The invention concerns a freely mountable device with a verti¬ cal wall construction constituting a rail/fender on a balcony/ veranda/terrace, and may comprise known per se securing ele¬ ments in the form of frames with attachment means for sealing the top and bottom of a rail element.

There are two principal types of balcony/veranda/terrace (henceforth referred to as balconies) .

One type, herein referred to as type A, usually has a depth of 1.5 - 3.0 metres and a length of 5 - 7 metres. Type A covers the entire area of the building construction, and is closed at the sides with an opening in front. One example is a concrete floor extending between two concrete slabs.

A second type, herein referred to as type B, generally has the same depth as type A, but with a length of 2 - 5 metres. It is open on three of the sides and can be a projecting concrete/ steel floor, or be supported on pillars.

When rehabilitating older buildings the balconies either have to be demolished or repaired due to structural failure, such as, e.g., carbonization of reinforced concrete structures due to acid rain, or corrosion damage to steel structures. The bal¬ conies are often too narrow, and it can be difficult and expensive to extend the area due to static loads and/or the position of windows.

An additional problem, particularly for structures of type A, is that an extension of the balcony depth cuts off daylight to the rooms in the flats in the underlying floor.

Older balconies in particular often have insufficient space for a table with accompanying chairs or, e.g., for a place for

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

sunbathing. 1.8 metres is considered an absolute minimum, but approximately 2 metres is a normal depth.

Difficulties are often encountered with regard to flowers on the balconies. Small flower boxes which are suspended from the rail are the most common. These are often expensive and not particularly durable, and they are so small that plants dry out if they do not receive daily care in the form, e.g., of water¬ ing. Moreover, plant boxes of this kind have to be suspended from the inside of the balcony rail if it is more than 2 metres down to ground level.

If large flower pots are placed on the balcony, the weight can cause problems, especially since the weight can be more than doubled if these are filled with water. Furthermore the posit¬ ioning can be unsuitable with regard to the static load.

Concrete flower boxes, which act both as a flower box and a rail, e.g. of the "Selvaag type", can only be used in new buildings since the specific weight is so great, and they require special beam constructions in the concrete floor. This means that where solutions of this kind have been chosen, the balconies cannot be extended or improved.

There is a great need to simplify the replacement of rails, the improvement of the utilization of the balconies, etc. It is, moreover, highly desirable to be able to make optimum use of the space with the possibility of variation. Rails should not prevent the balcony from being enclosed by glass or other transparent materials, and there should also be room for flowers and other equipment. Furthermore such a device should cover the requirement for rails.

From DE foreign publication 38 08 292 there is known a self- supporting rail device for balconies etc.

Further from DE 30 04 068 C2 and DE 39 40 755 Al there are known 3-dimensional load-bearing structures.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a device which does not put the floor below in the shade when the balcony is extended. A second object is to provide a satisfac¬ tory device which also satisfies the requirement for flower boxes which are large enough and possibly self-watering, thus enabling the plants to survive over extended periods, e.g. 2-3 weeks, without special care/watering. A further object is also that the device should not prevent the balconies from being enclosed by glass. Yet a further object is to provide a device, which by means of its construction can cover different needs, e.g. storage space for tools, chairs, table, screening from neighbours, etc.

It is important for the device to have great flexibility and possibilities of variation, both with regard to various static load conditions and functional requirements. Moreover its appearance must be capable of adjustment to suit different architectural styles. It also has to satisfy different levels of price and ambition for different builders/individuals. What is required is a freely mountable device for the replacement of existing (old) rails or the building of new structures etc.. Until now they have either been directly replaced or an exten¬ sion structure has been constructed. Furthermore the device can also be used to advantage in new building projects.

All of these objects are achieved with a device which is characterized by the features in the attached claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of an embodiment which is illustrated by means of the drawing. The drawing comprises the following:

figs, la and b are a sectional view and a perspective view respectively of a device according to the invention,

fig. lc is a perspective view of a device designed as a space lattice construction according to the invention,

figs. 2a and b are a sectional view and a perspective view respectively of the device, designed as a trusswork beam,

figs. 2c and d show the trusswork beam according to figs. 2a-b with detachable elements which assembled form a pyramid-like shape, the structure thus forming a space lattice,

figs. 3a and b are a load-bearing trusswork beam, or a space lattice structure, which are welded together by, e.g. steel elements and constitute a device according to the invention,

fig. 4a illustrates "pyramid" elements attached to a trusswork beam according to fig. 3a and fig. 4b with a detail view of the actual attachment,

