EP0575224B1 - Road sign - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a road sign intended to be mounted on a support post. In accordance with the invention, the sign (100) is produced as two half-signs (101, 102) placed one against the other and joined to one another by matching force-fitting means (120, 121), and it has internal stiffening partitions, including partitionings (107.1) which define a through-channel associated with the support post, and partitionings (107.8, 107.9) which support clamping means (110) allowing the sign (100) to be fixed to the support post, these clamping means being integrated into the said sign while being accessible via the periphery of the latter to be operated. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to traffic signs, in particular road or rail traffic signs, these signs being mounted on an associated support post, which is generally vertical and driven into the ground.

Signs are usually made of metal, with a front face carrying the desired sign pattern, behind which is provided one or two fixing jumpers whose shape is adapted to the shape of the support post in cross section (this section is generally rectangular, square, or round).

The fixing by jumper (s) allows an adjustment of the height of the sign, or even a removal of this sign for its replacement, but constitutes a hindrance to a double-sided realization, that is to say with a sign pattern on each side of the sign. Another drawback lies in the vulnerability of such a fixing, both against bad weather (which involves the use of galvanized components) and against malicious acts. Finally, such a method of attachment requires the use of metal inserts or other added elements when the panel is made of plastic, which explains why panels made of metal are currently preferred.

The state of the art is also illustrated by the production of plastic display panels or boxes, fixed by flanges or through tie rods.

Document EP-A-0 439 304 thus describes a signaling panel comprising two inserts provided for fixing a clamping flange enclosing the associated support post. Documents GB-A-2 208 450 and EP-A-0 377 213 illustrate assemblies in the form of a hollow housing in two half-shells pressed against each other the other, on a support post, by means of through tie rods screwed from the outside. In particular, GB-A-2 208 450 describes an information support unit which must be dismantled to change the information, disassembly being carried out by unscrewing the tie rods, the head of which protrudes outside the housing.

There are therefore the various drawbacks which have been mentioned for the signs made of metal.

The invention aims precisely to solve this problem, by designing a traffic sign that does not have the above limitations and / or drawbacks.

The object of the invention is therefore to produce a sign which is both simple in structure and easy to assemble, while lending itself well to an embodiment in plastic material, without however being limited to a particular contour.

The object of the invention is also to produce a signaling panel, the fixing of which is well protected with regard to external aggressions, and the structure of which makes it possible to have a signaling pattern on two opposite faces.

It is more particularly a traffic sign intended to be mounted on a support post and being in the form of a hollow box, characterized in that it is made in two half-panels plated the one against the other and linked to each other by complementary male and female force interlocking means, said interlocking means producing an assembly of irreversible type between the two half-panels, and it has partitions stiffening interiors, including first partitions which define a passage channel associated with the support post, and second partitions which support means clamping with clamping member for fixing the panel to the support post, said means being integrated into said panel while being accessible by the periphery thereof so that they can be operated.

Preferably, the two half-panels have an identical structure, with a symmetrical arrangement of the force fitting means. Thus, the manufacture is facilitated insofar as the same tool makes it possible to produce the two half-panels, which is particularly sensitive when these half-panels are made of plastic (generally by molding by injection).

Advantageously then, each half-panel comprises means of force-fitting of a first type on one side of the panel, and means of force-fitting of a second type complementary to the preceding on the other side of said panel. , said means being arranged on either side of two parallel partitions forming the first partitions. In particular, the force fitting means are constituted by male studs and complementary female studs, said studs projecting perpendicularly to the inner face of each respective half-panel.

More preferably, the second partitions which support the clamping means are arranged in the lower part of the half-panels, so that said clamping means are accessible from below said panel, in the vicinity of the passage channel associated with the support post. .

According to an advantageous embodiment, the second partitions of each half-panel are constituted by two adjacent partitions, arranged so as to define a support platform which is arranged substantially transversely to the passage channel associated with the support post and which supports the clamping means, said clamping means comprising an operating member passing between the adjacent partitions and a wedging member arranged to come into contact with the support post.

For example, the tightening means could be constituted by an angle iron disposed on the support platform, by a bolt forming an operating member, the head of which passes between the adjacent partitions and the rod of which passes through a lumen of said angle iron, and by a curved blade forming a wedging member, on which acts the rod of the aforementioned bolt, and one end of which is supported on this angle while the other end is arranged to come into direct contact with the support post. Preferably then, the bolt rod is screwed directly on the curved blade or on a nut integral with the latter, and the lumen of the angle iron is elongated in a direction transverse to the passage channel associated with the support post, and the head of the bolt is supported against an intermediate veil joining the adjacent partitions of each half-panel.

