WO2007010059A2

WO2007010059A2 - Removable pneumatic marker with underground anchoring

Info

Publication number: WO2007010059A2
Application number: PCT/ES2006/000300
Authority: WO
Inventors: María José Sanchez Gallardo
Original assignee: GALLARDO OLIVARES, Inmaculada Concepción
Priority date: 2005-07-20
Filing date: 2006-05-26
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: BRPI0614671A2; ES2265290A1; CA2647618A1; MA29743B1; US20110170949A1; ES2265290B1; CN101248236A; EP1932970A2; WO2007010059A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a marker which has been specifically designed to provide traffic signalling in areas through which road traffic passes, both in towns and along roads and motorways. The inventive marker comprises two separate elements, namely (i) a lower rigid ground-anchoring system and (ii) the actual marker which is elastic, flexible and can be coupled to the lower part using a pin coupling system. In the rapid position recovery version of the invention, the upper flexible element contains an inflatable pneumatic ball. The assembly is equipped with a cover that can be coupled to the lower anchoring element when the upper element has been removed, said cover being dimensioned such as to be flush with the surface of the ground in said configuration.

Description

"EXTRAIBLE PNEUMATIC BEAM FOR SIGNALING FUNCTIONS WITH UNDERWATER ANCHORAGE"

DESCRIPTION

Object of the Invention

The present invention relates to a removable pneumatic beacon for signaling functions with underground anchorage, which provides essential novelty characteristics and notable advantages over the known and used means for the same purposes in the current state of the art.

More particularly, the invention proposes the development of a usable slippery portion for signaling purposes, composed of a lower anchoring portion in the ground and an upper portion of signaling itself, of which the first is stiffened and the second is elastic, flexible, recoverable by the action of a pneumatic ball enclosed inside, there being between both portions a releasable joint, secured by a safety closure, and counting the lower or anchoring portion with external clamping elements or claws on the installation place.

The field of application of the invention is within the industrial sector dedicated to the manufacture and / or installation of warning elements and / or signaling devices on public roads or similar places.

Background and Summary of the Invention

Everyone knows the existence and wide use of signaling devices, both 6,000300

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public as in other places where access should be pointed out or limited. These devices, used for many years, are generally known as beacons.

In practice, its most common use has always been related to the regulation of traffic, in towns and roads, either to prevent the passage to protected areas, either to delimit lanes reserved for certain specific applications, or for other functions Signaling. Obviously, these devices have always been revealed as means of great practical utility for the purposes pursued. However, they have not been exempt from certain inconveniences that have diminished their performance and versatility. Thus, since the first beacons that consisted of rigid bodies, firmly anchored to the ground, which on more than one occasion have even been involved in certain accidental situations, the use of material beacons has been used, when circumstances permit. plastic, simply supported on the ground or anchored in some other way in the chosen places, that although they have solved some of the problems associated with the previous rigid beacons, it is also true that the frictions or blows that they sometimes receive from vehicles that circulate around the place, are pushing and moving them, being finally in positions that can become a real risk for road traffic, especially for users of two-wheelers.

There is, therefore, the need for a signaling beacon which, keeping in the place chosen for it, does not constitute any risk for vehicles of any type that circulate around the place. Taking into account the needs of the current state of the art, the present invention has been proposed as the main objective the development of a beacon that provides effective solutions to the problems posed. For this, the invention proposes the construction of a signaling beacon that is susceptible to anchoring in the chosen place, but in such a way that the beacon portion that protrudes from the ground level, has an elastic, flexible nature, in such a way that if it is reached by a vehicle, it does not represent any risk for the vehicle, especially when it is a two-wheeled vehicle, with the particularity that the beacon is recoverable by itself with respect to any pushing or crushing action because of the abuse of which he may be the object.

Another particularity of the beacon proposed by the invention consists in the fact that the body constituting the flexible portion of the beacon is susceptible to extraction with respect to the anchoring means e.

In order to provide a beacon with the desired characteristics and effects mentioned above, the present invention proposes the construction of a beacon composed of two independent elements, separated, mutually attachable and interlockable, of which one of them constitutes the anchoring element to the ground, and the other element constitutes the beacon body itself.

The first element, or anchor, consists of a cylindrical tubular body, of metallic material, externally provided with retention plates in positions diametrically opposed, opened by the upper base to receive and house the upper beacon portion, and provided with grooves, in diametrically opposite positions, which start from the upper edge of this tubular element, for the provision of a groove with a predetermined path , constituting a bayonet type hitch system. This hitching system, although preferred, is only illustrative, and may eventually be replaced by any other that provides a retension effect similar to that described.

