Patent Description:
The present invention also relates to a balustrade assembly comprising the clip.

Battens comprising lengths of timber or aluminium pieces are typically used in buildings to line or clad the ceilings or walls.

There are a number of reasons for installing battens in a building ranging from purely decorative appeal to purely functional reasons. For example, they can be installed to form an aesthetically appealing wall/divider that provides acoustic damping.

They can also be connected to a set of parallel spaced apart rails to produce a balustrade system.

The fabrication and installation of these batten mounted structures can be time consuming and difficult. Systems exist which use screws to fix the battens directly onto the wall or ceiling surface. Other systems use stirrup-type clasps that are fixed to the wall or ceiling surface to secure the battens to the surface.

Document <CIT> describes a connecting piece comprising a surface pipe fixing clamp, and a vertical column inclined pipe fixing cover matched with the surface pipe fixing clamp; one end of the vertical column inclined pipe fixing cover is provided with a vertical column insertion opening, two opposite sides of the vertical column inclined pipe fixing cover are provided with inclined surfaces, and another two sides of the vertical column inclined pipe fixing cover are provided with holes which correspond to holes in the surface pipe fixing clamp and are alignable to allow insertion of screws to fix the surface pipe fixing clamp to the vertical column inclined pipe fixing cover.

There are a number of problems with existing systems. One such problem is that the fixing system is often visible and detracts from the aesthetics of the overall batten-cladded wall or ceiling. Another problem is that the fasteners used to mount the battens to the fixing surface cannot accommodate thermal movement (contraction or expansion) of the battens with temperature. This may result in dangerous situations where for example, a batten loosens from the mounting surface and falls off. Furthermore, known systems are difficult to install and require mallets or other force fixing tools to install.

It is therefore desirable to provide a clip that can alleviate at least one of the above mentioned problems.

The invention provides a batten fixing clip as set out in claim <NUM>, comprising:.

The aperture in the resilient clip captures and secures the female connector interface portion against movement relative to the female connector.

The inventors were motivated to develop a batten fixing system that could allow battens to be installed onsite with minimal or no tools. Suitably, the batten fixing system masks the fixing clips to improve the aesthetics of the finished product. More suitably, the batten fixing system reduces the chance of mechanical failure.

In this respect, the present invention provides a batten fixing clip that allows battens to be installed onsite quickly and can be hidden or masked when installed. The clip also minimises the number of functional components by utilising an aperture on the resilient clip on the female connector to engage at least a portion of the female interface portion. This elegant design may improve the manufacture, assembly and reliability of the batten fixing clip.

In this specification, a "batten" refers to any elongate component used in an architectural environment. For example, the batten may be an extrusion such as a channel section of steel or a wooden plank. The batten may be for functional purposes (i.e. structural) or for aesthetic purposes (i.e. to improve the visual appearance of a building, environment, etc).

In this specification, a "support structure" refers to any structural component capable of supporting the batten. In other words, a support structure encompasses any structural component that can support a batten without buckling or failing. The support structure may form at least part of a balustrade system.

In this specification, a "balustrade system" refers to a rail supported by balusters in the form of battens.

The male connector may have a generally disc or cylindrical shape. However, it is also envisaged that the male connector may be any suitable three-dimensional shape that can engage the female connector. Other suitable shapes include a cuboid, a torus, a stadium (i.e. a rectangle with semi-circular ends), a triangular prism or a sphere.

The male connector may be made of any suitable material, for example, stainless steel, aluminium, alloy, composite, wood or polymers (such as ABS plastic and the like).

The batten interface portion of the male connector may comprise a fastener for attaching the male connector to a batten. The fastener may be any suitable fastener known in the art. For example, the batten interface portion may include a hole to receive a threaded bolt to secure a batten to the male connector. A nut may be threaded onto the bolt to reduce the likelihood of the threaded bolt disengaging the batten.

