GB2633114A

GB2633114A - Balcony & balustrading components

Info

Publication number: GB2633114A
Application number: GB2319629.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lindsell Murray; Pallister Karl; Parsons Andrew
Original assignee: Sapphire Balconies Ltd
Current assignee: Sapphire Balconies Ltd
Priority date: 2023-07-18
Filing date: 2023-12-20
Publication date: 2025-03-05
Also published as: GB2643366A; GB2631949A; AU2024296139A1; GB202310978D0; WO2025016979A1; GB202319629D0

Abstract

A balcony for attachment to a building, the balcony comprising a framework structure 100 and at least one a balustrade module 200 for attachment to the framework structure, wherein the balustrade module is configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure such that the balustrade is movable between an assembled configuration and a transport configuration, wherein the transport configuration is a lower profile configuration than the assembly configuration. Further disclosed is a balustrade configured for hingedly connecting to a support structure and a method of transporting and attaching a plurality of balconies.

Description

Balcony & Balustrading Components

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to balconies and balustrading components. It has particular, but not necessarily exclusive, applicability to balustrade modules for outdoor applications, such as for balconies or decking structures. The present invention therefore further relates to a balcony with such balustrade modules, and a method of transporting and attaching a plurality of such balconies to a building.

Background

It is known to attach balconies to buildings, particularly residential buildings, in order to provide the occupants of the building above ground floor level an outdoor space. Such balconies may be decorative, but must be structurally secure and safe. A key part of balcony safety is the prevention of accidental falling from the balcony using a guard barrier.

Perhaps the simplest form of guard barrier around a balcony would be a wall. Although a wall would protect the occupants of the balcony from wind, it would equally restrict the view from the balcony and restrict light entering into the building. For this reason, balconies typically have a balustrade upstanding from a framework structure of the balcony, that is a guard barrier extending around the perimeter of the balcony with a predetermined height, typically of about one metre although other heights are known: for exterior balconies, roofs or terraced areas the required height of a balustrade in the UK is around 1.1 meters (1100mm).

To reduce the time to install balconies, each balcony can be assembled off-site into a configuration (a pre-assembled configuration) in which, once transported to the building-site, it may be lifted into position and secured to a building with minimal on-site assembly. As such, in this pre-assembled configuration, the balustrade (among other components such as decking, fascia panels and soffits) may be fixed to the framework structure of the balcony.

Such methods reduce the amount of time required on site to install the balcony, but have a number of disadvantages: primarily, because the balcony has a large cubic volume in the pre-assembled configuration, transport of such balconies is inefficient and difficult. The result of this is that transport emissions associated with the shipping of such balconies is large, and transport costs are relatively high compared to balconies that are assembled on site.

The present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations.

Summary of the Invention

The present inventors have realised that improvements can be made by designing balconies that minimise the amount of assembly (and as such time) required on-site to install the balcony while simultaneously maximising transport efficiency and ease, and thereby also reducing transport emissions and costs associated with transport of such balconies, thereby leading to a more sustainable solution. This is especially important when the factory is a long distance from the site.

Accordingly, in a general aspect, the present invention provides: balconies having balustrade modules that are moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration, wherein the transport configuration is a lower-profile configuration than the assembly configuration; and, balustrade modules configured for use on such balconies and on other suitable supporting structures.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a balcony for attachment to a building, the balcony comprising a framework structure and at least one balustrade module for attachment to the framework structure, wherein the balustrade module is configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure such that the balustrade module is moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration, wherein the transport configuration is a lower-profile configuration than the assembly configuration.

The phrase "hingedly supported by" is used herein to define that the balustrade module and the framework structure are configured to provide for mechanical bearing between these components to thereby allow relative rotation of these components. Further details about various exemplary hinge structures that may be suitable for providing this hinged support are discussed below.

The phrase "assembly configuration" is used herein to define a configuration in which the respective components of the balcony (i.e., the respective components of the pre-assembly balcony units, such as the respective balustrade module and the framework structure on which it may be hingedly supported) are assembled into a suitable configuration for use as a balcony or are otherwise arranged in a configuration suitable for such assembly. Each balustrade module will typically be upstanding from the framework structure in this configuration. In other words, the balustrade module may extend substantially parallel to the height direction of the balcony when in the assembly configuration. The balustrade module may span at least one side of the framework structure, preferably in a direction substantially parallel to the width direction or the depth direction of the balcony when in the assembly configuration. As such, the length of the balustrade may correspond to the length of the respective side of the framework structure (or any other supporting structure).

The phrase "transport configuration" is used herein to define a configuration in which the balcony may be transported (e.g., on a national road network to a building site). Preferably, when in the transport configuration, the balustrade module is rotated relative to its position in the assembly configuration. For example, the balustrade module be rotated by at least 10°, at least 30°, at least 45°, or at least 60°, e.g. by approximately 90° about at least one axis of rotation relative to its position in the assembly configuration. The axis of rotation may be an axis that extends substantially parallel to the width direction or the depth direction of the balcony. This can allow the balustrade module to lie substantially flat on top of the framework structure of the balcony in the transport configuration, and the transport configuration to have a suitably lower-profile configuration than the assembly configuration. The transport configuration may conveniently also be referred to as a "folded configuration". For convenience the transport and assembly configurations may also be referred to simply as first and second configurations, respectively.

The phrase "lower-profile configuration" is used herein to define that the configuration has a smaller cubic volume, for example in the transport configuration than in the assembly configuration. The cubic volume of the balcony may be measured by defining a cuboid volume which extends between outer extremities of the relevant components of the balcony (e.g., the respective balustrade module and the framework structure on which it may be hingedly supported) in each respective configuration.

By providing an arrangement in which a balustrade module of the balcony is moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration as defined above, the balcony can be transported in a more efficient and cost-effective manner compared to arrangements in which the balustrade or balustrade modules are not moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration.

Further advantages are that such arrangements can allow for reduced transport emissions and costs associated with transport of such balconies, thereby leading to a more sustainable solution.

The present invention has been devised in particular due to the inventor's expertise in balcony systems.

However, as will be apparent from the following disclosure, some aspects of the invention may be embodied in different situations where balustrading is required. For example, it is contemplated that some aspects of the invention may be embodied in balustrade modules suitable for use on Juliette balconies in which the balustrade is typically fixed directly to the façade of a building, or in decking structures.

Accordingly, in a second aspect, the present invention provides a balustrade module comprising one or more hinge elements configured for cooperative engagement with one or more corresponding hinge elements of a supporting structure, such that when the hinge elements are engaged, the balustrade module is hingedly supported by the supporting structure and the balustrade module is moveable between first and second configurations relative to the supporting structure.

The one or more hinge elements of the balustrade module and the one or more corresponding hinge elements of the supporting structure are cooperating hinge elements by which the balustrade module may be hingedly supported by the supporting structure.

The supporting structure may be, for example, a framework structure of a balcony or decking structure, or may be part of a building construction (e.g., the façade of a building). The supporting structure may be fixed in place before the hinge element(s) of the balustrade module are engaged with the corresponding hinge elements of the support structure. This may allow improved safety of installation of both the balustrade module and the supporting structure.

One of the first and second configurations may be a lower-profile configuration than the other of said configurations. That is, the cubic volume of the balustrade module & supporting structure may be smaller in one of the first and second configurations than in the other of said configurations. The cubic volume of the balustrade module & supporting structure may be measured by defining a cuboid volume which extends between outer extremities of the balustrade module & supporting structure in each respective configuration.

