Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 FASCIA RAIL SYSTEM
2 FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
3 [0001] The present disclosure relates to rail systems, and in
particular to a fascia rail
4 system that is easily installed from the surface of a floor/slab and that
can be installed flush with
the surface.
6 BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
7 [0002] Many conventional guardrail systems for balconies,
roofs, and other surfaces
8 include pillars secured to the balcony/roof slab and glass panels
attached to the pillars. The
9 pillars are unsightly and interrupt the clean look of the glass surface.
In many cases installation
requires scaffolding, which is time consuming and expensive to set up. Some
systems require
11 slab edge covers to cover unfinished concrete and hardware. To ensure
adequate water drainage,
12 pillars must be used to raise the system off the slab and allow water to
drain underneath;
13 alternatively balcony/roof drains must be used. In addition,
conventional railing systems allow
14 for only minimal adjustments, minimizing their flexibility.
[0003] These and other shortcomings are addressed by aspects of the present
disclosure.
16 SUMMARY
17 [0004] Aspects of the disclosure relate to a fascia rail system
including: an angle profile
18 component including a first upper support, a lower support, and a mount
surface; a clamping
19 profile component including a second upper support, a front face, and a
groove between the
second upper support and the front face; a panel inserted into the groove of
the clamping profile
21 component; and a cover overlying the angle profile component and the
clamping profile
22 component. The angle profile component is mountable to an edge of a
flooring structure through
23 the mount surface. The second upper support of the clamping profile
component is attached to
24 the first upper support of the angle profile component.
1
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 [0005] Further aspects of the disclosure relate to methods for
installing a fascia rail
2 system to a flooring structure, the fascia rail system including (1) an
angle profile component
3 including a first upper support, a lower support, and a mount surface,
(2) a clamping profile
4 component including a second upper support, a front face, and a groove
between the second
upper support and the front face, (3) a panel, and (4) a cover. The method
includes: (a) installing
6 the angle profile component to an edge of the flooring structure through
the mount surface; (b)
7 installing the panel into the groove of the clamping profile component;
(c) mounting the
8 clamping profile component to the first upper support of the angle
profile component; and (d)
9 installing the cover over the angle profile component and the clamping
profile component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
11 [0006] In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to
scale, like numerals may
12 describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having
different letter suffixes
13 may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings
illustrate generally, by
14 way of example, but not by way of limitation, various aspects discussed
in the present document.
[0007] FIG. lA is a front side perspective view of a fascia rail system
according to
16 aspects of the disclosure.
17 [0008] FIG. 1B is a top perspective view the fascia rail system
of FIG. 1A.
18 [0009] FIG. 2A is a front side perspective view of an angle
profile component according
19 to aspects of the disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 2B is a top perspective view of the angle profile component of
FIG. 2A.
21 [0011] FIG. 3A is a side view of a flooring structure with an
embed according to aspects
22 of the disclosure.
23 [0012] FIG. 3B is a front view of a flooring structure with
embeds according to aspects
24 of the disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 4A is a front side perspective view of an angle profile
component and
26 clamping profile component according to aspects of the disclosure.
2
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 [0014] FIG. 4B is a top perspective view of the angle profile
component and clamping
2 profile component of FIG. 4A.
3 [0015] FIG. 4C is a top view of the angle profile component and
clamping profile
4 component of FIG. 4A.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the fascia rail system according to aspects
of the
6 disclosure.
7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
8 [0017] With reference to FIGS. 1A-5, aspects of the disclosure
relate to a fascia rail
9 system 10 including: an angle profile component 100 including a first
upper support 110, a lower
support 120, and a mount surface 130; a clamping profile component 200
including a second
11 upper support 210, a front face 220, and a groove 230 between the second
upper support 210 and
12 the front face 220; a panel 300 inserted into the groove 230 of the
clamping profile component
13 200; and a cover 400 overlying the angle profile component 100 and the
clamping profile
14 component 200. The angle profile component 100 is mountable at an edge
510 of the flooring
structure 500 through the mount surface 130. The second upper support 210 of
the clamping
16 profile component 200 is attached to the first upper support 110 of the
angle profile component
17 100.
