Patent Publication Number: US-2013240813-A1

Title: U-section for mounting a railing panel in a fixed manner

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/DE2011/002064, filed Dec. 1, 2011, and claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 20 2010 016 185.1, 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/2012/075996 under PCT Article 21(2). 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a U-section, between the two limbs of which the foot region of a panel to be arranged fixedly on a building can be held in a fixed manner. Such a panel may be, in particular, part of a railing such as, for example, a glass panel railing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Corresponding glass panel railings are known, for example, from DE 20 2007 009 239 U1 or WO 2009/003452 A1. In the case of railings of this type, provision is made to insert the glass panel, which can also consist of two individual panels which are connected to each other, in particular are adhesively bonded to each other, into a U-section holding the glass panel in a fixed manner. The foot region of the glass panel is enclosed by a U-shaped section body which is composed, for example, of plastic and is inserted into the U-section before the mounting of the glass panel. An exact and tilt-resistant moment of the glass panel is subsequently undertaken by means of wedge-like inserts. Before the glass panel is inserted into the U-section, said U-section has already been screwed or welded to a fastening profile arranged fixedly on a building. For this purpose, one of the two limbs of the U-section can have a bent-over portion, by means of which the U-section can be hooked onto the fastening profile. The U-section is in each case of single-part design, wherein the two limbs of the U-section are connected to each other via a base. As a result, it may be necessary, in the case of certain building structures, first of all to fasten separate holding sections to the building structure in order to be able to fasten the U-section to said holding sections in a second step. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Starting from this previously known prior art, the invention is based on the object of providing an improved U-section which can be produced in an economically favorable manner and can be mounted on the building structure without relatively large outlay. 
     The U-section according to the invention is provided by the features of the main claim. Expedient developments of the U-section are the subject matter of further claims which follow the main claim. 
     According to the invention, provision is made for the U-section to be of two-part design. By means of the two-part design of the U-section, first of all the one, first limb of the U-section can be fastened directly or indirectly to the building via a structural connecting element. The other, second limb of the U-section can then be attached to the first limb of the U-section so as to be secure in terms of stability. The U-section can therefore be fastened to the building also from the subsequent interior space of the U-section, since first of all only the first limb is fastened to the building. This enables the U-section according to the invention to be used more universally and to be fastened to a very wide variety of building structures without major adaptations. 
     A panel, in particular a glass panel, can be mounted in the U-section, for example in the manner known in the prior art. This mounting can be undertaken, for example, by means of the fixed mounting described in DE 20 2007 009 239 U1 or WO 2009/003452 A1. However, the glass panel could also be adhesively bonded into the U-section. 
     In this case, the U-section does not have to be present over the entire length of the inserted panel. On the contrary, it may be sufficient to distribute a plurality of U-sections at a certain mutual spacing over the length of the panel such that U-sections are present merely in section. It would also be possible to provide the first limb of the U-section only in sections, whereas the second limb of the U-section can be designed as a continuous limb. 
     In a preferred embodiment, there can be form-fitting holding formations on the two limbs of the U-section, such that, in the state of the U-section in which the latter is fastened to the building, the parts of the U-section can be detached from one another only according to plan. Apart from the installation state, the parts of the U-section can therefore no longer be detached from one another unintentionally. In this case, the holding formations can be designed in particular as undercuts. This form-fitting fastening of the two limbs of the U-section permits a particularly simple and rapid installation of the U-section, since the insertion of the limbs one in the other may already be sufficient for the mounting of the U-section. 
     The two limbs of the U-section can preferably both have a limb extension protruding downward from the region of the base of the U-section. As a result, the two limbs of the U-section can be fastened to each other in the region of the base of the U-section and also in the region of each limb extension of said limbs in an extension-proof and compression-proof manner in each case in a direction transversely with respect to the panel plane. In this case, the second limb can be held on the first limb so as to be supported in terms of load in a direction parallel to the panel plane. 
