FR2787481A1 - FOOT-FORMING DEVICE FOR A PIQUET OR A MAT, ESPECIALLY FOR AN ARBOR OR PANEL, AND ITS CLOSING METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) forming a foot for a stake (2) or mast, in particular for an arbor (2) or panel foot, comprising two wedges such as hollow envelopes (3, 4), of complementary shapes, intended to be assembled by defining between them a well for receiving said stake or mast, characterized in that the wedges together form at least one zone (24, 25) for receiving a locking key (20), this key being able to exert on these wedges a force opposing their separation. The method consists in causing the wedges to pivot about an articulation axis and in locking them, by closing the articulation thus formed, by placing the locking key (20) resting on bearing surfaces (24).

Description

The invention a. relates to a device forming a foot for a stake or mast,

  especially for the arbor or panel base,

  and to a method for closing such a device.

  The arbor or panel legs are generally made up of metal tubes or wooden masts with a diameter between 18 and 50 mm. These feet can be pushed into the ground to immobilize the structure they

  support. However, it is not always possible to

  cer these feet in the ground, for example, when the ground in question is a terrace, a paved road or a lawn

  that it should not be damaged.

  For panels, concrete bases are sometimes used which are intended to receive the lower end of the legs of the panel. However, such bases are heavy, therefore impractical to move, and do not allow to receive feet or masts which are not exactly vertical. Now, in the case of arbors, but also for panels comprising several feet forming a pyramid-shaped structure, stakes to be immobilized are inclined relative to the vertical, so that there are no

  no device adapted to constitute the foot.

  In addition, the stakes of devices such as arbors or display panels have variable diameters, or even sections of variable shapes, circular, oval or polygonal, which can prevent the use of certain known bases which are not compatible. that with

  stakes with circular section of a determined diameter.

  Thus, EP-A-0 380 272 discloses a device forming a foot for a stake which comprises two parts intended to be assembled by tenons and mortises arranged around a central orifice intended to receive essentially a post.

  vertical small diameter. Assembly by tenons and mortise

  its requires the manipulation of heavy parts to engage from above a tenon in the corresponding mortise, by hand

  and other of the orifice thus formed.

  It is to these problems that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a device capable of adapting to feet of various sections, possibly inclined, and not requiring painful maneuvering of the

constituent elements.

  In this spirit, the invention relates to a device forming a foot for a stake or mast, in particular for an arbor or panel foot, comprising two wedges, of complementary shapes, intended to be assembled by defining

  between them a receiving well for this stake or mast,

  laughed in that these wedges together form at least one zone for receiving a locking key, this key being capable of

  exert on these wedges an effort opposing their separation.

  Thanks to the invention, the envelopes can be put in

  place on either side of a stake or mast by enclosing it

  in the well they form, without the need to lift them from the ground on which they are placed, then locked together around this stake or mast thanks to the key. According to a first advantageous aspect of the invention, the shims are hollow envelopes obtained by blowing, injection molding, rotational molding or thermoforming of plastic material. Such envelopes are easy to handle when empty and have sufficient weight to fill their

function when ballasted.

  According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the key generally has an H shape. Each branch of the key being able to bear against an external bearing surface of one of the wedges. This conformation of the key is particularly simple, so that its operation can be immediately

  assimilated, including by an inexperienced user.

  According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the wedges

  form a hinge of articulation around a sensitive axis-

  orthogonal to the surface on which the wedges are placed. This aspect of the invention allows the stake to be trapped or embedded in the mast between the wedges by pivoting around the axis of the hinge. In this case, one of the shims advantageously comprises at least one tab capable of penetrating into a lumen of the other shim, so as to form this hinge. According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, each wedge has a key insertion notch up to the reception area. This aspect of the invention facilitates the implementation

  in place of the locking key.

