SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTING A PRIVACY AND NOISE PROTECTION BARRIER

Abstract

A support system for a basket filled with a filler material for creating a privacy or noise protection barrier includes first support elements arranged in side-by-side spaced-apart relationship, second support elements arranged in opposition to the first support elements, and horizontal cross ties interconnecting the first and second support elements on their insides at a distance from one another. Mesh mats are further provided to interconnect the first and second support elements in a longitudinal direction of the support system on their outsides.

Claims

1. A support system for a basket filled with a filler material for creating a privacy or noise protection barrier, said support system comprising: first support elements arranged in side-by-side spaced-apart relationship; second support elements arranged in opposition to the first support elements; horizontal cross ties interconnecting the first and second support elements on their insides at a distance from one another; and mesh mats configured to interconnect the first and second support elements in a longitudinal direction of the support system on their outsides.

2. The support system of claim 1, wherein the mesh mats include horizontal mesh rods, said first and second support elements having recesses, each recess having an undercut configured to formfittingly clamp the horizontal mesh rods when the horizontal mesh rods are inserted in the recesses.

3. The support system of claim 1, wherein the mesh mats include horizontal mesh rods, said first and second support elements having recesses, each recess having a G-shaped configuration and including an undercut configured to secure the horizontal mesh rods of the mesh mats against vertical displacement when the horizontal mesh rods are inserted in the recesses.

4. The support system of claim 3, wherein the recess are configured to enable arrangement of at least two of the horizontal mesh rods above one another in a working position of the support system.

5. The support system of claim 2, wherein at least two mesh rods of two of the mesh mats are insertable into the recesses such that the at least two mesh rods are aligned in the undercuts.

6. The support system of claim 1, wherein the mesh mats include horizontal mesh rods, said first and second support elements having recesses for receiving the horizontal mesh rods, said recesses being formed in the first and second support elements through a punching process using a cutting template or a cutting process using a laser cutting machine.

7. The support system of claim 2, wherein each of the recesses has an opening defined by a width, with the width of the opening and a width of the undercut in the recess corresponding to a diameter of the horizontal mesh rods of the mesh mats.

8. The support system of claim 1, wherein the support system has a modular configuration and is prefabricated.

9. The support system of claim 1, wherein the first and second support elements and the horizontal cross ties are detachably connectable.

10. The support system of claim 1, wherein at least two of the first support elements, at least two of the second support elements, and a number of horizontal cross ties sufficient to interconnect the first and second support elements form a sub-module, wherein two of said sub-module arranged in parallel side-by-side relationship with two times two of the first and second support elements form a whole module sufficient to form a fillable basket.

11. The support system of claim 1, wherein the first and second support elements and/or the horizontal cross ties are made of galvanized wide flat steel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0031] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a support system according to the present invention, depicting by way of example two support elements interconnected by cross ties and having recesses to accommodate mesh mats;

[0033] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the area encircled in FIG. 1 and marked A, depicting mesh rods of the mesh mats inserted in the recesses;

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a possible connection of cross ties and support elements;

[0035] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the connection between the support element and cross tie; and

[0036] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a variation of recesses with a G-shape and undercuts for receiving mesh rods of mesh mats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments may be illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0038] Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic side view of a support system according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 10. The support system 10 includes first support elements 12 and second support elements 12a in spaced-apart relationship, and horizontal cross ties 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d to interconnect the first and second support elements 12, 12a. In this smallest embodiment, the support elements 12 and 12a and the cross ties 11, 11a, 11b, 11e, 11d form a sub-module 13. Two sub-modules 13 form a whole module. It is intended that sub-module 13 will be prefabricated and only needs to be installed on site.

[0039] Recesses 14 and 14a are formed in the support elements 12 and 12a, respectively. For the sake of clarity, only two reference signs are assigned, wherein identical recesses 14 and 14a correspond to the same reference sign. The recesses 14 and 14a exhibit openings 15 and 15a which open toward the corresponding outer sides 16 and 16a when the support elements 12, 12a are installed.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, cross struts, hereinafter referred to as mesh rods 17, 17a can be inserted via the openings 15, 15a on the outer sides 16, 16a. The mesh rods 17, 17a are parts of the mesh mats which form a wire or lattice work from interconnected cross and longitudinal ties.

[0041] FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of connecting the cross ties 11 to 11d to the support elements 12, 12a. In this embodiment, a screw connection 18 is provided on the inner side 20 of the support elements 12 or 12a.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows another variant of recesses 14, 14a which have a G-shaped configuration in the support elements 12, 12a. In this embodiment, the recesses 14, 14a have an undercut 20 behind which the mesh rods 17 and 17a of the mesh mats can be suspended.

[0043] The mesh mats or mesh rods 17, 17a suspended in the recesses 14, 14a can be additionally clamped and held by means of wedges or clamps with the support elements 12, 12a. The clamps or wedges (not shown) can be configured to seal the openings 15, 15a of the recesses 14, 14a.

[0044] While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0045] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein: