FLUSH MOUNT ASSEMBLY FOR VERTICAL PANEL

Abstract

A panel mount system can secure a panel to a structure and allow adjustments to secure multiple panels. The system includes a channel that is secured to the structure and has parallel slots that can receive fasteners. The fasteners can be captured nuts or studs that can be secured within the slots. A threaded and flanged sleeve with a drive feature and flange can mate with the fasteners to adjust a distance between the flange and the channel. The panel has apertures that receive the threaded sleeves and the panel is secured thereto. The threaded sleeves can be adjusted with the panel in place by accessing their drive features through the apertures.

Claims

1. A panel mount system comprising: an elongate channel having a track and a front surface; a receiver for being retained to said track, said receiver having a threaded aperture extending therethrough; a threaded shaft having a thread complementary to said threaded aperture; a flanged sleeve having a thread complementary to said threaded shaft, said flanged sleeve having a sleeve portion terminating at an integral flange, said integral flange extends radially beyond said sleeve portion, said flanged sleeve having a threaded end portion opposite said integral flange; a fastener securable to said threaded end portion of said flanged sleeve; and when said flanged sleeve is rotated with respect to said threaded shaft, said integral flange moves with respect to said front surface.

2. The panel mount system of claim 1, further comprising a catch plate having an aperture to receive said sleeve portion of said flanged sleeve, said catch plate has an angled end portion being obliquely angled with respect to said catch plate.

3. The panel mount system of claim 2, further comprising a cover, said cover having a hook portion for mating with said angled end portion of said catch plate.

4. The panel mount system of claim 3, wherein said catch plate has a parallel wall portion, said parallel wall portion adjacent said cover when said cover is secured to said catch plate.

5. The panel mount system of claim 1, wherein said threaded shaft having a shaft drive feature, said flanged sleeve having a sleeve drive feature.

6. The panel mount system of claim 1, further comprising a panel having a panel aperture being larger than said sleeve portion and smaller than said integral flange, said panel is adjustably securable to said elongate channel when said sleeve portion is located in said panel aperture and said panel is located between said fastener and said integral flange.

7. The panel mount system of claim 6, wherein said track is a first track and said elongate channel has a second track, said second track is parallel to and spaced from said first track, said panel having a second said panel aperture spaced from said panel aperture, further comprising a second said receiver, a second said threaded shaft, a second said flanged sleeve, and a second said fastener, rotating one of said flanged sleeves changes an angle of said panel with respect to said elongate channel.

8. The panel mount system of claim 1, when said threaded shaft is received by said receiver and in biased contact with said elongate channel, said receiver is fixed with respect to said track.

9. A panel mount system comprising: an elongate channel having a first track and a second track, said first track parallel to said second track and spaced therefrom; a receiver for being retained to said first or second track, said receiver having a threaded aperture; a threaded shaft having a thread complementary to said threaded aperture, said threaded shaft having a shaft drive feature on one end; a flanged sleeve having a sleeve drive feature and a thread complementary to said threaded shaft, said flanged sleeve having a sleeve portion terminating at an integral flange, said integral flange extends radially beyond said sleeve portion, said flanged sleeve having a threaded end portion opposite said integral flange; a fastener securable to said threaded end portion of said flanged sleeve; when said flanged sleeve is rotated with respect to said threaded shaft, said integral flange moves with respect to said elongate channel; and a panel having a panel aperture for receiving said sleeve portion, said panel is adjustably securable to said elongate channel when said sleeve portion is located in said panel aperture and said panel is located between said integral flange and said fastener.

10. The panel mount system of claim 9, wherein said receiver is a T-nut, said first and second tracks being T-shaped slots complementary to said T-nut.

11. The panel mount system of claim 9, when said threaded shaft is received by said receiver, said receiver is securable to said elongate channel.

12. The panel mount system of claim 9, further comprising a catch plate having an aperture to receive said sleeve portion of said flanged sleeve.

13. The panel mount system of claim 12, further comprising a cover, said cover having a hook portion for mating with an angled end portion of said catch plate.

14. The panel mount system of claim 9, further comprising a flat gasket and a top hat gasket having a crown portion and a brim portion, said panel located between said brim portion and said flat gasket.

