Barrier assembly for balconies

Abstract

A barrier assembly 10 for balconies is disclosed. The barrier assembly 10 includes: a lower barrier portion 20 securable to a floor 5 , the lower barrier portion 20 having a hand rail 22 , the hand rail 22 having an underside defining or housing a guide track 24 ; and at least one bi-fold window assembly 40 . The bi-fold window assembly 40 has first and second panels 42 and 47 mounted between the hand rail 22 itself and an upper horizontal carriage track 70 positioned over and spaced apart from the hand rail 22 . The bi-fold window assembly 40 is movable between an open position and a closed position.

1 . A barrier assembly for balconies, the barrier assembly including:
 a lower barrier portion securable to a floor, the lower barrier portion having a hand rail, the hand rail having an underside defining or housing a guide track; and   at least one bi-fold window assembly, the bi-fold window assembly having first and second panels, the first panel having a proximal side hingedly mounted between the hand rail and an upper support for rotation about a vertical axis and a distal side swingable between a position generally adjacent to the hand rail to a position away from the hand rail, the second panel having a proximal side hingedly mounted to the distal side of the first panel and a distal side both hingedly and slidably mounted between the hand rail and an upper support for relative rotation about a vertical axis and longitudinal movement parallel to the hand rail,   whereby the bi-fold window assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a carriage engagable with an upper horizontal carriage track positioned over and vertically spaced apart from the hand rail, the carriage movable along the carriage track; and 
 a traveller slidably engaging the guide track of the hand rail, 
 wherein the distal side of the second panel of the bi-fold window assembly is hingedly mounted to both the carriage and the traveller for relative rotation about a vertical axis and longitudinal movement with the carriage and traveller in directions parallel to the hand rail. 
 
     
     
         3 . The barrier assembly of  claim 2  wherein the first and second panels of the bifold window assembly include glass panels. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier assembly of  claim 3  wherein each of the first and second panels include a frame. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier assembly of  claim 4  wherein the frames each include an elongate top frame member and an elongate bottom frame member,
 whereby the glass panels connect the top and bottom frame member. 
 
     
     
         6 . The barrier assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a means for restraining the traveller against rotation with respect to the hand rail. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier assembly of  claim 6  wherein the traveller includes at least one roller, the roller rotatable about a vertical axis. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier assembly of  claim 7  wherein the traveller including at least two laterally spaced apart rollers having parallel axes of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier assembly of  claim 8  wherein the rollers act to facilitate the longitudinal movement of the traveller while restraining the traveller against rotation with respect to the hand rail. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a first brush mounted to a lower edge of the first panel and a second brush mounted to a lower edge of the second panel. 
     
     
         11 . A barrier assembly for balconies, the barrier assembly including:
 a lower barrier portion securable to a floor, the lower barrier portion having a hand rail, the hand rail having an underside defining or housing a guide track;   a carriage engagable with an upper horizontal carriage track positioned over and vertically spaced apart from the hand rail, the carriage movable along the carriage track;   a traveller slidably engaging the guide track of the hand rail; and   at least one bi-fold window assembly, the bi-fold window assembly having first and second panels, the first panel having a proximal side hingedly mounted between the hand rail and an upper support for rotation about a vertical axis and a distal side swingable between a position generally adjacent to the hand rail to a position away from the hand rail, the second panel having a proximal side hingedly mounted to the distal side of the first panel and a distal side hingedly and mounted to both the carriage and the traveller for relative rotation about a vertical axis and longitudinal movement with the carriage and traveller in directions parallel to the hand rail,   whereby the bi-fold window assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         12 . The barrier assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a means for restraining the traveller against rotation with respect to the hand rail. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier assembly of  claim 12  wherein the traveller includes at least one roller, the roller rotatable about a vertical axis. 
     
     
         14 . The barrier assembly of  claim 13  wherein the traveller including at least two laterally spaced apart rollers having parallel axes of rotation. 
     
     
         15 . The barrier assembly of  claim 14  wherein the rollers act to facilitate the longitudinal movement of the traveller while restraining the traveller against rotation with respect to the hand rail. 
     
     
         16 . The barrier assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a first brush mounted to a lower edge of the first panel and a second brush mounted to a lower edge of the second panel.