WO2006097964A2

WO2006097964A2 - Parapet railing and method for the fabrication of a handrail joint thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2006097964A2
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000157
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ugo Avvanzini
Original assignee: Erreti S.R.L.
Priority date: 2005-03-16
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2006-09-21
Also published as: WO2006097964A3; ITRA20050011A1; EP1863983A2

Abstract

Parapet comprising at least one vertical upright (2) which, supports cross stringers (3) (16) through the interposition of joints (4) (5) so as to define faces (33) that extend transversely to each upright (2) ; the joints (4) (5) comprise at least one body produced by extrusion.

Description

PARAPET RAILING AND METHOD FOR THE FABRICATION OF A HANDRAIL JOINT THEREOF

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a parapet railing featuring modular elements that may be assembled together. The present invention particularly relates to a parapet railing featuring modular elements that may be assembled together and comprising corner portions to which stringers supported by monolithic-type elements are connected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the art of constructing parapet railings, commonly provided to protect balconies, stairways, terraces, etc., metal parapets comprising: independent and prefabricated uprights, front stringers and handrails, joined together by means of special joints, are already known.

More particularly, the vertical uprights are rigidly anchored to the floor of the building structure using suitable flanged bodies that are screwed to the floor.

The horizontal stringers are instead anchored to the uprights by means of joints which are fixed to the uprights and have arms provided with special fasteners for attaching the stringers . The fasteners are basically profiled to hold the infill panels of the parapet in place; such panels may be fashioned, for example, from a pair of parallel horizontal stringers joined together by transverse elements so as to form, by mutual combination thereof, a sort of protective grille .

The fasteners are angular profiled and have fixed surfaces with an enclosing design - substantially U- shaped - which define a corresponding angular cavity, suitable to receive the stringers, which are seated in the cavity and interact with the contour thereof. Practically speaking, the railing panel, or infill panel as it is commonly referred to, is secured to a generic upright by the concomitant action of two opposing concave joints that respectively engage the upper and lower stringers of the panel -

The lower joint, whose concavity faces upward and engages the lower stringer from below, provides the panel with a support reaction that prevents it from moving vertically, unilaterally downward, and also acts as a horizontal striker that simultaneously prevents the panel from shifting perpendicularly in relation to the face, away from the upright.

The upper joint, whose concavity faces downward and acting from above the front stringer, opposes instead the rigid upward movement of the panel and, by interacting with the upper stringer, moreover prevents the panel f rom shifting horizontally and perpendicularly to the face plan, away from the latter.

This fastening solution has a limitation in that it necessarily entails the adoption of rigid infill panels of the parapet. Furthermore, since the fasteners have a fixed angular conformation defining a predetermined concavity, of unchangeable breadth, such parapet must have stringers that are likewise of predetermined, fixed dimensions; moreover, upon assembly there will always be a certain amount of play in the connection between the receiving joint and stringer. This is a source of at least two represented drawbacks: one is that the panel will be offered the possibility of oscillating in relation to the concavity of the joint due to the existing dimensional play; the other is the potential stagnation of water and build-up of dust in the lower joint.

To remedy these drawbacks, it is known to interpose a thin layer of suitable material or a thin box-shaped profile between the joint and stringer, with or without the addition of resilient materials, packing or sealing putty; all of this clearly implies the necessity of handling numerous construction components, which complicate operations related to the assembly and installation of the parapet.

Also known are supporting members associable with monolithic corner uprights, which are configured to support stringers converging from different directions. Some of these supporting members require welding, others are moulded, and the latter have naturally become very popular of late with installers, since they make installation procedures easier and have a neutral design that fits in well with different styles of architecture. In particular, moulding technology decidedly lowers the costs of producing such supporting members, which thus contribute to reducing the costs of modular balconies. On the other hand, it should be noted that given the nature of the material used for moulding and the technology itself, a higher resistance to chemical agents and corrosion may be achieved solely by applying protective coatings of paint or plastic film. These types of coatings are not long lasting and cannot be relied on to maintain the quality of the components or their own aesthetic characteristics. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a parapet railing featuring modular elements that may be assembled together. The present invention particularly relates to a parapet railing featuring modular elements that may be assembled together and comprising corner portions to which stringers supported by monolithic-type elements are connected.