The balustrade module may be moveable between first and second configurations by hinged rotation of the balustrade module. For example, when in the second configuration the balustrade module be rotated by at least 10°, at least 30°, at least 45°, or at least 60°, e.g. by approximately 90° about at least one axis of rotation relative to its position in the first configuration. The axis of rotation may be an axis that extends substantially parallel to the width direction or the depth direction of the supporting structure. This can allow the balustrade module to lie substantially flat on top of the supporting structure in at least one of the first or second configurations. This can allow said configuration to have a suitably lower-profile configuration than the other configuration.

Where the supporting structure is a framework structure of a balcony or decking structure, the first and second configurations may respectively define an assembly configuration and a transport configuration for the balcony or the decking structure respectively.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of transporting and attaching a plurality of balconies to a building, each balcony, when attached to the building, comprising: a framework structure and at least one balustrade module supported by the framework structure and extending along a side of the framework structure, the method comprising: (a) providing a plurality of pre-assembly balcony units comprising the at least one balustrade module and the framework structure of each of the plurality of balconies; (b) configuring the plurality of pre-assembly balcony units for transport, by placing each balustrade module in the transport configuration to reduce the cubic volume of the plurality of pre-assembly balcony units for transport; (c) transporting the pre-assembly balcony units in the configuration of (b) to a building site; (d) at the building site, moving each balustrade module to the assembly configuration; and (e) attaching the plurality of balconies to the building.

In step (a), each pre-assembly balcony unit may comprise a plurality of balustrade modules and a framework structure. For example, each pre-assembly balcony unit may comprise at least two balustrade modules each corresponding to a respective side of the framework structure, such that the balcony (when attached to the building) comprises a balustrade supported by the framework structure and extending along at least two sides of the framework structure. In some arrangements, each pre-assembly balcony unit may comprise three balustrade modules each corresponding to a respective side of the framework structure such that the balcony (when attached to the building) comprises a balustrade supported by the framework structure and extending along three sides of the framework structure.

Each balustrade module may be straight. The cubic volume of each balcony in the transport configuration, and particularly the cubic volume of a plurality of balconies stacked in the transport configuration, may be minimised when each balustrade module is straight relative to the balcony. That is, each balustrade modules may be a straight balustrade module. Each balustrade module may therefore be laid (i.e., placed so as to be) flat on top of another balustrade module or the framework structure to form a particularly compact stack for transport.

In step (b), placing each balustrade module in the transport configuration may include laying the (preferably straight) balustrade modules flat on top of each other or on top of the framework structure.

In step (c), the pre-assembly balcony units are transported to a building site, from a factory for example.

This may include transportation on a national road network. Altematively or in addition, this may include transportation on a private road network -e.g., between a pop-up factory and a building on opposing sides of a large site.

Step (d) (of moving each balustrade module to the assembly configuration) may form part of a step of assembling the balconies by attaching the (preferably straight) balustrade modules to the framework structure.

Step (e) may include attaching the plurality of balconies to the building using one or more suitable fixing members. In some embodiments, the building may have a plurality of support brackets or stubs fitted thereto and extending from the façade of the building, and the plurality of balconies may be attached to the building by arranging the balconies to be supported by the support brackets or stubs.

The invention includes the combination of the aspects and optional features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.

Embodiments of the invention comprise at least one balustrade module. However, some embodiments may comprise multiple balustrade modules which cooperate to define a balustrade. For example, a balcony may comprise multiple balustrade modules which cooperate to define a balustrade for the balcony in the assembly configuration. It may comprise two or more, or three or more balustrade modules. In preferred arrangements, each of the balustrade modules correspond to a respective side of the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony).

Where embodiments comprise a plurality of balustrade modules, each of the balustrade modules may be configured to be hingedly supported by the supporting structure as defined above.

For example, in the context of a balcony, the balcony may comprise at least two balustrade modules each corresponding to a respective side of the framework structure, wherein each of the balustrade modules is configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure such that the balustrade module is moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration, wherein the transport configuration is a lower-profile configuration than the assembly configuration.

Alternatively, at least a first of the plurality of balustrade modules may be configured to be hingedly supported by the supporting structure as defined above, and one or more of the remaining balustrade modules may be configured to be hingedly supported from an adjacent balustrade module.

For example, in the context of a balcony, the balcony may comprise at least two balustrade modules each corresponding to a respective side of the framework structure, wherein the balustrade modules are collectively configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure and at least one of the balustrade modules is configured to be hingedly supported from an adjacent balustrade module, such that the balustrade modules are moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration, wherein the transport configuration is a lower-profile configuration than the assembly configuration. By 'collectively configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure' it is meant that the balustrade modules may be connected to one another, with at least one of the balustrade modules being configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure. The plurality of balustrade modules may be connected to one another via one or more hinged connections.

It is contemplated that the hinged support of the balustrade module by the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony) could be provided by a wide variety of bearing arrangements for connecting the balustrade module and the relevant supporting structure. For example, in some embodiments, the hinged connection between the balustrade module and the relevant supporting structure may be provided by means of a butt hinge (including plain bearing, ball bearing, spring-loaded and/or rising butt hinges), barrel hinge, piano hinge, flush hinge, knife hinge, hook and band hinge, or any other suitable type of hinge structure. Such hinge structures may also be used in embodiments comprising at least one balustrade module configured to be hingedly supported by an adjacent balustrade module (that is, the hinged connection between the balustrade modules may be provided by means of a butt hinge (including plain bearing, ball bearing, spring-loaded and/or rising butt hinges), barrel hinge, piano hinge, flush hinge, knife hinge, hook and band hinge, or any other suitable type of hinge structure).

For each balustrade module, each of the balustrade module and the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony) may comprise one or more cooperating hinge elements which respectively engage to allow for relative rotation of the balustrade module and framework structure. That is, the cooperating hinge elements may include one or more support-side hinge elements (i.e., hinge elements provided on or as part of a supporting structure, such as the framework structure of a balcony) and one or more balustrade-side hinge elements (i.e., hinge elements provided on or as part of a balustrade module). Preferably, the balustrade-side hinge elements are provided at or near a bottom edge of the balustrade module (bottom here being defined relative to the typical orientation of the balustrade module during use) -that is, they may be provided at a distance of no more than 20% of the height of the balustrade module from the bottom edge of the balustrade module.

Analogously, in embodiments comprising at least one balustrade module configured to be hingedly supported by an adjacent balustrade module, said balustrade module(s) may comprise one or more cooperating hinge elements which respectively engage to allow for relative rotation of the balustrade module and the adjacent balustrade module. In such arrangements, the respective hinge elements may be provided at or near a lateral edge of the respective balustrade modules (e.g., at a distance of no more than 20% of a length of the balustrade module from the respective lateral edge of the balustrade module).

The number of support-side hinge elements may or may not be equal to the number of balustrade-side hinge elements. Regardless, these elements may be configured to bear against and rotate with respect to each other to allow for relative rotation of the balustrade module and supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony). In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the support-side and balustrade-side hinge elements may be disengageable to allow for complete disconnection of the balustrade module and the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony). That is, the support-side and balustrade-side hinge elements may have the ability to disengage. This allows more flexibility in the how the pre-assembly units are configured for transport because the movement of each balustrade module may not be constrained by the balustrade module being attached to the framework structure. However, in other embodiments, the support-side and balustrade-side hinge elements may not be readily disengageable (e.g., without deformation of one or both of the cooperating hinge elements).

