DEVICE FOR THE CONNECTION OF ELEMENTS IN A UNIT FOR CONCOURSE AREAS AND FOR COMMUNICATION

Abstract: Device for the connection of elements in a unit for concourse areas and for communication, such as outdoor furniture, partition walls, information fittings etc. Support columns (13) are used that are connected to the operative elements, such as bench seats (11) and fencing elements (15). At the upper free end of the columns and on the sides of the other elements there are circular or polygonal attachment units (22, 28) that are mounted coaxially on the protruding support rods. There is space between the abutting flanged discs for attachment fittings for accessory equipment (14) or an intermediate spacer (48) which, if necessary, can consist of deformable material.

Description: Device for the connection of elements in a unit for concourse areas and for communication. The invention concerns a device for the connection of elements in a unit for concourse areas and for communication, such as outdoor furniture, partition walls, notice boards etc., as indicated in the introduction to Claim 1, particularly for outdoor use or in covered areas. Background. There is a need for a flexible system to equip outdoor concourse areas or cover premises that are to be used for gatherings or leisure activities or communication. The equipment in such "environmental units" or concourses or areas for traffic may consist of benches, tables, fences, wind breaks, notice boards, flower boxes, litter bins, playground equipment etc. Various individual solutions are available for each of these elements or objects. Integrated systems are known tha are put together at the site where they are to be used by means of welds, nails, screws or other means of connection. The erection of such units has been costly in terms of labour. Repair or exchanging elements or parts has also bee difficult. Another more serious disadvantage has been the rigidity of the structural design of such units. A finished unit that has been put up is not designed, for alteration an adjustment to other applications. It has not been straight¬ forward, for example, to alter an existing fence so that there was space in it for a bench or notice board. Objectives: The main objective of the invention is to create a device to connect furniture and other equipment of the type indicated in the introduction, so that it is a unit where i is easy to create different combinations and simplify the erection work. Furthermore, the objective is to be able to easily rebuild and exchange elements in such a unit or system. There is a particular reason for designing such a device where the different elements can be connected together in a flexible manner. Principle: The basic concept behind the invention is stated in the characterizing part of Claim 1. Other advantageous features of the invention are given in the subsidiary claims. The features stated in Claim 2 provide an extremely advantageous design for the most important supports. The flexibility can be further increased by using support columns that are designed as stated in Claim 3. By designing the device as stated in Claim 4, it is possible to incorporate other elements into what is otherwise a fixed modular system. Other consequences of this feature are described in the example below. The possibility of erecting neighbouring elements at a common specified angle to each is possible using the intermediate spacer stated in Clafcα 5. Other advantageous features of the invention are stated below. Example: The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, where Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the front section of a unit in accordance with the invention, with a bench, a fence element and a notice board, Fig. 2 shows an alternative means of connection that illustrates the connection of a bench and a fence element, Fig. 3 shows a perspective sketch of a column with one connecting*"flange, Fig. 3B shows a perspective sketch of a column with two connecting'flanges, Fig. 3C shows a perspective sketch of a support rod with a connecting flange. Fig. 4 shows a perspective sketch of a railing with connecting flanges, Figs. 5-8 respectively show perspective sketches of a fence element, a table top, a bench element, and a leaning support element for use in a unit in accordance with the invention. Fig. 1 shows a part of the unit as it can be conceivably used in a park, at a bus stop, or on a square. On the left of the figure there is a sofa_shaped bench 11 that is supported at its front edge by a first support 12 and a second support 13 that is longer than the first one. There is an arm rest 14 mounted just to the edge of the bench 11. Details of these elements will be given below. Central in the figure is a fence element 15 that at the end facing the bench 11 is connected to the second support column 13 at its upper and lower edges, in both places