An object of the present invention is to achieve a parapet that is free from the above-described drawbacks by means of a bearing structure which is wholly independent of the type of infill panels adopted and any structural contribution they may provide to the parapet . A further object of the present invention is to provide a parapet wherein each of the stringers is integrally connected with the upright, individually and independently of the other stringers making up the structure . Another object of the invention is to provide a parapet wherein all of the components are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which may also be quickly and easily assembled.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a parapet railing wherein at least one component may be produced by means of a manufacturing cycle that involves at least one electrochemical treatment serving to coat the component itself with a metal film, so as to endow the component with corrosion resistance and enable it to maintain its high quality aesthetic and functional characteristics over time without requiring maintenance or the periodic application of paint.

According to the present invention a parapet railing is provided whose main characteristics are described in at least one of the claims that follow.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for the fabrication of a parapet railing joint that is simple to construct, allows production costs to be minimised and can be heat treated so as to maintain its structural and aesthetic characteristics over time.

According to the present invention a method is provided for the fabrication of a parapet railing joint and the main characteristics of the joint are described in at least one of the claims that follow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional characteristics and advantages of the parapet according to the present invention shall become apparent upon reading of the following description and by reference to the appended drawings, which illustrate some non-restrictive examples of possible embodiments, and in which identical or corresponding parts of the device itself are identified with the same reference numbers. In particular:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the parapet according to the present invention, as seen from the outside, with parts removed for clarity; - Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of figure 1 rotated by 180°;

- Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views, on an enlarged scale, of some details extracted from figure 1 or figure 2; - Figs. 5 and 6 are schematic perspective views, on an enlarged scale, of other details extracted from figure 1 or figure 2 ;

- Figs. 7 and 8 are schematic perspective views, on an enlarged scale, of a first detail extracted from figure 1, illustrated respectively in an assembled configuration and in exploded form;

- Figs. 9 and 10 are schematic perspective views, on an enlarged scale, of a first detail extracted from figure 2, illustrated respectively in an assembled configuration and in exploded form;

- Figs. 11 and 12 are schematic perspective views, on an enlarged scale, of a second detail extracted from figure 1 and from figure 2 ; - Figs. 13 to 24 schematically illustrate the phases of a method for fabricating a handrail joint of the parapet according to the invention;

- Fig. 25 is a front perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the first detail of figure 10; - Fig. 26 is a rear exploded view of figure 25;

- Fig. 27 is a front perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the second detail of figure 11; and

- Fig. 28 is a rear exploded view of figure 27. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With particular reference to figures 1 and 2, reference number 1 indicates a parapet railing 1 for a balcony 30. The parapet 1 comprises at least one vertical upright 2, stringers 3 which define the top and bottom of the face 33 and some first joints 4, suitable for mutually joining each upright 2 to the stringers 3; as well as a handrail 16 and second joints 5, suitable for connecting the handrails 16 to the uprights 2. As may be seen from figures 8, 10 and 23, and as will become apparent from the description that follows, both joints 4 and joints 5 are of a modular type.

With reference to figures 3 and 4, as well as figures 8 and 9, it may be observed that the stringers preferably have a tubular conformation, with a cross- section having a mixed contour line. The transverse contour line of the stringer 3 includes, in fact, a straight side 24 and curved side 25, of variable curvature . As may be inferred from the foregoing description and with particular reference to figure 8, each joint 4 is of a modular type and comprises a base body 100 provided with at least one lateral portion 7, and two such portions in figure 8 itself, which extend laterally in a substantially symmetric fashion from a central connecting portion 14 or arm, having a middle portion 13 of greater thickness. It should be noted that the middle portion 13 is of greater thickness as it incorporates a transverse hole for connecting the joint 4 to the outer face of the upright 2.

Each lateral portion 7 supports, on the side of portion 13, a jaw 6 which, together with the lateral portion it is joined to forms a cavity 32, suited to receive a stringer 3 between the first and second gripping surfaces 8 and 9, which are mutually opposed as shown in figure 7, and complementariIy shaped so as to fit around the contour of the stringer 3. The first surface 8 internally defines the jaw 6 and is curved to match the contour of the front face 25 of the stringer 3 itself, whereas the second surface 9 defines the jaw 7 on the side where portion 13 is situated and is flat so as to match the rear face 24 of the contour of the stringer 3. Therefore, each lateral portion 7 may be considered as an additional jaw 7 which, together with the respective jaw 6, serves to clamp a stringer 3 in a vice-like grip at the point of contact with the respective outer surface. Furthermore, each lateral portion 7 may be considered as a supporting member for the respective stringer 3.

