Structural glass balustrade support

Abstract

A structural glass balustrade support comprised of a base support consisting of two halves joined together through the use of a keyed joint. One half of base support includes a male component consisting of an angled extending tongue corresponding to a female grooved receiving piece in the second member of base support. Extending tongue can be inserted into and engage with female grooved receiving piece creating the keyed joint, thereby joining and securing base support together. Angled extending tongue provides increased surface area for the application of an adhesive, contributing to the strength of the keyed joint. When assembled, base support may be installed on an installation surface. A panel, such as laminated glass may be inserted into the base support through a defined void. Once inserted, panel may be secured through the use of an adhesive. The base support is capable of holding and securing glass panel in place.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structural glass balustrade support comprising:
 a base support, wherein the base support comprises a first member and a second member operably coupled together,   wherein said first member comprises an extending tongue;   wherein said second member comprises a groove having a shape to receive and matingly engage with the extending tongue;   and wherein first member and second member are operably coupled together by a keyed joint when said extending tongue engages with said grooved receiving piece.   
     
     
         2 . The structural glass balustrade support of  claim 1 , wherein the extending tongue further comprises a first angled surface and the groove has a second angled surface disposed to matingly engage the first angled surface at an interface, wherein the first angled surface and the second angled surface are coupled with an adhesive at the interface. 
     
     
         3 . The structural glass balustrade support of  claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a first leg and the second member includes a second leg, wherein said first leg and said second leg define a void space for receiving a panel. 
     
     
         4 . The structural glass balustrade support of  claim 3 , wherein two or more of said first leg, said second leg, said first member and said second member define a geometric ‘U’ shaped void space, said geometric ‘U’ shaped void space defined by the first leg, the second leg and a panel support surface of the base support. 
     
     
         5 . The structural glass balustrade support of  claim 4 , wherein said base support further comprises a plurality of apertures defined through the panel support surface and wherein each of the plurality of apertures being disposed to receive a fastening apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . A structural panel assembly comprising the structural glass balustrade support of  claim 5  and further comprising the at least one fastening apparatus coupling said base support to an installation surface. 
     
     
         7 . The structural panel assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one setting block placed on said panel support surface and disposed between the first leg and the second leg. 
     
     
         8 . The structural panel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a panel is received in the void space and further engages at least partially with the at least one setting block. 
     
     
         9 . The structural panel assembly of  claim 8 , wherein panel anchoring material is disposed within to the void space between at least one of the panel and the first leg, and the panel and the second leg, and wherein the panel anchoring material secures panel within the base support. 
     
     
         10 . The structural panel assembly of  claim 8 , wherein base support may further comprise at least one shear plate that at least partially surrounds the at least one fastening apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The structural panel assembly of  claim 8 , comprising two or more fastening apparatuses disposed to couple said base support to the installation surface. 
     
     
         12 . The structural glass balustrade support of  claim 1 , wherein the base support is constructed from cross laminated timber.