Device for fastening a vertically oriented panel

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of German patent application 20 2024 103 142.3, filed on 12 Jun. 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a device for fastening a panel, for example a guard rail panel in a U-shaped guide channel of a floor profile.

BACKGROUND

According to the prior art, different devices are known for fastening planar components, for example for erecting a guard rail. Such devices and various fastening techniques are primarily necessary for the installation of glass balustrades on buildings. For this purpose, the guard rail panels manufactured from glass are often installed via retaining systems without additional posts and frames to form a glass guard rail.

Retaining systems are primarily used for this that have an aluminium support bar with a U-shaped guide channel or another type of guide groove, which is attached to the floor or the wall of the structure. The guide channel is usually designed in the longitudinal direction. The guard rail panel is inserted and supported therein, and the guard rail panel must be oriented and fixed in the guide channel of the support bar by additional means. To orient the guard rail panel, it is appropriate to orient it before fixing in the guide channel, in which case the support profile is already fastened to the floor before the guard rail panel is inserted therein.

Alternatively, solutions are also known in which the guard rail panel is fixedly connected to the support bar in a first step and oriented together via the support bar in the second step.

For instance, document DE 10 338816 B3 discloses a solution in which the guard rail panel is retained in the U-profile via elastic means and intermediate members, and the support bar is retained via a further mounting profile on the floor or wall. A disadvantage of this is the material outlay, since two aluminium profiles must be installed, and correction of the oriented guard rail panel in the U-shaped profile is excluded. Another disadvantage of this is that an exchange of a damaged guard rail panel also requires the exchange of the support bar.

To overcome these disadvantages, retaining systems are disclosed in which the guard rail panel introduced into the guide channel can be oriented, via adjusting elements previously introduced there, after the guard rail panel has been received, the adjustment of which adjusting elements allows the guard rail panel to be oriented into a desired position, then fixed and if necessary detached again. Such adjusting elements are disclosed, for example, in documents DE 20 2017 105 698 U1, DE 10 2018 003 366 and EP 3 460 141 A1.

It is common to all the devices disclosed therein to change the distances between the received guard rail panel and the inner walls of the flanges in the guide channel in order to allow a vertical orientation of the guard rail panel and then to effect fixing of the guard rail panel by tightening the clamping elements.

Orientation by changing distances can be carried out using two methods. According to one method, the distances from the inner walls of the U-shaped guide channel are changed at the height of the lower edge of the inserted guard rail panel. The setting of the distances, which is then unchangeable, is achieved via adjusting elements that are arranged there and effect initial preliminary fixing. The guard rail panel can thus be tilted via a longitudinal axis at the height of the upper fixing for vertical orientation.

Conversely, the other method for vertical orientation provides for the distances from the inner wall of the guard rail panel to be changed at the height of upper adjusting elements, while the distances in the region of the lower edge remain unchangeable. For vertical orientation, the guard rail panel is swung via the lower edge until it is oriented as desired. The adjusting elements are then tightened in the upper region in order to fix the guard rail panel in the desired orientation.

A disadvantage of both devices is that the guide channel and the adjusting elements necessary for the adjustment must be accessible on both sides in order to be able to carry out the orientation and set the fixing. This is disadvantageous in particular during mounting at a dangerous height, since access on the drop side must be secured at height, for example via a scaffold.

A distinction is made below between a mounting side and a drop side, the mounting side being the one via which a guard rail can be mounted without danger, i.e., which faces the building, for example. The drop side is the side that faces away from the building and on which there is therefore a danger of falling.

During vertical orientation of the guard rail panel via the described adjusting elements, the disadvantage arises that the orientation of the guard rail panel becomes more difficult when multiple adjusting elements are used. Owing to the panel lengths, the use of at least two and more adjusting elements in the U-shaped guide channel is generally necessary. The orientation of the guard rail panel is complex because the individual adjusting elements are not oriented in a defined, uniform manner in the guide channel, or the guard rail panel is positioned at different distances therein. Even if the deviations are minimal, it is often the case that a guard rail panel that is already fixed via some adjusting elements must be detached again in order to be able to continue an orientation. Inserted mounting aids in the upper region of the guide channel can also slip down while the fixing is being undone and limit or prevent further orientation of the guard rail panel. A correction can then generally only be achieved by removing and reorienting the interacting elements.

