EP2662490B1 - Traffic surface for vehicles and pedestrians - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a traffic surface for vehicles and pedestrians, which, while allowing good circulation, has a very special decorative appearance.

Such a circulation surface having a decorative effect is described in the patent US 2,215,159 of April 30, 1938 .

According to this patent, this surface is constituted by a conventional base on which are placed blocks of cement comprising a convex upper surface and a flat lower surface, connected to one another by a thinned intermediate portion, the space between the thinned portions of two adjacent elements being filled with a compost soil or compost in which is planted a decorative plant.

According to this patent, the blocks are arranged at 90 ° from each other.

This arrangement has the disadvantage of providing an unstable surface because the upper surface of the blocks is curved, so that said blocks tend to swing laterally during the passage of vehicles.

The German patent 27 33 311 of July 23, 1977 discloses block stabilization means placed side by side, which consist of circular section rods driven into circular recesses, which does not provide a good vertical stabilization.

The present invention relates to a traffic surface for vehicles and pedestrians consisting of construction elements having a flat upper surface and a lower surface connected to each other by a thinned intermediate portion, the space between the thinned portions of two adjacent building elements being filled with a compost soil in which a decorative plant is planted, characterized in that the building elements are of elongate shape and are arranged end to end so as to form parallel straight lines; upper surface of the building elements being flat and stabilizing means being arranged to cooperate with the building elements of two adjacent lines to improve the vertical and lateral stability thereof, the building elements having longitudinal recesses, the stabilizing means comprising pieces of fastening interposed between the construction elements of a line, the fastener comprising a body disposed between the longitudinal ends of two construction elements placed end with ends and carrying rods or lugs being housed in the longitudinal recesses of the two building elements between which said body is arranged to maintain the alignment of the two building elements the stabilizing means further comprising spacing means for maintaining constant spacing between the two lines of adjacent building elements.

According to embodiments, such a circulation surface may comprise one or more of the following characteristics.

According to one embodiment, the construction element is made of ceramic material. Alternatively, such building elements may be made of other materials, for example cement or concrete. According to embodiments, the construction element is solid or comprises longitudinal recesses.

According to embodiments, the narrowed intermediate portion of the construction element is made by two opposite dihedrums or by two curved elements of opposite curvatures.

According to one embodiment, the lower and upper surfaces are at the same distance from a neck portion of the construction element having a minimum thickness.

According to one embodiment, the lower portion located between the neck and the lower surface at a height greater than that of the upper portion located between the neck and the upper surface.

According to one embodiment, the construction elements comprise means for aligning the construction element alignments, consisting of three rods arranged in a triangle, the upper rod being threaded into a longitudinal recess of two construction elements placed end-to-end. end, the two lower rods being placed laterally on the sides of the lower parts of the construction elements.

According to a corresponding embodiment, the stabilizing means consist of a clip comprising two pairs of lateral arms located in a plane perpendicular to the alignments, each pair of arms bearing on the side face of an adjacent building element.

According to one embodiment the clip comprises, in addition to the two pairs of lateral arms, two horizontal lugs, located on each side of the clip, these lugs coming to sink into the central recesses of two building elements placed booster at the end, when these elements are not full, but include longitudinal recesses.

According to one embodiment, the ends of the arms are provided with pads whose shape corresponds to the profile of the lateral surfaces of the construction elements on which said pads bear.

According to one embodiment, the arms are curved and provided at their end with support means comprising, on one side, three U-shaped partitions, the base of the U being shaped to correspond to the curvature of the side walls of the building elements that they support; on the other side an anchor block.

According to one embodiment, the thickness of said arms is between 3 and 5 mm.

According to one embodiment, the body of the fastener further carries spacing rods disposed on either side of the line of building elements and extending parallel to the line of building elements. Thus, the construction elements are for example held in the appropriate aligned position by three rods arranged triangularly, the upper rod being threaded into a recess formed in the upper part of the construction element, the two lower rods being pressed onto the sides of its lower part.

