WO2009004169A2

WO2009004169A2 - Modular smoker areas

Info

Publication number: WO2009004169A2
Application number: PCT/FR2008/000737
Authority: WO
Inventors: André FARINA
Original assignee: Comptoir Hydro Electro Thermique (Sarl)
Priority date: 2007-06-12
Filing date: 2008-05-30
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Also published as: FR2917440B1; EP2167759A2; WO2009004169A3; FR2917440A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular smoker area characterised in that it comprises at least two modular cabins (1A, 1B) assembled and/or communicating through at least one face thereof with a common technical cell (3) containing an ashtray (7) and provided with at least one device for extracting polluted air, the modular cabins being assembled and/or communicating together through another one of their faces.

Description

Modular smoking spaces.

The present invention relates to a flexible smoking area.

Recent tobacco control laws and regulations have led to the emergence of smokers' cabins on the market, responding to the wishes of companies wishing to avoid significant disruptions in their operation and productivity as a result of staff absences. who must leave their workplace to smoke.

These cabins that can be located in workplaces or near workplaces, are generally designed to accommodate two to eight smokers who can smoke without disturbing non-smokers, while respecting the regulations in force. They are in the form of volumes closed by a door and having a cylindrical shape or a parallelepiped shape. In these volumes, (see, for example, JP-2005 147 587, JP-2005 061 705, JP-2004 347 309, JP-2003 064 814, JP-2001 180 596), can be accommodated various furniture (seats, tables tablets) and miscellaneous accessories.

These volumes also contain a technical unit containing the necessary equipment to carry out the extraction and possibly the filtration of smoky air, for the introduction of fresh air, for the recovery of ashes and butts, etc.

To meet their needs, depending on the number of smokers, companies are led to acquire several independent cabins or to increase, thereafter, the number of these cabins. This can represent a significant investment and costly maintenance considering that each cabin is equipped with a technical unit. In addition, the installation of several independent cells in an office or other administrative office or in a workshop can lead to a significant reduction in the workspace of companies.

On the other hand, manufacturers are required to offer several models of cabins of different sizes and technical equipment, to meet needs, budget, standing, etc., particulars of each company, which adversely affects the cost of these different models of cabins.

The invention aims in particular to meet the needs of businesses, as regards the surface occupied by the cabins or spaces for smokers, while significantly reducing their cost and cost of installation and maintenance.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by means of a modular smoking space comprising at least two modular polygonal booths assembled to and communicating via one of their faces, with a common technical cell, containing an ashtray and equipped with at least one exhaust air extraction device.

According to one embodiment, the modular cabins are assembled and / or communicate with each other via another of their faces.

According to a preferred and particularly advantageous embodiment, each modular cabin is constituted by a closed octagonal space delimited laterally by eight faces, one of which is intended to be assembled and placed in communication with a technical cell containing an ashtray and equipped with at least one exhaust air extraction device, and at least one other of which can be assembled and / or placed in communication with one of the faces of at least one similar modular cabin, for example with the one of the faces of at least one similar adjacent modular cabin.

According to another preferred embodiment, two adjacent faces of each octagonal cabin are constituted by the two leaves of an outwardly opening door and one of these leaves is disposed opposite to the face of the octagonal cabin intended to be assembled and placed in communication with the technical unit.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the modular smoking space comprises three modular cabins assembled and / or communicating with each other via one of their faces, said cabins communicating with a common technical cell via another of their faces.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the modular smoking space comprises four modular cabins assembled and / or communicating with each other via one of their faces, said cabins communicating, on the other hand, with a technical cell common placed in the center of the group of four octagonal cabins, through another of their faces.

According to a preferred embodiment, the contacting faces of the adjacent modular cells of the smoking area, are open or provided with a removable wall.

The modular cabin according to the invention allows the realization of spaces for smokers that can be adjusted according to the needs. The cost of these spaces for smokers represents a reduced burden for the companies, while their cost of installation and maintenance is significantly lower than that of the spaces for smokers currently offered on the market for the same number of occupants, in particular because the fact that a common technical cell can ensure the extraction of air from two, three or four modular cabins assembled to form a flexible space smokers.

The octagonal shape of modular cabins optimizes the space and the number of places offered to smokers.

