FR2690468A1 - Marker, e.g. for a parking space of subway - has basically flat and transparent body, e.g. clear in colour, with coloured lamps inside - Google Patents

Abstract

The marker consists of a basically flat and optically transparent main body (11), fixed by its under face (13) to a supporting surface, recesses (17) round a central column (20), and lamps (33) in the recesses, equipped with transparent covers (34). The lamp covers are the same shape as the recesses in the body so that they fit in place by simple insertion. The upper surface of the body (11) has a series of peripheral steps (15) to promote the diffusion of light. The body can be of a clear transparent material and the lamps coloured, e.g. in two different colours which can be selectively switched on or off. ADVANTAGE - Has low height, enabling it to be fitted without making a recess in the ground, while sufficiently strong to allow heavy vehicles to pass over it.

Description

 The invention relates to marking posts, in particular light studs used for marking parking lots and underground passages.

 Indicator pads are already known which are fitted with elements of the retro-reflector type, or other equivalent optical elements which can only return light when they are lit.

 There are also known lighting studs or light blocks, which are equipped with a lighting system powered by sector or by battery.

 These markup pads are generally constituted by a housing which is embedded in the roadway or the associated support wall, and by a lighting system with one or more bulbs housed in this housing. A flat cover, made of tempered glass or plastic, closes the case above, by being flush with the level of the road or the wall.

 The installation of such beaconing pads therefore involves providing a reservation in the roadway or the wall, which is doubly restrictive, both because of the need to have to dig the roadway or the wall (the average dimensioning of a reservation generally corresponds to a cube of 10 cm side), but also for the complications which result from this if we want to change the location of the studs. Another disadvantage lies in the need to provide a reliable seal, so as to resist washing with large amounts of water or heavy precipitation: an O-ring must then be used on which the flat cover comes to bear, with delicate tightening to dose to achieve sealing without breaking the cover.

 I1 thus appears attractive to seek to produce a marking plot that does not require a reservation for its installation, like the indicator studs of the retro-reflector type. However, the light systems usually used require a relatively large height, which may be incompatible with the installation of such studs on a roadway. In addition, in this case, it is necessary to solve the problem of mechanical strength which must allow the rolling of heavy vehicles.

 The invention aims precisely to solve this problem, by designing a markup pad not having the aforementioned drawbacks and / or limitations.

 The object of the invention is therefore to produce a beacon block which does not require a reservation for its installation, and the structure of which makes it possible to have a low height without being to the detriment of the mechanical strength or of the mounting of the system. associated lighting.

 The object of the invention is also to produce a beacon block, the lighting system of which can be easily replaced, said system remaining in any event fitted with a seal that is both reliable and durable.

I1 is more particularly a marking plot, in particular for marking parking lots and underground passages, characterized in that it comprises
an essentially flat and optically transparent main body, said body having a lower face by which the stud rests, so as to be fixed thereon, on an associated external support, as well as a recess which opens out at said lower face, and the bottom of which has a central stiffening post
- a lighting means arranged in. crown, said lighting means being housed in the recess of the main body, and being held by clipping in this recess.

 Preferably, the recess of the main body has a cylindrical shape, and the central column extends in the axis of this recess. In particular, the central column extends up to the level of the lower face of the main body, so as to abut directly on the external support (the desired stop may alternatively be obtained with a shorter colonette, with the interposition of a part central flat or projecting integral with the lighting means).

 I1 is also interesting that the lighting means comprises a bulb support in the form of a flat crown, and an optically transparent cover overcoming and enveloping said support which is fitted with bulbs.

 Advantageously then, the cowling has an external geometry which is complementary to that of the recess of the main body, so as to ensure the retention by clipping of the lighting means by simple insertion of said lighting means in said recess.

 According to a particular embodiment, the cowling is essentially toroidal, with a section having a general shape of a semicircle, the internal and external circular edges of which are fixed with sealing, in particular by welding, to the internal and external edges of the support d bulbs in the shape of a flat crown.