15. A method of adjustably securing a panel to a structure, said method comprising: providing an elongate channel having a first slot and a second slot, said first slot is parallel to and spaced from said second slot; attaching said elongate channel to said structure; securing a first shaft in said first slot and a second shaft in said second slot; providing a first flanged sleeve and a second flanged sleeve, each said flanged sleeves having a thread complementary to said shaft, said flanged sleeves having a sleeve portion terminating at an integral flange, said flanged sleeves each having a drive feature; threadably mating said first flanged sleeve to said first shaft and said second flanged sleeve to said second shaft; providing said panel, said panel having a first aperture and a second aperture; locating said first and second flanged sleeves in said first and second apertures of said panel; mating a first fastener to said first flanged sleeve and a second fastener to said second flanged sleeve; and rotating at least one of said flanged sleeves to adjust an angle between said panel and said elongate channel.

16. The method of claim 15, further providing a catch plate, said catch plate having apertures to receive said sleeve portions of said flanged sleeves, locating said catch plate over said panel and said flanged sleeves before mating said fasteners to said flanged sleeves.

17. The method of claim 16, further providing a cover, said cover having a hook portion, mating said hook portion with an angled end portion of said catch plate to secure said cover to said catch plate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said catch plate has a parallel wall portion, applying adhesive to said parallel wall portion before securing said cover to said catch plate.

19. The method of claim 15, further providing a flat gasket and a top hat gasket having a crown portion and a brim portion, locating said panel located between said brim portion and said flat gasket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a rear isometric view of the mount attached to a wall in a balcony configuration;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a front isometric view of the mount in FIG. 1 showing alternate decorative covers separated from the mount;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a side section view 3-3 of the mount in FIG. 1 with the wood embodiment of the decorative cover installed;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a partial view 4 of the side section view in FIG. 3;

[0010] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the mount in FIG. 2 with the extruded embodiment of the decorative cover; and

[0011] FIG. 6 is a side section view of the exploded view in FIG. 5 about line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] A flat panel mount 10 is shown in the FIG. 1 attached to a vertical wall 20 where it meets a floor 22. The floor 22 has a subfloor layer 24 and a floorcovering layer 26 that overlays the subfloor. As shown in the FIGS., the flat panel mount 10 is used in a balcony configuration, but other applications are contemplated. The mount 10 is shown as attaching a glass pane/panel 30 or similar planar structure having an upper aperture 32 and a lower aperture 34. The glass pane 30 is secured through the apertures 32, 34.

[0013] The mount 10 has an elongate profile channel 40 that is secured to the vertical wall 20 with fasteners 42 that are received by apertures 44. The apertures 44 are located in an upper fastener channel 46 and a lower fastener channel 48, allowing the heads of the fasteners 42 to remain inside the envelope of the profile channel 40. The fasteners 42 can be wood screws, concrete anchors, or based on the materials used in the vertical wall. In the embodiment shown herein, the fasteners 42 are wood screws. The profile channel 40 has at least two tracks, such as an upper T-slot 50 and a lower T-slot 52 that are narrower adjacent a front surface 54 and wider between the front surface 54 and back surface 56. The tracks can be slots as shown in the preferred embodiment, but it is contemplated that they are ridges, walls, or other features that allow a fastener to be slidably retained thereon. The T-slots 50, 52 each receive a series of corresponding receivers or T-nuts 60, 62. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the glass pane 30 is secured using a series of T-nuts and related hardware. However, to avoid needless repetition, only one set of receivers/T-nuts and their related hardware will be discussed.

[0014] The T-nuts 60, 62 are identical, each having an internally threaded hole 64 that receives a set screw 70, 72. The set screws 70, 72 have an internal drive 74 and each receive a flanged sleeve 80, 82. The flanged sleeves 80, 82 have an internally threaded hole 84 that matches the threading on the set screws 70, 72, a sleeve portion 85 with an external thread 87, a flange 86, and an internal drive 88. The internal drives 74, 88 are shown and described as a hex shape, but other features are contemplated that allow a tool such as a screwdriver, star drive, or other type of driver to mate with and rotate the set screw or flanged sleeve. Top hat gaskets 90, 92 have a brim portion 94 that overlays the flange 86 and a crown portion 96 that fits over the sleeve portion 85. This is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The brim portion 94 is sized for clearance with the apertures 32, 34 of the glass panel 30. On the opposite side of the glass panel 30 is a flat gasket 100 with an upper hole 102 and a lower hole 104. The top hat gaskets 90, 92 and flat gasket 100 are formed from resilient material. A catch plate 110 overlays the flat gasket 100 with an upper hole 112 and a lower hole 114. The upper holes 102, 112 and lower holes 104, 114 are sized to receive the sleeve portions 85 of the flanged sleeves 80, 82, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The catch plate 110 has a planar portion 111 and an upper angled end 116 that is formed at an oblique angle. Opposite the upper angled end 116 is a lower angled end 118 that is also at an oblique angle. The catch plate 110 also includes a left parallel wall portion 113 and a right parallel wall portion 115 that are parallel to and offset from the planar portion. The parallel wall portions 113, 115 are connected through offsetting wall portions 117. The offsetting wall portions 117 in the embodiment shown herein are obliquely angled with respect to the planar portion 111, but it is contemplated that they are perpendicular. The parallel and offsetting wall portions 113, 115, 117 improve rigidity of the catch plate 110. The parallel wall portions 113, 115 each have an outwardly facing surface that is spaced from the planar portion. An upper nut 120 and a lower nut 122 are threaded onto the external threads 87 of the flanged sleeves 80, 82, shown in FIG. 3. For the section views in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, cross hatching is not shown due to the size and geometry of the components. For any of the components shown in these FIGS., the section line 3-3 in FIG. 1 is also aligned with the centerlines that extend from the T-nuts 60, 62 through the nuts 120, 122 in FIG. 5.

