FR3083481A1 - DEVICE FOR LAYING AT LEAST ONE EPORMIC DECORATIVE AND / OR INFORMATIVE PATTERN AND CORRESPONDING METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates in particular to a device for affixing to a surface (S) at least one ephemeral decorative and / or informative pattern (M), characterized in that it comprises, at least, from its apex in the direction of its base: - an upper sheet (2) forming a stencil, in which is defined at least one decorative and / or informative element (20) whose outline corresponds to the outline of said pattern (M) to be affixed; a lower layer (5) of a double-sided adhesive material; and, optionally, a removable ply (6) for protecting the lower face of said lower ply (5), said upper (2) and lower (5) plies being traversed right through by an integral cut (200), almost integral or by partial cutouts (400) which follow (follow) said contour of said decorative and / or informative element (20).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for affixing to a surface, for example vertical or horizontal, at least one ephemeral decorative and / or informative pattern.

It also relates to a process for producing at least one ephemeral decorative and / or informative pattern on a surface.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices for affixing at least one decorative and / or informative motif to a surface are already well known and some of them are generally designated by the term stencil. Such stencils are used for example to renew the horizontal road signs, which are erased due to bad weather and repeated passage of vehicles.

This road sign may not only consist of continuous or discontinuous bands affixed to the roads, but also zebras, pedestrian crossings or even drawdown arrows or the like. We can also deal with other standardized or personalized symbols.

Such stencils are also used to make purely decorative patterns, for example at the entrance to a company, in the form of an acronym or logo evocative of the activity of the company.

We could also cite many other types of achievements which have destinations other than those which have just been described above.

These stencils are produced and packaged in the form of rolls or in the form of sheets. Depending on their destination, rigid materials such as metal, wood or composites based on aluminum and plastic are used, or composites based on resin and glass fibers.

In certain particular cases, flexible materials such as plastic, aluminum, cellular or compact elastomer films are also used, as well as sheets of paper, of textile or of synthetic materials, recycled or not.

In certain embodiments, these materials which constitute the stencil have a lower face coated with an adhesive in order to be able to be fixed momentarily against the support, so that the material which is used to produce the decorative and / or informative pattern which will be affixed to the ground does not seep under the stencil before it dries, which would create burrs.

The markings thus made are intended to be permanent or ephemeral (temporary).

They are permanent when it comes to obtaining relatively durable markings over time. In such a case, they disappear by natural wear due to erosion or by a mechanical action such as scraping, planing, sanding, shot blasting, etc. This operation is time-consuming and costly because it consumes energy, labor and time.

The markings can also be ephemeral or temporary when it is a question of obtaining markings on a short duration, which can register from a few minutes to a few days.

We are thinking in particular of sporting events during which it is desirable to affix markings on the ground to guide athletes and / or spectators, or even solely advertising markings that "sponsors" ask to have affixed on places specific, for example the start or finish of a competition.

These markings disappear naturally, for example under the effect of bad weather (rain, snow, and frost), by natural wear (erosion) due to the passage of vehicles or by a mechanical action when it is a question of paints, resins, stickers or printed films.

Such markings based on aqueous or chalk-based paints can be removed by cleaning with pressurized water, or with detergents or solvent-based cleaning agents, or by mechanical action, such as scraping, planing, sandblasting and / or shot blasting.

This also applies to the markings known under the trade name "Clean-Tag" in which a stencil is used, the marking being only carried out by stripping the ground with a high-pressure cleaner, the dirty / clean contrast obtained after having pickled the surface showing said marking.

Furthermore, there are known printed markings known under the trademark "AsphaltArt" which are glued to their support and can be removed by simple peeling. However, with this kind of marking, there remains the problem of the risk of slipping on the surface of the marking and the risk of residue after its removal. In any event, these markings are not approved for traffic lanes by ASCQUER (Association for the Certification and Qualification of Road Equipment).

Once again, the time-consuming aspect and as costly as it consumes energy, labor and time remains present with these ephemeral markings.

In addition, when using an aqueous paint or chalk base, its removal risks polluting the sewers, resulting in a very annoying polluting aspect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems detailed above are solved thanks to the invention.

Indeed, it first of all proposes a device for affixing to a surface at least one ephemeral decorative and / or informative pattern, characterized in that it comprises, at a minimum, from its top towards its base:

- An upper sheet forming a stencil, in which is defined at least one decorative and / or informative element whose outline corresponds to the outline of said pattern to be affixed;

a lower ply of a double-sided adhesive material and, optionally, a removable protective ply for the lower face of said lower ply, said upper and lower plies being traversed right through by an integral, almost integral cut or by partial cutouts which follow (follow) said contour of said decorative and / or informative element.