The male connector may have a generally disc shaped body including a flange for engaging the female connector. Suitably, the flange extends circumferentially from the body. However, it is envisaged that the flange may extend only part way around the circumference of the female connector interface portion. Furthermore, it is also envisaged that for the female connector interface portions with non-circular cross sections, the flange may extend all the way, or part the way around the female connector interface portion.

The flange may have a circumferential groove to receive an elastomeric ring to minimise wear. Suitably, at least part of the elastomeric ring protrudes from the groove and is compressed when the flange engages the female connector. However, it is also envisaged that the flange may have a slot or channel that is configured to receive an elastomeric component such that a part of the elastomeric component protrudes from the slot and is compressible when the flange engages the female connector. The elastomeric component may be provided in any geometric form.

The female connector may have a generally disc or cylindrical shape. However, it is also envisaged that the female connector may be any suitable three-dimensional shape that can engage the male connector. Other suitable shapes include a cuboid, a torus, a stadium (i.e. a rectangle with semi-circular ends), a triangular prism or a sphere.

The female connector may be made of any suitable material, for example, stainless steel, aluminium, alloy, wood, composite or polymers (such as ABS plastic and the like).

The female connector may comprise a base on which the retainer is located.

The base may form part of the male connector interface portion of the female connector. Suitably, the base comprises a fastener for attaching to a support structure.

The fastener may be any suitable fastener known in the art. For example, the support structure interface portion may include a hole to receive a threaded bolt to secure the female connector to the support structure. A nut may be threaded onto the bolt to reduce the likelihood of the threaded bolt disengaging the support structure.

The retainer comprises a pair of arms extending from the base of the female connector to define a channel dimensioned for receiving the female connector interface portion of the male connector. The arms are preferably integrally formed with the base. The base and arms may be cast or molded in one piece, for example by injection molding. However, it is also envisaged that the arms may be separately formed from the base and attached to the base by any means known in the art, for example bolting, welding, fusing or otherwise. Suitably, the retainer is configured to enable the female connector interface portion of the male connector to slide into the channel to engage the female connector.

Each arm includes a projection which extends inwardly into the channel. Each arm may form an L-shape or a T-shape to define the projection. Alternatively, each projection is in the form of a lip. Each projection is preferably integrally formed with its respective arm. The projections and arms may be cast or molded in one piece, for example by injection molding. However, it is also envisaged that the projections may be separately formed from the arms and attached to the arms by any means known in the art, for example bolting, welding, fusing or otherwise. When the female connector interface portion of the male connector is inserted into the channel, the resilient clip may reversibly deform towards the base to accommodate the female connector interface portion and deflect from the base when the aperture engages the female connector interface portion of the male connector. This pushes the female connector interface portion into abutment with the projections.

The female connector interface portion of the male connector may be inserted into the channel along a Y-axis such that the arms restrict movement of the male connector out of the channel along the X-axis. Suitably, the Y-axis is along the plane of the male connector.

The projections may restrict movement of the male connector in the channel in a third direction along the Z-axis.

The aperture may restrict movement of the male connector out of the channel along the Y-axis.

As such, the female connector constrains movement of the male connector in three dimensions: X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis.

It is envisaged that the resilient clip may be made from any suitably resilient material. For example, the resilient clip may be made from any suitable metallic material, such as aluminium, copper, brass, stainless steel, or titanium. Alternatively, the resilient clip may be made from any suitable non-metallic material, such as rubber, polymer (polyethylene, EPDM, neoprene, etc.), carbon fibre and the like. Preferably, the selected material has a distinct fatigue limit that is above the stress applied to the resilient clip when mounting and dismounting the batten from the female connector. Preferably materials include stainless steel and titanium.

The resilient clip may be a tongue or plate that can flex to accommodate the male connector and bias the male connector against the retainer.

The resilient clip may be formed in any suitable shape that can flex to accommodate the male connector and bias the male connector against the retainer. Suitably, the resilient clip is a tongue or plate. More suitably, the resilient clip has a quadrilateral prism shape with an aperture or a torus shape (i.e. doughnut shaped).