 Preferably, the external surface of the main body has peripheral steps to promote the diffusion of light, in particular circular coaxial steps when the stud is circular.

 Advantageously also, the main body is made of optically colorless material, and the lighting means comprises colored bulbs, or, as the case may be, the main body and the cover of the lighting means are made of optically colorless materials, and the support d 'bulbs is equipped with colored bulbs.

 It can then prove to be advantageous for the lighting means to comprise at least two groups of bulbs of different colors, which can be selectively powered.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures where
- Figures 1 and 2 are views, respectively in elevation and from above, illustrating a markup pad according to the invention
- Figure 3 is a bottom view of this markup stud, allowing a better distinction between the internal geometry of the main body of said stud, and the underside of the lighting means arranged in a crown
- Figures 4 and 5 are sections along
IV-IV and VV of Figure 3, to better distinguish the structure of the lighting means arranged in a ring, and its integration in the main body.

 Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a marker stud 10 according to the invention, as it can be placed on an associated external support S, after interposition of a seal J, preferably made of neoprene. The external support S may be extremely variable depending on the application concerned, and it may in particular be a floor, a wall, a curb.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show only the main body 11 of the marking stud 10, the associated lighting means being in fact housed inside this main body, so that said means will be described later with reference to Figures 3 to 5. It can be seen that the main body 11 is essentially flat, and has a lower face 13 by which the stud 10 rests, so as to be fixed thereon, on the associated external support S. The main body 11 is here circular , with an X axis, but it goes without saying that this is only one possible embodiment, and it is equally possible to provide markup pads of different shapes, in particular of elliptical, polygonal, rectangular or square shape. main body 11 thus comprises a peripheral border 12, and a central dome 14 which is slightly curved, and between said border and said dome, the main body 11 comprises peripheral bleachers 15 to promote diff use of light (avoiding harmful reflections). In this case, due to the circular shape of the main body 11, the steps 15 are also circular, being arranged around the axis
X of the main body. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the main body 11 has a plurality of stepped holes 16, in this case three stepped holes, associated with the fixing (for example by screwing) of the marking stud on the external support S, this fixing preferably being removable so as to be able to replace the associated lighting means. FIG. 2 also makes it possible to distinguish a connection cable 37, it being understood that this cable can also exit under the beacon pad, passing through the external support S, without projecting laterally from the periphery of said beacon pad. The main body 11 is made of an optically transparent material, for example polycarbonate. As an indication, the height of the marking stud, that is to say the height of the main body 11 of said stud, may be of the order of 20 to 25 mm, so that this pad has a space comparable to that of the indicator pads of the retro-reflector type already known. Such a low height is particularly advantageous when the beacon block is intended to equip roadways that can be used by heavy vehicles.

 We will now describe in more detail the internal geometry of the main body 11 of the aforementioned beacon pad, as well as the structure and integration of the associated lighting means, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

 According to an essential characteristic, the main body 11 has a recess 17 which opens at the lower face 13, and the bottom of which has a central stiffening column 20. In this case, the recess 17 of the main body It has a cylindrical shape, that is to say that its side wall 18 is arranged coaxially with the axis X of the main body 11 and is extended, in the direction of the dome 14, by a bottom 19, which has, due to the fact of the presence of the central baluster 20 which extends in the axis X of this recess, a form of circular groove. The central baluster 20 extends here up to the level of the lower face 13 of the main body 11, so to be abutted directly by its free edge 20.1 on the external support S: this central column thus gives a mechanical effect of stiffening of the dome 14, and ensures the mechanical rigidity of the upper part of the beacon pad. It is naturally possible to provide that the central column 20 does not abut directly on the external support, but is shorter, the desired stop being then obtained with the interposition of a flat central part or projecting integral with the lighting means, so as to find the continuity of material providing the desired mechanical rigidity. In all cases, the central column, by direct support, constitutes a pillar giving high mechanical resistance to the whole of the dome 14 of the beaconing block. Thanks to this, it is possible to use a relatively thin veil for the dome of the main body, which is advantageous for the small overall height.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the marking stud 10 comprises a lighting means 30 arranged in a crown, said means being housed in the recess 17 of the main body 11, and being held by clipping on this recess.