  According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, each block comprises, at the level of the reception zone, at least one

  bearing surface capable of receiving, in support, the key. Advantageous-

  ment, the key is able to exert on these bearing surfaces a force tending to bring them one from the other or from each other. It is also possible to provide that the bearing surface of each wedge is in the form of a propeller trunk centered on an orifice intended to receive part of the key. Thus, a rotation of the key around its part housed in the central orifice makes it possible to vary the force exerted by the key on the bearing surface or surfaces. In this case, this central orifice is advantageously accessible through the notch of each wedge. It is also possible to provide that the bearing surface of each wedge is provided with means for stopping in rotation.

  of the key. This guarantees that the position is maintained over time.

key.

  The invention also relates to a method for closing a device forming a stand as described above, which consists in:

  - rotate the shims around an articulation axis -

  substantially orthogonal to the surface on which they are placed and

  - lock the wedges by closing the joint-

  tion thus formed, by placing a locking key resting on bearing surfaces defined on each wedge, so that the key exerts a pinching force on these

surfaces.

  Such a process can be easily implemented without the need to lift the wedges constituting the device,

  that is to say without too much effort.

  The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the

  description which follows of an embodiment of a

  foot device in accordance with its principle and its closing process, given only by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a foot device according to l 'invention;

  - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device

  tif of Figure 1 in the mounted position; - Figure 3 is a section along line III-III in Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a partial view, in elevation and on a larger scale, of the receiving area of the locking key of the device of Figures 1 to 3 and - Figure 5 is a section along the line V-V to the

figure 4.

  The device 1 is intended to be mounted at the lower end 2a of a stake 2 formed by a metal tube, such as a stake of the matt tent type, constituting the foot of an arbor. The device 1 comprises two hollow envelopes 3 and 4 obtained by blowing a plastic material such as

  polyethylene or polypropylene.

  The envelopes 3 and 4 can also be produced by injection molding, rotational molding, thermoforming or any other method of shaping a thermoplastic material.

  possibly including an ultra-

  sounds. These envelopes 3 and 4 are each provided with a filling port (not shown), intended to be closed by a plug such as the cover 30 visible on the envelope 3. The

  envelopes 3 and 4 can thus be partially or complete-

  filled with ballast material M, such as sand,

water or cement.

  Each envelope 3 or 4 defines a zone 13 or 14 for receiving the stake 2. As can be seen more particularly from FIG. 1, the zone 13 is formed by a central zone 13a, an upper zone 13b and a zone lower 13c, the zones 13b and 13c being flared so as to be able to receive the stake 2 with different orientations around an axis XX ', passing through the zone 13a, with respect to the vertical ZZ'. The reception area 14 has a geometry similar to that of the reception area 13. The areas 13 and 14 together define, between the envelopes 3 and 4, a well 15 for receiving the end 2a of the post 2 substantially vertical, but also from the end of an inclined stake, in particular due to the geometry of the assembly to which it belongs, such as an arbor, the feet of which are generally inclined for better stability. Envelopes 3 and 4 therefore constitute

stake locking wedges 2.

  The envelope 3 comprises a generally vertical edge 3a when it is placed on a horizontal surface S, such as a terrace. This vertical edge 3a carries a tongue 3b intended to engage in an oblong light 4b formed near a vertical edge 4a of the envelope 4. Due to the engagement of the tongue 3b in the light 4b, it is formed a hinge of articulation of the envelopes 3 and 4 around a vertical axis Zl-Z'1 parallel to the axis Z-Z '. The envelopes 3 and 4 can thus pivot around the axis ZI-Z'1 to trap the stake 2 in the well 15 in the manner of jaws. We note 3c the edge of the envelope 3 opposite the edge 3a and 4c the edge of the envelope 4 opposite the edge 4a. The stake 2 is trapped between the envelopes 3 and 4 by bringing the edges 3c and 4c together while the tongue 3b is inserted in

  light 4b. Thus, the diameter of the well 15 is automatic-

  adapted to the diameter of the stake as far as possible

  edges 3c and 4c take place until the surfaces of zones 13 and 14 come into contact with the radial surface of the

stake 2.

