Support means

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6568657
  • Patent Number
    6,568,657
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, February 20, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 27, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A hand rail support 1, having a substantially cylindrical shaped containment portion 2, a face plate 3, and a flange 4. The face plate 3 and the flange 4 facilitate securing the hand rail support 1 to a building construction. The containment portion 2 can receive a baluster of a hand rail together with a settable substance, for example a suitable grout, so that the baluster is securely held in the containment portion.
Description




FIELD OF INVENTION




This invention relates to support means. In particular, a preferred form of the invention relates to support means for a hand rail.




BACKGROUND ART




In the building industry it is well known to fasten hand rails to a building construction to provide a safe and aesthetically pleasing finish to the construction. Such hand rails may incorporate a series of brackets which are fixed to wooden framing or the like by way of screws or some other suitable fixing means. A problem faced in the use of hand rails is that the points where they are fixed to the wooden framing may become positions of ingress to moisture. Such ingress of moisture very often causes the timber framing to rot, and thus to weaken. Wooden framing which has been left to rot for some time can present a significant hazard, and can require substantial expense to rectify. Moreover, it is often not possible to detect the rotting framing as there are no visible signs of this on the exterior of the construction. It is accordingly an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problem.




In interpreting this specification, including the associated claims, the term “comprising” or “comprises” or “comprise”, if and where appearing, should be taken to be non-exclusive—ie should be taken to mean “consisting of or including”.




GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION




According to one aspect of the invention there is provided, in combination, a building construction, a hand rail support secured to the building construction, and a hand rail, the hand rail having at least one baluster and a balustrade, the hand rail support having a containment portion, the containment portion having an opening through which at least part of the baluster passes such that at least a portion of the baluster is secured within the containment portion by a set settable substance, the set settable substance being arranged within the containment portion substantially around at least part of the baluster, the hand rail support being arranged such that water is unable to pass immediately around the hand rail support to an area within the building construction to cause damage to the building construction.




Preferably the containment portion is substantially cylindrical in shape, and may be substantially square, substantially rectangular, or substantially circular, in transverse cross section.




Preferably there is a layer of water impervious material extending from the building construction to the hand rail support, the water impervious material serving to prevent water from passing around the hand rail support to an area within the building construction. The water impervious material may be in the form of a sheet.




Preferably the setable substance is a suitable grout.




Preferably the hand rail support has a face plate which lays against the building construction.




Optionally the opening is substantially flush with an exterior facing surface of the building construction. In this arrangement the containment portion may be substantially within a cavity forming part of the building construction.




Optionally the containment portion extends outwards from adjacent the building construction such that the opening is spaced from the building construction.




Preferably the containment portion is substantially square, substantially rectangular, or substantially circular, in transverse cross section.




According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a hand rail support, having a substantially cylindrical containment portion, an opening in the containment portion for receiving a hand rail baluster, a face plate extending substantially around the opening, and a flange extending from the containment portion, the flange being substantially perpendicular with respect to the face plate. Preferably the face plate and the flange each have an aperture or apertures for receiving fixing members. Preferably the face plate extends substantially around and is substantially flush with the opening.




According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a hand rail support, having a pillar, a face plate attached to the pillar, and a flange extending from the face plate, the flange being substantially perpendicular with respect to the pillar. The pillar may be substantially solid, or alternatively may be substantially hollow with an opening leading into the pillar. Preferably the face plate and the flange each have an aperture or apertures for receiving fixing members. Preferably the face plate is adjacent an end of the pillar which is remote from the opening.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Some preferred aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:





FIG. 1

is perspective view of a hand rail support,





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view showing the hand rail support in use,





FIG. 3

is an alternative hand rail support, and





FIG. 4

is a cross sectional view showing the alternative hand rail support in use.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




With reference to figures


1


and


2


, a hand rail support


1


comprises a containment portion


2


, a face plate


3


, and a flange


4


. The containment portion


2


is cylindrical in shape with an opening


5


. As shown, the containment portion is substantially square in transverse cross section—ie when the section taken runs parallel to the face plate


3


. The face plate


3


has apertures


6


for receiving screws


7


or other suitable fixing members. The flange


4


is substantially planar and also has an aperture


8


for receiving a bolt


9


or some other suitable fixing member. The hand rail support


1


is preferably formed from a rigid non-corrosive metallic material, for example galvanised steel.