The previously disclosed means require the adjusting elements to bear against the inner walls in the guide channel and/or to sit on the floor profile bottom in the guide channel. The width of the guide channel can vary for material reasons. The adjusting elements can wedge unfavourably between the inner walls owing to the inadequate dimensions. The guard rail panel can also turn out too narrow, so that it floats between the inner walls. Both deviations have a disadvantageous effect on the orientation of the guard rail panel and its fixing. Finally, the guard rail panel itself can also be uneven.

The disadvantages mentioned are not discussed in the cited documents. They contain no solution to overcome the disadvantages during vertical orientation of the guard rail panel. In particular, the prior art does not disclose a retaining system that allows easy compensation of tolerances during orientation and fixing of the glass panel in the guide channel.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure proposes a device for fastening a panel, in particular a guard rail panel, in a floor profile, said device allowing the simplest possible and in particular vertical orientation and fixing of the guard rail panel. The necessary settings for orienting and fixing the component in the guide channel should be able to be made with little mounting effort on one side from the mounting side. A further feature of the disclosure is to propose a method for orienting and fixing such a panel.

This is achieved by providing a device according to the independent device claim and the independent method claim.

The device according to the disclosure accordingly has

• • a floor-side floor profile with a guide channel of U-shaped cross section formed by a floor profile bottom and two lateral flanges, which form a guide channel in the longitudinal direction,
  • a support element, which is arranged in the guide channel, is likewise U-shaped in cross section and has a fastening channel for fixing the panel in the guide channel, which is formed by two support walls, which each bear against an inner side of a flange, and a rest face, which connects these support walls and on which a lower edge of the panel sits when positioned as intended, wherein the support walls form an introduction opening for introducing the panel with their edges facing away from the rest face, wherein
  • at least one movably attached clamping element is provided on each support wall and interacts with an associated working face on the support wall in question such that the clamping element in question is movable from a starting position, in which it protrudes the least into the fastening channel, into an end position, in which it protrudes maximally into the fastening channel, and back and thereby effects clamping of the panel arranged in the fastening channel between the support walls,
  • an actuating device, which is connected to at least one clamping element and is arranged on the mounting side and via which the clamping element can be moved and the panel can be clamped in the fastening channel,
  • wherein the fastening channel has a narrowed cross section in the region of the introduction opening.

An essential advantage of the disclosure consists in that, during the initial orientation, the panel is no longer adjusted by adjusting elements in the floor profile but the panel itself is oriented. By pivoting the inserted panel together with elements of the support element, it can be brought into the desired position quickly and easily. The support element or the clamping elements adapt to the position of the glass, which then only has to be fixed in the desired position. In principle, this results in only two work steps, specifically the correct insertion in the right position and the subsequent fixing of the panel.

An essential advantage also consists in that the elements arranged in the support element move together with the panel and as a result no or only very small forces are exerted thereon. In contrast to prior art devices, therefore, no elements are placed under pressure and possibly even deformed by the orientation of the panel. Only the subsequent fixing of the panel via the clamping elements causes relatively high tensile or compressive forces.

The method according to the disclosure is characterised by the following method steps:

• • a) introducing at least one support element into the guide channel of the floor profile, wherein the support element has a rest face for receiving the lower edge of the panel and at least one movably attached clamping element on each of the inner sides of lateral support walls;
  • b) inserting the panel into the support element arranged in the guide channel from above through an introduction opening in the direction of the rest face so that the lower edge of the panel rests on the rest face, and orienting the panel into a desired vertical position in the guide channel, wherein the support element follows the orientation of the panel;
  • c) actuating an actuating device, in particular a setting screw, that is accessible from the mounting side, as a result of which the movable clamping element is moved from a relaxed starting position, in which it protrudes the least into the fastening channel, into an end position, in which it protrudes maximally into the fastening channel, and as a result clamps the panel in the fastening channel.