It is also interesting that each half-panel has a peripheral partition extending towards the other half-panel up to a plane common to the edges of the interior partitions. Finally, according to an advantageous embodiment, each half-panel is produced with its partitions and its means of force fitting in the form of a one-piece plastic assembly.

• la figure 1 illustre un panneau de signalisation conforme à l'invention, monté sur un poteau-support, l'arrachement partiel de sa face frontale permettant de distinguer l'agencement des cloisonnements intérieurs de raidissement, ainsi que la disposition des moyens d'emboîtement à force et des moyens de serrage ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues respectivement latérale et de dessus du panneau précédent monté sur son poteau-support (la figure 1 étant une coupe selon I-I de ces figures) ;
• la figure 4 est une coupe partielle selon IV-IV de la figure 1 permettant de mieux distinguer l'agencement des moyens de serrage (on ne distingue ici que le composant en forme de cornière) ;
• la figure 5 est une vue, du côté intérieur, de l'un des demi-panneaux formant le panneau précité, tel qu'il se présente avant la mise en place des moyens de serrage.
• la figure 6 illustre le montage du panneau par emboîtement à force des moyens homologues, l'ensemble ainsi réalisé étant prêt à être monté sur un poteau-support, le principe de cet emboîtement étant illustré à plus grande échelle sur la vue de détail de la figure 7 ;
• la figure 8 illustre, à plus grande échelle, un détail de la figure 1 correspondant aux moyens de serrage (ici par lame-ressort), la position débloquée étant illustrée en traits continus, et la position bloquée en traits mixtes ;
• la figure 9 illustre une variante du mode d'exécution de la figure 8, avec un vissage de la tige du boulon sur un écrou solidaire de la lame-ressort.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures in which:

• FIG. 1 illustrates a traffic sign according to the invention, mounted on a support post, the partial cutaway of its front face making it possible to distinguish the arrangement of the internal stiffening partitions, as well as the arrangement of the interlocking means force and clamping means;
• Figures 2 and 3 are respectively side and top views of the previous panel mounted on its support post (Figure 1 being a section along II of these figures);
• Figure 4 is a partial section on IV-IV of Figure 1 to better distinguish the arrangement of the clamping means (we distinguish here only the component in angle form);
• Figure 5 is a view, from the inside, of one of the half-panels forming the aforementioned panel, as that it occurs before the clamping means are put in place.
• FIG. 6 illustrates the mounting of the panel by interlocking by force of the homologous means, the assembly thus produced being ready to be mounted on a support post, the principle of this interlocking being illustrated on a larger scale in the detailed view of the Figure 7;
• Figure 8 illustrates, on a larger scale, a detail of Figure 1 corresponding to the clamping means (here by leaf spring), the unlocked position being illustrated in solid lines, and the locked position in dashed lines;
• Figure 9 illustrates a variant of the embodiment of Figure 8, with a screwing of the bolt rod on a nut secured to the leaf spring.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a sign 100 according to the invention, mounted on a support post or mast 103. The support post 103 here has a rectangular cross section, in accordance with a widely used embodiment, but this does not constitute in no way a limitation within the scope of the invention.

The signaling panel 100 is made of two half-panels 101, 102 which are pressed against one another, and linked to each other by means of interlocking force with homologous force 120, 121. In addition , the traffic sign 100 has internal stiffening partitions, including partitions 107.1 which define a passage channel 104 associated with the support post 103, and partitions 107.8 and 107.9 which support clamping means 110 allowing the panel 100 to be fixed to the support post, these clamping means being integrated in said panel while being accessible by the periphery thereof to be operated.

Although this in no way constitutes an obligation, it is nevertheless advantageous to provide that the two half-panels 101, 102 have an identical structure, which considerably simplifies the manufacturing, storage and assembly operations. In this case, the two half-panels 101, 102 have a symmetrical arrangement of the force fitting means 120, 121.

Each half-panel 101, 102 here comprises a peripheral partition 107.2 which extends towards the other half-panel up to a median plane corresponding to a free edge of contact 105 between the two half-panels. Thus, when the two half-panels 101, 102 are pressed against each other and linked to each other by the interlocking means 120, 121, these half-panels constitute a single-piece panel having under the shape of a hollow box, delimited by two faces 106 which are the main faces of each half-panel 101, 102, and by the external surface of the peripheral partition 107.2. The housing thus assembled has a passage channel 104 for threading the signaling panel 100 on the support post 103, and blocking said panel at the desired height on this support post by operating the clamping means 110 which will be described in detail later.

