EP1449963A1 - Coupling device for socket holding element - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has a base and two tubes (12, 13) carried by the base. The tubes are inserted in compartments of concrete bases (30) in a manner to couple the bases (30). The tubes present an upper end that forms a projection above upper face of the base carrying the tubes. The tubes have respective housings (19, 20) that are designed to receive feet of a component that is to be maintained. An independent claim is also included for a method of manufacturing a coupling device.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of devices intended to maintain elements delimiting areas such as barriers, fences, palisades, or panels.

It is known to use concrete bases to hold such elements, also called studs, comprising housings in which the feet of said blocks are received elements.

The weight of the bases usually used is generally between 24 and 40 kg.

When the elements maintained are not screened, they provide a grip on the much higher wind and the weight of the bases used may be insufficient for keep them upright in bad weather.

The bases used also more often than not include a plurality of housing and in particular housing close to their longitudinal ends so to allow use on the side of the road or sidewalk. When the feet of elements to be maintained are engaged in such housing, the risk of overturning is increased.

Finally, when a rubber base is used to support a panel, and that the ground is sloping, the panel is not vertical. In addition, such a base is more expensive than a concrete base and its weight is less.

There is a need to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

The utility model G 87 038 463 describes a device for maintaining amounts on a building site. This device comprises two bases connected by a coupling comprising a plate on which are fixed lower tubes engaged in the bases and an upper tube to receive the amount to be maintained. The tubes do not protrude from the upper face of the plate.

The two bases are associated by such a device, which ensures a more effective support and reduces the risk of overturning.

In addition, the use of two bases can possibly compensate for uneven terrain and more easily maintain a vertical panel on a slope.

Such a device may nevertheless prove to be insufficiently stable in certain situations.

The invention as defined in claim 1 can make it possible to increase device stability, the upper ends of the tubes protruding above the upper face of the plate which can be engaged if necessary in bases superimposed on those in which the lower tubes are engaged.

The coupling device can comprise at least two housings defined by two respective tubes of circular section, to accommodate feet of elements to be maintained such as barrier feet with a diameter of 40 mm. These accommodations can still be defined by overlapping holes.

The coupling device may also include at least one housing for non-circular section, in particular square or rectangular, to accommodate the foot of a column of non-circular section, for example a foot of rectangular section whose sides have dimensions 40 x 80 mm.

• des ouvertures circulaires permettant la fixation des tubes, notamment deux ouvertures circulaires permettant de fixer des tubes de diamètre extérieur 40 mm, destinés à s'engager dans les logements des socles, ces ouvertures étant réalisées de préférence à proximité des extrémités longitudinales de la platine, et
• deux autres ouvertures circulaires, notamment de plus grand diamètre, réalisées dans la partie centrale de la platine. Ces ouvertures peuvent être destinées à recevoir des tubes définissant des logements pour recevoir les pieds des éléments à maintenir, notamment des tubes de diamètre intérieur légèrement supérieur à 40 mm, par exemple égal à 44 mm.

The coupling device advantageously comprises a metal plate on which are produced:

• circular openings allowing the fixing of the tubes, in particular two circular openings making it possible to fix tubes with an outside diameter of 40 mm, intended to engage in the housings of the bases, these openings being preferably made near the longitudinal ends of the plate, and
• two other circular openings, in particular of larger diameter, made in the central part of the plate. These openings may be intended to receive tubes defining housings for receiving the feet of the elements to be maintained, in particular tubes with an internal diameter slightly greater than 40 mm, for example equal to 44 mm.

At least one square or rectangular opening can also be made on the turntable.

Preferably, the plate is made with wings which are folded after cutting of the aforementioned openings. Each wing can be made with a return to its lower part, which can be crossed by an opening identical to another opening present above on the plate, the two openings overlapping when the coupling is observed from above, so as to allow the foot of an element to be engaged therein. maintain. The free edges of the returns are advantageously each made with two circular cutouts, the latter coming to bear against tubes intended to receive the elements to maintain.

The tubes intended to be engaged in the bases are advantageously fixed on the plate so as to present a projecting upper part, which can possibly be engaged in a base covering the coupling device and a another base in which the lower part of the corresponding tube is already engaged.

Advantageously, the coupling device is used in conjunction with bases arranged so that they can be nested by being superimposed with their axes longitudinal perpendicular to each other.

Preferably, the size of the coupling device is chosen so to allow it to be engaged on two bases of a first row and, on this first row, to have a second row of two bases having their longitudinal axes perpendicular to those of the first row, the coupling device being located in view from above substantially in the center of the assembly thus formed.

