Support for rigid panel

{
  "publication_number": "US9752327B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Support for rigid panel",
  "abstract": "A support for a rigid panel (16) comprising an elongate channel (12) for attaching to a surface, at least one cradle (14) for receiving an edge of the panel, each cradle being receivable in the elongate channel and angularly adjustable about a longitudinal axis relative thereto, and locking means (18, 20) for securing the or each cradle to the elongate channel in an adjusted position.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A support for a rigid panel, comprising: an elongate channel for attaching to a surface, the elongate channel having an upper portion including first and second concave surfaces forming an interrupted cup, and a lower portion extending from the first and second concave surfaces; at least one cradle for receiving an edge of the panel, the at least one cradle having an upper portion including first and second convex portions receivable in the first and second concave surfaces of the elongate channel and angularly adjustable about a longitudinal axis relative thereto, and a lower portion extending away from the upper portion of the at least one cradle and forming an adjustable arm receivable in the lower portion of the elongate channel, the lower portion of the elongate channel having an internal width greater than an external width of the adjustable arm, providing a gap between the adjustable arm of the at least one cradle and the lower portion of the elongate channel, to provide freedom for angular adjustability; and a locking means connected to the adjustable arm and configured for securing the at least one cradle to the elongate channel in an adjusted position, the locking means operable from only one of a pair of sides of the elongate channel.",
    "2. The support of claim 1, wherein the locking means is disposed below a portion of the elongate channel configured to receive the edge of the panel.",
    "3. The support of claim 2, wherein pre-drilled holes are formed in the one of the pair of sides of the elongate channel.",
    "4. The support of claim 3, wherein an internal open cross-section of the elongate channel includes the lower portion having a substantially rectangular shape, wherein the internal open cross-section of the elongate channel is symmetrical about a longitudinal central vertical plane extending through the elongate channel.",
    "5. The support of claim 4, wherein an external cross-section of the at least one cradle includes the lower portion having a substantially rectangular portion shape defining the adjustable arm.",
    "6. The support of claim 5, wherein the interrupted cup enables lateral rocking adjustment of the at least one cradle within the elongate channel.",
    "7. The support of claim 6, wherein the at least one cradle has a channel opening formed in an upper face thereof, the channel opening extending along an entirety of a length of the at least one cradle, the channel opening configured for receiving the panel, a width of the channel opening corresponding to a width of the panel.",
    "8. The support of claim 5, wherein the at least one cradle has a first threaded aperture extending into the substantially rectangular lower portion thereof from a first side of the substantially rectangular lower portion thereof.",
    "9. The support of claim 8, wherein the at least one cradle has a second threaded aperture extending from an internal end of the first threaded aperture to a second side of the substantially rectangular lower portion of the at least one cradle, a diameter of the second threaded aperture is less than a diameter of the first threaded aperture.",
    "10. The support of claim 9, wherein a first bolt is inserted into the first threaded aperture and a second bolt is inserted into the second threaded aperture.",
    "11. The support of claim 10, wherein the locking means includes the first bolt cooperating with the first threaded aperture to exert a force upon a first internal surface of the substantially rectangular lower portion of the elongate channel and the second bolt cooperating with the second threaded aperture to exert a force upon a second internal surface of the substantially rectangular lower portion of the elongate channel.",
    "12. The support of claim 11, wherein the first internal surface of the substantially rectangular lower portion of the elongate channel includes a first concave indentation formed thereon, the first concave indentation formed at an end of one of the pre-drilled holes, the first concave indentation is configured for acceptance and alignment of an extruded end of the first bolt.",
    "13. The support of claim 12, wherein the second internal surface of the substantially rectangular lower portion of the elongate channel includes a second concave indentation formed thereon, the second concave indentation opposing the first concave indentation and configured for acceptance and alignment of an extruded end of the second bolt.",
    "14. The support of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first bolt and the second bolt selectively rotates to one of increase and decrease the force applied to the respective internal surface of the substantially rectangular lower portion of the elongate channel to vertically adjust the panel.",