Thanks to this device, it is possible to affix a pattern with the same characteristics as those of a pattern intended to remain permanently on the surface. However, since this pattern is supported by an adhesive sheet, it is possible to remove it when desired.

Furthermore, and as will be seen below, such patterns have characteristics which make them homologable by ASCQUER.

According to other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics of this device, taken alone or in any combination:

- are inserted between said upper ply and said lower ply and in this order:

- a second layer of an adhesive material;

a third ply of a reinforcing material, these second and third plies also being traversed right through by an integral, quasi-integral cut or by cutouts which follow (follow) said contour of said decorative and / or informative element;

- Said upper ply is formed from a material chosen to be flexible or semi-rigid;

- Said material of said upper ply is paper, plastic, metal, cellular or compact material, or based on synthetic materials, recycled or not;

- Said adhesive material of the second ply is a double-sided adhesive, differentiated or not, which is configured to adhere permanently to said upper ply, while allowing its separation from the third ply;

- said reinforcing material consists of a flexible or semi-rigid material such as a thermoplastic polymer or a mesh structure;

- Said adhesive material of the lower ply is based on butyl, acrylic, or natural or synthetic rubber;

- Said removable tablecloth is based on paper, in a plastic material coated with silicone, or polyethylene.

The present invention also provides a method for producing at least one ephemeral decorative and / or informative pattern on a surface, which comprises at least the following successive steps:

a) fix a device according to one of the preceding claims against said surface, by firmly applying said lower ply against said surface;

b) remove said decorative and / or informative element from said upper ply and the fraction of the second underlying ply when the latter is present, by extracting them at said integral, almost integral cut or partial cuts;

c) depositing a decoration material in the bottom of the space thus freed;

d) when said decorative material has dried, remove, in one piece, the rest of said upper and lower ply and when these are present, the second ply and the fraction of the third tablecloth which is not located directly above said decoration material.

According to particular characteristics of this process:

- It includes, when said device comprises a removable protective sheet, a prior step of removing the latter;

- Said surface consists of a vertical or horizontal surface such as the ground;

- said decoration material is solid, liquid or pasty;

- said decoration material is chosen from the following group: paint, resin, cold or hot coating, concrete mortar, sprayable material;

- Incorporating into said decoration material or spreading thereon at least one non-slip material, at least one pigment, or at least one colored filler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial top view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the region of the device in which is implanted a decorative and / or informative pattern, which is surrounded by a cut different from that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing more specifically a series of partial cutouts surrounding said pattern, these partial cutouts affecting only a lower part of the device;

Figures 5 to 9 are diagrams illustrating the main steps of the process for producing an ephemeral decorative pattern according to the invention;

Figures 10 and following are views equivalent to Figures 5 to 9, the device being of simpler structure than that of the device of Figures 1 to 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In all of the aforementioned figures, the proportions have not been respected in any way, these figures having only the object of understanding the structure of the device.

In Figure 1 attached is shown a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.

This device 1 is for example in a rectangle or a square. However, in other embodiments, there could be any outline, the important thing being that this device makes it possible to integrate therein a decorative and / or informative element whose outline corresponds to the outline of the pattern to be affixed.

According to the invention, this device 1 is formed from several layers.

The term “sheet” means a material which is in the form of a sheet of constant thickness, of the order of a few microns to a few millimeters, which has an integral character, which means that this sheet retains its cohesion , as long as it has not been deliberately divided into several parts. However, the use of the term "tablecloth" does not exclude the fact that it is perforated.

From the top of the device 1 in the direction of its base, it very particularly comprises a first sheet 2 forming a stencil, in which is defined at least one decorative and / or informative element 20 whose outline corresponds to the outline of the pattern to be affixed. This first ply 2 can be described as an “upper” ply.

This first ply 2 has for example a thickness less than or equal to 20 mm and is made of a flexible or semi-rigid material.

For information only, it can be plastic, aluminum, cellular material (alveolar).

In the example of the appended figures, the decorative and / or informative element 20 consists of a triangular shape.

Of course, it could be an element of any other form or even an assembly formed of several separate elements, forming or not in their entirety a message having a particular meaning.

The device 1 also includes a second layer of a first adhesive material. Advantageously, this adhesive material, differentiated or not, is configured to adhere permanently to the underside of the first ply 2. On the other hand, it is possible to separate it relatively easily from the third ply 4 which will be described below.

A third ply 4 is made of a reinforcing material which has at most a few millimeters thick.

As will be seen below, its function is to allow the pattern which will be affixed subsequently above, not to crease or to deform due to forces, essentially shearing, due to the repeated passage of pedestrians and / or vehicles (i.e. in conditions of heavy traffic). Thus, the marking remains rigid.