18 [0018] In some aspects the angle profile component 100 includes
notches 150. The
19 notches 150 provide access to the mount surface 130 to mount the angle
profile component 100
to the edge 510 of the flooring structure 500. In this manner, the angle
profile component 100
21 may be installed to the edge 510 of the flooring structure 500 from
above, i.e., while working on
22 the flooring surface 500. This eliminates the need for ladders and/or
scaffolding to install the
23 fascia rail system 10 from the outside of the building/structure. The
notches 150 may also
24 provide a path for water drainage through the fascia rail system 10, as
further described below.
[0019] In certain aspects the clamping profile component 200 includes weep
holes 240 to
26 facilitate drainage of water through the fascia rail system. As further
demonstrated in FIG. 5,
27 water may flow through the notches 150 and onto the lower support 120 of
the angle profile
3
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 component. From there, water flows through the weep holes 240 in the
clamping profile
2 component 200 and off the building/structure. It is also noted that with
the cover 400 installed
3 there is a gap 410 between the cover 400 and the flooring structure to
allow water to flow under
4 the cover and through the notches 150. The drainage feature represents an
improvement over
conventional drainage systems which require the panel to be secured above the
level of the
6 flooring structure (so that water can flow underneath the panel) or that
rely on drains in the
7 flooring structure to remove water.
8 [0020] In further aspects the clamping profile component 200
includes a plurality of
9 adjustment screws 250. The adjustment screws 250 allow for adjustment 310
of the panel 300
within the groove 230 and secure the panel 300 within the groove 230.
11 [0021] In some aspects the clamping profile component 200
includes at least one gasket
12 260 installed between the panel 300 and the groove 230 of the clamping
profile component 200.
13 The at least one gasket 260 prevents water from passing between the
clamping profile
14 component 200 and the panel 300; water instead preferably travels along
the path described
above. In addition, the at least one gasket 260 closes the gap between the
clamping profile
16 component 200 and the panel 300 to enhance the visual appearance of the
system. The at least
17 one gasket may be silicone or other suitable material.
18 [0022] In certain aspects one or more shims or spacers 270 are
included between the
19 clamping profile component 200 and one or both sides of the panel 300.
The shims/spacers 270
may be plastic or other suitable material.
21 [0023] The components described herein, and in particular the
angle profile component
22 100, the clamping profile component 200, and the cover 400 may be cast
from aluminum or
23 another material that provides the components with sufficient strength
to support the panel 300.
24 [0024] The panel may be formed of any suitable structural
material, such as but not
limited to glass, polymers, metal or a combination thereof.
26 [0025] The flooring structure described herein may in some
aspects be a concrete, metal,
27 or wood slab or floor. The flooring structure may function as a patio, a
deck, a terrace, a
28 walkway, a balcony, a porch or a roof of a building/structure.
4
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 [0026] While the fascia rail system described herein is shown
as a linear system, it will
2 be recognized that the components (including the panel) may be curved,
angled (at, for example,
3 a 45 degree or a 90 degree angle), or have any other contour that
corresponds to the contour of
4 the flooring structure or the desired contour of the fascia rail system.
[0027] The fascia rail system 10 described herein has improved features as
compared to
6 conventional railing systems. Water drainage is one such feature, as
described above. As further
7 described herein, the fascia rail system 10 can be installed from the
flooring structure without the
8 need for ladders or scaffolding along the edge of the building/structure.
The front face 220 of the
9 clamping profile component covers the edge of the flooring structure
(e.g., concrete slab) and the
fascia rail components, giving the edge a clean look. Further, the fascia rail
system 10 can be
11 installed flush with the flooring structure, reducing visual
interference from both sides of the
12 fascia rail system 10 as compared to conventional railing systems.