More particularly, each first surface 8 has two surface strips 26 and 27, visible in figures 5 and 7. Such strips 26 and 27 have a different radius of curvature, and in particular the first strip 26, corresponding to a body 31 of one of the jaws 6, has a lesser degree of curvature than strip 27, which corresponds to a wing 10 forming the end of the same jaw 6 and has a greater degree of curvature. It should be noted that the vice-like gripping of each stringer 3 to its respective pair of jaws 6 and 7 of each joint 4 is obtained by means of a fastening device, preferably comprising screws 12 associated with the same jaws 6 and 7 to adjust the breadth of the receiving cavity 32 and forcedly clamp the jaws 6 and 7 around the stringers 3 once they have been tightened completely.

Preferably, the internal surface 8 and 9 of the cavity 32 of jaws 6 and 7 should be shaped and dimensioned so that the line of contact between jaws 6 and 7 and an outer surface of stringer 3 will be longer than - the semi-perimeter of the outer surface of stringer 3 itself.

This will enable the jaws 6 and 7 to firmly secure the corresponding stringer 3 to the upright 2, inhibiting - even solely by virtue of their shape - its freedom to move parallel to itself, longitudinally to the upright 2 or in the two opposite directions such vertical motion entails. Given that this particularity may be found in all of the stringers 3 of the parapet 1, so that there is no distinction in this respect between the upper stringer 3 and lower stringer 3 of a same face 33 of the parapet 1 - visible, for example, in figures 1 and 2 - it follows that the structure of the parapet 1 according to the present invention will possess its own structural strength, wholly irrespective of the type of infill panel that may be anchored to the stringers 3. In other words, as each stringer 3 is rigidly and independently fixed to the upright 2, infill panels of any type whatsoever may be used - rigid or non-rigid: they may even consist of a flexible structural element such as mesh, fabric, plastic sheet and so forth. In figure 8 it may also be observed that the jaw 6 of the first joint 4 has, in addition to the wing 10, a rebate element 11 that defines the cavity 32 together with the wing 10. The rebate element 11 is conceived to work in combination with the wing 10 of the same jaw 6. For this purpose, the wing 10 and rebate element 11 are substantially situated in two opposing semi-spaces originating from a meridian plane of the cavity 32 and are positioned in relation to one another so as to prevent the stringer 3 , interposed between them and seated inside the cavity 32, to be dislodged from the cavity 32 at least by virtue of the geometric interference between wing 10 and the first jaw 7.

If the fastening means 12 of the first joint 4 are suitably actuated, and where they are tightened completely, the wing 10 and rebate element 11 will also contribute to retaining the stringer 3 by force, as the material interposition of the stringer 3 itself will cause them to mutually counteract each other.

In figure 1 it may also be noted that the first joints 4 differ in their construction according to the type of uprights 2 to which they connect the stringers 3. In the case of corner uprights 2 or intermediate uprights between two faces 33 of the parapet 1, where the two faces 33 lay next to an upright 2 and are one tilted with respect to the other, each first joint 4 has two pair of retaining jaws borne by the central portion/arm 14 interposed between them and which in turn may be secured to the upright 2.

In the case of a corner upright 2, said arm 14 is shaped in such a way as to associate each pair of jaws 6 and 7 to converging sides of a corner 15, which is defined by a suitably bent or curved stringer 3 , or by two distinct stringers 3 meeting at a vertex substantially located at some point around the upright 2.

The arm 14 is preferably curvilinear and may be joined to converging sides, remaining on the inside of the corner 15 defined by two stringers 3, as may be seen in figure 3. However, said arm 14 may be configured in such a way as to be joined to said converging sides while remaining on the outside of the corner 15 where the latter is defined by a curved stringer 3 or by two stringers converging toward the shared upright 2.

From figure 4, and even better from the enlargement of a detail thereof, it may be observed that each handrail 16 has a tubular conformation and interiorly incorporates at least a longitudinal appendage 17 defined by a flat, substantially vertical face 171 disposed along a longitudinal median plane of the handrail 16.

As can be seen in figures 2, 11 and 12, each joint 5 comprises a base body 110 provided with one or two flat flanges 18 - depending on whether the joint 5 is intended to operate with intermediate uprights 2 or end uprights 2 of the parapet 1 - and moreover includes an anchorage element 19 obtained from a semi-finished component 120 produced by extrusion. The conformation of the anchorage element 19 is such that it may rigidly engage the upright 2 in order to achieve a rigid connection between joint 5 and upright 2.

Each flat flange 18 may be joined to the corresponding face 17 of the handrail 16 and rigidly anchored thereto by means of a screw connection not illustrated in the appended drawings.

Each of the two flanges 18 is borne laterally by a single arm 20 of the base body 110, which is monolithically borne by the anchorage element 19, by means of a screw 50, as will be apparent from what has been described and illustrated with reference to figures 13-24. In addition, each flange 18 is associable to the corresponding face 171 of the handrail 16 and may be rigidly secured to the latter by means of a screw connection engaging a hole 42, visible in figure 11.

The arm 20 of joint 5 is moreover curvilinear and configured so as to join each pair of said flanges 18 to converging sides of a corner 21 of the parapet 1 defined by the handrail 16; the corner 21 may be obtained either by means of a suitable incurvature of a one-piece handrail 16 or, as illustrated in the drawings, by means of a corner connection between two separate handrails 16 with or without the possible connection of a corner joining element 34.

It is worth noting that connecting flanges 18 and flat faces 171 at a distance from the upright 2 has an advantage in that it enormously simplifies the construction of the handrail 16 and allows maximum freedom in choosing the type of handrail 16, which may be simply straight, angled or curved, consisting in two monolithically integrated pieces or two separate straight pieces. It should be noted that the connection of flanges 18 and faces 171 on a vertical plane remains hidden beneath the handrail 16 and hence no protection and/or visual concealment elements are required.

The same figures Ii and 12 further show that the anchorage element 19 also includes a protruding fork- shaped body 22, thus fashioned so that it can be axially fitted into the upright 2, as well as a transversely projecting boss 23 serving as rebate to strike the upright 2 so as to limit the length of insertion of the protruding body 22 into the upright 2.

Also for the connection to the upright 2, the joint 5 of handrail 16 is provided with screw fastenings not illustrated. Joints 4 and joints 5 of the parapet 1 are constructed according to a method of production that starts off from semi- finished components obtained by extrusion and subsequently machined to remove chips, as will be better understood upon reading the description that follows in conjunction with the appended drawings numbered from 16 to 24. This choice is justified by the fact that, although moulding processes make it possible to minimise the costs of such supporting members, resulting in obvious savings in the costs of modular balconies, moulded parts may be protected against chemical agents and corrosion only through the application of paint or plastic films, which are not particularly effective. Extruded parts, by contrast, can be anodised and the material thus treated will preserve its original chemical and physical characteristics over time and the risk of oxidisation or pitting of the material itself is minimised. In view of the greater complexity of joint 5 compared to first joint 4, and the fact that the base bodies 100 and 110 of joints 4 and 5 are substantially identical, apart from the convexity of portion 13 of arm 14, which is lacking in arm 20, it has been decided to illustrate the method of production solely with reference to joint 5. Naturally, it should be specified that the arm 14 of the first joint 4 will be producible in the same manner, downstream from an extrusion process resulting in the base semi-finished components 40, visible in figure 13, and which may be used to produce both the base body 100 and base body 110, though it will be necessary to use different machine tools in order to fashion the respective coupling holes, given the different use for which arm 14 and arm 20 are intended.

The method essentially comprises a first phase in which a series of segments of a determined length are cut in sequence from an initial extruded profile section 40 having a suitably concave profile, as is shown in figure 13.

The segments of the first profile section 40 are subsequently submitted to milling processes whereby at least one edge 41 of said segment is shaped by removal of material (figure 14) so as to obtain an arm 20 and at least one flange 18 extending from said arm 20. It is apparent that the arm 20 will be destined to have one or two flanges 18 according to whether the joint 5 is to be fitted to an end upright of the parapet 1, or to an intermediate upright 2 of the same parapet 1.

