Posts for attaching a panel, as well as French balconies, privacy screens or sunshades with such posts

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of construction, and in particular to panel railings such as glass panels. Specifically, the invention relates to railings for French-style balconies, consisting of a single panel attached to a French window frame, and to sunshades comprising a panel that can be positioned in various orientations, either fixed or adjustable.

[0002] French-style balconies are balconies of reduced surface area, consisting essentially of a French window with the masonry forming the frame of said French window, and a panel forming a railing, attached to the frame of said French window.

[0003] With minimal modifications, they allow users to enjoy the outdoors, notably without requiring extensive construction work since no concrete slab needs to be poured or any floor extension built. Only the attachment of the guardrail panel to the frame is necessary.

[0004] Sunshades are structures placed in front of windows and other openings. They consist of a panel that at least partially blocks the sun's rays, for example by reflecting or absorbing the infrared part of the spectrum.

[0005] They allow for improved temperature management of the building in a passive way, without resorting to air conditioning or with less reliance on said air conditioning. Previous art

[0006] We know in particular of panels fixed directly to the wall, the panel extending laterally from the frame of the door or window in front of which the French-style balcony is located.

[0007] The panels are pre-drilled, for example, and screws hold them against the wall, in which plugs form, for example, an attachment cooperating with the screws.

[0008] Balconies with lateral supports are also known, featuring vertical posts on each side of the panel. In addition to their function of providing a mechanical connection between the wall and the panel, the posts can also serve an aesthetic purpose.

[0009] The uprights allow, in particular, a choice between French-style balconies known as "applied" where the panel is in front of the wall and extends laterally beyond the door or window frame, and balconies known as "recessed" where the panel is contained within the door or window frame.

[0010] In a balcony with a "framed" design, the screws are coplanar with the panel, and therefore require an additional element for fixing to the wall. This additional element, acting as a link between the panel and the wall, is the side post on each side of the panel.

[0011] French-style balconies with uprights are generally assembled in several stages, including first fixing the uprights to the wall, then secondly attaching the panel to the uprights.

[0012] As balconies can be installed at height, one or more floors above the ground, the handling and fixing of the panel must be done with the utmost care to avoid its potentially dangerous fall.

[0013] The uprights generally have a means of fixing to the wall, in the form of holes and screws cooperating with plugs in the wall, and a means of clamping, allowing to ensure the positioning of the panel.

[0014] The wall-mounting mechanism is generally installed before the panel is positioned and secured with clamps. For example, balconies are known to have U-shaped uprights, with the screws attached to the wall at the base of the U. Gaskets are inserted between the arms of the U and the panel, which they clamp. Because the gaskets are compressed upon insertion, they hold the panel in a statically inflexible position.

[0015] The panels are generally heavy and bulky, which complicates their handling.

[0016] Consequently, there is a risk of the panel falling when it is being installed but the clamping mechanism is not yet tightened, or during the final fixing of the panel. If the balcony is located at a height, a falling panel can be very dangerous for people below, in addition to potentially damaging the panel.

[0017] Document CH709045, for example, describes a wide variety of methods for attaching a panel to a post that are suitable for balconies. However, the methods described in this document use screws that must be tightened from outside the balcony.

[0018] Document DE20201710018 describes a French-style balcony in which the panel is fixed by inserting it between two deformable polymer joints that are compressed during insertion. The panel insertion is therefore subject to stress, requiring forceful handling and thus increasing the likelihood of accidental falls.

[0019] The same problems are encountered in the case of sunshades, where the uprights are horizontal, and connect the panel to a hinge or a rotating mobile base.

[0020] Therefore, there is a need for a support structure, for a French-style balcony and / or sunshade, that allows for both safe and easy installation. Such a support structure must also be strong and durable, so as not to compromise user safety. Description of the invention

[0021] To address this need, the invention proposes an upright for attaching a panel, comprising: a base, having two faces, substantially orthogonal to each other, of which: * a face parallel to the plane of the panel, having at its free end a linear compression joint, and * a face orthogonal to the plane of the panel, a flap, hinged with respect to the base at the level of the free end of the face orthogonal to the plane of the panel, having at its free end a complementary linear compression joint, the linear compression joints compressing a panel pinched between the base and the flap in the assembled state, a corner, having an insert, inserted at the level of the hinge between the base and the flap in the assembled state, which, when inserted, locks said hinge in a position pinching the panel.

