EP0280609B1 - Anti-dazzle screen - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device forming an anti-dazzle screen.

There are many embodiments of such devices.

Among these, we can note in particular the screens intended to come to rest at the level of the upper part of a wall separating traffic lanes, of the type consisting of at least one panel comprising, formed in one piece, a positioning base surmounted by a deflector plate generally extending substantially in the vertical median plane of said low wall. Such a screen is described in particular in publication EP-A-0 118 323.

In document CH-A-387 089 there is such a type of screen, the deflector plate of which comprises a succession of panels formed along a broken horizontal guideline, that is to say oriented in the direction which runs along the panel.

Such known devices however have a high manufacturing cost. In addition, some of them are unstable after they have been positioned on the channel dividers intended to receive them.

Furthermore, since such screens are not always fixed or sealed in position, this makes their movement or their unauthorized removal relatively easy, thereby causing possible risks of accidents.

It will be noted that most of the known anti-dazzle screens, if they are sometimes juxtaposed, are generally not superimposable, which makes them more difficult to adapt to the desired protection height.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

• un premier pan opaque s'étendant sensiblement parallèlement audit plan de la plaque,
• un second pan également opaque dirigé obliquement par rapport au plan de la plaque en faisant un angle obtus (σ) avec le premier pan,
• un troisième pan opaque s'étendant sensiblement parallèlement au plan de ladite plaque,
• puis un quatrième pan dirigé obliquement par rapport audit plan de la plaque en faisant un angle (β) obtus avec le troisième pan, ce quatrième pan comprenant au moins une fenêtre assurant le libre passage de la lumière et/ou du vent.

To this end, and in particular so as to improve the screening effect of the panels, it has been provided in the invention that the sides of the screen deflector plate are linked together following each other. others, by series, and successively include:

• a first opaque pan extending substantially parallel to said plane of the plate,
• a second equally opaque pan directed obliquely to the plane of the plate at an obtuse angle (σ) with the first pan,
• a third opaque pan extending substantially parallel to the plane of said plate,
• then a fourth section directed obliquely to said plane of the plate at an obtuse angle (β) with the third section, this fourth section comprising at least one window ensuring the free passage of light and / or wind.

In practice, the screen of the invention will usually consist of several juxtaposable panels which are substantially parallelepipedic and of generally planar shape.

So that once placed on their receiving wall the panels can be kept there safely, another characteristic of the invention further provides that each panel will preferably comprise, formed substantially in its plane and towards its opposite lateral ends of junction with an adjacent panel, projecting extensions and recessed recesses respectively forming notches and slots, so that the steps of one of the panels can engage in the slots of an adjacent juxtaposed panel, and, in each step of said panels will be provided with a through hole in which a bar intended to be able to come vertically intended to ensure both the junction of two adjacent panels and the fixing of said panels to the wall, coming from its lower end to be housed and locked in a receiving hole formed in the upper edge of said low wall.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the panels forming the screen will advantageously be superimposable, the positioning base of each panel comprising an interior cutout having in section the appearance of an inverted channel whose shape will correspond substantially to that of the upper edge of the deflector plate, so that the channel of an upper panel can overlap the upper edge of a lower panel.

• la figure 1 est une vue de face du dispositif formant écran de l'invention en position sur son muret séparateur de réception, la barre de liaison entre deux écrans ayant été représentée dans sa position verrouillée en trait mixte;
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté de l'écran de l'invention;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon III-III de l'écran illustré à la figure 2;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique de plusieurs panneaux formant l'écran de l'invention, en position sur leur muret séparateur de réception;
• et la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne V-V de la figure 4.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings presented by way of nonlimiting example and in which:

• Figure 1 is a front view of the screen device of the invention in position on its receiving separator wall, the connecting bar between two screens having been shown in its locked position in broken lines;
• Figure 2 is a side view of the screen of the invention;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along III-III of the screen illustrated in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a schematic view of several panels forming the screen of the invention, in position on their receiving separating wall;
• and FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line VV of FIG. 4.

If we refer first to Figure 1, we see, identified as a whole 1, a device forming an anti-dazzle screen intended in particular to obscure the light of headlights of vehicles moving in opposite directions on traffic lanes or motorway, along which was arranged the screen of the invention.