by flanges. At its other end, the fence element 15 is connected to a couple of attachment columns 16 and 17 for a notice board 18. Details of the flange connections will be given below. Fig. 2 shows a section of a flange connection between a bench 11 and a fence element 15 in an enlarged scale. Reference is also made to Fig. 7 which shows a complete bench element, and Fig. 5 which similarly shows a fence element. Each bench element comprises a plate 19 that is shaped as a seat, so that both the upper and lower edges are smoothly rounded. The longitudinal edges form circular tubes, each end of which is welded to a bracket 20 that supports an axially protruding lug 21 with a circular flang 22 located concentrically. The flange has three threaded holes 23 at an even distance apart around the flange. Each flange 22 has counterpart that is concentrically located at the other end of plate 19. Figs. 3A-C show individual examples of support columns. Fig. 3A shows a quadratic tube column 24 designed for being cemented or screwed onto a attachment bracket at its bottom end. There is an angular rod 25 with a flange 26 which has been welded or otherwise permanently attached to the upper end of the column. This flange 26 is equivalent to the flanges 22 on the bench element 11. Flange 26 is in a parallel plane to the column axis, i.e., the axis of the flange is at a right angle to this. Fig. 3B shows an equivalent column 27 with two concentric flanges 28 and 29 that have their contact faces pointing iti opposite directions, symmetrically on the axis of the column. Fig. -3C shows a support rod 30 of solid or tubular material, that has a bend 31 at the top and ends in a flange 32. Apart from this, columns can be made with three or four flanges to, act as joining units with an equivalent number of connections. The columns can vary in length, preferably within a modular system. It may also be required as in Fig. 1, for example, to provide some columns with extra flanges that protrude laterally below the flange or flanges that are mounted at the end, on one or more sides. In some cases such flanges can be permanent where they are to be part of a modular system. In other cases they can be added on as required to make the construction system flexible. On columns 16 and 17 in Fig. 1 it is required to have permanent flanges 33 on the lower edge of the notice board 18 that is to be mounted, while it would be better to use an attachment fitting with a flange 34 on, for example, column 13 to support fence element 15. The erection process is done by securing the abutting flanges with screws (not illustrated). Fig. 4 shows a railing 35 made of a tubular material. Both ends are closed by an attachment plate 36 that carries a concentric protruding attachment lug 37 for a circular flange 38. The railing 35 can be inserted instead of the fence element 15 in the unit illustrated in Fig. 1 or used as an independent element in a row or in similar applications. An alternative is to use two railings one above the other. Fig. 5 shows a fence element 15, where a plate 39 is attached between two parallel tubes or profiles, an upper 40 and lower 41. Each tube has a protruding rod 42 at each end, with a flange 43. The plate 39 can be closed, perforated, have netting or given some type of other structural finish. Fig. 6 shows a table top 44 where the longest edges are rounded off in a similar way to the bench in Fig. 7 and where there is a flange at each corner 45. The other edges are also appropriately rounded to reduce the risk of injury if anyone falls against the table. Fig. 8 shows a unit that has been called a leaning support 46 that is designed for places where there are queues, waiting halls and other places where people stand. It is to be fitted instead of the railing (see Figs. 1 and 5) and will carry out the same basic function as this, or in another applications act as an interior wall in a bus shelter, for example. The leaning support 46 has a V-shaped cross-section with a horizontal or almost horizontal symmetrical plane and a rounded transition between these two elements. This creates a slanted surface 47 that is designed to be just above the level of the upper thigh of an adult. In the example that is illustrated the support surface 47 is at an angle of about 60 from a horizontal plane, but this angle can be adjusted to suit different applications. In a waiting hall this can be less than when used to separate queues. The important factor about the leaning support 46 is that it has a slanting contact surface. In alternative designs the leaning support can be open at the bottom. In the connection unit in Fig. 2 it is shown that the modular distance (a) between the two integrated flanges on a support column 13 and the corresponding column (not illustrated) is less that module length (b) on the element that is to be erected, in other words the external distance