EP0965687B1 - Street furniture element and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an element of street furniture according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method of manufacturing this element.

One such piece of street furniture is known from document DE-A-19 503 430 and used in particular on the outskirts of roundabouts or along sidewalks.

In terms of town planning, the practical and aesthetic nature of the elements used is becoming increasingly important. However, often the current elements have an aspect commonplace, poorly differentiated and moreover, are not reported or marked.

Thus, we know concrete modules to make constructions in the field of ordinary public works with a smooth surface or a relief.

These concrete elements have different disadvantages. First, they are only rarely colored, and show little variation in their physiognomy. They are therefore heavy and unsightly in appearance.

In addition, these concrete modules blend into the urban landscape without enhancement which can be damaging in terms of road safety. Indeed, from such modules constituting, for example, roundabout or sidewalk edges visible especially at night.

As a result, accidents are often observed which may as well concern automobiles as cyclists or motorcyclists.

The use of signaling means such as reflectors is not not satisfactory given that these means are dazzling and that they do not provide a effective signaling only if the vehicle includes lighting means. In addition, reflectors are particularly tiring for eye vision.

To enhance street furniture and in particular roundabouts or the sidewalks, we sometimes use lighting elements in the form of small bright spotlights. However, these devices are particularly sensitive to acts of vandalism and costly maintenance.

Concrete modules according to DE-A-19 503 430 used for constitute street furniture are more satisfactory both from a practical point of view than aesthetic, and their development is less costly in terms of installation and maintenance.

These are elements of urban furniture with an iridescence of their exterior surface by optical fibers. it has several advantages and in the first place improves the external effect of furniture urban. These are illuminated and different iridescence colors being possible, the invention allows many variations in appearance.

They have the advantage of highlighting in the eyes of vehicle drivers the presence of curbs or pylons or roundabouts along their route. In addition, this signaling is regular along the elements street furniture and low intensity which ensures perfect signage and an absence of visual fatigue.

This iridescence therefore warns vehicles of the presence of possible obstacles and also marks their route.

Furthermore, these pieces of furniture iridescent urban resists vandalism. On this point, the use of optical fibers is much less sensitive to acts of degradation than other light sources such as projectors.

The object of the present invention is to allow a good distribution of fibers along the element and a good orientation of their end ensuring lighting optimal as well as to propose a manufacturing process to both practical and ensuring an important quality of production.

Other objects and advantages will appear during the description which follows. follow which is however given only as an indication

The present invention relates to an element of street furniture according to the claim 1.

It also relates to a method according to independent claim 7 for manufacturing an element of street furniture according to the invention.

Preferably, the invention also ensures connection and operation practice of different elements of street furniture. To do this, it has the advantage integrate wiring sleeves ensuring the connection between different pieces of furniture urban end to end which avoids the presence of any apparent electrical connection.

• la figure 1 présentant une vue en perspective d'un élément de mobilier urbain selon l'invention sous forme de bordure,
• la figure 2 illustrant la fabrication de l'élément de mobilier urbain,
• la figure 3 présentant un mode particulier de réalisation de l'élément de mobilier urbain selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood in the light of the drawing boards located in the annex and which include:

• FIG. 1 showing a perspective view of an element of street furniture according to the invention in the form of a border,
• FIG. 2 illustrating the manufacture of the element of street furniture,
• Figure 3 showing a particular embodiment of the street furniture element according to the invention.

The street furniture element (1) according to the invention comprises all first a frame (2). This frame will most often be made of steel and in the form mesh as is often the case in the field of concrete elements. The function of the framework is to provide reinforcement to the overall structure but also to guide the network of fibers (3).

The street furniture element will be made of concrete but this concrete may be of any type and in particular mineral or with organic elements. Its composition is therefore not limiting.

The street furniture element presented here will apply as indicated previously to different works such as roundabouts, curbs, garbage cans and public benches, lighting elements such as candelabras and pylons.

The external shape of the element (1) will therefore be adapted to the structure to achieve and in particular may be in the form of a rectilinear border of section trapezoidal as illustrated in figure 1.

According to the invention, the element (1) comprises a network (3) of fibers optics. As shown in Figure 1, this network (3) is located inside the volume of element (1) and embedded in concrete.