The screen illustrated comprises, made in a single piece of molded plastic, a relatively wide positioning base 2 (d) having in section the shape of an inverted "U", above which extends substantially vertically. a smaller deflector plate 3. This plate 3 has a general shape of a substantially planar rectangular parallelepiped, oriented so that its lower longitudinal edge 3a is situated substantially in the extension of the vertical axis 4a of the middle of a wall 4 single separator of traffic lanes, wall on which the screen will then be positioned (Figures 1 and 2).

As is clear from FIG. 1, the base 2 of the screen comes to rest at the end 200 of its branches of the "U" entirely on the upper edge 40 of the wall 4.

Although the rim 40 of the wall has been shown to be substantially horizontal, it may be possible to provide a wall having another shape, such as a rim with a convex shape.

The rim 40 will therefore have a width D greater than or at the limit equal to that d of the base 2 of the screen.

Figure 1, it will be noted that the base 2, taking into account its inverted "U" section, includes an interior cutout 5 in the form of a channel. Preferably, this channel 5 will include a double shoulder 6, widening the channel towards its emerging through end.

According to the invention, the screen that we have just presented is in fact made up of several identical panels which can be juxtaposed and stacked.

In the various figures, the panels forming the screen have all been marked with 1 ′.

It will therefore be understood that in FIG. 1 is in fact illustrated a panel 1 ′ which can constitute one of the elements of the screen of the invention.

In order to ensure the superposition of two panels and allow a partial nesting or overlapping of the base of a so-called "upper" panel around the top edge of an underlying panel, it is provided that the channel 5 comprises a bottom 7 of channel of width d ′ substantially equal to or slightly greater than the width d˝ of the end part or edge of top 30 of the plate 3.

In other words, provision is made for the sectional profile of the channel 5 to have a shape corresponding substantially to that of the upper edge of the panel plate on which it must fit.

In order to ensure good stability for the partial nesting thus produced, two ribs 8 may be provided on at least part of the overall length L of a panel and slightly below the top 31 of the plate 3. or projecting lateral wings extending from the opposite faces of this plate, substantially at the same level.

In this case, during the interlocking of two panels, each end 200 of the channel 5 of an "upper" panel will, as we understand, rest on one of the ribs 8.

It will be noted that these ribs 8 also play the role of stiffeners of the plate 3. Also, could one possibly provide others, such as 8 ′, distributed from place to place along the plate.

To ensure the assembly of several panels juxtaposed in alignment, it will be noted in FIG. 2 and more precisely in FIG. 4, that each panel 1 ′ comprises laterally towards its opposite ends of junction with an adjacent panel, on one side of the extensions 12a, 12b and clearance 22a, and, on the other, clearances 23a, 23b and extension 13a, complementary to the first.

It will be noted that the aforementioned extensions and clearances of each panel are formed substantially in the direction of the general plane 9 of the panel.

If we now refer more specific to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the end marked 10 of the panels may in particular comprise two extensions 12a, 12b or projecting legs spaced from one another along the extreme edge 10a and forming steps. Between them, these steps will provide a recessed clearance 22a forming a slot.

In contrast, towards their other end marked 11, the panels will then comprise two clearances 23a, 23b, complementary forming slots, between which will be inserted a complementary extension in step 13a.

As is clear from FIG. 4 and as can be understood, the recesses 23a, 23b, and the complementary extension 13a provided towards one end 11, correspond substantially to the extensions 12a, 12b and to the clearance 22a provided towards the other end 10, and are trained substantially at their level.

In order to ensure a close connection of the panels at the level of these complementary shapes which substantially overlap one another during the juxtaposition of several panels, provision is made to provide, in each extension or step 12a, 12b, 13a and towards the two opposite ends 10, 11 of each panel, orifices 14, 15, of substantially vertical axis in the position of use of the panel, these orifices being able to be crossed by a rigid connecting bar 16.

This bar 16 has been shown in phantom in Figures 1, 2 and 4.

In order to fix the position of the panels 1 ′ on the separating wall 4 above which they must be put in place, the lower end portion 17 of each bar 16 will be housed and locked in a receiving hole 18 provided opposite in the upper edge of the wall 4, after passing through the corresponding holes 14, 15.

The bar 16 can be locked in particular by sealing or screwing its end portion 17 into the wall.