Mounting and fixing are carried out exclusively from the mounting side, which maximises safety during installation; access to the drop side with the danger of falling is not necessary. Fastening can be carried out from the inner side of the balcony with only one fixing or setting screw per adjusting element, which then forms the actuating device. Other suitable actuating devices can also be provided instead of a setting screw.

The support walls and the rest face of the support element surround the lower region of the panel completely, as a result of which a high level of safety and stability is achieved. This is advantageous in particular when the panel is a glass panel, since protective but stable retention is provided by the encompassing support element. In particular, clamping is provided over an area; clamping along lines or at points is avoided.

The disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to the use of a guard rail panel; alternatively, other types of panels can of course also be used.

According to the disclosure, as already stated, the guard rail panel is oriented manually in the fastening channel or guide channel of the U-shaped floor profile without having to carry out a prior or additional setting for orientation of the guard rail panel via the respective support elements. According to the disclosure, the manually oriented guard rail panel is only clamped via the support element in the guide channel; prior orientation of the guard rail panel via the support element is no longer necessary. The fastening can also be undone quickly and easily.

In contrast to the known retaining systems, the support element according to the disclosure therefore no longer has to be set for a certain position of the guard rail panel in advance in order then to be able to orient and wedge the guard rail panel in the guide channel. For the fastening of the guard rail panel, the movable clamping elements are initially in a relaxed starting position when the guard rail panel is inserted into the support element between the support walls and sits there on the rest face. The support element was previously introduced into the guide channel and bears with the outer sides of its support walls against the inner sides of the lateral flanges of the guide channel.

The guard rail panel can then be brought manually into a desired position for mounting by being pivoted, for example by a fitter, until it stands straight or has another desired orientation. It is essential for this that the fastening channel has a narrowed cross section in the region of the introduction opening. The narrowed cross section thus acts as a fulcrum for the introduced guard rail panel, which rotates about or in the region of the narrowed cross section. The fastening channel provides sufficient space under the narrowed cross section to allow pivoting of the guard rail panel as long as the clamping elements are relaxed. Once the desired position is reached, the guard rail panel can be fixed. According to the disclosure, the support element, at least with the internal elements, thus follows the guard rail panel and not vice versa during orientation and fixing. Owing to the distribution of forces described below during tightening of the clamping elements, the necessary wedging can always be realised.

Advantageously, the narrowed cross section is realised by at least one element that can be pivoted relative to the associated support wall. This has the advantage that the element moves too during pivoting of the guard rail panel and remains in flat contact, and thus an excessively small pressure point or a linear compressive load is avoided. The pivotable element is preferably mounted on a curved face, which makes the desired pivotability possible.

The narrowed cross section can advantageously be realised at least by a mounting-side angle compensator, which is connected to a clamping element and is movable together with a clamping element. Movement or displacement of the clamping element, for example in the vertical direction, also shifts the narrowed cross section slightly.

In principle, one actuating device can be provided per clamping element. In a particularly advantageous variant, an upper mounting-side clamping element and a lower mounting-side clamping element are located on the mounting-side support wall, said clamping elements being movable together via a single actuating device such that both of them jointly narrow the cross section of the fastening channel for the clamping effect. The movement out of the starting position also causes both clamping elements to come to bear against the guard rail panel and clamp it. The two clamping elements are preferably moved towards and away from one another by the single actuating device.

The lower mounting-side clamping element can advantageously be connected to a drop-side lower clamping element via a connecting element such that a tensile force can be transmitted via the actuating device from the mounting-side clamping element to the drop-side lower clamping element, as a result of which the clamping elements narrow the cross section of the fastening channel for the clamping effect. The connecting element can be formed, for example, by a cable or else by multiple parallel cables, but a deflection band, for example consisting of steel or a resistant plastic, is particularly suitable.