  A locking key 20 made of plastic is used to hold the envelopes 3 and 4 in a tight or closed position around the stake 2. This key can also be made of wood or metal. The key 20 generally has an H shape and comprises a central bar 20a and two branches

b and 20c.

  Each envelope 3 or 4 is provided with a notch 3d or 4d into which the central part 20a of the key 20 can be inserted in the direction represented by the arrows I to the

figure 1.

  The envelope 4 comprises two bearing surfaces 24 and 24 ′, in the form of a plane propeller trunk, centered on an axis X1-X'l generally parallel to the axis X-X '. Around the axis X1-X'l, the notch 4d of the envelope 4 widens and forms an orifice 25

with a generally circular section.

  The central bar 20a of the key 20 has a generally rectangular section. We denote by L its width parallel to the

  direction of branches 20b and 20c and 1 its width perpendicular to

  to these branches. The width 1 is less than the distance d separating the edges of the notches 3d and 4d, this distance being less than the width L. Thus, the key 20 must be inserted in the notches 3d and 4d with the branches 20b and

  c oriented parallel to the edges of the notches 3d and 4d.

  The diameter of the orifice 25 is greater than the width L of the bar 20a, so that when the key reaches the level of this orifice, the latter can turn around the axis X1-X'I, as

  represented by the arrow R in Figure 1.

  Due to its rotation R, the key 20 is turned so that the branch 20c bears against the surfaces 24 and 24 'in their parts 24a and 24'a closest to an internal space E defined between the envelopes 3 and 4 and visible in FIG. 5. The length of the central bar 20a of the key is sufficient for it to be possible to turn the key in this position whatever the diameter of the stake 2 and the width e of the space E. The envelope 3 is equipped with bearing surfaces similar to the bearing surfaces 24 and 24 ', only one of which is visible in FIG. 5 with the reference 23. This bearing surface 23 comprises a part 23a relatively close to the space E and a portion 23b relatively distant from space E.

  surfaces 24 and 24 'include parts 24b and 24'b relating to

  vement far from space E. Thus, a rotation of the key clockwise in Figure 4 induces a pinching force F or closing force of the hinge formed by the envelopes 3 and 4 around the stake 2, this force being exerted by the branches 20b and 20c and increasing as a result of the geometry in a helical trunk of the surfaces 23 and

  equivalent on the one hand, 24 and 24 'on the other hand.

  In the position of FIGS. 2 and 3, the pinching force F is exerted on the surfaces 23 and equivalent, 24 and 24 ', on either side of the orifice 25. This force is an elastic force due to the constituent materials of elements 3, 4 and 20. It opposes the opening of the well 15 once it is closed around the post 2 because it tends to bring the

  surfaces 23 and 24 and edges 3c and 4c.

  We understand that it is easy to adapt the width e of the space E to the diameter of the post 2 by turning the key 20 as far as possible, from a position in which

  it rests against the parts of surfaces 23a, 24a and equiva-

  slowly, towards a position in which it rests against the parts of surfaces 23b, 24b and the like. This makes it possible to adapt the diameter of the well 15 and to receive stakes or

  2 masts whose diameter is between 18 and 50 mm.

  The surfaces of range 23 and equivalent, on the one hand, 24 and 24 ', on the other hand, are shaped on the outside of the envelopes 3 and 4, so that they can contribute to the aesthetic appearance of the foot thus formed. Thus, a connection zone 4e is defined between the external surface of the envelope 4 and the surfaces 24 and 24 ′, this surface being able to be treated differently, as regards its state of

  surface, in order to present a particular aspect.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the surfaces 24 and 24 ′ are provided with pins 24c, respectively 24′c, intended to constitute hard points or stops of rotation R of the key 20 around the axis X1-X'1. Similar studs are provided on surfaces 23 and the like. The branches 20b and 20c can thus be blocked, which prevents the key 20 from rotating counterclockwise in FIG. 4. The closing force F is therefore maintained over time. The branches 20b and 20c are, advantageously but not compulsory, provided with notches 20d for receiving the nipples 24c and the like, which further improves the immobilization of the key 20 in rotation, because its position around the axis X1 -X'l is then determined precisely. According to a variant not shown of the invention, the surfaces 23, 24 and 24 'can be graduated to indicate the optimal angle of rotation of the key 20 as a function of the nominal diameter

stake 2.

