MARKING ELEMENT LIFTING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED MARKING ELEMENTS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a marking element lifting system and associated marking elements, as well as their use. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manually picking up and dispensing marking elements.

[0002] Marking elements, such as traffic cones or guide cones (also called pylons), serve for the short-term warning and securing of work sites, emergency scenes, and accident sites in public road traffic and for the visual guidance of road users. In sports and leisure activities, corresponding marking elements, such as marker cones or marker pylons, are used to demarcate areas or to visually guide athletes.

[0003] When a large number of marking elements are used, manual dispensing and collection involves increased effort and time. Therefore, various automatic collection and dispensing systems are already known in the prior art.

[0004] GB 2 396 649 A discloses a delivery and retrieval device for road cones, which guides cones on a conveyor to a stacking unit. The cones are placed on the conveyor by means of a cone receiving device.

[0005] CN 110904882 A discloses a placement system with a robotic arm which sets up the road cones from a vehicle, with the placement being predetermined via a video system.

[0006] However, such automated systems are technically complex and not applicable, especially in the sports and leisure sector.

[0007] WO 2020 / 225343 A1 shows a manual recording system for hollow cone-shaped marking elements.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system that enables simplified pickup and dispensing of marking elements. According to the invention, a marking element is proposed comprising: an upper level comprising an opening located and aligned therein with a reinforced edge; an element surface sloping outwards and downwards from the outer edge of the upper level to a lower level, comprising a plurality of spacers projecting inwards from the inner surface of the wall; wherein the marking element is designed such that multiple elements can be stacked on top of each other and is nested within an adjacent upper element, such that at least three inner ends of the spacers on the upper element press against an outer surface of the walls of the lower element, creating a separation space between the elements.

[0009] The marking elements preferably have a hollow conical shape, featuring an opening at their tapered upper end. This allows the cones to be received and dispensed.

[0010] Preferably, the spacers are arranged periodically over the inner surface of the marking element and are designed in such a way that a separation space is formed between the elements.

[0011] In embodiments of the invention, the element is made of an elastic, stable material. Preferably, the marking element is made of an elastomer, particularly preferably of a vulcanizate or plastic. For example, the elements can be made of a vulcanizate, a polymer, or a copolymer.

[0012] The term vulcanizate refers to elastomers produced by the vulcanization of natural and synthetic rubber.

[0013] The invention also includes a marking element lifting system: a plurality of marking elements according to the invention; a marking element handling device comprising: a shaft with a handle at the upper end; an element engagement mechanism at the opposite lower end of the shaft; a trigger in the handle which is connected to the engagement mechanism via the shaft;wherein the marking element handling device is designed such that an operator holding the handle can insert the cap engagement mechanism through the engagement hole in a first element behind its rigid rim to engage the first element with the marking element handling device, so that the operator can operate the handle with one hand and insert the element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole in a second element behind its reinforced rim to engage the second element with the marking element handling device below the first element, and wherein the operator can manipulate the trigger to release the second element from the element engagement mechanism while the first element is held on the marking element handling device.

[0014] The marking element lifting system according to the invention is designed for the manual picking up and dropping of marking elements. Preferably, it allows the user to selectively drop or lift a single element using the handling device. This eliminates, for example, the need to bend down to pick up the corresponding elements from the ground in sports and leisure activities.

[0015] In embodiments of the invention, the marking element handling device is designed such that the operator holding the handle can insert the element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole into a further element, the preceding elements engaging with the marking element handling device by their rim in order to engage the next element on the marking element handling device under the preceding element; and the operator then operates the trigger to release a single element from the element engagement mechanism while the preceding elements are held on the marking element handling device.

[0016] According to the invention, the element engagement mechanism comprises at least two opposing levers, each lever having upper and lower tabs at its outer ends, the upper and lower tabs forming a recess between them which is designed to grip the reinforced edge of an element, the levers gripping the reinforced edge at least opposite each other or forming a stable basic shape such as triangles or circles.

[0017] Furthermore, according to the invention, the levers are pivotably arranged at their inner thirds about a pivot point, wherein a preload force is exerted on the levers at the inner end, preferably by means of rubber-elastic elements, so that the levers press against a conical plunger of the trigger mechanism, which is connected to the trigger in such a way that, by actuating the trigger, the inner thirds of the levers are spread outwards, so that the levers pivot about the pivot points and the recess at the outer end of the levers reduces its gripping diameter.