Working faces of the clamping elements interact with ramps when shifted vertically. For this purpose, the clamping elements and the ramps are advantageously wedge-shaped on the bearing working faces and are oriented in opposite directions to one another. When the clamping elements are tightened, the distance between the transversely arranged lower clamping elements and between the transversely arranged upper clamping elements narrows. This effect can be achieved for all the movable clamping elements at the same time when the clamping elements are blocked and unblocked according to the disclosure by the actuating device. The working faces of the clamping elements and of the ramps are preferably curved, which allows the clamping elements to pivot. This is particularly advantageous, since the surface pressure is thereby maintained, even if the guard rail panel is pivoted out of the perpendicular. Therefore, the clamping elements follow the inclination of the guard rail panel.

The deflection band is guided through displaceably from the mounting side between the support element and the floor profile bottom, preferably in a guide groove in the support element, so that the deflection band is guided as intended for its displacement. The deflection band can be used for drop-side and mounting-side tension at the same time. However, there is also the possibility of using the deflection band only for drop-side or mounting-side tension as well as a use on both sides and on one side. The loading depends on the necessary tensile force to tighten the respective clamping elements. The necessary tensile forces can be different depending on the position of the guard rail panel and of the support element.

The tensile force on the deflection band is therefore preferably used on both sides in order to shift the lower clamping elements out of their relaxed starting positions vertically against the ramps and thus to bring them into a tightened position in the direction of the guard rail panel. Advantageously, the shift into a tightened position on the drop side takes place by lowering the clamping element. For this purpose, the ramp on the drop-side support wall is shaped and arranged such that it widens in cross section from top to bottom and is oriented sloping obliquely in parallel with the guard rail panel. The opposite working face on the clamping element tapers in cross section from top to bottom. On the mounting side, the deflection band is connected to the lower clamping element, which is pulled up by the tensile force during tightening. For this purpose, the lower ramp on the mounting-side support wall is shaped and arranged such that it tapers in cross section from top to bottom and is oriented sloping obliquely in parallel with the guard rail panel. In contrast, the opposite bearing working face widens in cross section from top to bottom.

In an advantageous embodiment, the deflection band is connected to the setting screw such that screwing in of the setting screw causes a tensile force on the drop side and on the mounting side of the deflection band. The lower clamping elements are thereby shifted vertically and tightened on both sides as described.

On the mounting side, the deflection band can preferably be guided via at least one movable band deflector to the lower mounting-side clamping element and is connected thereto. The deflection can take place by a half-rotation, i.e., by approximately 180 degrees. The deflection band is therefore preferably fastened at the top to the mounting-side clamping element arranged on the inside of the fastening channel, extends upwards from there, then runs via the band deflector and in the process is deflected outwards by 180 degrees. From there, it extends downwards in the direction of the floor profile bottom, is again deflected by approximately 90 degrees and guided under the rest face to the drop side. There, the last deflection takes place upwards (again approximately 90 degrees) to the lower drop-side clamping element, to which it is fastened from below.

In this way, a tensile force can also act, via the deflection band, on the lower mounting-side clamping element and lift the clamping element during tightening. The band deflector can then move with the rotary movement of the setting screw. The band deflector is lifted when the screw is screwed in and lowered when the screw is unscrewed. The tensile force thus effected for tightening the lower clamping elements is distributed via the deflection band, and the band deflector advantageously causes both clamping elements to be loaded with tensile force to the necessary and equal extent for the tightening and held to fix the guard rail panel. As soon as one of the two lower clamping elements is tightened during screwing in of the setting screw and tightening, the tensile force is distributed via the band deflector and the deflection band to the less tightened clamping element until the lower clamping elements are loaded equally via the tensile force.