Analogously, in embodiments comprising at least one balustrade module configured to be hingedly supported by an adjacent balustrade module, it is contemplated that the respective hinge elements of each of said balustrade modules may be disengageable to allow the balustrade modules to be disengaged from one another. This may allow yet further flexibility in the how the pre-assembly units are configured for transport.

In some embodiments in which each balustrade module comprises a single balustrade-side hinge element configured for cooperative engagement with a single corresponding support-side hinge element, the balustrade-side hinge element may extend along 50% or more, or 80% or more, or span, the length of the balustrade module. Likewise, the support-side hinge element may extend along 50% or more, or 80% or more, or span, the respective side of the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony). Such arrangements can allow for more secure attachment of the balustrade module to the supporting structure in use.

In other embodiments in which each balustrade module comprises a plurality of balustrade-side hinge elements configured for cooperative engagement with a respective plurality of corresponding support-side hinge elements, the plurality of support-side hinge elements may cooperate to extend along 50% or more, or 80% or more, or span, the length of the balustrade module. Likewise, the plurality of balustrade-side hinge elements may cooperate to extend along 50% or more, or 80% or more, or span, the respective side of the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony). Where the plurality of balustrade-side hinge element or support-side hinge elements do not cooperate to span the length of the balustrade module, the respective plurality of hinge elements may be provided in a spaced manner to hingedly support the balustrade module at a plurality of points. That is, the respective plurality of hinge elements may be discrete hinge elements.

Analogously, in embodiments comprising at least one balustrade module configured to be hingedly supported by an adjacent balustrade module, said balustrade module(s) may comprise a hinge element or plurality of hinge elements which extend along 50% or more, or 80% or more, or which span, the height of the balustrade module. Likewise, the support-side hinge element may extend along 50% or more, or 80% or more, or span, the height of the adjacent balustrade module. Such arrangements can allow for more secure attachment of the balustrade module(s) to the adjacent balustrade module in use. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of hinge elements may be provided in a spaced manner to hingedly support the balustrade module on the adjacent balustrade module at a plurality of points.

As noted above, in some embodiments, the assembly configuration is a configuration in which the respective components of the balcony are arranged in a configuration suitable for assembly into an assembled balcony. That is, in such embodiments, the assembly configuration may not correspond precisely to the 'final' assembled configuration of the balcony when attached to the building, but may in effect provide an intermediate configuration of the balcony. For example, once the balcony has been placed into the assembly configuration, one or more fixing elements may be provided to fix the position of the or each balustrade module relative to the framework structure. Conveniently, the one or more fixing element may be bolts, screws, or any other suitable fixing element.

Regardless, when the cooperating hinge elements are engaged, the cooperating hinge elements of each balustrade module may define an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation may be the axis about which the balustrade-side hinge elements pivot relative to the support-side hinge elements, or vice versa. Preferably, the axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the respective side of the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony) to allow the balustrade module to be pivoted about the respective side of the supporting structure.

For a balustrade module is a module that is hingedly supported via another balustrade module, the axis of rotation may be substantially parallel to the lateral side of the adjacent balustrade module (that extends along the height direction H of the balcony in the assembly configuration) to allow the balustrade module to be pivoted about the respective side of the adjacent balustrade module.

The cooperating hinge elements may comprise respective stopping surfaces that abut one other in at least some configurations of the balustrade module relative to the supporting structure -e.g., for a balcony, the stopping surfaces may abut one other when the balustrade module is in the assembly configuration -to support the balustrade module on the supporting structure. As such, in embodiments in which the cooperating hinge elements are not disengageable, there may be no need for additional fixing elements to fix the position of the respective balustrade module relative to the supporting structure.

In some embodiments, at least part of the one or more cooperating hinge elements (that may be the balustrade-side hinge elements or the support-side hinge elements) may be covered by a fagade in at least some configurations of the balustrade module relative to the supporting structure -e.g. for a balcony, when the balcony is in the assembly configuration. This can provide a better aesthetic appearance, and may also prevent or reduce the risk of accidental obstruction of the hinge elements.

In balcony embodiments where the balcony comprises a plurality of balustrade modules configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure by means of respective pairs of cooperating hinge elements, the cooperating hinge elements for hinged support of one of the balustrade modules may be vertically offset from the cooperating hinge elements for hinged support of at least one of the other balustrade modules. The vertical offset may be approximately equal to the depth of one of the balustrade modules. This can allow the at least two balustrade modules to stack on top of each other when each balustrade module is in the transport configuration. In other words, each balustrade module may be placed on top of another balustrade module or on top of the respective framework structure. This can allow pre-assembly units of each balcony to be stacked together in the transport configuration.

In such embodiments, where one of the balustrade modules may be vertically offset from the cooperating hinge elements of at least one of the other balustrade modules by 50 mm (above), for example, one or both of the cooperating hinge elements of each balustrade module may be covered by a façade. As such, the façades may have different vertical extensions that account for the vertical offset and provide a better aesthetic appearance to the balcony.

Some contemplated arrangements of cooperating hinge elements will now be described.

In a first arrangement, the cooperating hinge elements may include a crosspiece that is a lateral support with a generally convex surface and a socket with a generally concave surface for engagement with the generally convex surface. When the cooperating hinge elements are engaged, the crosspiece may define an axis of rotation about which the socket pivots. That is, the generally convex surface and the generally concave surface of the cooperating hinge elements may be concentric about and extend along the axis of rotation when the cooperating hinge elements are engaged. Preferably, the axis of rotation is parallel to the respective side of the supporting structure (e.g., the balcony framework structure) when engaged to allow the balustrade module to be pivoted about the respective side of the supporting structure. The crosspiece may be provided on or a part of the supporting structure and the socket may be provided on or a part of the balustrade module, or vice versa.

Similar arrangements may be utilised for the hinge structure in embodiments comprising at least one balustrade module configured to be hingedly supported by an adjacent balustrade module: here, the crosspiece may be provided on one of the two balustrade modules, and the socket may be provided on the other balustrade module. The axis of rotation may be parallel to the respective lateral sides of the balustrade modules.

The cooperating hinge elements may be disengageable (i.e., separable) when not being used to move the balustrade module between the transport configuration and the assembly configuration, or between the first and second configurations relative to the supporting structure. That is, the socket may only partially encase the crosspiece when the generally concave surface of the socket is engaged with the generally convex surface of the crosspiece, to allow the socket to be separable from the crosspiece. In alternative embodiments, the cooperating hinge elements may not be separable when not being used to move the balustrade module between the transport configuration and the assembly configuration, or between the first and second configurations relative to the supporting structure. For example, the socket may circumscribe (i.e., wrap around substantially the entire perimeter of) the crosspiece, such that it would not be possible to remove the crosspiece from the socket without deforming part of the hinge structure.

The crosspiece may be at least partially defined by a lip provided on or as part of a structural member of the balustrade module or the supporting structure / adjacent balustrade module. For example, the lip may be provided as part of a structural member (e.g., an upstanding plate) of the supporting structure. That is, the lip may be a lateral portion of an upstanding plate that is fixed to the supporting structure, wherein the lateral portion surrounds an aperture in the plate. Alternatively, the lip may be provided as part of a structural member (e.g., a vertical post) of the balustrade module. That is, the lip may extend from the structural member of the balustrade module, and in particular the lip may extend across an opening of a cavity in the structural member.

