GB2558272A

GB2558272A - Balcony structures

Info

Publication number: GB2558272A
Application number: GB1622144.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Goodenough Mark
Original assignee: Brooksby Projects Ltd
Current assignee: Brooksby Projects Ltd
Priority date: 2016-12-23
Filing date: 2016-12-23
Publication date: 2018-07-11
Also published as: GB201622144D0; GB201721806D0; GB2559872B; GB201712875D0; GB2559872A

Abstract

A pre-fabricated balcony structure 1 for installation on a set of horizontal support beams extending from a building structure. The balcony structure comprising a metal framework with a plurality of channels into which the support beams 14 may be inserted. The dimensions of the channels are greater in the direction perpendicular to the elongation of the support beams than the dimensions of the beams themselves. The channels having spaced ceiling portions 12 to overlie the tops of each beam when installed. Means are also provided to fix the beams and the structure relative to one another following placement of the framework on the support beams. The ceiling members may incorporate a height adjustment mechanism, such as a threaded screw member, between the ceiling members and the support beams which enable the precise position of the balcony structure to be vertically adjusted.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Balcony structures Abstract Title: Balcony structure (57) A pre-fabricated balcony structure 1 for installation on a set of horizontal support beams extending from a building structure. The balcony structure comprising a metal framework with a plurality of channels into which the support beams 14 may be inserted. The dimensions of the channels are greater in the direction perpendicular to the elongation of the support beams than the dimensions of the beams themselves. The channels having spaced ceiling portions 12 to overlie the tops of each beam when installed. Means are also provided to fix the beams and the structure relative to one another following placement of the framework on the support beams. The ceiling members may incorporate a height adjustment mechanism, such as a threaded screw member, between the ceiling members and the support beams which enable the precise position of the balcony structure to be vertically adjusted.

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BALCONY STRUCTURES

This invention relates to balcony structures, and in particular to prefabricated balcony structures which are installed on the outside of buildings after the building structure itself has been completed.

It is known to fit balcony structures to buildings, either at the time of construction of the building itself or subsequently, by mounting on the building a number of horizontally extending support beams and then locating on the support beams a pre-fabricated structure which constitutes or supports the floor of the balcony and to which the customary end and front wall or rail members are then affixed to provide an enclosed balcony space accessible from the interior of the building. Various ways of doing this are known and described in the following published patent specifications:

JP-A-2002-21177, EP-A-2261430, GB-A-2514164 and WO 2014/174269.

When installing such a structure, once the horizontally extending beams are in place, a pre-fabricated balcony structure may be fixed on the beams, in particular by lifting the balcony structure to the right height using a crane or hoist, and then sliding it horizontally on to the beams. This can be easily achieved sometimes, but high wind, bad weather or adverse site working conditions can make it difficult.

We have now developed a new structure which is relatively easy to install and which does not suffer from the problems of the balcony structures disclosed in the published specifications noted above. In particular, it avoids the problem of requiring very accurate alignment between the balcony structure and the projecting support beams before moving the structure horizontally.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pre-fabricated balcony structure for installation on a set of horizontal support beams extending from a building structure which comprises a metal framework, means in the framework defining a plurality of channels into which the support beams may be inserted, the dimensions of the channels being greater in the direction perpendicular to the elongation of the support beams than the dimensions of the support beams themselves, and wherein the channels have spaced ceiling portions to overlie the top of each beam when installed, and wherein means are provided to fix the beams and the structure relative to one another following placement of the framework on the array of support beams.

By constructing the framework in this way, it is possible to ensure, because the channels are substantially bigger than the cross-section of the support beams, that positioning the framework over the support beams is easily achieved because there is plenty of play. Once the balcony framework has been brought roughly into the correct position so that its side lies adjacent to the building, the final positioning of the balcony can be easily achieved. One way of securing that it is accurately level is for the spaced ceiling members to incorporate some height adjustment mechanism between the ceiling members and the support beams, enabling the precise position of the balcony structure vertically to be adjusted. A simple way of achieving this is to have a threaded screw member in each of the ceiling portions which may be screwed down against the top of the beam so as to lift the entire balcony structure into the desired correct position. A mechanism of this type is described in EP 2261430A.

The lateral position of the balcony structure is conveniently adjusted by means of similar screw-threaded adjustment means set into the sides of the channels. Finally, it is desirable to ensure that the framework structure is not merely resting under its own weight on the horizontally-projecting beams, but rather cannot move upwards, for example if subjected to upwardly directed wind pressure which can, in poor weather conditions, be very substantial on balcony structures mounted on tall buildings. One convenient way of achieving this is to bolt the ceiling portions on to a strap or the like located below each beam.

The adjustment and fixing means just described enable the precise desired position of the balcony structure to be achieved even in adverse working conditions.

