Priority Cross-Reference

[001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2020903667 filed 9 October 2020, the contents of which is to be considered to be incorporated into this specification by this reference.

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drainage channel for installation in buildings, for the drainage of rainwater from balconies, decks, walkways and the like, in which the drainage channel is configured to support a fence or barrier.

[0002] It will be convenient to discuss the background of the invention with specific reference to its use in domestic balconies, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that application.

Background of the Invention

[0003] The discussion of the background to the invention that follows is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any aspect of the discussion was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0004] Balconies are usually raised above the surrounding ground and are often part of two storey houses or multiple storey buildings. For safety purposes, balconies include edge or boundary fencing to prevent falls from the balcony. The fencing is usually at or adjacent to the edge or boundary of the balcony to maximise the floorspace or footprint of the balcony.

[0005] Basic balconies are formed from slat flooring, usually from timber slats, which are slightly spaced apart lengthwise and open to the ground below, so that rainwater that lands on the balcony will pass through the balcony. These types of balconies can only be located above outdoor areas of a building, given the rainwater leakage that occurs through the balcony. The types of balconies do not require separate drainage. [0006] Balconies that overlie indoor areas of a building (rooftop terraces for example), such as living areas, bedrooms and garages are solid floored, so that rainwater that lands on the balcony will not pass through the balcony into the areas below. These balconies include balcony flooring as a top layer (usually tiling) and supporting or bedding layers beneath the balcony flooring. A waterproof layer is also installed beneath the balcony flooring to prevent penetration of rainwater through the balcony. The waterproof layer is a critical part of the balcony construction, because if the layer is wrongly installed, or if the layer is breached, rainwater can penetrate through the balcony flooring, creating major problems for the building owner by way of damage to indoor areas of the building (ceilings, walls and flooring for example), disputes with the balcony installer and insurance claims. Even small breaches of the waterproof layer can create leaks that are difficult to locate and fix and that result in damage to indoor areas of the building, while remedial action to fix leaks are often difficult and can sometimes require complete re-building of the balcony, with the associated inconvenience and expense that incurs.

[0007] Accordingly, balcony installers take particular care to protect the integrity of the waterproof layer as the balcony is built. Where it is necessary for components of the balcony (usually nails or screws) to extend through the waterproof layer, care is taken to seal each penetration point, usually by the liberal application of a silicon sealant. But despite the care taken, leakage sources are nevertheless often created at these penetration points. It follows that balcony installers prefer not to penetrate the waterproof layer unless absolutely necessary.

[0008] Balconies that overlie indoor areas of a building usually include drainage for draining rainwater that lands on the balcony. Such drainage often includes an elongate drainage channel or gutter (hereinafter a “drainage channel”), which feeds to an outlet that is connected to a storm water drain or other outlet.

[0009] Drainage channels that are installed in balconies are usually installed at the edge or boundary of the balcony, with the floor of the balcony falling towards the drainage channel. The drainage channel is therefore often located in the same region of the balcony where the balcony fencing is also located. Drainage channels and fencing both present opportunities for penetration of the waterproof layer. Both need to be securely fixed in place and fencing in particular is required to be sufficiently robust as to withstand normal activities that occur on a balcony, such as people leaning against it, as well as wind loads, which are more relevant to solid fencing such as glass panel fencing. Balcony fencing thus usually requires screws or channels to be installed in the balcony flooring and this often is through the waterproof layer.

[0010] More recently, balcony fences constructed from transparent glass panels have been popular, because the fencing allows viewing through the panels from the balcony and from inside the building to which the balcony is associated, making the use and appearance of the balcony more enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. Glass panels can be mounted so that the bottom edge of the panels extend into the floor of the balcony and are secured below the level of the surrounding balcony floor. Alternatively, glass panels can be mounted on posts that are secured to the balcony floor and that extend upwardly from the floor. With post mounting, the bottom edges of the glass panels are spaced above the surrounding balcony floor. Glass panels are heavy and as mentioned above, are subject to significant wind loading, so that their mounting is required to be very robust and reliable.

[0011] In prior art installations where the glass panels are mounted with the bottom edge of the panels extending into the floor of the balcony, the drainage channel must be located inboard of the balcony fencing so that rainwater enters the drainage channel before arriving at the balcony fencing. In prior art installations where the glass panels are mounted on posts, the drainage channel can be located either inboard or outboard of the balcony fencing given that the bottom edge of the panels do not prohibit the passage of rainwater entering the drainage channel. In either case, the balcony fencing is located adjacent the drainage channel. This reduces the usable footprint or floorspace of the balcony because increased space is required to accommodate both the balcony fencing and the drainage channel, and where the drainage channel is inboard of the balcony fencing, persons using the balcony are likely to step or stand on the drainage channel, which is not necessarily comfortable and can result in damage to the channel.

[0012] The applicant has endeavoured to provide an alternative arrangement that overcomes or at least alleviates some of the above drawbacks of current arrangements and which has an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Summary of the Invention

[0013] According to a one form of the present invention there is provided a drainage channel assembly comprising: an elongate drainage channel defining an internal drainage area, and a support comprising: an anchor arrangement within the internal drainage area operable to anchor a fence support.

[0014] The above form of the invention provides an arrangement to anchor a fence support, such as a support plate or bracket within the internal drainage area of the drainage channel. Beneficially, this arrangement shifts mounting of the fence to within the drainage channel and thus no longer requires the fence to be mounted to the balcony floor. This means that components of the prior art that are used to mount the fences and that would ordinarily penetrate the waterproof layer, are not required and so a penetration points that would otherwise be created and require sealing, are not created.

