U.S. patent number 3,554,495 [Application Number 04/807,043] was granted by the patent office on 1971-01-12 for precast concrete rail construction.
Invention is credited to David Bach, Carlos Manuel Pascual, Walter Rothman.
United States Patent |
3,554,495 |
Bach , et al. |
January 12, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
PRECAST CONCRETE RAIL CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
A precast concrete post and panel assembly, the posts having
vertical grooves to hold the panels between them so that the panels
can be slid into place after the posts have been erected. Concrete
spacers are provided to provide vertical spacing between panels
supported by the same pair of posts.
Inventors: |
Bach; David (Fort
Lauderdale), Rothman; Walter (Fort Lauderdale, FL),
Pascual; Carlos Manuel (Plantation, FL) |
Family
ID: |
25195425 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/807,043 |
Filed: |
March 13, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
256/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F
11/1851 (20130101); E04H 17/168 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04F
11/18 (20060101); E04H 17/16 (20060101); E04h
017/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;256/19,21,24,59,65 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Taylor; Dennis L.
Claims
We claim:
1. A precast reinforced concrete post and railing assembly for
installation of concrete balconies, walkways and stairways
comprising at least one return post and at least one typical post,
each of said posts being of uniform rectilinear cross section and
having embedded therein coaxial with the longitudinal axis thereof
a steel reinforcing rod which extends below the bottom of each post
to form a dowel to anchor said post to the flat surface of said
balcony, walkway or stairway, said return post having a
longitudinal groove to slidingly receive the said railing assembly
centrally located along one face of said post, said groove
extending through the top surface of said post and along said face
to a predetermined distance from the bottom of said post to form a
shoulder to support the bottom edge of the said railing assembly
when slidingly inserted therein, said groove being of a width
slightly in excess of the thickness of said comprising and of a
depth sufficient to prevent the assembly from being moved laterally
out of said groove, each of said typical posts having one of said
longitudinal grooves on each of two opposed faces, said posts being
anchored on said flat surfaces with the grooves in each post facing
each other; said railing assembly comprising a pair of spaced
panels slidingly interposed in said grooves, each of said panels
having a rectilinear shape comprising an upper, a central and a
lower portion, the upper and lower portions each having a
reinforcing rod centrally embedded therein along the longitudinal
axis of each portion, the central portion selectively being
recessed on at least one surface or having an opening therein, the
width of said recess or opening being substantially not greater
than one-third the width of the panel, said panel being of a length
greater then the distance between the opposing faces of two posts
but less than the distance between the bottom of the groove in each
opposing post and being of a width less than one-half the length of
said longitudinal grooves so that when said pair of panels are
slidingly positioned between any two adjacent posts said upper
portion of the uppermost panel projects above the top of said
posts, said panels having a thickness in at least said upper and
lower portions which is slightly less than the width of said groove
but provides the minimum required thickness of concrete on each
side of said reinforcing rods therein; and vertical spacers
interposed between said panels, said spacers each comprising a
concrete block having a width equal to the thickness of said panel,
a thickness equal to the depth of said groove and a length
substantially equal to the distance between said panel supporting
shoulder in said groove and the lower end of said post, said spacer
being adapted to be inserted into each groove in each post between
said pairs of panels, the ends of said spacers further having a
construction adapted to maintain said pairs of panels parallel to
the inclination of the surface along the edge of which said
assembly is installed.
2. The post and railing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said
panel further comprises a reinforcing rod centrally embedded
interiorly across each end thereof to interconnect the like ends of
the longitudinal reinforcing rods in the upper and lower portions
of said panel, said panel having an opening in the central portion
thereof, the length of said opening being such as to provide a
solid section at each end of said central portion having a length
at least equal to the width of said central portion and a thickness
equal to the thickness of said panel.
3. The post and railing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said
panel further comprises a sheet of galvanized mesh wire centrally
positioned interiorly across the width of said panel and
interconnecting said longitudinal reinforcing rods, the central
portion of said panel having at least one recessed surface of a
length equal to the length of said panel.
4. The post and railing assembly according to claim 3 wherein the
said recess in said central portion of said panel is of a length
sufficiently less than the length of said panel so as to provide a
solid section at each end of said central portion having a length
at least equal to the width of said central portion and a thickness
equal to the thickness of said panel, said panel further having
centrally embedded therein across each end of a reinforcing rod
interconnecting the like ends of the longitudinal reinforcing rods
in the upper and lower portions of said panel.
5. The post and railing assembly according to claim 1 wherein each
of said panels is cut into the shape of a parallelogram from the
rectangular shape so that the longitudinal axis of the panel will
be parallel to the inclination of the surface upon which the
assembly is being installed, the width of said panel being
substantially equal to one-third the length of said groove and
wherein said spacers for installation of the assembly on an
inclined surface have end portions inclined at the same angle as
said inclined surface, said spacers further being of a length such
that the upper portion of the uppermost panel will project above
the tops of said posts a distance equal to the projection of the
uppermost panel in an installation on a horizontal surface.
6. The post and railing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said
return post has one of said longitudinal grooves on each of two
contiguous faces, said return post being anchored to said flat
surface to receive pairs of panels extending at right angles to
each other.