figs. 5a and 5b are a device according to the invention of a prefabricated system consisting of rod elements and balls (see also fig. 6a) , for attaching to steel and concrete respective¬ ly,

figs. 6a, 6b and 6c are a perspective view of the device according to fig. 5, with a perspective view, with plate mounting and details for plate attachment respectively,

figs. 7a-c are a module structure, based on "cassettes", which are connected together in series in order to form a space lattice structure according to the invention, where fig. 7a is a perspective view according to the invention of a basic element, fig. 7b is a perspective view of the connection of several basic elements by means of clamps as illustrated in the detail view, and fig. 7c is a perspective view where the basic element is connected to the joining element by means of joining plates according to the detail view,

fig. 8a is a perspective view of a plate mounting.

figs. 8b and 8c are a perspective view of a vertical extension of "cassette modules", and combined with a trusswork beam respectively,

figs. 9a-d are a perspective view partly of a trusswork beam and partly of a space lattice structure, and with different positions and different applications of the device,

figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views of an example of applica¬ tion according to the invention for balcony types A and B respectively,

figs. 12a-c are a perspective view of an alternative embodiment according to the invention,

figs. 13a-c are a side view of a second alternative embodiment according to the invention,

figs. 14a-d are a side view of a third alternative embodiment according to the invention.

Figs, la-d illustrate a device 1 with sides 3, 4 and 5 attached to a balcony floor 2. The side 5 is flush with the balcony, and the sides 3 and 4 form the outside and the top respectively of the device 1. For balconies of type A the structure will often extend between the concrete elements/slabs 6 and take up some of the weight of the balcony floor 2. The sides 3-5 in the space lattice structure will vary in design, depending on its function and those forces which have to be supported. In the case of heavy loads, e.g., it may be necessary to use tri¬ angular geometry on all three sides 3, 4 and 5. For smaller loads the sides 3, 4 and 5 can have a square geometry. This can be more easily adapted to suit different elements/areas of application.

It is obvious that there are more embodiments with regard to static loading and architectural design, e.g. with and without covering of the various construction parts. This space lattice

structure offers the possibility of having, e.g., a large flower box, cupboard space, seats, table, storage space or combinations of these. The device 1 also acts as a rail. It does not take up any of the balcony area and it does not put the floow below into the shade. It can either be a load-bearing structure for the balcony floor (type A) or constitute a rigid structure which, e.g., takes up the weight of a large flower box, cupboard, etc..

In figs. 2a-d there is illustrated a rail 1 according to the invention in the form of a trusswork beam. On this can be mounted loose elements either in the form of single stay elements 7, 8 and connecting units, or larger elements with "pyramid"-like shapes which are hung on to the beam. In its simplest form this can constitute 1 pyramid (see also fig. 9b) which acts as a frame for a flower box. Or it can be built up to form a space lattice structure along the entire length and/or breadth of the balcony. These can, for example, be made of steel, aluminium, wood, etc., or combinations of these.

Fig. 3a illustrates the plane side 5 in the form of a load- bearing trusswork beam 9. This comprises steel elements welded together and forms a rail device 1 according to fig. 2. This load-bearing trusswork beam 9 can either be attached directly to the structure if there are no concrete slabs 6, or the trusswork beam 9 can support the actual balcony floor 2. This can be used for balconies with floors made, e.g., of concrete, steel, wood, etc.. Fig. 3b shows the rail element 9 according to the invention where elements/stays of steel 15 have been welded on, these together forming a space lattice structure.

Fig. 4a illustrates the rail element 9 consisting of steel elements 10 which are connected together to form a "pyramid". The "pyramid" structure can consist of one or more elements which are hooked/attached one after the other on the trusswork beam 9. Fig. 4b illustrates how the various "pyramid" elements are connected together with stays in the point of the pyramid

17. This stay also has the effect of combining the various elements into a self-supporting rigid unit.

Fig. 5 illustrates anchoring/securing methods for the device 1 when it is based on a prefabricated system by means of stay elements 15 and balls 16 with threads and threaded holes respectively, which are mounted together and form a space lattice structure. These can be adapted, e.g., according to the "Scan space" principle, which is a Danish space lattice struc¬ ture.

Fig. 6a illustrates the device 1 according to fig. 5 as a ready-made space lattice. Fig. 6b illustrates the space lattice structure with screens 19, which are attached in between the elements by means of a securing device 18, for screening from neighbours or other architectural reasons.