In some embodiments, the resilient clip is curved. It is also envisaged that the resilient clip may be flat.

In this specification, the term "curved" refers to any deviation away from the plane defined by the resilient clip. The clip may be curved linearly or non-linearly away from the defined plane. In other words, the gradient of the curvature may be constant throughout the curve or may change throughout the curve.

In this specification, the term "flat" refers to the plane defined by the plate.

The aperture may be centrally located on the resilient clip. However, it is also envisaged that the aperture may be off-centre on the resilient clip.

The aperture passes through the resilient clip (i.e. a through hole). Alternatively, the aperture passes part way through the resilient clip (i.e. a blind hole). The aperture may have any shape suitable for engaging at least part of the female connector interface portion of the male connector. For example, if the female connector interface portion of the male connector is cylindrical or spherical shaped, the aperture may have a corresponding circular shape to accommodate the female connector interface portion. If the female connector interface portion of the male connector is cuboid shaped, the aperture may be rectangular shaped. If the female connector interface portion of the male connector is a triangular prism shaped, then the aperture may be triangular shaped.

The male connector interface portion of the female connector may have a rebate dimensioned to receive the resilient clip. The rebate may be any shape or size that can accommodate the resilient clip. For example, if the resilient clip is a quadrilateral prism shape, the rebate may have a square cross-section. If the resilient element is a torus shape (i.e. doughnut shaped), the rebate may have a circular cross-section.

The male connector interface portion may be configured to retain the resilient clip within the rebate. Suitably, the male connector interface portion includes at least one tab that extends into the rebate to frictionally retain the resilient clip within the rebate. The tab may be rigid, such that it deforms the resilient clip when the clip is inserted into the rebate. Alternatively, the tab may be resilient, such that it is reversibly deformed by the resilient clip as the resilient clip is inserted into the rebate.

The invention also provides a method of fixing a batten to a support structure using a batten fixing clip as set out in claim <NUM>, comprising the steps:.

The method may include mounting a male connector onto a batten. Suitably, the method includes mounting a pair of male connectors onto a batten. More suitably, each of the pair of male connectors are mounted on opposing ends of the batten.

The method may include mounting a male connector along the length of a batten (i.e. a side of the batten).

The method may include mounting a male connector at an end of a batten. The male connector may be a tenon type male connector that is insertable into a mortised batten end.

The method may include mounting the female connector onto a support structure. Suitably, the method includes mounting a pair of female connectors onto the support structure. More suitably, each of the pair of female connectors are located at opposite ends of the support structure.

The method may include mounting a female connector on a surface of the support structure that is perpendicular to the ground (e.g. a sideways facing surface of the support structure).

The method may include mounting a female connector on a surface of the support structure that is parallel to the ground (e.g. an upwardly or downwardly facing surface of the support structure).

The method may include mounting a second female connector comprising a retainer without a resilient clip onto the support structure, the second female connector being modified such that it is without a resilient clip. Suitably, the modified female connector is mounted onto a lower rail of the support structure.

The applicant has found that excluding the resilient clip from the second female connector provides engineering tolerance to account for thermal movement, particularly thermal expansion of the components.

The inserting step may involve sliding the female connector interface portion of the male connector into the male connector interface portion of the female connector.

The inserting step may involve sliding the female connector interface portion into the channel formed by the retainer on the female connector.

The inserting step may involve sliding the female connector interface portion of the male connector downwardly into the male connector interface portion of the female connector. In this embodiment, the male connector is mounted along the length of a batten (i.e. a side of the batten) and the female connector is mounted on a surface of the support structure that is perpendicular to the ground (e.g. a sideways facing surface of the support structure).

The inserting step may involve sliding the female connector interface portion of the male connector laterally into the male connector interface portion of the female connector (i.e. along the ground). In this embodiment, the male connector is mounted at an end of a batten and the female connector is mounted on a surface of the support structure that is parallel to the ground (e.g. an upwardly or downwardly facing surface of the support structure).

