Balcony Railing Structure With Rear-Edge Support Post
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balcony railing structures are inadequate in resisting horizontal loads, particularly when subjected to strong winds or collisions, and they compromise the usable space and aesthetics due to the need for dense post structures or short span lengths, which increase costs and installation complexity.
Innovation Solution
A balcony railing structure featuring a support post that penetrates through the lower profile via an indentation, with a fastening arrangement to the balcony slab and height position adjustment mechanisms between the profiles, allowing for enhanced resistance to horizontal loads without overcrowding the balcony space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the number of vertical posts is increased to improve resistance against horizontal loads, then structural strength is improved, but the useful area of the balcony is reduced and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional planar railing structure to a three-dimensional structure by positioning the support post at the rear edge of the balcony slab. This vertical positioning in the third dimension allows the support post to provide structural reinforcement without occupying horizontal space on the balcony surface, thereby maintaining the useful area while improving resistance against horizontal loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a bearing post that is fastened to the support post, creating a replicated structural element that provides the necessary load-bearing function. The bearing post acts as a copy of the support post's load-bearing capability, allowing the system to resist horizontal loads effectively without requiring multiple dense posts across the balcony area.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the span length between posts is decreased to improve structural stability, then resistance against horizontal loads is improved, but the device complexity and installation work increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the load-bearing function from the traditional multiple-post system and concentrates it in a single support post positioned at the rear edge of the balcony slab. This extraction allows the majority of the balcony span to remain open without intermediate posts, reducing the number of components and simplifying installation while maintaining structural stability through the optimized positioning of the support post.
3Strength
If a support post is placed inside the railing line to improve load resistance, then structural strength is improved, but the railing structure becomes architectonically problematic and disturbs those on the balcony
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the support post inside the railing line as in conventional solutions, the invention inverts the positioning by placing the support post at the rear edge of the balcony slab, outside the traditional railing line. This inverted positioning allows the support post to provide structural reinforcement while remaining invisible from the balcony area, thus maintaining architectural aesthetics and not disturbing users of the balcony.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a balcony railing structure comprising a horizontal lower profile (21), a horizontal upper profile (31) and, further, a vertical post structure to connect the lower profile and the upper profile. The post structure comprises a support post (43) penetrating through the lower profile via an indentation penetrating through the uniform lower profile. The railing structure comprises a fastening arrangement (431, 432) for fastening a lower end of the support post to a balcony slab (10), and the railing structure comprises a height position adjustment arrangement (60, 602) between the lower profile (21) and the support post (43) and a height position adjustment arrangement (431, 432) between the upper profile (31) and the support post (43).