Mounting assembly for glass balustrade

• US 9,995,043 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Glass Systems Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Smart Glass Systems Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Bierman, Reynold
• Primary Examiner(s): Herring, Brent W
• Application Number:
  US14/915,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20160208496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 521267, 5220465, 52766, 5280012, 5280014, 5280016, 52832, 4033743, 256 24, 248689, 2482291
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1812 Details of anchoring to the wall or floor
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1817 Connections therefor E04F11/1812 and E04F11/1836 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1853 Glass panels

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mounting 10 for glass balustrade and methods of installing the same. In particular aspects, the mounting 10 includes a first flange 14 and a second flange 15 that define therebetween a cavity 17 for receiving a glass panel 11. The mounting 10 also includes a clamping member 27 which can be actuated by a threaded member 28 provided in the first flange 14 to frictionally clamp the glass panel 11 within the cavity 17. The mounting 10 includes numerous securing holes for securing to a structure 22 such as a cement pad, a beam, or a piece of timber. In certain aspects, the mounting is configured to clamp two corner portions of separate panels of glass 110, 120 to form the glass balustrade.

Claims

1. A method of securing a mounting to a structure for a glass balustrade arrangement, the mounting including a first flange having a first threaded hole, a second flange having a second threaded hole coaxial with the first threaded hole and also having a third threaded hole, a cavity located between the first and second flange, and one or more clamping members associated with the first and second flanges, wherein the method includes:

winding the mounting to secure a first threaded member which extends from the second flange into a first hole of the structure;

progressing a second threaded member through the first threaded hole of the first flange and partly through the second threaded hole of the second flange, wherein a portion of the second threaded member projects and secures within a second hole of the structure;

locating a glass panel within the cavity of the mounting; and

clamping the glass panel by actuating the one or more clamping members of the mounting, wherein at least a portion of the clamped glass panel overhangs an edge of the structure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes securing the first threaded member with a third threaded hole located in the second flange.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes progressing a first screw located within the first threaded hole of the first flange after securing the second threaded member within the second hole of the structure, wherein progression of the first screw causes the first screw to contact one of the clamping members to thereby clamp the glass panel.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the mounting includes an additional threaded hole in the first flange for receiving an additional screw, wherein the method includes progressing the additional screw within the additional threaded hole to contact one of the clamping members to thereby clamp the glass panel.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes inserting a portion of a tool through the first threaded hole to engage and progress the portion of the second threaded member through the second threaded hole of the second flange.

6. A method of installing a mounting, the mounting including a body having a first slot defined by a first pair of flanges and a second slot defined by a second pair of flanges, each slot being configured to receive a respective one of the panels so that the panels are support in an upward orientation with adjacent edges;

a first clamping member in the first slot;

a second clamping member in the second slot; and

a plurality of threaded fasteners threadably engaged with the body and engaged with the clamping members to urge the clamping members into clamping engagement with a respective one of the panels, wherein the method includes;

securing the mounting to a structure;

locating a first glass panel within the first slot;

locating a second glass panel within the second slot;

actuating the plurality of threaded fasteners to urge the clamping members to clamp against the first and second panels;

wherein the body includes a rear surface which rests against a structure for the mounting to be secured thereto, wherein the rear surface includes one or more threaded holes, and wherein the method further includes;

engaging a respective one or more threaded members with the one or more threaded holes in the rear surface, and

securing each threaded member within holes defined in the structure;

wherein the body includes a threaded fastener hole to receive one of the threaded fasteners for engaging one of the clamping members, wherein the threaded fastener hole is coaxial with one of the threaded holes provided in the rear surface, and wherein the method further includes;

inserting a portion of a tool through the threaded fastener hole to progress the threaded member to project rearward of the rear surface,

progressing one of the threaded members through the threaded fastener hole and to at least partially progress the respective threaded member to project through the coaxial threaded hole provided in the rear surface, and

progressing a threaded screw within one of the threaded holes or a further hole of the second flange to urge against the structure when the mounting is secured to the structure.

7. A mounting for a glass panel of a glass balustrade arrangement, the mounting including:

a base, the base being of a “

U-shaped”

configuration so as to have a first and a second flange joined by an end flange, the flanges providing an open cavity within which the glass panel is to rest so as to be at least partly supported by the mounting with the glass panel generally upwardly oriented, wherein the first and second flanges are generally upright, and said end flange is a bottom flange;

a clamping member adjacent the first flange and located in the cavity;

at least one threaded fastener engaged with said first flange and clamping member to urge the clamping member to engage the glass panel to clamp the glass panel between the second flange and clamping member to fix the glass panel to the mounting; and

wherein;

the second flange has at least one aperture which at least another threaded fastener engages to fix the mounting to a substantially vertical surface of an edge of a structure such that at least a portion of the glass panel which rests within the cavity overhangs the edge of the structure;

the first flange includes a threaded fastener hole to receive one of the threaded fasteners for urging the clamping member to clamp the glass panel, wherein the threaded fastener hole is coaxial with one of the at least one aperture provided in the second flange;

one of the at least one aperture in the second flange or a further aperture of the second flange is configured to receive a threaded screw which is progressed at least partially there through for pressing against the structure without progressing into the structure when the mounting is secured thereto;

wherein one end of the at least another threaded fastener is engagable by a tool which is inserted through the threaded fastener hole of the first flange; and

wherein actuation of the tool causes the at least another threaded fastener to fix the mounting to the structure.

8. The mounting according to claim 7, wherein said second flange includes a first flange portion that is generally upwardly oriented, and a second flange portion extending generally horizontally from the first flange portion, with at least one of the apertures formed in said second flange portion so as to be generally vertically extending.

9. A mounting assembly including:

a mounting including;

a body having a slot defined by a front flange and rear flange, the slot being configured to receive a glass panel, wherein the front flange includes;

an outer surface including an inclined surface defining a tapered profile of the front flange thereby restricting the front flange being used as a foothold, and

a plurality of threaded holes that extend from the outer surface to an inner surface of the front flange;

a first member and a second member for clamping the glass panel within the slot, wherein the first member is movable from a stowed position, such that the first member is located within a cavity provided by the inner surface of the front flange, to a clamping position such that the first member at least partially protrudes from the cavity;

a plurality of screws threadably engaged with the plurality of threaded holes, wherein actuation of the plurality of screws cause the first member to at least partially protrude from the cavity and urge against the glass panel locatable within the slot so that the glass panel is clamped between the first member and the second member;

a threaded fastener projecting rearwardly from a rear surface of the rear flange; and

wherein the second clamping member includes a hole for accessing a hole in the rear surface of the rear flange which the threaded fastener rearwardly projects therefrom.