[0015] In some forms of the invention, the fence support is anchored by being connected, fixed, attached or clamped to a support surface within the drainage channel. The support surface can be a surface that extends inwardly from a side wall of the drainage channel, or from both of opposing side walls of the drainage channel. The support surface can face upwardly relative to a base of the drainage channel or downwardly. The support surface can be a surface that is an integral formation of the or each side wall of the drainage channel. In some forms of the invention, the support surface can be an upper or lower facing surface of an elongate, inwardly extending rib or rail that is formed into one or both side walls of the drainage channel. Beneficially, the present invention allows the fence support to be anchored within the drainage channel without fasteners being required to penetrate the side walls or base of the drainage channel.

[0016] The anchor arrangement could alternatively comprise a formation extending from the base of the drainage channel. The base formation could be formed as a wedge and the fence support could be formed complementary shaped to connect with the base formation. Anchoring of the fence support to the base formation may include a connector tending to separate or pull the fence support away from the base formation, thus firmly wedging the fence support to the base formation.

[0017] According to a more specific aspect of the present invention there is provided a drainage channel assembly comprising: an elongate drainage channel having a base and side walls upstanding from the base, the base and side walls defining internal drainage area, upper and lower support surfaces extending inwardly from the side walls, whereby the lower support surface is spaced from and faces the base and the upper support surface is spaced upwardly from the lower support surface and faces away from the base, a support comprising an anchor member extending across the internal drainage area and into bearing engagement with the lower support surface of the side walls, a fence support extending across the internal drainage area and into bearing engagement with the upper or lower support surface of the side walls, the fence support being operable to support a base portion of a fence and the fence support and the anchor member being connected, fixed, attached or clamped together to the upper and lower support surfaces.

[0018] A drainage channel assembly according to the present invention advantageously enables the balcony fencing to be mounted as part of the drainage channel and to overlie the drainage channel. This has significant advantages. Firstly, substantially all fastening of the fence is made within the drainage channel and thus is not required to be made to the balcony floor. As already mentioned, this means that components of the prior art that are used to mount the fence, fence posts with anchor bolts for example, and that would ordinarily penetrate the waterproof layer, are not required and so penetration points that would otherwise be created and require sealing, are not created. This is considered to have significant appeal to balcony installers. Building owners will also benefit, but their benefit will be a hidden benefit in that leaks that might otherwise have been created, will not be created. The building owners will simply not endure the inconvenience that might have arisen had leakage been created by the installation of the balcony fencing. Insurance claims should also reduce. [0019] A drainage channel assembly according to the present invention will still require the installation of a drainage channel, but drainage channels do not represent major causes of balcony leakage. In most cases, the waterproof layer terminates adjacent the drainage channel and the fixing of the drainage channel within or to the balcony floor does not involve penetration of the waterproof layer.

[0020] The drainage channel assembly according to the present invention is expected to provide other benefits too. A major advantage is expected to be realised in the effort to install balcony fencing. Installation personnel are no longer required to separately mount balcony fencing to the balcony floor, and as explained above, installation personnel are relieved of the burden of re-sealing any penetration points created by fasteners that penetrate through the waterproof layer. This should create significant time savings in balcony construction and give installation personnel far more confidence in the integrity of the balcony once built.

[0021] Other benefits include that, because the balcony fencing will overlie the drainage channel, the available footprint of the balcony will increase and there is less likelihood of the drainage channel being stood on because less of the drainage channel will project inwardly from the fencing.

[0022] Additionally, the combination drainage channel and balcony fencing can be provided in a manner that is expected to improve the aesthetic appearance of the balcony and so the drainage channel assembly is expected to be popular with customers and architects.

[0023] As indicated above, transparent glass panels are now very popular as balcony fencing and so the fence support of the drainage channel assembly of the invention will usually be operable to support a glass panel fencing post, or the bottom edge or portion of a glass fence panel. However, the fence support can alternatively support a post for different fencing, such as metal picket fencing. The type of fencing that the support plate supports is not limiting on the invention.

[0024] The drainage channel can have any suitable cross-sectional profile. The height or depth and the width of the drainage channel can vary to suit space and drainage requirements. The drainage channel can also include lateral lips or flanges to underlie balcony flooring that extends to the elongate opening or the drainage channel.

[0025] In some forms of the invention, the upper and lower support surfaces that extend inwardly from the side walls, are integral formations of the side walls. In this respect, the drainage channel will typically be roll formed from sheet metal and the upper and lower support surfaces can be formed by opposite surfaces of an elongate, inwardly extending rib or rail that is formed into each side wall as the drainage channel is rolled. The inwardly extending rib can be a square or rectangular rib, that has the upper and lower support surfaces and an end wall that extends between them and that is spaced from the respective side wall with which the rib is associated. In the installed orientation of the drainage channel, the upper and lower support surfaces can extend generally horizontally and the end wall can extend between them generally vertically. The upper and lower support surfaces can alternatively be at an angle, either at a mutual angle and be generally parallel, or they can be non-parallel, such as tapering toward each other from the side wall to the end wall.

[0026] The inwardly extending ribs can be open to the outside of the drainage channel. The ribs can thus be formed as channels themselves, defining a cavity or an interior between the upper and lower support surfaces and the end wall.

Advantageously, this enables the inclusion of a support member to be inserted into the cavity of the inwardly extending ribs, to support the upper and lower support surfaces against collapse when the support plate and the anchor member are clamped to the upper and lower support surfaces. Such a support member may not be required in all installations, but optionally can be included where required.

