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(11) | EP 0 583 611 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Metallic enclosure with easy installation |
| (57) A metallic enclosure comprising load-bearing uprights (2), cross-members (3) associable
with the uprights, and intermediate elements (4) associable with the cross-members
in a substantially vertical or inclined position. The intermediate elements are insertable
in through holes (10) formed in the cross-members and have, along their longitudinal
extension, at least two oppositely arranged shoulders (11) which are engageable, at
the holes of the cross-members, so as to longitudinally lock the intermediate elements
without having to weld. |
[0002] Known metallic enclosures are generally constituted by load-bearing uprights, driven into the ground or walled in seats specifically formed in party walls, and by cross-members, pre-assembled together with the uprights or assembled during installation, usually by resorting to spot welds. Intermediate elements are generally provided between the cross-members and have the purpose of adequately reducing the space between the cross-members and also have a decorative function. The intermediate elements are also associated with the cross-members by means of welds performed in the workshop or directly on site.
[0004] In fact, due to the large number of welds required to mutually assemble the various elements composing them, these kinds of enclosure must be assembled by specialized firms or must be custom-made so as to leave to the final user only the task of fixing them to party walls or to the ground.
[0005] Naturally, the installation of enclosures requiring a large number of welds entails long times and high costs.
[0006] The custom manufacture of enclosures, despite avoiding the intervention of specialized personnel for installation, also entails high costs.
[0007] A principal object of the present invention is to obviate the drawbacks described above with reference to known enclosures by providing a metallic enclosure having such a structure that it can be installed without problems even by non-specialized personnel.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure which does not require the execution of welds both during assembly and during installation.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure capable of ensuring an aesthetic result which is comparable to that of known enclosures.
[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic enclosure which can have a low cost with respect to known enclosures.
[0011] With these and other objects in view, there is provided, according to the present invention, a metallic enclosure comprising load-bearing uprights, cross-members which can be associated with said uprights, and intermediate elements which can be associated with said cross-members in a substantially vertical or inclined position, characterized in that said intermediate elements are insertable in through holes formed in said cross-members, said intermediate elements having, along their longitudinal extension, at least two oppositely arranged shoulders which can engage, at said holes, at least two of said cross-members which are mutually vertically spaced for the longitudinal locking of said intermediate elements.
[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is a front elevation view of the enclosure according to the invention;
figure 2 is an enlarged and partially exploded perspective view of an upright;
figure 3 is a perspective view of the connection of two cross-members to an intermediate element having a circular cross-section;
figure 4 is a partially sectional perspective view of the assembly of an upright, of a cross-member and of an intermediate element having a polygonal cross-section;
figure 5 is a partially sectional front elevation view of the enclosure according to the invention;
figure 6 is a sectional view of figure 5, taken along the plane VI-VI;
figure 7 is a sectional view of figure 5, taken along the plane VII-VII;
figures 8 and 9 are longitudinal sectional views of the assembly of an intermediate element and of two cross-members;
figure 10 is a sectional view of figure 9, taken along the plane X-X;
figure 11 is a cutout perspective view of a portion of a cross-member at one of the through holes;
figure 12 is a plan view of the enclosure;
figure 13 is a sectional view of the assembly of a cross-member and of an upright, taken along a vertical plane.
[0013] With reference to the above figures, the enclosure according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises load-bearing uprights 2, cross-members 3 to be associated with the uprights 2, and intermediate elements 4 to be connected to the cross-members 3 in a substantially vertical position or in a variously inclined position according to the requirements.
[0014] The uprights 2 preferably have a tubular structure with fins 5 diverging at their lower end, suitable to be embedded in a concrete casting 6 or otherwise rigidly fixed in the ground.
[0015] On at least one side of their lateral surface, the uprights 2 are provided with lugs 7 connected to the body of the upright for example by welding and in which slots 8 elongated in a horizontal direction, for supporting the cross-members 3, are formed.
[0016] The cross-members 3 are preferably constituted by profiled elements having a C-shaped transverse cross-section and suitable to be associated with the uprights 2 by arranging the intermediate wing 3a upwardly and the two end wings 3b downwardly. For this purpose, proximate to the longitudinal ends of the cross-members 3, on the end wings 3b, there are slots 9 elongated in a transverse direction and adapted to be superimposed on the slots 8. The mutual assembly of the cross-members 3 and of the uprights 2 can be performed by riveting or bolting at said slots 8 and 9.
[0017] Through holes 10 are formed in the intermediate wing 3a of the cross-members 3, and the intermediate elements 4 are insertable therein.
[0018] The through holes 10 can have a circular or polygonal shape, according to the configuration of the intermediate elements 4.