With particular reference to

FIG. 2

, when the hand rail support


1


is in use it is arranged with the containment portion


2


extending into a building construction such that the face plate


3


is substantially flush with an exterior facing surface


10


of the building construction (ie a surface which faces outwards). This can be facilitated by counter-sinking the face plate


3


with respect to the exterior facing surface


10


. However, for the purpose of this document the face plate


3


should also be taken as being flush with the exterior facing surface


10


when it is laying against the exterior facing surface


10


without the counter-sinking. The exterior facing surface


10


may be an upper part of a barrier extending around an elevated balcony or deck area of the building construction. The hand rail support


1


may be secured to wooden framing


11


forming part of the barrier by way of the flange


4


and bolt


9


.




To prevent rain water passing around the hand rail support


1


to the internal framing or other parts of the building construction a water guard


12


is employed. The water guard


12


may be in the form of a water impervious sheet adhered to the exterior facing surface


10


and the hand rail support


1


. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the water guard


12


passes over the face plate


3


and into the containment portion


2


.




A hand rail can be fitted to the building construction by way of the hand rail support


1


. The hand rail is of a kind having a baluster


13


and a balustrade


14


. The baluster


13


is positioned within the containment portion


2


of the hand rail support


1


. A cementitious substance, for example a suitable grout


15


, is filled within the containment portion


2


around the baluster


13


to secure the baluster


13


in place. Other hand rail supports


1


may be arranged in similar fashion with other balusters such that the balustrade


14


is spaced from and runs parallel to the exterior facing surface


10


.




A silicon sealant


16


is preferably applied around the baluster


13


where the baluster


13


contacts the grout


15


. Additionally, a suitable decorative coating may be applied over the exterior facing surface


10


, over the face plate


3


, and over the grout.




With reference to

FIGS. 3 and 4

, an alternative hand rail support


17


comprises a hollow pillar


18


extending outwards from a face plate


19


. A flange


20


extends perpendicularly from the face plate


19


. The face plate


19


and the flange


20


each have an aperture or apertures for receiving screws, bolts, or similar. When the alternative hand rail support


17


is in use the face plate


19


is screwed on to an outward facing surface


21


similar to the outward facing surface


10


described above, and the flange


20


is bolted to internal framing


22


. The pillar


18


has one opening


23


, and that opening faces outwards with respect to the outward facing surface


21


to receive a baluster (not shown) forming part of a hand rail, and also to receive grout. A suitable water stop


24


, eg a flexible impervious adhesive sheet, is applied over the exterior facing surface


21


, over the face plate


19


, and extends against the exterior of the pillar


18


, to prevent water from passing around the alternative hand rail support


17


to damage the internal framing


22


. Preferably the hand rail support


17


is formed from a suitable non-corrosive metallic material.




In some alternative embodiments of the invention a hollow baluster may be fitted around the pillar


18


of the alternative hand rail support


17


—ie the baluster fits around the pillar


18


as per a sleeve rather than fitting within the pillar. In this embodiment there is no need for grout or similar, although the water stop


24


is still utalised—ie the water stop extends from the exterior facing surface


21


to between the exterior of the pillar


18


and the interior of the baluster. In such embodiments the pillar need not be hollow.




