EP1010843B1 - Device forming foot-support for stake or post, in particular for arbour or panel support and method for its closing - Google Patents

Abstract

Weighted foot comprises two moulded hollow plastic blocks (3, 4) with their inner surfaces recessed to form a hole for the lower end of a post or mast (2) when they are fastened together on either side of it by elastic clamps (26, 27) engaging with toothed lugs (23, 24) on the blocks. An Independent claim is also included for production of the plastic blocks by blow moulding, injection moulding, roto-moulding or thermoforming, and then ballasting with water, sand or cement.

Description

The invention relates to a device forming a foot for stake or mast, in particular for an arbor or panel, and a method of closing such a device.

The arbor or panel legs are generally constituted by metal tubes or wooden masts of a diameter between 18 and 50 mm. These feet can be sunk into the ground to immobilize the structure they support. However, it is not always possible to press 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, we sometimes use plinths concrete which are intended to receive the lower end of panel feet. However, such bases are heavy, so impractical to move, and do not allow to receive feet or masts that are not exactly vertical. But he happens, in the case of arbors, but also for panels comprising several feet forming a structure in pyramid shape, that stakes to be immobilized are inclined to the vertical, so that there is no no device adapted to constitute the foot.

In addition, the stakes of devices such as arbors or billboards have diameters variable, even sections of variable, circular shapes, oval or polygonal, which may prevent the use of certain known bases which are only compatible with stakes with circular cross-section of a determined diameter.

Thus, EP-A-0 380 272 discloses a device forming a foot for a stake which includes two parts intended to be assembled by tenons and mortises arranged around a central hole designed to receive essentially a pole vertical small diameter. Assembly by tenons and mortises requires the handling 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 we hear more particularly remedy the invention by proposing a device capable of adapt to feet of various sections, possibly inclined, and not requiring painful operation of the elements who constitute it.

In this spirit, the invention relates to a device forming base for stake or mast, in particular for an arbor or panel, comprising two wedges, of complementary shapes, intended to be assembled by defining between them a well for receiving this stake or mast, characterized in that the device also comprises at least one elastic clamp, each wedge comprising at least one toothed zone capable of cooperating with said elastic clamp.

Thanks to the invention, the wedges 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 by relative to the ground on which they are placed, then locked together around this stake or mast thanks to the elastic clamp which cooperates with the toothed areas of each wedge.

According to a first advantageous aspect of the invention, the wedges are formed by hollow envelopes obtained by blowing, injection molding, rotational molding, thermoforming or any other method of shaping a plastic material. These hollow envelopes are easy to transport and handle until they are weighted, while their weight is sufficient to fulfill the desired function when they are weighted.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the pliers is able to cooperate simultaneously with the toothed areas of the two wedges, this clamp being shaped to exert on these areas teeth a pinching effort tending to bring them together. The clamp elastic thus closes the well around the stake or mast, which allows the shims to be locked in position.

It can also be provided that the toothed zone of each wedge is inclined relative to a median plane of the mounted device. This aspect of the invention allows a progressive effort pinch obtained with the shim, which allows to adapt the diameter of the receiving well at the different diameters of the stakes or masts it can receive.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the teeth of the toothed area of each wedge are tilted in one direction facilitating the positioning of the clamp in one direction generally perpendicular to these teeth.

Each wedge advantageously comprises two toothed zones arranged on either side of the well, in the mounted position of the device. This arrangement makes it possible to balance the efforts suffered by the holds.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the teeth of two toothed zones cooperating with an elastic clamp are generally parallel to each other in the mounted position of the device, which makes it possible to envisage rapid disassembly and easy of the foot once this one formed.

According to alternative embodiments of the invention, it is possible provide that the spring clip is obtained by molding polyethylene, especially polyethylene. high density, or that it is metallic.

• plaquer les enveloppes contre le piquet ou mât en formant le puits autour de ce piquet ou mât et
• verrouiller ces cales en disposant une pince élastique en appui sur des zones dentées de ces cales, de telle sorte que cette pince exerce un effort de pincement sur les zones dentées.

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

• press the envelopes against the stake or mast by forming the well around this stake or mast and
• lock these wedges by placing an elastic clamp bearing on toothed areas of these wedges, so that this clamp exerts a clamping force on the toothed areas.

Such a method can be easily implemented without need to lift the envelopes constituting the device, that is to say without too much effort.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un dispositif formant pied conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de la figure 1 en position montée ;
• la figure 3 est une coupe selon la ligne III-III à la figure 2 et
• la figure 4 est une coupe analogue à la figure 3 lors de l'utilisation du dispositif avec un mât de diamètre plus important que le piquet représenté aux figures 1 à 3.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages of it will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of a device forming a foot conforming to its principle and of its method of closing, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a foot device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in the mounted position;
• Figure 3 is a section along line III-III in Figure 2 and
• FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3 when the device is used with a mast of larger diameter than the stake shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The device 1 is intended to be mounted at the lower end 2 a of a stake 2 formed by a metal tube, such as a stake of the tent mast 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.

