Glazing panel support and handling apparatus and systems

Abstract

Apparatus 100, suitable for supporting a glazing panel such as a vehicle windscreen, having a support frame 102 with two elongate arms 108 that can support a glazing panel. A sliding member 110 is mou

Description

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy. (12) UK Patent Application (19)GB (11) 2702270 (13) A (43) Date of A Publication 10.06.2026 (21) Application No: 2416631.6 (22) Date of Filing: 12.11.2024 (71) Applicant(s): Belron International Limited Milton Park, Stroude Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9EL, GB (72) Inventor(s): Luke Berry Sarwar Quayum (74) Agent and / or Address for Service: Murgitroyd & Company 165-169 Scotland Street, Glasgow, G5 8PL, GB (51) INT CL: B60J 1 / 00 (2006.01) B60S 5 / 00 (2006.01) B62D 65 / 06 (2006.01) F16M 11 / 04 (2006.01) F16M 11 / 18 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited: US 20110309042 A1 US 6561470 B1 (58) Field of Search: INT CL: B60J, B60S, B62D, F16M Other: SEARCH-PATENT (54) Title of the Invention: Glazing panel support and handling apparatus and systems Abstract Title: Glazing panel support and handling apparatus (57) Apparatus 100, suitable for supporting a glazing panel such as a vehicle windscreen, having a support frame 102 with two elongate arms 108 that can support a glazing panel. A sliding member 110 is mounted on each arm 108 and is slidable along at least part of the respective arm 108 parallel to a longitudinal axis of the arm 108; and has a channel (112, Figure 1B) into which an edge of a glazing panel can be lowered.Also disclosed is a glazing panel handling apparatus (400, Figure 9), comprising two suction mounts (406, 408, Figure 9) for securing to a glazing panel, each mount (406, 408, Figure 9) having a connector (407, 409, Figure 9) for connecting to a handle or support rod (500, 600, Figure 9), and being coupled to each other by at least one elongate support member (401, 402, 403, 404, Figure 9). (Figure 1A) 32 Abstract This application discloses an apparatus (100) suitable for supporting a glass panel, such as a vehicle windshield, comprising a support frame (102) having two elongated arms (108) for supporting the glass panel. Each arm (108) is equipped with a sliding member (110) capable of sliding along at least a portion of the respective arm (108) parallel to its longitudinal axis; the sliding member (110) has a channel (112, see FIG. 1B) into which the edge of the glass plate can descend. A glass plate handling device (400, see FIG. 9) is also disclosed, comprising two adsorption mounts (406, 408, see FIG. 9) for attachment to the glass plate. Each adsorption mount (406, 408, see FIG. 9) has a connector (407, 409, see FIG. 9) for connecting a handle or support rod (500, 600, see FIG. 9), the two adsorption mounts being connected to each other by at least one elongated support member (401, 402, 403, 404, see FIG. 9).

Claims

1. A glazing panel support apparatus, comprising:a support frame, the support frame comprising two elongate support arms arranged to support a glazing panel in a laid down orientation; and two sliding members, wherein:each sliding member is slidably mounted on a respective one of the elongate support arms, such that each sliding member is displaceable along at least a portion of elongate support arm parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support arm; andeach sliding member comprises a channel dimensioned to receive a respective portion of an edge of a glazing panel, such that the edge of the glazing panel can be lowered into engagement with both channels and the sliding members.

2. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sliding member is displaceable between a first position, in which the glazing panel can be lowered into engagement with the elongate support arms in an upward facing orientation, and a second position, in which the glazing panel can be lowered into engagement with the elongate support arms in a downward facing orientation.

3. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:each elongate support arm comprises a first end portion and an opposing second end portion;each first end portion comprises a first support surface configured to support a portion of a glazing panel in a laid down orientation; andeach second end portion comprises a second support surface configured to support a portion of a glazing panel in a laid down orientation.

4. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the support frame further comprises two upright support members that are spaced apart from each other in a first direction, wherein each elongate support arm is connected to a respective one of the upright support members and a longitudinal axisof each elongate support arm is substantially perpendicular to both a longitudinal axis of each upright support member and the first direction.

5. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 4, wherein the support frame further comprises a base member, and an end of each upright support member is connected to the base member.

6. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the support frame further comprises two support legs, each support leg connected to a respective one of the elongate support arms at a location spaced from the upright support member along the longitudinal axis of the elongate support arm.

7. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein each elongate support arm is rotatably connected to the upright support member.

8. A glazing panel support apparatus, comprising:a support frame; andtwo pivoting support arms, each pivoting support arm comprising a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, wherein each first end portion comprises a connector for connecting to a glazing panel handling apparatus, and wherein each second end portion is pivotably connected to the support frame such that each pivoting support arm is reconfigurable between:a first configuration in which the pivoting support arm supports a glazing panel secured to the glazing panel handling apparatus in a laid down orientation; anda second configuration in which the pivoting support arm is pivoted upwardly relative to the support frame to support a glazing panel secured to the glazing panel handling apparatus in a raised orientation.

9. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 8, wherein the support frame is configured to stand on a surface and in the first configuration a longitudinal axis of the pivoting support arm is substantially perpendicular to the surface, and in the second configuration the longitudinal axis of the pivoting support arm extends at afirst angle relative to the surface, wherein the first angle is greater than 45° and less than or equal to 90°.

10. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein: the first end portion of each pivoting support arm comprises a first support surface configured to support a portion of a glazing panel in a laid down orientation; andthe second end portion of each pivoting support arm comprises a second support surface configured to support a portion of a glazing panel in a laid down orientation.

11. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first support surface is provided on the connector.

12. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein each connector is a clip member or a clamp.

13. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein each pivoting support arm is removably connected to the support frame, to thereby secure the pivoting support arm in the first configuration; and / orwherein a length of each pivoting support arm is adjustable.

14. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein each pivoting support arm is removably seated in a respective receiving portion of the support frame, to thereby seat the pivoting support arm in the first configuration.

15. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 14, further comprising: a respective locking mechanism connected to each pivoting support arm, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock the pivoting support arm in the second configuration.

16. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking pin received in a channel of a lock plate.

17. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 15 or claim 116, wherein the locking mechanism forms part of a pivoting mechanism that pivotably connects the pivoting support arm to the support frame.

18. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 17, further comprising: two sliding members, wherein each sliding member is slidably mounted on a respective one of the pivoting support arms, such that each sliding member is displaceable along at least a portion of pivoting support arm parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pivoting support arm; andeach sliding member comprises a channel dimensioned to receive a respective portion of an edge of a glazing panel, such that the edge of the glazing panel can be lowered into engagement with both channels.

19. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 18, wherein the support frame further comprises two upright support members that are spaced apart from each other in a first direction; andwherein each pivoting support arm is pivotably connected to a respective one of the upright support members at a first location proximate a first end of the upright support member, such that the pivoting support arm is pivotable about an axis parallel to the first direction.

20. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 19, wherein each pivoting support arm is rotatably connected to the respective upright support member, such that the pivoting support arm is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the upright support member.

21. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the support frame further comprises two elongate support arms, wherein each elongate support arm is connected to a respective one of the upright support members.

22. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 21, wherein each elongate support arm is connected to the respective upright support member at a second location positioned longitudinally between the first location and a second end of the upright member.

23. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 22, wherein each elongate support arm is rotatably connected to the respective upright support.

24. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the support frame further comprises a base member, and the second end of each upright support member is connected to the base member.

25. The glazing panel support apparatus of any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the support frame further comprises two support legs, each support leg connected to a respective one of the elongate support arms at a location spaced from the upright support member along the longitudinal axis of the elongate support arm.

26. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 6 or claim 25, wherein a longitudinal axis of each support leg extends at a first angle relative to a vertical plane, wherein the first angle is greater than 0° and less than 60°.

27. A glazing panel support apparatus, comprising:a support frame comprising:first and second elongate support arms;first and second upright support members; andfirst and second support legs;wherein:the first elongate support arm is connected to both the first upright support arm and the first support leg at respective locations spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the first elongate support arm;the second elongate support arm is connected to both the second upright support arm and the second support leg at respective locations spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the second elongate support arm;a longitudinal axis of each support leg extends at a first angle relative to a vertical plane, wherein the first angle is greater than 0° and less than 60°.

28. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 27, wherein the support frame further comprises a base member, and an end of each upright support member is connected to the base member.

29. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 28, further comprising at least one brace provided between the base member and each upright support member.

30. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 6 or any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein a length of each upright support member is adjustable and a length of each support leg is adjustable.

31. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 30, wherein each support leg is telescopic and a respective release mechanism is provided for each support leg, wherein each release mechanism is actuatable between a locked configuration in which the length of the support leg is fixed, and an unlocked configuration in which the length of the support leg is adjustable.

32. The glazing panel support apparatus of claim 6 or any one of claims 25 to 31, wherein an access space is provided between the upright support members, said access space extending through to between the support legs, such that a user can pass bodily through the access space.

33. The glazing panel support apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the support frame is configured such that a user can move bodily through the support frame.

34. A glazing panel handling apparatus, comprising:a first suction mount for securing to a glazing panel, the first suction mount comprising a first connector configured for connecting to a handle apparatus or a support rod;a second suction mount for securing to a glazing panel, the first suction mount comprising at second connector configured for connecting to a handle apparatus or a support rod; andat least one elongate support member coupling the first suction mount to the second suction mount, such that the first and second suction mounts are spaced apart.

35. The glazing panel handling apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first and second suction mounts are coupled together by a support frame, the support frame comprising a plurality of elongate support members.

36. The glazing panel handling apparatus of claim 35, wherein a length of at least one of the plurality of elongate support members is adjustable, such that at least one dimension of the elongate support frame is adjustable.

37. The glazing panel handling apparatus of claim 35 or claim 36, wherein the plurality of elongate support members comprises:a first elongate support member;a second elongate support member;a third elongate support member; anda fourth elongate support member;wherein the third and fourth elongate support members are each connected between the first and second elongate support members.

38. The glazing panel handling apparatus of claim 37, wherein:each suction mount comprises a channel extending through a body of the suction mount;the first elongate support member is inserted through the channel of the first suction mount, such that the first suction mount is slidably and rotatably mounted on the first elongate support member; andthe second elongate support member is inserted through the channel of the second suction mount, such that the second suction mount is slidably and rotatably mounted on the second elongate support member.

39. The glazing panel handling apparatus of claim 37 or claim 38, wherein the support frame further comprises a central bar moveably connected between the third and fourth elongate support members, such that the central bar can be displaced along the third and fourth elongate support members.

40. The glazing panel handling apparatus of claim 39, wherein the central bar comprises one or more attachment points for coupling to a lifting crane.

41. The glazing panel handling apparatus of any of claims 35 to 40, wherein the glazing panel handling apparatus is configured for use with a vehicle windscreen and wherein the support frame is curved to at least partially follow the contour of a curved windscreen.

42. A glazing panel handling system, comprising:the glazing panel handling apparatus of any one of claims 34 to 41; anda handle apparatus configured to be connected to the first connector or the second connector, wherein the handle apparatus comprises two handle portions, each handle portion being arranged to be gripped by a user.

43. The glazing panel handling system of claim 42, further comprising:a second handle apparatus configured to be connected to the first connector or the second connector, wherein the second handle apparatus comprises two handle portions, each handle portion being arranged to be gripped by a user.

44. A system, comprising:a glazing panel support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 33; anda glazing panel handling system of claim 42 or claim 43.s

Images