In embodiments, the body of the fastener includes an inverted T-shaped plate, a triangular plate, or a pair of slashes.

According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a construction element suitable for producing a traffic surface for vehicles and pedestrians, consisting of an elongate solid body having: a lower part whose flat longitudinal surface is able to be placed on a usual substructure; an upper part whose flat longitudinal surface is able to form said surface of circulation and an intermediate portion of narrowed width between the lower surface and the upper surface.

According to one embodiment, the building elements have a length of between 0.30 m and 1.80 m, a height of 50 to 150 mm, a width of 35 to 100 mm, the alignments being spaced apart from each other. 15 mm to 20 mm.

According to one embodiment, the spacing between two adjacent alignments of building elements is determined by an assembly consisting of two adjacent fasteners and a connecting member disposed between the two fasteners.

According to one embodiment, the connecting member is a third fastener.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple de réalisation de l'élément de construction.
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale de l'élément de construction de la figure 1.
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un deuxième exemple de réalisation de l'élément de construction.
• La figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale de l'élément de construction de la figure 3.
• Les figures 5, 6 et 7 illustrent trois méthodes de calage des éléments de construction pour réaliser des lignes parallèles.
• Les figures 8, 9 et 10 illustrent trois autres méthodes de calage des éléments de construction d'une ligne.
• Les figures 11 à 13 illustrant une agrafe permettant de solidariser les éléments de construction.
• La figure 14 est une vue en plan d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une agrafe assurant la liaison longitudinale des éléments de construction ainsi que leur stabilisation latérale.
• La figure 15 est une vue en perspective d'un côté de l'agrafe de la figure 14.
• La figure 16 est une vue en perspective de l'autre côté de l'agrafe de la figure 14.
• La figure 17 est une vue de face de trois lignes d'éléments de construction assemblées par des agrafes selon les figures 14, 15 et 16.
• La figure 18 est une vue de dessus de deux lignes adjacentes d'éléments de construction munies de deux agrafes selon les figures 14 à 17.
• La figure 19 est une vue en perspective correspondant à la figure 18.
• La figure 20 est une vue en plan illustrant trois lignes parallèles d'éléments de construction assemblées par trois agrafes.
• La figure 21 est une vue correspondant aux figures 17, 18, 19 et 20 dans laquelle un organe de liaison est constitué par une pièce de fixation additionnelle.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the course of the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes. with reference to the accompanying drawings. On these drawings:

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the construction element.
• The figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the building element of the figure 1 .
• The figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the construction element.
• The figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the building element of the figure 3 .
• The Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate three methods of setting construction elements to make parallel lines.
• The Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate three other methods of setting the construction elements of a line.
• The Figures 11 to 13 illustrating a clip for securing the building elements.
• The figure 14 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a staple providing the longitudinal connection of the building elements and their lateral stabilization.
• The figure 15 is a perspective view of one side of the staple of the figure 14 .
• The figure 16 is a perspective view of the other side of the staple of the figure 14 .
• The figure 17 is a front view of three lines of construction elements assembled by staples according to figures 14 , 15 and 16 .
• The figure 18 is a top view of two adjacent lines of building elements provided with two staples according to the Figures 14 to 17 .
• The figure 19 is a perspective view corresponding to the figure 18 .
• The figure 20 is a plan view illustrating three parallel lines of construction elements assembled by three staples.
• The figure 21 is a view corresponding to figures 17 , 18 , 19 and 20 wherein a connecting member is constituted by an additional fastener.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 it can be seen that the building element is constituted by an elongated solid body 1, having: a lower part having a flat surface 2, an upper part having a flat surface 3, an intermediate part 4 located between the lower and upper parts, this intermediate portion 4 being narrowed, that is to say it has a width less than that of the lower 2 and upper surfaces 3. The intermediate portion 4 is formed by two opposite curved surfaces; so that its width is smaller than that of surfaces 2 and 3; it is narrowed.

The Figures 3 and 4 illustrate from an alternative embodiment that the narrowed portion 4 consists of two opposite dihedrons.