[0018] In embodiments of the invention, the levers are mounted on a, preferably circular, template with their pivot points, this template being connected to the shaft so that the conical plunger is guided between the levers via the trigger mechanism, thus ensuring individual gripping or individual release of the elements. The invention also relates to a method for the manual picking up and dropping of marking elements.

[0019] The manual submission procedure includes the following steps: Providing a plurality of marking elements according to the invention, providing a marking element lifting system according to the invention, inserting an element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole in a first element behind its rigid edge to engage the first element on the marking element handling device, inserting the element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole into a second element behind its reinforced edge to engage the second element on the marking element handling device below the first element, wherein the operator can manipulate the trigger to release the second element from the element engagement mechanism while the first element is held on the marking element handling device.

[0020] The procedure for manually picking up marking elements includes the following steps: Providing a plurality of marking elements according to the invention, providing a marking element lifting system according to the invention, inserting the element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole into a further element, wherein the preceding elements engage with the marking element handling device through their edge in order to engage the next element with the marking element handling device under the preceding element.

[0021] Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of a marking element and a marking element lifting system according to the invention for the manual picking up and dropping of marking elements.

[0022] For the realization of the invention, it is also advantageous to combine the aforementioned inventive configurations, embodiments and features of the claims in each arrangement. Example of implementation

[0023] The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. This embodiment relates to a marking element lifting system for the sports and leisure sector and is intended to describe the invention without limiting it.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail with the aid of drawings. These drawings show

[0025] Fig. 1A marking element lifting system according to the invention, which has a plurality of marking elements (11) according to the invention at its lower end, wherein a marking element handling device according to the invention has a hollow shaft (4) with a handle (2) at its upper end. The element engagement mechanism (10) is arranged at the opposite lower end of the shaft (4), and this is actuated via a trigger (1) in the handle (2), which is connected to the engagement mechanism (9) via the shaft (2).The marking element handling device is designed such that an operator holding the handle (2) can insert the cap engagement mechanism (7) through the engagement hole in a first element (11) behind its rigid rim to engage the first element (11) with the marking element handling device, so that the operator can operate the handle with one hand and insert the element engagement mechanism (7) through the engagement hole into a second element (11) behind its reinforced rim to engage the second element (11) with the marking element handling device below the first element (11), and the operator can manipulate the trigger (1) to release the second element (11) from the element engagement mechanism (7) while the first element (11) is held on the marking element handling device.The element engagement mechanism (7) comprises at least two opposing levers (9), each lever (9) having upper and lower tabs at its outer ends, the upper and lower tabs forming a recess between them designed to grip the reinforced edge of an element (11). The levers (9) are pivotally mounted at their inner thirds about a pivot point, with a preload force being exerted on the levers (9) at their inner end by a rubber-elastic element (3), causing the levers (9) to press against a conical plunger (10) of the trigger mechanism (7), which is connected to the trigger (1) such that actuation of the trigger (1) spreads the inner thirds of the levers (9) outwards, causing the levers (9) to pivot about the pivot points and reducing the gripping diameter of the recess at the outer end of the levers (9).The levers (9) are mounted on a template (5) with their pivot points, this template (5) being connected to the shaft (2), so that the cone plunger (10) is guided between the levers via the trigger mechanism, thus ensuring a single gripping of the elements (11) or a single release.

[0026] Fig. 2A marking element lifting system according to the invention, which has a plurality of marking elements (11) according to the invention at its lower end, wherein a marking element handling device according to the invention has a hollow shaft (4) with a handle (2) at its upper end. The element engagement mechanism (10) is arranged at the opposite lower end of the shaft (4), and this is actuated via a trigger (1) in the handle (2), which is connected to the engagement mechanism (9) via the shaft (2).The marking element handling device is designed such that an operator holding the handle (2) can insert the cap engagement mechanism (7) through the engagement hole in a first element (11) behind its rigid rim to engage the first element (11) with the marking element handling device, so that the operator can operate the handle with one hand and insert the element engagement mechanism (7) through the engagement hole into a second element (11) behind its reinforced rim to engage the second element (11) with the marking element handling device below the first element (11), and wherein the operator can manipulate the trigger (1) to release the second element (11) from the element engagement mechanism (7) while the first element (11) is held on the marking element handling device.The element engagement mechanism (7) comprises at least two opposing levers (9), each lever (9) having upper and lower tabs at its outer ends, the upper and lower tabs forming a recess between them designed to grip the reinforced edge of an element (11). The levers (9) are pivotably mounted on a bracket with a fixed point (6), with a preload force being applied to the inner end of the levers (9) by means of a rubber-elastic element (3), causing the levers (9) to press against a conical plunger (10) of the trigger mechanism (7), which is connected to the trigger (1) such that actuation of the trigger (1) spreads the levers (9) outwards, causing the levers (9) to move about the fixed points (6) in a manner that causes pivoting at the lower end and reduces the gripping diameter of the recess at the outer end of the levers (9).The levers (9) are mounted on a template (5) with their pivot points, this template (5) being connected to the shaft (2), so that the cone plunger (10) is guided between the levers via the trigger mechanism, thus ensuring a single gripping of the elements (11) or a single release.

