BASE WITH AUTOMATIC ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR TERRACE DIVIDERS
Patent Information
- Application Number
- ES2026031000U
- Authority / Receiving Office
- ES · ES
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-05-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-01
- Estimated Expiration
- 2036-05-12
Abstract
Description
BASE WITH AUTOMATIC ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR SEPARATORS TERRACE Object of the invention The present invention relates to a base with an automatic anchoring system for terrace dividers, belonging to the field of demountable urban furniture elements intended for the delimitation and protection of outdoor spaces in hospitality establishments. Background of the invention In the field of removable urban furniture for hospitality terraces, various solutions are known aimed at delimiting and protecting the outdoor spaces of restaurant establishments from inclement weather and guaranteeing the privacy of their customers. Specifically, utility model ES1287259, owned by the same applicant, discloses a divider for restaurant terraces comprising at least two metal bases of sufficient weight to be fixed to the ground, to which posts with washers are attached, allowing the attachment of tension rods onto which a foldable body is deployed. In one particular embodiment, this utility model provides for the incorporation of a bolt-type or similar fastening device housed in a hole in the base, which increases the stability of the divider in adverse wind conditions or other inclement weather. However, this solution presents several technical drawbacks that the present invention aims to overcome. First, the described fastening method is passive, requiring explicit manual intervention by the operator for its insertion and removal. This slows down the installation and removal process of the dividers, an operation that in the hospitality sector must be performed repeatedly and efficiently, usually at the beginning and end of each day. Second, during transport or repositioning of the base, the fastening method can protrude from the pedestal, creating a potential tripping hazard, damaging the flooring, or interfering with the movement of the divider itself.Third, the absence of a guidance system makes it difficult to correctly align the fixing means with the hole provided in the floor, requiring the operator to make an additional positioning effort that is especially uncomfortable when the operation has to be performed repeatedly. Therefore, a solution is needed that allows the automatic anchoring of the base to the ground when it is placed on the intended fixing point, without requiring manual intervention, that keeps the anchoring element in a retracted position during transport to guarantee the safety of the operator and the integrity of the pavement, and that incorporates a guidance system that facilitates the positioning of the base on said fixing point. Description of the invention The technical problem described in the background is solved by means of a base with an automatic anchoring system for terrace dividers, whose essential characteristics are set out below. The base of the present invention comprises a metal pedestal of sufficient weight to ensure the stability of the separator on the ground, a post attached to said pedestal, and an automatic anchoring system integrated inside the post. This anchoring system comprises a stainless steel bolt arranged coaxially inside the post, and a helical spring attached to the bolt that acts as a passive actuator. Additionally, the pedestal incorporates a guide element configured to facilitate alignment of the bolt with an anchoring hole provided in the ground. The automatic anchoring system operates in two distinct functional states. In the first state, called the retracted state, the spring is compressed and the bolt is housed inside the post without protruding from the base. This allows the base to be transported and repositioned freely without the bolt interfering with its movement or support on any surface. In the second state, called the deployed state, when the base is placed over the anchoring hole in the ground, the spring automatically expands, pushing the bolt down into the hole and anchoring the base to the ground without any manual intervention from the operator. The guide element incorporated into the base acts as a centering surface that guides the bolt towards the anchor hole during the approach of the base to its installation point, reducing the positioning effort required and allowing for faster and more intuitive installation even in conditions of poor visibility or when the operator must simultaneously handle other elements of the separator. The present invention offers the following advantages over the prior art: Firstly, the anchoring is completely automatic, eliminating the need for manual intervention in fixing the base to the ground, which significantly reduces the installation and removal time of the separator, an operation that is especially relevant in the hospitality sector where such maneuvers are carried out on a daily basis. Secondly, the retracted state of the bolt during transport eliminates the risk of tripping for the operator and prevents possible damage to the pavement resulting from the projection of the anchor element, substantially improving the safety in handling the product. Third, the incorporation of the guide element in the base simplifies the positioning of the base on the anchor point, reducing the effort and attention required by the operator during installation, which helps to minimize positioning errors and prolong the lifespan of both the bolt and the anchor hole by avoiding oblique impacts. Fourth, since the bolt is made of stainless steel and is housed inside the post during transport and storage, its exposure to external corrosive agents is significantly reduced, increasing the durability of the anchoring system. Brief description of the figures Next, a series of drawings are briefly described that help to better understand the invention and that are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention that is presented as a non-limiting example thereof. FIG. 1. Shows a general side section view of the base with automatic anchoring system for terrace separators, in retracted state, corresponding to the situation of transport or relocation of the base, where the bolt (3) is housed inside the post (2) by the action of the compressed spring (4), without protruding from the base (1), also showing the guide element (6) and the anchoring hole (5) provided in the ground. FIG.2. Shows a cross-sectional view of the lower end of the base with automatic anchoring system for terrace separators, in the deployed state, corresponding to the installation situation, where the spring (4) is expanded pushing the bolt (3) downwards, inserted into the anchor hole (5) provided in the ground, showing the truncated conical geometry of the guide element (6) incorporated in the