As an indication, this reinforcing material is a flexible or semi-rigid material such as a thermoplastic polymer or a mesh structure.

A fourth ply 5 is made of an adhesive material. It can be described as "peelable" or "removable".

In other words, this adhesive makes it possible to adhere the sheet located above it to the support or material located below. Such an adhesive offers good resistance to friction and shearing forces. On the other hand, it is relatively easy to separate it from the material situated below by applying a tensile force directed substantially perpendicular to said material, or at 180 ° relative to this material.

Finally, and optionally, the device comprises a fifth ply which is made of a removable material for protecting the fourth ply referenced 5.

This fifth ply 6, generally called a "liner", is for example based on paper or a plastic material coated with silicone.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first ply 2 as well as the second ply 3 are traversed right through by an integral or almost integral cutout 200, 300 which follows the outline of the decorative and / or informative element 20.

By the integral qualifier, it is meant that the cutout 200 is uninterrupted over the entire contour of the element 20.

By the expression almost integral, it is meant that the cutting is uninterrupted over almost the entire contour of the element, but there remain however a few point regions 201, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the cutting is interrupted, so that there is continuity of material in these regions between the element 20 and the rest of the first ply 2. What has just been expressed also applies to the second ply 3, as regards its own cut 300.

We will understand later the interest of this cut.

Still in accordance with an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the third ply 4 as well as the fourth ply 5 are traversed right through by a series of partial cutouts 400 visible in FIG. 4, these partial cutouts extending opposite the integral or almost integral cutout 200, respectively 300. In other words, and as is particularly visible in FIG. 1, all of the cutouts 200, 300, 400 and 500 are located exactly perpendicular to each other.

By the expression partial cuts, it is meant that, over the entire periphery of the decorative pattern 20, the sheets 4 and 5 are cut out in the form of dotted lines, so that there are zones between these cuts in which there is a continuity of material between the decorative element and the rest of the tablecloth.

Despite the presence of the precuts indicated above, the device 1 has an integral character, so that the decorative element 20 does not detach from the ply 2. Thus, the assembly can be transported and deposited on a site without risk that part of this device does not come off.

According to variants not shown here, it can be envisaged that all of the abovementioned cuts are of the same type, that is to say in the form of an integral, quasi-integral cut or in the form of partial cuts.

Such a device lends itself perfectly to the affixing of a decoration motif and / or ephemeral information on a horizontal surface such as the floors.

However, in certain circumstances, it is possible to envisage using this device for producing a pattern on a non-horizontal surface, for example a vertical surface such as a wall.

The main steps in producing such a pattern will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 et seq.

In a first step, and after having been freed from the fifth ply 6, the device 1 is positioned on the floor S, so that the fourth ply 5 of adhesive material is applied and adheres to the floor. We then carry out a masking of the assembly so that the assembly of the device 1 is perfectly flat and pressed to the ground.

This soil can be smooth, structured, even rough.

In a following step, the decorative and / or informative element 20 is removed by entering it at the level of the cutout 200 visible in FIG. 2. This removal operation marked with an arrow in FIG. 6 concomitantly with the removal of the part of the second ply 3 which extends under the element 20. This gives a reservation R whose contour corresponds exactly to the pattern which one wishes to apply to the ground S (see Fig . 6). In doing so, the thickness of the first ply 2 makes it possible to calibrate the thickness of the material which will constitute the pattern, as explained below.

According to FIG. 7, a decoration material 7 is deposited in the bottom of the space which corresponds to the reservation R.

This material can be of the type already used for permanent markings. It can be liquid, solid, pasty, sprayable and has characteristics defined according to the intended use of the marking.

Thus, when the marking is carried out on a surface where pedestrians or vehicles will pass, preferably non-slip, even grainy, materials will be used.

Of course, the structure according to the invention allows the use of products approved by ASCQUER.

If necessary, before the material 7 has dried and / or hardened, non-slip fillers, such as particles of silica or aggregates, or reflective or whitening particles, will be incorporated on its surface.

Once the material 7 has dried and / or hardened, the device 1 is removed, with the exception of the fraction of the plies arranged exactly vertical to the material 7.

This removal is facilitated by the fact that the plies 4 and 5 have partial precuts surrounding the pattern to be produced.

We are in the configuration of Figure 8 where a pattern M is thus affixed against the ground S.

Of course, the configuration of this figure is exaggerated compared to reality so that this pattern M and its underlying plies have a thickness of at most a few millimeters, which in no way hinders the passage of vehicles or pedestrians. In addition, this pattern has all the desired anti-slip characteristics.

According to the invention, when the pattern M loses its usefulness, for example at the end of a sports competition, it suffices to lift the pattern so as to detach the adhesive from the ground S and then to proceed with its peeling , so that the ground is thus freed from the pattern and regains its initial appearance without residues having adhered to its surface.