It is in particular possible to gather four modular cabins around a central technical unit common to these four cabins, so as to constitute a user-friendly modular space that can, for example, receive eight users standing or four seated. Two adjacent modular cabins can be placed in communication by removing the partition equipping their contact face, or at least the upper part of this partition.

On the other hand, the octagonal shape is close to the cylindrical shape which would be ideal for the extraction of fumes and odors but which does not allow the realization of flexible smoking spaces. In the application to the invention, the The polygonal shape of the modular cabins therefore has the advantage of having faces assembled together forming obtuse angles and more precisely angles of 135 °, that is to say, very open angles to prevent stagnation of the fumes. and odors in the corners of said cabins.

Another advantage of the modular space for smokers according to the invention lies in reducing the floor space required for its installation and operation compared to the number of smokers it can receive, compared to the facilities proposed to date .

The above and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular cabin for the realization of modular spaces for smokers according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view in section along the line AA ¹ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the modular cabin, considered along arrow A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view taken along arrow B of FIG. 2.

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view in section of a flexible space for smokers, consisting of the junction of two similar modular booths assembled to a common technical cell.

Figure 6 is a front view of this space for smokers, considered according to the arrow C of Figure 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view in section of another example of conformation of a flexible space for smokers, constituted by the assembly of two modular cabins by means of a common technical cell.

Figure 8 is a schematic plan view in section of a flexible space for smokers, consisting of the assembly of three modular cabins around a common technical cell.

Figure 9 is a schematic plan view in section of a flexible space for smokers, consisting of the assembly of four modular cabins around a common technical cell.

Figure 10 is a schematic plan view in section of a flexible space for smokers, consisting of the assembly of eight modular cabins.

Figure 11 is a schematic plan view in section of a flexible space for smokers, consisting of the assembly of twelve modular cabins.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view, partially broken away, of an embodiment of an ashtray made according to another characteristic arrangement of the invention, for the equipment of the technical cell, the shutter of this ashtray being shown in the closed position.

Figure 12B is a view similar to Figure 12A, showing the shutter shutter of the ashtray in the tilted opening position.

Figure 13 is a detail view, in vertical section, of the opening and closing device of the shutter shutter of the ashtray, shown in the closed position.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 and showing the device in the open position.

Referring to said drawings to describe interesting examples, although not limiting, realization of smokable spaces according to the invention. In the description and in the claims, the term "flexible space for smokers" or "smoking area" means a set of at least two modular booths assembled to and communicating with a common technical cell.

According to the invention, each polygonal modular cabin 1 is constituted by a closed space, of octagonal shape, delimited, laterally, by eight faces 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, one of which (2a ) is intended to be assembled and placed in communication with a technical cell 3 and at least one other (2b) can be assembled and / or placed in communication with one of the faces of at least one similar modular cabin, for example with one of the faces of at least one similar adjacent modular cabin 1 B.

By way of example only, this modular cabin may have a height of the order of 2000 mm, a width between two opposite angles of the order of 1180 mm, a width between opposite faces of the order of 1086 mm, each eight faces having a width of about 450 mm, such a modular cabin that can provide at least one seat or two standing.

According to an advantageous embodiment, two adjacent faces 2d and 2e, of the octagonal cabin are materialized, each, by a leaf 4a, 4b, respectively, of a door with two leaves opening outwards and allowing a easy access to the cabin; interestingly, one of these leaves is disposed opposite the face 2a of the cab intended to be assembled and placed in communication with the technical cell 3. This door may be of a known automatic mechanical closing type in itself.

The other faces, 2b, 2c, 2f, 2g, 2h of the octagonal modular cabin are dressed, at least in their upper part, by glass panels providing users of it, full visibility of the external environment.

The modular cabin has a roof 5 and a floor 6, so that when the door 4a, 4b is closed, it defines a confinement space isolated from the environment. The bases of the glass faces of the modular cabin can be constituted by solid wood panels, for example okoumé, protecting said cabin moisture and shocks.

The reference S1 of FIG. 2 indicates, by way of example, the location of a seat.

According to another characteristic arrangement, the modular smoking space according to the invention comprises at least two modular polygonal cabins 1A, 1D assembled and communicating, via one of their faces, with a common technical cell 3 (FIG. 7).

