GB2228608A - Plastic lattice with marking facility - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastic lattice comprises at least one unbroken zone 3c which serves as a marking support 4, the latter being integrated into the material constituting the plastic lattice. The support may be coated or impregnated with a suitable material so as to define a message or marking information on the support. <IMAGE>

Description

PLASTIC LATTICE WITH MARKING FACILITY The present invention relates to plastic lattices, that is to say perforated structures obtained directly and completely by extrusion of thermoplastic synthetic resins.

Such lattices are now well known and generally comprise a flat, perforated web of plastic, possessing a plurality of orifices distributed in the lengthwise direction of the web, and in at least one transverse direction, for example perpendicular, of the same web.

These orifices or perforations are therefore defined in the sheet by lengthwise unbroken zones and transverse unbroken zones.

The use of such lattices has become common, and applies to all types of circumstances, such as: - marking the boundaries of construction sites and temporary works, both on the public highway and on private land, - marking out ski pistes, - guiding the public for access to various events, - marking certain dangerous sections, particularly in sporting trials such as rallies.

Frequently, the setting-up of these lattices is accompanied by various markings, such as informatory notices, indicator notices, signs and promotional messages intended to inform, warn or caution the public or users.

The positioning of such notices, in addition to that of the lattice, and at the site where the latter is erected, presents various disadvantages.

Firstly, the area of ground covered by the lattice may be such that no space remains for the installation of an indicator notice.

Additionally, this positioning requires expense and time in addition to those relating to the arrangement of the lattice.

Finally, the presence of the lattice may wholly or partly mask, or impede the legibility of, the messages to be communicated to the public or to the users.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the above disadvantages.

More specifically, the invention relates to a plastic lattice which is compatible with a marking at the place where it is erected or positioned.

According to the invention, and in a general manner, in at least one direction of extension of the web constituting the lattice, for example the lengthwise direction, at least one unbroken zone, hereinafter referred to as the marking strip and situated either at the edges of the perforated plastic web or in an intermediate position between the edges thereof, is of a greater width than that of the adjacent unbroken zones.

And this marking strip also comprises, integrated with the material of the plastic web, a marking support.

This marking support may be coated or impregnated, in particular by printing such as ink-jet printing, with a material of a different colour and/or aspect from those of the material constituting the web forming the lattice, and the localized and controlled deposition of this material defines the message or the marking information which it is desired to reproduce or print.

Message or marking information is understood to mean all types of message or sign, such as: - messages of a promotional or commercial character, such as logos, signs, slogans, marks and initials, - markings or messages which are visible at night, making use of fluorescent or retroreflecting materials, - warnings, cautions, prohibitions, - information, advice.

These messages can be reproduced or printed in any colours or shades.

In addition to integrating an informatory function into a plastic lattice, the invention further makes it possible substantially to reinforce the mechanical strength of the plastic lattice in the direction in which the marking strip extends. Such a reinforcement may be of value in applications where the lattice may be subjected to a substantial stress or impact, for example the thrust of a crowd which is to be directed.

The present invention further presents the following alternatives: - the marking strip may be situated in a median zone of the perforated plastic web, for example between its two lengthwise edges; - preferably, the marking strip extends in the lengthwise direction of the plastic web, but the same strip can of course be made to extend in other directions, for example a direction perpendicular to the direction of unwinding of the web; - the unbroken zone forming a marking strip possesses at least one exterior face designed to serve directly as a marking support, for example being treated in a manner which is appropriate for receiving ink-jet printing; - the marking support may also consist of a band of a plastic, identical to or different from the material constituting the lattice, and co-extruded with the material of the web forming the lattice; this co-extrusion further reinforces to a substantial extent the mechanical strength of the plastic lattice, in the direction of extension of the same band; - the marking support may be arranged continuously or discontinuously; the message may be printed or reproduced uninterruptedly on the marking strip, or may be reproduced discontinuously along the same strip.

The present invention is now described with reference to the attached drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a partial plan view of a plastic lattice according to the present invention, - Figure 2 shows a sectional view of this same lattice along the line II-II in Figure 1, - Figure 3 shows a sectional view, along the same line Il-Il, of an alternative embodiment of a plastic lattice according to the invention.

A lattice according to the invention comprises a flat perforated web 1, generally obtained by extrusion of a plastic. This web possesses a plurality of orifices 2 distributed in the lengthwise direction of the web, which direction is defined in Figure 1 by the arrow A, and in a transverse direction, more specifically perpendicular to the direction A, defined in Figure 1 by the arrow B.

The orifices 2 distributed on the web 1 are bounded by unbroken zones 3, and more specifically by lengthwise unbroken zones 3a, and transverse 3b or perpendicular unbroken zones.

In the lengthwise direction of the web, defined by the arrow A, and in a median zone between the lengthwise edges la and 1b of the same web, the lengthwise unbroken zone 3c forms a marking strip according to the invention. More specifically, the unbroken zone 3c has a width which is greater than that of the adjacent unbroken zones 3a and 3b, and comprises, integrated into the plastic of the web, a marking support 4, defined or specified in Figure 2 by a solid line. In Figures 1 and 2, this marking strip consists of an outer face of the unbroken zone 3c, designed to act directly as a support for an impregnating or printing material, the control of deposition of which makes it possible to reproduce the issued message, represented in Figure 1 by the letters A, B and C. The outer face of the unbroken zone 3c, forming a marking strip, may or may not be treated to serve for the deposition of or impregnation with the coloured material, for example representing the desired message.

In particular, the constituting plastic which is retained, and/or the manner of extrusion, may make it possible to obtain a face of the strip which is directly suitable for the printing or reproduction of coloured messages, or is of a different aspect from that of the plastic which constitutes the lattice.

According to Figure 3, the marking support 4 is different from the unbroken zones 3 of the plastic lattice, and consists of a band 5, still of identical or different plastic, co-extruded with the material of the web 1. And the upper face of this particular marking support may be coated or impregnated with an ink to reproduce the desired message.

Claims (9)

1. Plastic lattice comprising a flat perforated web (1) of plastic, which possesses a plurality of orifices (2) distributed in the lengthwise direction (A) of the web, and in at least one direction (B) transverse to the latter, defined by lengthwise unbroken zones (3a) and transverse unbroken zones (3b), characterized in that, in at least one direction (A) of extension of the web, at least one unbroken zone (3c), called a marking strip and situated at the edges (la, lb) of the said web or in an intermediate position between the said edges is of a greater width than that of the adjacent unbroken zones (3), and comprises a marking support (4) integrated into the material of the web.

2. Lattice according to Claim 1, characterized in that the marking strip (3c) is situated in a median zone of the web, between its two edges (la, lib).

3. Lattice according to Claim 1, characterized in that the masking strip (3c) extends in the lengthwise direction (A) of the web.

4. Lattice according to Claim 1, characterized in that the unbroken zone (3c) forming a marking strip possesses a face designed to serve directly as a marking support (4).

5. Lattice according to Claim 1, characterized in that the marking support (4) consists of a band (5) of a plastic, co-extruded with that of the web (1) constituting the said lattice.

6. Lattice according to Claim 1, characterized in that the marking support (4) is arranged continuously along the marking strip.

7. Lattice according to Claim 1, characterized in that the marking strip (4) is distributed discontinuously along the marking strip.

8. Lattice according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the marking support is coated or impregnated, particularly by printing, with a material of different colour and/or aspect from those of the material constituting the web forming the lattice, the deposition of the said material defining the message or marking information.

9. Plastic lattice substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.