EP2195497B1 - Collapsible fence - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has articulation units (110, 111) allowing longitudinal movement of telescopic bars (108) of a foldable barrier (107) with respect to a handrail (109) of the barrier and to parallelogram cover (101) of a parallelepiped case (100), so that the cover and the barrier are articulated with respect to a side of the case. The bars have a lower end that is not extended beyond a lower edge of the cover. The case has internal length equal to length of the handrail, internal width equal to height of the barrier in a totally folded position and height equal to larger thickness of the barrier.

Description

The invention relates to a closure device, particularly a retractable closure device, possibly removable. Said device is particularly well suited to the closure of a body of water such as in particular a swimming pool.

We know that in the field of water bodies, especially swimming pools, especially in-ground pools, regulations, particularly French regulations, require protection and / or alarm systems in order to prevent any inadvertent falls, particularly children, which could have serious consequences. Said regulation recommends alarm systems that are triggered when the surface of the water is set in motion particularly by the fall of an object or an individual in the water. Nevertheless, a barrier placed around the body of water over its entire circumference is probably the most effective way to avoid untimely falls and allow the water to be left unattended.

Several disadvantages are however to be emphasized. First, aesthetics; it is not always pleasant to see a barrier permanently to some meter of a body of water, especially as to be effective said barrier must have a minimum height.

Then the convenience: the presence of a fixed barrier around a body of water can significantly reduce the width of the beaches surrounding said body of water.

It is therefore easy to understand that there is a need for an effective safety barrier but also aesthetic. In this respect a retractable barrier can meet this need.

We can quote the document WO-A-94 13885 which describes an expandable barrier. For example, the system described in the patent application FR 2 889 224 in which the barrier is constituted by a barrier element movable between the horizontal position and the vertical position, and a fixed beach element, always in a horizontal position, said movable element articulated on the fixed-range element, coming from in horizontal position fit into said beach element.

For aesthetics and elegance that is this solution, it is unfortunately very cumbersome since the barrier to be of sufficient height to play its role in protecting the assembly in the folded position has a relatively large footprint and requires arrangements around the basin that raise the cost of development of said basin.

In addition, this system is described in this document with a motorization element which not only raises the cost of fitting, but also the size of the system.

It is by seeking to eliminate these disadvantages that the Holder has managed to design a retractable closure element, possibly removable, having a minimal footprint.

• d'un fond ayant la forme d'un parallélogramme, présentant un grand côté (la longueur du coffre) et un petit côté (la largeur du coffre),
• 2 parois latérales ayant la forme d'un parallélogramme, de longueur égale à la longueur du grand côté du coffre, donc du fond, et de largeur égale à la hauteur du coffre, lesdites parois pouvant être préférentiellement de forme rectangulaire, liées au fond par leur grand côté,

et muni d'un couvercle ayant la forme d'un parallélogramme, d'au moins les mêmes dimensions que le fond dudit coffre,
ledit couvercle étant articulé de manière à passer de la position horizontale à la position verticale, à l'une des 2 parois constituant un des grands côtés dudit coffre, ledit coffre renfermant au moins une barrière pliable constituée

• d'une main courante et
• de barreaux,

lesdits barreaux étant articulés au moyen d'articulations à l'une de leurs extrémités (extrémité supérieure) à une main courante et à l'autre extrémité (extrémité inférieure à la face interne dudit couvercle du coffre, préférentiellement au niveau inférieur de ladite face interne dudit couvercle, lesdites articulations permettant un mouvement longitudinal des barreaux par rapport à la main courante et au couvercle du coffre, l'ensemble "couvercle du coffre et barrière articulée" étant ainsi lui-même articulé par rapport à l'un des côtés dudit coffre, et lesdits barreaux présentant une extrémité inférieure ne se prolongeant pas au-delà du bord inférieur dudit couvercle lorsque ladite barrière est en position totalement repliée,
ledit coffre ayant une longueur interne au moins égale à la longueur de la main courante de la barrière, une largeur interne au moins égale à la hauteur de la barrière en position totalement repliée et une hauteur au moins égale à la plus grande épaisseur de la barrière (épaisseur du plus épais des barreaux ou épaisseur de la main courante, la plus grande étant considérée).Thus the invention relates to a retractable closure device comprising a parallelepiped chest constituted

• a background in the shape of a parallelogram, with a large side (the length of the box) and a small side (the width of the box),
• 2 side walls having the shape of a parallelogram, of length equal to the length of the long side of the box, and therefore of the bottom, and of width equal to the height of the box, said walls being preferably of rectangular shape, connected to the bottom by their big side,

and provided with a lid having the shape of a parallelogram, of at least the same dimensions as the bottom of said box,
said cover being articulated so as to pass from the horizontal position to the vertical position, to one of the two walls constituting one of the long sides of said box, said box containing at least one foldable barrier constituted

• of a handrail and
• of bars,

said bars being articulated by means of articulations at one of their ends (upper end) to a handrail and at the other end (lower end to the inner face of said trunk lid, preferably to the lower level of said inner face of said cover, said joints allowing a longitudinal movement of the bars relative to the handrail and the lid of the trunk, the assembly "trunk lid and articulated barrier" being thus itself hinged relative to one of the sides of said trunk , and said bars having a lower end not extending beyond the lower edge of said cover when said barrier is in the fully folded position,
said box having an internal length at least equal to the length of the handrail of the barrier, an internal width at least equal to the height of the barrier in the fully folded position and a height at least equal to the greatest thickness of the barrier (thickness of the thickest bars or thickness of the handrail, the largest being considered).