 The term "clipping" used here must be understood in a broad sense, including in particular any latching or bayonet mounting system, or, as illustrated here, any natural maintenance by simple wedging in the associated housing.

 In this case, the lighting means 30 comprises a bulb holder in the form of a flat crown. The term "bulb" must be understood in a broad sense, encompassing any conceivable light source, such as light-emitting diode, light form, etc. This bulb holder is here constituted by a plate 32 on which are mounted bulbs 33, preferably in a parallel mounting, this plate being arranged on a plate 31, which is preferably made of plastic, for example bakelite . We could be content to produce the lighting means in the form of a single bulb holder in the form of a flat crown previously described, said support then being held by wedging its periphery in the central recess 17 of the main body 11. however advantageous to provide, as illustrated here, an optically transparent cover 34, which overcomes and envelops the bulb holder. Preferably then, the cowling 34 has an external geometry which is complementary to that of the recess 17 of the main body 11, so as to maintain it by natural clipping of the lighting means 30 by simple wedging of said lighting means in this recess. In this case, the cowling 34 is essentially toroidal, with an external surface 35 which is complementary to the surface 19 of the bottom of the recess 17, that is to say with a section having a general semi-circle shape. The inner and outer circular edges of the cover 34 are preferably fixed, with sealing, to the inner and outer edges of the bulb holder in the shape of a flat crown. It is possible, for example, to provide for welding, in particular by ultrasound, at the level of the opposite internal and external circular edges, and it will in particular be advantageous to provide for this welding to envelop the outlet junction 36 of the connection cable 37. , which ensures an extremely satisfactory seal, perfectly protecting the interior of the lighting means against external humidity. With this draw, it will be advantageous to ensure that the base plate 31 is disposed at a distance from the underside 13 of the main body 11, so as to be even better protected against possible infiltration of water from below the stud markup.

 It will naturally be possible to use a base plate 31 in the form of a disc, possibly provided with a central lug, thus passing under the central column then shortened (the cowling can be unchanged, or have a central thickness also passing under the column ): in all cases, however, care should be taken to preserve the continuity of the material, preserving the abutment effect essential for obtaining satisfactory mechanical rigidity for the central zone of the stud.

As is better in FIGS. 3 and 5, the structure of the main body 11 has been lightened by providing two circular grooves 21 and 22, coaxial with the axis
X, as well as radial ribs 23 ensuring bridging of the crowns 24, 25, 26 thus defined to ensure the mechanical strength of the assembly. With such an arrangement, the lower surface 13 of the main body 11 is therefore formed by the lower coplanar edges of the rings 24, 25, 26 and the radial ribs 23, (with their possible widening at the level of a stepped bore 16). In the crowns 24, 25, 26, two lines of notches 27, 28, 29 have been provided here allowing the possible passage of a connection cable 37 which has to exit radially. Preferably, provision will be made at the level of the outermost notch 27, to reserve link bridges 27.1: if the connection cable must cross the outer ring of the main body, the bridges 27.1 of the selected line of notches are then broken, but if no connection cable n 'is planned, said bridging preserves the seal at the base of the markup stud. It should be noted that one and / or the other of the grooves 21, 22 may receive a lighting crown similar to that which is arranged in the central recess, with bulbs of the same color or of different colors.

 The bulb support of the lighting means 30 is here equipped with eight bulbs 33, regularly distributed around the axis X of the main body. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the number or type of bulbs used. We can provide a main body 11, and possibly also a cover 34, made of an optically colorless material, the bulbs 33 of the lighting means then being colored. This is interesting since it is possible to choose different colors for the bulbs of each support. In this case, by dismantling the main body 11, it suffices to change the bulb holder to obtain a markup of different coloring. It is also possible to provide a bulb holder comprising at least two groups of bulbs 33 of different colors, which can be selectively powered. This is how we can choose a circular row of bulbs (as illustrated here) , or several concentric circular rows, with bulbs of the same color or different colors. In this case, it becomes possible, without having to dismantle the beacon pad, to change the color of the beacon by an adequate electrical switching system.