[0027] A support member can be any member that can be inserted into the cavity of an inwardly extending rib and that supports the upper and lower support surfaces against collapse. The support member can for example be an elongate bar. Alternatively, the support member can be an individual section that is positioned within the inwardly extending rib at each point at which anchor members and fence supports plates are to be clamped. In some forms of the invention, the support member is provided as part of a bracket that fits closely about the drainage channel and which has opposite sections that extend into the inwardly extending ribs. The opposite sections can include the support member and a lateral section that connects to the support member and that extends out of the rib and that connects to a bracket section that in some forms of the invention extends about the sides and base of the drainage channel.

[0028] The support member can be an upstanding section that has an upper edge that bears against an upper surface of the cavity of the rib and the lateral section can bear against a lower surface of the cavity of the rib. The support member can extend vertically and the support member and the lateral section can be formed in a right angle. The bracket can be formed of pressed metal and can be of the same grade of metal as the drainage channel. Alternatively, the bracket can be formed of heavier grade of metal. In some forms of the invention, the drainage channel is formed from 1.2mm 316 stainless steel while the bracket is formed from 3mm 316 stainless steel.

[0029] The drainage channel can advantageously a unitary part without requiring openings through the side walls or base of the drainage channel to accept fasteners or other locating arrangements to fix a base portion of a fence within the drainage channel. The inclusion of an elongate rib or rail also provides lengthwise stiffness to the drainage channel.

[0030] However, it is nevertheless within the scope of the present invention that the upper and lower support surfaces be alternatively provided by or on an insert or inserts that that is/are fixed within the drainage channel, such as by rivets or spot welding. Alternatively, one of the upper and lower support surfaces can be provided by or on an insert or inserts that that is/are fixed within the drainage channel and the other of the upper and lower support surfaces can be provided by an integral formation of the drainage channel, such as an elongate, inwardly extending rib or rail that is formed into each side wall of the drainage channel. An insert could for example, fit between the base and the inwardly extending rib and the insert could form the lower support surface.

[0031] Whatever arrangement is adopted to provide the upper and lower support surfaces, the anchor member and the fence support bear against and clamp to the upper and lower support surfaces and in some forms of the invention, the clamping is by at least one fastener connecting between the anchor member and the fence support. That is, the anchor member and the fence support bear against the oppositely facing upper and lower support surfaces and the at least one fastener is tightened to securely fix the anchor member and the fence support to the upper and lower support surfaces. This clamping connection securely attaches the fence support within the drainage channel for the subsequent support of a base portion of a fence, such as a fence support post for the connection of a fence panel, such as a glass panel, or the bottom edge or portion of a glass fence panel.

[0032] It is to be noted that the construction of the drainage channel to have a base and side walls upstanding from the base to define an internal drainage area, includes within its scope drainage channels that have a flat base and side walls that extend generally perpendicular to the base, as well as other configurations including a U-shaped drainage channel in which the base is curved.

[0033] In forms of the invention, in which the fence support and the anchor member are clamped together by at least one fastener, a single fastener can be employed, and could for example, extend through a central section of the anchor member and the fence support. However, multiple fasteners can alternatively be employed. In some forms of the invention, four fasteners are employed. The at least one fastener can extend through the anchor member and the fence support so that the at least one fastener can be provided as a bolt or bolts that extend through openings in the anchor member and the fence support and are secured on one side of the anchor member and the fence support by nuts.

[0034] The anchor member can be of any suitable form such as a plate that is sized to extend across the interior of the drainage channel so that opposite ends or edges of the anchor member can underlie the lower support surface on each side of the drainage channel. The plate can be flat or planar, or any other suitable shape. Alternatively, the anchor member can be provided as two separate plates, or three or more separate plates.

[0035] The fence support can be of any suitable form such as a plate that is sized to extend across the interior of the drainage channel so that opposite ends or edges of the support plate can overlie the upper support surface on each side of the drainage channel. In these forms of the invention, the fence support plate can include openings through which the one or more fasteners can extend. The fence support plate can also include further openings for receipt of fasteners for connecting a fence support post to the support plate. The openings for receipt of fasteners for connecting the support plate to the anchor member can be the same openings that are used to connect a fence support post to the support plate. Thus, the same fasteners that connect the support plate to the anchor member can be used to connect a fence support post to the fence support plate.

[0036] The fence support can alternatively be formed as a bracket suitable to support the bottom edge or portion of a glass fence panel. In these forms of the invention, the bracket can include a recess for receiving the bottom edge or portion of the glass fence panel and a suitable connection arrangement to securely connect the bottom edge or portion to the bracket. The connection arrangement can be a clamping arrangement for example. The bracket can have a base on which the bottom surface of a glass fence panel will sit or rest and a pair of upstanding side walls that are spaced apart to closely receive the bottom edge or portion of the glass panel. Given that glass fencing panels are available in different thicknesses, fence support brackets can likewise be provided in different sizes to suit a range of glass panels.

[0037] The base of a fence support bracket can accept fasteners in the same manner as the fence support described above to clamp the fence support to the upper support surface.

[0038] The fence support can be formed to resist rotation once in bearing engagement with the upper support surface of the side walls. In forms of the invention, in which the fence support is formed as a plate, the fence support plate can have one or more abutments that are located closely to or against one or more ends of the upper and lower support surfaces. Any load tending to rotate the fence support will bring the one or more abutments into engagement with one or more of the ends of the upper and lower support surfaces and thereby arrest rotation. The abutments can be formed as wings or lips that have a reduced width across the internal drainage area and which fit closely between facing ends of the upper and lower support surfaces. In forms of the invention in which the upper and lower support surfaces are formed by surfaces of an inwardly extending rib that has an end wall, the one or more abutments, for example the wings or lips, can be in close facing relationship with the end walls of the inwardly extending ribs. The wings or lips can for example, also extend downwardly to position between the end walls of the inwardly extending ribs and where the support plate is a flat plate, the wings or lips can extend downwardly out of the plane of the support plate.

