WO2003024196A1 - Street furniture device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a street furniture device (1) which is intended to define a ground surface (2) around the trunk (3) of a tree (4). The inventive device consists, at least partly, of at least one grating (6) which is designed to surround at least part of the trunk (3). Said device (1) is characterised in that it comprises a support frame (8) which is positioned around the trunk (3) and which defines a support (9) that is used to receive at least one grating (6). The aforementioned support frame (8) comprises a second frame (10) from which converging elements (11) extend in a radial manner. Said elements (11) are designed to define a support on top of which at least one grating (6) is disposed.

Description

 URBAN FURNITURE DEVICE

The present invention relates to an urban furniture device intended to define a ground around the trunk of a tree and consisting of at least one ground grid designed capable of surrounding, at least in part, said trunk. This invention relates to the field of street furniture manufacturing, more particularly intended to intervene in the context of the establishment of a tree or the like.

In this regard, it will be observed that, when planting a tree in an urban environment, it is known to practice a hole in the ground before disposing of the roots of this tree then covered with soil, above this earth and around the trunk of the tree is arranged at least a soil grid intended to ensure stabilization of the earth, protection of the tree, in particular of its roots and to constitute soil around the trunk.

Such soil grids delimit an opening traversed by the trunk of the tree, such an opening having a determined nominal diameter which in no way makes it possible to take account of the growth of the tree and of the increase in the cross-section of its trunk. Also, when said tree is young, the soil grid is positioned at a certain distance, often large from the trunk, which does not allow this grid to effectively fulfill its role. In addition when the tree grows, the trunk can come into contact with such a grid which is likely to cause injury. According to another drawback, said grids do not in any way allow the installation of stakes which are essential for ensuring the maintenance of a young tree, in particular during the first stages of its growth. In addition, such grills are usually made of a material of the gray cast iron type, which invariably exhibits, in overhang, poor mechanical strength.

Another disadvantage consists in that such grids of soil, are usuellemen, arranged on the ground and are wedged with makeshift means so that they are likely to move (in particular under the push of the roots) or be displaced over time and can no longer perform their function ^'first appropriately. The present is intended to remedy the drawbacks of the devices of the state of the art.

To this end, the present invention relates to an urban furniture device intended to define a soil around the trunk of a tree and constituted by at least one soil grid designed able to surround, at least in part, said trunk, characterized by the fact that said device comprises a frame intended to be positioned around said trunk and defining a support for the reception of at least one ground grid. According to another characteristic, the chassis comprises a frame from which extends, in a radial and convergent manner, the elements designed capable of defining a support for the reception of at least one floor grid; An additional feature is that the support elements include means intended to give them, locally, a reduced resistance, this in order to facilitate their rupture. In fact, the means of reduced resistance are defined by a reduction in the section of said support element.

According to another characteristic, the means of reduced resistance presented by said support elements are arranged substantially in at least one circle. Yet another characteristic relates to the fact that the support elements have a decreasing section from said frame and up to their distal end.

According to another characteristic, the support elements have, on their periphery, at least two portions including a first portion, extending from the frame, and having a section substantially greater than that of a second portion extending from said first portion.

An additional characteristic consists in that said chassis consists of at least two chassis portions, preferably identical, intended to be arranged in a juxtaposed manner around said trunk, or even to be made integral with one another.

Yet another characteristic relates to the fact that the chassis is defined in concrete, preferably reinforced with metal rods, and is produced by pouring into a mold. According to an additional characteristic, each support element incorporates within it and over its length, at least one metal rod of which at least a portion emerges out of the concrete, this at the level of the means of reduced resistance that said support element contains.

According to another additional characteristic, each support element can integrate, within it and over its length, at least one metal rod combining armed parts and unarmed parts at the level of the means of reduced resistance of said support element, establishing thereon this . a sectioning hierarchy from its distal ends.

Advantageously, the device comprises a chassis designed capable of holding in place at least one soil grid throughout the growth of a tree.

According to another advantage, such a frame delimits a central opening traversed by the trunk of the tree, this central opening having an inscribed diameter capable of being adjusted to the section of the tree trunk, in particular so as to take account of there growth of this tree, this by rupture and deformation and / or withdrawal, of a portion of at least one support element.

Another advantage consists in that such a support element is of the cross-cutable type and comprises means intended to give them, locally, a reduced resistance so as to be able to facilitate such a rupture.