Mounting and dismounting are then particularly simple when the actuating device is formed by a single setting screw, which extends through a preferably threadless channel in the upper mounting-side clamping element into a screw channel in the lower mounting-side clamping element, as a result of which the two clamping elements can be moved towards one another by rotating the setting screw. The clamping elements are restored preferably via compression springs that are provided for this purpose and are arranged on the drop side and on the mounting side. A longitudinal extent of the setting screw and a movement direction of the clamping elements preferably run perpendicularly to the plane of the rest face. A threadless channel is preferable, otherwise, when the maximum tightening of the upper mounting-side clamping element is reached, it would no longer be possible to screw in the setting screw further, and further tightening of the lower clamping elements would no longer be possible or would be possible only to a limited extent.

The screw channel is advantageously partially connected loosely to the upper mounting-side clamping element. The connection can be made via an additional means, a clamping retainer, which is connected to the upper mounting-side clamping element loosely and displaceably on the horizontal plane. Since the upper mounting-side clamping element is lowered and moves as intended over the ramp and the working face in the direction of the guard rail panel when the setting screw is screwed in, it is preferred when the setting screw is not carried along in the direction of the guard rail panel in the process but guides the clamping element downwards.

Preferably, at least one compression spring can act on the mounting-side lower clamping element, which compression spring is compressed when the lower clamping element is tightened, and the spring rate of which acts on the lower clamping element on relaxing, in order to lower it.

Furthermore, the device can advantageously have a detachable closure clip on the mounting-side support wall, on which closure clip the upper clamping element is arranged, wherein the closure clip can be inserted from above in the direction of the rest face and can be detachably attached via a locking connection, for example via locking arms.

As already stated, an essential advantage is achieved in that the movement of all the movable clamping elements can be driven from the mounting side via a single actuating device.

For tightening, the clamping elements preferably press against ramps between the support walls and the surfaces of the guard rail panel and clamp it in the fastening channel. The support walls are pressed more firmly against the inner walls of the lateral flanges, which absorb the resulting counter force from the tightening until the guard rail panel is sufficiently stiffened.

The clamping effect of the upper clamping element is advantageously achieved by lowering the clamping element during tightening. For this purpose, the ramp on the mounting-side support wall is shaped and arranged such that it widens in cross section from top to bottom so that it is oriented sloping obliquely in parallel with the guard rail panel. The opposite working face on the clamping element tapers in cross section from top to bottom. As soon as the upper clamping element is loaded by a tensile force, effected by the setting screw on screwing in, the upper clamping element can be moved downwards in the direction of the guard rail panel, guided in the opposite direction by the ramp, until it is tightened.

According to the disclosure, the tightening of the movable clamping elements is maintained via the setting screw in its screwed-in position. According to the disclosure, the movable clamping elements are relaxed by loosening the tightening by unscrewing the setting screw. The movable clamping elements are then no longer retained by a tensile force and can be moved away from the guard rail panel. The force input preferably takes place by means of two compression springs on the mounting side and drop side and/or by manually pivoting the guard rail panel.

Preferably, at least one compression spring can be arranged under the upper mounting-side clamping element, said compression spring lifting the latter on relaxing. When the setting screw is loosened, the upper mounting-side clamping element is relaxed by the compressive force on the clamp retainer with the assistance of the compression spring and thus moved away from the guard rail panel. When the mounting-side upper clamping element is tightened, the compression spring is therefore previously compressed and held. On relaxing, the spring rate of the loaded compression spring impacts the upper clamping element in the vertical direction. Advantageously, a displacement path of the upper clamping element between the tightened and relaxed positions of the upper clamping element can be limited by the introduced setting screw and can be set by the rotary movement thereof. In an advantageous embodiment, the compression spring is arranged in continuation of the screw channel around the setting screw.