[0039] In forms of the invention, in which the fence support is formed as a bracket, the base of the bracket can be positioned below the upper support surface and portions of the fence support above the base can bear against the upper support surface. Where the bracket includes a pair of upstanding side walls, the side walls can include bearing surfaces for bearing against the upper support surface. In these forms of the invention, the base can extend closely to or against the ends of the upper and/or lower support surfaces, so that any load tending to rotate the fence support will bring the base into engagement with the ends of the upper and/or lower support surfaces and thereby arrest rotation. In forms of the invention in which the upper and lower support surfaces are formed by surfaces of an inwardly extending rib that has an end wall, the base can be in close facing relationship with the end walls of the inwardly extending ribs.

[0040] The drainage channel assembly can include a spacer above the fence support which is interposed between the fence support and a support post for a fencing panel or the bottom surface of a glass fence panel, to position the base of the support post or the bottom surface of a glass fence panel in the correct position relative to the surrounding balcony floor. A spacer is useful to accommodate balcony flooring of different thicknesses. For example, tiles used to tile a balcony can vary in thickness depending on the type of tile selected, however, there is a particular position of the base of the support post relative to the upper surface of the balcony floor that, for an aesthetically pleasing appearance, should be adopted regardless of the thickness of the balcony flooring. Thus, instead of raising or lowering the drainage channel relative to the upper surface of the balcony floor, the drainage channel can be installed prior to the balcony flooring being laid and without the thickness of the balcony flooring being taken into account. Thus, the drainage channel can be installed in the balcony structure prior to the balcony flooring being laid and to accommodate the thickness of the balcony flooring, suitable thickness spacers can be employed. Suitable spacers can be formed as blocks of different thicknesses and the installation personnel can use whatever thickness spacer as required to suit the particular balcony flooring that is laid on the balcony.

[0041] The drainage channel assembly can also include grate supports for supporting removable grate sections that are used to overlie the upper opening of the drainage channel. Grate sections can take various different forms and simply form a cover to close the upper opening of the drainage channel, and are mainly used for aesthetic purposes. The grate sections can fit between each support post of a fencing panel, or to each side of the bottom surface of a glass fence panel and can be lifted by hand, for example for cleaning the drainage channel. The grate sections are lightweight and can thus simply rest upon grate supports that are formed as part of the fence supports. Suitable grate supports can be connected or attached to the fence support and in some forms of the invention, the grate supports can include openings to receive one or more fasteners for connecting or attaching to the support plate. In some forms of the invention, one or more fasteners of the at least one fastener can extend through the one or more openings of the grate supports, so that the same fasteners that connect the fence support to the anchor member can be used to connect grate supports to the fence support.

[0042] The grate supports can be formed from plate in which a first portion of the plate attaches to the fence support and a second portion of the plate presents a supporting surface for a grate section to rest on. The first and second portions can be in the same plane or they can be offset from each other. The grate supports can be formed as a single plate or a pair of plates.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0043] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which:

[0044] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drainage channel assembly 10 according to the invention in which the assembly 10 supports a pair of transparent glass panels.

[0045] Figure 2 shows a short section of drainage channel in perspective view that is suitable for use in a drainage channel assembly according to the present invention. [0046] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the drainage channel of Figure 2.

[0047] Figure 4 shows a short section of an alternative drainage channel in perspective view that is also suitable for use in a drainage channel assembly according to the present invention.

[0048] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the drainage channel of Figure 4.

[0049] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a post support suitable for use in a drainage channel assembly according to the present invention.

[0050] Figure 7 is an exploded view of the post support of Figure 6.

[0051] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a drainage channel assembly according to the present invention.

[0052] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the Figure 8 arrangement.

[0053] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a support plate for use in a drainage channel assembly according to the present invention.

[0054] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an external hold down bracket for use a drainage channel assembly according to the present invention for strengthening the drainage channel.

[0055] Figure 12 is a perspective view of an alternative support plate for use in a drainage channel assembly according to the present invention.

[0056] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a drainage channel assembly 120 according to another embodiment of the invention, in which the assembly 120 supports a pair of transparent glass panels 122.

[0057] Figure 1 is a sectional view of a drainage channel and fence support.

[0058] Figures 15 and 16 are opposite perspective views of the bracket of the fence support of Figure 1 .

[0059] Figure 17 shows the bracket of Figures 15 and 16 accommodating a glass panel. [0060] Figure 18 is a sectional and substantially fully assembled view of the Figure 14 arrangement installed in a balcony and supporting a glass panel.

[0061] Figure 19 is a plan view of the arrangement of Figure 18.

Detailed Description

[0062] A drain channel assembly 10 is installed in a balcony 11 which is only partially shown in Figure 1 . The portion of the balcony 11 which, as illustrated in Figure 1 , is the edge or boundary of the balcony 11 . The balcony 11 thus includes rectangular flooring tiles 12 that extend towards the edge or boundary of the balcony 11 and which terminate at a drainage channel 15. A perimeter capping 16 extends on the other side of the drainage channel 15. A timber bearer 17 is shown at one end of the balcony 11 and the upper surface 18 of the bearer 17 supports a base 20 of the drainage channel 15. Brackets that will be described hereinafter fix the drainage channel 15 to the bearer 17 and to other bearers that are not visible in Figure 1.