Other objects and ^" advantages of the present invention will emerge during the description which follows, relating to embodiments which are not given. for information only and not limitative.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 corresponds to a schematic view from above and in exploded view of the chassis of an urban furniture device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic and perspective view of one of the chassis portions forming part of such a device; FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, articular and sectional view along III-III of the furniture device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 corresponds to a schematic perspective view of the chassis of an urban furniture device according to a second embodiment.

The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing street furniture devices, such a device being, more particularly intended to intervene in the context of the implantation of a tree or the like. As visible in the figures of the drawing in the appendix, said invention relates to a device 1 of urban furniture intended to define a soil around the trunk of a tree 4 planted in the ground 5. Such a device 1 is at least in part. consisting of at least one floor grid 6 designed capable of being arranged around said trunk 3 so as to surround, at least in part, this trunk 3.

Such a ground grid 6 is usually defined by a plurality of portions of grids arranged, juxtaposed, all around such a trunk 3 so as to surround the latter, preferably in full.

In this regard, it will be observed that such a ground grid 6 delimits a central opening 7 crossed by said trunk 3. According to the invention, this street furniture device 1 comprises a frame 8 intended to be positioned around said trunk 3 and to come to rest on the ground 5. This chassis 8 defines a support 9 for the reception of at least one floor grid 6 -

In fact and as visible in particular in FIG. 1, such a frame 8 comprises a frame ^'10 from which extend, radially and convergently, elements 11 designed capable of defining a support on which rests at least one floor grille 6.

In this regard, it will be noted that it is, particularly read, at their upper surface 12 that these support elements 11 receive the floor grate (s) 6 - In fact and according to a preferred embodiment, the upper surfaces 12 of these support elements 11 extend substantially in the same plane P, According to another characteristic, the said support elements 11 have a distal end 13 delimiting an opening 14 (representation in broken lines) for the passage of the trunk 3 of the shaft 4 .

Yet another characteristic consists in that the support elements 11 comprise means 15 intended to confer - locally, on these elements, support .11 resistance

scaled down. Such means 15 are designed capable of facilitating the rupture of these support elements 11 so as to allow a widening of said opening 14 in order to adapt to the growth of the tree 4-

In this regard, it will be noted that such a break can be caused, as the case may be, by the tree 4 itself under the effect of the growth of its trunk 3 or by the intervention of an operator who would break such a support element 11,

In fact and as shown in the figures of the drawing in the appendix, such means 15 of reduced resistance are defined by a reduction 16 in the section of said support element 11. It will also be observed that such a reduction 16 in section can be provided on the periphery of such a support element 11.-notably at the level of at least one side of the latter 11.

According to another characteristic, the means 15 of reduced resistance presented by said support elements 11 are arranged substantially in at least one circle. Such an embodiment allows, after rupture of at least one support element 11, to delimit a opening 14, in particular of circular section, and of larger diameter than the initial opening. The fact of having such means! 5 in several circles (Figure 4) allows several successive ruptures of the same support element 11 so as to adjust said opening 14, in particular the diameter of the latter 14. to the section of the trunk 3 of tree 4, this at different stages of its growth.

According to another characteristic, the support elements 11 have a decreasing section from said frame 10 and up to their distal end 13, In addition, these support elements 11 have, over their length, at least two portions 17,17 'including a first portion 17, extending from the frame 10, and having a section substantially greater than that of a second portion 17 extending from said first portion 17. in particular between the latter 17 and the distal end 13 of the support element 11.

Such an embodiment makes it possible to confer on said first portion 17 a higher breaking strength relative to the second portion 17 'at the level of which the means 15 of reduced resistance are arranged.

Another characteristic consists in that said support elements 11 are connected to one another by the intermediary of at least one annular ring 18, -18 'that said chassis 8 comprises.

It will be noted that this crown 18 or one of these crowns 18, 18 ′ is associated with the first portion 17 of such a support element 11 _

It is more particularly- near the ring 18, associated with this first portion 17 of support element 11. in particular adjacent to the internal edge 19 of this ring 18, that means of reduced resistance 15 are defined.

