. 
     The covering profile can have a longitudinal groove which can be clamped into a rib-like projection of the limb of the U-shaped profile. An embodiment of this type can also be used in an integrated configuration of covering profile and spacer body. 
     Both wedge bodies and spacer bodies do not have to be present over the entire length of the U-shaped profile. Rather, it can be sufficient to provide spacer bodies and wedge bodies merely in sections. It would also be possible, for example, to configure the spacer body as a continuous spacer element, whereas the wedge body is present only at certain intervals. 
     Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the features which are specified further in the claims and from the following exemplary embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       In the following text, the invention will be described and explained in greater detail using the exemplary embodiments which are shown in the drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross section through the base region of a first embodiment of the glass-pane railing according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross section through the base region of the glass-pane railing according to  FIG. 1  during mounting, 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross section through the base region of a second embodiment of the glass-pane railing according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross section through the base region of the glass-pane railing according to  FIG. 3  during mounting. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows details of a glass-pane railing  10  with its base region in cross section. The glass pane  18  which consists in the present exemplary case of two panels  14 ,  16  which are adhesively bonded fixedly to one another via an adhesive layer is seated with its base region  20  in a U-shaped profile  22  such that it is held in a clamped manner. 
     The right-hand and the left-hand limbs  24 ,  26  of the U-shaped profile  22  protrude upward at right angles from a web which forms the base  28  of the U-shaped profile  22 , with the formation of a respective rounded portion. In the present exemplary case, said base  28  of the U-shaped profile  22  protrudes in the form of a fastening web  30  beyond the right-hand, inner limb  24 . By means of the fastening web  30 , the U-shaped profile  22  can be fastened to a building or to a structural connecting element. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, other fastening possibilities of the U-shaped profile are also possible. 
     The two limbs  24 ,  26  of the U-shaped profile  22  can be of different lengths. For instance, the inner, right-hand limb  24  can be of lower configuration than the outer, left-hand limb  26 , in particular for visual reasons, in a glass-pane railing which is mounted on the end side of a floor or ceiling panel. 
     In the present exemplary case, the two limbs  24  and  26  in each case have a kink  32 ,  34 . Between said kinks  32 ,  34  and the base  28  of the U-shaped profile  22 , the wall thickness of the two limbs  24 ,  26  tapers in each case upward, away from the base  28  and toward the two kinks  32 ,  34 . The wall thickness of the two limbs  24 ,  26  no longer tapers to such an extent above the kinks  32 ,  34  as below them. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, the wall thickness of the two limbs  24 ,  26  above the two kinks  32 ,  34  could also be of approximately constant configuration. It would also be possible to dispense with the kinks  32 ,  34  and to configure the two limbs  24 ,  26  completely with a wall thickness which tapers upward constantly or completely. 
     The glass pane  18  is held with its base region  20  in the U-shaped profile  22  in a clamped manner. To this end, the glass pane  18  is enclosed in its lower edge region in a tightly bearing manner by a U-shaped profile body  40  which is of one piece in the present exemplary case. Said U-shaped profile body  40  has a base  42  with two upwardly protruding walls  44 ,  46 . As long as no glass pane  18  has been inserted into the U-shaped profile  22  and the U-shaped profile body  40 , the base  42  has the shape of a gable roof (see  FIG. 2 ). When the base  42  with the shape of a gable roof is pressed down by an inserted glass pane  18 , the lower wall regions of the two walls  44 ,  46  are pressed outward against the two limbs  24 ,  26  of the U-shaped profile  22 . In this way, play-free bearing of the base region  20  of the glass pane  18  is possible in the base region of the U-shaped profile  22 . 
     The walls  44 ,  46  of the U-shaped profile body  40  can be of comparatively short configuration in comparison with the two limbs  24 ,  26  of the U-shaped profile  22 . In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, the walls  44 ,  46  of the U-shaped profile body  40  could also, however, protrude as far as almost into the opening region of the U-shaped profile  22 . 
     The U-shaped profile body  40  is composed of a lightweight plastic material which has sufficient compressive strength. The weight of the glass pane  18  becomes greater only to an insubstantial extent as a result of the U-shaped profile body  40  which is pushed onto it. 