[0022] The corner locking mechanism of the shutter, which once locked, clamps and holds the panel, allows for faster and simpler installation.

[0023] The joint can be composed of a curved fold at the free end of the pan orthogonal to the plane of the base panel, and a curved fold at the flap, the two curved folds being nested one inside the other during assembly.

[0024] The wedge advantageously comprises a finger with a triangular cross-section, and a compressible insert, with a V-shaped cross-section, surrounding the finger with a triangular cross-section and constrained in compression when inserted at the joint, and ratcheting means, which ratchet with the flap and / or the base when the wedge blocks the joint.

[0025] The compressible insert, with the extreme linear joints, holds the panel in a hyperstatic manner.

[0026] The corner may have a decorative face, covering at least partially the outer walls of the upright when the corner is inserted.

[0027] The post may include a base with a protrusion having an inclined face, oriented towards the outside of the facade and a stop face, oriented towards the inside of the facade, and the shutter then has an edge which comes into contact with the stop face of the protrusion when the panel is pinched between the shutter and the base.

[0028] The base may have legs and the base of the rails into which the legs are engaged in the assembled state; the upright then has holes and screws for fixing the base.

[0029] The base may have a protrusion against which the edge of the panel rests when it is fixed in the upright.

[0030] The said protrusion may in particular include a means for fixing a bottom compression seal, and the bottom then advantageously includes in addition a bottom compression seal inserted in the fixing means.

[0031] This compression joint at the base may include at its end in contact with the base a polymer material sole, inserted in the assembled state into a recess in the base, and against which the panel rests when installed.

[0032] The base may have fixing holes on at least one of the sides, and in particular on both sides.

[0033] The base and the flap are advantageously made by metal extrusion.

[0034] The invention also relates to the balcony, in particular of the French type, and to the sunshade which comprise at least one upright as mentioned and a panel pinched by the upright between the shutter and the base. Brief description of the figures

[0035] Other features and advantages of the fastening according to the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of the figures below, figures which include: there figure 1is a perspective view of a French-style balcony equipped with a railing according to the invention, the figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a balcony upright of the figure 1 , there figure 3 is a perspective view of a cap on the upright of the figure 2 there figure 4 is a perspective view of a fund for the amount of the figure 2 , there figure 5 is a top view of the amount of the figure 2 currently being assembled, the figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a French-style balcony mounted on the wall, the figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a French-style balcony mounted as a painting, the figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a sunshade, the figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the upright, the Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of an additional underlying implementation method for the amount, the figure 11 is a top-section view of an upright incorporating a base of the Figure 10 .

[0036] The embodiments shown are given as illustrative and non-limiting examples. Other embodiments can be directly derived from these through minor modifications and combinations of different embodiments. Detailed description of the figures

[0037] There figure 1 is a perspective view of a balcony 100, specifically of the type known as "French style". The balcony 100 includes, in particular, a panel 1, and two vertical posts 3 located on either side of panel 1.

[0038] The uprights 3 are engaged with panel 1, which they hold in place.

[0039] Panel 1, for example, is a tempered glass panel, notably made in the form of a stack of tempered glass panes, with intervening layers of plastic material.

[0040] Alternatively, panel 1 can be made of laminated glass, a single pane of tempered glass, cut stone, or metal. Panel 1 may also include screen-printed layers, printed and / or forming a filter for incident light.

[0041] For orientation, the edge of panel 1 gives a direction considered longitudinal, the uprights 3 and the end of panel 1 give a direction considered vertical (although the final orientation of panel 1 may vary, especially if the facade is inclined), and the third direction, considered transverse, corresponds to the thickness of panel 1.

[0042] By "plan of panel 1" we mean here, unless otherwise indicated, the plan of the face or flat of panel 1.

[0043] According to the transverse direction, the direction oriented towards the inside of the building on which the balcony 100 is affixed is considered "inside" or "towards the inside", and the opposite direction, oriented towards the outside of the building, is considered "outside" or "towards the outside".

[0044] There figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along a horizontal plane of a 3-piece upright.

[0045] The upright 3 comprises a base 5 and a flap 7, hinged to the base 5. The base 5 and the flap 7 are made primarily of profiles, particularly extruded ones. The profile shown in cross-section in figure 2 is therefore essentially identical over the entire height of the upright 3.

[0046] Base 5 has two sides, one 5a parallel to panel 1 and to the facade, the other 5b perpendicular to the first and therefore to panel 1 and to the facade.

[0047] The base 5 and the flap 7 are articulated together by a joint, consisting of a curved fold 51 at the free end of the panel 5b perpendicular to the plane of the panel 1 and a curved fold 71 at the flap 7, the two curved folds 51, 71 being nested one inside the other.

[0048] Such joints are called "Yoder" type joints and are used in the automotive field.

[0049] The curved folds 51, 71 are formed in particular so that the flap 7 can open outwards, notably with an opening angle greater than 15° and further with a maximum angle greater than 80°. The curved folds 51, 71 are also shaped so that the flap 7 can be pushed inwards, notably with a smaller angle of rotation, on the order of 5 to 10°. The curved folds 51, 71 terminate in bulges, entering into mutual contact or into contact with a wall of the other curved fold 51, 71 when a maximum deflection is reached.

[0050] A corner 9 is inserted, in the assembled state of the upright 3, between the flap 7 and the base 5, so as to block the articulation 51, 71 between the flap 7 and the base 5. In particular, the corner 9, when inserted, prevents the opening of the flap 7 beyond the inclination in which it presents an outer surface substantially parallel to the plane of the flat of the panel 1.

[0051] More generally, the flap 7 can open outwards sufficiently to allow the insertion of panel 1 from the front, and inwards sufficiently to allow the insertion and snapping of corner 9.

[0052] Corner 9 in particular has a finger 91 with a triangular cross-section, here in particular in the shape of an arrow pointing inwards, and a compressible insert 11, with a V-shaped cross-section, into which the finger 91 of corner 9 is inserted.

[0053] Other finger tip shapes of 91, for example semi-circle or ellipse, trapezoidal, etc., are of course considered.

[0054] The compressible insert 11 is compressed between the flap 7 and the base 5 when the flap 7 is substantially parallel to the plane of the flat of the panel 1, and then tends to tilt, by its elastic reaction, the flap 7 inwards.

[0055] In the absence of the finger 91 of the corner 9, the compressible insert 11 can in particular be closed and compressed more easily by the flap 7 which opens outwards.

[0056] The compressible insert 11 advantageously has two notches 111 on the inner surfaces of the V-section. These notches 111 engage with edges of the finger 91 of the corner 9, and the flap 7 has a notch, into which the tip of the V-section is inserted in the assembled state.

[0057] Corner 9 features locking mechanisms, here in the form of a shoulder 93

[0058] The end of the flap 7 opposite the articulation 51, 71 and the free end of the panel parallel to the front of the base 5 each have a linear compression joint 13. These linear compression joints 13 are for example strips of polymer material, and compress, in the assembled state, the panel 1.

[0059] The flap 7 and the base 5 in particular have a T-section recess, into which is inserted a rail with a corresponding T-section of the linear compression joints 13.

[0060] The linear compression joints 13 can alternatively be glued, screwed, or riveted to the base 5 and the flap 7. These linear compression joints 13 are compressed when the panel 1 is pinched between the flap 7 and the base 5, and the corner 9 is inserted. Their elastic reaction tends to open the flap 7 outwards, thus counteracting the action of the compressible insert 11.

[0061] Corner 9, and in particular the compressible insert 11, in combination with the linear compression joints 13, maintains panel 1 in a statically indeterminate manner. Specifically, the opposing actions of these elements allow for the absorption of transverse vibrations and the expansion of panel 1.

[0062] There figure 3shows a cover 17, which is shaped to close, when installed, the upper end of the upright 3.

[0063] The cover 17 includes in particular two tabs 19 on two perpendicular sides, and at least one of the tabs 19 has holes 191, cooperating, in the installed state, with the screws 15 to fix the cover 17 to the upright 3.