The weight can therefore be quadrupled compared to a single base, which can be advantageous for certain applications.

• découper une tôle en formant sur ses côtés longitudinaux des ailes,
• découper au voisinage des extrémités longitudinales de la tôle deux ouvertures circulaires, notamment des ouvertures de diamètre sensiblement égal à 40 mm,
• souder dans les ouvertures circulaires des tubes de diamètres correspondants. Les tubes peuvent notamment être positionnés de telle sorte que leur extrémité supérieure fasse saillie au-dessus de la tôle.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a coupling device comprising the following steps:

• cut a sheet by forming wings on its longitudinal sides,
• cut in the vicinity of the longitudinal ends of the sheet two circular openings, in particular openings with a diameter substantially equal to 40 mm,
• weld in the circular openings tubes of corresponding diameters. The tubes can in particular be positioned so that their upper end protrudes above the sheet.

• découper dans une région centrale de la tôle deux autres ouvertures circulaires, ayant notamment un diamètre légèrement plus grand que 40 mm, et de part et d'autre de ces ouvertures circulaires deux ouvertures respectivement carrée et rectangulaire,
• découper sur l'aile adjacente à l'ouverture carrée une autre ouverture carrée et sur l'aile opposée une autre ouverture rectangulaire,
• plier les ailes deux fois de manière à superposer d'une part les deux ouvertures rectangulaires et d'autre part les deux ouvertures carrées.

In a particular implementation of the invention, the method can also include the following steps:

• cut in a central region of the sheet metal two other circular openings, in particular having a diameter slightly larger than 40 mm, and on either side of these circular openings two respectively square and rectangular openings,
• cut on the wing adjacent to the square opening another square opening and on the opposite wing another rectangular opening,
• fold the wings twice so as to overlap on the one hand the two rectangular openings and on the other hand the two square openings.

One can advantageously carry out on the free edge of each wing two circular cutouts arranged to bear against the tubes fixed in the region central plate, which stiffens them.

In a variant implementation of the invention, it is possible to cut out from a central region of the sheet metal two circular openings and on a wing two other openings circular, then the wing can be folded so as to superimpose said circular openings.

You can also cut two cross-shaped openings, these openings coming to be superimposed when said circular openings are superimposed.

• au moins deux tubes destinés à être engagés dans les logements des socles de manière à les coupler, et
• au moins un logement pour recevoir le pied d'un élément à maintenir.

The subject of the invention is also, independently or in combination with the foregoing, a device for coupling bases, these bases each comprising housings intended to receive the feet of elements to be maintained, this device being able to be characterized by the fact that 'it comprises :

• at least two tubes intended to be engaged in the housings of the bases so as to couple them, and
• at least one housing for receiving the foot of an element to be maintained.

• au moins deux tubes destinés à être engagés dans les logements des socles de manière à les coupler, et
• au moins un logement pour recevoir le pied d'un élément à maintenir, au moins deux logements étant définis par deux perçages superposés.

The subject of the invention is also, independently or in combination with the above, a device for coupling bases, these bases each comprising housings intended to receive feet of elements to be maintained, this device comprising:

• at least two tubes intended to be engaged in the housings of the bases so as to couple them, and
• at least one housing for receiving the foot of an element to be maintained, at least two housing being defined by two superimposed bores.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un exemple de réalisation d'un dispositif de couplage conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe transversale selon II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une coupe longitudinale selon III-III de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus représentant le dispositif de couplage en place sur deux socles,
• la figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 4, avec deux socles supplémentaires superposés aux premiers,
• la figure 6 est une vue en élévation du dispositif de couplage engagé sur deux socles posés sur un sol irrégulier,
• la figure 7 est une vue analogue à la figure 6 illustrant la possibilité de superposer un troisième socle sur l'un des deux autres,
• la figure 8 représente de manière schématique, en perspective, un autre exemple de réalisation du dispositif de couplage,
• la figure 9 représente isolément, en vue de dessus, la platine servant à fabriquer le dispositif de couplage de la figure 8,
• la figure 10 représente isolément la platine de la figure 9 après pliage des ailes,
• la figure 11 représente une autre variante du dispositif de couplage, permettant de coupler plus de deux socles entre eux, et
• la figure 12 représente en vue de dessus une autre variante de réalisation de la platine du dispositif de couplage.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a coupling device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a cross section along II-II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section along III-III of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a top view showing the coupling device in place on two bases,
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, with two additional bases superimposed on the first,
• FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the coupling device engaged on two bases placed on uneven ground,
• FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the possibility of superimposing a third base on one of the other two,
• FIG. 8 schematically represents, in perspective, another exemplary embodiment of the coupling device,
• FIG. 9 represents in isolation, in top view, the plate used to manufacture the coupling device of FIG. 8,
• FIG. 10 represents the plate of FIG. 9 in isolation after folding the wings,
• FIG. 11 shows another variant of the coupling device, making it possible to couple more than two bases together, and
• Figure 12 shows a top view of another alternative embodiment of the plate of the coupling device.