The socket may be at least partially defined by a folded plate provided on or as part of the balustrade module or the supporting structure / adjacent balustrade module. The folded plate may be generally s-shaped with two parallel portions offset by an intermediate portion that is lateral to the parallel portions, wherein one of the two parallel portions is provided on or as part of the balustrade module or the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony) / adjacent balustrade module, and the other of the two parallel portions and the intermediate at least partially define the socket. Preferably, the folded plate is provided on or as part of the balustrade module. For example, the folded plate may be fixed to a structural member forming the balustrade module, with one of the two parallel portions being fixed to a structural member forming the balustrade module (such as a vertical post). The socket may therefore be defined by the folded plate and the structural member. That is, the socket may be defined by the structural member of the balustrade module, the intermediate portion and the other of the two parallel portions of the folded plate.

Alternatively, the socket may be defined by a hook provided on or as part of the balustrade module or the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony) / adjacent balustrade module.

Preferably, the hook may be provided on or as part of the supporting structure / adjacent balustrade module. That is, the hook may be fixed to a structural member of the supporting structure / adjacent balustrade module.

In a second arrangement, the cooperating hinge elements may include one or more hinge elements with a projection that is received in a slot of the one or more hinge elements of the supporting structure (e.g., the framework structure of a balcony). That is, there may be one or more balustrade-side hinge element comprising the projection and one or more support-side hinge elements comprising the slot, or vice versa. Preferably, the slot and the projection are arcuate. Such cooperating hinge elements may comprise stopping surfaces formed of an upright surface and an adjoining shoulder portion that support the balustrade module on the supporting structure in the assembly configuration. As such, there may be no need to further fix (e.g., bolt) the balustrade module to the supporting structure when in the assembly configuration (although this may nevertheless be done for improved safety and security of the balustrade modules).

The cooperating hinge elements may have a substantially constant cross-section. This may be in a direction of extension parallel to the axis of rotation defined by the cooperating hinge elements, which may correspond to the respective side of the supporting structure in the assembly configuration. Hinge elements having a substantially constant cross-section can conveniently be produced by forming the cooperating hinge elements via an extrusion process. For example, the hinge element may be made of extruded metal. In other embodiments, the cooperating hinge elements may have a substantially constant cross-section without being made of extruded metal. For example, the cooperating hinge elements may be made by milling or cut metal.

In some embodiments, the balustrade module may be supported on the support structure via a double-articulating hinge, or triple-articulating hinge. Double-or triple-articulating hinge arrangements may allow even lower-profile configurations to be achieved -for example, in a double-or triple-articulating hinge arrangement, the size of the folded assembly may be further reduced in a plan view compared to arrangements which used a single hinge, because the balustrade module can be hingedly rotated in a manner which allows the entire balustrade module to be positioned within the footprint of the supporting structure when in the folded configuration (e.g. within the footprint of the framework structure, in the case of a balcony). Use of double-or triple-articulating hinge arrangement may also increase the ease of assembly of the relevant embodiments.

For example, in a third arrangement, the arrangement may include an arm that is configured to be hingedly attached to the balustrade module at a first end and configured to be hingedly attached to the supporting structure at a second end. For example, in the context of a balcony, each balustrade module may be hingedly supported on an arm which is itself hingedly attached to the framework structure of the balcony. This is an example of a double-articulating hinge with two parallel axes of rotation, although other examples are also contemplated: e.g. it is contemplated that the double-articulating hinge structure could be provided that does not comprise an arm connecting the two hinge portions of the double-articulating hinge.

Similar arrangements may be utilised for the hinge structure in embodiments comprising at least one balustrade module configured to be hingedly supported by an adjacent balustrade module: here, the balustrade modules may be connected via an arm that is configured to be hingedly attached to each balustrade module at respective ends of the arm.

Summary of the Figures

Embodiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a building with a series of balconies attached to the building; Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the series of balconies detached from the building and in an assembly configuration; Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the series of balconies in a transport configuration; Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the series of balconies in an altemative transport configuration; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a balcony according to a first embodiment of the present invention, from the front and from the left-side of the balcony; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment, from the rear and from the left-side of the 20 balcony; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment similar to Figure 6, with the decking of the balcony omitted to show the internal structure of the framework structure of the balcony; Figure 8 shows an enlarged perspective view of part of Figure 7, detailing the cooperating hinge elements of the first embodiment; Figure 9 shows the support-side hinge element of the cooperating hinge elements and the folded plate that partially defines the balustrade-side hinge element of the cooperating hinge elements; Figure 10 shows the balustrade-side hinge element; Figure 11 shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention with the balustrade module attached to a supporting structure in the assembly configuration; Figure 12 shows a schematic view of a portion of the cross section of Figure 11, showing the cooperating hinge elements of the second embodiment in the assembly configuration; Figure 13 shows a schematic perspective view similar to Figure 11, with the balustrade module partially rotated between the assembly configuration and the transport configuration; Figure 14 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view along the plane illustrated in Figure 13, showing the general position of the cooperating hinge elements when the balustrade module of the balcony is partially rotated between the assembly configuration and the transport configuration; Figure 15 shows a schematic perspective view similar to Figure 13, with the balustrade module disengaged from the framework structure to lie flat on the supporting structure; Figure 16 shows a cross-sectional view along the plane illustrated in Figure 15; Figure 17 shows a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention, from the front and from the right-side of the balcony, detailing the cooperating hinge elements of the third embodiment; Figure 18 shows a schematic perspective view of another portion of the third embodiment, from the rear and from the right-side of the balcony, showing the cooperating hinge elements when the balustrade module of the balcony is partially rotated between the assembly configuration and the transport configuration; Figure 19 shows a schematic perspective view of the third embodiment, from the rear and from the right-side of the balcony, showing two balustrade modules of the balcony partially rotated between the assembly configuration and the transport configuration; Figure 20 shows a schematic perspective view of the entire balcony of the third embodiment similar to Figure 19, in the transport configuration; Figures 21 (a) and (b) show schematic perspective views of a fourth embodiment, from the rear and from the right-side of the balcony, when the balustrade module is raised from a transport configuration; Figure 22 shows a schematic perspective view of the fourth embodiment, from the rear and from the left-side of the balcony, showing the balustrade module moved further moved towards an assembly configuration; Figure 23 shows a schematic perspective view of the fourth embodiment similar to Figure 22, showing the balustrade module in the assembly configuration; Figure 24 shows a schematic perspective view of a fifth embodiment, from the rear and from the right-side of the balcony, in a transport configuration; Figure 25 shows a schematic perspective view of the fifth embodiment, from the front and from the right-side of the balcony, showing the balustrade modules of the balcony when they have collectively been rotated partially towards an assembly configuration; Figure 26 shows a schematic perspective view of the fifth embodiment similar to Figure 25, with the balustrade modules of the balcony moved such that the front-side balustrade module is in the assembly configuration and the left-side and right-side balustrade modules are partially rotated relative to the front-side balustrade module, towards the assembly configuration; Figure 27 shows a schematic perspective view of the fifth embodiment similar to Figure 26, with all of the balustrade modules moved to the assembly configuration.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.

Reference numbers are included in the drawings. Similar features in different drawings are provided with similar reference numbers. Some features are described only in respect of one or more drawings and may not be provided with a reference number in all drawings.