While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that improvements and modifications can occur without departing from the scope of the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. In combination, a building construction, a hand rail support secured to the building construction, and a hand rail, the hand rail having at least one baluster and a balustrade, the hand rail support having a containment portion, the containment portion having an opening through which at least part of the baluster passes such that at least a portion of the baluster is secured within the containment portion by a set settable substance, the set settable substance being arranged within the containment portion substantially around at least part of the baluster, the hand rail support being arranged such that water is unable to pass immediately around the hand rail support to an area within the building construction to cause damage to the building construction.
  • 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the containment portion is substantially cylindrical in shape.
  • 3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein there is a layer of water impervious material extending from the building construction to the hand rail support, the water impervious material serving to prevent water from passing around the hand rail support to an area within the building construction.
  • 4. A combination according to claim 1, wherein there is a layer of water impervious material extending from the building construction to the hand rail support, the water impervious material serving to prevent water from passing around the hand rail support to an area within the building construction, the water impervious material being in the form of a sheet.
  • 5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the setable substance is a suitable grout.
  • 6. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the hand rail support has a face plate which lays against the building construction.
  • 7. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the opening is substantially flush with an exterior facing surface of the building construction.
  • 8. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the containment portion extends outwards from adjacent the building construction such that the opening is spaced from the building construction.
  • 9. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the containment portion is substantially square, substantially rectangular, or substantially circular, in transverse cross section.
  • 10. A hand rail baluster support, having a substantially cylindrical containment portion, an opening in the containment portion for receiving a hand rail baluster, a face plate extending substantially around the opening, and a substantially planar flange extending from the containment portion, the flange being substantially perpendicular with respect to the face plate.
  • 11. A hand rail support according to claim 10, wherein the face plate and the flange each have an aperture or apertures for receiving fixing members.
  • 12. A hand rail support according to claim 10, wherein the face plate extends around and is substantially flush with the opening.
  • 13. A hand rail baluster support, having a pillar, a face plate attached to the pillar, and a substantially planar flange extending from the face plate, the flange being substantially perpendicular with respect to the face plate.
  • 14. A hand rail support according to claim 13, wherein the pillar is substantially cylindrical.
  • 15. A hand rail support according to claim 13, wherein the face plate and the flange each have an aperture or apertures for receiving fixing members.
  • 16. A hand rail support according to claim 13, wherein the pillar is substantially cylindrical and there is an opening leading into the pillar, the face plate being adjacent an end of the pillar which is remote from the opening.
  • 17. In combination, a building construction, a hand rail support secured to the building construction, and a hand rail, the hand rail having at least one baluster and a balustrade, the hand rail support having a containment portion, the containment portion having an opening through which at least part of the baluster passes such that at least a portion of the baluster is secured within the containment portion by a set settable substance, the set settable substance being arranged within the containment portion substantially around at least part of the baluster, a sheet of water impervious material extending from the building construction to the hand rail support, the face plate being substantially flush with an exterior facing surface of the building construction, and the containment portion being substantially within a cavity of the building construction, the hand rail support being arranged such that water is unable to pass immediately around the hand rail support to an area within the building construction to cause damage to the building construction.
  • 18. A combination according to claim 17, wherein the set settable substance is a suitable grout.
  • 19. In combination, a building construction, a hand rail support secured to the building construction, and a hand rail, the hand rail having at least one baluster and a balustrade, the hand rail support having a pillar, the baluster being fitted around the pillar, a sheet of water impervious material extending from the building construction to the baluster, the face plate being against an exterior facing surface of the building construction, and the pillar extending outwards of the building construction from the face plate, the hand rail support being arranged such that water is unable to pass immediately around the hand rail support to an area within the building construction to cause damage to the building construction.
  • 20. A combination according to claim 19, wherein the water impervious material extends to between the baluster and the pillar.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
506705 Aug 2000 NZ
US Referenced Citations (11)
Number Name Date Kind
3894375 Lindberg, Jr. Jul 1975 A
4002322 Matsubara Jan 1977 A
4346872 Tornya Aug 1982 A
4359851 Daniels Nov 1982 A
4787601 Rybak Nov 1988 A
4892292 Russell Jan 1990 A
5040251 Hanford Aug 1991 A
5165663 Wells Nov 1992 A
5547169 Russell Aug 1996 A
5957437 Savenok Sep 1999 A
5967498 Junell Oct 1999 A