Patent Publication Number: US-2023160213-A2

Title: System for adjusting and fixing sheet-shaped elements for railings

Description:
This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application 102021000007622 filed Mar. 29, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers and railings in general, wherein the sheet-shaped elements are the protective elements of said rails, balustrades, dividers and railings. 
     As known, the railing is a protective structure to avoid the free fall of people and objects from a balcony or a terrace and, in general, from every place where there are surfaces that have a difference in height. The railings differ substantially in the type of respective protective elements. For example, the balustrades are typically constituted of column-shaped elements, named “balusters”, resting on a base and connected above by an horizontal element, called “cymatium”. The rails are instead constituted of vertical pillars, usually made of metal, which support closing elements which are covered on the top by an handrail. 
     Moreover, there are railings and dividers whose protective elements are sheet-shaped and in many cases are made of glass plates. In general, the railings provided with protective sheet-shaped elements include a plurality of base elements which are able to retain and support the plates, combined or not combined with a plurality of vertical pillars. The elements or base bodies of the railings are configured to be fixed permanently to the ground or to the generic installation surface of the railing, like for example the walking area of a balcony or a terrace. 
     As known, the walking areas of balconies and terraces are built with a slope, in the order of around 1-2 degrees (approx. 2%-3%) in relation to an horizontal plane, to allow the appropriate runoff of rainwater. Moreover, it often happens that the walls to which the railings have to be connected are not perfectly parallel to the ground due to construction defects. As a result, also the elements or base bodies of the railings, once they have been installed on the above mentioned surfaces, are slightly inclined from the horizontal and vertical planes. 
     On the other hand, the protective elements of the railings, in particular when they are made in the form of sheet-shaped elements, have to be perfectly vertical due to aesthetic and safety reasons. Some elements or base bodies of the railings are then provided with mechanisms for adjusting the inclination of the respective protective elements. 
     An example of embodiment of a system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades and railings of known type is illustrated in the European patent no. 3009580, from which FIG. 1 is taken. The system comprises a plurality of base bodies ( 10 ) configured to be placed and fixed on a generic installation surface, like for example the walking surface of the balcony of a building, and such that they can receive the lower surface of a protective sheet-shaped element ( 16 ). Each base body ( 10 ) is made in the form of a box profile with substantially U-shaped cross-section, open in the upper part and in the lower part provided with one or more fixing means ( 12 ), like for example bolts, on the system installation surface. Inside the box profile at least one channel ( 14 ) is defined in which the lower part of a protective sheet-shaped element ( 16 ) is inserted. On the inner lower surface of the channel ( 14 ) is fitted at least one lower resting element ( 18 ) of the protective sheet-shaped element ( 16 ), while on both inner lateral surfaces ( 20 ,  22 ) of said channel ( 14 ) are fitted respective resting, retaining and adjusting lateral elements ( 24 ,  26 ) of the protective sheet-shaped elements ( 16 ). The resting, retaining and adjusting lateral elements ( 24 ) provided on the inner lateral surface ( 20 ) of the channel ( 14 ) are equipped with adjusting and setting means ( 30 ) for adjusting the position and/or the inclination of the sheet-shaped element ( 16 ) which operate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the developing plan of the sheet-shaped element ( 16 ). The fixing, adjusting and setting element ( 30 ) is accessible from a first outer side ( 34 ) of the channel ( 14 ) and by means of a specific adjustment tool ( 36 ) it is possible to obtain the correct position and/or inclination of the protective sheet-shaped element ( 16 ). In this way it is possible to obtain the correct position and/or inclination of the protective sheet-shaped element ( 16 ) working only from the inner side of a balcony or a terrace. Each base body ( 10 ) is provided laterally and above with shaped grooves ( 48 ) to receive one or more longitudinal covering plates ( 50 ) configured to completely cover the base bodies ( 10 ) and the relative inner components, allowing out only the protective sheet-shaped elements ( 16 ) in the system fitted configuration. The system for fixing and adjusting protective sheet-shaped elements ( 16 ) built according to the known art foresees the use of a plurality of base bodies ( 10 ) which have to be correctly aligned during assembly. To reduce the aesthetic impact of said system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements ( 16 ) it is necessary to use specific covering plates or slabs ( 50 ) which, being mounted on a plurality of base bodies ( 10 ), may not be perfectly aligned and therefore may compromise the aesthetic appearance. Moreover, the installation of protective sheet-formed elements through systems according to the known art requires the repetition of adjustment and control phases to adjust the inclination until the sheet-shaped element is not correctly aligned. Finally the operator is forced to stay in a uncomfortable position for the entire duration of his work, since he must work on the lower part of the sheet-shaped element in a direction perpendicular to the same element. This entails also the extension of the laying time, and consequently an increase in the costs related to this procedure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is to provide a system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers and railings in general, which is able to prevent the above mentioned problems. 