Each half-panel 101, 102 comprises means of force-fitting of a first type 120 on one side of one side of the panel, and means of force-fitting of a second type 121 complementary to the preceding the other side of this panel. In the present case, the force fitting means are constituted by complementary male studs 120 and female studs 121, said studs projecting perpendicularly to the inner face of each respective half-panel 101, 102. The arrangement of these studs force fitting will be better understood with reference to Figure 7 which will be described later.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, or better still in FIG. 5, each half-panel has internal stiffening partitions, including two parallel partitions 107.1 which define a half-passage channel 104.1 associated with the support post. There is then a peripheral partition 107.2 relating to almost the entire periphery of each half-panel, with the natural exception of the zone corresponding to the passage channel associated with the support post. Other internal stiffening partitions are provided between the aforementioned partitions 107.1 and 107.2, and a distinction is therefore made between connection partitions 107.3, 107.4, 107.5, 107.6, 107.7.

In the embodiment illustrated here, the clamping means are arranged in the lower part of the half-panels 101, 102, so as to be accessible from below the traffic sign 100, in the vicinity of the passage channel 104 associated with the post- support 103. It can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 that the partitions 107.8 and 107.9, which support the clamping means 110, are arranged in the lower part of the half-panels 101, 102, on each side of an axis X corresponding to the central axis of the passage channel 104 associated with the support post. The clamping means 110 will in practice be provided on one side of the sign, insofar as a direct blocking is carried out on the support post. It goes without saying, however, that provision may be made for having identical partitions in the upper part of the half-panels 101, 102, on one side and / or on the other side of the axis X. It is also possible to use a double tightening, for example by providing tightening means arranged in the lower part on one side of the X axis, and identical tightening means arranged in the upper part on the other side of said X axis. In general, if one wishes to preserve the advantages inherent in an identical structural construction for the two half-panels, provision will then be made for partitions 107.8 and 107.9 on each side of the X axis, even if only one side is used. he however, it should be noted that the arrangement in the lower part remains preferable insofar as it allows good protection with regard to external aggressions (bad weather or bad weather), and where the zone of accessibility of the clamping means with a view to their maneuver is relatively discreet.

As is best seen in Figure 5, each half-panel has adjacent partitions 107.8 and 107.9 defining a support platform 112 which is arranged substantially transversely to the passage channel 104.1 associated with the support post. This support platform 112 serves to support the clamping means 110, as can be seen in FIG. 1, or better still in FIGS. 4 and 8. The adjacent partitions 107.8 and 107.9 define an intermediate space 108, and are connected together, at the level of the platform 112, by an intermediate web 109. The set of partitions 107.1, 107.2, 107.3, 107.4, 107.5, 107.6, 107.7, 107.8 and 107.9 have a free edge which is in the same plane corresponding to the abovementioned contact plane 105. On the other hand, the intermediate veil 109 is set back relative to this free edge, so that it defines, with the intermediate veil of the other half-panel, a lumen (visible in FIG. 4) allowing the passage and the support stop of one of the constituent members of the clamping member. If reference is made to FIG. 1, or better still to FIG. 8 which illustrates the detail concerned on a larger scale, it can be seen that the clamping means 100 comprise an operating member 117, here produced in the form of a bolt, passing between the adjacent partitions 107.8 and 107.9, as well as a wedging member 116, here produced in the form of a curved blade, arranged to come into contact with the support post. In accordance with the embodiment illustrated here, the clamping means 110 are constituted by an angle iron 113, by a bolt 117, and by a curved blade 116. The angle iron 113 is arranged on the support platform 112, and it is produced in the form of a rigid plate, for example metallic, with a rear flange 114 forming a support stop for one end of the curved blade 116 The angle iron 113 is itself positioned in abutment against a projection 107.10 adjacent to the partition 107.9 and at the end of the peripheral partition 107.2. The angle iron 113 also has a central lumen 115, which here is elongated in a direction transverse to the passage channel associated with the support post. The bolt 117 forming the operating member comprises a head 117.1 which passes between the adjacent partitions 107.8 and 107.9, and bears against the lower facets of the two intermediate webs 109. The threaded rod 117.2 of the bolt 117 passes in turn through the light 115 of the angle iron 113, and by the curved blade 116 forming a wedging member. The curved blade 116 is a leaf spring which has a concavity facing the angle iron 113, and performs the blocking function of the sign 100 relative to the support post. This curved blade 116 has in fact a threaded bore 116.1 corresponding to the rod 117.2 of the bolt 117, and one of its ends 116.2 is in abutment against the flange 114 of the angle iron 113, while the other end 116.3 is arranged for extend, when the bolt 117 is operated in the direction of screwing, in an associated passage 111 provided to allow direct contact with the facing wall 103.1 of the support post. Indeed, the screwing of the bolt 117, due to the axial maintenance of its head 117.1 in abutment against the intermediate webs 109, produces a deformation of the curved blade 116, from which it results an advance of the free end 116.3 in the direction of the X axis of the passage channel. It will be observed that the deformation of the curved blade 116 causes a slight lateral displacement of the bolt 117 in the direction of the axis X, which lateral displacement is made possible by the elongation of the lumen 115 in a direction transverse to the passage channel 104. Unscrewing the bolt 117 naturally induces a retraction of the free end 116.3 of the curved blade 116, and consequently an unlocking of the signaling panel 100 relative to the support post. The parallel partitions 107.1 are organized with a spacing slightly greater than the length in section of the support post, so as to preserve sufficient clearance to be able to easily thread the sign on the end of the support post. When the operating bolt 117 is screwed by an appropriate tool, the end of which is inserted between the partitions 107.8 and 107.9, the free edge 116.3 of the curved blade 116 exerts a direct force of lateral thrust on the support post, and consequently strongly applies the opposite wall of said support post against the other two partitions 107.1 of the half-panels. If, as a variant, provision is also made for having similar means in the upper part of the panel, on the other side of the X axis, there will likewise be obtained significant support between a lateral face of the support post and the 107.1 partitions located on the other side of the X axis.

