Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING ALIGNMENT OF A PANEL
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus, system
and a method for adjusting an alignment of a panel, and finds particular
although not exclusive utility in adjustment of glass panels used on
balustrades
and partitions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known for balustrades and partitions to be formed from a flat
panel, such as glass, and for such panels to be anchored along a lower edge
and substantially unsupported at an upper edge. Known methods of
supporting these panels include placing a lower edge into a trough and
clamping the panel in place.
It is desirable for these panels to be arranged/aligned vertically,
both for aesthetic reasons, and to ensure that their centre of mass acts
through
their footprint, thereby reducing constant torque on their support mechanisms.
Conventionally, this has been achieved by ensuring that the trough is itself
precisely aligned on a horizontal, such that any flat panel inserted therein
stands in a vertical plane.
International Patent Application W02011/095779 describes an
alternative mechanism for supporting a flat panel in a vertical alignment,
whereby the angle of the panel can be adjusted after insertion. Thus,
W02011/095779 allows a trough to be placed on an approximately horizontal
surface, or a surface that may be subject to subsidence, and for alignment of
a panel to be achieved at a later point.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
However, the arrangement of W02011/095779 is difficult to
adjust, due to adjustment components (such as a hexagonal nut head) being
located within the trough itself, and at an inconvenient angle. For example, a
user of W02011/095779 would only be able to use a short spanner / wrench
to adjust the hexagonal nut head, and then only by turning it through perhaps
100 degrees at most, and more likely only 30 degrees.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to overcome this problem by
providing an easily adjustable system for adjusting the alignment of a flat
panel, which also has the advantages of providing secure support, and post-
construction alignment.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a system for adjusting alignment of a flat panel, the system
comprising:
a longitudinal trough having two opposing side walls and a base
connected therebetween, the trough being open on a side opposing the base,
the trough configured to be attachable to a surface; and
at least one gripping part for securely holding a section of the flat
panel, the at least one gripping part having a contact surface for engaging
with
a face of the flat panel and a first joint surface inclined obliquely to the
contact
surface, the at least one gripping part locatable within the longitudinal
trough
with the joint surface at least partially facing the open side of the trough
opposing the base; at least one adjustment part being connected at a fixed
end to one of the side walls of the trough;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
the at least one adjustment part having a second joint surface
spaced from the fixed end of the adjustment part by a distance that is
adjustable by a user, the second joint surface arrangable in contact with the
first joint surface to form a joint;
wherein reducing the distance between the second joint surface
and the fixed end of the adjustment part results in:
a force applied by the second joint surface onto the first joint
surface increasing, resulting in the gripping part gripping the panel and
urging
the panel toward the base of the trough; and
pivoting of the panel within the trough about an axis parallel to a
longitudinal length of the trough.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided
an apparatus for use in the system as defined above, the apparatus
comprising:
at least one gripping part for securely holding a section of a flat
panel, the at least one gripping part having a contact surface for engaging
with
a face of the flat panel and a first joint surface inclined obliquely to the
contact
surface, the at least one gripping part locatable within the longitudinal
trough
with the first joint surface at least partially facing an open side of a
trough; and
at least one adjustment part connectable at a fixed end to a side
wall of the trough, the at least one adjustment part having a second joint
surface spaced from the fixed end of the adjustment part by a distance that is
adjustable by a user, the second joint surface arrangable in contact with the
first joint surface to form a joint; and
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
wherein reducing the distance between the second joint surface
and the fixed end of the adjustment part results in:
a force applied by the second joint surface onto the first joint
surface increasing, resulting in the gripping part gripping the panel and
urging
the panel toward the base of the trough; and
pivoting of the panel within the trough about an axis parallel to a
longitudinal length of the trough.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a
balustrade comprising:
a substantially flat panel;
a longitudinal trough having two opposing side walls and a base
connected therebetween, the trough being open on a side opposing the base,
the trough configured to be attachable to a surface; and
at least one gripping part arranged to securely hold a section of
the flat panel, the at least one gripping part having a contact surface
engaged
with a face of the flat panel and a first joint surface inclined obliquely to
the
contact surface, the at least one gripping part located within the
longitudinal