base (1). Exposition of a detailed method of carrying out the invention The accompanying figures show a preferred embodiment of the invention. More specifically, the base with an automatic anchoring system for terrace dividers, which is the subject of this specification, is characterized in that it comprises a metal pedestal (1), preferably made of steel, with a circular geometry and sufficient mass to guarantee the stability of the divider on the ground independently against inclement weather, without the need for permanent fixing to the pavement. The pedestal (1) has a flat support surface on its underside that allows it to sit correctly on the pavement, and in its central area it incorporates a passage opening configured to allow axial movement of the bolt (3) between its two functional states. Attached to the base (1) is a post (2) with a tubular cross-section, preferably circular, made of metal, with a length of approximately 140 to 170 centimeters, so that the divider, once assembled, is raised above the heads of the customers in the hospitality establishment. The post (2) has a hollow interior configured to house the automatic anchoring system. The automatic anchoring system comprises a stainless steel bolt (3) arranged coaxially inside the post (2) and axially movable between a retracted and an extended state. The bolt (3) has a retaining head at its upper end that acts as an upper mechanical stop, preventing it from being completely removed from the post (2) during its movement. At its lower end, the bolt (3) has a pointed or truncated conical shape that facilitates its insertion into the anchoring hole (5). The automatic anchoring system also comprises a helical spring (4) arranged coaxially with respect to the bolt (3) inside the post (2), being fixed at one end to the bolt (3) and supported at its opposite end against a fixed stop fixed to the post (2). The spring (4) acts as a passive actuating element that governs the behavior of the bolt (3) in its two distinct functional states. In the first functional state, called the retracted state and shown in FIG. 1, the spring (4) is compressed and holds the bolt (3) inside the post (2), so that the lower end of the bolt (3) does not protrude from the underside of the base (1). In this state, the base can be moved, transported, and repositioned freely on any surface without the bolt (3) interfering with the movement or causing any damage to the pavement or tripping hazard for the operator. In one particular embodiment, the post (2) may incorporate a retaining means configured to actively hold the bolt (3) in the retracted state during transport, with said retaining means being automatically released when the base is placed over the anchor hole (5). In a second functional state, called the deployed state and represented in FIG. 2. When the base is placed over the anchor hole (5) provided in the ground, the spring (4) expands automatically, pushing the bolt (3) downwards. The lower end of the bolt (3) then engages in the anchor hole (5) and is secured to the ground without any manual intervention by the operator. The anchor hole (5) is pre-drilled in the terrace floor prior to the installation of the spacer, and its dimensions are compatible with those of the bolt (3) to ensure a secure fit that immobilizes the base against lateral forces caused by wind or other weather conditions. The manufacture of the bolt (3) in stainless steel gives it a high resistance to corrosion, especially relevant given that the bolt (3) is inserted into the anchor hole (5) in contact with the ground during the installation of the separator, as well as due to the usual exposure to corrosive agents present in outdoor hospitality environments such as rain, humidity or other chemical agents. The base (1) also incorporates a guide element (6) configured to facilitate the alignment and centering of the bolt (3) with the anchor hole (5) during the approach of the base to its installation point. In a preferred embodiment, the guide element (6) has a truncated conical or flared geometry facing the ground, so that it acts as a centering surface that progressively guides the lower end of the bolt (3) towards the center of the anchor hole (5) during the vertical approach of the base. This is particularly advantageous in conditions of poor visibility of the anchor hole (5), when it is partially obstructed by dirt, or when the operator must simultaneously handle other elements of the spacer, thus reducing the effort and attention required during installation and avoiding oblique impacts that could damage both the bolt (3) and the anchor hole (5). In a preferred embodiment, the base that is the subject of the present invention forms part of a divider for hospitality terraces comprising at least two bases as described, joined together by means of a foldable body tensioned by a plurality of rods.
Claims
1. A base with an automatic anchoring system for terrace dividers, characterized in that it comprises: a metal pedestal (1); a post (2) fixed to the pedestal (1); a bolt (3) arranged coaxially inside the post (2) and axially movable between a retracted state, in which the bolt (3) is housed inside the post (2) without protruding from the pedestal (1), and an extended state, in which the bolt (3) protrudes from the pedestal (1) towards the ground; and a spring (4) fixed to the bolt (3) configured to maintain the bolt (3) in the retracted state during transport and to automatically propel it towards the extended state when the base is placed over an anchoring hole (5) provided in the ground.
2. A base according to claim 1, characterized in that the pedestal (1) incorporates a guide element (6) configured to center and guide the bolt (3) towards the anchoring hole (5) during the approach of the base to its installation point. 3.A base according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide element (6) has a truncated conical or flared geometry oriented towards the ground, so that it acts as a centering surface that directs the bolt (3) towards the anchoring hole (5).
4. A base according to claim 1, characterized in that the bolt (3) is made of stainless steel.
5. A base according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring (4) is of the helical type and is arranged coaxially with respect to the bolt (3) inside the post (2).
6. A base according to claim 1, characterized in that the pedestal (1) has a circular geometry and is made of metallic material with sufficient mass to guarantee the stability of the base on the ground regardless of weather conditions. 7.Base according to claim 1, characterized in that the post (2) incorporates a retention means configured to keep the bolt (3) in the retracted state during transport, said retention means being automatically released when the base is placed over the anchor hole (5).
8. Separator for hospitality terraces comprising at least two bases according to any of claims 1 to 7, joined together by a foldable body tensioned by a plurality of rods.