Another benefit is that the
13 panel 300 may be installed to the clamping profile component 200 off-
site (e.g., at the point of
14 manufacture) and then easily attached to the angle profile component on
the jobsite. Further,
multiple adjustment components allow for ease of installation.
16 Methods for Installing a Fascia Rail System
17 [0028] Aspects of the disclosure further relate to methods for
installing a fascia rail
18 system 10 to a flooring structure 500. The fascia rail system 10
includes (1) an angle profile
19 component 100 including a first upper support 110, a lower support 120,
and a mount surface
130, (2) a clamping profile component 200 including a second upper support
210, a front face
21 220, and a groove 230 between the second upper support 210 and the front
face 220, (3) a panel
22 300, and (4) a cover 400. The method includes
23 (a) installing the angle profile component 100 to an edge 510 of the
flooring structure
24 500 through the mount surface 130;
(b) installing the panel 300 into the groove 230 of the clamping profile
component
26 200;
27 (c) mounting the clamping profile component 200 to the first upper
support 110 of
28 the angle profile component 100; and
5
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 (d) installing the cover 400 over the angle profile component 100 and
the clamping
2 profile component 200.
3 [0029] The fascia rail system 10 installed according to the
method described herein may
4 include the components of the fascia rail system 10 described above. In
particular aspects step (a)
of installing the angle profile component 100 to the edge 510 of the flooring
structure 500
6 includes inserting a plurality of fasteners 140 through the mount surface
130 of the angle profile
7 component 100 into the edge 510 of the flooring structure 500. With
reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B
8 and 4C, the plurality of fasteners 140 may be installed into embeds 520
(e.g., concrete embeds)
9 in the flooring structure 500. In other aspects the angle profile
component 100 is installed against
the edge 510 of the flooring structure using fasteners according to the
engineering requirements
11 of the specific project. As used herein, fasteners include screws,
bolts, or other suitable and
12 conventional fastener components.
13 [0030] As described herein, the angle profile component 100 may
include notches which
14 provide access to the mount surface 130 to mount the angle profile
component 100 to the edge
510 of the flooring structure 500 from above.
16 [0031] The step (a) of installing the angle profile component
100 to the edge 510 of the
17 flooring structure 500 may include using a serrated washer 160 with each
of the fasteners 140.
18 The serrated washer 160 prevents the fastener 140 from loosening from
the edge 510 of the
19 flooring structure 500.
[0032] In further aspects the step (b) of installing the panel 300 into the
groove 230 of the
21 clamping profile component 200 includes installing at least one gasket
260 between the panel
22 300 and the groove 230 of the clamping profile component 200. The gasket
260 prevents water
23 from passing between the clamping profile component 200 and the panel
300; water instead
24 preferably travels along the path described above.
[0033] In some aspects the fascia rail system described herein satisfies
the ICC-ES
26 AC439, "Acceptance Criteria for Glass Railing and Balustrade Systems."
The methods for
27 installing the fascia rail system may result in a fascia rail system
that satisfies the ICC-ES AC439
28 standard.
6
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 [0034] Various combinations of elements of this disclosure are
encompassed by this
2 disclosure, e.g., combinations of elements from dependent claims that
depend upon the same
3 independent claim.
4 [0035] Moreover, it is to be understood that unless otherwise
expressly stated, it is in no
way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that
its steps be
6 performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not
actually recite an
7 order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically
stated in the claims or
8 descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is
in no way intended that an
9 order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-
express basis for interpretation,
including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or
operational flow; plain
11 meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; and the
number or type of
12 aspects described in the specification.
13 [0036] All publications mentioned herein are incorporated
herein by reference to disclose
14 and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the
publications are cited.
Aspects of the Disclosure
16 [0037] In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to
and includes at least the
17 following aspects.