The milling process connected to said shaping phase is preferably also carried out on the edge 41 opposite to the one wherefrom the flanges 18 project (figure

15) , for the purpose of rounding and finishing the entire contour of the segment of the first extruded profile section 40 and, more particularly, the entire contour of the flanges 18 fashioned from the same. The method provides for subsequent phases (figure

16) wherein a through hole 42 is drilled in each of the flanges 18, its axis lying transversely to the resting surface of said flanges 18; thereafter a longitudinal hole 43 is drilled at the centre of arm 20 (figure 17) ; its axis lies transversely to the axes of the holes 42 of the flanges 18. In other words, the hole 43 has its own axis which is substantially parallel to the axis of the upright 2 that will receive the handrail joint 5 under construction. The hole 43 thus obtained is then submitted to a subsequent phase of machining in which a thread is formed in hole 43 itself.

In parallel with or following these phases, according to the method for producing joint 5, a second extruded profile section 45, visible in figure 18, will likewise be cut into segments of predetermined length. This latter profile is substantially shaped so as to incorporate a bearing body 46, which is bilaterally provided with a pair of parallel wings 47 and a groove 48; said body 46 also has projecting bosses 23 in transverse relation both to the wings 47 and groove 48.

Figure 19 shows the segment of the second extruded profile section 45, for which the method provides for additional milling phases to reduce the dimensions of the wings 47 so that the boss 23 is continuous and runs along the inside transverse contour of the segment of the second extruded profile 45.

Subsequently, as may be seen from figure 20, holes 51, 52 and 54 are drilled and threaded in the wings 47, all of said holes having their axis in transverse relation to the wings 47.

From figure 21, moreover, it may be seen that the method includes an additional phase in which a through hole 49 is drilled and threaded in the bearing body 46, said hole having an axis parallel to the wings 47 and leading into the groove 48 lying .behind it.

From the same figure 21, and even better from figure 22, it may be seen that the method provides for subsequent phases wherein one or both of the sides 53 of the bearing body 46 are modelled by removal of material from the body 46 itself, achieved by means of a suitable milling procedure.

To conclude, the method provides for the assembly of the parts making up the handrail joint 5, which have been obtained by machining the individual extruded profile segments as previously described; said assembly consists in two successive phases in which the arm 20 of the segment of the first profile section 40 is fitted into the groove 48 of the second profile section 45 (figure 23) and the arm 20 of the first profile section 40 is connected to the second profile section 45 by means of a screw 50 which engages the hole 43 of the arm 20 of the first profile section 40 and passes through the body 46 of the second profile section 45.

The joint 5 thus obtained, illustrated in figure 24, is then connected to the upright 2 of the parapet 1 and made integral with the latter using screws that pass through said upright 2 and engage holes 51, 52 and 54 of the wings 47.

It should be noted that the combination of the morphological and chemical characteristics of the components used to construct the above-described parapet 1, and particularly the uprights 2, stringers 3, handrails 16, joints 4 and 5 and jaws 6 and 7, may decisively influence the final characteristics of the product as a whole. The choice of manufacturing such components from aluminium or aluminium alloy, and of using components obtained from semi-finished extruded parts cut with machine tools, then possibly machined to remove chips, allows the chemical and physical structure of the respective base materials to be preserved intact and it also allows an anodisation treatment to be applied on completion of the machining cycles. This confers a high degree of corrosion resistance to the parapet 1 as a whole, a characteristic that is particularly sought after in metal products that are primarily conceived for outdoor installation. Therefore, once the parapet railing 1 has been assembled, if possible using screws made of aluminium alloy or coated steel or another material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the aluminium or aluminium alloy chosen for construction, maintenance requirements will be minimal if the specifications of the anodisation procedure are adequate for the type of material and application. Thus every parapet constructed according to the principles described above with reference to the parapet 1 will display the desired characteristics in terms of low production costs, versatility of use, robustness and minimal maintenance needs. Furthermore, the fact that all of the components of the parapet 1 are manufactured from aluminium or aluminium alloy serves to limit the load imposed by the railing 1 on the projecting architectural structure to be enclosed, and therefore also simplifies the design of such projecting structures, which will require fewer reinforcements than those that must bear the weight of parapets comprising components manufactured from ferrous materials or steel.