     A groove  50  is provided on the inner side of the outer limb  26  in the opening region of the U-shaped profile  22 . The tongue  52  of a spacer body  54  can be pushed into said groove  50 , with the result that said spacer body  54  can be positioned on the outer limb  26  in a positionally secure manner at a predefined spacing from the base  28  of the U-shaped profile  22 . A covering profile  56  is formed integrally on the spacer body  54 . The covering profile  56  ensures a visually pleasant termination of the upper opening region of the U-shaped profile  22  and can prevent the ingress of moisture, for example as a result of rain, into the U-shaped profile  22 . The covering profile  56  has a groove  58 , by way of which the covering profile  56  can be fastened to a rib-like projection  60  of the outer limb  26 . In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, the spacer body  54  and covering profile  56  could also be two separate components. 
     In the present exemplary case, the fastening of the spacer body  54  to the outer limb  26  takes place by means of a tongue and groove connection. In contrast to this, other types of fastening would also be possible; for example, the spacer body could have a hook formation which could be hooked into a corresponding undercut in the outer limb. 
     A wedge-shaped projection  62  is formed integrally on the inner side of the inner limb  24  in the upper region. A wedge body  64  can be inserted between said wedge-shaped projection  62  and the glass pane  18  from above. An alignment of the glass pane  18  can be realised by virtue of the wedge body  64  being inserted to different depths. To prevent the wedge body  64  from falling downward, said wedge body has a projection  66  on its upper edge region. In the lowest positioning of the wedge body  64 , the projection  66  rests on the wedge-shaped projection  62  of the limb  24 , such that the wedge body  64  cannot be pressed down any further. 
     In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, that outer surface  68  of the wedge body  64  which faces toward the wedge-shaped projection  62  of the limb  24  may, like that inner side  70  of the wedge-shaped projection  62  which faces toward the wedge body  64 , be of corrugated or serrated design. As a result of the corrugated surfaces, the outer surface  68  of the wedge body  64  and the inner side  70  of the wedge-shaped projection  62  hook into one another such that the wedge body  64  can be prevented from inadvertently sliding out. 
     A groove  72  is present on the inner side of the inner limb above the wedge-shaped projection  62 . A separate covering profile  76  can be fastened to said groove  72  and the rib-like projection  74  which is situated above it. To this end, the covering profile  76  has a tongue  78  which can be pushed into the groove  72 . Moreover, the covering profile  76  has a groove  80 , into which the rib-like projection  74  of the limb  24  can be pushed. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, other fastening possibilities of the covering profile could also be suitable. For example, the covering profile could have a hook formation which could be hooked into a corresponding undercut on the limb of the U-shaped profile. 
     During the mounting of the glass-pane railing  10 , first of all the U-shaped profile body  40  is inserted from above into the U-shaped profile  22  and the spacer body  54  is fastened to the outer limb  26 . The glass pane  18  is possibly inserted from above slightly obliquely into the U-shaped profile body  40 . The wedge body  64  is subsequently inserted into the opening region of the U-shaped profile  22  between the inner limb  24  and the glass pane  18 . The glass pane  18  can now be pressed somewhat against the spacer body  54 . Here, the wedge body  64  slides or falls at least to a certain extent between the glass pane  18  and the wedge-shaped projection  62  of the inner limb  24 . Should a further alignment of the glass pane  18  be desired, the wedge body  64  can be pushed by means of a suitable tool more deeply into the gap which is present between the glass pane  18  and the wedge-shaped projection  62 . This could also be achieved by way of increased pressure on the panel  18 . In the final step, the covering profile  76  is attached in the opening region of the inner limb of the U-shaped profile  22 , in order to ensure a visually pleasant termination. 
     A second embodiment of the glass-pane railing  10 . 3  according to the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The glass-pane railing  10 . 3  differs from the glass-pane railing  10  merely by the single-part form of the U-shaped profile body  40 . 3  and spacer body  54 . 3 . The outer, left-hand wall  46 . 3  of the profile body  40 . 3  is integrally connected to the spacer body  54 . 3  via a spacer projection  82 . The spacer body  54 . 3  can thus be supported in terms of load at least partially on the U-shaped profile body  40 . 3 .