18 [0038] Aspect 1. A fascia rail system comprising,
consisting of, or consisting
19 essentially of:
an angle profile component comprising a first upper support, a lower support,
and a
21 mount surface;
22 a clamping profile component comprising a second upper support, a front
face, and a
23 groove between the second upper support and the front face;
24 a panel inserted into the groove of the clamping profile component; and
a cover overlying the angle profile component and the clamping profile
component,
26 wherein
27 the angle profile component is mountable to an edge of a flooring
structure through the
28 mount surface, and
7
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 the second upper support of the clamping profile component is attached
to the first upper
2 support of the angle profile component.
3 [0039] Aspect 2. The fascia rail system according to
Aspect 1, wherein the panel
4 comprises a glass panel, a polymeric panel, a metal panel, or a
combination thereof.
[0040] Aspect 3. The fascia rail system according to Aspect 1 or 2,
wherein the
6 flooring structure is a concrete, wood, or metal slab or floor of a
patio, a terrace, a walkway, a
7 deck, balcony a porch, or a roof.
8 [0041] Aspect 4. The fascia rail system according to any
of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein
9 the angle profile component comprises notches, wherein the notches: (a)
provide access to the
mount surface to mount the angle profile component to the edge of the flooring
structure; (b)
11 provide a path for water drainage through the fascia rail system; or (c)
a combination thereof.
12 [0042] Aspect 5. The fascia rail system according to any
of Aspects 1 to 4, wherein
13 the clamping profile component comprises weep holes to facilitate
drainage of water through the
14 fascia rail system.
[0043] Aspect 6. The fascia rail system according to any of Aspects 1
to 5, wherein
16 the clamping profile component comprises a plurality of adjustment
screws, wherein the plurality
17 of adjustment screws allow for adjustment of the panel within the groove
and secure the panel
18 within the groove.
19 [0044] Aspect 7. The fascia rail system according to any
of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein
the flooring structure has a top surface, the panel has lower surface, and the
panel is configured
21 to be installed such that the lower surface of the panel is below the
top surface of the flooring
22 structure.
23 [0045] Aspect 8. The fascia rail system according to any
of Aspects 1 to 7, wherein
24 the clamping profile component further comprises at least one gasket
installed between the panel
and the groove of the clamping profile component.
26 [0046] Aspect 9. The fascia rail system according to any
of Aspects 1 to 8, wherein
27 one or more of the angle profile component, the clamping profile
component, and the cover
28 comprise aluminum.
8
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 [0047] Aspect 10. A method for installing a fascia rail
system to a flooring structure,
2 the fascia rail system comprising, consisting of, or consisting
essentially of (1) an angle profile
3 component comprising a first upper support, a lower support, and a mount
surface, (2) a
4 clamping profile component comprising a second upper support, a front
face, and a groove
between the second upper support and the front face, (3) a panel, and (4) a
cover, the method
6 comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of:
7 (a) installing the angle profile component to an edge of the flooring
structure through
8 the mount surface;
9 (b) installing the panel into the groove of the clamping profile
component;
(c) mounting the clamping profile component to the first upper support of
the angle
11 profile component; and
12 (d) installing the cover over the angle profile component and the
clamping profile
13 component.
14 [0048] Aspect 11. The method according to Aspect 10,
wherein step (a) of installing
the angle profile component to the edge of the flooring structure comprises
inserting a plurality
16 of fasteners through the mount surface of the angle profile component
into the edge of the
17 flooring structure.
18 [0049] Aspect 12. The method according to Aspect 11,
wherein the angle profile
19 component comprises notches which provide access to the mount surface to
mount the angle
profile component to the edge of the flooring structure from above.
21 [0050] Aspect 13. The method according to Aspect 11 or 12,
wherein step (a) of
22 installing the angle profile component to the edge of the flooring
structure further comprises
23 combining each of the plurality of fasteners with a serrated washer
which prevents the plurality
24 of fasteners from loosening.
[0051] Aspect 14. The method according to any of Aspects 10 to 13,
wherein step (b)
26 of installing the panel into the groove of the clamping profile
component further comprises
27 installing at least one gasket between the panel and the groove of the
clamping profile
28 component.