Finally, it is apparent that the parapet 1 described and illustrated herein may be subject to modifications and variants, without however departing from the protective scope of the present invention. All of the parts may be replaced by technically equivalent elements .

For example, with reference to figures 25-28, a further embodiment of the arms 14 and 20 is illustrated, in which the respective flanges 18 are hinged to the respective central portions by means of pins whose axes, upon installation, are parallel to the axes of the uprights, so as to be in transverse relation to longitudinal axes of the stringers 3/handrails 16, thus permitting said stringers 3/handrails 16 to be disposed according to angles that may be defined as desired at the time of installation.

Claims

1. Parapet comprising at least one vertical upright (2) which supports cross stringers (3) (16) through the interposition of joints (4) (5) so as to define at least two faces (33) that lay next to each upright (2) and are one tilted with respect to the other; characterised in that said joints (4) (5) are of a modular type and comprise at least a base body (100) (110) obtained from a first semi -finished component (40) (40) produced by extrusion.

2. Parapet according to claim 1, characterised in that said base body (100) (110) obtained from a semifinished component (40) (40) produced by extrusion is submitted to machining to remove chips so that it may undergo an anodisation treatment.

3. Parapet according to claim 1 or 2 , characterised in that said base body (100) (110) comprises a central portion (14) (20) laterally defined by a pair of supporting members (7) (18) suited to cooperate with an end portion of a respective stringer (3) (16) in order to rigidly connect it to said upright (2) .

4. Parapet according to claim 3, characterised in that each of said supporting members (7) (18) is configured to be connected to said upright (2) and at least one respective stringer (3) (16) by means of a releasable connection.

5. Parapet according to claim 4, characterised in that each of said supporting members (7) is associated with a pair of retaining jaws (6) (7) that together define a cavity (32) that may be bilaterally coupled to a said stringer (3) and respectively have a first and second gripping surface (8, 9), at least one of which being shaped to clamp around the contour of the respective stringer (3).

6. Parapet according to claim 5, characterised in that a line of contact between said jaws (6) (7) and a contour of the stringer (3) is longer than the semi- perimeter of the contour of the stringer (3) itself.

7. Parapet according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that said first and second gripping surfaces (8, 9) are suited to cooperate through the use of at least one releasable threaded connection.

8. Parapet according to claim 4, characterised in that each of said supporting members (18) has a flange

(18) to support its respective stringer (16) .

9. Parapet according to claim 7, characterised in that each of said supporting members (18) is coupled to a base (19) shaped to be coupled to said upright (2) ; said base (19) having been obtained from a second semifinished component (120) produced by extrusion to enable treatment thereof by means of an anodisation procedure .

10. Parapet according to any of the claims 3-9, characterised in that each of said supporting members

(7) (18) is rigidly connected to said central portion (14) (20) to enable them to be connected to said respective stringers (3) (16) according to predetermined angles.

11. Parapet according to any of the claims 3-9, characterised in that each of said supporting members (7) (18) is hinged to said central portion (14) (20) to enable them to be connected to said respective stringers (3) (16) according to angles defined as desired at the time of installation.

12. Parapet (1) comprising at least one vertical upright (2) which supports cross stringers (3) (16) through the interposition of joints (4) (5) so as to define at least two faces (33) that lay next to said uprights (2) and are one tilted with respect to the other; characterised in that said joints (4) (5) are of a modular type and comprise at least a base body (100) (110) obtained from a first semi-finished component (40) (40) produced by extrusion; said base body (100) (110) presenting a central portion (14) (20) and at least one supporting member (7) (18) hinged to said central portion (14) (20) to enable them to be connected to said respective stringers (3) (16) according to angles that may defined as desired at the time of installation.

13. Parapet railing comprising vertical uprights (2), front stringers (3) and joints (4, 5) for mutually connecting uprights (2) and stringers (3), characterised in that some first joints (4) comprise at least one pair of retaining jaws (6, 7), which together define a cavity (32), may be coupled at least bilaterally with the contour of a said stringer (3) and respectively have first and second gripping surfaces (8, 9) , that, for at least one of them, are complementarily shaped so as to fit around the contour of said stringer (3); said jaws (6, 7) being suited to secure a corresponding stringer (3) to the upright (2), inhibiting at least the freedom of said stringer (3) to move parallel to itself, longitudinally to the upright (2) .