Finally, a front board 21 connects to a side surface of the bearer 17 at one end and to another bearer which is not visible at the opposite end, while an upstanding wall 22 is shown at one end of the balcony 11 . Transparent glass panels 24 form fencing for the balcony 11 and the panels 24 are supported by a plurality of posts 25 which are mounted within the drainage channel 15 as hereinafter described.

[0063] Figures 1 to 12 relate to the type of installation shown in Figure 1 in which the glass panels 24 are supported by the posts 25, so that the bottom edge of the panels 24 is elevated above the drainage channel 15. Figures 13 to 19 relate to a different type of installation in which the bottom edge of a glass fence panel is fixed within the drainage channel.

[0064] What is evident from Figure 1 , is that the panels 24 overlie the drainage channel 15, which is distinct from prior art arrangements, in which the supporting posts that support glass panels would ordinarily be to either side of the drainage channel 15, rather than overlying it. The arrangement of Figure 1 is thus considered to be a more aesthetically pleasing arrangement than the prior art arrangements discussed herein, because the posts 25 are mounted within the drainage channel 15 creating a very neat and pleasing appearance, as well as maximising the flooring surface of the balcony 11 . [0065] The ability of the drainage channel 15 to mount the posts 25 also means that alternative post mounts are not required to be created or installed in the tiles 12 of the balcony 11 or in the capping 16. This provides a significant benefit in that the mounting arrangements previously adopted to mount the posts 25 in the balcony floor are no longer required. As discussed earlier herein, this means that components that would ordinarily be mounted to the tiles 12 and that would ordinarily penetrate through a waterproof layer beneath the tiles 12, are not required. Thus, the likelihood that the waterproof membrane of the balcony 11 is compromised is also expected to be significantly reduced.

[0066] Installation of the drainage channel 15 also facilitates the installation of the post mounts for the posts 25. As a result, significant time savings are expected to be realised in the construction of fenced balconies because the separate mounts in the tiles 12 are no longer required to be installed.

[0067] A drainage channel assembly 10 according to the present invention provides a very secure anchor for the posts 24. That secure anchor is provided by the provision of upper and lower support surfaces, that extend inwardly from side walls of the drainage channel 11 to which an anchor member and a support plate can be attached.

[0068] Figures 2 and 3 show a first form of drainage channel that is suitable for use in a drainage channel assembly according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows a short section of channel in perspective view, while Figure 3 represents a cross-sectional view of the drainage channel of Figure 2.

[0069] The drainage channel 28 of Figures 2 and 3 has a base 29 and a pair of side walls 30, 31 which are upstanding from the base 29. Between the base 29 and the side walls 30, 31 , an internal drainage area 32 is defined.

[0070] The drainage channel 28 includes a pair of inwardly extending ribs or rails (hereinafter ‘ribs’) 33. The ribs 33 can be termed as square ribs, and each defines an upper supporting surface 34, a lower supporting surface 35 and an end wall 36. The upper and lower supporting surfaces 34 and 35 extend generally perpendicular to the end wall 36 and are generally parallel to each other. The upper and lower supporting surfaces 34 and 35 are usually generally horizontal when the drainage channel is installed. The lower supporting surface 35 is spaced from and faces the base 29 and the upper surface 34 is spaced upwardly from the lower surface 35 and faces away from the base 29. It is to the ribs 33 that a fence support is clamped.

[0071] The channel 18 further includes flanges 38 and 39. The flange 38 is positioned to be received beneath the tiles 12 of the assembly 10 of Figure 1 , while the flange 39 fits beneath the capping 16 of the assembly 10. The flange 38 would also underlie a waterproof layer that is applied underneath the tiles 12, so that rainwater that flows across the tiles 12 above the waterproof layer would continue to flow across the flange 38 above the waterproof layer and into the internal drainage area 32. The drainage channel 28 would also be connected by a suitable bracket to the bearer 17 and examples of that connection will be shown later herein.

[0072] Figures 4 and 5 show a different form of drainage channel 40 but the main difference resides in the height of the side walls 41 and 42. In other respects, like the drainage channel 28, the channel 40 includes inwardly extending ribs 43 which each define upper supporting surfaces 44 and lower supporting surfaces 45. The side walls 41 and 42 extend from a base 46 and the lower supporting surfaces 45 are spaced from the base. The ribs 43 each include end walls 47, while the channel 40 includes lateral flanges 48 and 49. It can be seen, that the channel 40 is largely symmetrical in cross-section, such that the flanges 48 and 49 extend at the same height. This is in contrast to the drainage channel 28, in which the side wall 31 is of greater height than the side wall 30 and the flanges 38 and 39 have different dimensions. Essentially however, the respective drainage channels 28 and 40 operate in the same manner although would be selected for different installations.

[0073] As explained above, the drainage channels 28 and 40 can receive a post support for supporting a fencing post. Figures 6 and 7 are respectively assembled and exploded views of one form of post support according to the invention.

[0074] The fence posts 25 shown in Figure 1 are shown in more detail in Figures 6 and 7 and one is identified by the reference numeral 50 in those figures. The fence post 50 is of a standard form of current post, which includes a central gap G for accepting the bottom edge or portion of a glass fencing panel. The bottom edge of the fencing panel is clamped within the gap G in a manner which is known in the art. [0075] The post 50 includes a bottom flange 51 which is shown in Figure 7. The bottom flange 51 includes openings for receipt of fasteners which fasten the post 50 to a site of installation. In most prior art arrangements, the post 50 is fastened to the surface of a balcony floor, or within the balcony floor, by driving the fasteners into the balcony floor, but in accordance with the present invention, the post 50 is fastened within a drainage channel.