     The two limbs of the U-section can be fastened in the region of the base of the U-section by the fact that a first base part protrudes transversely from the first limb, and there is an upwardly open, first hook receptacle at the free end of said base part. A second base part can protrude transversely from the second limb, and there is a downwardly open, second hook receptacle at the free end of said base part. The second hook receptacle can be inserted from above into the first hook receptacle in a direction parallel to the panel plane and therefore the two limbs of the U-section are fastened to each other. It would also be possible to insert the second hook receptacle from above into the first hook receptacle in an oblique direction in order to fasten the two limbs of the U-section to each other. The first and the second base parts can thus be part of the base of the U-section. The two limbs of the U-section can be fastened in the region of each limb extension of said limbs by the fact that there is a third hook receptacle in the foot region of the first limb extension and there is a fourth hook receptacle in the foot region of the second limb extension. The third and fourth hook receptacles can be placed one in the other relative to each other in a direction parallel to or obliquely with respect to the panel plane. In particular, the fourth hook receptacle is inserted from above into the third hook receptacle in a direction parallel to the panel plane. 
     In order to permit a visually attractive outer end of the U-section, one of the two limb extensions can have an end wall part. Said end wall part can be designed in such a manner that it automatically aligns with the hook formation present on the other limb extension or with the other limb extension, thus forming a common outer surface of the U-section. 
     In order to fasten the U-section to the building, there can be a cutout in the first limb of the U-section or in the limb extension of the first limb in order to be able to fasten the first limb to the building by means of a screw connection or by means of a dowel fastening. The first limb could also be fastened to a separate holding profile present on the building. It would also be possible to provide cutouts for the screw or dowel fastening both in the first limb and in the limb extension thereof. 
     There can be a bent-over suspension portion for the U-section at the upper end of the one limb of the U-section. By means of said bent-over suspension portion, said one limb and therefore the U-section can be hooked onto the vertical limb of a structural connecting element. In this case, the bent-over suspension portion can be present in particular on the first limb of the U-section. 
     The limb of the U-section with the limb extension thereof present integrally thereon, can be composed in particular of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. In this case, the limb only has a low weight, which is advantageous for the installation, and is at the same time sufficiently dimensionally stable in order to be able to hold the glass panel present in the limb in a fixed manner. 
     In an economically advantageous manner, at least one of the two limbs can be produced as an extruded section. In particular, the two limbs of the U-section can be produced as extruded sections, thus resulting in low manufacturing costs for the two limbs of the U-section. 
     Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the features furthermore specified in the claims and from the exemplary embodiments below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross section through a first embodiment, which is fastened to a building, of the U-section according to the invention with a glass panel held in the U-section in a fixed manner, 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross section through the individual parts of the U-section according to  FIG. 1 , said individual parts not yet having been assembled and fastened to one another, 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross section through a second embodiment, fastened to a building, of the U-section according to the invention, with a glass panel held in the U-section in a fixed manner, 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross section through the two limbs of the U-section according to  FIG. 3 , which limbs are not yet fastened to each other, 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross section through a third embodiment, which is fastened to a building, of the U-section according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective illustration of the first limb of the U-section according to  FIG. 5 , with a washer for the screw fastening. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Details of a glass panel railing  10  together with the foot region thereof in cross section are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The glass panel  18  which, in the present exemplary case, consists of two panels  14 ,  16  which are adhesively bonded fixedly to each other via an adhesive layer  12 , is seated in a foot region  20  thereof in a two-part U-section  22  so as to be held in a fixed manner. 
     The U-section  22  is of two-part design and has a first limb  24  and a second limb  26 . In the state fastened to each other, the two limbs  24 ,  26  run approximately parallel to each other. In the present exemplary case, the two limbs  24 ,  26  have plane inner sides. 
     In contrast thereto, the U-section, at least in the lower region thereof, could also be of funnel-shaped design. In this case, the wall thickness of the two limbs  24 ,  26  would slightly increase downward—in the direction of the base of the U-section  22 . Furthermore, or alternatively thereto, there could also be projections, grooves or undercuts on the inner sides of the two limbs  24 ,  26 , for example in order to connect the two limbs to each other via a separate bridge. 
     The base of the U-section  22  is formed by a first base part  28  and a second base part  30 . The first base part  28  protrudes approximately horizontally from the first limb  24 , with a rounded portion  32  being formed. There is an upwardly open, first hook receptacle  34  at the free end of the first base part  28 . The second base part  30  protrudes approximately horizontally from the second limb  26 , with a rounded portion  36  being formed. There is a downwardly open, second hook receptacle  38  at the free end of the second base part  30 . The second hook receptacle  38  can be inserted from above into the first hook receptacle  34 . In said inserted state, the two base parts  28 ,  30  are aligned with each other and thus form the base of the U-section. 
     In the present exemplary case, the first base part  28  is designed to be significantly shorter than the second base part  30 . In contrast thereto, the two base parts could also be designed to be approximately identical in length; it would also be possible to design the first base part to be longer than the second base part. 