If we now refer to Figure 3, we sees that the holes 14, 15, formed towards each end 10, 11 of the panels preferably have, in horizontal section, a substantially oblong or oval shape, the bar 16 being, for its part, substantially cylindrical with circular section.

In this way, we can articulate, if necessary, the panels together so as to follow the profile of the wall.

In this same FIG. 3 is also illustrated the sectional shape of the deflector plate 3 of the panel, which comprises a succession of flaps 19, 20, 21, 22 (only some of the flaps have been identified) formed according to a broken guideline or " wavy ", the general line of which remains in the direction of plane 9.

• un premier pan 19 formé sensiblement dans le plan du panneau c'est-à-dire dans la direction de circulation des véhicules cheminant le long de l'écran (les deux sens opposés de circulation ont été représentés par les flèches 23, 24),
• puis, un deuxième pan 20 oblique par rapport au panneau et donc à la direction de circulation et offrant un angle ϑ obtus par rapport au sens de déplacement considéré (par exemple 23),
• suivi d'un troisième pan 21 ici décalé latéralement de la même distance d‴ de l'axe médian longitudinal 9′ du panneau que le pan 19, le pan 21 étant formé, comme ce pan 19, sensiblement parallèlement à la direction de circulation;
• et enfin un quatrième pan 22 dirigé de façon oblique par rapport à la direction de circulation, le pan 22 offrant un angle β obtus par rapport au sens de circulation suivis par les véhicules.

The illustrated panels which are linked to each other and extend substantially vertically in the position of use of the panel, practically over the entire height of the plate 3, are formed in series, each series comprising, which follow each other in order :

• a first panel 19 formed substantially in the plane of the panel, that is to say in the direction of movement of the vehicles traveling along the screen (the two opposite directions of movement have been represented by the arrows 23, 24),
• then, a second section 20 oblique to the panel and therefore to the direction of circulation and offering an obtuse angle ϑ with respect to the direction of movement considered (for example 23),
• followed by a third panel 21 here offset laterally by the same distance d ‴ from the longitudinal median axis 9 ′ of the panel as the panel 19, the panel 21 being formed, like this panel 19, substantially parallel to the direction of circulation;
• and finally a fourth section 22 directed obliquely to the direction of traffic, the section 22 offering an obtuse angle β relative to the direction of traffic followed by the vehicles.

It will be noted that, in the example illustrated, the additional angle γ of β is such that γ less than or equal to α (in obsolete value), α being the additional angle of β.

Taking into account the intended direction of movement of the vehicles, provision will advantageously be made for the flaps 22, which do not directly receive the light rays coming from the headlights of these same vehicles, to be made up, preferably over most of their height, through a window allowing light and wind to pass freely. As seen in Figure 2, one could also provide for in the sections 22, several openings 220 forming windows separated by horizontal strips 221 providing rigid intermediate connecting points of the sections 19 and 21 between them.

On the other hand, the occultation panels 20 will be solid opaque panels, as will the panels 19 and 21.

In this way, the light rays coming from the front headlights of the vehicles will be in some way trapped, either at the sides 19 and 20 in the direction of flow 23, or at the sides 20 and 21 in the opposite direction of flow.

It will be noted that the light rays can only pass through the window 22 or the openings 220 if they deviate from the direction of circulation by an angle greater than γ and do not meet the sides 21, 20, 19.

By way of examples, it will be possible for the sides 20 and 22, angles α and γ such that α = approximately 45 ° and γ = approximately 30 °, that is to say ϑ and β of the order of 135 ° and 150 ° respectively. .

In addition parallel to the direction of circulation, that is to say in the plane 9 of the panels, the length L₁ of the panels 22 with windows may in particular be provided substantially equal to that L₂ of the three consecutive opaque panels 19, 20, 21 , see even lower.

Regarding the method of manufacturing the screen of the invention, it will be noted that each panel can be made of high density polyethylene by molding, as well as the bar 16 for connecting the panels together. However, a metal bar may also be suitable.

With regard to the extensions and clearances formed towards the junction ends of each of the panels, we could, as a variant, and as we understand, provide a greater number of extensions forming steps and therefore a greater number of clearances forming slots in suitably adapting their relative arrangement.