The second element, constituting as said of the upper portion of the beacon itself, is generally also cylindrical, of flexible elastic material, internally hollow, of an appropriate diameter to be able to be introduced, at its lower end, into the element anchoring, said beacon body being provided internally, in the lower part, with a cylindrical tubular metal bushing, which stiffens a lower section of the beacon body of an approximate extension to the section to be introduced inside the element of anchoring, and from which two bolts are projected radially in diametrically opposite positions, sized and adapted to accommodate and move inside the grooves of the anchoring element, and complete with the latter the bayonet type hook system. The beacon body has an inflatable ball inside, which, together with the material's own elastic nature, provides a desired rapid recovery effect to keep the beacon body upright at all times, after it has been reached. For some vehicle. The assembly may also include a security closure system that solidly links both elements together. As will be understood, with a pneumatic beacon system such as that proposed by the invention, the inconveniences associated with current beacons are favorably remedied, the risks derived from the fact that the beacon is reached by a vehicle are eliminated, especially the risks of associated with two-wheeled vehicles, and also provides the additional feature that the beacon body can be easily removed if necessary, and even eventually replaced by another with similar characteristics, all in an easy, simple way, and in a short space of time.

In the foregoing, a general description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been made, in which the constituent body of the upper beacon portion encloses an inflated pneumatic balloon inside which is an effective aid for action. of recovery when this body is forced to flex because it has been reached by some vehicle of the road traffic that circulates through the place where it is installed. However, there are other circumstances in which it is not necessary that the recovery of said elastic, flexible, beacon body be carried out so quickly, as occurs for example in the case of beacons installed on roads or highways. In that case, the invention provides, as an alternative to the embodiment described above, the use of a beacon upper element that does not enclose any pneumatic balloon, so that the recovery of the body is caused simply by the elastic nature of the material.

As an additional element, the beacon assembly also includes a cover, intended for use in case the upper beacon portion is to be removed and removal of the lower element for any reason. The cover consists of a cylindrical bushing, closed superiorly by means of a base constituted as a cap, and also provided with anchor bolts that allow to be attached to the lower element also as a bayonet system. The coupling of a cover of these characteristics to the lower element of the beacon, allows to effectively close the open upper base of said lower beacon element, and leave this element advantageously flush with the floor surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the detailed description that follows in a preferred embodiment, given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view, in side elevation, of a beacon constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a representation also schematized, corresponding to a version of beacon of the same type as the previous one, but devoid of the internal pneumatic balloon, and

Figure 3 illustrates, finally, a schematic, perspective representation of a lid device included in the beacon assembly of the invention.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

As indicated above, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, it will be carried out in the following with the help of the attached drawing, in which Figure 1 the different parts that integrate it by means of numerical references are indicated. Thus, according to said representation, it can be seen, as said, an elevation view of a schematic representation of the beacon proposed by the invention, in which an anchoring element is distinguished, consisting of a cylindrical tubular body 6, of a rigid metallic nature, and an upper element or beacon body 1, of flexible elastic nature, such as rubber, rubber, or some other suitable elastomer.

The lower body 6 is provided with retention plates 9, which extend upward from diametrically opposite positions, running very close to the outer surface of said tubular body 6. The mentioned plates have been specifically designed to keep the body anchored in the position chosen for it, such as on the ground, for which purpose it has been provided with undulations that allow the anchor to be made under pressure. As stated, the tubular body

6 also presents a pair of grooves 3 practiced in diametrically opposite positions of the body wall, which follow a broken path, and which are intended to serve as the basis for the constitution of a bayonet type hitch system.

On the other hand, the beacon body 1 is internally hollow, open at least by the lower base, and has an external diameter approximately coincident with the internal diameter of the anchoring element 1, in which it must be inserted. For the purposes of insertion, the beacon element has a metallic cylindrical tubular bush 8, housed inside, extended in height to a portion equivalent to that which remains inside the anchor body 6 when both elements are coupled. This tubular bushing 8 provides a stiffening effect to the lower section of the body 1, and from it a pair of studs 5, radially extended from diametrically opposite positions, projected to be housed in the grooves 3, and thus constitute , along with these, the desired bayonet system. The assembly also incorporates a safety lock 4 that maintains the coupling between the two elements, its removal being necessary in case it is desired to separate the beacon body 1 from the anchor body 6.

As mentioned above, the beacon body 1 encloses inside it a pneumatic balloon capable of being inflated with air, and thus serving as a pneumatic pump for the rapid recovery of the body 1 in case it is reached by a vehicle . The pneumatic balloon is indicated with the numerical reference 2, and is divided into two differentiated portions by means of a pressure washer 7 located at a height such that it corresponds to an intermediate position inside the stiffening bushing 8. Thus, the lower portion 10 of the pneumatic balloon is retained by the bushing itself, which drives the upper part 2 of the balloon to a faster recovery by virtue of the "lever" effect that is generated when the flexible elastic upper part of beacon 1 is seen subjected to a bending action for having been reached by a vehicle.