As explained above, it would be advantageous to further improve balconies that are for attachment to a building. In particular, it is of interest to minimise the amount of assembly (and as such time) required on-site to install the balcony while simultaneously maximising transport efficiency and ease, and thereby also reducing transport emissions and costs associated with transport of such balconies, thereby leading to a more sustainable solution. The is especially important when the factory is a long distance from the site and when transporting a plurality of balconies.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a building 10 with a series of balconies attached to a face 12 of the building 10. As will be understood, in practice, the building 10 may have a more complex configuration than shown, there may be more or fewer balconies attached to the building 10, and each balcony 1 of the series of balconies may be attached to more than one side of the building 10. For example, one or more of the series of balconies may be set into the building 10 such that the balcony is surrounded by a wall on at least one side such that the wall is a guard barrier.

As shown in Figure 1, the building 10 has a height direction Hbuiwing, which is the vertical direction. As illustrated with respect to one balcony 1 of the series of balconies, when attached to the building, each balcony 1 has a height direction H (which is also the vertical direction), a depth direction D (which is perpendicular to the face 12 of the building 10), and a width direction W (which is perpendicular to the depth direction D, parallel to the face 12 of the building 10, and extends from the left-side to the right-side of the balcony 1). That is, the height direction H of each balcony 1 is perpendicular to the depth direction D and width direction W, and is oriented substantially vertically when the balcony 1 is attached to the building 10. A rear of each balcony 1 is for location adjacent the building 10 and a front of each balcony 1 projects from the building 10.

Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of the series of balconies detached from the building 10 and in an assembly configuration. That is, a configuration in which the respective components of the balcony are assembled into a suitable arrangement for use as a balcony. Each balcony includes a framework structure 100 (i.e., the base of the balcony 1) and three balustrade modules 200 that span a respective side of the framework structure 100, extend above the framework structure 100, and cooperate to define a balustrade. The three balustrade modules 200 include a left-side balustrade module 202, a front-side balustrade module 204 and a right-side balustrade module 206, each of which are straight and flat relative to the balcony. Prior to assembly, the framework structure 100 and the balustrade modules 200 of the balcony 1 may collectively be referred to as a 'pre-assembly unit'.

Each balustrade module 200 is configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure 100 such that the balustrade module is moveable between the assembly configuration in which the balustrade module is upstanding from the framework structure (as illustrated in Figure 2), and a transport configuration in which the balustrade module is moved (i.e., rotated approximately 90 degrees about an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the respective side of the framework structure 100 along which the balustrade module spans) relative to its position in the assembly configuration.

Figures 3 and 4 show schematic perspective views of the series of balconies in various transport configurations. In both these arrangements, the balustrade modules 200 have been laid on top of another one of the balustrade modules 200 or the framework structure 100 of the respective balcony 1. More specifically, in the transport configuration seen in Figure 3, the left-side module 202 and the right-side module 206 have been placed atop the framework structure 100 and the front-side modules 204 has been placed atop the other balustrade modules 202, 204. In the transport configuration seen in Figure 4, the front-side module 204 has been placed atop the framework structure 100, and the left-side module 202 and the right-side module 206 have been placed atop the front-side module 204.

It can be seen that the cubic volume of each balcony 1 in the transport configuration is reduced compared to the cubic volume of the balcony 1 in the assembly configuration, where the cubic volume is measured by defining a cuboid volume which extends between outer extremities of the balcony 1. Moreover, the cubic volume of the plurality of balconies (i.e., the plurality of assembly units) is reduced. The plurality of balconies may therefore be efficiently transported between the factory and the building site (via a national road network, for example) with the balconies in a pm-assembly unit. At the building-site, each balcony 1 is ready for attachment to the building 10 by simply moving each of the respective balustrade modules 200 that cooperate to define the balustrade of the balcony 1 to the assembly configuration, and fixing each of the balustrade modules 200 to the framework structure 100 if required.

As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the plurality of balconies are further stacked in a collated manner. That is, they are stacked so that a single pre-assembly unit (i.e., one of the plurality of balconies) may be removed from the stack without having to rearrange the entire stack to install a balcony 1. This may allow the balconies to be efficiently transported to multiple building sites without having to re-arrange the stack of balconies.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed, and in particular a variety of bearing arrangements by which a balustrade may be configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure of a balcony, or any other suitable supporting structure (e.g., a decking structure).

Figures 5 to 7 show various perspective views of a balcony 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 5, the balcony 1 is viewed from the front and from the left-side. In Figure 6, the balcony 1 is still viewed from the left-side but is now viewed from the rear rather than the front. Figure 7 shows a similar view to Figure 6 but with decking 300 of the balcony removed to show the internal structure of the framework structure 100.

Referring to Figure 5, the balcony 1 comprises three balustrade modules 200 that extend along a respective side a framework structure (not shown) and are fixed thereto: a left-side balustrade module 202, a front-side balustrade module 204, and a right-side balustrade module 206. The balustrade modules 200 extend along the height direction H of the balcony 1 and cooperate to define a balustrade that extends around a perimeter of the balcony to prevents a user from accidentally falling from the balcony. The balustrade modules 200 are bridged and fixed together using connecting plates 210. The balustrade is formed of panels fixed within a frame, part of which forms a handrail. However, the present invention is not limited to any specific type of balustrade, and any suitable alternative such as a railing balustrade or a glass panel balustrade may be used instead.

Referring to Figure 6, the balcony 1 has apertures 110 within the framework structure 100 for receipt of attachment beams (not shown) protruding from a building (not shown) -these attachment beams may be referred to as 'stubs'. The balcony 1 may therefore be lifted into position, supported on, and secured to the attachment beams (not shown) for a quick and efficient installation. Securing means such as that disclosed in GB2600752, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference, may be used to secure the balcony 1 to the attachment beams (not shown). However, the present invention is not limited to any specific securing means, and any suitable means of securing the balcony 1 to the building 10 may be used.

As seen in Figure 6, a decking 300 is fixed atop the framework structure 100 to provide a flat surface on which a user may walk, and soffits 400 are fixed to an underside of the framework structure 100 to drain any rainwater that has passed through the decking and the framework structure out of the balcony. The decking 300, soffits 400 and balustrade conceal the framework structure 100 and provide the external appearance of the balcony 1 when it is attached to a building. In some embodiments, the external appearance of the balcony 1 may further be provided, in part, by cooperating hinge elements (as will be discussed in detail below) that allow for relative rotation between each of the balustrade modules 200 and the framework structure 100.

Referring to Figure 7, the framework structure 100 comprises continuous and parallel joists 120 (i.e. rafters) that span the balcony 1 along the width direction W. The joists 120 are connected and spaced apart along the depth direction D of the balcony 1 by noggins 130 that run along the depth direction D of the balcony 1. The joists 120 and the noggins 130 may be formed by folding of sheet metal such as aluminium. This includes providing an upward-facing surface for fixing the decking to the framework structure and a downward-facing surface for fixing the soffits to the framework structure, as well as flanges for fixing the joists 120 and the noggins 130 together. This framework structure 100 is the supporting structure to which the balustrade modules 200 are fixed in the assembly configuration, using

bolts for example.