In the two examples shown, the upper and lower parts have the same height on either side of the narrow part, but it is possible that they have a different height, the lower part having for example a greater height.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 , the building elements 1 are hollow bricks of elongated shape so that they comprise longitudinal recesses 5.

Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 longitudinal recesses 5 are provided in a manner known per se. Such recesses facilitate the baking and drying of the material for ceramic or terracotta production. Alternatively, the elements 1 can be full.

The construction elements 1 thus produced are placed end-to-end so as to constitute alignments, which are arranged parallel to each other at a spacing of 1 to 2.5 cm, on a bedrock of stones and sand; such that the flat faces of the upper parts of the elements 1 constitute a surface on which vehicles or pedestrians can move. The spacing between two adjacent lines must be sufficiently small for pedestrian use, in particular to prevent the locking of wheelchair wheels.

In the space 6, formed between two rows of elements 1, is disposed a fertile soil or compost 12 in which is planted a plant 13, a turf in the example shown. This gives a particularly unique circulation area for vehicles and pedestrians, combining the useful (circulation) with the pleasant (decorative aspect).

To stabilize the construction elements 1 and ensure a regular spacing between the lines of elements 1, there are between them the wedging devices such as those described in FIGS. Figures 5 to 13 .

The Figures 5 and 7 represent building elements 1 corresponding to the Figures 1 and 2 ; while the figure 6 represents building elements corresponding to Figures 3 and 4 .

We see on Figures 5 and 6 that between two adjacent lines of construction elements 1 are arranged strips 20 whose width is equal to the desired spacing between the alignments and the height is substantially equal to that of the elements 1 component said lines. The strip 20 preferably comprises a portion 11 embedded in the base 10 over a certain length sufficient for its stability.

To the figure 7 it can be seen that the construction elements 1 have a lower part of height larger than the upper part. Between the lower part of two adjacent lines are arranged strips 21 having the same height as the lower part of the building elements 1.

According to an alternative embodiment also illustrated on the figure 7 , construction elements 1 are cut vertically into two symmetrical half-elements 18 and 19, which are assembled by means of a parallelepipedal wedge 22 placed in the recess 5 of the lower part 2.

The Figures 8 to 10 represent three other methods of aligning building element alignments 1.

In these three figures, it is seen that the end of a construction element 1, three rods 30, 31 and 32. These rods are arranged in a triangle, the upper rod 30 being threaded into the longitudinal recess 5 in the upper part of the construction element 1. The lower rods 31 and 32 are laterally plated on the sides of the lower part 2. The rods 31 and 32 provide the regularity of the lateral spacing of the alignments. building elements 1; while the rod 30 maintains the aligned elements of said construction elements 1 in an aligned position.

According to the embodiment of the figure 8 the three rods 30, 31 and 32 are held by an inverted T-shaped body piece 33. According to the embodiment of the figure 9 , the three rods are attached to the three corners of a triangular body piece 34. According to the embodiment of the Figure10 the three rods 31, 31 and 32 are joined by two slashes 35.

The Figures 11 to 13 illustrate a stapling device 58 which performs six functions, namely: end-to-end alignment of the construction elements 1 of a line; expansion joint between two elements 1 of a line; determining the space separating two lines of elements 1; anti-lifting effect of said construction elements 1; anti-rotation, that is to say vertical stability of said building elements 1; simplicity and speed of installation.

The figure 11 represents the staple 58: it comprises two central pins 50/51 and two pairs of lateral arms 52/53 on one side and 54/55 on the other located in a plane perpendicular to the alignments; the upper arms 52 and 54, horizontal, being provided at their end with a curved pad 56, whose curvature corresponds to that of the middle of the curved intermediate portion 4; the lower, oblique arms 53 and 55 being provided at their end with a shoe 57 conforming to the angular shape of the junction between the lower part 2 of the construction element 1 and the intermediate part 4.

The lugs 50, 51 are cruciform so as to lock in the corners of the recesses 5 which are of rectangular section.