If we now refer to FIG. 5, we see illustrated an additional means of fixing the panels to the wall, so as to prevent any risk of falling in the event of breakage of the connecting clips of the panels juxtaposed between them.

This complementary means here takes the form of a vertical anchoring rod 25 suitable for being housed tightly in a receiving orifice 26 arranged opposite substantially in the median axis 4a of the wall and opening onto the upper edge 40 thereof. this. In the upper part, the rod 25 is extended by a head 27, having for example the shape of a "U" profile coming to engage in the channel 7 of the base 2 of the panel on the sides of which the head in question will be fixed, for example by riveting, screwing or the like.

Preferably, the complementary fixing means will be placed substantially at mid-length (L / 2) of each panel and therefore roughly equidistant from two successive holding bars 16.

Claims (8)

1. Device forming an anti-dazzle screen to be located on the upper part of a barrier (4) separating traffic lanes, of the type consisting of at least one panel (1′) comprising a single piece forming a locating base (2) surmounted by a deflector plate (3) which generally extends approximately within the median vertical plane of the said barrier, this plate comprising a succession of approximately vertical panes (19, 20, 21, 22) formed so as to follow a broken horizontal director line, characterised in that the locating base (2) and the deflector plate (3) are made of plastics material and in that the panes of this plate are connected to each other in succession and in series, and comprising successively, in a given horizontal traffic direction (24), approximately parallel to the plane (9) of the plate (3):

- a first pane (19), which is opaque and extends approximately parallel to the said plane of the plate,

- a second pane (20), which is also opaque and is positionned obliquely relative to the plane of the plate, thus forming an obtuse angle (ϑ) with the first pane (19),

- a third pane (21), which is opaque and extends approximately parallel to the plane of the said plate,

- then a fourth pane (22), which is positionned obliquely relative to the plane of the plate, thus forming an obtuse angle (β) with the third pane (21), the fourth pane including at least one window, permitting the free passage of light and/or air.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that, as an absolute value, the angle (ϑ) of inclination of the second pane (20) relative to the first pane (19) is less than or equal to that (β) of the fourth pane (22) relative to the third pane (21).

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the locating base (2) of the panel rests with its extreme lower edge (200) entirely upon the upper edge (40) of the separating barrier.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 of the type consisting of a plurality of panels (1′) which can be juxtaposed in an approximately parallelepipadel manner, characterised in that each panel comprises, formed approximately within its plane (9) and towards its laterally opposite edges (10, 11) where it joins an adjacent panel, protruding extensions (12a, 12b, 13a) and indentations (22a, 23a, 23b), which form, respectively, projections and recesses, in such a manner that the projections (12a, 12b, 13a) of the one panel can engage in the recesses (22a, 23a, 23b) of an adjacent juxtaposed panel, and in that in each projection of the said panel there is provided an aperture (14, 15) through which a bolt (16) can engage vertically, to join the two adjacent panels and to fix the said panels to the barrier (4) by the engagement and fastening of its lower extremity (17) into a receiving hole (18) provided in the upper edge (40) of the said barrier.

5. Device according to claim 4 characterised in that the apertures (14, 15) on the edges are, in section, approximately oblong in shape and the joining/fixing bolt (16) is approximately cylindrical with a circular cross-section.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of panels (1′) which may be superimposed in pairs, the locating base (2) of each panel comprising an internal cut-out (5), the cross-section of which has the appearance of an inverted groove, the shape of which approximately corresponds to that of the upper edge of the deflector plate (3) such that the groove of an upper panel can straddle the upper edge of a lower pannel.

7. Device according to claim 6 characterised in that on each panel, the groove (5) comprises a double shoulder (6) and in that the deflector plate (3) comprises two opposing lateral ribs (8) formed substantially at the same level, at least slightly below the top of the upper edge (30) of the plate, such that in the superimposed position, the lower extremities (200) of the goove of an upper panel are carried on the ribs of a lower panel.

8. Device according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterised in that each panel (1′) comprises at least one complementary means of anchoring the barrier, the said means being formed by a rod (25) which engages closely in an aperture (26) with an approximately vertical axis which is provided on the upper edge (40) of the barrier (4), and of a head (27) capable of engaging, so as to become fixed, in the groove provided in the base (2) of each panel.

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