As can be seen in Figures 7 and 8, each of the balustrade modules 200 and the framework structure 100 comprise cooperating hinge elements 500. For each of the balustrade modules 200, there are at least two hinge elements which are spaced apart along the respective side of the framework structure 100 and are configured to engage with respective hinge elements of the framework structure 100. The cooperating hinge elements 500 for each balustrade module are configured to bear against and rotate with respect to one another to allow for rotation of the balustrade modules 200 relative to the framework structure 100. Each of the balustrade modules 200 is therefore configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure 100 such that the balustrade module 200 is moveable between an assembly configuration in which the balustrade module is upstanding from the framework structure (as seen in Figure 7) and a transport configuration in which the balustrade module is rotate relative to its position in the assembly configuration (as schematically illustrated in Figures 3 and 4). Each balustrade module 200 is rotatable about an axis of rotation A (best viewed in Figure 8) defined by the cooperating hinge elements 500, and which extends substantially parallel to the width direction (for the front-side balustrade module 204) or the depth direction of the balcony (for the left-side balustrade module 202 and the right-side balustrade module 206).

That is, when each balustrade module 200 is detached (i.e., unbolted) from the adjacent balustrade module(s) 200 and the framework structure 100, the cooperating elements 500 may engage and the balustrade module 200 may be moved from the assembly configuration in which the balustrade module is upstanding to a transport configuration in which the balcony 1 may be transported (e.g., on a national road network to a building site). As the balustrade module 200 is rotated relative to its position in the assembly configuration, the transport configuration will be a lower-profile configuration than the assembly configuration (in other words, the cubic volume of the balcony 1 in the transport configuration is smaller than the cubic volume of the balcony 1 in the assembly configuration). This allows the balcony 1 to be transported in a more efficient and cost-effective manner compared to arrangements where the balustrade modules 200 are not moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration.

Figure 8 shows an enlarged perspective view of part of Figure 7, detailing the cooperating hinge elements of the balcony according to the first embodiment. This provides an example of the cooperating hinge elements 500a that correspond to the front-side balustrade module 204 and the cooperating hinge elements 500b that correspond to the right-side balustrade module 206. While not shown, the cooperating hinge elements of the left-side balustrade module are a mirror image of the cooperating hinge elements 500b corresponding to the right-side balustrade module 206. As seen in Figure 8, the cooperating hinge elements 500 of each balustrade module 200 are near identical except that the cooperating hinge elements 500a corresponding to the front-side balustrade module 204 are vertically offset (i.e., offset along the height direction H of the balcony) from the cooperating hinge elements 500b corresponding to the right-side balustrade module 206 (and thus, also the cooperating hinge elements of the left-side balustrade module). This offset is illustrated by the vertical offset between the axes of rotation A defined by the respective cooperating hinge elements 500a, 500b. This allows the balustrade modules to stack on top of each other when each of the balustrade modules is in the transport configuration. In other words, the left-side balustrade module and the right-side balustrade module 206 will be positioned between the framework structure 100 and the front-side balustrade module 204 when each of the balustrade modules is in the transport configuration.

The cooperating hinge elements 500 of the first embodiment will be discussed in more detail with reference to Figures 8 to 10, with reference to the cooperating hinge elements 500a corresponding to the front-side balustrade module 204. The cooperating hinge elements 500 are to be treated as identical, except where explicitly mentioned. Figure 9 shows the support-side hinge element of the cooperating hinge elements and a folded plate that partially defines the balustrade-side hinge element of the cooperating hinge elements and Figure 10 shows the balustrade-side hinge element.

Referring to Figure 8, an upstanding plate 152 is bolted to the framework structure 100 for each cooperating hinge element 500a, 500b. The upstanding plate 152 has an aperture 154 at a distal end to the framework structure 100, which forms a crosspiece 160 supported at both ends. A folded plate 252 is fixed to the balustrade module 202, 204 for each cooperating hinge element 500a, 500b. The folded plate 252 is generally s-shaped and has two parallel portions offset by an intermediate portion that is lateral to the parallel portions. One of the parallel portions is fixed to a structural member 220 of the respective balustrade module such that the folded plate 252 defines (in combination with the structural member 220) a socket 260 with a generally concave surface that is engaged with a generally convex surface of the crosspiece 160 that is formed by at least two sides of the crosspiece 160 (as best seen in Figure 9). More specifically, the generally concave surface is partially defined by surfaces of the intermediate portion and one of the parallel portions of the folded plate 252, in addition to a surface of the structural member 220 to which the folded plate 252 is fixed (as shown in Figure 10). The socket 260 and the crosspiece 160 are therefore cooperating hinge elements 500a that bear against one another and allow for rotation of the balustrade module with respect to the framework structure 100 (when they are detached). It can be seen that the crosspiece 160 and the socket 260 define (in combination with the other cooperating hinge elements 500a used to rotate the front-side balustrade module 204) the axis of rotation A about which the front-side balustrade module 204 is rotated relative to the framework structure 100.

To vertically offset the cooperating hinge elements 500a of the front-side balustrade module 204 from the cooperating hinge elements 500b of the right-side balustrade module and the left-side balustrade module 206, for the reasons set out above, each upstanding plate 152 corresponding to the front-side of the framework structure 100 extends further from the framework structure along the height direction H of the balcony than each upstanding plate 152 corresponding to the right-side and left-side of framework structure 100. This vertical offset is illustrated by the offset between the axis of rotation A of the balustrade modules 204, 206 along the height direction H of the balcony.

The folded plate 252 is fixed to the balustrade module 200 such that the socket 260 is engaged with the crosspiece 160 in the assembly configuration. The cooperating hinge elements 500a, 500b therefore have stopping surfaces that abut one another when the balustrade module 200 is in the assembly configuration to support the balustrade module 204, 206 on the framework structure 100. Alternative attachment points (i.e., apertures 253) are provided in the balustrade module 204 to allow the provision of the folded plate 252 at a plurality of locations along the height direction H of the balcony.

In the illustrated embodiment, the socket 260 partially encases the crosspiece 160 when they are engaged to allow the respective balustrade module to be hingedly supported by the framework structure 100. The balustrade modules 200 are therefore separable from the framework structure 100 when the balustrade modules 200 are unbolted from each other and the framework structure 100. In alternative embodiments, the folded plate 252 may circumscribe the crosspiece 160 so that the balustrade module 200 is hingedly supported by the framework structure 100 but not separable. In such embodiments, the cooperating hinge elements of adjacent balustrade modules 200 must be vertically offset to allow for movement from the assembly configuration to the transport configuration.

Figure 11 to 16 show various perspective views of a second embodiment of the present invention with a balustrade module 204 attached to a framework structure 100 in the assembly configuration. It should be understood that these figures are highly schematic and are provided to illustrate altemative cooperating hinge elements according to the present invention. Features of the balcony not discussed in detail, or at all, (for example, the framework structure 100) are to be treated as identical to that of the first embodiment or any suitable altemative.

Figures 11 and 12 show the second embodiment with altemative cooperating hinge elements 500a, from the rear and from the left-side, with the balustrade module 204 in an assembly configuration. In other words, the balustrade module 204 is upstanding from the framework structure, extending substantially parallel to a height direction of the balcony. It can be seen that a hook 262 is fixed to the framework structure 100. The hook 262 extends into a cavity within a structural member 220 of the balustrade module 204 and engages with a generally convex surface of a lip 160 of the structural member 220 of the balustrade module 204 and an inner surface of the cavity. Thus, in the second embodiment, a socket 260 with a generally concave surface is formed by the hook 262 and a crosspiece 160 is formed by the lip 160. The socket 260 and the crosspiece 160 engage with each other to allow for relative rotation between the balustrade module 204 and the framework structure 100. In the assembly configuration, the hook 262 is engaged with the structural member 220, and as such, the cooperating hinge elements 500a have stopping surfaces that abut one another to support the balustrade module 204 on the framework structure 100.