According to the invention, the bottom of the box and the lid may or may not have the same geometric shape.

According to a variant of the invention, the bottom of the box and the lid may be rectangular in shape and may have the same dimensions. According to this variant, the length of the trunk and that of the cover must be at least equal to the total length of the barrier in fully folded position.

According to another variant of the invention, the bottom of the box may be rectangular and the lid may be a parallelogram whose long side will be at least equal to the length of the box and the short side will have a dimension at least equal to the height of the box. the barrier in fully unfolded position (length of a bar increased by the thickness of the handrail), said small side having with the large side an angle equal to the angle that the bars present with the lower edge of the lid in the fully folded position of the barrier.

According to yet another very preferred variant of the invention, the bottom of the box and the lid may be a parallelogram whose long side will have a dimension at least equal to the total length of the barrier in the fully unfolded position (ie -describe at least equal to the length of the handrail) and the short side will have a dimension at least equal to the height of the barrier in fully unfolded position (length of a bar increased by the thickness of the handrail), said small side having with the large side an angle equal to the angle that the bars present with the lower edge of the lid in the fully folded position of the barrier.

Note that in this variant the device according to the invention has, in the closed position, the smallest possible size considering the dimensions of the barrier.

It is also noted that in this variant, when several boxes are assembled end to end, it is still possible to open each box independently.

Finally, it is noted that this variant makes it possible to give the trunk appropriate dimensions so that when positioning two successive chests, when the barrier is in the fully unfolded position, the spacing between the last bar of the first trunk and the first bar of the second trunk has the same dimensions as the spacing between two bars of the central part of the barrier.

According to the invention, the cover can be articulated to the trunk by any means known to those skilled in the art such as one or more hinges.

According to another variant of the device according to the invention, the lid may be in two parts, each of the two parts having the shape of a parallelogram whose long length is at least equal to the length of the box and the width less than the width of the box, it being understood that the sum of the widths of the two parts is at least equal to the width of the box.

In this configuration, each of the two parts of the lid is hinged with way to move from the horizontal position to the vertical position, to one of the 2 walls constituting the long sides of said trunk.

In this configuration, one of the parts carries the barrier which said bars are articulated at one of their ends (upper end) to a handrail and at the other end (lower end to the inner face of said trunk lid). preferably, at the lower level of said inner face of said part of the lid, the lower end of said bars fixed to the lid not being in the fully folded position of the barrier beyond the lower edge of said part of the lid,

Advantageously according to a variant of the invention, the trunk can be provided at at least one of its ends with a wall of rectangular shape whose length will be at least equal to the width of the trunk and the height at least equal to the chest height.

The device according to the invention allows in the folded position to have a safe of reasonable dimensions, closed, in which the barrier is fully folded.

It is easy to understand that said box can be transportable or put in place permanently.

The same device allows in the deployed position to have a gate of given height having bars surmounted by a handrail.

It is also understood that said trunk can be simply placed on the ground at the desired location, or buried in the ground to a depth such that in the closed position the trunk lid is flush with the ground.

Whether placed or buried, the trunk can be fixed to the ground by any suitable means well known to the skilled person.

Finally, it is understood that a chest can constitute an element of a set of boxes that assembled by suitable means constitute a set of retractable barriers which judiciously arranged can form the close delimitation of a space.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device may further be provided with means for maintaining the barrier in the raised position (non-folded barrier) and / or means for holding the cover / barrier assembly in a vertical position. These means can be any means known to those skilled in the art.

As means for maintaining the barrier in the raised position, there may be mentioned for example a groove formed in the cover forming a 90 ° arc, said groove receiving an element fixed to one of the bars of the barrier, said element passing through. said groove and sliding along it in the sandstone of the movements of the bars. In this configuration, said element is directly integral with the bar. In in addition it is possible that said element passing through said groove is provided with a locking means. Said locking means may be for example a nut, particularly a wing nut screwed to one end of said element passing through said groove, which then comprises a thread or a quick clamping device of the kind used in cycling on the wheel axle or on the seat tubes.

It is understood that in this configuration the upper end of the groove (the upper positioning stop) which delimits the vertical position of the raised barrier is positioned in direct view of the element when the bar is in the vertical position.

According to a variant of said means for holding the barrier in the raised position, the element fixed to one of the bars of the barrier and passing through said groove may consist of a first articulation element, for example a plate or a batten hinged to the one of its ends on said bars and at the other of its ends on an element passing through said groove and sliding along it while the movements of the bars.

It will be understood that in this configuration the upper end of the groove (the upper positioning stop) which delimits the vertical position of the raised barrier is positioned at a distance equal to the length of the first articulation element, the latter being positioned horizontally and therefore perpendicular to the bar when it is in a vertical position.

Advantageously, in this variant of said means for holding the barrier in the raised position, the groove can be continued at the end serving as a high positioning stop by a vertical return thus making it possible to provide a recess in the lower face of the groove in which the element passing through said groove and sliding along it is positioned when the bar has arrived in the vertical position. In this configuration the means of maintaining the barrier in the raised position, when the bar is in the vertical position, is blocked and can be released only after a voluntary intervention of the person handling the barrier.

Whatever the configuration retained means for maintaining the barrier in the raised position, said element passing through said groove and sliding along it may be for example a cylindrical rod of outside diameter just below the width of the groove.