[0076] With reference to Figure 7, the post support of the present invention includes an anchor member in the form of a pair of anchor members or plates 55 and 56. The post support further includes a fence support in the form of a fence post support plate 58. The anchor plates 55 and 56 and the support plate 58 each include openings 60 through which the fasteners 62 extend. The fasteners 62 extend into threaded engagement with nuts 64. The nuts 64 can be fixed to the anchor plates 55 and 56 or can be loose or separated therefrom as shown.

[0077] Fastening of the nuts 64 to the fasteners 62 clamps the support plate 58 and the anchor members 55 and 56 against the upper and lower supporting surfaces of the drainage channels 28 or 40. This is shown in Figures 8 and 9, which are sectioned views lengthwise of the drainage channel and through the fasteners 62, in which the anchor members 55 and 56 bear upwardly against the lower supporting surface 35 of the drainage channel 28, while the support plate 58 bears downwardly against the upper supporting surface 34.

[0078] The fasteners 62 also extend through the openings of the flange 51 of the fence post 50 before they extend through the support plate 58, so that when the fasteners 62 are secured by the nuts 64, the flange 51 is secured also. Interposed between the support plate 58 and the flange 51 is a spacer 66 that, as can be seen in Figures 8 and 9, spaces the fence post 50 above the support plate 58. The spacer 66 can have any suitable height and different sized spacers 66 can be provided to space the fence post 50 closer to or further away from the support plate 58 as required to properly position and place the flange 51 of the support post 50 at the appropriate height within the drainage channel 28. Also shown in the figures is a cap 68 that loosely overlies the flange 51 and the heads of the fasteners 62 and which is provided purely for aesthetic purposes. [0079] Figures 6 and 7 also show grate supports 70 and 72 that each include a base part 74 that in the assembled form of the post support is sandwiched between an upper surface of the support plate 58 and an underneath surface of the spacer 66. The base part 74 includes grooves for passage of the fasteners 62 and when the fasteners 62 are fastened by the nuts 64, the grate supports 70 and 72 are secured in place. The grooves enable small adjustment of the position of the grate supports 70 and 72 relative to the support plate 58 and the spacer 66 and if necessary, they allow the grate supports 70 and 72 to be added to the post support after the fasteners have been connected to the support plate 58 and the anchor members 55 and 56, because the grooves are open at their inner ends.

[0080] The grate supports 70 and 72 further include a vertical wall 76 and support ledges 78. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the support ledges 78 form a support for a drainage grate that is simply placed over the opening of the drainage channel 28 in resting engagement with the support ledges 78. The drainage grates 80 are visible in Figure 1 and overlie the opening of the drainage channel 28 for aesthetic purposes and to prevent objects from entering the drainage channel.

[0081] As will be evident from the figures, opposite ends of the anchor members 55 and 56 extend across the drainage area 32 of the channel 28 to engage the lower supporting surfaces 35 of the ribs 33. Likewise, the support plate 58 also extends across the drainage area 32 to engage against the upper supporting surfaces 34 of the ribs 33. In respect of the support plate 58, this is shown in isolation in Figure 10 and it can be seen that the plate 58 includes eight openings 60 for receipt of fasteners 62. Given that only four fasteners 62 are used, the eight openings 60 provide scope for accepting different sized flanges or plates of different fence posts.

[0082] The support plate 58 also includes end wings 82 that have a reduced width compared to the width of the main plate 84 of the support plate 58. The width of the wings 82 is such that side edges 86 are a close fit between the end walls 36 of the drainage channel 28, while the edges 88 of the main plate 84 overlie the upper supporting surfaces 34 of the drainage channel 28. Engagement of the side edges 86 of the wings 82 with the end walls 36 of the drainage channel 28 locates the support plate 58 within the drainage channel 28 as well as locating it on the upper supporting surfaces 34 and it also maintains the support plate 58 square and perpendicular within the drainage channel 28 when it is slid along the channel 28 during location of the post support. In this respect, with the fasteners 62 installed as in Figures 8 and 9, movement of the post 50 along the channel 28 can be by loosening the fasteners 62 until the correct location is reached and then the fasteners 62 can be tightened to secure the post 50 in place.

[0083] Figure 6 shows the post support in a fully assembled state, but separate from the drainage channel 28, Figure 6 however shows how the various components of the post support nest together in the assembled state.

[0084] With the anchor members 55 and 56 clamped against the lower supporting surfaces 35 and the support plate 58 clamped against the upper supporting surface 34 of the drainage channel 28 as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the post support is firmly held in position. The fence post 50 is thus firmly anchored against the upper surface of the spacer 66 and is ready to support the bottom edge of a glass fencing panel.

[0085] In some forms of the invention, a support member is inserted into the cavity C (see Figure 3) of the ribs 33 of the drainage channel 28, to support the upper and lower surfaces 34 and 35 against collapse when the anchor members 55 and 56 and the support plate 58 are clamped together against the surfaces 34 and 35. Figure 11 illustrates one form of support member which is formed as a bracket and which includes a connection plate for connecting to a bearer of a balcony floor.

[0086] The includes upstanding support sections 91 that, in respect of the drainage channel 28, extend upwardly within the cavities C adjacent the end walls 36. An upper edge 92 of the support sections 91 bears against the underneath surface of the upper supporting surface 34, while a lateral section 93 bears against the underneath surface of the lower supporting surface 35. The lateral sections 93 extend to a bracket section 94 that extends downwardly along the side walls 30 and 31 and about the base 29 of the drainage channel 28. A connection bracket 95 extends downwardly and includes openings 96 for fastening to a balcony floor bearer.