trough with the joint surface at least partially facing the open side of the
trough
opposing the base;
wherein at least one adjustment part connected at a fixed end to
one of the side walls of the trough, the at least one adjustment part having a
second joint surface spaced from the fixed end of the adjustment part by a
distance that is adjustable by a user, the second joint surface arranged in
contact with the first joint surface to form a joint; and
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
wherein reducing the distance between the second joint surface
and the fixed end of the adjustment part results in:
a force applied by the second joint surface onto the first joint
surface increasing, resulting in the gripping part gripping the panel and
urging
the panel toward the base of the trough; and
pivoting of the panel within the trough about an axis parallel to a
longitudinal length of the trough.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided
method of adjusting alignment of a flat panel, the method comprising:
providing a flat panel;
providing a system as defined above;
attaching the trough to a surface;
engaging the contact surface of the gripping part with a face of
the flat panel;
securely holding a section of the flat panel with the gripping part;
locating the gripping part within the longitudinal trough with the
joint surface at least partially facing the open side of the trough opposing
the
base;
connecting at least one adjustment part at its fixed end to one of
the side walls of the trough;
arranging the second joint surface in contact with the first joint
surface to form a joint;
reducing the distance between the second joint surface and the
fixed end of the adjustment part;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
and thereby increasing a force applied with the second joint
surface onto the first joint surface;
gripping the panel with the gripping part;
urging the panel with the gripping part toward the base of the
trough; and
pivoting of the panel within the trough about an axis parallel to a
longitudinal length of the trough.
In this way, a panel may be aligned with its major face in a
substantially vertical plane, even when the trough is located with its base
substantially not horizontal. In particular, up to 10 degrees from horizontal,
more particularly up to 5 degrees from horizontal, for instance up to 3
degrees
from horizontal.
In addition, the force acting on the panel may have a component
acting perpendicular to a major face of the panel (which acts to grip the
panel)
and another component acting substantially parallel to the major face of the
panel (which urges the panel toward the base of the trough); that is, the
panel
may be held in the base of the trough by the force of the adjustment part on
the first joint surface, thereby increasing stability of the panel.
Furthermore, adjustment of the panel may be made more simply
than in prior art methods by means of the adjustment part being more
accessible to a user.
The trough, and in particular the side walls and the base, may
constitute the interior surface of a channel section, for instance an extruded
channel section. For instance, the channel section may comprise the base
and side walls, and may also comprise one or more top surfaces (for instance
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
disposed either side of the side walls), external sides, a bottom surface
and/or
end surfaces.
The system may be configured such that, when in use, the
adjustment part is under tension, and the gripping part may be under
compression. The system may be configured such that, when in use, the
adjustment part is not under compression. In this way, access to one end of
the adjustment part may be easily provided for adjustment; that is, the side
wall and the second joint surface each pull in opposing directions on the
adjustment member, toward a middle of the adjustment member. In contrast,
were the adjustment part under compression when in use, each end of the
adjustment member would be obscured by parts of the system providing the
compression; that is, the side wall would push on the first end of the
adjustment
member and an opposing end of the adjustment member would push on the
gripping part.
The present invention may be usable with flat panels that have
two opposing major faces, joined around a perimeter by for instance four or
more minor faces. The major faces may define the plane of the panel, and the
minor faces may define an edge of the panel. The major faces are
substantially larger than the minor faces. The present invention may be usable
with one or more shims and/or spacers located with a flat panel, for instance,
against a major face of the flat panel. In particular, a shim/spacer may be
placed between the flat panel and the gripping part, such that the gripping
part
may be used with flat panels having differing thicknesses. Alternatively or
additionally, the gripping part may be adjustable for use with flat panels
having
different thicknesses. In some embodiments, the gripping part may comprise
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
one or more of such shims/spacers. Each shim/spacer may be a flat sheet,
which in some circumstances may be tapered or wedged, but is preferably of
substantially uniform thickness. The shim/spacer may be made of metal,
aluminium, silicone, rubber, synthetic rubber, wood, plastic material,
composite material or any other suitable material. The shim/spacer may be
approximately 1 mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm or 5mm thick (i.e. between
major faces). A single or multiple shims/spaces may be used adjacent to a flat
panel.