[0015] As can be seen in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, there are five sets of the aforementioned hardware to retain the glass panel 30, but other quantities are contemplated, based on regulations, intended use, and other application considerations. A decorative cover 130, 150 mates with the angled ends 116, 118 of the catch plate 110 to conceal all of the components between the profile channel 40 and nuts 120, 122. Two alternative versions of the cover 130, 150 are shown in FIG. 2. The cover 130, as shown, is made from wood and cover 150 is formed from extruded materials, such as aluminum or composite. Cover 130 may be a single part or multiple parts joined together. Cover 130 may also include multiple brackets 136 that mate with the catch plate 110, specifically the upper and lower angled ends 116, 118. The bracket 136 is secured to the cover 130 through fasteners, adhesive, or equivalent, and has an upper hook portion 138 and a lower snap portion 140. An angled surface 132 matches the angle of the angled end 116 and an offsetting wall 134 that contacts the vertical wall 20. The cover 150 also has upper hook portion 152 to mate with the upper angled end 116 and a lower snap portion 154 to mate with the lower angled end 118. Cover 150 and bracket 136 have a clear area 156, 137 between their respective upper hook portions 138, 152 and lower snap portions 140, 154 to receive the parallel wall portions 113, 115. This allows the user to apply adhesive on the parallel wall portions to provide a secure connection for the cover 130, 150.

[0016] To install the mount 10, the user affixes the profile channel 40 to the vertical wall 20 with fasteners 42. In the installation shown herein, the top edge of the profile channel is affixed to the vertical wall 20 flush with the top surface of the subfloor layer 24. Next, the user slides T-nuts 60, 62 into their corresponding T-slots 50, 52 and threads set screws 70, 72 into the T-nuts 60, 62. The T-nuts 60, 62 can be locked in place if the set screws 70, 72 are tightened to where they contact the T-slots 50, 52 as shown in FIG. 3. Next, the user threads flanged sleeves 80, 82 onto the set screws 70, 72 and places the top hat gaskets 90, 92. This process is repeated until each set of apertures 32, 34 in the glass panel 30 has corresponding mounting hardware secured to the profile channel 40. In the embodiment shown in the FIGS, this is performed five times, but it is contemplated that a different number of apertures 32, 34 are in the glass panel 30. Next, the glass panel 30 is located with the top hat gaskets 90, 92 located in their corresponding apertures 32, 34. Next, the flat gasket 100 and catch plate 110 are placed and secured with nuts 120, 122. This is repeated for each set of apertures 32, 34. To adjust the angle of the glass panel 30, the user places a hex key into the internal drive 88 to rotate flanged sleeve 80, 82, which causes the flange 86 to move either towards or away from the front surface 54. The floorcovering layer 26 can then be placed to cover the profile channel 40 and trim, gaskets, or filler pieces can be used to minimize any gap between the edge of the floorcovering layer 26 and the panel 30. To complete the installation after aligning the glass panels 30, the user optionally applies adhesive (dispensed or tape) on to the parallel wall portions 113, 115 and installs the cover 130, 150 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Other finish work is contemplated to complete the installation, such as the addition of hand rails or other hardware between adjacent glass panels, other parts of the structure, or between the structure and adjacent walls.

[0017] It is understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. No specific limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Modifications may be made to the disclosed subject matter as set forth in the following claims.