WO1991013222A1

WO1991013222A1 - Improved balustrade anchorage assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1991013222A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000061
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Robert Dickinson
Original assignee: Clearview Aluminium Windows (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1990-02-22
Filing date: 1991-02-21
Publication date: 1991-09-05
Also published as: JPH05506486A

Abstract

A mounting assembly for anchoring a post (2) to a substrate, said mounting assembly including a bracket (1) comprising a base portion (5) adapted to be fixedly secured to the substrate (3), a mounting portion (6) extending outwardly from the base portion (5) to nestingly engage a complementary recessed cavity (4) formed in the post and including at least one longitudinally extending jaw element (10), said mounting assembly further including wedge means (12), and selectively operable locking means (15) to drive said wedge means (12) progressively into engagement with said at least one jaw (10) thereby to releasably secure the bracket (1) to the post (2).

Description

"IMPROVED BALUSTRADE ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY" TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to balustrading for verandas, balconies, stairways, swimming pools, walkways, roof tops, carports, pergolas, partitioning and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional balustrading comprises a number of spaced apart vertical posts known as balusters or newel posts supporting a railing assembly which usually consists of a hand rail and a parallel lower rail.

This invention relates more specifically to the anchoring of the posts or balusters to the base platform. In the past, this has been achieved by a number of methods including external nut and bolt assemblies, welding, anchoring in concrete, and the like. However, these known methods are time consuming, inefficient, and generally inconvenient to perform on site. In addition, the commonly used anchoring lugs, nuts, bolts and other exposed external fastenings are susceptible to corrosion, are generally not aesthetically pleasing and interrupt the visual continuity of the balustrading.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved anchorage system for balustrading which overcomes or substantially ameliorates at least some of these disadvantages associated with the prior art. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention provides a mounting assembly for anchoring a post to a substrate, said mounting assembly including a bracket comprising a base portion adapted to be fixedly secured to the substrate, a mounting portion extending outwardly from the base portion to nestingly engage a complementary recessed cavity formed in the post and including at least one longitudinally extending jaw element, said mounting assembly further including wedge means, and selectively operable locking means to drive said wedge means progressively into engagement with said at least one jaw thereby to releasably secure the bracket to the post.

Preferably, the mounting portion includes a pair of mutually opposed outwardly depending jaws defining in preference an outwardly diverging generally V-shaped transverse channel, and said wedge means comprises a complementary wedge member disposed intermediate the jaws such that operation of said locking means drives the wedge member progressively into the channel thereby urging the jaws outwardly into selectively releasable frictional engagement with the post. In alternative embodiments, a split wedge or a number of independent wedge members may be used.

Preferably also, the post is formed from a pair of extruded aluminium channel sections incorporating complementary longitudinally extending interlocking edge flanges. The channel sections are preferably mutually interengageable to define a hollow interior region generally rectangular in cross section and corresponding to said recessed cavity. The mounting portion of the bracket preferably comprises a spigot having- a complementary rectangular prismatic configuration to nestingly engage the recessed cavity. It will be appreciated, however, that any suitable configuration of spigot and cavity may be used.

The selectively operable locking means preferably comprises a bolt extending through the wedge member to engage a complementary threaded hole in the mounting portion whereby selective rotation of the bolt drives the wedge member progressively into the channel. In this configuration, the locking bolt can be conveniently tightened from above by means of an extended tube spanner passing through the interior of the hollow post.

The mounting bracket is preferably rigidly secured to the substrate by means of downwardly projecting studs which can be secured from below with complementary nuts or brackets, anchored to a base slab with a suitable chemical adhesive or resin, or welded, depending on the particular application.

In an alternative embodiment, however, a single locking stud and complementary nut can be used simultaneously to anchor the mounting bracket to the substrate and to lock the mounting portion of the bracket to the post. In this embodiment, the locking stud is first anchored to the substrate by any suitable means so as to extend upwardly through complementary aligned apertures respectively formed in the bracket and wedge member or members. By tightening the complementary nut engageable with the free end of the stud, the bracket is securely clamped to the substrate whilst the wedge member is driven into the channel and into engagement with ^"the jaws thereby to simultaneously secure the bracket to the post in a single step operation.

The base portion of the bracket is preferably formed integrally with the mounting portion from an aluminium alloy.