When said frame 8 comprises several crowns 18, 18 ′ (FIG. 4), one 18 of these rings 18, 18 ′ is associated with the first portion 17 of the support elements 11 while

the other additional crown (s) 18 ′ are associated with the second portion 17 ′ of these support elements 11. In this connection> n only observe the means 15 for reduced resistance are, here again .defined near such an additional crown 8 ', the latter 1.8' being able, in addition, to be, itself, provided with such means 15 of reduced resistance as visible in FIG. 4. As visible in the appended figures, the support elements 11 and the crown (s) 18, 18 ′ define orifices 20, through which stakes 21 or the like are liable to be engaged.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the chassis 8 can be defined as a one-piece element.

However and according to a preferred embodiment, this - chassis 8 consists of at least two portions 22,22 'of chassis intended to be arranged in a juxtaposed fashion around said trunk 3 - These portions 22,22' of chassis are, of preferably identical and are preferably designed capable of being made integral one with the other 22 ', in particular by means of a screw-nut device or the like.

Another characteristic of the invention consists in that the chassis 8 is defined in concrete, preferably reinforced with metal rods 23. In fact, this frame 8 is produced, in particular by pouring such concrete into a mold.

According to an additional characteristic, each support element 11 integrates, within it and over its length, at least one metal rod 23, in combination with unarmed parts. A preferred embodiment consists in that at least one portion 24 of such a rod 23 emerges out of the concrete, this at the level of the means 15 of reduced resistance that comprises said support element 11, Such metal rods 23 will preferably be made of stainless material.

It will also be noted that the frame 10 of the chassis 8 has an internal peripheral shoulder 25 capable of constituting a stop for the positioning and. lateral support of at least one grid of so 6.

It will also be noted that this frame 8 is capable of receiving several types of floor grids 6 of different sizes and shapes, in particular with a view to adapting to the size of the opening 14 (for example after breaking a piece of support element 11) and / or of the trunk 3 of the shaft 4. Such floor grids 6 can be of the interchangeable type.

Thus, said frame 8 can receive a first ground grid 6A extending * between the frame 10 and the annular ring 18, as well as at least one second ground grid 6B extending from this annular ring 18 (FIG. 3 ). and towards the trunk 3.

According to a particular embodiment corresponding to a frame 8 comprising a plurality of rings 18,18 '(Figure 4), there may be provided a first grid extending between the frame 10 and the first annular ring 18, a second grid extending between this first additional crown 18 '. While the invention has been described in a form of _'r particular embodiment it is understood that it is in no way limited and can make various changes in shapes, materials and combinations these various elements, without departing from the framework or the spirit of the invention.

Claims

(1) The invention relates to a device (1) of urban furniture intended to define a ground (2) around the trunk (3) of a tree (4) and constituted at least in part, by at least a ground grid (6) designed capable of surrounding, at least in part, said trunk (3), characterized in that said device (1) comprises a frame (8) intended to be positioned around said trunk (3) and defining a support ^' ( 9) for the reception of at least one floor grid (6), this frame (8) comprising a frame (10) from which extend, radially and convergently, elements (11) designed capable of defining a support on which comes to rest at least one floor grid (6) - (2) Device (1) of street furniture according to claim (1). characterized by the fact that the support elements (11) comprise means (15) intended to give them, locally, a reduced resistance, this in order to facilitate their rupture. (3) Device (1) of street furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that the means of reduced resistance (15) are defined by ^' a reduction in the section of said support element (11). (4) Device (1) of street furniture according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the means (15) of reduced resistance presented by said support elements (11) are arranged substantially according to at least one circle. (5) Device (1) of urban furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Characterized by the fact that the support elements (11) have a decreasing section from said frame (10) and up to their distal end (13). (6) Device (1) of street furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support elements (11) have, over their length, at least two portions (17, .7 ') of which a first portion (17), extending from the frame (10), and having a section substantially greater than that of a second portion (17 ') extending from said first portion (17). (7) Device (1) of street furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said chassis (8) consists of at least two portions (22,22 ') of chassis, preferably identical, intended to be arranged juxtaposed around said trunk (3), or even to be made integral one (22) with the other (22 '). (8) Device (1) to mob urban link according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that- the frame (8) is defined in a concrete, preferably reinforced with metal rods (23), and is made , in particular, by pouring into a mold. (9) Device (1) of street furniture according to claims 2 and 8, characterized in that each element support (11) integrates within it and along its length _/ unarmoured parts of metal rods, and parts armed with at least one metal rod (23) at least one portion (24) of which emerges from the concrete, this at the level of the means (15) of reduced resistance which said support element (11).