According to another variant of the invention, the means for holding the cover / barrier assembly in a vertical position may consist of at least one set of 2 shims placed in the bottom of the trunk, said shims being spaced apart from each other. a light of dimensions just sufficient to allow the bar to pass between them in position vertical, preferably without games, said wedges being positioned against the side wall of the trunk for supporting the hinge means of the trunk lid, or the portion of the trunk lid supporting the barrier, on said wall.

The skilled person understands that if one opts for more than 2 blocks, they must all be spaced two by two in a light just equal to the thickness of a bar, of dimensions just sufficient to pass between them the bars in vertical position, preferably without games. Very preferably, said shims have a length equal to the spacing of two successive bars and a width equal to the thickness of the bar.

It is understood that in this variant, said wedges are fixedly positioned in the bottom of the trunk, at most close to the wall of the trunk serving as a support for the articulation means of the trunk lid, or the part of the trunk lid supporting the barrier on said wall.

According to yet another variant of the invention, the means for holding the cover / barrier assembly in a vertical position may consist of a movable part that may take the form of a comb whose teeth correspond to wedges coming from to be interposed between the bars in vertical position, each tooth being spaced apart from a light in which each bar in vertical position can be placed and whose dimensions can be at least those of a bar taken in cross section. It is therefore understood that said teeth may have a width corresponding to the dimension of the space between two bars in a vertical position. According to this variant, said comb may have any desired length between a length covering at least two bars and the space between said two bars to a length equal to the total length of the barrier. Preferably according to the invention, said comb will have a length equal to the length of the barrier. The skilled person will easily adapt the length of said comb to the constraints it may meet and will adapt according to the chosen length the number of teeth and lights needed.

According to this variant, said comb may be constituted by an articulated piece positioned in the bottom of the box and in articulation with said bottom of the box, so that when the barrier is folded the teeth of said comb may be oriented vertically upwards, without, however, upsetting the closing of the trunk lid. It is understood that a preferred positioning of said comb is between the foot of the bars and the front wall of the trunk, the rear wall of said trunk being the wall supporting the portion of the cover to which the bars are fixed.

Another advantage of this means allowing the maintenance of the whole cover / barrier in the vertical position in the form of a comb lies in the fact that it can, while it allows the maintenance of said cover / barrier assembly in a vertical position, serve as a means for maintaining the barrier in raised position.

As means for maintaining the cover / barrier assembly in a vertical position can be mentioned by way of example a strut which itself can take any form known to the skilled person.

For example, according to a first variant of the strut, there may be mentioned a rectangular triangular piece, possibly removable, which may be temporarily fixed by one of its right-angle sides or on the inner face of the trunk lid of the device. according to the invention, either at the bottom of the trunk, by any appropriate means such as for example a hinge, the other side of the right angle being supported either on the bottom of the trunk or on the trunk lid, said triangular piece rectangle for maintaining said lid, and therefore the barrier, in vertical open position when positioned perpendicularly to the lid.

According to another preferred embodiment the strut may consist of a rectangular triangular piece whose one side of its right angle will be articulated in rotation on the bottom of the trunk of the device according to the invention, the other side of the right angle being supported on the trunk lid, said rectangle triangular piece being preferably positioned perpendicularly to the lid, the assembly for maintaining said lid, and therefore the barrier, in the vertical open position.

According to another variant, the strut can take the form of a rod. According to a particular embodiment, said rod may be a removable rod whose one end is intended to abut on one of the bars of the barrier and the other end is intended to abut on the bottom and / or the opposite edge to the trunk lid.

According to another particular embodiment, said rod may be a fixed rod whose one end may be fixed by means of an articulation to one of the bars of the barrier or to the bottom of the trunk, the other free end can be fixed either at the bottom of the trunk or at one of the bars of the barrier.

According to yet another particular embodiment, said rod may be a retractable rod in one of the bars of the barrier, particularly a rod of diameter less than the inside diameter of one of the bars of the barrier, said rod coming to take place inside a recess of dimensions at least equal to those of said rod, formed in said bar, so that when the barrier is in the folded position, said strut is fully positioned inside the bar and that when the barrier is in the raised position, said rod comes out of the bar to be positioned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the lid of the device according to the invention, resting on the bottom of the trunk of the device according to the invention, the assembly allowing maintaining said lid, and therefore the barrier, in the vertical open position. According to yet another particular embodiment, said rod may be a retractable rod in one of the bars of the barrier, particularly a rod of diameter less than the inside diameter of one of the bars of the barrier, said rod sliding longitudinally to the inside of said bar so that when the barrier is in the folded position, said strut is invisible, said rod being fully positioned inside the bar and when the barrier is in the raised position, said rod is out of the bar to come to be positioned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the lid of the device according to the invention, resting on the bottom of the trunk of the device according to the invention, the assembly for maintaining said cover, and therefore the barrier, in position vertical open.

According to a variant of the struts in the form of rod, at least one blocking means of the rod in the open position can be added to the assembly. A first locking means may be constituted by the side of the trunk opposite to that supporting the cover. Another means may be a stop attached to the bottom of the trunk.

In a still more sophisticated manner one can imagine a locking assembly consisting of a first stop fixed to the bottom of the trunk so that the strut comes to bear against it at the same time as it applies to the side of the trunk. chest.

Whatever the variant of this strut in the form of rod, it may further comprise at least one additional locking means at its lower end, for example a pin articulated on said rod.