The invention also includes within its scope a balustrade assembly comprising a plurality of spaced apart generally upright posts supporting an array of railing sections or panels extending between the posts, each post being anchored to a substrate by means of a mounting assembly substantially as hereinbefore described.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a balustrade mounting bracket according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional elevation showing a mounting assembly incorporating the bracket of figure 1 anchoring a post to a substrate;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional elevation similar to figure 2 showing a single stud mounting assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the mounting assembly incorporating a single jaw member and complementary wedge.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention provides a balustrade mounting assembly including a bracket 1 for rigidly anchoring a post or baluster 2 to a substrate in the form of base platform 3. The balustrading generally comprises a plurality of such posts spaced apart to support a hand rail and usually a bottom rail (not shown) . Alternatively, the posts can be used to support glass panels, partitioning or the like. The railing or panel sections extend between the posts to enclose an open space such as a veranda, pool area, or stair well in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

Each post is preferably formed from a pair of extruded aluminium channel sections (not shown) incorporating complementary interlocking longitudinal edge flanges. The channel sections are interengageable to form the post and define a substantially rectangular hollow region 4 therewithin. Alternatively however, the posts can be formed in any suitable shape or configuration from any suitable metal or other material.

Each mounting bracket 1 comprises a base portion 5 adapted to be rigidly secured to a substrate 3 and an integral mounting portion 6 in the form of a spigot extending upwardly from the base. Mounting portion 6 has a rectangular cross section adapted to be slideably received within complementary internal region 4 defined within the post.

The remote end of mounting portion 6 includes a generally V-shaped outwardly diverging transverse channel 7 defining a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending resilient jaws 10. The mounting bracket further includes a generally V-shaped wedge member 12 defining outwardly diverging thrust surfaces 13 engageable with respective jaws 10 defining the channel 7.

Referring in particular to figures 1 and 2, locking means in the form of a bolt 15 extends vertically through an oversized hole in wedge member 12 to engage a complementary threaded hole 16 in mounting portion 6 such that tightening of the bolt drives the wedge member progressively downwardly into the channel whereby thrust surfaces 13 resiliently urge jaws 10 outwardly into clamping frictional engagement with the adjacent inner surfaces of post side walls 17. In one preferred embodiment, the locking means comprises corresponding interlocking members such as a ratchet type plug selectively engageable with a complementary socket which may incorporate pawl formations to resist withdrawal of the plug. Alternatively, an expanding plug or rivet can be used. In another preferred form of the invention, the locking means comprises a rotatable shaft including a protruding cam surface to progressively draw the wedge member into the channel. It will be appreciated, however, that any other suitable mechanical or chemical means could also be used.

Base portion 5 of mounting bracket 1 incorporates downwardly projecting anchoring studs 20 which can be used in combination with complementary nuts (not shown) to anchor the mounting bracket to a substrate such as a wooden, concrete or steel floor. Alternatively, the studs can be anchored to a base slab 21 formed from concrete, for example, by means of a suitable adhesive. However, it will be appreciated that a number of stud configurations or alternative mechanical or chemical fastening means can be used to anchor the mounting bracket, depending upon the particular configuration and material composition of the substrate. For example, mechanically interlocking members, expanding plugs or rivets, or cam assemblies can also be used.

Turning now to describe the method of assembly for the balustrading according to the invention, the mounting brackets are first chemically (or otherwise) anchored to the base slab, for example by means of a suitable adhesive such as epoxy resin. The mounting brackets are uniformly spaced apart to define the path which the balustrading will eventually follow.

The posts, preferably formed from extruded aluminium alloy as previously described are then loosely fitted to respective mounting brackets 1 whereby the hollow end portion of each post nestingly receives the upwardly projecting mounting portion of the bracket.

An extended tube spanner (not shown) of suitable length is then inserted downwardly through the interior of each post to engage the respective bolt 15. As the bolt is progressively tightened from above, the wedge member 12 is driven downwardly into the channel whereby thrust surfaces 13 resiliently urge jaws 10 progressively outwardly into selectively releasable clamping frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of post side walls 17 to take up any residual clearance and securely clamp the posts to the mounting brackets. Once all the posts have been secured to the respective brackets, the rails or panel sections are added in the conventional manner to complete the balustrading.

In an alternative embodiment as shown in figure 3, wherein corresponding features are denoted by corresponding reference numerals, a single stud 20 is used both to anchor the bracket to the substrate and to secure the mounting portion of the bracket to the post. The stud is first anchored to the substrate using a chemical adhesive or other suitable means as described above so as to extend upwardly through complementary aligned apertures respectively formed in the bracket and wedge. By tightening a complementary nut engageable with the upper free end of the stud, the bracket is securely clamped to the substrate whilst the wedge is simultaneously driven progressively into the channel thereby to urge the jaws outwardly into clamping frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of the post in the manner previously described. In this way, it will be appreciated that the mounting bracket is clamped to the substrate and the post simultaneously secured to the bracket in a single step operation to facilitate assembly on site.

Figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention wherein the mounting portion of the bracket incorporates a single jaw element. In this form of the invention, a second clamping surface is effectively provided by the outer surface of the wedge member itself which acts in conjunction with the single jaw to secure the bracket to the post.

It will be appreciated that once the balustrading has been assembled, anchoring studs 20, mounting portions 6 and the bolt and wedge assemblies are hidden from view, thereby providing a smooth aesthetically pleasing overall continuity and minimising the susceptibility of the fastening elements to corrosion and accidental mechanical damage. In addition, the invention provides a strong simple, quick and convenient system for securely anchoring the posts which can be readily adapted to suit a wide variety of applications.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. For example, the posts or other elements need not be formed from extruded aluminium but could be rolled, drawn, welded, shaped or formed from any suitable material in any suitable configuration such as round, square, or triangular section. In addition, the channel defined by the jaws need not be V-shaped, but could comprise a conical, cylindrical, hemispherical, or U-shaped recess, for example, in which case the corresponding wedge member could be formed in a complementary configuration. Furthermore, any number of jaw elements could be used. It should also be emphasised that the substrate need not be horizontal but could be vertical, inverted, or inclined at any intermediate angle.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:-

1. A mounting assembly for anchoring a post to a substrate, said mounting assembly including a bracket comprising a base portion adapted to be fixedly secured to the substrate, a mounting portion extending outwardly from the base portion to nestingly engage a complementary recessed cavity formed in the post and including at least one longitudinally extending jaw element, said mounting assembly further including wedge means, and selectively operable locking means to drive said wedge means progressively into engagement with said at least one jaw thereby to releaseably secure the bracket to the post.

2. A mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the mounting portion includes a pair of spaced apart outwardly depending jaws.

3. A mounting assembly according to claim 2 wherein said wedge means includes a complementary wedge member disposed intermediate the jaws such that operation of said locking means drives the wedge member progressively between the jaws thereby urging the jaws outwardly into selectively releasable frictional engagement with the post.

4. A mounting assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said jaws define an outwardly diverging generally V-shaped transverse channel.

5. A mounting assembly according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the wedge member is split.

6. A mounting assembly according to any one of claims

3 to claim 5 wherein said wedge means comprises a number of independent wedge members.

7. A mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the post is formed from a pair of extruded aluminium channel sections.

8. A mounting assembly according to claim 7 wherein the channel sections incorporate complementary longitudinally extending interlocking edge flanges.

9. A mounting assembly according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the channel sections are mutually interengageable to define a hollow interior region corresponding to said recessed cavity.

10. A mounting assembly according to claim 9 wherein the mounting portion of the bracket comprises a spigot having a complementary prismatic configuration to nestingly engage the recessed cavity.

11. A mounting assembly according to claim 10 wherein the channel sections define a hollow interior region generally rectangular in cross section and the spigot has a complementary rectangular prismatic configuration.

12. A mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the selectively operable locking means comprises a bolt extending through the wedge member to engage a complementary threaded hole in the mounting portion whereby selective rotation of the bolt drives the wedge member progressively into engagement with said at least one jaw.

13. A mounting assembly according to claim 12 wherein the locking bolt can be conveniently tightened from above by means of an extended tube spanner passing through the interior of the hollow post.

14. A mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is rigidly secured to the substrate by means of one or more downwardly projecting studs.

15. A mounting assembly according to claim 14 wherein a single locking stud and complementary nut are used to simultaneously anchor the mounting bracket to the substrate and to lock the mounting portion of the bracket to the post.

16. A mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the base portion of the bracket is preferably formed integrally with the mounting portion from an aluminium alloy.

17. A balustrade assembly comprising a plurality of spaced apart generally upright posts supporting an array of railing sections or panels extending between the posts, each post being anchored to a substrate by means of a mounting assembly including a bracket comprising a base portion adapted to be fixedly secured to the substrate, a mounting portion extending outwardly from the base portion to nestingly engage a complementary recessed cavity formed in the post and including at least one longitudinally extending jaw element, said mounting assembly further including wedge means, and selectively operable locking means to drive said wedge means progressively into engagement with said at least one jaw thereby to releasably secure the bracket to the post.

18. A mounting assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A balustrade assembly including a mounting assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.