Figures 13 and 14 show the balcony 1 and the cooperating hinge elements 500a from a similar view, but with the balustrade module 204 partially rotated between the assembly configuration and a transport configuration. The balustrade module 204 is rotated about an axis of rotation (not shown) that is substantially parallel to the respective (i.e., front) side of the framework structure 100. While not illustrated in these schematic views, as the balustrade module 204 is rotated, the socket 260 bears against and rotates with respect to the crosspiece 160. More specifically, the generally concave surface defined by the hook 262 of the balustrade module 204 bears against and rotates with respect to the generally convex surface defined by the lip 160 (in combination with an inner surface of the cavity at times).

Figures 15 and 16 shows the balcony 1 and the cooperating hinge elements 500a from a similar view, but with the balustrade module 204 disengaged from the framework structure to lie flat on the framework structure after it has been placed in the transport configuration -this configuration effectively defines a second transport configuration which is achieved by disengaging the cooperating hinge elements through laterally shifting the balustrade module after it has been hingedly rotated to lie flat on the framework structure in a first transport configuration. This configuration provides a yet further reduced profile for the balcony. It can be seen that the socket 260 (i.e., as defined by the hook 262) is disengaged from the lip 160 in this configuration and the balustrade module 204 is placed on the framework structure 100 such that the cubic volume of the balcony 1 is reduced compared to the cubic volume of the balcony 1 in the assembly configuration (as seen in Figure 11).

It can therefore be seen that the balustrade modules are configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure using the cooperating hinge elements. Figures 11 to 16 show how each balustrade module may be moved from the assembly configuration to the transport configuration. This applies equally to the other embodiments disclosed herein, and inherently shows how each balustrade module may further be placed in the transport configuration, having been transported to a building site for example.

Figures 17 to 20 show various perspective views of a third embodiment of the present invention with an alternative arrangement of cooperating hinge elements. Once again, it should be understood that these figures are highly schematic and are provided to illustrate alternative cooperating hinge elements according to the present invention. Features of the balcony not discussed may be identical to that of the first embodiment or consist of any suitable alternative.

Referring to Figure 17, alternative cooperating hinge elements 500a by which the respective balustrade module 204 is hingedly supported on a framework structure (not illustrated) are shown. The cooperating hinge elements 500a are formed of extruded metal, such as aluminium, and have a constant cross-section along an extension that corresponds to the respective side of the framework structure 100 along which the balustrade module 204 extends. The balustrade module 204 comprises a balustrade-side hinge element 520, and the framework structure (not shown) comprises a respective support-side hinge element 510 in engagement with the balustrade-side hinge element 520. Each support-side hinge element 510 is fixed with respect to the framework structure, and an axis of rotation A about with the balustrade-side hinge element 520 rotates with respect to the support-side hinge element 510 is defined by the cooperating hinge elements 500a. As such, the balustrade module 204 may be rotated relative to the framework structure (not shown) between the assembly configuration and a transport configuration.

As seen in Figure 17, each support-side hinge element 510 comprises an arcuate slot that is configured to receive an arcuate projection of the balustrade-side hinge element 520. Each of the balustrade-side hinge elements 510 and the support-side hinge elements 520 have a stopping surface 590 (that is a vertical surface with an adjoining shoulder portion) that abut each other in the assembly configuration to support the balustrade module 204 on the framework structure (not shown). A vertical spacing element 580 is provided to raise (i.e., vertically offset) the cooperating hinge elements 500a corresponding to the front-side balustrade module 204 from the cooperating hinge elements corresponding to the left-side balustrade modules and right-side balustrade modules 206, for the reasons discussed above.

Figure 18 illustrates how the balustrade-side element 520 (and as such the balustrade module 206) rotates with respect to the support-side element 510 that is fixed to the framework structure 100. As such, the balustrade module 206 is rotated with respect to the framework structure. In rotating the balustrade module 206 from the assembly configuration, the arcuate projection of the balustrade-side element 520 is partially withdrawn from the arcuate slot in the support-side element 510. Now the hinge elements have rotated apart, the stopping surfaces 590 of the hinge elements 510, 520 are visible. It can also be seen that a façade 595 remains in place, covering the engaged portions of the cooperating hinge elements 500b.

Figures 19 and 20 illustrate how the balustrade modules 202, 204, 206 are further rotated to the transport configuration in which the left-side balustrade module 202 and the right-side balustrade module 206 are positioned next to each other atop the framework structure (not shown), and the front-side balustrade module 204 is placed on top of the other balustrade modules 202, 204. In the transport configuration, the cooperating hinge elements according to the third embodiment remain attached, with an end of the arcuate projection remaining within the arcuate slot of the respective hinge elements. As such, the balustrade modules are secured for transport. When transported to a building site, the balustrade modules may simply be rotated to the assembly configuration. There is no need to further fix the balustrade modules in the assembly configuration because the stopping surfaces support the respective balustrade module on the framework structure. For additional security, the balustrade modules may be further attached (e.g., bolted) to the framework structure when in the assembly and/or the transport configuration.

Figures 21 to 23 show various perspective views of a fourth embodiment of the present invention with an alternative hinge structure -here, the hinge structure is a double-articulating hinge. Once again, it should be understood that these figures are highly schematic and are provided to illustrate alternative cooperating hinge elements according to the present invention. Features of the balcony not discussed may be identical to that of the first embodiment or consist of any suitable alternative.

Referring to Figure 21 (a) and (b), the framework structure 100 comprises two arms 501 configured to support the balustrade module 206. The arms 501 are spaced apart along the length of the balustrade module, which corresponds to the respective (right-) side of the balcony.

Each arm 501 is hingedly attached to the balustrade 206 at a first end using a first pair of cooperating hinge elements, in which a support-side hinge element (not shown) is provided on or as part of the arm 501 and a balustrade-side hinge element 502 is provided on or a part of the balustrade module 206.

The balustrade-side hinge element 502 may be a shaft and the support-side hinge element may be an aperture in the arm 501 that engages with the shaft, for example. The first pair of cooperating hinge elements define an axis of rotation Al about which the balustrade module 206 is rotatable relative to the arm 501.

Each arm 501 is hingedly attached to the framework structure at a second end opposing the first end using a second pair of cooperating hinge elements, in which a support-side hinge element (not shown) is provided on or as part of the framework structure 100 and an arm-side hinge element (not shown) is provided on or as part of the arm 501. The support-side hinge element may include a shaft and the arm-side element may include an aperture that engages with the shaft, for example. The second pair of cooperating hinge elements define an axis of rotation A2 about which the arm 501 (and as such the balustrade module 206) is rotatable relative to the framework structure 100.

The axis of rotation Al of the first pair of cooperating hinge elements is parallel to the axis of rotation A2 of the second pair of cooperating hinge elements, both of which are parallel to the respective side of the framework structure 100 (due to perspective effects, this may not be immediately apparent from the figures). The axis of rotation Al of the first pair of cooperating hinge elements is moveable in an arc around the axis of rotation A2 of the second pair of cooperating hinge elements, that is itself fixed. This allows the balustrade module 206 to be moveable between a transport configuration (shown in Figure 21(a)) and an assembly configuration (shown in Figure 23) in a single movement, as illustrated in Figures 21 through 23. This allows the balcony to be assembled with ease.