9
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 [0052] Aspect 15. The method according to any of Aspects
10 to 14, wherein the
2 clamping profile component comprises a plurality of adjustment screws for
adjusting of the panel
3 within the groove and securing the panel within the groove.
4 [0053] Aspect 16. The method according to any of Aspects
10 to 15, wherein one or
more of the angle profile component, the clamping profile component, and the
cover comprise
6 aluminum.
7 [0054] Aspect 17. The method according to any of Aspects
10 to 16, wherein the
8 panel comprises a glass panel, a polymeric panel, a metal panel, or a
combination thereof.
9 [0055] Aspect 18. The method according to any of Aspects
10 to 17, wherein the
flooring structure is a concrete slab or a metal floor of a patio, a terrace,
a walkway, a deck, a
11 porch, or a roof.
12 Definitions
13 [0056] It is also to be understood that the terminology used
herein is for the purpose of
14 describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.
As used in the specification
and in the claims, the term "comprising" can include the aspects "consisting
of" and "consisting
16 essentially of." Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific
terms used herein have the
17 same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
to which this
18 disclosure belongs. In this specification and in the claims which
follow, reference will be made
19 to a number of terms which shall be defined herein.
[0057] As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular
forms "a," "an"
21 and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. Thus, for
22 example, reference to "a gasket" includes aspects including two or more
gaskets.
23 [0058] As used herein, the term "combination" is inclusive of
blends, mixtures, alloys,
24 reaction products, and the like.
[0059] Ranges can be expressed herein as from one value (first value) to
another value
26 (second value). When such a range is expressed, the range includes in
some aspects one or both
27 of the first value and the second value. Similarly, when values are
expressed as approximations,
28 by use of the antecedent 'about,' it will be understood that the
particular value forms another
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the
ranges are significant both
2 in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other
endpoint. It is also understood
3 that there are a number of values disclosed herein, and that each value
is also herein disclosed as
4 "about" that particular value in addition to the value itself. For
example, if the value "10" is
disclosed, then "about 10" is also disclosed. It is also understood that each
unit between two
6 particular units are also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are
disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and
7 14 are also disclosed.
8 [0060] As used herein, the terms "about" and "at or about" mean
that the amount or value
9 in question can be the designated value, approximately the designated
value, or about the same
as the designated value. It is generally understood, as used herein, that it
is the nominal value
11 indicated 10% variation unless otherwise indicated or inferred. The
term is intended to convey
12 that similar values promote equivalent results or effects recited in the
claims. That is, it is
13 .. understood that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other
quantities and characteristics
14 are not and need not be exact, but can be approximate and/or larger or
smaller, as desired,
reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and
the like, and other
16 factors known to those of skill in the art. In general, an amount, size,
formulation, parameter or
17 other quantity or characteristic is "about" or "approximate" whether or
not expressly stated to be
18 such. It is understood that where "about" is used before a quantitative
value, the parameter also
19 includes the specific quantitative value itself, unless specifically
stated otherwise.
[0061] Unless otherwise stated to the contrary herein, all test standards
are the most
21 recent standard in effect at the time of filing this application.
22 [0062] The above description is intended to be illustrative,
and not restrictive. For
23 example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof)
may be used in
24 combination with each other. Other aspects can be used, such as by one
of ordinary skill in the
art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply
with 37 C.F.R.
26 1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the
technical disclosure. It is
27 submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret
or limit the scope or
28 meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various
features may be grouped
11
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
CA Application
CPST Ref: 41553/00001
1 together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as
intending that an
2 unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive
subject matter may lie in
3 less than all features of a particular disclosed aspect. Thus, the
following claims are hereby
4 incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or aspects, with
each claim standing on
its own as a separate aspect, and it is contemplated that such aspects can be
combined with each
6 other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the
disclosure should be determined
7 with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of
equivalents to which such
8 claims are entitled.
12
CPST Doc: 522407.1
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-09-06
