Architectural assembly

Abstract

An architectural support assembly comprises an elongate member having a longitudinal channel formed therein, the channel having longitudinally extending ledge portion projecting from opposite sides thereof. A support is located on the exterior of the elongate member and a bolt extending from the support is screwed in a nut located in the channel. The nut bears against the ledge portion. When the bolt is unscrewed, the nut, bolt and associated support can be moved along the elongate member. The elongate member can be mounted upright on a walkway floor to support a hand rail which is carried on an uppermost support carried by the elongate member.

1 . An architectural support assembly comprising: (i) an elongate member having a longitudinal channel formed therein, the channel having at least one longitudinally extending ledge portion projecting from one side thereof, (ii) at least one support located on the exterior of the elongate member and (iii) releasable fastening means extending from the support into the channel and releasably engaging the ledge portion such that when the fastening means is released the fastening means and associated support can be moved along the elongate member and when the fastening means is secured such movement is prevented by engagement with the ledge portion.  
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1  including one or more intermediate supports located on the exterior of the elongate member and the releasable fastening means extend from the support into the channel, the fastening means engaging the ledge portion such that when the fastening means is released the fastening means and associated intermediate support can be moved along the elongate member and when the fastening means is secured, such movement is prevented by engagement with the ledge portion.  
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel has two ledge portions on opposite inner sides thereof, the ledge portions having respective parallel surfaces facing away from the mouth of the channel which engage the fastening means.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening means comprises a female part received in the channel and retained therein by the ledge portion and having a male part extending from the support member and arranged to be screwed into the female part.  
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the channel is shaped and dimensioned to prevent the female part of the fastening means from rotating in the channel and arranged to allow the female part to slide freely in the channel when not tightly engaged with the male part.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein wall panels are preent on at least one side of the elongate member.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a handrail is present at one end of the elongate member.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the end of the hand rail is received in a blind hole formed in one part of the fastening means, and the other part of the fastening means is connected to the hand rail, and the two parts are joined together.  
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises at least two separate parts through which passes the fastening means which extends through all parts of the support into the channel, whereby the separate parts of the support can rotate about an axis defined by the fastening means when the fastening means is released and secures the support to the elongate member in a desired attitude when the fastening means is engaged.  
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first parts of the support members have mating surfaces with complementary projection and recess configurations which locate the parts one with the other.  
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is generally in the form of a bar whose profile is keyhole shaped and expanded around the channel.  
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly has a base with at least two wedge-shaped foot portions which are fitted into complementary recesses in a fixed mounting member.  
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein a further fastening means extends through the elongate member between two portions of the base on opposite sides of the elongate member and which upon tightening of the fastening means securely fixes the support assembly to the fixed mounting member by virtue of the leveraged clamping action of the base components.  
     
     
         14 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein elongate strips are fitted in the mouth of the channel to determine the elevation of the supports.  
     
     
         15 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the strips and the channel have complementary longitudinally extending projection and recess configurations which slidably locate the strip in the mouth of the channel.  
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling an architectural support, the method comprising mounting an elongate member on a base, the member having a longitudinal channel therein, the channel having at least one longitudinally extending ledge portion projecting inwardly from a side thereof, locating at least one support on the member; and passing fastening means from the support into the channel to be engaged by the inwardly facing ledge to allow relative movement of the support and elongate member until the fastening means is secured.