As will be understood, a flexible elastic beacon 1, designed and carried out in the manner just described, in which its recovery action is very rapid due to the pneumatic pump-like operation provided by the inner ball 2, it is especially indicated for use in signaling work in the interior of the towns, in which the traffic is intense and can be reached by circulating vehicles with a certain frequency.

However, for those cases where the beacon runs less risk of, or is less likely, that it may be achieved by road traffic, it is not necessary that, as stated above, the recovery action of the beacon has to be so fast. In that case, the construction can be simplified, so that the internal pneumatic balloon can be removed. This situation corresponds to the representation of Figure 2, in which a side elevation view of a beacon equivalent in all its aspects to that shown in Figure 1 is shown, except for the fact that it does not incorporate any pneumatic ball In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2, the upper beacon body 1 ends at its lower end, in a tapered portion 11, at its most distal part shows an axial opening 12, constituting the entrance or exit hole of the air. In fact, this opening is sized so as to allow the flexible, elastic upper portion 1 of the beacon to flex when it is reached by a vehicle, with the consequent expulsion of air through the opening 12, while, when when the bending action to which this upper beacon portion has been subjected has ceased, this same opening 12 allows the new entry of air into the body 1, whereby the latter is recovered at a speed determined by its elastic capacity and for the amount of air that can enter through the opening, until it adopts its initial configuration again. Finally, if the representation of Figure 3 is observed, a schematic perspective view of a cover assembly included in the beacon of the invention can be seen. As can be seen, this cover is constituted by a cylindrical tubular body 13, of the same diameter as the body 1 of the upper beacon portion, so that it can be coupled to the lower beacon element 6 when the upper one is removed, to close it by its upper base. For this purpose, the cover has two lugs 14 projected radially outwards from diametrically opposite positions, sized and configured to be housed in the bayonet slot 3 of the lower anchoring element, and held in that position. On the upper part, the body 13 of the lid appears topped with a cap 15, of dimensions slightly larger than the diameter of the body, thereby ensuring a complete closure in a flush position with the floor surface, and thereby ensuring that it is maintained the mentioned lower anchoring element 6 protected against the entry of foreign objects inside, such as water, leaves, papers, or dirt in general.

It is not considered necessary to make the content of this description more extensive so that a person skilled in the art can understand its scope and the advantages derived from the invention, as well as to develop and put into practice the object thereof.

However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, whereby it may be susceptible to modifications without implying any alteration of the basis of said invention, such modifications may affect, in particular, the form , to the size and / or manufacturing materials of the assembly or its parts.

Claims

1.- Removable pneumatic beacon for signaling functions with underground anchorage, in particular a beacon conceived and designed for application to the signaling in places of concurrence of road traffic, either inside the towns such as on roads or highways, characterized in that it comprises two separate, independent, mutually attachable elements (1, 6) with the possibility of extracting one from the other, of which a lower positioning element (6) constitutes the ground anchoring means, and consists of a general cylindrical body, internally hollow, open by the upper base, equipped with claws or plates (9) for securing the ground that project from the body (6) in diametrically opposite positions and run upwardly parallel to the latter, presenting said body (6) a p <r of openings that start at the perimeter edge of its upper base, in diametrically opposite positions, and become They roll with a predetermined path to constitute a bayonet type hitch, while the other element (1), of superior positioning, constitutes the beacon element itself, and consists of a body of general prismatic shape, constructed with an elastic, flexible material , which incorporates an inner bushing (8) of a height approximately equivalent to that of the lower anchoring element (6), and from which radially projected, two diametrically opposed studs (5), sized and configured for housing inside of the grooves (3) the lower element and thus complement the bayonet hitching system, also counting the aforementioned upper body (1) with an inflatable pneumatic balloon (2) inside, for rapid recovery of the portion upper (1) in case of being subjected to accidental bending, for which purpose said pneumatic balloon has a lower portion (12) housed inside the internal metal bushing (8) of said upper beacon element (1).

2. Beacon according to claim 1, characterized in that in an embodiment with less rapid bending recovery, the flexible elastic upper body (1) of the beacon is devoid of any internal balloon, and has at its lower end a portion (11) tapered end end, with an axial terminal opening (12) of air passage in both directions of entry and exit.

3. Beacon according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it also has a cover element for closing the upper base of the lower anchoring element (6) replacing the upper portion (1), this cover being constituted by a body (13) generally cylindrical, equipped with diametrically opposed radial lugs (14), adapted for bayonet coupling in the openings (3) of the lower anchoring element (6), the lid element being topped by its upper base by means of a cap (15) of diameter slightly larger than the body, which is flush with the floor surface in the cover condition coupled to the lower anchoring element.

4.- Beacon according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it also includes a safety lock

(4) that keeps both elements coupled (1, 6) in the operative beacon condition.