Railing Section Connectors With Hidden Stable Profile Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mounting systems for railings are complex, time-consuming, and lack stability when connecting railing sections, particularly for longer areas like balconies, where unsightly screw connections or welding are often required.
Innovation Solution
A connection system featuring profile connecting elements with system insertion channels and guide lugs for secure assembly of support profiles, along with connecting means for handrails, allowing for easy and stable connection of railing sections to building structures using plate-like metal or light metal elements with optional slip inhibitors and adjustable orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional screw connections or welding are used to connect railing sections, then the connection stability is improved, but the assembly complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into modular components: support profiles with insertion channels, profile connection elements with guide lugs, and distinct connecting means for handrails. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining connection stability through specialized design of each module.
Solution Approach 2:
Profile connection elements serve as intermediary components between support profiles, and connecting means serve as intermediaries between lower chord sections. These intermediary elements simplify the connection process by providing standardized interfaces (insertion channels, guide lugs, retaining lugs) that eliminate the need for complex screw connections or welding between main structural components.
2Reliability
If conventional screw connections are used to connect railing sections, then the connection stability is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to unsightly connections
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system extracts the connection function from visible surfaces by designing profile connection elements to be inserted into channels and connecting means to be concealed within or alongside the railing structure. The guide lugs and retaining lugs enable stable connections while keeping fastening hardware hidden or integrated into the design, eliminating unsightly exposed screws or welds.
Solution Approach 2:
Profile connection elements are nested within insertion channels of support profiles, and connecting means are nested within or alongside lower chord sections. This nesting arrangement allows connection components to be housed within the structural elements themselves, maintaining clean external surfaces while providing stable concealed connections.
3Strength
If railing sections are assembled using conventional methods, then the connection strength is improved, but the installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Guide lugs are pre-formed on profile connection elements and retaining lugs are pre-formed on connecting means during manufacturing. These preliminary features guide the assembly process and ensure proper positioning before final connection, reducing on-site adjustment time while maintaining connection strength through precise pre-engineered interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide lugs automatically guide profile connection elements into correct positioning within insertion channels during assembly, and retaining lugs automatically retain connecting means in proper positions. This self-aligning and self-retaining mechanism eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures or additional fastening steps, reducing installation time while ensuring strong reliable connections.
Data Source
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AI summary
1. A connection system for connecting railing sections of railings is proposed, wherein the connection system has, on the one hand, at least one profile connection element (20, 20') for connecting support profile sections (10, 10') of the railings and, on the other hand, at least one connecting element (28) for connecting lower chord sections (26, 26') of handrails.