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(11) | EP 0 953 694 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Column for supporting glass panels |
| (57) A column for supporting temperate glass panels (1, 17) for the construction of a
modular structure, comprising a replaceable capital (5, 12) to accomplish alternatively
to the function of supporting one of said panels (1) placed in a substantially horizontal
position, forming a roof part of the structure, and to that of fixing said column
to the ceiling of a room where the structure is located. Namely supporting capital
(5) has a milled seat (6) defining an inclined bearing face (7) for supporting a curved
panel (1) in a substantially horizontal position. Blocking capital (12) comprises
instead a movable tubular element (13), coaxially slidable with respect to the column
so as to be forceable against said ceiling to block the column. |
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of modular glass constructions, as for instance, but not exclusively, bus stop shelters, boxes and partition walls, and namely it concerns a supporting column for use in such constructions.
[0002] Thanks to the recent technical evolution in the field of glass production, temperate glass panels, even curved ones with various cambers, have been made available at very cheap prices. For the construction of modular structures such as bus stop shelters, boxes, and partition walls, the use of glass panels offers both aesthetic and functional advantages, with respect to long known plastic panels, in particular Plexiglas ones. Glass has in fact a much more shining and bright appearance and besides its transparency features are not impaired as time passes, while Plexiglas turns progressively opaque and yellow. Furthermore, it is known that temperate glass is much more solid than any plastic material.
[0003] Contrary to Plexiglas panels, the support of which in structures of the above mentioned kind always requires the provision of suitable metal frames, temperate glass panels are self-bearing. This gives rise to the need for supporting elements specifically designed and produced for this kind of panels, such elements having to comply with aesthetic requirements, integrating themselves with the panels in the best possible way, and functional ones, namely in connection with the easiness and economy of mounting and installation operations and of the overall firmness and security of the built structure.
[0004] The object of the present invention is then to provide a supporting element for temperate glass panels which, thanks to a novel configuration, permits to fully satisfy the above mentioned need.
[0005] The above object is achieved by the column for supporting panels for the construction of a modular structure according to the present invention, characterized in that it comprises a replaceable capital to accomplish alternatively to the function of supporting one of said panels placed in a substantially horizontal position, forming a roof part of said structure, and to that of fixing the column to the ceiling of a room where the structure is located.
[0006] The features and advantages of the supporting column according to the present invention will be clearer from the following description of an exemplifying and not limiting embodiment thereof with reference to the following drawings wherein:
- Figure 1 is a side view of the column according to the invention, partly sectioned, in an embodiment for the construction of covers, a stiffening cross member being removed for a greater clarity of the figure;
- Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the column of figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a top plan view of a different embodiment of a capital of the column of figures 1 and 2, without stiffening cross members;
- Figure 4 is a side view of the column according to the invention, partly sectioned, in an embodiment for the support of vertical walls;
- Figure 5 is a top plan view of a part of the column of figure 4.
[0007] With reference to figures from 1 to 3, the column according to the invention, made of a metallic material, is shown in an embodiment for supporting, in a substantially horizontal position, a temperate glass curved panel having a generally quadrilateral top plan profile, partially shown in figure 1 and indicated at 1, fit to be the roof part of a box, not shown to the full extent.
[0008] The column shown in figures 1 and 2 is suitable to support panel 1 at an angle, whereby the box is sustained by four columns, each placed in correspondence to a vertex of the panel. The column, generally cylindrical, comprises a basement 2, to be fixed to the ground, enlarged by means of a crown of angularly equally spaced radial ribs 3, each having a substantially triangular profile. Basement 2 coaxially supports a tubular post 4, forming the body of the column.
[0009] The upper end of post 4 is engaged with a capital 5, having a frusto-conical shape, its wider base 5a being upwards. The development of said base is incomplete due to the provision of a milled seat 6, extending over a substantially semicircular section of the base 5a. Seat 6 is formed so as to define an inclined bearing surface for the support of panel 1, the inclination of said surface corresponding to the camber of panel 1 itself. A covering 8, having substantially the same semicircular profile of milled seat 6, is fixed to base 5a via screwed members 9, so that it is substantially parallel to bearing surface 7 over panel 1, to secure the latter to capital 5.
[0010] From the side surface of capital 5 two V-shaped brackets 10 radially extend, along mutually orthogonal axis, substantially parallel and adjacent to the edges of panel 1 converging to the column. V-shaped brackets 10 support cross member 11, each extending between two consecutive columns for stiffening the structure. Cross member 11 have also the function of collecting and draining rain water.