between flanges 43 on the fence element 15. This means that there is a gap that on average will be about 1/2 (a-b) on each side. This gap is filled by an intermediate spacer 48 in the fence element 15. Each such intermediate spacer 48 will be fitted between flanges 28 and 43 by means of (not illustrated.) screws. There is an element inserted between the upper and lower flange , attachments for the bench 11, this element is shaped as an arm rest 14. The details of the arm rest 14 are not shown, but it consists of a generally horizontal support part 49 with an upward facing support surface, and upper and lower connection arms 50 and 51 made of sheet material. This solution makes it easy to replace fence elements with benches. and vice versa. By making the elements in the smaller dimension (b), it will be possible to connect extra equipment. For example, litter bins can be fitted by means of an attachment between the two flanges. The intermediate spacers 48 can be kept in store in a number of different widths. Thus it is possible to compensate for deviation from standard measures. It is also possible to use wedge spacers of an elastic material such as silicon or rubber Then two flanges that are joined at an angle of _8-10°, for example, are connected. This makes it possible to make ~ recess in a fence or a row of other elements. The f ~l-anges in the examples above are all circular. However, t|iey can also be polygonal: octagonal, for example. ,£he elements that are given in the examples above are manufactured in steel rods, steel bars or steel plates with suitable su _*rface structure and treatment. However, it is also possible to use composites, particularly combinations of metal w>od and plastic. This is very suited for the exposed parts of the bench 11, for instance. The system-that is illustrated can be built to include other elements than those shown in the examples. It can be relevant to include litter bins, lamp posts, fencing for play areas, playground equipment and other elements that can have a function in. connection with such outdoor furniture systems. I$_ all applications it will be possible to use the basic concept behind the invention to create a flexible modular Solution * that is easy to repair and maintain.

Claims: Claims : 1. Device for the connection of elements in a unit for concourse areas and for communication, such as outdoor furniture, partition walls, information fittings, lighting equipment etc., particularly for outdoor use or in covered areas, where columns are used to support the operative elements, such as benches and table tops, that can incorporate horizontal connecting elements, where at the upper free end of the columns and on the sides of the other elements there are attachment units designed to be screwed onto an adjacent element, characterized by the attachment unit being designed as circular or polygonal flanged discs (22,33,43) that are mounted coaxially on the protruding support unit, particularly support rods. 2. Device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by the flanged discs (26) on at least one of the columns (24) being located on a laterally-protracting end of a angular support (25), the other end of this support is mounted in an axial direction in the end of the column that it is designed to protrude from. 3. Device as claimed in Claim 2, characterized by there being 2-4 angular supports at the end of the column with symmetrically-oriented flanged discs. 4. Device as claimed in one of Claims 1-3, characterized by fixed columns having a modular flanged disc distance (a) that is longer than the external modular flanged disc distance (b) so that there is space for fitting attachment lugs for accessory equipment (14) or an intermediate spacer (48). 5. Device as claimed in one of Claims 1-4, characterized by the inclusion of wedge-shaped or deformable intermediate spacers for mounting between the abutting flanged discs. (Fig. 2). 6. Device as claimed in either Claim 4 or 5, characterized by the intermediate unit used for fitting a 8 bench seat (11) supporting an arm rest (14). 7. Device as claimed in one of Claims 1-6, characterized by the smallest of the flange-supporting elements being made of a tubular material that electric cables can be threaded through. 8. Device as claimed in one of Claims 1-7, characterized by the inclusion of an element (46) with a surface (47) that is slanted in a vertical direction and is designed to be mounted so that the slanting area comes at the height of adult's upper thigh, where this element laterally lies at an angle of about 60° from the horizontal plane.

Inventors: FLAASKJAER KJELL, LYSTAD OLAV JOHAN, THORSEN ODD, FLAASKJAER, KJELL, LYSTAD, OLAV, JOHAN, THORSEN, ODD
Applicants: OERSTA STAALINDUSTRI, OERSTA STAALINDUSTRI AS
Application year: 1990
Main classification: F16B12
IPC codes: A47C11, E01F7, E04B2, E04H1, E04H17, F16B7, F16B12, G09F15