• dans un premier temps on ouvre le couvercle du coffre du dispositif selon l'invention portant la barrière en position totalement repliée ;
• dans un deuxième temps on positionne ledit couvercle avec un angle par rapport au fond du coffre supérieur à 90°, suffisant pour que lors de déploiement de la barrière l'extrémité inférieure des poteaux passe au moins à l'extérieur des cales positionnées dans le fond du coffre ;
• dans un troisième temps on déploie la barrière pour positionner les poteaux de manière parallèle à la largeur du coffre ;
• dans un quatrième temps on rapporte le couvercle, donc la barrière, en position verticale en positionnant la partie inférieure de chaque barreau dans la lumière d'un jeu de 2 cales correspondant, bloquant ainsi la barrière en position totalement déployée ;
• dans un cinquième temps on positionne une jambe de force telle que décrite précédemment afin de maintenir l'ensemble couvercle/barrière totalement déployée en position verticale.

According to the principle of the invention, to deploy the barrier

• first, the lid of the trunk of the device according to the invention is opened, carrying the barrier in the fully folded position;
• in a second step, said cover is positioned at an angle to the bottom of the upper trunk at 90 °, sufficient so that during deployment of the barrier the lower end of the posts passes at least outside the shims positioned in the bottom the chest;
• in a third step the barrier is deployed to position the posts parallel to the width of the box;
• in a fourth step, the lid, and thus the barrier, is brought back to the vertical position by positioning the lower part of each bar in the light of a set of 2 corresponding wedges, thus blocking the barrier in fully deployed position;
• in a fifth time positioning a strut as described above in order to keep the cover / barrier assembly fully deployed in a vertical position.

The skilled person understands that the device according to the invention may comprise one or more leg (s) of force to maintain the lid, so the barrier, in a vertical position, said struts may be of different natures.

The dimensions of the box are of course dependent on the dimensions of the retractable barrier that it contains.

The skilled person understands that because the bars are all articulated at the same level, they all have a thickness and they are spaced a given dimension well below their total height, when they undergo a translation. Longitudinal to fold them on each other, it is impossible for them to position themselves totally horizontally, a bar stopping on its immediate neighbor.

Thus in the "fully folded position of the barrier" a bar forms with the vertical a maximum angle whose size is a function of the thickness and spacing of the bars.

Thus, the length of the trunk, and therefore that of the lid, will correspond at least to the length of the handrail plus a dimension related to the height of the bars and the angle that said bars form with the vertical when the barrier is in fully folded position.

Similarly, the width of the cover must correspond to at least the height of the barrier measured when it is in the fully folded position. In addition the bars being surmounted by a handrail, itself articulated relative to the bar, the width of the lid will also function of the thickness of said handrail.

The skilled person knows how to calculate the width of the trunk according to the dimensions of the bars of the barrier that the trunk must contain and the spacing thereof.

Those skilled in the art understand that in reality the cover may have dimensions at least slightly greater than the simple definition given above, these dimensions to include at least the thicknesses of the side walls of the trunk on which said cover must come to rest.

The internal height of the trunk can at least correspond to the thickness of the bars and / or the handrail, the largest dimension to be considered.

When the trunk has a height greater than the thickness of the bars and / or the handrail, it is possible to consider the presence of one or more support (s) in the bottom of the trunk so that the bars and / or the handrail can rest on it when the barrier is in the fully folded position and the lid is closed.

The height, the thickness and the spacing of the bars, as well as the length, the thickness and the width of the handrail depend on the use for which said barrier is intended. Those skilled in the art will know how to adapt these dimensions, particularly when the use of the barrier falls within the framework of strict regulations, as may be the case with swimming pool safety barriers.

According to a variant of the invention, the barrier may further comprise a gate. In this variant the gate may be constituted by a portion of the cover and a portion of the barrier said parts being movable in rotation about an axis parallel to the bars of the barrier, said axis being positionable between two bars of the barrier. It will thus be understood that the part of the handrail of the gate may be at one of its articulated ends at the end of one of the parts of the handrail of the barrier in one of the parts thereof which does not constitute the gate and may be free at the other end, the latter may further comprise a closing means adapted to the end of the other part of the handrail of the barrier in its other part not constituting the gate .

It is also understood that the trunk lid of the device will comprise a movable part (corresponding to the gate) in rotation about an axis parallel to the bars of the barrier, said axis being positioned between two bars of the barrier. It is thus understood that the lid portion at the right of the door is at one of its ends hinged to one of the parts of the trunk lid of the device according to the invention in one of the parts thereof not constituting the gate and is free at the other end, the latter may further comprise a closure means adapted to adapt to the end of the other movable portion of the barrier cover in its other part not constituting the gate.

Of course, the axes of rotation of the gate at the level of the handrail and the lid are positioned vertically from one another, thus allowing the gate to rotate.

According to a variant of the device according to the invention, the bars of the barrier can be telescopic. For this, each bar may consist of two or more tubes fitting into each other. In this variant, the barrier in the fully folded position occupies an even smaller area than when the Barrier consists only of non-telescopic bars which result in the trunk of the device according to the invention reduced.

At least one device according to the invention can be used for the establishment of an enclosure, particularly security, particularly around a body of water such as a pool. The invention therefore also relates to the use of a device according to the invention to form an enclosure, particularly a security enclosure, particularly around a body of water, especially around a swimming pool.

According to a mode of use of the device according to the invention, a device can constitute the whole of one side of the desired enclosure. Thus several devices according to the invention, positioned relative to each other to completely close the place to secure will be used to form the different sides of the enclosure thus defined.