The engaging step may involve sliding the female connector interface portion into the channel until the female connector interface portion on the male connector slots into the aperture on the resilient clip.

The method may involve engaging the first and second female connector interface portions with their corresponding male connector interface portions.

The method may involve inserting the first and second female connector interface portions into the channels of their respective second female connectors.

The invention also provides a balustrade assembly, comprising:.

The upper and lower rail may be fixed in a parallel arrangement.

The pair of male connectors may be mounted on one side of the batten. Suitably, each of the pair of male connectors are located on opposing ends on the same side of the batten.

Each of the pair of male connectors may be mounted at opposing ends of the batten.

One male connector may be mounted at an end of the batten and a second male connector may be mounted at a side of the opposing end of the batten.

The lower female connector may exclude the resilient clip. Removing the resilient clip provides a free end of the batten to accommodate expansion and contraction of the batten. The applicant has found that excluding the resilient clip on the lower female connector provides engineering tolerance to accommodate for thermal movement of the components.

The invention is described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:.

<FIG> show a batten fixing clip <NUM> according to the present invention. The batten fixing clip <NUM> comprises a female connector <NUM> and a male connector <NUM>.

The female connector <NUM> comprises a disc shaped base <NUM> with a pair of outwardly extending L-shaped arms <NUM> that define an open channel to receive the male connector <NUM>. A pair of projections <NUM> of each arm defines a gap that is narrower in width than the channel to accommodate a batten interface portion <NUM> of the male connector <NUM>.

The base <NUM> has a rebate <NUM> with a pair tabs <NUM> that extend from opposing sides of the base <NUM> into the rebate <NUM>. The base <NUM> has a pair of holes <NUM> for receiving a fastening means, e.g. a bolt, screw or rivet for mounting the female connector <NUM> onto a support structure.

A resilient clip <NUM> in the form of a curved steel plate having a central aperture <NUM> is frictionally retained by the tabs <NUM> within the rebate <NUM>. The resilient clip <NUM> is arranged such that it curves away from the base <NUM> and is configured to reversibly deform towards the base <NUM> by as the male connector <NUM> is inserted into the channel.

As best shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the male connector <NUM> comprises a batten interface portion <NUM> for attachment to a batten <NUM> and a female connector interface portion <NUM> for engaging a female connector <NUM>.

The batten interface portion <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> includes a hole which extends through the male connector <NUM> to receive a threaded bolt <NUM> to fix the male connector to the batten <NUM>.

The female connector interface portion <NUM> of the male connector <NUM> comprises a free end 34a, and a flange 34b.

The male connector <NUM> can be described as having a generally disc shape with variable diameter across its axis, in which the flange 34b has the largest diameter and the free end 34a having the smallest diameter.

The free end 34a is dimensioned to be received by the aperture <NUM> of the resilient clip <NUM> to prevent the male connector from sliding out of the female connector when engaged. The flange 34b is dimensioned to be received within the channel of the female connector <NUM>.

The flange 34b has a circumferential groove <NUM> that is configured to receive an elastomeric O-ring <NUM> such that it protrudes from the circumferential groove <NUM>. The elastomeric ring <NUM> is configured to be compressed as the flange portion 34b is pushed into abutment with the projections <NUM> by the resilient clip <NUM>.

The use of the batten fixing clip <NUM> as previously described will now be described in the context of providing a balustrade assembly.

<FIG> show the various stages involved in installing a balustrade assembly using the batten fixing clip shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> show a support structure <NUM> comprising a floor <NUM> and a horizontal beam <NUM> supported above the floor by an upright column <NUM>. A first pair of profiles 73a, suitably made from aluminium, are secured to a face of the floor <NUM> and horizontal beam <NUM>. Each aluminium profile 73a has a central web and a pair of flanges projecting therefrom to define a channel. Each aluminium profile 73a is secured to the support structure <NUM> such that the channel of each aluminium profile 73a faces outwardly from the support structure <NUM>. Each aluminium profile 73a has a series of holes spaced apart along the length of their central web. The holes are aligned with the holes on the respective faces of the floor <NUM> and horizontal beam <NUM> and are configured to receive fasteners 75a to secure the aluminium profiles 73a to the floor <NUM> and horizontal beam <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Fasteners 75a can be any known fasteners such as rivets or screws.