[0087] It is to be noted that the support member 90 shown in Figure 11 can be provided without the connecting bracket 95 so that the member 90 can be positioned anywhere along the drainage channel 28 that a fence post is to be fixed. The upstanding support sections 91 can be a snug or close fit between the upper and lower supporting surfaces 34 and 35, so that once the support plate 58 and the anchor members 55 and 56 are clamped against the upper and lower support surfaces 34 and 35, the upstanding support sections 91 will be firmly engaged by the upper and lower supporting surfaces 34 and 35 pressing down on the support sections 91 and the support member 90 will be held in place.

[0088] The support member 90 is provided to support the upper and lower support surfaces 34 and 35 against collapse when the fasteners 62 are fastened to attach the support plate 58 and the anchor members 55 and 56 against the upper and lower support surfaces 34 and 35. Such a support member 90 may not be required in all installations, but optionally can be included where required. The support member 90 may not be required where the grade of the sheet metal used to form the drainage channel 28 is sufficient to support the upper and lower support surfaces 34 and 35 against collapse. However, if there is any doubt on this, the support member 90 can be employed for certainty. As previously indicated, in some forms of the invention, the drainage channel is formed from 1.2mm 316 stainless steel while the bracket is formed from 3mm 316 stainless steel.

[0089] The support member 90 can also act as a hold down arrangement, given that once the connecting bracket 95 is fixed to a bearer, accommodation of the upstanding support sections 91 within the cavities C prevents the drainage channel 28 from lifting away from the bearer.

[0090] Figure 12 illustrates an alternative support member 100 (or hold down arrangement), which includes separate bracket sections comprising support sections 101 , lateral sections 102, wall sections 103 and base sections 104. The support member 100 further includes a base plate 105 and a clamp plate 106. The support member 100 can be fixed to the upper surface of a bearer, by fasteners (not shown) extending through openings 108. Fasteners 110 extend through openings 108 of the base plate 105 that are obscured in Figure 12, while the fasteners 110 also extend through openings in the clamp plate 106 and through slots 111 in the base section 104. The provision of the slots 111 in the base section 104 allows the base section 104 to be shifted on the base plate 105 so that the spacing between the support sections 101 can be increased or decreased, to accommodate drainage channels of a different width, or to allow release of a drainage channel from the support member 100 without detaching the support member 100 from a bearer to which the support member is fixed.

[0091] In other respects, the support sections 101 of the support member 100 operate in the same way as the support sections 91 of the support member 90, to support the upper and lower support surfaces 34 and 35 of the drainage channel 28 against collapse when the anchor members 55 and 56 and the support plate 58 are clamped against those surfaces and to hold the drainage channel 28 against lifting away from the bearer on which it is laid or supported.

[0092] It will be appreciated from the foregoing description in relation to the figures, that the fence post 50 can be mounted within, or to overlie the drainage channels 28 or 40, so that the glass panels 24 extend upwardly from a position overlying the drainage channels 28 and 40. This provides an aesthetic appearance that is considered to be improved over the prior art.

[0093] Moreover, by the clamping of the anchor members and support plates to the upper and lower supporting surfaces, a secure and robust mount for the post 50 can be made. Prototype testing has shown that the security of the mount is at least as good as prior art mountings that are made to the balcony flooring. However, it will be readily appreciated, that the fence post can be mounted wholly within the drainage channel and without requiring fastening externally of the channel. Thus, all fastening members are retained within the drainage channel and there is no external fastening that needs to extend into the balcony floor and potentially through the waterproofing layer of the balcony. The waterproofing layer is therefore uncompromised by the mounting of fence posts 50 and so the difficulties associated with breaching the balcony waterproofing layer is removed by the present invention to the advantage of installation personnel, building owners and insurance companies.

[0094] Figure 13 illustrates an alternative form of the invention, in which a drain channel assembly 120 is installed in a balcony 121 to support glass panels 122. In the assembly 120 of Figure 13, the bottom edge or portion of the glass panels 122 extends into the assembly 120 for support within the drainage channel of the assembly 120. Thus, the glass panels 122 are not supported by posts above the balcony tiles 121 , but rather, the arrangement directly engages against the bottom edge of the panels 122 and the bottom edges are embedded within the balcony.

[0095] The assembly 120 can use drainage channels similar to the channels 28 and 40 described above and in Figure 14, a suitable drainage channel 124 is illustrated. This has different dimensions to the drainage channels 28 and 40 described earlier herein, but has generally the same characteristics. Thus, the channel 124 has a base 125, side walls 126 and lateral flanges 127 and 128. Each side wall 126 includes an inwardly extending rib or rail 130 that, like the ribs 33 and 43 of the channels 28 and 40, includes upper and lower supporting surfaces 131 and 132 and end walls 133.

[0096] Disposed within the drainage channel 124 of Figure 14, is a support comprising an anchor member 134 and a support bracket 136. The anchor member 134 is one of a pair of members, similar to the anchor members 55 and 56 of the earlier embodiment. The anchor member 134 extends across the channel 124 to engage against the lower supporting surfaces 132.