    "15. The support of claim 14, wherein a head of the second bolt inserted in the second threaded aperture is disposed at an end of the second bolt facing an interior of the at least one cradle.",
    "16. The support of claim 15, wherein the first bolt inserted in the first threaded aperture is hollow to allow access to the head of the second bolt from the first side of the at least one cradle.",
    "17. The support of claim 16, wherein a head of the first bolt inserted through the first threaded aperture is disposed at an end of the first bolt facing an exterior of the at least one cradle.",
    "18. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable arm of the at least one cradle extends away from an upper face of the at least one cradle, and the at least one cradle includes a channel which extends into the adjustable arm forming the lower portion of said at least one cradle.",
    "19. A support as claimed in claim 1, wherein a curvature of the first and second convex portions of the at least one cradle is greater than a curvature of the first and second concave surfaces of the elongate channel, for enabling movement of the adjustable arm in the gap.",
    "20. A support for a rigid panel, comprising: an elongate channel for attaching to a surface, an internal open cross-section of the elongate channel includes a substantially rectangular lower portion and an upper portion having concave sweeps, wherein the internal open cross-section of the elongate channel is symmetrical about a longitudinal central vertical plane extending through the elongate channel; at least one cradle for receiving an edge of the panel, the at least one cradle receivable in the elongate channel and angularly adjustable about a longitudinal axis relative thereto, an external cross-section of the cradle including a convex upper portion and a substantially rectangular lower portion, the lower portion of the cradle defining an adjustable arm, a first threaded aperture extending into adjustable arm from a first side thereof, the lower portion of the elongate channel having an internal width greater than an external width of the adjustable arm to provide freedom for angular adjustability; and a locking means configured for securing the at least one cradle to the elongate channel in an adjusted position, the locking means operable from only one of a pair of sides of the elongate channel, wherein the locking means is disposed below a portion of the elongate channel configured to receive the edge of the panel and pre-drilled holes are formed in the one of the pair of sides of the elongate channel."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a support for a rigid panel.\n\nIt is well known to use a channel as a support for a panel in a balustrade system. Typically, the panel is held in place within the channel by utilising one of a variety of methods: clamping with bolts, sealing with resin or wedging in place.\n\nA major disadvantage of this system is the requirement for access from both sides of the balustrade in order to fix the panel into place. This creates a challenge when attempting to vertically align the panel, and often will require multiple labourers to work on the installation simultaneously. Additionally, installation of a balustrade on higher levels of a building, for instance on a balcony, necessitates the use of scaffolding platforms, or access towers, increasing both the cost and time taken to complete the project.\n\nIt is an object of the invention to reduce or substantially obviate the above mentioned problems.\n\nAccording to the present invention there is provided a support for a rigid panel comprising an elongate channel for attaching to a surface, at least one cradle for receiving an edge of the panel, the at least one cradle being receivable in the elongate channel and angularly adjustable about a longitudinal axis relative thereto, and locking means for securing the or each cradle to the elongate channel in an adjusted position.\n\nThe locking means for the or each cradle may be operable from only one side of the elongate channel.\n\nThe support is advantageous as it greatly reduces the effort required to install and vertically align a (generally glass) panel in a balustrade set-up.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04F 11/1853",
    "E04F 11/18",
    "E04F 11/1812",
    "E04F 11/1817",
    "E04F 11/1834",
    "E04F 11/1851",
    "E04F 2011/1823",
    "E04F 2011/1825",
    "E04F 2011/1827",
    "E04F 2011/1829",
    "E06B 3/5454",
    "F16B 2/065",
    "F16B 5/0685",
    "F16M 13/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04F 11/18",
    "E06B 3/54",
    "F16B 2/06",
    "F16B 5/06",
    "F16M 13/02"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Andrzej Poradzisz"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-07-30",
  "publication_date": "2017-09-05",
  "grant_date": "2017-09-05",
  "priority_date": "2013-07-31",
  "application_number": "US-201414909155-A",
  "family_id": "49167252",
  "cited_by_count": 20,
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}