FR3147818A1 - Assembly comprising a traffic sign and a means of storing the sign on any support - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a traffic sign (1), as well as a means (4) for storing the traffic sign (1), intended to be connected to any support such as for example an element (5) constituting a specialized machine, in particular for mowing/clearing/pruning. It is characterized in that the traffic sign (1) is provided with a transverse fold line (6) delimiting a first portion (7) and a second portion (8), and allowing it to adopt a deployed position and a folded position, while the storage means comprises a section of “U” profile having a bottom (9) of width l extended by two lateral wings (10, 11), the width l of the bottom (9) being adapted to allow the storage, in the space (13) extending between the two lateral wings (10, 11), of at least one traffic sign (1) in its folded position, and said section of “U” profile comprising means of fixing to any support. Figure for the abstract: [Fig.7]

Description

Assembly comprising a traffic sign and a means of storing the sign on any support

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a road sign made of rigid material having a front face and a rear face, as well as a means of storing the road sign, intended to be connected to any support, such as for example a constituent element of a specialized machine.

As is well known, and in accordance with current regulations, the carrying out of construction sites using specialized equipment requires the prior deployment of suitable temporary signage, ensuring the safety of any person present in or around the area in question.

For example, in the case of mowing, clearing or pruning work carried out using machines that generally move very slowly on the road or its immediate surroundings, markings are systematically established to alert road users sufficiently early and prevent any risk of collision.

More specifically, such marking commonly involves the installation on the ground, upstream of the construction site, on the right edge of the roadway, and near the shoulder, of one or more signs, previously transported to the site. In order to provide clearly visible signage to motorists, such signs are preferably reflective, generally have the triangular shape dedicated to danger warnings, as well as large dimensions.

This latter characteristic, however, has the disadvantage of making them so bulky that storing them on a mowing, clearing or pruning machine is tedious and can be dangerous, especially since the cabin of such a machine generally does not have a dedicated space or means of fixing and the panels are then placed there haphazardly by the operators.

Furthermore, it has been noted that in cases where a support for specific traffic signs is provided on a mowing, clearing or pruning machine, its installation is generally not satisfactory.

Thus, installing a support for a traffic sign on the rear bumper of such a machine leads to its brake and reverse lights being masked by the sign(s) placed there, and consequently to a serious safety problem for road users or any workers working nearby.

Similarly, a support for a traffic sign fixed on the right or left side of a clearing, mowing or pruning machine has the disadvantage of placing the traffic sign outside the dimensions of the machine or of hindering the kinematics of the work tool.

On the other hand, when a support for a traffic sign is fixed under the specialized machine, the ground clearance of the latter is greatly reduced so that the traffic sign and its support risk being twisted or even torn off when the machine is moved. Furthermore, in this case, it has been observed that the sign often arrives at its place of use soiled by all kinds of projections, so that to be perfectly visible, its front face requires tedious and time-consuming prior cleaning.

Finally, the solution of using an accompanying vehicle dedicated to transporting traffic signs involves significant additional costs, is not environmentally friendly and is no more satisfactory.

The present invention aims to address the problem described above, through a solution allowing the storage and transport of traffic signs on a specialized machine, such as for example a clearing, mowing or pruning machine, in a rational manner, with reduced bulk, this solution being quick and easy to implement, independently of exorbitant additional costs, while guaranteeing the desired public safety.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an assembly as described in the preamble, characterized in that the traffic sign is provided with a transverse fold line hollowed out along its front face or its rear face, delimiting therein a first portion and a second portion, and allowing it to adopt a deployed position in which the first and second portions are substantially coplanar and a folded position in which the first portion and the second portion are superimposed, while the storage means comprises a section of U-shaped profile having a bottom of width l extended by two lateral wings, the width l of the bottom being adapted to allow the storage, in the space extending between the two lateral wings, of at least one traffic sign in its folded position, and said section of profile comprising means of fixing to any support.

According to a possible variant embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, the traffic sign has a triangular shape while the fold line which it comprises extends on its front face, along an axis of symmetry, so that the first portion and the second portion have an identical shape and dimensions.

A characteristic of the assembly according to the invention is further defined by the fact that the signage panel is provided with a handle formed in the extension of one of its sides and extending substantially in the plane of one of its first or second portions, as well as a stand articulated on its rear face, adapted to adopt a rest position in which it is folded against the rear face and an active position in which it forms an angle with the rear face.

Advantageously, the assembly according to the invention is further characterized in that it comprises means for securing the signaling panel to the storage means.

According to the invention, said assembly may also include a means for holding the signal panel in position on the storage means.

According to a possible alternative embodiment, the securing means may comprise a fixing pin intended to cooperate with through holes formed in an appropriate manner on the side wings of the storage means and the signage panel.