  Note that the envelopes 3 and 4 are generally symmetrical with respect to a plane passing through the middle of the space E defined between them in the mounted position of the device 1 and that they are wider in their lower parts than in their upper parts , which gives them very good stability, even when they are partially filled. In the case where the stake 2 is integral with a canvas which extends to the level of its lower end, in particular in the case of an arbor foot, this canvas can be received between the envelopes 3 and 4, including included in space E outside the well 15. In fact, the fabric can easily be sandwiched between the facing surfaces of the

  envelopes 3 and 4, without risk of deterioration.

  In the embodiment described, the shims used for locking the stake in position are hollow envelopes. It is understood that the shims 3 or 4 can be parts

  full and more generally, all blocking parts present

  both a geometry according to the invention. However, the use

  tion of hollow envelopes makes it possible to obtain shims which can be ballasted only on their site of use, or even

  emptied after use, which has a considerable advantage

  maple for their transport and handling.

Claims (11)

  1. Device (1) forming a base for a stake (2) or mat, in particular for an arbor or panel base, comprising two wedges (3, 4), of complementary shapes, intended to be   assembled by defining between them a receiving well (15)   tion of said stake or mast, characterized in that said shims together form at least one zone (23-25) for receiving a locking key (20), said key being able to exert on said shims a force (F) s opponent of separation said wedges.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said shims are hollow envelopes (3, 4) obtained   by blow molding, injection molding, rotational molding or thermo plastic forming.   3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that said key (20) has an overall H shape, each branch (20b, 20c) of said key being able to bear against a bearing surface (23, 24, 24 ')   outer of one of said shims (3, 4).   4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that said shims (3, 4) form a hinge (3b, 4b) about an axis (Z1-Z'1) substantially orthogonal to a surface (S) on which are placed said shims.   5. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that each wedge (3, 4) has a notch (3d, 4d) for introducing said key (20) to said area reception (23-25).   6. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that each block (3, 4) comprises, at the level of said reception zone (23-25), at least one bearing surface (23, 24, 24 ') capable of receiving, in support (F), said key (20).   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said key (20) is able to exert on said bearing surfaces (23, 24, 24 ') a force (F) tending to bring them closer   one another or each other.   8. Device according to one of claims 6 or 7,   characterized in that said bearing surface (23, 24, 24 ') is in the form of a propeller trunk centered on an orifice (25) intended to receive a part (20a) of said key.   9. Device according to claims 5 and 8, characterized   in that said opening (25) is accessible through said   notch (3d, 4d) of each wedge (3, 4).   10. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9,   characterized in that said bearing surface (23, 24, 24 ') is provided with means (24c, 24'c) for stopping rotation (R) of   said key (20) resting on said surfaces.   11. Method for closing a device (1) forming a base for a stake (2) or mast, in particular for an arbor or panel base, said device comprising two wedges (3, 4), of complementary shapes, defining between them a well (15) for receiving said stake or mast, characterized in that it consists in: - rotating said shims (3, 4) about an axis (Zl-Z'1) of articulation substantially orthogonal to a surface (S) on which said blocks are placed and - locking said blocks, by closing   the joint thus formed, by having a locking key   beam (20) resting on bearing surfaces (23, 24, 24 ') defined on each wedge (3, 4), so that said key   exerts a pinching force (F) on said surfaces.