     An aim of the present invention is to allow the adjustment and control of the correct inclination of the sheet-shaped element at the same time in such a way as to accelerate the installation phases. 
     Another aim of the present invention is to provide a system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers and railings in general, that allows to fit one or more sheet-shaped elements using a single base body. 
     A further aim of the present invention is to provide a system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers and railings in general, which allows to adjust the position and/or inclination of the protective sheet-shaped elements from the inner side of the balcony and without affecting the appearance of the frontal surface of the base body. 
     Moreover, the possibility to make the adjustment from above allows the operator to stay in a more comfortable position for the entire duration of the adjustment procedure. 
     Another aim of the present invention is to provide a system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers and railings in general, that does not require the use of protective casings on the frontal surfaces of the base body. 
     These and other aims according to the present invention are achieved providing a system for fixing sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers and railings in general as explained in claim  1 . 
     Further characteristics of the invention are highlighted by the dependent claims, which are integral part of the present description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The characteristics and advantages of a system for fixing sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades and railings in general according to the present invention will become more evident in the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective exploded view and a longitudinal section view of a system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements of known type; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates the invention according to a longitudinal section view; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a detail of the invention according to a lateral view and a frontal view; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a further detail of the invention according to a lateral view and a frontal view. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the figures, an example of preferred embodiment of a system for adjusting and fixing sheet-shaped elements for rails, balustrades, dividers and railings in general is shown according to the present invention. The system comprises containment means ( 10 ), consisting for example of a base body ( 100 ) for at least one sheet-shaped element ( 160 ), configured to be placed and fixed on a generic installation surface of the same system, such as for example the walking surface of the balcony of a building or one of its vertical walls. 
     Each base body ( 100 ) is made in the form of box profile with substantially U-shaped cross-section, open in the upper part and in the lower part or laterally provided with one or more fixing means known to an industry expert. Inside the box profile it is defined at least one channel ( 140 ) into which adjusting means ( 20 ) are inserted, on which rests the lower part of at least one protective sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) that may consist of, for example, one glass plate. 
     The adjusting means ( 20 ) comprise at least one resting and retaining element ( 180 ) with substantially L-shaped cross-section and that is provided with two inclined surfaces ( 28 ) not aligned with each other and with a convex lower surface ( 190 ). Each inclined surface ( 28 ) is provided with an opening with substantially vertical axis for the passage of one adjusting pin ( 29 ) which in turn is coupled to an adjusting element ( 240 ), for example by means of an idle screw or a male-female screw type coupling. The adjusting element ( 240 ) has substantially triangle-shaped cross-section with one surface ( 31 ) parallel to a first inner surface ( 110 ) of the channel ( 140 ) of the base body ( 100 ) and one inclined surface ( 27 ) shaped to match the inclined surface ( 28 ) of the resting and retaining element ( 180 ). 
     The adjusting means ( 20 ) are fitted in such a way that are movable inside the channel ( 140 ), in such a way that the first inner surface ( 110 ) is in contact with the surface ( 31 ) of the adjusting element ( 240 ). The adjustment of the pins ( 29 ) generates an axial displacement of the adjusting element ( 240 ) which brings into contact the inclined surfaces ( 27 ,  28 ) shaped to match each other of the adjusting element ( 240 ) and of the resting and retaining element ( 180 ), causing a displacement in a substantially horizontal direction of the resting and retaining element ( 180 ). The combined adjustment of two adjusting elements ( 240 ) of a single resting and retaining element ( 180 ) causes two different displacements which generate a rotation of the resting and retaining element ( 180 ) about a substantially vertical plane and also a translation in such a way as to obtain the engagement by contrast of the sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) with a second inner surface ( 130 ) of the channel ( 140 ). 