On the Figures 12 and 13 we see that the central pins 50/51 are driven into the recesses 5 which are in the middle of two building elements 1 put end to end. This ensures the alignment of the building elements. In addition, the clip constitutes an expansion joint.

The lateral arms determine the space separating two alignments; they ensure vertical stability and, by joining the alignments to each other, they prevent any uprising.

The staple 58 thus formed is made of a material having a thickness of between 3 and 5 mm, having a certain elasticity: thin metal strip or plastic and the nipples 50/51 are forced into the recesses. Which stiffens the alignment of the building elements 1.

The figure 13 illustrates how a staple 58 is fixed in the recess 5 of an element 1 and bears on two other elements 1 located on each side.

The Figures 14 to 20 illustrate a second embodiment of the staple 58 of Figures 11 to 13 .

Similarly, the clip 68 has two central lugs 60, 61 of cruciform section and two pairs of lateral arms 62, 63, on one side, and 64, 65, on the other, situated in a plane perpendicular to the lugs. 60, 61.

These four arms have a curved shape so as to have a certain elasticity.

Just as the four arms of the staple 58 are provided at their end with pads 56 and 57 intended to bear against the side walls of the two elements. of construction 1, which are located on each side of the element 1 carrying the clip 68, the four arms 62, 63, 64 and 65 are provided at their end with support means 66; the lower arms 63 and 65 are provided at their ends with support means 67.

These support means have a particular form. They comprise three partitions 70, 71 and 72 for the support means 66 and 73, 74, 75 for the support means 67, which are arranged in U.

The median partition 71 of the support means 66 and the partition 74 of the support means 67 are inclined so as to correspond to the curvature of the side walls of the building elements 1 against which they will bear, as shown in FIG. figure 17 .

In addition, each arm 62, 63, 64 and 65 is provided on the opposite side to the support means 66 and 67, a wedge 80, the position of these wedges 80 being determined so that these wedges come to bear against each other. against the others when the staples 68 are put in place.

The figure 18 represents a construction element of a line of elements la and two construction elements of an adjacent line 1b.

It can be seen that the two staples 68a and 68b, the one 68a which is at the end of the stitch and the one 68b which is between two elements of the adjacent line 1b, are in the inverted position, which allows the staples 80 of the two staples 68a and 68b to come anchor one against the other, which prevents the two lines 1a and 1b deviate from each other.

For this anchoring of the shims 80 is possible, it is necessary that the ends of the arms 62, 63, 64 and 65 are laterally offset from the plane of the staple 68, as shown.

The figure 20 represents three building elements 1a, 1b and 1c of three adjacent lines of building elements 1.

It can be seen that, from one line to the other, the staples 68a, 68b, 68c are in the inverted position so that the wedges 80a and 80b on the one hand, and 80c and 80d, on the other hand, come to anchor themselves. against each other.

By way of non-limiting example, the construction elements 1 have a length of between 0.30 m and 1.80 m and a height of between 50 and 150 mm, a width of between 35 and 100 mm, the alignments are spaced apart by each others from 15 to 20mm. According to a preferred embodiment, the width of the intermediate space receiving the compost does not exceed 28.75 mm.

In the examples shown in Figures 12, 13 , 17 to 20 , the distance separating two alignments of building elements 1 is determined by the length of the arm of a staple, for example between 15 to 20 mm. An embodiment for increasing this distance is shown in FIG. figure 21 .

In this figure, it can be seen that between two staples 68 an additional staple 68 'has been arranged, which has the effect that the distance between two alignments of construction elements 1 is increased by the width of staple 68'. .

It should be noted that one can, at will, change the width of the space between two alignments by arranging between two staples 68 not a staple 68 'identical to the staples 68' but any connecting member of desired width.

Similarly, there can be arranged between two staples 68 connecting members having dimensions that differ from one alignment to another, so that one obtains vegetal strips having different widths.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

The use of the verb "to include", "to understand" or "to include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps other than those set out in a claim. The use of the indefinite article "a" for an element does not exclude, unless otherwise stated, the presence of a plurality of such elements.