The coupling device 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plate metallic 11, of elongated shape along a longitudinal axis X.

This plate 11 supports near its longitudinal ends two metal tubes 12 and 13, with axes perpendicular to its plane, with an outside diameter equal to 40 mm.

These tubes 12 and 13 are engaged and welded in circular openings corresponding to the plate 11 and have upper ends 14 which form protrusion above the upper face of the plate 11.

The coupling device 10 also comprises two metal tubes 16 and 17 slightly larger in diameter than tubes 12 and 13, welded into openings corresponding to the central region of the plate 11 and whose upper ends 18 also protrude from the upper face of the plate 11, in the example considered.

The tubes 16 and 17 define two respective housings 19 and 20 intended for accommodate feet of elements to be maintained, the tubes 16 and 17 having a diameter interior equal to 44 mm.

The coupling device 10 also comprises two metal tubes 22 and 23 of respectively square and rectangular cross sections, the axes of which are in the example considered contained in a median plane of symmetry of the coupling device 10, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

The tubes 22 and 23 are welded to the plate 11 and connected by a crosspiece 24 which extends under the plate 11 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

The tubes 22 and 23 define respective housings 26 and 27 allowing to accommodate for example the base of posts of square or rectangular section.

The coupling device 10 makes it possible to couple two bases together, introducing the tubes 12 and 13 into respective housings of these bases, these housings being otherwise intended to receive feet of elements to be maintained, for example feet barriers.

The bases used can be any and in particular be made made entirely of concrete or recycled plastic.

However, preferably, bases are used comprising a casing made of plastic material inside which concrete has been poured, such as bases 30 shown in Figure 4.

This figure shows two bases 30 each comprising housing circular section, with a diameter slightly greater than 40 mm, to receive one of the tubes 12 and 13. The foot of an element to be maintained can then be introduced into one of the housings 19, 20, 26 or 27 of the coupling device 10.

The bases 30 are made with male shapes 31 on their upper face and a hollow shape on their underside, which allows them to be superimposed by overlapping, as illustrated in FIG. 5, each base 30 being approximately approximately three times longer than wide.

We see in Figure 5 that we can have on the ground a first row of two bases connected by the coupling device 10 then superimpose on this first row a second row of two bases 30 having their longitudinal axes perpendicular to those in the first row.

FIG. 5 also shows the housings 32 of the bases 30 in which tubes 12 and 13 can be inserted.

FIG. 6 shows the foot P of a panel introduced into the housing 27. It can be seen in this figure that the bases 30 can be placed on a non-ground perfectly flat while keeping the foot P substantially vertical, the tube 12 may for example not be fully engaged in the corresponding housing of the underlying plinth to compensate for the difference in level due to the topology of the soil.

It is also possible, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to come to superimpose on the base 30 in which is engaged the tube 13 a second base 30. The latter can not fit completely on the relief 31 of the underlying base due to the presence of the plate 11. However, the projecting portion 14 of the tube 13 can be engaged in the lower end the corresponding housing of this base, which improves its maintenance.

We will now describe with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 a variant of realization of the coupling device, which avoids having to report on the plate 11 the tubes 22 and 23 to define housings of respective square sections and rectangular.

In this new example, the plate 11 is first cut flat with wings 46 on its longitudinal sides, as shown in FIG. 9.

Openings 40 are made for fixing the tubes 12 and 13, likewise as openings 41 for that of tubes 16 and 17.

Square 42 and rectangular 44 openings are made in the region central of the plate 11, on either side of the circular openings 41.

Another rectangular opening 45 is made on the wing 46 located on the side of the opening 44 and a square opening 43 is made on the other wing.

The free edge 47 of each wing 46 is produced with two circular cutouts 48, of radius adapted to that of the tubes 16 and 17 which will be engaged in the openings 41.

After cutting the different openings, the wings 46 are each folded by twice so as to form vertical uprights 50 and horizontal returns 51 directed towards each other.