     In the present exemplary case, the first limb  24  and the second limb  26  both have a downwardly protruding limb extension  40 ,  42 . The two limb extensions  40 ,  42  have a downwardly tapering wall thickness. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the respective wall thickness of the two limb extensions  40 ,  42  could also remain constant. 
     The first limb extension  40  of the first limb  24  has a cutout  44 . A screw  46  can be guided through said cutout  44  in order to fasten the limb  24  to a building  48 . As can be gathered in particular from  FIG. 2 , the screw  46  can be screwed directly into the building  48 —optionally by means of a dowel—or can be screwed into a structural connecting element  50  present on the building  48 . 
     There is a third hook receptacle  52  at the lower end of the first limb extension  40 . In the present exemplary case, the third hook receptacle  52  is designed to be upwardly open. There is a fourth hook receptacle  54  at the lower end region of the second limb extension  42 , said hook receptacle, in the present exemplary case, being designed to be downwardly open. The fourth hook receptacle  54  can be inserted into the third hook receptacle  52  from above. The two limbs  24 ,  26  of the U-section  22  can therefore be fastened to each other firstly via the first and second hook receptacles  34 ,  38  and secondly via the third and fourth hook receptacles  52 ,  54 . 
     In the present exemplary case, the second limb extension  42  has, at the lower end thereof, an end wall part  56  which is oriented approximately perpendicularly to the second limb extension  42 . If the two limbs  24 ,  26  of the U-section  22  are fastened to each other, the end wall part  56  butts against the third hook receptacle  52  of the first limb extension  40 , thus resulting in a mutually aligned outer surface of the U-section. A covering, for example, a screen, is therefore not required for the U-section. This saves on material, which reduces manufacturing and installation costs and results in a lower weight of the mounted U-section  22 . 
     The glass panel  18  is held with the foot region  20  thereof in the U-section  22  in a fixed manner. The glass panel  18  is surrounded in a tightly fitting manner by a U-shaped section body  60 . Said U-shaped section body  60  has a base  62  with two upwardly protruding walls  64 ,  66 . As long as a glass panel  18  has not yet been inserted into the U-section  22  and into the U-shaped section body  60 , the base  62  has the shape of a gable roof. When the base  62  with the shape of a gable roof is pressed down by an inserted glass panel  18 , the lower wall regions, which each have an external rounded portion, are pressed outward against the two ends  24 ,  26  of the U-section  22 . In this manner, play-free contact of the foot region  20  of the glass panel  18  in the base region of the U-section  22  is possible. 
     The wall thickness of the two walls  64 ,  66  of the U-shaped section body  60  decreases continuously upward—away from the base  62 . For the tilt-resistant holding of the glass panel  18  in the U-section  22 , wedges  68 ,  70  are inserted between the right limb  24  and the right wall  64  and between the left limb  26  and the left wall  66 . A play-free contact of the foot region  20  of the glass panel  18  is thereby also realized in the upper region of the U-section  22 . In this case, the wedges  68 ,  70  are inserted downward into the clearance present between the U-shaped section body  60  and the U-section  22  to a depth such that the desired, play-free contact of the glass panel  18  is achieved in the upper region of the U-section  22 . In this case, an orientation of the glass panel  18  can be undertaken by such wedges  68 ,  70  being inserted to differing depths. 
     The wedges  68 ,  70  can be present in the form of a continuous wedge strip which is formed over the entire length of the U-section  22 . However, the wedges  68 ,  70  may also be present only in parts. It has proven particularly easy in terms of installation to design the outer wedge  68 , which is inserted between the left limb  26  and the left wall  66 , as a continuous wedge strip. After said outer wedge strip  68  is positioned, a plurality of inner wedges  70  which are spaced apart from one another can then be inserted between the right limb  24  and the right wall  64 . 
     In the present exemplary case, that surface of the walls  64 ,  66  which is directed toward the wedges  68 ,  70 , like that surface of the wedges  68 ,  70 , which surface is directed toward the walls  64 ,  66  of the U-shaped section body  60 , is of serrated design. By means of the serrated surfaces, the wedges  68 ,  70  intermesh with the corresponding walls  64 ,  66 , thus making it possible to prevent the wedges  68 ,  70  from unintentionally slipping out. 