Furthermore, the means for holding the sign in position on the storage means may, for its part, comprise a safety hoop defined by a tube bent so as to have a first rectilinear section mounted longitudinally on the storage means and connected by an elbow to a second rectilinear section extending in a plane perpendicular to the lateral wings of the storage means, opposite the space extending between the latter.

On the other hand, the assembly according to the invention is further characterized in that the means for fixing the section of profile to any support comprise a plurality of bolts.

The present invention also provides that the means for fixing the section of profile to any support may include a bracket adapted to be fixed on the one hand to the section of profile and on the other hand to any support.

The advantages arising from the present invention will appear on reading the description which follows relating to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a traffic sign comprising the assembly according to the invention, in its deployed position, and the front face of which is visible,

corresponds to the road sign of the , whose back side is visible,

illustrates the road sign of the in its folded position,

is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a storage means comprising the assembly according to the invention, fixed to a constituent element of a specialized machine,

is a side view of the storage means of the ,

is a front view of an assembly according to the invention in which the storage means of the supports two traffic signs of the , And

corresponds to a side view of the entire .

As mentioned above, the present invention relates to an assembly comprising a signaling panel 1 having a front face 2 provided with information 20 and a rear face 3, as well as a means 4 for storing the signaling panel 1, intended to be connected to any support, such as for example a constituent element 5 of a mowing/clearing/pruning machine.

It should be noted that in the embodiment described, the traffic sign 1 is made of rigid plastic material, and has a triangular appearance, while its front face displays information 20 specific to danger signs. Of course, the present invention also targets all other types of existing or imaginable traffic signs, of round, parallelepiped or other shape, provided with appropriate information and manufactured in materials other than plastic, for example metal, wood or any material having equivalent properties.

According to the invention, in the illustrated embodiment variant, the road sign 1 is provided with a transverse fold line 6 hollowed out along its front face 2, along an axis X of symmetry, delimiting there a first portion 7 and a second portion 8 of identical shape and dimensions.

Such a structure has the effect of allowing the traffic sign 1 to adopt the deployed position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the first portion 7 and the second portion 8 are substantially coplanar, as well as a folded position, illustrated in FIG. , in which the first portion 7 and the second portion 8 are superimposed.

The deployed position corresponds to an “active” position of the traffic sign 1, in which it can, for example, rest on the ground by means of a stand 12 articulated on its rear face 3, its front face 2 being oriented towards the users and the information 20 being visible in its entirety.

The folded position corresponds to a storage position of the traffic sign 1 in which its size is advantageously reduced by half and requires limited storage space. It should also be noted that the stand 12 is adapted to adopt an active position in which it forms an angle with the rear face 3 of the traffic sign 1 and allows it to be stabilized on the ground when it is itself placed in its deployed position. It can also adopt a rest position in which it is advantageously folded against the rear face 3 of the traffic sign 1, when the latter is placed in its folded position.

Also, it is specified that advantageously, in the illustrated embodiment variant, the traffic sign 1 is provided with a handle 25 formed in the extension of one of its sides, extending substantially in the plane of one of its first or second portions 7, 8. Such a structure makes it possible to provide a traffic sign 1 that is very practical to handle and whose compact nature is preserved.

In reference to the , the storage means 4 comprises a section of “U” profile, made of plastic, metal or equivalent material, and having two lateral wings 10, 11 connected by a bottom 9, between which extends a space 13 for receiving at least one signaling panel 1 placed in its folded position.

More precisely, the width l of the bottom 9 will determine the number of traffic signs 1 that can be arranged in the space 13. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment variant, the width l of the bottom 9 is designed to be capable of allowing the storage, in the space 13 extending between the two lateral wings 10, 11, of two traffic signs 1, previously placed in their folded position (cf. ). Consequently, the assembly according to the invention can comprise a range of storage means 4 differing from each other by the width l of the bottom 9, which makes it possible to meet the multiple needs and constraints encountered in the field.

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment variant, a bracket 14 secured to the bottom 9 of the U-shaped profile section makes it possible to quickly and very simply attach the storage means 4 to the component element 5 of a mowing/clearing/pruning machine, by means of bolts 15. It should however be noted that in certain cases, the storage means 4 can be attached directly to an element 5, by means of bolts 15 and in the absence of a bracket 14.

Advantageously, and as can be seen in the figures, in the illustrated embodiment, the U-shaped profile section comprises two tabs 16, each having a through-hole 17, and extending opposite each other on the lateral wings 10, 11 in such a way that the through-holes 17 are coaxial. In accordance with the invention, the signage panel 1 also has two through-holes 18, arranged in such a way that when it is placed in its folded position, their axes are aligned. It should also be noted that the tabs 16 of the U-shaped profile section are sized in such a way that when a signage panel 1 rests, in its folded position, on the bottom 9 of the storage means 4, the axes of the through-holes 17 of the tabs 16 are aligned with the axes of the through-holes 18 of the signage panel 1.