A variant of the embodiment of the clamping means 110 illustrated in FIG. 8 has been illustrated in FIG. 9. This variant differs from the abovementioned embodiment by the fact that the threaded rod 117.2 of the bolt 117 freely crosses the curved blade 116 at level of a bore 116.1, and is screwed onto a nut 118 which is secured, for example by welding, to this curved blade 116. The operation is moreover exactly identical to that previously described with reference to FIG. 8. advantage of this variant lies in a better distribution of the axial forces at the level of the threads of the operating bolt 117.

In both cases, the curved blade 116 constitutes a wedging member which is both simple in structure and easy to maneuver. It goes without saying, however, that the structural arrangement of the clamping means can be modified, for example by using a clamping jaw system mounted at the end of a threaded rod.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, each half-panel can be easily produced with its partitions 107.1, 107.2, 107.3, 107.4, 107.5, 107.6, 107.7, 107.8, 107.9, and its means of force fitting 120, 121, in the form of a one-piece plastic assembly, for example produced by molding or by injection. A single mold is sufficient if provision is made, in accordance with what has been described above, for the two half-panels to have an identical structure, with a symmetrical arrangement of the force fitting means 120, 121.

The assembly of two half-panels 101, 102 can then be carried out very simply: as illustrated in FIG. 6, it suffices in fact to set up a functional assembly constituting the clamping means 110 on one of the half-panels (here the half-panel 102), which in this case is easily obtained by passing the head of the operating bolt between the corresponding adjacent partitions, and under the intermediate web of the two half-panels concerned (the curved blade 116 then provides natural support which facilitates handling operations). After having positioned the other half-panel 101, with its suitable orientation so that the force-fitting means are correctly arranged (we see here three ends of male studs 120 for each half-panel), it suffices to press the two half-panels 101, 102 one against the other, as shown by the arrows 200, which makes it possible to obtain directly the sign 100 equipped with its own clamping means allowing it to be fixed to a support post. The two half-channels 104.1 and 104.2 of the half-panels 101 and 102 in fact define the corresponding passage channel 104. FIG. 7 makes it possible to better distinguish a pair of means mating force with counterparts, with a male stud 120, here provided on the half-panel 101, which stud has here a free chamfered end 120.1 facilitating the introduction into the corresponding female stud. The other half-panel, here the half-panel 102, has a female stud 121, the bore 121.1 of which is chosen to allow the associated male stud 120 to be forced into position. Any system may naturally be provided as a variant equivalent of force fitting means, of irreversible type so as to withstand any subsequent attempt to dismantle the sign.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the signaling panel 100 thus produced makes it possible to have a signaling pattern on two opposite faces, that is to say the faces 101.1 and 102.1 of its two half-panels 101 and 102.