14. Parapet railing comprising at least one vertical upright (2), stringers (3) defining faces (33) and at least one joint (4) (5) suited to connect each upright (2) to a respective stringer (3) (16); characterised in that said first joint (4) (5) comprises as means for securing said stringer in place at least one pair of jaws (6, 7) configured to bilaterally couple with the contour of a said stringer (3) by means of a cavity (32) shaped so as to rigidly connect said stringer to said upright (2) .

15. Parapet according to claim 13, characterised in that said jaws are internally defined by first and second gripping surfaces (8, 9), at least one of which is complementarily shaped so as to fit around the contour of a said stringer (3) .

16. Parapet according to claim 13 or 15, characterised in that said jaws (6, 7) are shaped in such a manner as to restrain the freedom of movement of said stringer (3) in two opposite directions of travel.

17. Parapet according to claim 13 or 15 or 16, characterised in that said jaws (6, 7) feature a wing

(10) and rebate element (11) disposed in two opposite semi-spaces originating from a meridian plane of said cavity (32) , said wing (10) and said rebate element

(11) being disposed in such a way as to prevent said interposed stringer (3) from being dislodged from said cavity (32) .

18. Parapet according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each said first joint (4) comprises fastening means (12) acting upon said jaws (6, 7) and such as to forcedly clamp said jaws (6, 7) around said stringers (3) .

19. Parapet according to claim 17 and/or 18, characterised in that the said wing (10) and the said rebate element (11) mutually counteract each other by virtue of the interposition of said stringer (3) .

20. Parapet according to claim 18 or 19, characterised in that said fastening means include screw connections (12) associated with said jaws (6, 7) .

21. Parapet according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first joint (4) features two pairs of retaining jaws (6, 7) borne by an arm (14) that is interposed between said pairs of jaws (6, 7) and may be secured to said upright (2) .

22. Parapet according to claim 21, characterised in that said arm (14) is shaped in such a way as to join each pair of said jaws (6, 7) to the converging sides of a corner (15) defined by at least one of said stringers (3) .

23. Parapet according to claim 22, characterised in that said arm (14) is curvilinear.

24. Parapet according to claim 22 or 23, characterised in that said curvilinear arm (14) may be joined to said converging sides while remaining on the inside of the corner (15) defined by at least one of said stringers (3) .

25. Parapet according to claim 24, characterised in that said curvilinear arm (14) may be joined to said converging sides while remaining on the outside of the corner (15) defined by at least one of said stringers (3) .

26. Parapet according to any one of the preceding claims from 22 to 25, wherein the converging sides of said corner (15) are defined by a single, suitably shaped stringer (3) .

27. Parapet according to any of the preceding claims from 22 to 25, characterised in that the converging sides of said corner (15) are defined by two distinct stringers (3) .

28. Parapet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each of said stringers

(3) has a tubular conformation.

29. Parapet according to claim 13 or 15, characterised in that it comprises at least one handrail (16) and second joints (5) of handrail (16) , suited to connect each handrail (16) to the uprights (2) .

30. Parapet according to claim 29, characterised in that said handrail (16) has a tubular conformation including one flat face (17) parallel to said upright (2); said joints (4, 5) of handrail (16) comprising at least one flat flange (18) which may be joined to the face (17) of the handrail (16) and rigidly connected thereto; and an anchorage element (19) suited to form a rigid connection with the upright (2) .

31. Parapet according to claim 30, wherein said flat flange (18) and said flat face (17) can be secured together by screws.

32. Parapet according to claim 30 or 31, characterised in that said joints (5) of handrail (16) comprise two of said flanges (18) borne by an interposed arm (20), monolithically connected with the anchorage element (19) .

33. Parapet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said arm (20) of the joint (5) of handrail (16) is shaped in such a way as to join said one flange or each flange (18) with corresponding faces (17) of lengths of handrail (16) in locations distal to the upright (2) .

34. Parapet according to claim 33, characterised in that said arm (20) of the joint (5) of handrail (16) is suitably shaped to join each pair of said flanges (18) to converging sides of a corner (21) defined by at least one handrail (16) .