By virtue of such a feature, a fixing pin 19 can be inserted through all of the through holes 17 of the legs 16 and of the signal panel 1 in order to securely connect the latter to the storage means 4 and prevent any untimely fall during storage, in particular in situations in which the “U” profile is mounted on a constituent element 5 of a specialized machine in such a way that its bottom 9 is inclined relative to the horizontal.

Through the present invention, it has also been imagined to provide the storage means 4 with a safety arch 21 defined by a tube, folded so as to have a first rectilinear section 22, mounted longitudinally on the “U” profile, and connected by an elbow 23 to a second rectilinear section 24 extending in a plane perpendicular to the lateral wings 10, 11 of the storage means, opposite the space 13 extending between the latter. The presence of such a safety hoop 21 prevents any traffic sign 1 placed on the storage means 4 from sliding by gravity out of the storage space 13, even in the absence of a fixing pin 19. The insertion of a traffic sign 1 into the storage space 13 and its removal are carried out very simply by an operator passing it over the second rectilinear section 24 of the safety hoop 21 and handling it for example by means of its handle 25.

As can be seen from the above, the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives mentioned in the preamble, and to provide an assembly formed of a traffic sign 1 and a storage means 4 whose structure is very simple and compact, so as to have a very limited footprint, allowing their easy installation in the passenger compartment of a specialized machine such as a mowing, clearing, or pruning machine. Thus, all the drawbacks resulting from storage outside the passenger compartment are avoided.

Furthermore, the traffic sign 1 and the storage means 4 are designed in such a way that the placement of the traffic sign 1 in the space 13 and its removal are easy and do not involve tedious and time-consuming fumbling for an operator. The handle 25 with which the traffic sign 1 is equipped allows an operator to easily handle it, to fold it and place it on the storage means or to unfold it and place it on the ground. If necessary, the handle 25 also allows the traffic sign 1 to be suspended, for example, along a wall of a warehouse during a prolonged period of non-use.

It is also specified that although having been described in connection with a mowing, clearing, pruning machine, the assembly according to the invention is suitable for implementation with all types of specialized machines requiring the deployment of signage panels around their area of operation.

Claims (9)

Assembly comprising a traffic sign (1) made of rigid material having a front face (2) and a rear face (3), as well as a storage means (4) for the traffic sign (1), intended to be connected to any support such as for example an element (5) constituting a specialized machine, in particular for mowing/clearing/pruning, characterized in that the traffic sign (1) is provided with a transverse fold line (6) hollowed out along its front face (2) or its rear face (3), delimiting therein a first portion (7) and a second portion (8), and allowing it to adopt a deployed position in which the first and second portions (7, 8) are substantially coplanar and a folded position in which the first portion (7) and the second portion (8) are superimposed, while the storage means comprises a section of U-shaped profile having a bottom (9) of width l extended by two lateral wings (10, 11), the width l of the bottom (9) being adapted to allow the storage, in the space (13) extending between the two lateral wings (10, 11), of at least one traffic sign (1) in its folded position, and said section of “U” profile comprising means of fixing to any support. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the traffic sign (1) has a triangular shape and in that the fold line (6) which it comprises extends on its front face (2), along an axis of symmetry, so that the first portion (10) and the second portion (11) have an identical shape and dimensions. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the signaling panel (1) is provided with a handle (25) formed in the extension of one of its sides and extending substantially in the plane of one of its first or second portions (7, 8), as well as a crutch (12) articulated on its rear face (3), adapted to adopt a rest position in which it is folded against the rear face (3) and an active position in which it forms an angle with the rear face (3). Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for securing the signaling panel (1) to the storage means (4). Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a means for holding the signal panel (1) in position on the storage means (4). Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the securing means comprise a fixing pin (19) intended to cooperate with through holes (17, 18) suitably formed on the lateral wings (10, 11) of the storage means (4) and the signaling panel (1). Assembly according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the means for holding the traffic sign (1) in position on the storage means (4) comprises a safety arch (21) defined by a tube folded so as to have a first rectilinear section (22) mounted longitudinally on the storage means (4) and connected by an elbow (23) to a second rectilinear section (24) extending in a plane perpendicular to the lateral wings (10, 11) of the storage means (4), opposite the space (13) extending between the latter. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for fixing the section of profile to any support comprise a plurality of bolts (15). Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for fixing the section of profile to any support comprise a bracket (14) adapted to be fixed on the one hand to the section of profile and on the other hand to any support.