As shown in <FIG>, a second pair of aluminium profiles 73b are secured to the first pair of aluminium profiles 73a such that the channel in each of the second pair of aluminium profiles 73b faces inwardly towards the support structure <NUM>. Suitably, the second pair of aluminium profiles 73b are shaped to slidably engage the first pair of profiles 73a.

In this arrangement, the flanges of the first pair of aluminium profiles 73a overlap the second pair of aluminium profiles 73b (as best shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>).

Each of the first pair of aluminium profiles 73a have a series of holes along the length of their flanges that are aligned with the respective holes on the corresponding flanges of the second pair of aluminium profiles 73b. The aligned holes are configured for receiving a fastener 75b to secure the first aluminium profiles 73a to the second aluminium profiles 73b as best shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>.

The second pair of aluminium profiles 73b also have a series of holes along the length of their central web which are configured for receiving bolts <NUM> to attach female connectors <NUM> to the aluminium profiles 73b.

Female connectors <NUM> may be pre-mounted onto the second pair of aluminium profiles 73b before the aluminium profiles 73a are delivered onsite. This improves the efficiency of the installation process by avoiding the need for a user to mount the individual female connectors onsite.

Instead, a user can simply slide the second pair of aluminium profiles 73b having the pre-mounted female connectors <NUM> in place and begin fixing the battens <NUM> onto the aluminium profiles.

Once secured, the aluminium profiles 73a, 73b define upper and lower rails <NUM>, <NUM> of the support structure <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an enlarged view of the upper rail <NUM> which has a female connector <NUM>, as previously described, attached thereto.

<FIG> shows an enlarged view of the lower rail <NUM> which has a female connector <NUM> attached thereto. However, unlike the upper rail <NUM>, the female connector <NUM> attached to the lower rail <NUM> is modified to exclude resilient clip <NUM>. Excluding the resilient clip <NUM> from the female connector <NUM> on the lower rail <NUM> provides dimensional tolerance to account for thermal movement of the various components of the balustrade system. This may cause the battens to shift and misalign with the female connectors. The applicant has found that one female connector <NUM> with resilient clip <NUM> is sufficient to secure the batten to the support structure <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the batten <NUM> with a pair of male connectors <NUM> attached thereto. Each of the male connectors <NUM> is attached using a threaded bolt and protrudes from a side of the batten <NUM>.

The pair of male connectors are located at opposing ends of the batten to form upper and lower male connectors <NUM> which correspond to female connectors <NUM> on the respective upper and lower rails <NUM>, <NUM>.

The steps involved in assembly of the batten <NUM> and the support structure <NUM> will now be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> show the batten <NUM> arranged in relation to the support structure <NUM> such that the male connector <NUM> is aligned with the channel of the female connector <NUM>. As can be seen from <FIG>, the resilient clip <NUM> curves away from the base <NUM> in a bow-shape before engaging the male connector.

<FIG> show the batten <NUM> sliding into the channel of the female connector <NUM> along direction A. As the male connector <NUM> enters the channel, the resilient clip <NUM> resiliently flexes towards the base <NUM> and partially flattens. In its flexed state, the resilient clip <NUM> biases the male connector against the projections <NUM> of the female connector <NUM>.