The bulbs 33 may be incandescent lamps, or single-color or two-color light-emitting diodes. Light-emitting diodes have the advantage of an extremely long lifespan (approximately 200,000 hours), and they can easily be mounted on a printed circuit then forming the support plate 32. This will make it possible to obtain the colors usually used for markup pads, i.e. red, yellow-orange, yellow, and green.

 We can alternatively provide a main body colored in the mass, with bulbs or light emitting diodes of white or yellow color, but this variant no longer presents the previous possibility.

 The main body 11 thus makes it possible simultaneously to provide mechanical strength, sealing, and optical diffusion. With a structure such as that which has just been illustrated, it is easy to obtain a resistance of the order of a ton, which allows multiple uses, in particular on roads. The main body can be fixed by means of three screws, using suitable dowels according to the external support concerned, and the stepped holes provided in the main body allow integration of the screw heads.

In all cases, the total power consumed will remain relatively low, and a 12-volt supply will generally be used.

 As mentioned above, the markup pad according to the invention can be used in the context of multiple applications. We can thus cite the marking of parking lots, undergrounds, and musoirs, the reinforcement of safety devices, in particular autonomous blocks, the interior and exterior pedestrian paths and the curbs of sidewalks, the signaling of reserved access or of traffic limits. 'use by the play of colors, and finally the wall markup. In all cases, the small thickness and the high mechanical strength constitute significant advantages.

 The operation is reliable, because the markup is maintained even if a bulb is struck. The replacement of a lighting unit (to repair it or to change the color of the markings) is easy to carry out on site, and does not require any complicated tooling.

 The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described, but on the contrary encompasses any variant incorporating, with equivalent means, the essential characteristics set out above.

Claims (10)

 1. Marking stud, in particular for the marking of parking lots and underground passages, characterized in that it comprises  - a main body (11) essentially flat and optically transparent, said body having a lower face (13) by which the stud (10) rests, so as to be fixed thereon, on an associated external support (S), as well as a recess (17) which opens at the level of said lower face, and the bottom of which has a central stiffening post (20)  - A lighting means (30) arranged in a ring, said lighting means being housed in the recess (17) of the main body, and being held by clipping in this recess.  2. Marking stud according to claim 1, characterized in that the recess (17) of the main body (11) has a cylindrical shape, and the central baluster (20) extends in the axis (X) of this recess.  3. Marking stud according to claim 2, characterized in that the central column (20) extends to the level of the lower face (13) of the main body (11).  4. Marking stud according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lighting means (30) comprises a bulb holder (31, 32) in the form of a flat crown, and an optically transparent cover (34) surmounting and enveloping said support which is fitted with bulbs (33).  5. Marking stud according to claim 4, characterized in that the cowling (34) has an external geometry which is complementary to that of the recess (17) of the main body (11), so as to maintain it by clipping of the lighting means (30) by simple insertion of said lighting means into said recess.  6. Marking stud according to claim 2 or 3 and claim 5, characterized in that the cowling (34) is essentially toroidal, with a section having a general shape of a semicircle, the inner and outer circular edges of which are fixed with sealing, in particular by welding, to the inner and outer edges of the bulb holder (31, 32) in the form of a flat crown.  7. Marker block according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outer surface of the main body (11) has peripheral steps (15) to promote the diffusion of light, in particular circular coaxial steps when the stud (10) is circular.  8. Marker block according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the main body (11) is made of optically colorless material, and the lighting means (30) comprises colored bulbs (33).  9. Marker block according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the main body (11) and the cover (34) of the lighting means (30) are made of optically colorless materials, and the support d 'bulbs (31, 32) is equipped with colored bulbs (33).  10. Marker block according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the lighting means (30) comprises at least two groups of bulbs (33) of different colors, which can be selectively supplied.