EP0874347B1 - Device for the visual identification of the condition of a wood construction, particularly a post, after a quality-control - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a simple, effective device, allowing a permanent visual identification of the condition of a wooden structure, post in particular, after carrying out a periodic check.

It is well known, or even in particular FR-A-2 707 759 (corresponding to US 5,567,871 on behalf of the Applicant) that poles or other structures in wood, used in particular for telephone lines or power lines, must be periodically checked to check their condition in order to decide on operations maintenance and / or replacement if necessary.

One of the problems that arises after such checks is the use of the diagnosis carried out, in particular with a view to rapidly informing and efficiently the personnel in charge of maintenance. Furthermore, after verification, it it is also necessary to be able to be informed about the deadline by which must be carried out a new check, this deadline may be more or less near in depending on the physical and / or mechanical quality of the post or structure.

Now we have found, and this is what is the subject of the present invention, a simple, effective device that allows visual identification giving simultaneously the state of the controlled structure, as well as the period within which a new check must be carried out.

• le support d'informations se présente sous la forme de plaques réalisées dans une gamme de couleurs différentes et comportant en leur centre un orifice pour le moyen de fixation ;
• le moyen de fixation est constitué par un clou enfichable dans la structure contrôlée au travers de l'orifice que comporte la plaque, la tête dudit clou comportant sur sa face apparente, réalisée dans la masse, une mention permettant d'identifier au moins l'année au cours de laquelle a été effectué le contrôle ;
• au moins la face visible des plaques comporte, également formée dans la masse, une mention indiquant soit que la structure contrôlée est dangereuse et doit être remplacée, soit le délai fixé pour un nouveau contrôle, lesdites mentions étant disposées selon une couronne non masquée par la tête du clou, autour de l'orifice (3), chaque plaque (1) comportant plusieurs fois la même mention, selon une disposition symétrique par rapport audit orifice (3).

In general, the device according to the invention consists on the one hand of an information medium and, on the other hand, of a means of fixing directly to the controlled structure and it is characterized in that than :

• the information medium is in the form of plates produced in a range of different colors and having in their center an orifice for the fixing means;
• the fixing means is constituted by a nail pluggable into the controlled structure through the orifice that the plate comprises, the head of said nail comprising on its visible face, produced in the mass, a mention making it possible to identify at least the year during which the check was carried out;
• at least the visible face of the plates includes, also formed in the mass, a mention indicating either that the controlled structure is dangerous and must be replaced, or the time limit fixed for a new control, said mentions being arranged in a crown not masked by the head of the nail, around the orifice (3), each plate (1) having the same mention several times, in a symmetrical arrangement with respect to said orifice (3).

In a preferred embodiment, the support plate information is in the form of a circular disc in matter colored plastic in the mass, the information being produced in relief on the two sides.

In practical terms, these plates will be produced in a range with at least three different colors, red, orange, green for example, but this is not limiting.

La figure 1 illustre en perspective, de manière éclatée, les deux éléments entrant dans la réalisation du dispositif conforme à l'invention ;

les figures 2,3,4 et 5 sont des vues en plan d'une série de plaques d'informations sous forme de disque.

The invention and the advantages which it brings will however be better understood thanks to the embodiment given below for information but not limitation and which is illustrated by the appended diagrams in which:

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective, exploded, the two elements involved in the production of the device according to the invention;

Figures 2,3,4 and 5 are plan views of a series of disc-shaped information plates.

If we refer to the attached diagrams, the invention therefore appears under the form of an information medium, designated by the general reference (1) and of a fixing means designated by the general reference (2).

The information medium is preferably constituted by a disc having in its center an orifice (3). The fixing means consists of a nail whose rod (4) is intended to be inserted in the control post and whose head (5) has on its visible face, in relief, an indication of the year when performed the check, 97 for example. The information carriers are presented in the form of a range of discs of different colors, four of a point in practical terms, for example red (figure 2), orange (figure 3), light green (figure 4) and dark green (Figure 5). Each disc has a mention in the state of the structure and the time required for a next check.

The red support (figure 2) will be used to be affixed on a structure in wood whose control is such that it implies an immediate change.

The orange, light green, dark green supports respectively indicate that the structures are in more or less good condition indicating the expected time for a new control, for example three years, five years, eight years.

These discs are preferably made of plastic and the the inscriptions they contain are in relief. They are therefore practically rot. Furthermore, the indications are preferably arranged according to a crown, making it easy to read them regardless of the orientation of the disc after it has been affixed to the controlled structure.

Such a particularly simple design device is not only very easy to put in place, its fixing by the center also promoting its support against cylindrical posts.

Claims (4)

1. Device for the visual identification of the condition of a wood construction, particularly a post, after a quality control, composed, on the one hand, of an information support (1) and, on the other hand, of a means (2) for fastening directly onto the checked structure, characterized in that:

   the information support has the form of circular plates produced in a range of different colours and including at their centre a hole (3) for the fastening means;

   the fastening means (2) consists of a nail which can be driven into the checked structure through the hole (3) in each plate (1), the head (5) of said nail including, on its visible face, produced in the mass, text making it possible to identify at least the year during which the control was carried out;

   at least the visible face of the plates (1) includes, also formed in the mass, texts indicating either that the checked structure is dangerous and should be replaced or the deadline set for a further control, said texts being arranged in a ring not concealed by the head of the nail, around the hole (3), each plate (1) including the same text several times in a symmetrical arrangement around said hole (3).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the information-support plate (1) has the form of a circular disc made from plastic material dyed in the mass, the information being produced in relief on both faces.
3. Device according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the information-support plates are produced in a range including at least three different colours.
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the range of colours of the information plates includes at least one red colourway, one orange colourway and one green colourway.

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