[0097] The support bracket is configured to accept the bottom edge of a glass panel. Figure 17 illustrates the bracket 136 shown in Figures 15 and 16, with the bottom edge of a glass panel 144 inserted into the recess R (shown in Figures 15 and 16). Figure 17 also shows the pair of anchor members 134 that attach to the bracket 136 and further shows fasteners 146 that facilitate that attachment. The fasteners 146 extend through openings 148 in the base 138 most of which are obscured in the perspective views of the bracket 136 shown in Figures 15 and 16. The fasteners 146 are also omitted from Figure 14, but they extend between the anchor members 134 and the bracket 136 close to the end walls 133 of the channel 124. This is shown in Figure 18.

[0098] The glass panel 144 is secured within the bracket 136 by bolts 150 (see Figures 16 and 19) that extend through openings formed in the bottom edge of the panel 144. The manner in which the fasteners 146 secure the panel 144 is in accordance with existing methods already used for mounting the bottom edge of glass panels below the floor surface of a balcony. [0099] Figure 17 also shows a bar 152 that is provided to bear against the upper supporting surface 131 of the channel 124 but which is not shown in Figures 15 and 16. The bar 152 is welded to surfaces 154 of the side walls 140 and 141 , although the bars 152 are shown omitted from Figures 15 and 16, because they are an optional addition to the bracket 136.

[0100] It can be seen from Figure 14, that the base 138 of the bracket 136 is positioned below the upper supporting surface 131 and is in close facing relationship, or even contact, with the end walls 133 of the channel 124. The location of the base in this position prevents the bracket 136 from rotating within the channel 124.

[0101] With reference to Figures 18 and 19, the assembly 120 is shown almost completely assembled. Thus, the anchor members 134 are fastened to the bracket 136, so that the anchor members 134 are in bearing contact with the lower supporting surface 132 and the surfaces 154 of the bracket 136 are in engagement with the upper supporting surfaces 131 . In Figure 18, the bracket 136 is shown including bars 152 so that it is actually the bars 152 that bear against the upper supporting surface 131.

[0102] The fasteners 146 provide the clamping force between the anchor members 134 and the bracket 136, while the glass panel 144 is shown fixed within the recess R, with soft packing placed between the base 138 and the bottom surface of the panel 144 and further packing extending upwardly along each side surface of the bottom edge of the panel 144. The packing protects the bottom edge of the panel 144 from damage against the metal surfaces of the bracket. Three bolts 150 are shown in Figure 19 and these bolts 150 extend through the packing 156 and the panel 144.

[0103] The flanges 127 and 128 of the channel 124 are sandwiched between the structural balcony under-surface 158 and the tiles 160 applied to that surface. A waterproofing layer is also sandwiched between the surface 158 and the tiles 160.

[0104] A removable grate 162 is shown in place to bridge between the leading end of the tiles 160 and the facing surface of the glass panel 144. Another wider grate would be applied to the open area on the opposite side of the glass panel, but this is omitted to show the bracket sections below where the grate would be mounted. [0105] As will be apparent from Figures 13 to 19, the present invention also facilitates mounting of the bottom edge or portion of glass panels within the drainage channel and below the surrounding surface of the balcony tiling. This provides consumers with the option of adopting the post supports of Figure 1 to 12, or the flush mounting of Figures 13 to 19. However the concept behind how either style of glass panelling is mounted is the same. Likewise, the advantages discussed above in relation to Figure 1 to 12 are also provided in relation to the arrangement of Figures 13 to 19.

[0106] A further alternative form of the invention is shown in Figures 20 and 21 . This form of the invention is very similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 12, but shows a fence post 170 that would extend for the full height of a fence rather than the short fence posts 50 that support just the bottom edge of glass panels. The fence post 170 of this kind would normally form a vertical frame for a glass panel.

[0107] Figure 20 shows the full height of the fence post 170, whereas Figure 21 shows just the bottom portion of the fence post 170. Figure 20 thus shows glass panel mounting brackets 171 and further shows a drainage channel 172. The drainage channel 172 has a similar configuration to the other drainage channels described earlier herein, and thus with reference to Figure 21 , it includes flanges 174, side walls 175, a base 176 and ribs or rails 178. The ribs 178 are formed similar to the ribs described earlier herein, and thus open out of the side walls 175 and define a cavity.

[0108] Figures 20 and 21 both show the drainage channel assembly that is used to fix the fence post 170 in place. This includes an anchor member 180, a fence support 182, and fasteners 184. The fence support 182 is the same construction as the fence post support plate 58 of Figure 10. The fence support 182 thus includes the same eight openings of the fence post support plate 58. The fence post 170 has a square flange or plate 186 which is welded to the bottom of the post 170 and the fasteners 184 extend through the plate 186 to fasten the plate 186 to the fence support 182 in essentially the same as the manner in which the flange 51 is attached to the fence post support plate 58. However, because the flange 51 is of different shape to the plate 186 the fasteners associated with the flange 51 and the plate 186 may extend through different openings in the respective fence supports 58 and 182. [0109] With reference to Figure 21 , this also shows the support member 90 of Figure 11 in place on the drainage channel 172 despite the drainage channel being slightly different in overall dimensions to the drainage channels discussed earlier herein. Thus, the upstanding support sections 91 are each disposed within the cavity C of each side wall 175, so that the upper edge 92 bears against the underneath surface of the upper supporting surface 188, while the lateral section 93 bears against the upper surface of the lower supporting surface 190. The bracket section 94 extends downwardly along the side walls 175 and about the base 176 of the drainage channel 172. The connection bracket 95 extends downwardly for fastening to a balcony floor bearer.

[0110] Other forms of fence connection can be made to the fence support of the drainage channel assembly shown in the figures. The arrangements of Figures 1 to 21 represent just three different possibilities.

[0111] Where any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0112] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.