This peeling operation will be facilitated if a traction is directed at 90 ° relative to the pattern glued to the ground. However, of course, it is possible to carry out a traction directed at 180 °, which is less easy to implement.

In the end, after removal, the floor does not require any cleaning and no residue from the device remains stuck on it, thus avoiding any risk of pollution.

As indicated above, the structure of the device 1 which has been described previously is perfectly suited to withstand high traffic conditions.

On the other hand, in situations in which the passage of vehicles and / or pedestrians is infrequent, or even rare, it may prove useful to use a device less complex than the previous one, but having the same resistance characteristics. to efforts, while allowing its removal, without risk of pollution.

This device is described below with reference to FIG. 10 then to FIGS. 11 to 14.

Thus, this device, as it appears in FIG. 10, now only has two plies, namely an upper ply 2 and a lower ply 5.

The upper ply 2 is advantageously of the same nature as that described above and has the same technical characteristics.

Advantageously, this sheet may be based on paper, the face of which has undergone a treatment aimed at limiting its adhesion. It can be for example a silicone treatment.

The lower ply 5 is of the same type as in the first embodiment, which means that it is made of an adhesive material.

As in the embodiment described above, the sheets 2 and 5 are crossed by a cut which follows the outline of the decorative and / or informative element (20).

The positioning of the device 1 on the ground (see FIG. 10) is carried out in a similar manner to what has been described with reference to FIG. 5.

In a following step (see FIG. 11), the element 20 is removed by separating it from the sheet of adhesive 5, which remains on the ground.

Thus, the reservation that is created has a bottom formed by said adhesive.

Finally, for the implementation of the following steps, the procedure is the same as with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

Claims (14)

1. Device (1) for affixing to a surface (S) at least one ephemeral decorative and / or informative pattern (M), characterized in that it comprises at least, from its top towards its base: - An upper sheet (2) forming a stencil, in which is defined at least one decorative and / or informative element (20) whose outline corresponds to the outline of said pattern (M) to be affixed; -a lower layer (5) of a double-sided adhesive material; and, optionally, a removable ply (6) for protecting the lower face of said lower ply (5), said upper (2) and lower (5) plies being traversed right through by an integral cut (200), almost integral or by partial cutouts (400) which follow (follow) said contour of said decorative and / or informative element (20). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that there are interposed, between said upper ply (2) and said lower ply (5) and in this order: - a second sheet (3) of an adhesive material; - A third ply (4) of a reinforcing material, these second and third plies (3, 4) also being traversed right through by an integral cut (200), quasi-integral or by cutouts (400) which follows (follow) said contour of said decorative and / or informative element (20). 3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said upper ply (2) is formed of a flexible or semi-rigid material. 4. Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said material of said upper ply (2) is paper, plastic, metal, cellular or compact material, or based on synthetic materials, recycled or not. 5. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said adhesive material of the second ply (3) is a double-sided adhesive, differentiated or not, which is configured to adhere permanently to said upper ply (2 ), while allowing its separation from the third ply (4). 6. Device (1) according to one of claims 2 or 5, characterized in that said reinforcing material consists of a flexible or semi-rigid material such as a thermoplastic polymer or a mesh structure. 7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said adhesive material of the lower ply (5) is based on butyl, acrylic, or natural or synthetic rubber. 8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said removable sheet (6) is based on paper or in a plastic material coated with silicone. 9. Method for producing at least one ephemeral decorative and / or informative pattern (M) on a surface (S), characterized in that it comprises at least the following successive steps: a) fix a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims against said surface (S), by firmly applying said lower ply (5) against said surface (S); b) removing said decorative and / or informative element (20) from said upper ply (2) and from the fraction of the second ply (3) below when it is present, by extracting them at the level of said integral cutout (200, 300), almost integral or partial cutouts; c) depositing a decoration material (7) in the bottom of the space (R) thus freed; d) when said decorative material (7) has dried, remove, in one piece, the rest of said upper (2) and lower (5) plies, and when these are present, from the second ply (3) and the fraction of the third ply (4) which is not located directly above said decoration material (7). 10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises, when said device (1) comprises a removable protective sheet (6), a prior step of removing the latter. 11. Method according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that said surface (S) consists of a vertical or horizontal surface such as the ground. 12. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said decoration material (7) is solid, liquid or pasty. 13. The method of claim 12, characterized in that said decoration material (7) is chosen from the following group: paint, resin, cold or hot coating, concrete mortar, sprayable material. 14. Method according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized by the fact that one incorporates into said decoration material (7) or is spread thereon at least one non-slip material, at least one pigment, or at least one colored filler. 1/3