The trough may have a longitudinal axis, and may be
substantially longer in a length parallel to the longitudinal axis than in a
width
or depth at right angles to the longitudinal axis. The side walls may extend
along respective sides of the trough, parallel to the longitudinal axis.
Similarly,
the base may extend between the side walls, also substantially parallel to the
longitudinal axis. Ends of the trough may be open or closed; that is, the ends
substantially perpendicular to the side walls, the base and the longitudinal
axis.
The trough may be open on a side substantially opposing the base; that is, the
side walls may be connected to one another at the base, and optionally the
ends, but not at substantially any additional point. The open side opposing
the
base may be referred to as the top, even when the trough is located on a
surface that is substantially non-horizontal, or is affixed to a surface at a
non-
zero angle to the base of the trough. The side walls may be spaced from one
another. The trough may be integrally formed, formed by extrusion, moulding,
or may be assembled from component parts, for instance by welding, bolting,
screwing, gluing, etc. The trough may be a channel.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
The trough may have a tapered cross-section; that is an internal
width of the trough adjacent to the base may be less than an internal width of
the trough adjacent to the open top. In particular, an internal width of the
trough approximately mid-way up may be more than an internal width of the
trough adjacent to the base. The gripping part may be configured to be
wedgeable into the trough substantially adjacent to the base.
The trough may be configured to be removably or substantially
permanently attachable to a surface. The trough may be configured to be set
into a trench in a surface, such that the open side of the trough is
substantially
level with the surface. The trough may be attached to a surface such that it
is
horizontal; however, the present invention is capable of use when the trough
is attached to a surface such that it is substantially non-horizontal. The
trough
may be screwed, glued, cemented, bolted or otherwise fixed to and/or into a
surface.
The gripping part may securely hold a periphery of a flat panel,
for instance a portion of the flat panel adjacent to a lower edge of the
panel.
The gripping part may engage a face of the flat panel immediately to a lower
edge of the panel.
The gripping part may comprise a relatively high-friction surface
for securely holding a section of the flat panel. The gripping part may
comprise
rubber material, synthetic rubber material, silicone rubber material and/or
any
other suitable form of resilient material. The contact surface may be
substantially planar and/or flat. The contact surface may be substantially
smooth; however, in preferred embodiments the contact surface is textured.
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For instance, the contact surface may comprise ridges, protuberances and/or
dimples.
The first joint surface may be substantially non-parallel to the
contact surface. The first joint surface may be substantially non-
perpendicular
to the contact surface. The first joint surface may be at an angle of between
20 and 70 degrees to the contact surface, and this angle may be measured
about an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the
trough. The angle may be between 30 and 60 degrees, in particular between
35 and 55 degrees, more particularly between 40 and 50 degrees, for example,
approximately 40, 45 or 50 degrees.
The first and/or second joint surface may be a relatively low-
friction surface; that is, the first and/or second joint surfaces may have a
substantially lower friction than the contact surface.
In use, the joint surface may be facing upwards, and/or may be
seen through the open side of the trough opposing the base (e.g. seen through
the top of the trough).
The term 'connected' in relation to the adjustment part and the
side walls is to be interpreted as substantially more than mere contact of the
parts together. The adjustment part may be secured to the side wall, for
instance by a cooperating engaging mechanism. The adjustment part may be
removably or substantially permanently connected to the side wall of the
trough. The adjustment part may be connected to the side walls by
cooperating hooking parts, screw-threading parts, or by other suitable
connection parts. The adjustment part may be integrally formed with the side
walls, or may be glued, welded, or similarly affixed to the side wall. The
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
adjustment part may be slidably received in a slot in the side wall, for
instance
by sliding in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which
the
second joint surface is movable toward/away from the fixed end.