According to the invention, the device can be considered fixed at the location of its implantation.

In another mode of use, the device can be considered removable. In this configuration, the device will be a part of one side of the desired enclosure. Thus several devices according to the invention, positioned end to end relative to each other will constitute the entire said side. According to a particular embodiment, well adapted to this particular use, the trunk can be arranged with a male end and a female end so that the male end fits perfectly into the female end. Thus to form the full side of an enclosure, it is possible to easily manipulate devices according to the invention whose size and weight are quite small which once put end to end will constitute a uniform and rigid assembly.

Whatever the variant of use envisaged, the device according to the invention can simply be deposited on the ground, possibly fixed thereto by any suitable means.

One can also consider that for the sake of aesthetics the chest (s) are (s) implanted (s) in the ground. We understand then that before its establishment it will be necessary to provide in the ground trenches to the dimensions of the chest (s).

It is easy to see that the device according to the invention can be made of any material compatible with the use for which it is intended. Obviously, but without limitation, wood, plastics or metals, possibly galvanized, among which aluminum, iron, zinc, copper, or a mixture of metals or alloys, such as steel (iron-carbon alloy), possibly in the form of stainless steel or copper alloys (bronze, brass), it being understood that the use of several materials in the production of the same barrier is possible. Preferably, the device according to the invention is made of aluminum.

According to a particular embodiment, the device according to the invention may further comprise at least one means for automatically moving the cover and / or the barrier.

According to a preferred variant of the invention, in order to fill the space left free at one of the ends of the barrier when it is in the raised position, it is possible that the trunk comprises two articulated barriers of different dimensions. , positioned one (usually the shortest) at the end of the other (usually the longest), articulated one opposite to the other with respect to the trunk lid, and positioned one at the above the other in said trunk when the barrier is in the folded position. The shortest barrier may have a length at least equal to the length of the space left free by the longest barrier when it is found, and its other dimensions equal to those of the longest barrier. Thus according to the invention with this variant, when the barrier is in the folded position, the trunk contains two barriers of different lengths, folded in opposite directions from one another and positioned one above the other in said chest. When unfolding the barrier, each of the two barriers will be unfolded in the opposite direction of the other and once excited vertically the two barriers, one in alignment with the other, will constitute one and the same barrier uninterrupted. It is understood that according to this variant, the trunk must have a thickness or depth at least equal to twice the thickness of the handrail barrier included.

• La figure 1 représente une vue en perspective du dispositif selon l'invention, le couvercle du coffre étant en position totalement ouverte et la barrière en position totalement repliée ;
• La figure 2 représente une vue en coupe latérale (Fig.2a) et transversale (Fig.2b) du dispositif selon l'invention, la barrière étant en position totalement repliée et le couvercle du coffre rabattu sur les cotés dudit coffre ;
• La figure 3 représente une vue de dessus du dispositif selon l'invention, la barrière étant en position totalement repliée et le couvercle du coffre selon l'invention fermé ;
• La figure 4 représente des moyens de blocage de la barrière en position verticale constitué d'une gorge dans laquelle coulisse un élément directement fixé à l'un des barreaux de la barrière (Fig.4a) ou d'une gorge dans laquelle coulisse un élément fixé sur une pièce intermédiaire (Fig.4b) elle-même fixée en rotation sur l'un des barreaux de la barrière, ladite gorge comportant en outre un moyen de blocage dudit élément coulissant ;
• La figure 5 représente de manière détaillée l'élément coulissant dans la gorge constituant de moyen de blocage tel que montré à la figure 4a: vue en plan de dessus (Fig. 5a) et vue selon la coupe Vb-Vb (Fig. 5b) ;
• La figure 6 représente un moyen de blocage de la barrière en position verticale constitué d'une jambe de force elle-même constituée d'une tige intégrée dans un barreau de la barrière en position fermée (Fig. 6a) et ouverte (Fig. 6b) ;
• La figure 7 représente un moyen de blocage de la barrière en position verticale constitué d'une jambe de force elle-même constituée d'une pièce triangulaire droite en position fermée (Fig. 7a) et ouverte (Fig. 7b) ;
• La figure 8 représente le dispositif selon l'invention en position totalement dépliée et comportant un portillon ;
• La figure 9 représente en vue selon les 3 plans (Fig. 9a, Fig. 9b, Fig. 9c), une variante du dispositif selon l'invention dans laquelle le coffre et le couvercle en 2 parties, ont la forme d'un parallélogramme dont le grand côté est de dimension égale à la longueur de la main courante de la barrière et le petit côté a une dimension égale à la longueur d'un barreau augmentée de l'épaisseur de la main courante, ledit petit côté présentant avec le grand côté un angle égal à l'angle que présentent avec le bord inférieur du couvercle les barreaux dans la position totalement repliée de la barrière.