Once the structure has been fixed to the support beams, it may be fitted out with guard rails, side walls, etc. in customary fashion.

By way of example, a preferred embodiment of the balcony structure in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a balcony structure fitted on to three cantilever arms projecting from the side of a building;

Figure 2 is a simplified diagram of one end of the balcony structure, as seen from the interior of the building;

Figure 3 is a view of the same end of the structure, likewise simplified, but seen from the outside of the building; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic part section through part of the balcony structure during its installation.

Referring to Figure 1, the balcony structure itself is denoted 1 and it is to be installed so that its surface is substantially level with the surface of a floor 2 within the building. The floor of the balcony is not shown in Figure 1 so that the internal structure is visible. In the following description, reference is not made to the standard components of the structure even though these are shown in Figure 1, since they are not relevant to the invention which is embodied in the structure illustrated.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the balcony structure consists of a framework made of C-section steel or alloy members welded together and this is shown in Figure 1 resting on top of three cantilever beams 14 which are fixed in known fashion to the side of the building.

The balcony structure 1 is made up of a front wall 5, end walls 6 and 7, a plurality of beams 8 parallel to walls 6 and 7 and a set of sections 9 running parallel to wall 5.

Between a pair of beams 8 near each end of the balcony structure and centrally are three channels, the sides of which are defined by beams 8. Two plates 12 define at the top of the channel.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the cantilever beams 14 are located between pairs of beams 8 and the structure rests on those beams via plates 12.

As can be seen most clearly in Figure 4, the plates 12 may be resting directly on the top of beams 14 or, more usually, via a threaded bolt 18 which fits in a threaded hole in the middle of each plate 12. By rotating bolt 18, the balcony structure itself may be raised or lowered so that it lies at the precisely desired level relative to the floor 2 and, by adjustment of the bolts 18 in the plates 12 adjacent front wall 5, the level of the edge of the balcony structure most distant from the building may be raised or lowered to ensure that the floor of the balcony (omitted from Figure 1 for the sake of clarity) is level.

As shown in Figure 4, beams 8 have threaded bolts 19 installed in them. These are withdrawn so that they do not proceed very far into the channels between a pair of beams 8 prior to the installation of the balcony structure, but they can then be screwed in until the end of each bolt 19 contacts the outer wall of the cantilever beam 14. By suitable adjustment of bolt 19, the lateral position of the balcony structure can be adjusted within a certain range and the bolts 19 are tightened up so that their ends are adjacent to the wall of beam 14 to fix the balcony finally in the desired position. After bolts 18 and 19 have been adjusted to ensure that the height and lateral position of the balcony structure are as desired, a strap 16 is then brought into contact with the underside of beam 14 by turning a pair of bolts 20. These extend downwardly through plates 12 and support a strap 16 which is brought to lie in contact with the underside of beam 14.

The strap 16 may have threaded holes at its ends and, once tightened up, lock nuts 21 may be threaded on to the lower ends of bolts 20 to render the system resistant to any loosening due to vibration, thermal expansion and contraction or the like.

As can be seen most clearly in Figure 4, beam 14 is a very loose fit in the channel between beams 8.

It will also be appreciated that, if desired, the balcony structure 1 may be located on the three cantilever beams 14 by lowering the structure vertically on to those beams rather than sliding the structure horizontally. Essentially the loose fit of beams 14 in the channels between beams 8 makes it very easy, even in adverse conditions, to locate the balcony structure 1 on the beams 14 and using bolts 18, 19 and 20, and the support strut 16, the balcony can then be secured in the finally desired precisely adjusted position.

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Claims

1 A pre-fabricated balcony structure for installation on a set of horizontal support beams extending from a building structure which comprises a metal framework, means in the framework defining a plurality of channels into which the support beams may be inserted, the dimensions of the channels being greater in the direction perpendicular to the elongation of the support beams than the dimensions of the support beams themselves, and wherein the channels have spaced ceiling portions to overlie the top of each beam when installed, and wherein means are provided to fix the beams and the structure relative to one another following placement of the framework on the array of support beams.

2. A pre-fabricated balcony structure according to claim 1 wherein the spaced ceiling members incorporate a height adjustment mechanism between the ceiling members and the support beams, enabling the precise position of the balcony structure vertically to be adjusted.

3. A pre-fabricated balcony structure according to claim 1 wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a threaded screw member in each of the ceiling portions which may be screwed down against the top of the beam so as to lift the entire balcony structure into the desired correct position.

4. A pre-fabricated balcony structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and comprising screw-threaded adjustment means set into the sides of the channels to enable the lateral position of the balcony structure to be adjusted.

5. A pre-fabricated balcony structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and comprising means to bolt the ceiling portions on to a strap or the like located below each beam.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB 1622144.2 Examiner: Mr Tom Smith