Figs. 7a-c illustrate the device 1 constructed as "cassette" modules 20, 22 according to the invention in a variety of types and designs. Alternatively, the "cassettes" 20, 22 can be produced ready-assembled on delivery, or be constructed at the site before installation and connection. (In principle the element construction can be compared with those methods which kitchen/wardrobe producers employ in the design of their various sections) . The device can be constructed according to different connection principles, in different widths, and with the top 4 in the form of squares or triangles in order to tackle corner/angle problems. The device 1 can thus be adapted to suit most designs of different angles on the balcony floor 2. Such combinations of different "cassette" modules 20, 22 can provide a wide variety of architectural possibilities, espe¬ cially when it is a case of extending or improving existing balconies, or when new balconies have to be set up. One way of connecting the "cassettes" 20 is to put on clamps 21 as shown in fig. 7b. Another way is to perform the connection by means of joining plates 23 which are secured by bolts with suitable plugs 24 as illustrated in fig. 7c. In both of these connection principles for "cassette" modules 20, 22, the space lattice

structure can be reinforced by diagonal stays 26 after mount¬ ing.

Fig. 8a illustrates the device 1 according to the invention in the form of flower boxes or special elements to which can be mounted fixed plate elements 27, which are either attached on all sides or are hinged so that they act as a door, or as a dropside which can be raised to form, e.g., a table top. In this embodiment the flower boxes or special elements will be "loose" units which are mounted after the "cassette" modules 20, 22 have been connected together.

Fig. 8b illustrates how a combined shelter and greenhouse wall 25 can be obtained when enlarging a balcony. In this case the plate element 25 is made of, e.g., clear insulating glass.

Fig. 8c shows an embodiment of how the "cassette" modules 20, 22 can be combined with the trusswork beam 9 for balcony type B.

Fig. 9 illustrates examples of combination possibilities for the device 1 of "pyramids" which, e.g., can act as a frame for a flower box.

Figs. 10 and 11 show embodiments of the device, of balcony types A and B, according to the invention.

Figs. 12a, b and c illustrate an alternative embodiment of a rail 27 according to the invention, where the self-supporting posts are articulated in the middle and attached at the front edge of the concrete floor 2. The rail 27 is bent/hinged outwards by loosening an anchor pin (not shown) .

Figs. 13a-c illustrate a second alternative embodiment, where fig. 13a shows a rail 28 upright, while 13b and 13c show the rail 28 in a partly and completely swivelled out position respectively, the rail thus forming a rail structure according to the invention.

Figs. 14a-d illustrate a third alternative embodiment, where rail posts 29 are kept upright while the front frame is swivel¬ led out. A top frame 30 is attached to the upper edge of the front frame before it is swivelled out and "clicked" into place against the posts when they assume a 45 degree position. The posts may also be hinged outwards, thus engaging with the top of the front frames. The latter embodiment can be further braced by a top frame which is placed on top of the frame structure.

According to whatever geometry is chosen, the additional equipment such as flower boxes, cupboard elements, seat ele¬ ments, table tops, etc. can be of varying design. The flower boxes, e.g., can be in the form of triangles or squares (viewed from above 4) , and lowered into a triangular or square lattice in the space lattice structure. The space lattice structure 1 can also contain a gas-fired grill, where a part of the side 4 forms the actual grilling grid.

Balconies of type A can be equipped with a large flower box and where the space lattice structure 1 is load-bearing and based on a ready-assembled/welded unit with triangular geometry, placed in a vertical section. In this case a flower box can consist of corrugated metal/polyethylene plates which are inserted from the side 3 of the space lattice structure 1.

The flower box can be made in several parts. The corrugated plates are then supported between the stays in the space lattice structure. The inside of the flower boxes is lined with a watertight membrane. If it is not possible to insert the flower boxes from the side or sides 3 of the device 1, a long soft bag made of glass fibre or metal foil can be provided which is lined with a watertight membrane. This can be fed into the device and be suspended from the actual frame. Thus side 4 will be completely open.

The flower boxes can also be equipped with a glass plate, plastic sheet or other transparent material to make a green¬ house.

Plates which are attached to the sides 3, 4 and 5 of the device 1 can be used in several different combinations and given several different functions on the same space lattice struc¬ ture, such as, e.g., a horizontal plate where the space lattice structure contains a cupboard. The plate which forms the cupboard door can be dropped/raised to act as a table, or it can be raised further and act as a windbreak, or as a screen against the neighbouring balconies. The structure does not prevent the balcony from being enclosed by glass or provided with a windbreak. The positioning of these is dependent on the use of the balcony.

The invention is not limited to any specific height with regard to the actual rail. Thus in each individual case it is the use which will decide which heights are required.