Since the spring rate of this compression spring acts in opposition to the tensile force on the mounting-side lower clamping element, an arrangement above the lower clamping element is preferred. The compression spring is thus compressed when the lower clamping element is tightened. The operation via a setting screw blocks the lower clamping element so that the spring rate emanating from the loaded compression spring impacts the lower clamping element but does not cause any change in position. When the lower clamping element is relaxed, the compression spring causes the lower clamping element to be lowered. The compression spring interacts primarily with the deflection band when tensile force no longer loads the lower clamping element via the deflection band on relaxing, in order to take it out of its tightened position.

Furthermore, at least one compression spring can be provided above the drop-side lower clamping element. According to the advantageously described embodiment, the drop-side lower clamping element is tightened by a downward displacement. The spring rate of the loaded compression spring preferably acts in the opposite direction. The arrangement of a compression spring below the drop-side lower clamping element is unfavourable, since the space is limited on the lower region of the base part for a sufficient spring range. The clamping element is therefore preferably equipped with a bracket, on the upper end of which the compression spring is vertically arranged. When the clamping element is tightened, the compression spring is thus compressed. Its spring rate can then load the clamping element in the vertical direction on relaxing, in order to lift it.

To optimise the load distribution, it can in principle be advantageous to use two or spring elements per clamping element instead of just one spring element. It is also expedient, depending on the arrangement, to use other types of spring, for example tensile, spiral or leaf springs.

Although it is also possible to arrange the clamping element higher up so that the working face and the clamping part lie under the compression spring, this positioning would be disadvantageous for the strength of the guard rail panel, since the distance between the upper and lower working faces of the clamping elements would be unnecessarily shortened. The fastening of the guard rail panel in the fastening channel is dependent on the action of the clamping elements. With the same tightening, the distance between the clamping elements arranged above one another increases their force action for the fastening of the guard rail panel. In the guide channel or in the fastening channel, the space for the arrangement of the clamping elements is limited by the flanges and the floor profile bottom, so an arrangement of the upper clamping elements as close to the edge as possible and an arrangement of the lower clamping elements as close to the floor profile bottom or the rest face as possible are preferable.

At least one, but preferably two compression springs can be provided under a band deflector arranged movably on the mounting side in order to distribute the tensile forces via the deflection band. Upwards of a certain tensile force, the band deflector is loaded by the tensile force of the deflection band and pulled upwards by the setting screw, and therefore the tensile force is not distributed to the lower clamping elements as long as the spring force is smaller than the tensile force.

The mounting-side support wall can advantageously consist of multiple parts. Accordingly, the mounting-side support wall can be designed from a closure clip and a receiving part, which can be connected thereto, of the support wall on the base part. The closure clip can be inserted from above and attached detachably via a locking connection. The advantage of this is that the mounting-side support wall can be inserted only after the introduction of the base part in the guide channel and positioning of the guard rail panel. Thus, a wider gap is initially available for the positioning of the guard rail panel, and the upper clamping element, when in its starting position, can be arranged closer to the guard rail panel via the closure clip.

The working faces, oriented towards the surface of the guard rail panel, of the two upper clamping elements are preferably designed such that the working faces always act on the respective surfaces of the guard rail panel over their full area. For this purpose, the upper clamping elements are each divided and equipped with an angle compensator at the connection of the respective parts.

The respective angle compensators are attached pivotably in order to lie flat on the relevant surface of the guard rail panel independently of the angle position of the other other clamping element. This is achieved by means of curved bearing faces of the portions of the clamping elements against the angle compensators. In the orientation, the working angle of the clamping element to the guard rail panel can change during tightening. So that the compressive force is applied to the guard rail panel as uniformly as possible and over the largest possible working area, a flush contact is advantageous.

The device according to the disclosure is particularly advantageous when it is used with likewise novel height adjustment elements. Such height adjustment elements are used to orient the guard rail panel in the vertical direction, i.e., for setting height, and are likewise inserted into the guide channel of the floor profile. They have a side wall and an adjoining bottom, on which the lower edge, facing the floor profile, of the set guard rail panel sits. On the side opposite the side wall, the bottom is adjoined by preferably two upwardly protruding lateral retaining arms, which fix the guard rail panel laterally. The retaining arms are shorter than the side wall in the vertical direction. Depending on the dimensioning of the floor profile, they are only a few centimetres high, preferably 1 to 5 cm, and each have oblique faces at their free ends, said oblique faces facilitating insertion or introduction of the guard rail panel from above.