The distance between the second joint surface and the fixed end
of the adjustment part may be configured to be adjusted with a screw-thread
arrangement. For instance, the adjustment part may comprise a threaded
shank and a cooperatively threaded nut may be provided on the shank such
that rotation of the nut about the shank results in movement of the second
joint
surface along the shank. For example, the second joint surface may be
provided on a sliding part having a central bore through which the threaded
shank passes, and a nut may limit movement of the sliding part along the
shank.
The adjustment part may comprises: an externally threaded
shank having a head; a sliding part arranged to be slidably receivable on the
threaded shank, the sliding part comprising the second joint surface arranged
to face at least partially toward the fixed end of the adjustment part; and/or
an
internally threaded nut; and the sliding part may be biased away from the
fixed
end by the first joint surface, and relative rotation of the nut and the head
about
an axis of the shank may cause movement of the sliding part with respect to
the fixed end.
The head may be located at the fixed end such that rotation of
the nut moves the sliding part along the threaded shank.
The nut may be located at the fixed end such that rotation of the
head moves the sliding part with the head in relation to the fixed end.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
In this way, a portion of the threaded shank between the head and the nut is
under tension.
The second joint surface may be arrangable in mere contact with
the first joint surface to form a joint. The second joint surface may not be
connected to the first joint surface by any means other than mere contact. The
second joint surface may be arranged in contact with the first joint surface
to
form a planar joint; that is, a joint with one rotational and two
translational
degrees of freedom. The first joint surface and/or the second joint surface
may
be further constrained such that the first and second joint surfaces may move
with respect to each other substantially only in one translational degree of
freedom. The first and/or second joint surface may be substantially flat;
however, in some embodiments, the first and/or second joint surfaces may be
substantially curved, such that relative movement between the two joint
surfaces corresponds to relative rotation about a common axis. The joint may
operate as a revolute, pin or hinge joint.
The system may comprise at least one pair of opposed gripping
parts for securely holding a section of the flat panel, and may comprise at
least
one pair of adjustment parts, each adjustment part comprising a respective
second joint surface arrangable in contact with a respective first joint
surface
of one of the pair of gripping parts, to form a respective joint, wherein
reducing
the distance between the second joint surface and the fixed end of one of the
pair of adjustment parts, and/or increasing the distance between the second
joint surface and the fixed end of the other of the pair of adjustment parts,
may
result in pivoting of the panel within the trough about an axis parallel to a
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
longitudinal length of the trough. The system may comprise a plurality of
pairs
of opposed gripping parts spaced along the trough.
The opposed gripping parts may comprise a single gripping part
extending around the panel. Alternatively or additionally, a series of
gripping
parts on one side of a panel may comprise a single gripping part. Similarly, a
series of adjustment parts (and or components thereof) may comprise a single
adjustment part (and/or a component thereof).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of
the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which
illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This
description
is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the
invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first arrangement.
Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the first arrangement.
Figure 3 shows an end view of the first arrangement in a first
configuration.
Figure 4 shows an end view of the first arrangement in a second
configuration.
Figure 5 shows an exploded view of a second arrangement.
Figure 6 shows an end view of the second arrangement in a first
configuration.
Figure 7 shows an end view of the second arrangement in a
second configuration.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention will be described with respect to certain
drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The
drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing
may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not
necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the
drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn
to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions
do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.
Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the
description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar
elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally,
spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the
terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that
operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.
Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description
and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for
describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used
are
interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is
capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.
It is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims,
should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter;
it
does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as
specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components
as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more
14
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the
scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be
limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with
respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device
are A and B.
Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or
"an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic
described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least
one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the
phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in an aspect" in various
places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the
same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or
aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics
of
any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable
manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this
disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.
Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various
features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single
embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the
disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various
inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be
interpreted
as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features
than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any
individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an
embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect,
inventive
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed
embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby
expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim
standing
on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.
Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include
some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of
different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and
form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the
art.
For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be
used in any combination.
In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are
set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be
practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not
to obscure an understanding of this description.
In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary,
the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the
permitted
range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is
more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied
statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the
more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself
preferred to
said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less
preferred value and said intermediate value.
The use of the term "at least one" may mean only one in certain
circumstances.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
The principles of the invention will now be described by a
detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of
the invention. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according
to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the
underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being
limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first arrangement in which
a panel 2 is supported in a trough 4 having side walls 6 and a base 10. A
portion of the lower edge of the panel is gripped by gripping parts 12, which
are urged together and into a tapering slot 14 in the base of the trough 4 by
adjustment mechanisms 16.
Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the first arrangement and,
in particular, the detail of the adjustment mechanism 16. A block 20 is
received
on two threaded shafts 22, such that it may slide thereon via through holes 24
in the block 20. Lower ends of the threaded shafts 22 are connected to an
elongate hook 26 that is configured to cooperate with projection 28 on an
interior of the side wall 6. Nuts 30 on an upper end of the threaded shafts 22
maintain the block 20 thereon. A hole 32 is provided in the base of the trough
for securing the trough to a surface.
Figure 3 shows an end view of the first arrangement in a first
configuration; that is, with the trough 4 located on a horizontal surface (not
shown) such that the panel 2 is disposed symmetrically within the trough 4 and
vertical. The nuts 30 have been tightened equally such that both blocks 20
push against the surfaces 34 of the gripping parts 12. The blocks 20 are held
against the surfaces 34 by the elongate hooks 26 pulling on the projections
28.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
The force through the surfaces 34 acts to push the panel 2 down into the
tapering slot 14, and to clamp the panel from either side adjacent to the open
top of the trough. As can be seen from the figure, the nuts 30 remain exposed
above the open top of the trough for ease of manipulation. In particular, a
user
may be able to rotate a spanner! wrench by more than 180 degrees in a single
turn of the nut 30.
Figure 4 shows an end view of the first arrangement in a second
configuration; that is, with the trough 4 located on a substantially non-
horizontal surface (not shown) such that asymmetric adjustment of the
adjustment mechanisms 16 is required in order to align the panel 2 vertically.
The nut on the right hand side 30a has been tightened more than the nut on
the left hand side 30b, such that the block on the right hand side 20a is
lower
than the block on the left hand side 20b. This asymmetric distribution of the
blocks 20 results in an asymmetric positioning of the surfaces 34 against
which
the blocks 20 push.
Figure 5 shows an exploded view of a second arrangement in
which the configuration of the adjustment mechanisms 16 differs, and an
alternative trough 4' is required. In this arrangement, the blocks 20 are
disposed on threaded shafts 36 that have a head including a screw drive
socket 38 (shown as an Allen or Hex socket; however, other forms of screw
drive are contemplated). The threaded shafts 36 pass through the through
holes 24 in the blocks 20 as before, and engage with t-slot nuts that sit
within
a t-slot track 42.
Figure 6 shows an end view of the second arrangement in a first
configuration; that is, with the trough 4' located on a horizontal surface
(not
18
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
shown) such that the panel 2 is disposed symmetrically within the trough 4'
and vertical. The threaded shafts 36 have been tightened into the t-slot nuts
40 equally such that both blocks 20 push against the surfaces 34 of the
gripping parts 12.
Figure 7 shows an end view of the second arrangement in a
second configuration; that is, with the trough 4' located on a substantially
non-
horizontal surface (not shown) such that asymmetric adjustment of the
adjustment mechanisms is required in order to align the panel 2 vertically.
The threaded shaft on the right hand side 36a has been tightened more than
the threaded shaft on the left hand side 36b, such that the block on the right
hand side 20a is lower than the block on the left hand side 20b. This
asymmetric distribution of the blocks 20 results in an asymmetric positioning
of the surfaces 34 against which the blocks 20 push.
As can be seen from the figure, the screw drives on the threaded shafts 36 are
fully accessible to a user such that either may be operated without hindrance.
19
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-02-06