[0064] There figure 4 shows a bottom 21, which is shaped to close, when installed, the lower end of the upright 3.

[0065] The base 21 also has two legs 20, at least one of which has holes 191 cooperating with the screws 15 in the assembled state.

[0066] The base 21 has a triangular protrusion 23, with an inclined face oriented outwards and a stop face, substantially vertical, oriented towards the inside of the facade. The stop face holds the shutter 7 in the closed position when assembled.

[0067] There figure 5 shows a top view in cross-section of a bottom 21 engaged with the flap 7 and the base 5.

[0068] The flap 7 has an edge 25 which engages with the stop face of the protrusion 23 when the panel is pinched between the flap 7 and the base 5.

[0069] In the embodiment shown, edge 25 is supported by an outgrowth of the flap 7, which is longitudinal.

[0070] The base 5 includes rails 27 into which the tabs 19, 20 of the lid 17 and the base 21 are inserted. The face perpendicular to the flat of the panel 1 of the base 7 has holes into which screws 15 are inserted.

[0071] The screws 15, inserted into the holes 191 in the legs 19, 20 and the base 5, fix the cover 17 and the bottom 21.

[0072] Additional holes are provided specifically for fixing the uprights to the wall using screws and plugs, for example.

[0073] In figure 5 Corner 9 is being inserted between base 5 and flap 7. Corner 9 is shown recessed from its position in the assembled state. Corner 9 has a decorative facade 95, which extends from the base of corner 9, opposite finger 91.

[0074] The decorative front panel 95 covers, when the corner 9 is inserted, the visible surface of the base 5 and the shutter 7, and thus covers the visible surface of the upright 3. The decorative front panel 95 may be of another material, another finish or covered with a decorative layer.

[0075] In the embodiment shown, the decorative facade 95 covers the front, external surface parallel to the plane of panel 1. In alternative embodiments, the decorative facade 95 may also cover the external side face of the upright 3.

[0076] Specifically, the fact that corner 9 features a decorative facade 95 implies that the other elements, namely base 5 and shutter 7, can be identical and made from materials selected for their strength and durability. In particular, bases 5 and shutter 7 can be made from extruded aluminum or stainless steel.

[0077] Only corner 9 or at least the decorative facade 95 should then be made with a decorative material or finish.

[0078] THE figures 6 and 7 illustrate the two ways of mounting the balcony 100 to a wall 200. The wall 200 is here pierced for a window 201, the frame of which is partially closed once the balcony 100 is in place.

[0079] In figure 6 balcony 100 is installed in a frame: the uprights 3 are installed in the frame of window 201, on the transverse walls of the frame.

[0080] The uprights 3 are then fixed by means of fixing 29, for example screws and plugs, which are oriented parallel to the facade.

[0081] The frame mounting prevents the balcony 100 from protruding beyond the wall 200.

[0082] In figure 7 , balcony 100 is mounted on the wall: the uprights 3 are installed on the outside wall of wall 200, on either side of the window frame 201.

[0083] The uprights 3 are then fixed by fixing means 29 which are oriented orthogonally to the facade.

[0084] The surface mounting maximizes the balcony area by 100 but implies that the 3 uprights and the 1 panel are suspended beyond the frame and the wall by 200.

[0085] The base 5 of the uprights 3 includes, for example, fixing holes, not shown, which cooperate with the fixing means 29.

[0086] For a frame mounting, the fixing holes are, for example, located on panel 5b perpendicular to the front of base 5. For a surface mounting, the fixing holes are advantageously made in panel 5a parallel to the front.

[0087] For logistical savings, it is possible to carry out the fixing holes on both sides 5a, 5b of the base 5. The same base 5 can then be used for both table mounting and surface mounting.

[0088] Assembling the balcony 100 according to the invention is therefore simple and quick.

[0089] The first step is to fix the bases 5 to the wall 200, for example using plugs and screws.

[0090] The bottom 21 is then put in place and fixed to the corresponding base 5, using the screws 15.

[0091] The flap 7 is then inserted from the top, its curved fold 71 interlocking with the curved fold 51 of the base 5. The "Yoder" type hinge facilitates this insertion. The base 21 then acts as a stop against the insertion of the flap 7.