According to an advantageous embodiment, said modular cabins 1A,

1B are assembled and / or communicate with each other via another of their faces (Figure 5).

According to another characteristic arrangement, the modular smoking space comprises three modular cabins 1A, 1B, 1C, assembled and / or communicating with each other via one of their faces, said cabins communicating, other on the other hand, with a common technical cell 3 via another of their faces (Figure 2).

According to another characteristic arrangement, the modular smoking space comprises four modular cabins 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, assembled and / or communicating with each other via one of their faces, said cabins communicating with each other. on the other hand, with a common technical cell 3 placed in the center of the group of four octagonal cabins, through another of their faces (Figure 9).

The faces in contact 2b, 2f, 2h of the adjacent modular cabins 1A, 1B, or 1A, 1B, 1C, or 1A, 1B, 1C, 1N, of the smoking area, can be opened totally or only in their upper part, or provided with a removable wall, so as to allow free movement of people from one cabin to another, or simply, contact and dialogue between people occupying adjacent cabins. FIG. 10 represents an example of constituting a smoking space formed by the assembly of two groups of four modular cabins arranged around a common technical cell 3.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of constituting a smoking space formed by the union of three groups of four cabins 1A-1B-1C-1D, 1A'-1B'-1C'-1D ', 1A "- 1B "-1C" -1D "arranged around a common technical cell 3, 3 ', 3", respectively.

The modular smoking space may further comprise at least one satellite octagonal modular cell 1 N similar to the modular cabins 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, assembled and communicating only with at least one of the latter.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment in which an octagonal modular satellite cabin 1 N is assembled, via one of its faces, to one of the faces 2f of one (1A) of the four cabins 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D arranged around the technical cell 3, with which said satellite cabin does not communicate.

The common technical unit 3 smoking spaces, consists of a cabinet with four sides 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d whose width corresponds to the width of the faces of octagonal modular booths 1 so as to be contiguous to one of the faces of two, or three, or four cabins 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D ₁ forming a flexible smoking area, as shown in Figure 2. In this figure, the modular cabins 1 B, 1C, 1 D, 1 N are shown in FIG. a smaller scale for ease of drawings.

The technical cell 3 contains at least one removable and interchangeable ashtray 7, an advantageous embodiment of which is described below, and it is equipped, at its upper part, with a system δ and an extraction circuit. stale air, known per se and of which only the outlet 8a or 8b has been shown to the outside, in FIG.

It can also contain the various devices known per se, necessary for the constant purification of the air inside the cabins. communication with the technical unit, such as, for example, a set of filters or other devices for the removal of toxic particles present in the fumes of cigarettes or similar tobacco products, ventilation system allowing the introduction of fresh air into the booths , depressostat, device for maintaining a continuous depression inside them, deodorizing device, centrifugal fan, electronic control unit, one or more presence detectors, according to the number of cabins communicating with the common technical cell, LEDs of service and maintenance, a bright spot, etc.

It may also contain a device for neutralizing tobacco fumes for possible recycling of purified air, a basket for waste, etc.

The motorized ventilation device makes it possible to continuously depressurise, for example more than five pascals, each modular cabin, and thus prevents the leakage of smoky air to the outside, ensuring in the standards, the regeneration of the 'ambiant air.

The fresh air inlet in the modular cabins 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, can be provided in the lower part of the leaves 4a, 4b.

A simple 230 Volt mono power outlet supplies the modular smoking area consisting of two, three or four modular cabins. This set is controlled by electrical or electronic control devices.

Malfunctions and necessary maintenance operations are indicated by warning lights.

The ashtray 7 is preferably provided with a manual mechanism for recovering the ashes and butts of all smokers installed in the smoking area. The effluents that emerge are trapped by a constant depression; the waste is stored in a sealed self-closing container after each handling, so that it can be safely evacuated by the cleaning service.