It is also understood that it is necessary for the part of the barrier that is positioned once folded at the bottom of the box, to provide at the fixing of the bars to the cover, a spacer between the foot of the bars and the cover, said spacer having a length at least equal to the thickness of the barrier, and this to provide space between the cover and said portion of the barrier sufficient space for the second portion of the barrier in the folded position is positioned above the first part the folded barrier is between the cover and the second barrier. The present invention will be better understood and details will arise from reading the description which will be made in connection with the figures of the attached plates, in which:

• The figure 1 represents a perspective view of the device according to the invention, the trunk lid being in the fully open position and the barrier in the fully folded position;
• The figure 2 represents a side sectional view ( Fig.2a ) and transverse ( Fig.2b ) of the device according to the invention, the barrier being in the fully folded position and the trunk lid folded on the sides of said trunk;
• The figure 3 represents a top view of the device according to the invention, the barrier being in the fully folded position and the lid of the trunk according to the invention closed;
• The figure 4 represents barrier locking means in vertical position consisting of a groove in which slides an element directly fixed to one of the bars of the barrier ( fig.4a ) or a groove in which slides an element fixed on an intermediate piece ( 4b ) itself fixed in rotation on one of the bars of the barrier, said groove further comprising a locking means of said sliding member;
• The figure 5 shows in detail the sliding element in the groove constituting blocking means as shown in FIG. figure 4a : plan view from above ( Fig. 5a ) and view according to section Vb-Vb ( Fig. 5b );
• The figure 6 represents a barrier locking means in the vertical position consisting of a strut itself consisting of a rod integrated in a bar of the barrier in the closed position ( Fig. 6a ) and open ( Fig. 6b );
• The figure 7 represents a barrier locking means in the vertical position consisting of a strut itself consisting of a right triangular piece in the closed position ( Fig. 7a ) and open ( Fig. 7b );
• The figure 8 represents the device according to the invention in fully unfolded position and having a gate;
• The figure 9 represents in view according to the 3 planes ( Fig. 9a, FIG. 9b, FIG. 9c ), a variant of the device according to the invention in which the trunk and the lid in two parts, have the shape of a parallelogram whose long side is of dimension equal to the length of the handrail of the barrier and the short side has a dimension equal to the length of a bar increased by the thickness of the handrail, said small side having with the large side an angle equal to the angle that present with the lower edge of the lid the bars in the position totally folded of the barrier.

We observe at figure 1 a device according to the invention being unfolded, comprising a trunk (100) comprising a hinged lid (101), in vertical position, side walls (102), (104), a bottom (106) and a barrier (107). ) in the fully folded position (continuous lines) or completely unfolded (dashed lines), said barrier comprising bars (108) and a handrail (109). This figure also shows articulation means (110) of the bars (108) with respect to the handrail (109) and hinge means (111) of the bars relative to the lid, as well as means for articulation (112) of the cover (101) with respect to the trunk side (102). One still observes a means (113) for blocking the barrier in position completely unfolded in the form of a groove in the cover (101) in which slides an element (114) directly connected to one of the bars. Finally, there is a lid locking means in the vertical position consisting of a rectangular triangular piece (115) articulated on the bottom (106) of the trunk (101).

We observe at figure 2 a device according to the invention in the folded, closed position, in lateral view along the long side ( Fig. 2a ) and according to the small side ( Fig. 2b ), comprising a trunk (200), a cover (201), side walls (202), (204), a bottom (206) and a barrier (207) in the fully folded position. There are also hinge means (212) of the cover (201) relative to the side of the box (202) and hinge means (211) of the bars relative to the lid.

There is also a lid locking means in the vertical position (215) consisting of a rectangular triangular piece articulated on the bottom (206) of the box (201) by the hinge means (217).

We observe at figure 3 a device according to the invention in the folded-down closed position, seen from above, comprising a trunk (300), a cover (301), side walls (302), (304), a bottom (306) and a barrier ( 307) in a fully folded position, said barrier having bars (308) and a handrail (309). Also shown in this figure means of articulation (310) of the bars relative to the handrail and hinge means (311) of the bars relative to the lid. There is also a vertical cover locking means (315) consisting of a rectangular triangular piece articulated on the bottom (306) of the trunk (300).

We observe at figure 4 , 2 variants of the barrier locking means in fully unfolded position (solid line) or fully folded (dashed lines). In a first variant ( Fig. 4a ), the locking means of the barrier consists of a groove (413) in which slides an element (418) directly attached to one of the bars (408) of the barrier (407). In a second variant ( Fig. 4b ), the locking means of the barrier consists of a groove (413) in which slides an element (418) fixed on an intermediate piece (419) itself fixed in rotation on a bars (408) of the barrier ( 407), said groove further comprising means for locking said sliding element in the form of a recess (420) in the lower face of the groove in which the element (418) passes through said groove and slides along the It is positioned when the bar has arrived in a vertical position. This figure also shows means of articulation (411) of the bars relative to the lid.

We observe at figure 5 , a detail of the barrier locking means (513), consisting of a groove in the cover (501) in which slides a element (518) directly attached to one of the bars (508) of the barrier. This figure also shows means of articulation (511) of the bars relative to the lid. The figure 5a represents the blocking means of the barrier (513) in plan view and the figure 5b represents the blocking means of the barrier (513) in sectional view along the axis Vb-Vb.

We observe at figure 6 , a variant of the strut used to hold the cover, so the barrier, in a vertical position. In this variant, the strut consists of a rod (621) capable of integrating into the bar (608) to minimize the bulk. The figure 6a has the strut in folded position, integrated in the bar (608), the rod (621) constituting said strut being fully positioned inside the bar and the figure 6b represents the strut in unfolded position, the rod (621) constituting said strut being out of the bar (608) to be positioned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the cover (601), resting on the bottom (606) trunk (600) of the device according to the invention, the assembly for maintaining said lid, and therefore the barrier in the vertical open position.