<FIG> show the male connector <NUM> moving further into the channel along direction A until the free end 34a engages the aperture <NUM>. This results in the resilient clip <NUM> deflecting from the base <NUM> to revert to its original shape which in turn pushes the flange 34b into abutment with the projections <NUM> and compresses elastomeric O-ring <NUM> between projections <NUM> and flange 34b (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

<FIG> shows a completed balustrade assembly. As can be appreciated, the batten fixing clip <NUM> according to the present invention provides a secure attachment of the batten to the support structure while accommodating for movement of the batten over time for example by thermal expansion and contraction.

This is because the arms <NUM> restrict movement of the flange 34b from male connector <NUM> out of the channel of the female connector <NUM> along the X-axis, the projections <NUM> restrict movement of the flange 34b (see <FIG>) out of the channel of the female connector <NUM> along the Z-axis and the aperture <NUM> of the resilient clip <NUM> restricts movement of the end portion 34a (see <FIG>) out of the channel of the female connector <NUM> along the Y-axis (see <FIG>). As such, the batten fixing clip <NUM> restricts movement of the batten <NUM> relative to the support structure <NUM> in three dimensions X, Y and Z.

At the same time, the modified female connectors <NUM> on the lower rail <NUM> retain the batten within the channel of the modified female connector <NUM> while allowing for movement along the Y-axis.

<FIG> shows a balustrade assembly <NUM> according to another embodiment of the invention. The balustrade assembly <NUM> of <FIG> comprises an upper rail <NUM>, a lower rail <NUM> and a batten <NUM>.

The balustrade assembly <NUM> of <FIG> differs from the balustrade assembly <NUM> of <FIG> in several ways described below.

The male connectors <NUM>, <NUM> protrude from the ends of the batten <NUM> as opposed to the sides of the batten <NUM>. Similarly, the female connectors <NUM> on the upper and lower rails <NUM>, <NUM> face downwardly and upwardly, respectively.

<FIG> show that the male connector <NUM> on the upper end of the batten <NUM> is a tenon type male connector <NUM> and the upper end of the batten <NUM> is mortised.

<FIG> shows the tenon type male <NUM> connector which comprises a shank portion <NUM> and a head portion <NUM>. The profiles of the shank portion <NUM> and the head portion <NUM> are a stadium shaped, i.e. rectangular with semi-circular ends. The head portion <NUM> comprises a flange <NUM> which extends around the base of the head <NUM> local to the junction with the shank portion <NUM>.

<FIG> show a batten <NUM> with a mortised end. The batten <NUM> comprises an extruded box section <NUM> having walls which define a recess and a mortised element <NUM> that can be inserted into the recess. A pair of retaining elements <NUM> extend from the walls into the recess to frictionally secure the mortised element <NUM> to the extruded box section <NUM>.

<FIG> show the mortised element <NUM> which comprises a tubular section <NUM> with a flanged end <NUM>. The flanged end <NUM> comprises a central opening <NUM> for receipt of a shank <NUM> of a tenon type male connector <NUM> and a plurality of holes <NUM> for receipt of fastening means, such as screws. The tubular section <NUM> has a stadium shaped profile (i.e. a rectangle with a pair of semi-circles positioned at opposite ends). Located proximal to each corner are retaining elements <NUM> which extend along the length of the tubular section <NUM>. Each retaining element <NUM> is a C-shaped channel that aligns with a corresponding hole <NUM> in the flanged end <NUM> and into which a fastening means, such as a screw, can be inserted. Inserting the fastening means into the C-shaped channel causes the limbs of the C-shaped channel to expand outwardly such that they can come into abutment with the retaining elements <NUM> of the extruded box section <NUM>, thus frictionally securing the mortised element <NUM> to the extruded box section <NUM>.

When the tenon type male connector <NUM> is assembled with the mortised end of the batten <NUM>, the shank portion <NUM> of the tenon type male connector <NUM> may be slidably retained within the central opening <NUM> to allow for thermal expansion of the balustrade system.