[0011] Figure 3 shows a different embodiment of capital 5, fit to support two angles of respective consecutive panels, not shown, for the construction of a box comprising a plurality of panels, thus having greater overall dimensions. The column with this type of capital is then placed in an intermediate position on a side of the cover. With respect to the previously described embodiment, the only different feature of this capital is the provision of three V-shaped brackets, in a T configuration, for supporting two respective perimetrical stiffening cross members, consecutive and coaxial, and possibly a transverse cross member, orthogonal to the other two, connected to a corresponding column placed on the opposite side of the box.
[0012] With reference also to figures 4 and 5, the column according to the invention can be used for the support of flat or curved temperate glass panels placed in a vertical position, typically for the construction of modular structures such as boxes and partition walls. In this embodiment the column, in the place of frusto-conical capital 5, has a cylindrical capital, generally indicated at 12, housed within post 4 and formed by a fixed cup 14, placed with its bottom 14a downwards, and by a cylindrical movable cup 13, placed upside-down within fixed cup 14 and coaxially slidable with respect thereto.
[0013] In particular movable cup 13 provides a screwed axial member 15 engaging with a central seat 14b formed in the bottom 14a of fixed cup 14. In this way, if movable cup 13 is rotated, it axially slides until its bottom 13a is forced against the ceiling of the room in which the structure has to be installed, blocking the column. Movable cup 13 is rotationally operated by means of a pin spanner, to be inserted in suitable seats, not shown, formed in the free part of the external side of the cup.
[0014] A safety collar 16, generally frusto-conical, is also provided, comprising two symmetrical parts, which can be closed around the part of movable cup 13 extending out of post 4, and fixed to the ceiling via screwed members, not shown, housed within seats 16a.
[0015] A vertical panel to be supported, indicated at 17 in the figures, is joined to the column through a fixing beam 18, shown in particular in figure 5, connected to post 4 along a generatrix thereof. An edge of panel 17 removably engages within beam 18, in a substantially known way to an expert in the field. The upper and lower ends of vertical beam 18 are cut so as to form suitably angled chamfers, abutting respectively against collar 16 and the upper side of at least one rib 3.
[0016] The column according to the invention, in both the described embodiments, is very easy and economic to mount. Besides, the structure which can be accomplished by means of the column is aesthetically very harmonious, since a solid and safe assembly can be obtained thanks to few and little encumbering supporting elements. Said elements let the brightness and transparency features of the glass appear in all their evidence.
1. A column for supporting panels (1, 17), namely tempered glass panels, for the construction
of a modular structure, characterized in that it comprises a replaceable capital (5,
12) to accomplish alternatively to the function of supporting one of said panels (1)
placed in a substantially horizontal position, forming a roof part of said structure,
and to that of fixing said column to the ceiling of a room where said structure is
located.
2. The column according to claim 1, wherein a milled seat (6) is formed in the upper
base of said capital (5), defining an inclined bearing surface (7) for supporting
a curved panel (1) in a substantially horizontal position, the inclination of said
surface (7) being substantially correspondent to the camber of said panel (1).
3. The column according to the previous claims, comprising a covering (8) connectable
to said capital (5) over said seat (6) so as to result substantially parallel to said
bearing surface (7) to secure said panel (1).
4. The column according to the previous claims, wherein brackets (10) radially extend
from the side surface of said capital (5), along directions orthogonal to each other,
for supporting cross members (11) which join different columns for stiffening said
structure.
5. The column according to the previous claims, wherein said brackets (10) are substantially
V-shaped.
6. The column according to the claim 1, wherein a vertical fixing beam (18) is connected
to said column along a generatrix thereof, said beam (18) being removably engageable
with an edge of one (17) of said panels, to be vertically supported, said capital
(12) comprising a movable tubular element (13), coaxially slidable with respect to
said column so as to be forceable against said ceiling to block said column.
7. The column according to claim 6, wherein said capital (12) comprises a fixed element
(14) substantially cup shaped, said movable element (13) being slidably housed within
said fixed element (14) and being connected thereto via screw means (15), whereby
a rotational operation of said movable element (13) causes it to axially slide.
8. The column according to claims 6 and 7, wherein a safety collar (16) is provided,
comprising two symmetrical parts which can be closed around said movable element (13)
and fixed to said ceiling.
9. The column according to any of the previous claims, comprising an enlarged basement
(2), fixable to the ground, comprising a crown of angularly equally spaced radial
ribs (3).
10. The column according to claim 9, wherein said beam (18) has respective upper and lower
end chamfers, abutting respectively against said collar (16) and against at least
one of said consecutive ribs (3) of said basement (2).