This figure shows the trunk (600) comprising a hinged lid (601), in the vertical position, side walls (602), (604), a bottom (606) and a barrier (607) in a fully unfolded position, said barrier comprising bars (608) and a handrail (609). This figure also shows hinge means (610) of the bars (608) relative to the handrail (609) and hinge means (611) of the bars relative to the lid (601), as well as hinge means (612) of the cover (601) relative to the side of the trunk (602).

It is further observed that in this variant the device further comprises a second means for locking the rod in the unfolded position in the form of a stop (622) fixed on the inner face of the bottom (606) of the trunk (600). In the embodiment of the variant presented here, the rod further comprises at its lower end an articulated lug (623) for reinforcing the locking of the rod in the abutment (622).

We observe at figure 7 another variant of the strut used to hold the cover, therefore the barrier, in a vertical position. In this variant, the strut consists of a rectangular triangular piece (715) articulated on the bottom (706) of the trunk (700). The figure 7a has the strut in the folded position, lying on the bottom (706) of the trunk (700) and the figure 7b represents the strut in unfolded position, rectangular triangular piece (715) constituting said strut being positioned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the cover (701), resting on said cover, the assembly for maintaining said cover, and so of the barrier in vertical open position.

This figure shows the box (700) comprising a hinged lid (701), in vertical position, side walls (702), (704), a bottom (706) and a barrier (707) in a fully unfolded position, said barrier having bars (708). Also shown in this figure hinge means (711) of the bars relative to the cover (701), and hinge means (712) of the cover (701) relative to the side of the trunk (702).

We observe at figure 8 another variant of the device according to the invention in which the barrier comprises a gate (823).

In this figure, we find the trunk (800) comprising a hinged lid (801), in the vertical position, lateral walls (802), (804), a bottom (806) and a barrier (807) in a fully unfolded position, said barrier having bars (808) and a handrail (809). This figure also shows means for articulating the bars (808) relative to the handrail (809) and hinge means (811) of the bars relative to the lid (801), as well as means for articulation (812) of the cover (801) with respect to the trunk side (802).

It is observed that in this variant the barrier locking means in fully unfolded position consists of a groove (813) in which slides an element (818) directly attached to one of the bars (808) of the barrier (807). ).

It is also observed that in this variant the device comprises a locking means of the lid, therefore the barrier, in the vertical position in the form of triangular shaped plates (815) shown in the unfolded position.

The gate (823) and hinge means (824, 825) whose axes are parallel to the bars are particularly visible, said hinges being situated at the level of the handrail (824) and on the lid. (825).

We observe at figure 9 views according to the 3 plans ( Fig. 9a, Fig.9b, Fig. 9c ), a variant of the device according to the invention wherein the trunk and the lid in two parts, have the shape of a parallelogram whose long side is of dimension equal to the length of the handrail of the barrier and the small side is equal to the length of a bar increased by the thickness of the handrail, said small side having with the long side an acute angle (α) equal to the angle that the bars present with the lower edge of the lid in the fully folded position of the barrier, this device comprising wedges (926) in the bottom of the trunk to maintain the barrier fully deployed in a vertical position.

We find in this figure the chest having a lid in two articulated parts (901 a and 901 b), side walls (902), (904), a bottom (906) and a barrier (907) having bars (908) and a handrail (909). This figure also shows means for articulating the bars (908) relative to the handrail (909) and hinge means (911) of the bars relative to the lid (901 a), as well as means hinge (912) of the cover (901a) relative to the side of the trunk (902).

The figure 9a shows the trunk seen from above with the portion of the cover supporting the barrier (901a) open, the barrier (907) being in the fully unfolded position (solid line), or totally folded (dashed line) and the portion of the cover not supporting the barrier (901b) being folded on the trunk.

The figure 9b shows the trunk seen according to section IXa-IXa with the portion of the cover supporting the barrier (901a) open, the barrier (907) being in the fully unfolded position (solid line), or completely folded (dashed line). There is the presence at the bottom of the trunk wedges (926) spaced from a light (927) of width equal to the width of a pole. Note also the angle α that form the large side of the trunk and the bars when the barrier is in the fully folded position, angle α found between the large and the small side of the parallelogram that form the parts of the lid or the bottom of the chest.

The Figure 9c shows the trunk seen according to section IXb-IXb with the portion of the cover supporting the barrier (901a) open, the barrier (907) being in the fully unfolded position (solid line), or completely folded (dashed line). We note the presence at the bottom of the box of holds (926).

Claims (33)

1. Retractable closure device comprising
   a parallelipipedic box (100) constituted by

   - a base (106) having the shape of a parallelogram, with a long side - the length of the box (100) - and a short side - the width of the box (100),

   - two side walls (102, 104) having the shape of a parallelogram, with a length equal to the length of the long side of the box (100), therefore of the base (106), and a width equal to the height of the box (100), said walls being capable of preferably having a rectangular shape, linked to the base (106) by their long side, and

   - equipped with a lid (101) having the shape of a parallelogram, of at least the same dimensions as the base (106) of said box (100),

   said lid (101) being hinged to one of the two walls constituting one of the long sides of said box (100) so as to pass between a horizontal position and a vertical position,
   said box (100) containing at least one folding barrier (107) constituted by