By means of a vertical screw, lifting elements, which are let into the bottom in the lower starting position, can be raised upwards together with the guard rail panel. Instead of the lifting elements, it is also possible in an alternative variant for the entire bottom to be raised or lowered. Preferably, two lifting elements arranged next to one another can also be provided, said lifting elements being movable together upwards and downwards via the screw.

The method for orienting the guard rail panel is then particularly simple and fast to carry out when the lifting elements are in a middle position before insertion of the guard rail panel, from which middle position the corresponding settings can then be made. For this purpose, the lifting elements are movable upwards and downwards by 2 to 10 mm, preferably 3 mm each. If the lifting elements are in the lowest position, the guard rail panel is supported on the floor profile bottom, otherwise it is supported in the guide channel by the support element.

Preferably, two height adjustment elements are used per guard rail panel, which height adjustment elements should each be arranged on lateral ends of the guard rail panel. Depending on the width of the guard rail panel, however, three or more height adjustment elements can also be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure can be found in the drawings below and the described exemplary embodiments with which the disclosure shall be explained in more detail by way of example without limiting the disclosure thereto.

In the figures:

FIG. 1: shows a device according to the disclosure in a side view,

FIG. 2: shows a device according to the disclosure in cross section,

FIG. 3: shows a three-dimensional diagram of the device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4: shows a view from above of a mounting-side support wall with detachable closure clip,

FIG. 5: shows an exploded diagram of a base part with a drop-side support wall with a ramp for a lower clamping element,

FIG. 6: shows an exploded diagram of a screw setting group,

FIG. 7: shows an arrangement of compression springs on the drop side and the mounting side.

FIG. 8: shows a perspective diagram of a height adjustment element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a device according to the disclosure in a side view. A panel can be seen, preferably a guard rail panel 4, arranged in a U-shaped support element 2, which is inserted into a guide channel 3 of a U-shaped floor profile 1. The floor profile 1 has a floor profile bottom 7 and two lateral flanges 5, which form the guide channel 3.

A mounting side 9, which usually faces a building (not shown), and a drop side 10, which faces away from the building, are indicated by the arrows.

The support element 2 forms a fastening channel 70 for fixing the panel 4 in the guide channel 3, which is formed by two support walls 28, 45, which each bear against an inner side 8 of a flange 5, and a rest face 44, which connects these support walls 28, 45 and on which a lower edge of the panel 4 sits when positioned as intended. Outer sides of the support walls 28, 45 of the support element 2 bear against the inner sides 8 of the lateral flanges 5 of the floor profile 1 in order to be able to clamp the guard rail panel 4 therebetween by means of a mounting-side upper clamping element 20 (see FIG. 2), a mounting-side lower clamping element 25, a drop-side lower clamping element 42, a drop-side upper clamping element 46.

With their edges 6 facing away from the rest face 44, the support walls 28, 45 form an introduction opening 74 through which the panel 4 can be introduced.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional diagram of the device in cross section; the vertical section plane runs through the support element 2. The ramps 27 and working faces bearing against them, a mounting-side lower working face 82, a mounting-side upper working face 26, a drop-side lower working face 48, and a drop-side upper working face 47 can be seen. Also shown are a mounting-side angle compensator 22 and a drop-side angle compensator 40 on the upper clamping elements 20, 46.

A narrowed cross section in the region of the introduction opening 74 can clearly be seen. The width of the introduction opening 74 is therefore narrower than the free region of the rest 44 in the fastening channel 70. It is thereby possible to pivot and orient the inserted panel 4 in the vertical direction.