35. Parapet according to claim 34, characterised in that said arm (20) of the joint (5) of handrail (16) is curvilinear.

36. Parapet according to claim 34 or 35, characterised in that said curvilinear arm (20) is situated beneath said handrail (16) with said flanges (18) joined to the flat faces (17) of the handrail (16) substantially at a point corresponding to a vertical surface midway along the handrail (16) .

37. Parapet according to any one of the claims 30-

36, wherein the upright (2) has a tubular conformation, characterised in that said anchorage element (19) includes a protruding body (22) which may be axially fitted into the upright (2) .

38. Parapet according to any one of the claims 30-

37, characterised in that said anchorage element (19) has a transversely projecting boss (23) serving to limit the length of insertion of said protruding body (22) into the upright (2) .

39. Parapet according to any one of the claims from 30 to 38, characterised in that said joint (5) of handrail (16) is provided with screw fastenings for attachment to said upright (2) .

40. Parapet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said stringers (3) are tubular in form.

41. Parapet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said joints (4, 5) are produced from segments of extruded profile sections (40, 45) in order that they may undergo an anodisation treatment.

42. Method for the production of a handrail joint (5) for a parapet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises the steps of: cutting a first extruded profile section (40) into segments of a determined length; shaping at least one edge (41) of said segment by removal of material in order to obtain an arm (20) and at least one flange (18) protruding from said arm (20); drilling said flange (18) so as to obtain a through hole (42) having an axis that is in transverse relation to the flange (18) and threading said hole (42); drilling said arm. (20) so as to obtain a hole (43) having an axis that is in transverse relation to the hole (42) of said flange (18) and threading said hole (43) .

43. Method according to claim 42, characterised in that said first extrude profile section (40) has a concave profile.

44. Method according to claim 42 or 43, characterised in that said phase of shaping one edge

(41) of the segment is such as to obtain two of said flanges (18) on either side of said arm (20) .

45. Method according to any one of the claims from 42 to 44, characterised in that said phase of shaping one edge (41) of the segment also includes the rounding of said one contour edge or each edge (41) of said arm (20) and of at least a flange (18) .

46. Method according to any one of claims 44 or 45, characterised in that said phase of shaping an edge (41) of the segment is followed by a phase in which said base body (110) is subjected to an anodisation treatment .

47. Method according to claim 45 or 46, characterised in that it comprises a phase wherein said bearing body (46) is subjected to an anodisation treatment .

48. Method for the production of a handrail joint (5) for a parapet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises the phases of cutting a second extruded profile section (45) into segments of a determined length incorporating a bearing body (46) , whose opposite sides are provided, respectively, with a pair of parallel wings (47) and a groove (48) , said bearing body (46) comprising at least one projecting boss (23), in transverse relation to said wings (47) and said groove (48) .

49. Method according to claim 48, characterised in that it comprises the phases of assembling the segments of said first (40) and second profile section (45) by inserting the arm (20) of the segment of the first profile section (40) inside the groove (48) of the second profile section (45) .

50. Method according to any one of the claims 46- 49, characterised in that it comprises a phase wherein said bearing body (46) is subjected to an anodisation treatment .

51. Method according to any one of the claims 46- 50, characterised in that it comprises the phases of drilling said bearing body (46) with a through hole (49) having an axis parallel to said wings (47) and leading into the groove (48) and threading said hole (49); and connecting the arm (20) of the first profile section (40) to the second profile section (45) by means of a screw (50) which engages the hole (43) of the arm (20) of the first profile section (40) and passes through the body (46) of the second profile section (45) .

52. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 46 to 51, characterised in that it comprises the phases of drilling said wings (47) with holes (51, 52, 54) having axes transverse to said wings

(47) ; threading the holes (51, 52, 54) of said wings

(47) ; and connecting said bearing body (46) to an upright (2) of parapet (1) using screws that pass through said upright (2) and engage . the holes (51, 52,

54) of said wings (47) .

53. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 46 to 52, characterised in that it comprises the phases of modelling at least one side (53) of said bearing body (46) by removal of material from said body (46) .

54. Method according to claim 51, characterised in that said phase of modelling at least one side (53) of said bearing body (46) is followed by a phase in which said bearing body (46) itself is subjected to an anodisation treatment.