     The U-shaped section body  60  is composed of a lightweight plastics material which has sufficient compression resistance. The weight of the glass panel  18  becomes only insubstantially greater by means of the U-shaped section body  60  pushed thereon. In the present exemplary case, the wedges  68 ,  70  are composed of rigid plastic with a Shore hardness of approximately 70 to 90. They can also be composed of a metallic material. In particular, the outer wedge strip  68  can be composed of a rigid plastic while the inner wedges  70  can be composed of a metal. As an alternative thereto, use could also be made of metallic wedges with a plastics coating in order to increase the sliding friction between the wedge and the U-section  22 , which is preferably composed of metallic material. 
     A second embodiment of a glass panel railing  10 . 3  with a changed U-section  22 . 3  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The first limb  24  of the U-section  22 . 3  is identical to that of the U-section  22  according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The second limb  26 . 3  of the U-section  22 . 3  differs from the second limb  26  of the U-section  22  by means of the second limb extension  42 . 3  thereof. The second limb extension  42 . 3  is not aligned with the limb  26 . 3  and is therefore also not formed parallel to the first limb extension  40 . On the contrary, the second limb extension  42 . 3  is slightly bent directly below the second base part  30  and directed toward the first limb extension  40 . Furthermore, in the present exemplary case, the second limb extension  42 . 3  has a constant wall thickness which corresponds to the wall thickness of the second limb  26 . 3 . 
     The second limb extension  42 . 3  butts with the end wall part  56 . 3  thereof against the third hook receptacle  52  of the first limb  24  and therefore likewise forms an outer surface in alignment with the third hook formation  52 . The second limb  26 . 3  can therefore also serve as a facing. Owing to the bent limb extension  42 . 3 , the fourth hook receptacle  54 . 3  is designed to be significantly shorter in the end region of said second limb extension  42 . 3  than the fourth hook receptacle  54  of the U-section  22 . As before, however, fastening of the second limb  26 . 3  to the first limb  24  is possible, said fastening being undertaken in the region of the base of the U-section  22 . 3  and in the end region of the limb extensions  40 ,  42 . 3 . 
     A third embodiment of a glass panel railing  10 . 5  according to the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In the present exemplary case, the two limbs  24 . 5  and  26 . 5  each have a bend  72 ,  74 . Between said bends  72 ,  74  and the respective base parts  28 . 5 ,  30 . 5 , the wall thickness of the two limbs  24 . 5 ,  26 . 5  tapers upward - away from the two base parts  28 . 5 ,  30 . 5  and toward the two bends  72 ,  74 . By contrast, the two limbs  24 . 5 ,  26 . 5  have a constant wall thickness above the bends  72 ,  74 . 
     The first base part  28 . 5  has a latching lug  76  next to the first hook receptacle  34 . A latching hook  78  which is integrally formed at the bottom of the second base part  30 . 5  of the second limb  26 . 5 , can engage under said latching lug  76 . The two limbs  24 . 5 ,  26 . 5  can therefore be detached from each other only by overcoming a certain resistance, thus making it possible to prevent inadvertent detaching of the U-section  22 . 5  even during installation. 
     The limb extension  40 . 5  of the first limb  24 . 5  has a corrugated region  80  on its inner side. In said corrugated region  80 , there is a plurality of elongated holes  82  which are spaced apart from one another and of which, in the present exemplary case, only one elongated hole  82  is illustrated. A washer  84  which, in the present exemplary case, is wedge-shaped, has a corrugated underside  86  which can be placed against the corrugated region  80  of the limb extension  40 . 5 . Furthermore, the washer  84  has a bore  88 . Said bore  88  can be positioned over the elongated hole  82 . The first limb  24 . 5  can subsequently be fastened to a building  48  or to a structural connecting element  50  by means of a screw  46 . The limb  24 . 5  can be aligned in terms of height by the elongated hole  82 . In contrast to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, the washer  84  could also be of approximately flat design. 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first limb  24 . 5  has an end wall part  90  which is integrally formed on the third hook receptacle  52 . Said end wall part  90  is aligned with the lower edge of the limb extension  42 . 5  of the second limb  26 . 5 , thus providing a visually attractive end by means of a common outer surface of the U-section  22 . 5  in this exemplary case too. 
     In contrast to the exemplary embodiments illustrated here, the two limbs of the U-section could furthermore also be fastened to each other by further fastening means, for example by means of one or more screws. In particular, during the installation of the U-section, such screw connections could also serve as an additional means of securing the U-section.