The fibers (4) used will be of a common type and are present as a set of ramifications in the volume of element (1) from a source light.

The network (3) is organized along the frame (2) which will serve as a guide for their ramification. In this way, one obtains an element (1) having an iridescence over its entire outer surface and possibly evenly.

The fibers (4) used have an end leading to the outer surface (12) of the element (1) to allow iridescence.

At their other end, the fibers (4) meet at a light source. The use of several sources is of course possible and will organize the use of several networks (3).

As indicated above, the fibers will be arranged and branched so that their through end (5) is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface (12) for correct illumination. The maximum angular deviation by relation to the perpendicular will be for example 10 °.

The light source used may be of the current type and in particular to be a halogen source placed in front of the network leader.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, between the light source and the start of the network (3) of the means for varying colors such as one or more color filters. In this way, it is possible to vary the color and therefore to modify at will the external appearance given to the element of street furniture (1).

To provide a location for the light source, preferably in the volume of the element (1) a reserved volume (7). This allows the installation of the light source and its orientation in order to illuminate the network (3).

We can also use a box located outside the element (1).

Figure 1 illustrates the realization of a reserved volume (7) and the point of contribution of the fibers (4) composing the network (3) at the level of this reserved volume (7).

As shown in Figure 1, the fiber network (4) is organized from so as to form iridescent bands on the external surface (12) of the element (1) evenly spaced along the surface. However, all other provisions and iridescence configurations are possible.

In another particular embodiment of the element (1) of urban furniture, this includes a sheath integrating the connection means electric in the internal volume of the element (1). This sleeve allows the connection of several elements (1) without apparent electrical connection.

Indeed, the elements (1) of street furniture are most often used in a set and constitute modular elements of construction of the structure. Thus, the constitutive border of the element (1) illustrated in FIG. 1 can be placed end to end. butt with another equivalent element. Given the iridescence to be provided to the elements (1), it is necessary to provide an electrical connection between the different elements (1) in particular to avoid the multiplication of the power supply zones of the whole form. To do this, the present invention has the advantage of comprising a sheath containing all the necessary electrical connections. According to the invention, the sheath is embedded in the concrete and is oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis of element (1). It constitutes a sheath receiving all of the electrical connections.

In this way, no electrical connection system appears to the exterior of the element (1) which not only ensures an optimized ornamental character but also better security. Furthermore, the installation of the elements (1) and their connection will be more convenient.

As indicated above, the element (1) according to the invention can be present in any form depending on the nature of the work to be carried out. So the Figure 3 illustrates a use of the element (1) according to the invention in the context of the realization a candelabra (8).

According to this embodiment, the light source (13) of the candelabrum to constitute the light source of the network (3) of optical fibers.

As shown in Figure 3, the light source (13) has then a double function not only of lighting of the public highway but also network light supply (3).

The invention described here also aims to propose a method of manufacture of element (1) of street furniture.

This process ensures a practical and quality manufacturing of the element (1). In particular, it allows good positioning of the fibers (4) and their orientation substantially perpendicular to the outer surface (12) of the element (1).

As shown in Figure 2, the method will be implemented using a mold (10) whose internal shape corresponds to the desired shape for the element (1).

We will use a common mold in the field of casting concrete.

To ensure quality manufacturing, the process presented here allows, before pouring the concrete, an effective installation of the reinforcement (2) and the network (3) of optical fiber.

Thus, according to this method, a set of perforations (9) on the internal wall of the mold (10). This set of perforations (9) will configured according to the external appearance that one wishes to give to the iridescence.

According to the example in FIG. 2, the set of perforations is oriented under form of bands of substantially vertical orientation. In a particular mode of embodiment, the desired set of perforations (9) consists of plates perforated (11). These plates are reported on the internal wall of the mold (10) as presented in Figure 2. The inserts (11) may be of different types and in particular magnetic in the case of metal molds to ensure their maintenance or still made of wood or composite material fixed by common means such as screws.

In this way, we obtain removable means of constituting all of the perforations (9). Furthermore, the combined formation of a relief on the outer surface (12) of the element (1) can be provided.