In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses can not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims (13)

1. A pavement for vehicles and pedestrians, formed by a conventional foundation (10) of stones and sand on which there are placed construction elements (1) having: an upper surface (3) and a flat lower surface (2) which are connected together by a narrowed intermediate part (4), the space (6) between the narrowed parts (4) of two adjacent lines being filled with soil or compost in which a decorative plant (13) is planted, wherein said construction elements (1) have an elongate shape and are arranged end-to-end in adjacent parallel lines, the upper surface (3) of the construction element is flat, and wherein a line has a plurality of construction elements placed end-to-end, stabilizing means being arranged so as to cooperate with the construction elements (1) of two adjacent lines in order to improve the stability of the latter, the construction elements (1) having longitudinal recesses (5), the stabilizing means having securing pieces (30, 58, 68) interposed between the construction elements (1) of a line, the securing piece (30, 58, 68) having a body which is arranged between the longitudinal ends of the two construction elements (1) placed end-to-end and carries rods (30) or protuberances (50, 51, 60, 61) housed in the longitudinal recesses (5) in the two construction elements (1) between which said body is arranged so as to maintain the alignment of the two construction elements (1), the stabilizing means having spacing means (20, 21, 31, 32, 52, 53, 54, 55, 62, 63, 64, 65) for keeping the spacing between the two adjacent lines of construction elements (1) constant.
2. The pavement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing piece (58, 68) also has at least one pair of arms (52/53 ; 54/55 ; 62/63 ; 64/65) that project on either side of the body perpendicularly to the line of construction elements, each arm of said pair (52/53 ; 54/55 ; 62/63 ; 64/65) bearing against a construction element (1) of an adjacent line.
3. The pavement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ends of the arms (52/53 ; 54/55) of the securing piece (58) are provided with feet (56, 57), the shape of which corresponds to the profile of the lateral surfaces of the construction elements (1) against which said feet bear.
4. The pavement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lateral arms (62/63), on one side, (64/65) on the other side of the securing piece (68) have a curved shape and are provided at their ends with bearing means (66, 67) intended to bear against the sidewalls of two construction elements (1) located on each side of the construction element (1) which carries the securing piece (68), these bearing means (66, 67) having three walls (70, 71, 72) arranged in a U-shape, the middle wall (71) being curved so as to correspond to the curvature of the sidewalls of the construction elements (1) against which said middle walls (71) bear.
5. The pavement as claimed in claim 4, wherein each arm (62, 63, 64, 65) is provided, on the opposite side to the bearing means (66, 67), with a wedge (80), the position of the wedges (80) of the arms being determined such that these wedges (80) bear against one another when the securing pieces or fasteners (68) are fitted.
6. The pavement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ends of the arms (62, 63, 64, 65) are offset with respect to the plane of the securing piece or fastener (68), the latter being in an inverted position such that the wedges (80) can be anchored against one another.
7. The pavement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body of the securing piece (30) also carries spacing rods that are arranged on either side of the line of construction elements (1) and extend parallel to the line of construction elements (1).
8. The pavement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the construction element (1) is produced from ceramic material.
9. The pavement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the stabilizing means have strips (20), the width of which is the same as the desired spacing between the lines and which are sunk vertically into the foundation, said strips (20) projecting from the foundation to a height less than or equal to that of the construction elements (1) of which said lines are made.
10. The pavement as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a construction element (1) has two vertically separated symmetrical half-elements, each half-element having a recess (5), a parallelepipedal block (22) being slotted into said recesses in order to connect the two half-elements.
11. The pavement as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the construction elements (1) have a length of between 0.30 m and 1.80 m, a height of between 50 and 150 mm, a width of between 35 and 100 mm, the alignments being spaced apart from one another by 15 mm to 20 mm.
12. The pavement as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the spacing between two adjacent alignments of construction elements (1) is determined by an assembly consisting of two adjacent securing pieces (58, 68) and a connecting member arranged between the two securing pieces.
13. The pavement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the connecting member is a third securing piece (68').

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