The wings 46 are folded from fold lines which are located slightly outside the openings 42 and 44 and the returns 51 are arranged so that the openings 42 and 44 overlap respectively, when the coupling device is observed from above, with openings 43 and 45.

The circular cutouts 48 are applied against the tubes 16 and 17 when the latter are fixed on the plate 11, as can be seen in FIG. 8.

The openings 42 and 44 define, with the underlying openings 43 and 45, housings 26 and 27.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

One can in particular realize the coupling device 10 with tubes additional in addition to tubes 12 and 13, for example with two other tubes 53 and 54, as illustrated in FIG. 11, in order to couple four bases between them.

It is also possible, as illustrated in FIG. 12, to make the plate with holes 60 and 61 intended to be superimposed after folding the plate to form the housing 19 and 20.

This avoids the use of tubes 16 and 17.

The plate can also be produced with holes 62 and 63 each in shape crosses, intended to be superimposed after folding the plate to form a housing able for example to accommodate a tube with a diameter equal to 60 mm or a section foot rectangular.

The holes 60 can communicate with the hole 42, if necessary, as illustrated.

Throughout the description, including the claims, the expression "Comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least a ”, unless otherwise specified.

Claims (17)

Device for coupling bases (30), these bases each comprising housings (32) intended to receive feet (P) of elements to be maintained, this device comprising: a plate (11), at least two tubes (12, 13) carried by the plate and intended to be engaged in the housings (32) of the bases (30) so as to couple them, and at least one housing (19; 20; 26; 27) for receiving the foot (P) of an element to be maintained, this device being characterized in that the tubes (12, 13) have upper ends (14) which protrude above an upper face of the plate (11). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two housings (19, 20) defined by two respective tubes (16; 17) or by two superimposed bores (60, 61). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tubes (16; 17) defining said housings (19; 20) are of circular section. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the housings (19, 20) are arranged to receive barrier feet with a diameter equal to 40 mm. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one housing (26; 27) of non-circular section, in particular of square or rectangular section. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one housing (27) for receiving a foot of rectangular section whose sides have the dimension of 40 x 80 mm. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubes (12; 13) have an outside diameter of 40 mm and are located near the longitudinal ends of the plate (11). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises two other tubes (16; 17) of larger diameter, fixed to the central part of the plate, intended to define housings (19; 20) for receiving feet 40 mm in diameter. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (11) is produced with wings (46) which are folded and which have returns (51) at their lower part, which are crossed by openings (43; 45) identical to others (42; 44) produced on the plate, the two identical openings overlapping when the coupling device is observed from above, so as to allow the foot to be engaged therein (P) d an element to maintain. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubes (12; 13) intended to be engaged in the bases are fixed on the plate so as to have a projecting upper part (14). Assembly consisting of a coupling device (10) as defined in any one of the preceding claims and bases (30) arranged so as to ability to nest by overlapping with their perpendicular longitudinal axes between them. Assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the size of the coupling device (10) is chosen so as to allow to have on the ground a first row of two bases (30) in which the tubes (12; 13) of the coupling device are engaged and, on this first row, a second row of two bases (30) having their longitudinal axes perpendicular to those of the first row, the coupling device (10) being located in plan view substantially in the center of the whole thus constituted. Method of manufacturing a coupling device comprising the following steps: cut a sheet by forming wings (46) on its longitudinal sides, cut in the vicinity of the longitudinal ends of the sheet two circular openings (40), in particular openings with a diameter substantially equal to 40 mm, weld in the circular openings of the tubes of corresponding diameters, in particular positioning the tubes so that their upper end protrudes above the sheet. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that it also comprises the following steps: cut in a central region of the sheet two other circular openings (41), having in particular a diameter slightly larger than 40 mm, and on either side of these circular openings (4) two openings (42; 44) respectively square and rectangular, cut on the wing (46) adjacent to the square opening (42) another square opening (43) and on the opposite wing another rectangular opening (45), fold the wings (46) twice so as to overlap on the one hand the two rectangular openings (44; 45) and on the other hand the two square openings (42; 43). Method according to claim 13, characterized in that circular wings (48) are arranged on the wings (46) arranged to bear against tubes (16, 17) fixed in the circular openings (41) of the central region of the stage. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that two circular openings (60) are cut in a central region of the sheet and two other circular openings (61) on a wing, and then the wing is folded so as to superimpose said circular openings (60, 61). Method according to claim 16, characterized in that two openings (62, 63) are further cut in the form of a cross, these openings coming to be superimposed when said circular openings (60, 61) are superimposed.

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