Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face... – With joining means of dissimilar material and separate from...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-25
2004-06-08
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Module or panel having discrete edgewise or face-to-face...
With joining means of dissimilar material and separate from...
C052S582100, C052S582200, C052S586100, C052S167900, C052S698000, C052S699000, C403S292000, C403S296000, C403S294000, C403S401000, C403S402000, C248S208000, C248S220100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06745538
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a mounting structure for two abutting structural panels, in particular glass panels, by which said two panels may be connected with each other.
In a prior art, two laterally abutting structural panels are connected with each other by pairs of clamping plates comprising two plane clamping plates between which the two adjacent lateral edges of the two structural panels are clamped so that the two panels are fixed to each other.
In another prior art, two abutting structural panels are connected by two L-shaped planar clamping plates which are arranged opposite each other, with each of the structural panels being arranged and clamped between one pair of opposing legs of the L-shaped clamping plates.
Two angularly arranged structural panels are conventionally connected by clamping said panels between two angularly formed clamping plates. Said clamping plates are formed by joining two clamping plate portions at a predetermined angle by welding so that an angular clamping plate is formed which defines two clamping planes. Thus, it is necessary to prepare clamping plates having the required angle, and to provide them at the site of assembly.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting structure of the initially described type whose manufacture is relatively easy and inexpensive. Preferably, the mounting structure of the present invention is to be used for structural panels, and in particular glass panels, which are arranged at an angle.
According to the present invention, a mounting structure which may be used for connecting two abutting structural panels, in particular glass panels, with each other comprises two pairs of clamping plates, with one pair of said clamping plates being fixed to one of the structural panels, and the other pair of clamping plates being fixed to the other structural panel, so that each of the two structural panels is clamped between the two clamping plates of the respective pair of clamping plates, with the two pairs of clamping plates abutting against each other with one of their clamping plates, and the two abutting clamping plates being provided with mutually aligned, undercut longitudinal slots which receive a connecting plate connecting the abutting clamping plates with each other and being fixed to the two clamping plates by means of fasteners which extend through said connecting plate.
Preferably, all individual clamping plates of the pairs of clamping plates are of identical cross-sectional shape so that they may be arbitrarily used and interchanged with each other, with their lengths differing in accordance with the particular application. The clamping plates which have an undercut longitudinal slot formed in their surface facing away from the clamping surface are formed as extruded sections, or rolled profiles. The clamping plates may be cut from the sections or profiles to any appropriate lenght. Each of the structural panels and clamping plates comprises at least one through opening through which a locking screw may be inserted so that a clamping connection is established between the two clamping plates and the structural panel arranged therebetween. In the clamping plates, said through openings are preferably formed within the undercut longitudinal slot, and are designed as longitudinal openings so that possible dimensional deviations of the openings in the structural panels may be compensated for during assembly of the clamping plates with the panel. Thus, it may be ensured that the outer edges of the clamping plates and the respective structural panel are flush with each other, even if the opening in the panel was not manufactured with sufficient accuracy. The head of the locking screw and the associated nut are formed such that they are flush with the respective outer surface of the clamping plate, and that their top surfaces do not protrude from the outer surfaces of the opposing clamping plates. After a pair of clamping plates has been mounted on each structural panel, the panels may be connected with each other by inserting one end of a connecting plate into the undercut longitudinal slot of one of the two clamping plates, after which said end is fixed in this slot, so that the other, free end of the connecting plate protrudes from said slot and thus from the edge of the structural panel. Then, the second structural panel may be abuttingly connected with the first panel by inserting the free, protruding end of the connecting plate into the longitudinal slot of one clamping plate of the second panel so that the two clamping plates abut against each other. The two abutting structural panels are connected with each other when the connecting plates in both abutting clamping plates are fixed by means of fasteners extending through said connecting plates. The mounting structure according to the present invention comprising the pairs of clamping plates with mutually aligned longitudinal slots may be easily and cost-effectively manufactured, and may furthermore provide for a simpler assembly of abutting structural panels.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the two abutting clamping plates are each provided with at least two mutually aligned longitudinal slots so that the two abutting clamping plates, and thus structural panels, may be connected by means of two connecting plates to provide a more stable connection of the two structural panels, if necessary. The clamping plates may also each be provided with three longitudinal slots to be mutually aligned. In this case, a connecting plate connecting the clamping plate with the respective structural panel may for example be inserted in the uppermost and lowermost pair of mutually aligned slots, whereas the intermediate pair of slots comprises the through openings enabling the clamping connection of the pairs of clamping plates with the respective structural panel. Depending on the size of the abutting structural panels, two or more pairs of adjacently arranged clamping plates may be provided at the structural panels.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the two pairs of clamping plates are arranged such that a lateral end wall of each clamping plate of each pair abuts against a lateral end wall of a clamping plate of the other pair, and both clamping plates of each pair are provided with undercut longitudinal slots to be aligned with the slots of the abutting clamping plate and wherein connecting plates are fixed by means of fasteners.
According to another embodiment of the mounting structure of the present invention, the abutting clamping plates are arranged such that their longitudinal slots are in transverse or longitudinal alignment with each other, with an angle being included between them, and the connecting plates are formed accordingly to have an angular shape. By means of the mounting structure comprising said clamping plates, it is possible to connect abutting structural panels at any desired angle so that the structural panels received between the clamping plates may be assembled at different planes, which preferably include an angle in the range between 30° and 160°. The structural panels are connected with each other as described above, with only the connecting plates requiring an angular shape. The connecting plates may be bent to the required angular shape directly at the assembly site so that welding operations as required by prior art clamping plates are no longer necessary.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, both clamping plates of one pair of clamping plates abut against one and the same clamping plate of the other pair of clamping plates. In this embodiment, the first pair of clamping plates may for example be arranged at the centre of the lower end wall of a structural panel, and the two clamping plates of the second pair may for example be arranged in perpendicular alignment with one of the clamping plates of the first pair, with the longitudinal slots of the abuttingly aligned clamping plates being in transverse alignment with each other. The two clamping plates
Casma S.p.A.
Friedman Carl D.
Green Christy
LandOfFree
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