An advantageous embodiment of this ashtray is illustrated in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13 and 14. This ashtray 7 is mainly remarkable in that it comprises:

a box or container 7a for receiving butts and ashes, this box being for example made of stainless steel and having an upper opening 7b;

a tilting shutter flap 7c installed in the upper part of the casing 7a and integral with a central pivoting axis 7d thus delimiting two half-flaps 7c ', 7c ", one of which (7c ¹ ) pivots downwards and other (7c ") upwards, when said flap 7c is pivoted in the open position;

a push button 7e axial movement or other control member accessible to the upper part of the ashtray;

a motion transmission system comprising, for example, an articulated link 7f, this transmission system connecting the push button 7e to one (7c ¹ ) of the half-flaps and for transforming the axial movement of said push button into motion pivoting the shutter flap 7c;

a return means 7g of the pushbutton 7e in neutral position and, consequently, of said shutter flap 7c in the closed position.

Said casing 7a is advantageously provided, at the top and internally:

on the one hand, an upper seal 7h against which rests, in the closed position of said flap, the half-flap 7c 'which opens by pivoting downwards, and,

on the other hand, a lower seal 7i, against which rests, in the closed position of the flap, the half-flap 7c "which opens by pivoting upwards.

The movement transmission system comprises, from top to bottom, an axial rod 7j integral in translation of the pushbutton 7e, a rod 7f, a connecting lug 71 integral with the half-flap 7c ', said rod 7f being connected to the means of joints and through its opposite ends, at the lower end of the rod 7j and the tab 71. The pushbutton return means 7e in the up position or neutral position comprises, for example, a helical spring 7g acting in compression, surrounding the rod 7j and housed in a spring box 7n also disposed around said rod. This spring is, for example, wedged, via its opposite ends, on the one hand, against the bottom of the spring box 7n and, on the other hand, against a washer 7m secured to the rod 7j and also housed in the spring box 7n.

The upper opening 7b of the box or container 7a can be equipped with a perforated plate or grid 7p whose perforations are sized to let the butts.

The casing 7a can be further advantageously provided:

in its upper part, transport handles 7q and 7r openings depression;

in its lower part, a drain cover 7s and a closure, for example a lever closure 7t of this cover;

in its intermediate part, a filling detector 7u which may be constituted by a probe associated with a light led signaling the level of filling considered extreme, the service responsible for maintenance.

The reference 7k of FIGS. 12A and 12B designates the ashtray support secured to the upper part of the container 7a.

The ashtray 7 thus produced is placed in the center of the technical cell 3 and can be made accessible to smokers, from each of the modular cabins communicating with said technical cell.

We understand how to use and how this ashtray works.

The ash and butts deposited by the smokers and resulting from the combustion of cigarettes or other tobacco products, pass through the perforated plate 7p and fall on the shutter 7c which is in the horizontal position of closure (Figures 12A and 13) . Before leaving the cabin, the smokers press the push-button 7e, which causes an axial displacement downwardly of the rod 7j, this translational movement being changed into a rotation movement of the axis 7d, via of the rod 7f and the tab 71, the latter, secured to the half-flap 7c 'prints a rotational movement thereof and, consequently, to the whole of the flap 7c (in the sense of the needles of a shows according to Figs. 12A to 14).

The flap 7c thus tilts more than 80 °, by pouring the ashes and butts passed through the perforated plate 7p into the recovery container 7a (FIGS. 12B and 14).

When the pressure exerted on the push button 7e is released, the spring 7g prints a reverse movement to the moving parts of the mechanism.

The half-flap 7c 'is applied against the upper seal 7h, while the half-flap 7c "is applied to the lower seal 7i, thus preventing any rise and emanation of unpleasant odors from the ashtray.

The latter can be removed, transported and emptied out of its location of use, its transport being made easy by the presence of handles 7q. On the other hand, it is perfectly sealed, in the upper part as in the lower part, so that tobacco effluents can not escape.

The openings 7r which are provided with two side walls of the box 7a, or one of these walls only, between the perforated plate 7p and the flap 7c, allow an air inlet to the upper part of the container 7a and the formation of a flow of air passing through the gate towards the extraction circuit, the emanation of polluted air and unpleasant odors resulting from the possible presence of ash residues on the flap 7c, is thus evacuated.

Some regulations require to repress, outside, the air extracted from a room dedicated to the smokers; however, if the volume and thermal installations allow it, it would also be possible to recycle the air extracted from all the modular cabins within the premises where it is installed, with the installation, optionally, in the common technical cell 3, a device for treating tobacco fumes.