Claims

1. Marker element lifting system, abbreviated to system, comprising: - a plurality of marker elements (11), wherein each marker element (11) has an upper plane having an opening therein aligned with a reinforced edge, has an element surface sloping outwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the upper plane to a lower plane, and has a plurality of spacers, wherein the spacers project inwardly from the inner surface of the wall; wherein the marker element is designed such that a plurality of elements can be stacked on top of one another and is nested in an adjacent upper element such that at least three inner ends of the spacers on the upper element press against an outer surface of the walls of the lower element so that a separation space is created between the elements; - a marker element handling device comprising: a hollow shaft (4) having a handle (2) at the upper end; - an element engagement mechanism at the opposite lower end of the shaft (4); - a trigger (1) in the handle (2) connected to the engagement mechanism via the shaft (4); wherein the marker element handling device is designed such that an operator holding the handle (2) can insert the element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole in a first element (11) behind its rigid edge to engage the first element (11) on the marker element handling device, so that the operator can operate the handle (2) with one hand and insert the element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole in a second element (11) behind its reinforced edge to engage the second element (11) on the marker element handling device below the first element (11), and wherein the operator can manipulate the trigger (1) to release the second element (11) from the element engagement mechanism while the first element (11) is held on the marker element handling device, wherein - the element engagement mechanism comprises at least two opposite levers (9), wherein each lever (9) has upper and lower tabs at its outer ends, wherein the upper and lower tabs form a recess between one another, which is designed to grip the reinforced edge of an element (11), wherein the levers (9) grip the reinforced edge at least opposite one another or form a stable basic shape such as triangles or circles, and - the levers (9) are arranged to be pivotable at their inner thirds about a pivot point, wherein a preloading force is exerted on the levers (9) at the inner end, preferably by rubber-elastic elements (12), so that the levers (9) press against a conical tappet (10) of the trigger mechanism, which is connected to the trigger (1) in such a way that, by activating the trigger (1), the inner thirds of the levers (9) are spread outwards so that the levers (9) pivot about the pivot points and the recess at the outer end of the levers (9) reduces its gripping diameter.

2. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a marker element (11) is made of an elastomer, particularly preferably of a vulcanised material or plastics material.

3. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the marker element handling device is designed such that the operator holding the handle (2) can insert the element engagement mechanism into a further element (11) through the engagement hole, the preceding elements (11) being engaged with the marker element handling device through their edge to engage the next element (11) on the marker element handling device below the preceding element (11); and the operator activates the trigger (1) to release a single element (11) from the element engagement mechanism while the preceding elements (11) are held on the marker element handling device.

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the levers (9) are shifted by their pivot points on a preferably circular template (5), this template (5) being connected to the shaft (4) so that the conical tappet (10) is guided between the levers (9) via the trigger mechanism, thus ensuring individual gripping of the elements (11) or individual dropping.

5. Method for manually dispensing marker elements (11), characterised in that at least the following steps are carried out: - providing a marker element lifting system according to any one of the preceding claims, - inserting an element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole in a first element (11) behind its rigid edge to engage the first element (11) on the marker element handling device, - inserting the element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole into a second element (11) behind its reinforced edge to engage the second element (11) on the marker element handling device below the first element (11) - the operator being able to manipulate the trigger to release the second element (11) from the element engagement mechanism while the first element (11) is held on the marker element handling device.

6. Method for manually picking up marker elements, characterised in that at least the following steps are carried out: - providing a marker element lifting system according to any one of the preceding claims, - inserting the element engagement mechanism through the engagement hole into a further element (11), the preceding elements (11) being engaged with the marker element handling device through their edge to engage the next element (11) on the marker element handling device below the previous element (11).

7. Use of a marker element marker element lifting system according to any one of the preceding claims for manually picking up and dispensing marker elements (11).