<FIG> shows that the male connector on the lower end of the batten is an elongate button type male connector <NUM>. Unlike the male connector <NUM>, shown in <FIG> for example, which has a circular shape when viewed in plan, the elongate button type male connector <NUM> is a stadium shape, i.e. rectangular with semi-circular ends, when viewed in plan. <FIG> shows an isolated view of the elongate button type male connector <NUM>. As can be seen in <FIG>, the elongate button type male connector <NUM> comprises a plurality of holes <NUM> for receiving fastening means to secure the elongate button type male connector <NUM> to a batten <NUM>.

<FIG> show that the female connectors <NUM> on both the upper and lower rails are an elongate type female connector, which is shaped to conform to the shape of the tenon type male connector <NUM> or the button type male connector <NUM>. In other words, the elongate type female connector <NUM> has a stadium shape. <FIG> shows an isolated view of the elongate type female connector <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a lower rail <NUM> which is height adjustable in the Y-axis. The lower rail <NUM> comprises first and second channel sections <NUM>, <NUM>. Each channel section comprises a base and a pair of flanges extending from the base to define a channel. The first channel section <NUM> is securable to a support structure. The second channel section <NUM> has a base that is larger than the base of the first channel section <NUM> such that when the first and second channel sections are aligned, the channels are facing each other with the flanges of the second channel section <NUM> overlapping the flanges of the first channel section <NUM>. Each flange of the first channel section <NUM> has a slot shaped opening which is alignable with a corresponding circular opening on a respective flange of the second channel section <NUM>, such that a fastener (i.e. a threaded bolt) can be inserted therethrough. Once inserted through the aligned openings the threaded bolt can be secured with a nut that is threaded onto the bolt and into engagement with an internal surface of the flange of the first channel section <NUM>. The slot shaped opening may allow the first and second channel sections <NUM>, <NUM> to be secured together with differing amounts of overlap between the flanges, which corresponds to the amount that the rail <NUM> is height adjustable in the Y-axis.

<FIG> shows that the male connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can be mounted to protrude from one side of the batten <NUM>. <FIG> shows that the male connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can be mounted to protrude from ends of the batten. <FIG> shows that one of the male connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (the upper male connector) can extend from a side of the batten <NUM> and the other male connector <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (the lower male connector) can extend from an end of the batten <NUM>. It is also contemplated that the upper male connector <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may extend from the end of the batten <NUM> and the lower male connector <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may extend from the side of the batten <NUM>.

<FIG> show different balustrade systems 70a, 70b, 70c according to further embodiments of the present invention. <FIG> shows a screen balustrade system 70a in which the male connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged such that they protrude from the sides of the battens <NUM>. <FIG> shows a façade balustrade system 70b which is a similar arrangement to the screen balustrade system 70a albeit with a pane of glass <NUM> positioned behind the battens <NUM>. <FIG> shows a free-standing balustrade system 70c in which the male connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged such that they protrude from ends of the battens <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A batten fixing clip (<NUM>), comprising:
a male connector (<NUM>) comprising a batten interface portion (<NUM>) for attachment to a batten, and a female connector interface portion (<NUM>) for engaging a female connector (<NUM>); and
a female connector (<NUM>) comprising a support structure interface portion for attaching to a support structure and a male connector interface portion for engaging the male connector (<NUM>), the male connector interface portion of the female connector (<NUM>) including a retainer,
the retainer comprising a pair of arms (<NUM>) extending from a base (<NUM>) of the female connector (<NUM>) to define a channel dimensioned for receiving the female connector interface portion (<NUM>) of the male connector (<NUM>), the batten fixing clip being characterized in that each arm (<NUM>) of the retainer includes a projection (<NUM>) which extends inwardly into the channel, and the female connector further includes a resilient clip (<NUM>),
the resilient clip (<NUM>) comprises an aperture (<NUM>), wherein said aperture (<NUM>) is a through-hole or a blind hole, that receives at least part of the female connector interface portion (<NUM>) of the male connector (<NUM>) and said resilient clip (<NUM>) biases the female connector interface portion (<NUM>) of the male connector (<NUM>) against the retainer.