Claims

A modular smoking area, characterized in that it comprises at least two modular polygonal cabins (1A, 1B) assembled and communicating, via one of their faces, with a common technical cell (3), containing an ashtray (7) and equipped with at least one exhaust air extraction device.

2. Smokable space modulable according to claim 1, characterized in that the modular cabins (1A, 1B) are assembled and / or communicate with each other via another of their faces.

3. Modular smoking area according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each modular cell is constituted by a closed space (1) of octagonal shape delimited, laterally, by eight faces (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h) one of which (2a) is assembled and placed in communication with the technical cell (3) containing an ashtray (7) and equipped with at least one exhaust air extraction device .

4. Modular smoking area according to claim 3, characterized in that two adjacent faces (2d, 2e) of each octagonal cabin (1) are constituted by the two leaves (4a, 4b) of a door with two leaves opening. outwardly and one of these leaves (4b) is disposed opposite to the face (2a) of the octagonal cabin (1) assembled and communicating with the technical cell (3).

5. Smokable space modulable according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises three modular cabins (1A, 1B, 1C) assembled and / or communicating with each other via the one of their faces, said modular cabs communicating, on the other hand, with the common technical cell (3), via another of their faces.

6. Modular smoking area according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises four modular cabins (1A, 1B, 1C ₁ 1 D) assembled and / or communicating with each other via of one of their faces, said modular cabins communicating, other on the other hand, with the common technical cell (3) placed at the center of the group of four octagonal cabins (1A, 1B, 1C ₁ 1 D) via another of their faces.

7. Smoking space modular, according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one modular satellite octagonal cabin (1 N) similar to the modular cabins (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) , this satellite octagonal modular cabin (1 N) being assembled and communicating only with at least one of the latter.

8. adjustable smoking area according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the contact faces (2b, 2f, 2h) adjacent modular cells (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1 N) of said space smoking, are open at least partially, or provided with a removable wall.

Modular smoking area according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ashtray (7) comprises:

- a box or container (7a) for receiving butts and ashes, having an upper opening (7b);

- A tilting shutter flap (7c) installed in the upper part of the box (7a) and integral with a central pivot axis (7d) thus defining two-half flaps (7c ', 7c "), one of which (7c ¹ ) pivots downwards and the other (7c ") upwards, when said flap (7c) is pivoted in the open position;

- a push button (7th) axial movement accessible to the upper part of the ashtray;

- A motion transmission system comprising, for example, an articulated link (7f), the transmission system connecting the push button (7e) to one (7c ') of the half-flaps and to transform the axial movement said push button in pivoting movement of the shutter (7c);

- a return means (7g) of the push button (7e) in the neutral position and, therefore, said shutter flap (7c) in the closed position; said box (7a) being further provided, at the top and in the interior: - On the one hand, an upper seal (7h) against which rests, in the closed position of said flap, the half-flap (7c ¹ ) which opens by pivoting downwards, and,

- On the other hand, a lower seal (7i) against which rests, in the closed position of the flap, the half-flap (7c ") which opens by pivoting upwards.

10. modulatable smoking area according to claim 9, characterized in that the movement transmission system comprises, from top to bottom, an axial rod (7j) integral in translation of the pushbutton (7e), a rod (7T), a connecting lug (7I) secured to one (7c ¹ ) of the half-flaps, said link (7f) being connected, by means of hinges and via its opposite ends, to the lower end of the rod (7j) and the tab (71), and in that the pushbutton return means (7e) in the up position or neutral position comprises a helical spring (7g) acting in compression, surrounding the rod ( 7j) and housed in a spring box (7n) also arranged around said rod, said spring being, for example wedged, via its opposite ends, on the one hand, against the bottom of the spring box ( 7n) and, on the other hand, against a washer (7m) secured to the rod (7j) and also housed in the spring box (7n).

11. Smoking space adjustable according to one of claims 9 or 10, the upper opening (7b) of the box or container (2a) is provided with a perforated plate or grid (7p), characterized in that at least one of the side walls of said box is provided with an opening (7r) disposed between said grid (7p) and the tilting flap (7c), this arrangement allowing an air inlet to the upper part of said box (7a) and forming an air flow passing through said gate (7p) towards the extraction circuit.