It has thus been possible to produce a sign which is both simple in structure and easy to assemble, while being suitable for an embodiment in plastic material, without however being limited to a particular contour. We can indeed provide a traffic sign whose peripheral outline has a circular shape (as illustrated here), oval, polygonal (in particular square, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal), or even more complex (with an arrow shape by example). In general, it will however be preferable to provide a peripheral contour which has a median plane of symmetry passing through the axis of the passage channel associated with the support post, which makes it possible to retain the advantages indicated above inherent in an embodiment of the two half-panels according to an identical structure, with a symmetrical arrangement of the force fitting means.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, but on the contrary encompasses any variant incorporating, with equivalent means, the essential characteristics stated above, as defined in the present claims.

Claims (11)

1. A sign intended to be mounted on a support post and being in the form of a hollow casing, characterised in that it is made in the form of two half-panels (101, 102) which are disposed one against the other and which are connected to each other by complementary male and female force-fitting interengagement means (120, 121), said interengagement means providing for assembly of irreversible type of the two half-panels (101, 102), and it has internal stiffening partitions (107.1, 107.2, 107.3, 107.4, 107.5, 107.6, 107.7, 107.8, 107.9), including first partitions (107.1) which define a passage (104) associated with the support post for same to pass therethrough, and second partitions (107.8, 107.9) which support clamping means (110) with a wedging member (116) permitting fixing of the sign (100) to the support post, said means being integrated in said sign while being accessible by way of the periphery thereof to be capable of being operated.
2. A sign according to claim 1 characterised in that the two half-panels (101, 102) are of an identical structure with a symmetrical arrangement of the force-fitting interengagement means (120, 121).
3. A sign according to claim 2 characterised in that each half-panel comprises force-fitting interengagement means of a first type (120) on one side of the sign and force-fitting interengagement means (21) of a second type which are complementary to the previous ones on the other side of the sign, said means being arranged on respective sides of two parallel partitions (107.1, 107.1) forming the first partitions.
4. A sign according to claim 3 characterised in that the force-fitting engagement means (120, 121) are formed by complementary male projections (120) and female projections (121), said projections projecting perpendicularly to the inside face of each respective half-panel (101, 102).
5. A sign according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the second partitions (107.8, 107.9) which carry the clamping means (110) are arranged in the lower part of the half-panels (101, 102) in such a way that said clamping means are accessible from below the sign in the vicinity of the passage (104) associated with the support post.
6. A sign according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the second partitions of each half-panel are formed by two adjacent partitions (107.8, 107.9) arranged in such a way as to define a support platform (112) which is disposed substantially transversely to the passage (104) associated with the support post and which supports the clamping means (110), said clamping means comprising an operating member (117) passing between the adjacent partitions (107.8, 107.9) and a wedging member (116) arranged to come into contact with the support post.
7. A sign according to claim 6 characterised in that the clamping means (110) are formed by an angle portion (113) disposed on the support platform (112), a bolt (117) forming the operating member, whose head (117.1) passes between the adjacent partitions (107.8, 107.9) and whose shank (117.2)passes through an opening (115) in said angle portion, and a curved strip (116) forming the wedging member, on which the shank (117.2) of said bolt acts and of which one end (116.2) bears against said angle portion while the other end (116.3) is arranged to come into direct contact with the support post.
8. A sign according to claim 7 characterised in that the shank (117.2) of the bolt (117) is screwed directly to the curved strip (116) or a nut (118) which is fixed with respect thereto and the opening (115) in the angle portion (113) is elongated in a direction which is transverse to the passage (104) associated with the support post.
9. A sign according to claim 7 or claim 8 characterised in that the head (117.1) of the bolt (117) bears against an intermediate web portion (109) joining the adjacent partitions (107.8, 107.9) of each half-panel (101, 102).
10. A sign according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that each half-panel (101, 102) comprises a peripheral partition (107.2) extending towards the other half-panel to a plane common to the edges of the internal partitions (107.1, 107.2, 107.3, 107.4, 107.5, 107.6, 107.7, 107.8 , 107.9).
11. A sign according to one of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that each half-panel (101, 102) is produced with its partitions (107.1, 107.2, 107.3, 107.4, 107.5, 107.6, 107.7, 107.8, 107.9) and its force-fitting interengagement means (120, 121) in the form of a one-piece assembly of plastics material.

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