     The second inner surface ( 130 ) of the channel ( 140 ) has a convex shape in such a way as to provide a support base for fixing the protective sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) when said element is inclined from the first inner surface ( 110 ) of the channel ( 140 ). On said convex surface there is at least one yielding element ( 530 ) to prevent the direct contact and the resulting damage of the sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) with the base body ( 100 ). The yielding element ( 530 ) may also comprise a sealing gasket configured to abut against the sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) and to prevent infiltrations of water inside the base body ( 100 ). 
     Each pin ( 29 ) comprises one head ( 320 ) accessible from the upper side of the base body ( 100 ): in this way it is possible, by means of a specific adjustment tool, to adjust and fix the sheet-shaped element ( 160 ). The position of the heads ( 320 ) of the pins ( 29 ) allows the operator that installs the sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) to adjust and fix said element at the same time since during the procedure it is possible to check the plumbing of the sheet-shaped element ( 160 ), for example, by means of a bubble level placed on the upper surface of said element. Moreover, the position of the head ( 320 ) of the pin ( 29 ) allows the operator to perform the adjustment and fixing in a much more comfortable position compared to known solutions. 
     The base body ( 100 ) is provided above with shaped grooves ( 480 ) for receiving, with sliding or snap coupling, one or more longitudinal covering profiles ( 500 ) configured to completely cover the upper part of the base body ( 100 ) and the relative inner components, allowing out only the protective sheet-shaped elements ( 160 ) in the system fitted configuration. Each longitudinal covering profile ( 500 ) can be provided with a respective sealing gasket ( 520 ) configured to abut against the protective sheet-shaped elements ( 160 ) and thus to prevent infiltrations of water inside the base bodies ( 100 ). 
     The assembly of the system for fixing and adjusting sheet-shaped elements for railings according to the present invention takes place as follows. A first step foresees the resting and then the fixing of one or more base bodies ( 100 ) on the system installation surface. The number and the arrangement of the base bodies ( 100 ) to be installed will depend on the design conditions of the railing. After the installation of the base bodies ( 100 ) on the surface, takes place the introduction in sequence, inside the channel ( 140 ) of the base body ( 100 ), of the yielding element ( 530 ), of one or more systems of adjusting means ( 20 ) and lastly of the protective sheet-shaped elements ( 160 ) necessary for completing the railing. Once a single protective sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) has been inserted inside the channel ( 140 ) and rests on the lower surface of the resting and retaining element ( 180 ), then the adjustment and the fixing are carried out. The action of the adjustment tools on the heads of the pins ( 29 ) allows to adjust the relative position of the protective sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) in relation to the base body ( 100 ), thanks to the axial displacement of the adjusting elements ( 240 ). 
     The particular shapes and functionalities of these components of the system allow a corresponding oscillation of the protective sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) about a vertical plane, thus obtaining the inclination and the plumbing of said protective sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) with a minimum effort on the adjusting tools and allowing it to be fixed creating an engagement by contrast of the sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) against the convex surface ( 130 ) of the base body ( 100 ). The fixing and adjusting operation can be performed by the operator staying standing by means of a specific tool provided with an extension. In this working position, the operator is able to check the plumbing of the sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) and to perform the fixing of the same. 
     It has thus been seen that the system for fixing sheet-shaped elements ( 160 ) for railings in general according to the present invention achieves the purposes highlighted above. The system for fixing sheet-shaped elements ( 160 ) for railings in general according to the present invention allows to insert and fix every single sheet-shaped element ( 160 ) in a corresponding base body ( 100 ), adjusting completely its inclination and performing the fixing at the same time, as well as allowing the operator to work in a comfortable position.