Envelopes 3 and 4 can also be produced by injection molding of a thermoplastic material, rotational molding or thermoforming and possibly include a ultrasonic welding line.

These envelopes 3 and 4 are each provided with an orifice not shown filling intended to be closed by a plug, also not shown. Envelopes 3 and 4 can thus be partially or completely filled with ballast material L, such as sand, water or cement.

Each envelope 3 or 4 defines a zone 13 or 14 for receiving the stake 2. As is more particularly apparent from FIG. 1, the zone 13 of the envelope 3 is formed on a face 3 a , called the internal face, generally perpendicular to the surface S on which the device 1 is placed and intended to be placed opposite a corresponding face 4 a , also called the internal face, of the envelope 4. The zone 14 of the envelope 4 is formed on the face 4 a . The zones 13 and 14 together define, between the envelopes 3 and 4, a well 15 for receiving the stake 2.

Zones 13 and 14 are slightly tapered, so that stake 2 can be received in well 15 by being substantially parallel to a normal Z-Z 'at the surface S, that is to say globally vertical when the surface S is horizontal, but also being inclined relative to this normal Z-Z ', in particular due to the geometry of the set to which it belongs, such as an arbor whose feet are generally tilted for better stability.

The casing 3 comprises two tongues 23 and 23 'extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the well 15, at the side edges 3b, 3c of the casing 3. Note 23 a and 23' has the inner faces tongues 23 and 23 'which extend the face 3 a . We note 23 b and 23 ' b the external faces of the tongues 23 and 23' opposite the internal faces 23 a and 23 ' a . In the same way, the envelope 4 is provided with two tabs 24 and 24 'of which there are respectively 24 a and 24' a the internal faces directed towards the envelope 3 and 24b and 24 ' b the external faces opposite to the internal faces. .

The external faces 23 b , 23 ′ b , 24 b and 24 ′ b of the tongues are each provided with several inclined teeth, respectively referenced 23 c , 23 ′ c , 24 c and 24 ′ c .

As can be seen more particularly from FIGS. 3 and 4, these teeth are inclined in the direction of the main parts of the envelopes 3 and 4. More specifically, each tooth 23 c has a first face 23 d , inclined relative to the internal face 23 a of the tongue 23, and a second face 23 e , generally perpendicular to the internal face 23 a . The teeth 23 ' c , 24 c and 24' c are similar.

We denote P a median plane between the surfaces 3 a and 4 a when the device is mounted in the position of FIGS. 2 and 3. The external faces 23 b , 23 ' b , 24 b , 24' b of the tongues 23, 23 ' , 24 and 24 'form as many toothed zones from which it appears from FIGS. 3 and 4 that they are inclined at an angle α with respect to the plane P. The toothed zones 23 b and the like remain generally perpendicular to the surface S, c that is to say vertical when this surface is horizontal. Due to the inclination of the toothed zones 23 b and 24 b relative to the plane P, the teeth 23 c and 24 c are increasingly distant from the plane P as one approaches the well 15. The toothed zones 23 b and 24 b are oriented opposite each other in the mounted position of the device 1. In other words, the zone 23 b is oriented opposite the casing 4 and the tongue 24. Likewise, the zone 24 b is oriented opposite the tongue 23. Likewise, the toothed zones 23 ′ b and 24 ′ b are oriented opposite each other.

Two elastic clamps 26 and 27 are provided to be arranged in overlap, for one on the toothed areas 23 b and 24 b , for the other on the toothed areas 23 ' b , and 24' b . The clamps 26 and 27 are formed by molding of high density polyethylene. They can also be made of other plastic materials or metal.

When engaged on the toothed areas, 23 b and the like, the clamps 26 and 27 exert on them a pinching force F tending to bring the internal faces 3 a and 4 to the envelopes 3 and 4 of the plane P , which has the effect of closing the well 15 around the stake 2.

Given the elastic nature of the clamps 26 and 27, the force F obtained is also elastic, so that it adapts to variations in the apparent diameter of the post, in particular when the latter is subjected to a tilting force which has tendency to spread opposite faces 3 a and 4 has envelopes 3 and 4.

Due to the inclination, at the angle α, of the surfaces 23 b and equivalent relative to the plane P, a progressive tightening of the well 15 around the post 2 or the mast 2 'is obtained. The tightening is all the more important as the clamps 26 and 27 are approached from the well 15.

As is apparent from the comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4, the invention makes it possible to automatically adjust the diameter of the well 15 to the section of the stake 2. In the configuration of FIG. 4, the mast 2 ′ used is of relatively large diameter and the opposing faces 3a and 4a of the casings 3 and 4 are separated by a distance of greater than the corresponding distance d in the configuration of Figure 3. the grippers 26 and 27 are partially engaged on the toothed zones 23 b and equivalent, because the distance d ' is such that the clamps 26 and 27 are opened to the maximum when they cooperate with the teeth 23 c and the outermost equivalents, that is to say the ones furthest from the well 15 .

