Vertical panel glass wall

[0001] Not Applicable

[0002] Not Applicable

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to vertical panel glass walls and particularly to vertical panel glass walls in which the glass infill panels extend beyond the top rail.

[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Glass panels have been used to form decorative and functional barriers and railings for some time. Typically, these railing systems have a number of glass panels that are supported by some type of frame structure. The frame structure usually consists of a base shoe that receives the glass panels, a number of vertical support posts, between which, the glass panels are placed, and a top rail, which is placed above the panels.

[0007] Railings built in this manner present an aesthetically pleasing structure that is also functional.

[0008] The instant invention is a significant modification of the traditional rail design. In this design, the glass infill panels extend vertically beyond the top rail. To achieve this, a new vertical post system has to be created. These vertical posts hold the glass panels in front of the posts. To do this, each post has an extruded channel extending forward of the post. The glass panels fit into the extruded form. The top rail is attached to the top of the posts and then runs behind the glass panels. The tops of the panels are covered with a protective cap.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of my new railing system 1 is shown. The railing system is installed on a flooring surface 100 (typically concrete or a similar type material). The railing 1 has a number of glass panels 2 that are supported by a number of post assemblies 3. The post assemblies have a top rail 4 that mounts to the tops of the posts. The top rail 4 is positioned behind the glass panel, as shown in the left side of FIG. 1. Note that the top of the glass panel 2 extends above the top rail. A protective cap 5 is placed on the top of each panel to protect the glass. A bottom rail 7 runs along the bottom of the posts, as discussed below. The bottom rail is used to support the glass.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a post taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1. Here, the post assembly 3 is shown. Each post is secured to the floor 100 using a stanchion 6, which is typically partially embedded in a concrete floor. The upper portion of the stanchion 6 forms part of the base assembly 7. The post 8 attaches to the base assembly, as discussed below. The post is an extruded member that has a unique, “H” shaped front profile channel 9. See, FIGS. 3,4, and 5. The glass panels sit in the front profile channel 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the glass extends up past the top of the post. The top rail 4, which is secured to a connection plate 13, by bolts 14 or other common fasteners. The protective glass cap 5 is also shown.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view of a post, without the top rail. Here, the stanchion 6 is shown in the interior of the post. The post has a generally rectangular shape, as shown. Of course, this shape can be modified to any basic shape that can support the panels of glass as part of the railing and that is aesthetically pleasing. The key to the design is the unique front profile channel 9. The front profile channel 9 has a center divider 20 that extends forward from the main post 4. Two panel holders 21 extend orthogonally from the distal end of the center divider as shown. The front of the post 4 has a pair of grooves 22 formed as shown. The panel holders 21 have a channel 23 formed in them as well. The channels and grooves are used to receive glass vinyl pieces 25 (see FIG. 4).

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a typical post, without the top rail, showing the glass in place. In this view, the glass panels 2 are shown being held by the glass vinyl pieces 25.

[0021] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the extruded glass holding member that shows the channels 23 and grooves 22 more clearly. This figure also shows the placement of a post close-off insert 26, which is shown in FIG. 6.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a top view of a post close-off insert 26 for the end of the run. This member is placed in the channel 23 and groove 22 of the last post. Because there is no glass panel in that position, the open space is filled with the post close-off insert 26. See, FIG. 5.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a detail view of a post, showing the top rail connection. In this view, the glass panel 2 is shown in place within the channel 9. The glass is secured in the post channel 9 with the glass vinyls 25 as discussed above. The protective glass cap 5 is also shown. This figure shows the top rail 4 the rail is secured to a connector plate 13 by screws 14. This assembly is then welded to the post 8 in the preferred embodiment. Of course, other connection means well known in the art can be used as well.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a detail view of the post showing the base assembly 7 and the lower portion of the post. The base assembly 7 includes a bottom channel 30. The bottom channel 30 has a vertical extension 30a into which the glass panel is set. This figure shows a glass vinyl 25 in place. The glass is positioned on a glass set block 32. The bottom channel is connected to an extension 30b that runs along the bottom of the extruded posts. The base assembly 7 is connected to the posts using a connecting block 34 and screws 35. A snap on cover 36 is provided to allow access to the screws.

[0025] The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.