   - a handrail (109) and

   - bars (108),

   said bars (108) being hinged by means of hinges (110, 111) at one of their ends - upper end - to a handrail (109) and at the other end - lower end - to the inner face of said lid (101) of the box (100), preferably at the lower level of said inner face of said lid, said hinges (110, 111) allowing a longitudinal movement of the bars (108) in relation to the handrail and the lid (111) of the box (100), the assembly of the lid (101) of the box (100) and of the hinged barrier (107), hereafter called the lid (101)/barrier (107) assembly, thus itself being hinged (112) in relation to one of the sides of said box (100), and
   said bars (108) having a lower end that does not extend beyond the lower edge of said lid (101) when said barrier (107) is in a fully folded position,
   said box (100) having an inside length at least equal to the length of the handrail (109) of the barrier (107), an inside width at least equal to the height of the barrier (107) in a fully folded position and a height at least equal to the greatest thickness of the barrier (107).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (106) of the box (100) and the lid (101) have a rectangular shape and have the same dimensions.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (106) of the box (100) is rectangular and the lid (101) is a parallelogram the long side of which is at least equal to the length of the box (100) and the short side of which has a dimension at least equal to the height of the barrier (107) in a fully deployed position including the length of a bar (108) increased by the thickness of the handrail (109), said short side forming with the long side an angle equal to the angle between the bars (108) and the lower edge of the lid (101) in the fully folded position of the barrier (107).
4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (106) of the box (100) and the lid (101) are a parallelogram the long side of which has a dimension at least equal to the total length of the barrier (107) in a fully deployed position and the short side has a dimension at least equal to the height of the barrier (107) in a fully deployed position including the length of a bar (108) increased by the thickness of the handrail (109), said short side forming with the long side an angle (α) equal to the angle between the bars (108) and the lower edge of the lid (101) in the fully folded position of the barrier (107).
5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one means allowing the barrier (107) to be held in a raised position.
6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the means allowing the barrier (107) to be held in a raised position is a groove made in the lid (101) of the box (100), describing an arc of circle of 90°, said groove receiving an element (418) firmly attached directly to one of the bars (108) of the barrier (107), said element passing through said groove and sliding along the latter with the movements of the bar (108).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the means allowing the barrier (107) to be held in a raised position are constituted by a first hinge element (419) for example a plate or a strip hinged at one of its ends on said bar (108) and at the other end on an element (418) passing through said groove (413) and sliding along the latter with the movements of the bars (108).
8. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the groove constituting the device for holding the barrier (107) in a raised position continues at the end serving as an upper position stop as a vertical return (420) thus allowing a stepped section to be made in the lower face of the groove in which the element passing through said groove and sliding along it is positioned when the bar (108) has reached a vertical position.
9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one means of holding the lid (101)/barrier (107) assembly in a vertical position.
10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the means of holding the lid (101)/barrier (107) assembly in a vertical position is a stay (621).
11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the stay is a removable right-angled triangular part capable of being fixed either to the lid (101) or to the base of the box (100).
12. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the stay is constituted by a right-angled triangular part hinged either to the base of the box (100) or to the lid (101) of the box (100).
13. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the stay is a rod (621).
14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the rod (621) is a removable rod one of the ends of which is intended to abut against one of the bars (108) of the barrier (107) and the other end is intended to abut against the base and/or the edge opposite the lid (101) of the box (100).
15. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the rod (621) is a fixed rod one of the ends of which is fixed by means of a hinge to one of the bars (108) of the barrier or to the base (106) of the box (100), the other free end being fixed either to the base (106) of the box (100) or to one of the bars (108) of the barrier (107).
16. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the rod (621) is a rod retractable into one of the bars (108) of the barrier (107).
17. Device according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that it also comprises means of locking the rod in an open position.
18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the means of locking the rod in an open position is either the edge of the box (100) opposite the edge supporting the lid (101) or a stop (622) fixed to the base (106) of the box (100), or both.
19. Device according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the rod constitutes at least one additional locking means at its lower end, for example a fin (623) hinged on said rod.
20. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the means holding the lid (101) /barrier (107) assembly in a vertical position is constituted by at least one set of two wedges (926) placed in the base (106) of the box (100), said wedges being separated by a slot (927) having dimensions just sufficient to allow the bar (108) to pass between them in a vertical position, preferably without play, said wedges being positioned against the side wall of the box (100) acting as a support to the hinge means of the lid (101) of the box (100) on said wall.
21. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it comprises a gate (823).
22. Device according to claim 21, characterized in that the gate (823) is constituted by part of the lid (101) and part of the barrier (107), said parts being movable in rotation about an axis parallel to the bars (108) of the barrier (107), said axis being positioned between two bars (108) of the barrier (107).
23. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the bars (108) of the barrier (107) are telescopic.
24. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the box (100) can be arranged with a male end and a female end.
25. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that it is made of wood, plastic material, metal, or also a mixture of metals or alloy.
26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the metal can optionally be galvanized, and can be aluminium, iron, zinc or copper, preferably aluminium.
27. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the mixture of metals can be steel, optionally in the form of stainless steel, and in that the alloy can be a copper alloy.
28. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that it comprises at least automated movement means for the lid (101) and/or the barrier (107).
29. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 28, characterized in that it also comprises one or more supports in the base (106) of the box (100) so that the bars (108) and/or the handrail (109) can rest thereon when the barrier (107) is in a fully folded position and the lid (101) is closed.
30. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that it is constituted by at least two barriers hinged in relation to the lid (101) in opposite directions to each other.
31. Enclosure constituted by at least one device as described in any one of claims 1 to 30.
32. Body of water, particularly a swimming pool, surrounded by an enclosure according to claim 31.
33. Use of at least one device as described in any one of claims 1 to 30, for constituting an enclosure, particularly a safety enclosure, very particularly around a body of water, even more particularly around a swimming pool.

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