[0092] Shutter 7 is then placed in the open position, facing outwards. Panel 1 can then be put in place and shutter 7 returned to the closed position.

[0093] When the flap 7 closes, its edge 25 engages with the protrusion 23. In the closing direction, the inclined face of the protrusion 23 lifts the flap 7, which can then translate upwards. When the flap 7 reaches the closed position, the edge 25 reaches the tip of the protrusion 23, and the flap 7 translates downwards under the effect of gravity. The edge 25 then engages with the substantially vertical stop face, and the return of the flap 7 to the open position is prevented in the absence of upward movement.

[0094] Panel 1 is then temporarily maintained.

[0095] The corner 9 is then inserted, along with the compressible insert 11, until the shoulder 93 of the corner 9 is clicked into place with the flap 7 or the base 5. Inserting the corner 9 locks the flap 7 in the closed position.

[0096] The cover 17 is then put in place at the upper end, and fixed by means of a screw 15 and rails 27, like the bottom 21.

[0097] The temporary securing of panel 1 in the uprights 3 by the edge 25 and the protrusion 23 contributes to safety during installation. This temporary support allows, for example, panel 1 to be released to retrieve the corners 9 and compressible inserts 11.

[0098] There figure 8 is a schematic perspective representation of a 300 sunshade using 3 uprights as previously described.

[0099] These 3 uprights clamp a panel 1, for example of active glass or glass that filters part of the spectrum of light that passes through it.

[0100] The uprights 3 are horizontal here, and fix panel 1 to a rotation mechanism with a vertical axis of rotation A. Panel 1 can rotate around said axis of rotation A so that it can be oriented parallel to the incident solar rays when they do not need to be stopped or filtered by panel 1, or orthogonally to the solar rays when a significant portion of the solar radiation needs to be stopped or filtered.

[0101] The shape of the elements composing the uprights 3 are unchanged, only the orientation changes in relation to gravity (horizontal arrangement instead of vertical) and in relation to the facade 200 (rotation around the axis of rotation A).

[0102] There figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of upright 3. In figure 9 , flap 7 is shown in the open position, with a rotation angle of approximately 90° and therefore a transverse orientation.

[0103] In this embodiment, the edge 25 is supported by a recess in the front longitudinal wall of the flap 7, and the protrusion 23 is arranged accordingly close to the outer or front longitudinal edge of the bottom 21.

[0104] The recess bearing edge 25 is, in its installed state, covered by the decorative facade 95 of corner 9 (not shown in figure 9 ).

[0105] One of the legs 19 of the bottom 21 (and possibly of the lid 17) has an outgrowth 193 forming a longitudinal stop for the panel 1. The outgrowth 193 is notably transverse and flat in the assembled state.

[0106] The base 21 and the cover 17. The panel 1 then comes, in case of longitudinal translation, to rest against the protrusion 193 parallel to the end of the panel 1. The panel 1 is then in support against the protrusion with an extended bearing surface, which reduces the risks of fracture or breakage of the panel 1.

[0107] Indeed, a longitudinal gap in panel 1 within the studs 3 is required to allow for expansion in that direction. This also results in a gap that reduces the sizing constraints on panel 1 and during the installation of the studs 3 on wall 200.

[0108] There Figure 10 illustrates an additional embodiment of base 21 for balcony upright 3 100.

[0109] Fund 21 of the Figure 10 , includes on the protrusion 193 of one of its legs 19, forming a stop for the edge of the panel 1, a rail 211 by means of which a bottom compression joint 131 is fixed.

[0110] The bottom compression seal 131 is similar to the compression seals at the free ends of the base 5 and the flap 7. It is made of polymer material and is compressible.

[0111] The bottom compression joint 131 has at its end, bearing against the bottom 21, a flange 133, formed from the same material as the bottom compression joint 131, and substantially flat. When the bottom compression joint 131 is inserted into the rail 211, the flange 133 is contained within a correspondingly shaped recess 233 in the horizontal wall of the bottom 21.

[0112] There figure 11 shows the bottom 21 of the Figure 10 installed in a post 3 and with a panel 1 partially represented engaged with said post 3.