[0019] The intermediate elements 4 have a tubular structure with a transverse cross-section which matches the shape of the holes 10, and along their longitudinal extension they are provided with at least two oppositely arranged shoulders engageable, at the holes 10, with at least two cross-members 3 which are mutually vertically spaced in order to longitudinally lock said intermediate elements 4.
[0020] Preferably, the shoulders of the intermediate elements are constituted by protrusions 11 located proximate to the regions of said intermediate elements 4 suitable to be coupled to the holes 10.
[0021] The protrusions 11 are conveniently constituted by outward plastic deformations, or studs, of the walls of the intermediate elements 4.
[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, each shoulder is constituted by four protrusions 11 which are mutually angularly spaced around the axis of the intermediate element 4.
[0023] The cross-members 3 are furthermore provided, at the holes 10, with a collar 12 surrounding each hole and extending toward the inside of the related cross-member. The collars 12 have such dimensions that they can be crossed by the intermediate elements 4 except for the region provided with the protrusions 11. Furthermore, each collar 12 is provided with seats 13 which are mutually spaced around the axis of the related hole 10 so as to match the protrusions 11 and are open toward the free end of the collar so that they can receive the protrusions 11 when the intermediate elements are inserted in the holes 10 from their side provided with the collar 12.
[0024] The engagement of the protrusions 11 in the seats 13 also prevents the rotation of the intermediate elements 4, if they have a circular cross-section, about their longitudinal axis with respect to the cross-members 3.
[0025] Conveniently, the protrusions 11 have a circular base and can be obtained by punching the intermediate elements 4 from the inside outwardly.
[0026] The upper end of the intermediate elements 4, as well as the upper end of the uprights 2, is closed by plugs 14 and 15.
[0027] Installation of the enclosure according to the present invention is preferably performed as follows.
[0028] Initially, the cross-members 3 are assembled together with the intermediate elements 4 and with the uprights 2.
[0029] As shown particularly in figures 8 and 9, the intermediate elements 4 are inserted in the holes 10 so that for each intermediate element 4 there is a group of protrusions 11, forming one shoulder and resting on the upper face of the intermediate wing 3a of a cross-member 3 around the hole 10, whereas the other group of protrusions 11, forming the other shoulder, enters the seats 13 of the collars of the other cross-member 3. In this manner, the intermediate elements 4 are locked both axially and torsionally.
[0030] Once assembly is ended, the enclosure is fixed to the ground or to a wall by embedding the lower end of the uprights 2 in a concrete casting.
[0031] In practice it has been observed that the enclosure according to the present invention advantageously does not require welds during installation and therefore it can be quickly installed even by non-specialized personnel.
[0032] Furthermore, by virtue of its simple installation, it can be sold directly to the user, who can install it personally.
[0033] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
[0034] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. Metallic enclosure comprising load-bearing uprights (2), cross-members (3) associable
with said uprights, and intermediate elements (4) associable with said cross-members
in a substantially vertical or inclined position, characterized in that said intermediate
elements (4) are insertable in through holes (10) formed in said cross-members (3),
said intermediate elements (4) having, along their longitudinal extension, at least
two oppositely arranged shoulders (11) which can engage, at said holes (10), at least
two of said cross-members (3) which are mutually vertically spaced for longitudinally
locking said intermediate elements (4).
2. Metallic enclosure according to claim 1, characterized in that said shoulders are
constituted by protrusions (11) formed on said intermediate elements (4) at the regions
of said intermediate elements which can be coupled to said holes (10).
3. Metallic enclosure according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said protrusions
(11) are constituted by plastic deformations of said intermediate elements (4).
4. Metallic enclosure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said intermediate elements (4) have a tubular structure.
5. Metallic enclosure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said intermediate elements (4) have a tubular structure with a polygonal cross-section.
6. Metallic enclosure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said intermediate elements (4) have a tubular structure with a circular cross-section.
7. Metallic enclosure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said shoulders are constituted by four protrusions (11) which are mutually
angularly spaced around the axis of said intermediate elements (4), said cross-members
(3) having, at said holes, a collar (12) which can be crossed by said intermediate
elements (4) except for the region provided with said protrusions (11), said collar
(12) having seats (13) which are arranged so as to match said protrusions (11) around
the axis of the related hole (10) and are open toward the insertion side in order
to receive said protrusions (11), producing the longitudinal and torsional locking
of the related intermediate element (4).
8. Metallic enclosure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said protrusions (11) have a circular base.
9. Metallic enclosure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said uprights (2) are laterally provided with lugs (7) for fixing the longitudinal
ends of said cross-members (3).
10. Metallic enclosure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said cross-members (3) have a C-shaped transverse cross-section and are associated
with said uprights (2) so that their two end wings (3a,3b) are directed downwardly.
11. Metallic enclosure according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that at least one longitudinal end of said intermediate elements (4) is closed
by a plug (14).