Description
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a precast railing assembly and more
particularly to such an assembly which can also be utilized for
ornamental purposes. Such railings are usually used on the exterior
of buildings as a safety rail for balconies and stairs, etc. In
modern building construction it is often desirable to have a
balcony along the entire length of an exterior wall, the balconies
for individual rooms or apartments usually being separated from
each other by the same type of railing that is used along the edge
of the balcony as a safety measure. In such construction it is
desirable to have a railing which is easily secured in place,
economical to manufacture and capable of withstanding both aging
deterioration and the effects of high winds and adverse
weather.
It is an object of this invention to satisfy the foregoing
requirements by fabricating an easy to assembly railing of concrete
material. It is also contemplated that other materials such as
plastics or metals, for example aluminum, could be used.
It is the further object of this invention to provide a railing
assembly which is of high strength and durability but is yet easy
to assembly and finish in place on a job site by relatively
unskilled installers.
It is a further object of this invention to eliminate the need for
any structural cap at the top of the railing as is now required
with present precase railing assemblies.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention comprises a
precast reinforced concrete post and railing assembly wherein the
posts are anchored to the flat surface by a steel dowel protruding
from the bottom of each post and wherein the railing is formed from
pairs of spaced panels slidably inserted into grooves along the
surfaces of two adjacent posts.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
upon a review of the drawings which form a part hereof and
illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out
the invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an overall assembly showing typical
panels for both horizontal and stair construction along with the
accompanying posts;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the three types of posts used in connection
with this invention;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a typical
corner post showing two panels assembled therein and separated by a
spacer between them;
FIG. 4 is a front view of a typical open panel used in the
construction of this invention;
FIG. 5 is a solid panel used in construction of this invention;
FIG. 6 is a return panel used in construction of this
invention;
FIG. 7 is a typical panel of the type used for slanting stair
railings;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 11 is a typical spacer used for horizontal panels; and
FIG. 12 is a typical spacer used for inclined installations such as
on a stair railing.
Referring now to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 shows an open
panel 20 being supported by two posts 22 and 24. Post 24 is a
typical post having longitudinal grooves 32 on opposite sides
thereof while post 22 is a corner post having longitudinal grooves
30 on adjacent sides thereof. Post 26 is a return post having a
longitudinal groove 31 on only one side thereof. The configurations
of these three posts can be seen by reference to FIG. 2 which shows
these posts from a top view. Two panels 20, of identical
construction, are held in place between posts 22 and 24 merely by
sliding them down in grooves 30 and 32 respectively. Since neither
of these grooves run to the bottom of the post the panel section is
prevented from sliding all the way down to the bottom. The two
panels are vertically spaced apart by spacers 34 (see FIG. 11).
Grooves 30, 31 and 32 of the respective posts extend to a point
short of the bottom end of the post and provide a supporting
shoulder 33 for the lower panels of the railing.
In the case of stair panel sections which are cut on a slant, a
spacer 36 which has inclined end surfaces 37 thereon to approximate
the angle of inclination of the stairs (see FIG. 12). The spacers
may be of any appropriate length.
Panel 38 is a modified form of a panel having an elliptical or any
other appropriate decorative embodiment embossment or recess
therein. It should be understood that these panels can also be made
with an open construction, or with different openings and shapes
for varied architectural effects.
Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that typical post 22 has a
steel reinforcing rod 42 projecting therefrom so that it can be
secured in a hole 40 in the concrete base or floor 39 of a balcony.
The steel reinforcing rod 42 is embedded within post 22 for most of
its length and extends beyond the bottom end of the post to form a
steel dowel ready to be embedded directly into a hole 40 in the
floor 39 with suitable grout material which is of a high test
nonshrinking character. One example of this material if "POR-ROK."
Grout material would also be distributed between the bottom of the
post and the deck surface of the balcony as shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 illustrates a panel 20 with an opening 21 formed therein,
which may be of any suitable size or shape, and surrounded with
reinforcing rods 46 embedded in said panel.
FIG. 5 illustrates a panel 60 with a recessed area 61 formed
therein, which may be of any suitable size or shape.
Panel 60 is suitably reinforced with rods 46 and wire mesh 48.
FIG. 6 illustrates a return panel 50 with a longitudinal recess 51
formed therein, the object being to provide a panel that can be cut
at either end without destroying its symmetry. All of the panels
are preferably provided with slightly beveled or rounded edges
wherever desired to minimize chipping and to improve
appearance.
FIG. 7 illustrates a stair panel construction showing that the
panels are normally cast with square ends as shown in dotted lines
thereon. These square ends are cut as required to suit the angle of
inclination of the stair on the job during installation.
By way of illustration only and not as limitation, a typical panel
can be about 3 feet 8 inches long and about 16 inches high. These
panels can be cast of concrete about 2 inches thick while the
grooves in the post are about 21/4 inches wide and 11/8 inches deep
in order to allow adequate room for sliding the panels into the
grooves. The posts can be about 6 inches square so that a center to
center measurement between adjacent posts is 4 feet 0 inches. In a
typical construction the bottom panel is slid in first between two
posts which have already been vertically positioned with the proper
dimension between them, two spacers are inserted, one on each side,
and then the top panel is slid into place to rest on the spacers.
The entire assembly is then sealed together by means of a cement
and sand and water grout, or in cases where extreme weather will be
encountered by a high strength nonshrinking grout.
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