[0113] In figure 11 We can see that panel 1 is supported against the two compression joints 13 of the base 5 and the flap 7, against the bottom compression joint 131 at the level of its edge, and against the sole 133 at the level of its lower face.

[0114] Panel 1 is therefore only in contact with polymer elements linked to compression joints 13, 131, and therefore has no contact with the metallic material of the upright 3. The probability of breakage of panel 1 is then reduced, in particular by fatigue due to an accumulation of microfractures due to vibrations transmitted by the metal of the upright 3 to panel 1.

[0115] Since panels 1 are generally heavy (tens or even hundreds of kilograms), handling them is difficult and potentially hazardous. Securing them by inserting the corner 9 reduces the number of steps required to fix panel 1. Temporary support using the protrusion 23 further minimizes handling of the panels 1, which only need to be installed once.

[0116] The assembly of the balcony 100 or sunshade 300 with the uprights 3 according to the invention also involves less screwing, and no drilling is carried out in the panel 1.

Claims

1. A post for securing a panel (1), comprising: - - a base (5), having two faces (5a, 5b) which are substantially orthogonal with respect to each other, including: * one face (5a) that is parallel to the plane of the panel (1), having a linear compression seal (13) at its free end, and * one face (5b) orthogonal to the plane of the panel (1), - a flap (7), hingedly connected with respect to the base (5) at the free end of the face (5b) orthogonal to the plane of the panel (1), carrying at its end opposite the hinge (51, 71) a complementary linear compression seal (13), the linear compression seals (13) compressing the panel (1) clamped between the base (5) and the flap (7) in the assembled state, - a wedge (9), having an insert (11), inserted at the hinge (51, 71) between the base (5) and the flap (7) in the assembled state, which, when inserted, blocks said hinge (51, 71) in a position clamping the panel (1), characterised in that the wedge (9) comprises snap-fastening means (93), snap-fastened with the flap (7) and / or the base (5) when the wedge (9) blocks the hinge (51, 71).

2. The post according to claim 1, characterised in that the hinge (51, 71) is composed of a curved return (51) at the free end of the face orthogonal to the plane of the panel of the base (5), and a curved return (71) at the flap (7), the two curved returns (51, 71) being interlinked during assembly.

3. The upright according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the wedge (9) comprises a finger (91), and a compressible insert (11), surrounding the finger (91) of triangular section and stressed in compression when inserted at the hinge (51, 71).

4. The post according to claim 3, characterised in that the finger (91) comprises a triangular section, and the compressible insert (11) comprises a V-shaped section.

5. The post according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wedge (9) comprises a decorative façade, at least partially covering the external walls of the post (3) when the wedge (9) is inserted.

6. The post according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a bottom (21) having a protuberance (23) with a stop surface which is orientated towards the interior of the façade on which the post is mounted, and in that the flap (7) comprises an ridge (25) which comes into engagement with the stop surface of the protuberance (23) when the panel (1) is clamped between the flap (5) and the base (7).

7. The post according to claim 6, characterised in that the bottom (21) has tabs (20) and the base (5) has rails (27) in which the tabs (20) are engaged in the assembled state, and in that it comprises apertures and screws (15) for securing the bottom (21).

8. The post according to claim 7, characterised in that the bottom (21) has a protrusion (193) against which the sidewall of the panel (1) comes to bear when it is secured in the post (3).

9. The post according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the protrusion (193) comprises a means for securing a bottom compression seal (131), and in that it further comprises a bottom compression seal (131) inserted into the securing means.

10. The post according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the bottom compression seal (131) further comprises a sole plate produced from a polymeric material at its end in contact with the bottom (21), inserted into a recess (133) in the bottom (21) in the assembled state, and against which the panel (1) comes to bear when installed.

11. The post according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base (5) comprises securing apertures on at least one of the faces.

12. The post according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base (5) comprises securing apertures on both faces.

13. The post according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base (5) and the flap (7) are produced by extruding metal.

14. A balcony, in particular of the French type, characterised in that it comprises at least one post (3) according to any one of the preceding claims and a panel (1) clamped by the post (3) between the flap (7) and the base (5).

15. A sunshade, characterised in that it comprises at least one post (3) according to any one of the preceding claims and a panel (1) clamped by the post (3) between the flap (7) and the base (5).