In both the transport configuration and the assembly configuration, the hinge structure including the arms 501 and the cooperating hinge elements are positioned within a cavity 503 in the framework structure 100. This allows the transport configuration to be a lower-profile configuration compared to embodiments in which the cooperating hinge elements are positioned outside of the framework structure in the respective configuration. This is best shown in Figure 23 in which the balustrade module 206 is in the assembly configuration. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 21(a), because the balustrade module can be hingedly rotated in a manner which allows the entire balustrade module to be positioned within the footprint of the supporting structure when in the folded configuration, the size of the folded assembly may be further reduced in a plan view compared to arrangements which used a single hinge.

Figures 24 to 27 show various perspective views of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the balustrade modules are collectively hingedly supported by a supporting structure, via the front-side balustrade module 204, and the left-side balustrade module 202 and the right-side balustrade modules 206 are hingedly supported from the front-side balustrade module. Once again, it should be understood that these figures are highly schematic and are provided to illustrate an embodiment in which at least one of the balustrade modules is hingedly supported from an adjacent balustrade module, rather than the supporting structure.

Figure 24 shows the balcony in a transport configuration, with the balustrade modules (including the left-side balustrade module 202, the front-side balustrade module 204, and the right-side balustrade module 204) are hingedly folded to be stacked atop a framework structure 100 of the balcony. As seen in Figure 25, the balustrade modules 200 are collectively rotatable about an axis of rotation A that extends along the front side of the supporting structure 100. As seen in Figure 26, each of the left-side balustrade module 202 and the right-side balustrade module 206 are hingedly supported from the adjacent, front-side balustrade module 204. That is, the left-side and right-side balustrade modules are rotatable about a respective axis of rotation A3 that extends along a respective lateral side of the front-side balustrade module 204. When the front-side balustrade module 204 is in the assembly configuration, the axis of rotation A3 about which along the respective lateral side of the front-side balustrade module 204 extends along the height direction of the balcony. Figure 26 shows the balcony according to the fifth embodiment in the assembly configuration, with the balustrade modules 200 having been collectively rotated relative to the front-side of the balcony and the lateral balustrade modules 204 (i.e., the left-side balustrade module 202 and the right-side balustrade module 206) having been rotated 270 degrees relative to the front-side balustrade module 202 such that the balcony is moved to the assembly configuration. In alternative embodiments the balustrade modules may be rotated by a different amount to extend along the respective side of the balcony, for example 90 degrees. It will be understood that the balcony can be placed in the transport configuration by reversing the movements described above. * ;The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. ;While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. ;For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations. ;Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. ;Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and "include", and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", and "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. ;It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term "about" in relation to a numerical value is optional and means for example +/-10%. *

Claims

Claims: 1. A balcony for attachment to a building, the balcony comprising a framework structure and at least one balustrade module for attachment to the framework structure, wherein the balustrade module is configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure such that the balustrade module is moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration, wherein the transport configuration is a lower-profile configuration than the assembly configuration.
2. The balcony according to claim 1 wherein the balcony comprises at least two balustrade modules each corresponding to a respective side of the framework structure, wherein each of the balustrade modules is configured to be hingedly supported by the framework structure such that the balustrade module is moveable between an assembly configuration and a transport configuration, wherein the transport configuration is a lower-profile configuration than the assembly configuration, and wherein the at least two balustrade modules cooperate to define a balustrade for the balcony in the assembly configuration.
3. The balcony according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, for each balustrade module, each of the balustrade module and the framework structure comprise one or more cooperating hinge elements which respectively engage to allow for relative rotation of the balustrade module and framework structure between the assembly configuration and the transport configuration.
4. The balcony according to claim 3 wherein the cooperating hinge elements are disengageable to allow for complete disconnection of the balustrade module and the framework structure.
5. The balcony according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein, the cooperating hinge elements define an axis of rotation when engaged, wherein the axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the respective side of the framework structure.
6. The balcony according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein, the cooperating hinge elements comprise respective stopping surfaces that abut one other when the balustrade module is in the assembly configuration to support the balustrade module on the framework structure.
7. The balcony according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein at least part of the one or more cooperating hinge elements are covered by a fagade in the assembly configuration.
8. The balcony according to any one of claims 3 to 7, as dependent from claim 2, wherein the cooperating hinge elements of one of the balustrade modules is vertically offset from the cooperating hinge elements of at least one of the other balustrade modules to allow the at least two balustrade modules to stack on top of each other when each balustrade module is in the transport configuration.
9. The balcony according to any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the cooperating hinge elements include a crosspiece that is a lateral support with a generally convex surface and a socket with a generally concave surface for engagement with the generally convex surface.
10. The balcony according to claim 9 wherein the crosspiece is at least partially defined by a lip provided on or as part of a structural member of the balustrade module or the framework structure.
11. The balcony according to claim 10, wherein the lip extends from the structural member of the balustrade module and the framework structure comprises the socket.
12. The balcony according to claim 10, wherein the lip is a lateral portion of an upstanding plate that is fixed to the framework structure, wherein the lateral portion surrounds an aperture in the plate, and balustrade module comprises the socket.
13. The balcony according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the socket is at least partially defined by a folded plate provided on or as part of the balustrade module.
14. The balcony according to claim 13 wherein the folded plate is generally s-shaped with two parallel portions offset by an intermediate portion that is lateral to the parallel portions, wherein one of the two parallel portions is provided on or as part of the balustrade module, and the other of the two parallel portions and the intermediate at least partially define the socket.
15. The balcony according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the socket is defined by a hook provided on or as part of the framework structure.
16. The balcony according to any one of claims 3 to 8 wherein the cooperating hinge elements include one or more hinge elements with a projection that is received in a slot of the one or more hinge elements of the framework structure.
17. The balcony according to claim 16 wherein each slot and projection are arcuate.
18. The balcony according to any one of claims 16 or 17 wherein the cooperating hinge elements have a substantially constant cross-section.
19. The balcony according to claim 18 wherein the cooperating hinge elements are made of extruded metal.
20. The balcony according to any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the balcony comprises at least one, optionally two, balustrade module(s) configured to be hingedly supported by an adjacent balustrade 40 module.
21. A balustrade module comprising one or more hinge elements configured for cooperative engagement with one or more corresponding hinge elements of a supporting structure, such that when the hinge elements are engaged, the balustrade module is hingedly supported by the supporting structure and the balustrade module is moveable between first and second configurations relative to the supporting structure.
22. A method of transporting and attaching a plurality of balconies according to a building, each balcony, when attached to the building, comprising: a framework structure and at least one balustrade module supported by the framework structure and extending along a side of the framework structure, the method comprising: (a) providing a plurality of pre-assembly balcony units comprising the at least one balustrade module and the framework structure of each of the plurality of balconies; (b) configuring the plurality of pre-assembly balcony units for transport, by placing each balustrade module in the transport configuration to reduce the cubic volume of the plurality of pre-assembly balcony units for transport; (c) transporting the pre-assembly balcony units in the configuration of (b) to a building site; (d) at the building site, moving each balustrade module to the assembly configuration; and (e) attaching the plurality of balconies to the building.
23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising in step (d): assembling the balcony into a suitable arrangement for use by fixing each balustrade module to the framework structure.
24. The method according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein each balustrade module is placed on top of another balustrade module or on top of the respective framework structure in the configuration of (b).
25. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, further comprising: stacking the pre-assembly balcony units forming each balcony together to allow one of the plurality of balconies to be removed from the pre-assembly balcony units in the configuration of (b).