The set of perforations (9) thus produced, the frame (2) is positioned within the mold (10). Figure 2 illustrates this positioning of the frame (2), the maintenance will be carried out by any current means. According to Figure 2, the frame used extends longitudinally along the axis of the element (1) and consists of a mesh element.

The frame (2) will reinforce the structure of the element (1) and allows the establishment of the network (3) of optical fibers (4) by guidance. Figure 1 presents in dotted line the guidance of the network (3) and the branching of the fibers (4) from the frame (2).

The network (3) thus supported and guided by the frame (2) can then hold the end of each fiber (4) in one of the perforations (9).

The perforations (9) allow good guidance and provide perpendicular orientation of the end (5) of the fibers (4) with respect to the external surface (12).

In a particular embodiment, the maintenance of the end (5) of the optical fibers (4) during casting by means of an adhesive in particular in the form of a ribbon pressing the end (5) of the optical fibers (4) on the outer face of the mold (10). Thus, once the end (5) introduced into the perforation (9), we leave slightly exceed the end (5) on the outside of the mold to fold it back and fix on this outer face with adhesive tape.

In this way, the placement of the optical fibers (4) is perfectly ensured during casting. Once the element (1) has been realized, it will suffice to section the part protruding fibers (4) for an impeccable surface condition.

In the particular embodiment where the invention comprises a sheath for the electrical connection of the elements (1), the process presented here will integrate inserting the sleeve before pouring the concrete.

The use of the reinforcement (2) as a guide to the fiber network (3) optical (4) is particularly advantageous since it allows, without means additional, to ensure the establishment of the fibers (4).

Furthermore, the inserts (11) make particularly flexible implementation of the process and allow different configurations and distributions iridescence.

The presence of an electrical connection sleeve integrated in the volume of the element (1) avoids any act of vandalism and improves safety of use elements (1) of street furniture.

It is possible, by iridescence and in particular by means of colorization iridescent light, obtain different effects ensuring an aesthetic appearance and perfect signage for built public works.

Claims (10)

1. Street-furniture element (1) made of concrete, namely for forming edgings, lighting columns or any other building element in the field of the building industry and public works, comprising, in its inner volume, at least one network (3) of optical fibres (4) the fibres (4) of which are branched up to the outer surface (12) of the element (1), so as to make it iridescent at various different spots, in order to increase the signalling value of the street-furniture elements, characterised in that it includes a reinforcement (2) and in that the network (3) of optical fibres (4) is guided by the reinforcement (2).
2. Street-furniture element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the end (5) of the optical fibres (4) is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface (12) of the element (1), in order to allow an optimal illumination.
3. Street-furniture element (1) according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that it includes a casing or a reservation (7) in order to integrate the light source illuminating the network (3) of fibres.
4. Street-furniture element (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it includes a sheathing integrating the electrical connecting means in the inner volume of the element (1) for connecting several elements without any visible electrical connection.
5. Street-furniture element (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the element is a lighting column (8) and that its lighting means (13) forms the light source of the network (3) of fibres (4).
6. Street-furniture element (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it includes means for colouring the iridescence placed between the light source and the beginning of the network (3) of fibres (4), for varying the iridescence colour.
7. Process for manufacturing a street-furniture element (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which, before casting the concrete :

   a series of holes (9) is made in the wall of the mould (10),

   the reinforcement (2) is positioned within the mould (10),

   the network (3) of optical fibres (4) is placed through guiding it on the reinforcement (2),

   the end of each optical fibre (4) is maintained in a hole (9),

      for manufacturing a street-furniture element the outer surface (12) of which is made iridescent in order to increase its value and its signalling.
8. Manufacturing process according to claim 7, characterised in that against the inner wall of the mould (10) are inserted perforated plates (11) forming the desired series of holes (9).
9. Manufacturing process according to any of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that before casting the concrete a sheathing integrating the electrical connecting means is inserted into the inner volume of the mould.
10. Manufacturing process according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that during the casting the holding of the ends of the optical fibres (4) in the holes (9) is ensured by means of an adhesive, namely in the form of a ribbon pressing the end of the optical fibres (4) against the outer surface of the mould.

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