It can be seen in the three-dimensional diagram of the device in FIG. 3 that a screw channel 68 is accessible on the mounting side 9. This is located in a detachable closure clip 23, which holds the guard rail panel 4 in a starting position favourable for mounting via the upper mounting-side clamping element 20 at the start of mounting. The closure clip 23 is part of the mounting-side support wall 20.

FIG. 4 shows a view from above of the mounting-side support wall 28 with detachable closure clip in a side view. The closure clip 23 is connected detachably to the support element 2 on the mounting side via lateral locking arms 76. Mounting-side working faces 47 (see FIG. 3) are provided on cut-outs of the mounting-side support wall 28. A band deflector 61 is connected to a setting screw 60 via a deflection ring 63 and a nut 67 and positioned on the closure clip 23 in a cut-out of the mounting-side support wall 28. A deflection band 66 is placed around the band deflector 61, wherein the deflection band 66 is guided around under a base part 41 or the rest face to the drop side 10.

FIG. 5 shows, in an exploded diagram, the base part 41 with the drop-side support wall 45 and a ramp 27 for the lower clamping element 42. The ramp 27 has a curvature or bulge in order to be able to compensate for a change in the inclination of the guard rail panel 4. The closure clip 23 can be inserted therein from above. Also shown is the upper drop-side clamping element 46 with a drop-side angle compensator 40. A clamp retainer 69 is also shown, which is connected to the upper mounting-side clamping element 20. The clamp retainer 69 is connected to the upper mounting-side clamping element 20 such that loosening or unscrewing of the setting screw 60 also causes the clamp retainer 69 and thus also the upper mounting-side clamping element 20 to be lifted. This considerably simplifies dismounting.

The closure clip 23 also has a setting screw spring 80, which surrounds the setting screw 60 and is compressed on screwing in. However, the setting screw spring can also be omitted.

A screw setting group 78 can be seen in FIG. 6. The deflection band 66 is folded over twice, i.e., has two end loops. At both ends of the deflection band 66 there are receptacles for either a mounting-side band pin 64 or a drop-side band pin 65, via which receptacles the corresponding clamping elements 25, 42 are fastened to the deflection band 66. Band deflector springs 62 keep the band deflector 61 under load and press it upwards in the direction of the introduction opening 74.

FIG. 7 shows, inter alia, an advantageous arrangement of mounting-side compression springs 24. Via pointed receiving bolts moulded on the mounting-side lower clamping element 25, the mounting-side upper compression springs 24 are pressed upwards in a controlled manner even when no tensile force is effective through the deflection band 66. On the lower drop-side clamping element 42 there is a bracket 49 for receiving the lower drop-side compression springs 43 at their upper ends in order to press them downwards in a controlled manner when the drop-side lower clamping element 42 is tightened by means of the tensile force via the deflection band 66.

FIG. 8 shows a height adjustment element 84 that can likewise be inserted into the guide channel 3 of the floor profile 1, preferably in the region of vertical side edges of the guard rail panel 4. The height adjustment element 84 has a side wall 85 and a bottom 86, on which the lower edge, facing the floor profile 1, of the set guard rail panel 4 sits. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two upwardly protruding lateral retaining arms 87 adjoin the bottom 86 and laterally fix the guard rail panel 4. The retaining arms 87 each have oblique faces 89 at their free ends, said oblique faces facilitating insertion or introduction of the guard rail panel 4 from above. By means of a vertical screw 88, lifting elements 88, which are let into the bottom 86 in the lower starting position, can be raised upwards together with the guard rail panel 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two lifting elements 90 arranged next to one another are provided, said lifting elements being movable together upwards and downwards via the screw 88. It is possible via such height adjustment elements 90 to set the height of the guard rail panel 4 in the floor profile 1 or support element 2.

Before insertion into the guide channel 3, the lifting elements 90 are in a middle position and allow the guard rail panel 4 to be lowered and lifted from this position, driven upwards and downwards by up to 10 mm in each case, preferably up to 3 mm, via the screw 88.

A different suitable adjusting element can also be used instead of a screw 88.