The inclined nature of the teeth 23 c and the like makes it possible to envisage the positioning of the clamps 26 and 27 on the tongues 23, 23 ', 24 and 24' by pressure parallel to the internal surfaces 23 a and 24 a or 23 ' a and 24 ' a , in the direction of well 15, overlapping on the external faces 23 b and 24 b or 23' b and 24 ' b . We push in this direction as long as it is possible to advance the clamp 26 on the toothed areas 23 b and 24 b . The ends 26 a of the clamp 26 jump between the teeth until reaching a position of maximum elastic opening of the clamp, or the position of FIG. 3, in which the progression of the clamp 26 in the direction of the arrow F 'is blocked. Due to the inclined nature of the teeth 23 c and the like, the clamp 26 does not risk reversing in the opposite direction to the arrow F ', so that the locking obtained is stable over time.

The procedure is the same with the clamp 27.

When it is necessary to open the device, in particular to move the stake 2 or the mast 2 ′, it suffices to exert on the clamps 26 and 27 a force directed towards the surface S, so that these clamps slide the along the teeth 23 c and the like which are parallel, in the direction of the ground, which makes it possible to eliminate the force F shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Envelopes 3 and 4 are identical, which allows make them with a single mold. They are wider in the lower part than in their upper part, which gives them very good stability, even when they are partially met.

In the case where the stake is secured to a wire which extends to its lower end 2 a, in particular in the case of a foot arbor, this fabric may be received between the surfaces 3a and 4 has envelopes 3 and 4, on either side of the well 15. In fact, the fabric can easily be sandwiched between these surfaces, without risk of deterioration.

The invention has been described with wedges or envelopes 3 and 4 each comprising two toothed zones 23 b , 23 ' b and 24 b , 24' b . It is however applicable with wedges articulated together on one of their lateral edges while their other edge carries a toothed zone intended to cooperate with an elastic clamp. The device is closed by pivoting at least one of the shims around their common axis of articulation, so as to bring the toothed areas closer together, then by placing the elastic clamp on the toothed areas, as indicated above.

In the embodiment described, the shims used for locking the stake in position are hollow envelopes. he it is understood that these wedges 3 or 4 can be parts solid and more generally, all blocking parts having a geometry according to the invention. However, the use 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 for their transport and handling.

Claims (10)

1. Device (1) forming a foot for a stake (2) or pole (2'), and particularly for a foot for an arbour or panel, comprising two shells (3, 4) of complementary shapes, intended to be joined together, thus defining between them a well (15) for receiving said stake or pole, characterised in that the device also comprises at least one resilient clip (26, 27), each shell comprising at least one toothed zone (23b, 23'b, 24b, 24'b) suitable for co-operating with said resilient clip (26, 27).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said shells are formed by hollow envelopes (3, 4) obtained by blowing, injection moulding, rotational moulding or thermoforming of plastics material.
3. Device according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that said clip (26, 27) is suitable for co-operating with the toothed zones (23b, 23'b, 24b, 24'b) of said two shells (3, 4) simultaneously, said clip being shaped to exert on said toothed zones a pinching force (F) which tends to move them closer together.
4. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that said toothed zone (23b, 23'b, 24b, 24'b) of each shell (3, 4) is inclined (α) to a centre plane (P) of said device (1) when assembled.
5. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the teeth (23c, 23'c, 24c, 24'c) of said toothed zone (23b, 23'b, 24b, 24'b) of each shell (3, 4) are inclined in a direction which facilitates the fitting of said clip (26, 27) in a direction generally perpendicular to said teeth.
6. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that each shell (3, 4) has two toothed zones (23b, 23'b, 24b, 24'b), which are arranged on either side of said well (15) when the device (1) is in the assembled position.
7. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the teeth (23c, 23'c, 24c, 24'c) of two toothed zones (23b, 23'b, 24b, 24'b) which co-operate with a resilient clip (26, 27) are generally parallel to one another when the device (1) is in the assembled position.
8. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that said resilient clip (26, 27) is obtained by moulding polyethylene, and particularly high-density polyethylene
9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said resilient clip (26, 27) is metallic.
10. Method of closing a device (1) forming a foot for a stake (2) or pole (2'), particularly for a foot for an arbour or panel, said device comprising two shells (3, 4) of complementary shapes which define between them a well (15) for receiving said stake or pole, characterised in that it comprises;

    applying said shells (3, 4) against said stake (2) or pole (2'), thus forming said well (15) around said stake or pole, and

    locking said shells by arranging a resilient clip (26, 27) to bear on toothed zones (23b, 23'b, 24b, 24'b) of said shells in such a way that said clip exerts a pinching force (F) on said toothed zones.

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