Removable illuminated street furniture element

Abstract

The invention relates to a removable illuminated street furniture element. According to the invention, it comprises a one-piece chassis (1) formed from a thermoplastic material, a light source (2) powered by power supply means (3), said chassis (1) having means for retaining said light source (2).

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of street furniture.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a removable illuminated street furniture element made from a thermoplastic material, this illuminated street furniture element being designed to be reusable and environmentally friendly.

[0003] The invention can, for example, be used in the creation of permanent or temporary illuminated decorations intended for outdoor use, such as those traditionally used for festivals or other events. It can also be used for shop signs or window displays, and even in advertising campaigns. Prior art

[0004] For many years we have known techniques for creating outdoor street furniture elements, such as Christmas decorations or decorations placed in funfairs, consisting of creating a given shape or volume and providing a light source to it.

[0005] The structure is generally created from a support frame made of multiple metal tubes welded or glued together. One or more strings of lights are then attached to this frame, typically consisting of a series of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or screw-in bulbs. These LEDs or bulbs are of a predetermined color to achieve the desired decorative effect for the piece of street furniture. These various light sources can, for example, be glued directly onto the metal support frame or secured with cable ties. Simply powering the strings of lights is all that is needed to create the desired decorative effect.

[0006] However, a drawback of this technique is that the street furniture element becomes difficult to reuse because, for example, after a period of outdoor exposure, the support frame shows signs of wear or deterioration such as corrosion, pollution, or even human damage. After a period of use, the support frame is therefore difficult to reuse.

[0007] Furthermore, if the piece of street furniture needs to be modified for reuse, the numerous welds and glue joints make modification difficult or even impossible without damaging the structure, or at the very least leaving visible traces of modification, which can impair the use of the piece of street furniture, which is also unsatisfactory.

[0008] Another drawback of this type of street furniture is its bulkiness and weight, which can make handling difficult and time-consuming for users. Furthermore, attaching the light sources to the support frame is also time-consuming.

[0009] There is therefore a need to improve the existing situation, and in particular to implement an element of street furniture which is adaptable and reusable depending on the situations in which it is used, which is simple to use and produce, and which is also environmentally friendly while remaining inexpensive.

[0010] EP3564934A1 is the closest prior art document. Other relevant prior art documents are US11175438B1, US9741273B1, US2009 / 262520A1 and US2008 / 086922A1. Description of the invention

[0011] The invention aims to remedy at least in part the aforementioned drawbacks relating to prior art techniques.

[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a piece of illuminated street furniture comprising a one-piece chassis made from a thermoplastic material, a light source powered by power supply means, and said chassis having means for retaining said light source. Thus, the invention proposes a novel and inventive approach that at least partially overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0013] In particular, such a solution makes it possible to implement an element of luminous street furniture that is easily reusable due to the material from which it is made.

[0014] Indeed, because the thermoplastic material is recyclable and reusable, if the chassis is too visually deteriorated, it can be ground up and then reused after light post-treatment (such as water cleaning, sandblasting or other simple treatments) while limiting or even eliminating material loss.

[0015] In addition, having a one-piece chassis allows for a piece of illuminated street furniture to be implemented without gluing or welding, which allows for simpler recycling, and also eliminates any potential mechanical weaknesses that may exist at the welds and glue joints.

[0016] Finally, such an element of illuminated street furniture according to the invention proves to be relatively light because it is made from a thermoplastic material, which makes handling easy for a user, for example when attaching or detaching this element of illuminated street furniture.

[0017] According to one aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, the retaining means comprise a groove in which said light source is retained.

[0018] According to other variants, the means of support include one-piece fixing brackets with the chassis.

[0019] According to other variants, the means of support include sheaths, or tubes, into which the light source is inserted.

[0020] According to the invention, said chassis has a heterogeneous material density, and comprises a first zone having a first material density and at least a second zone having a second material density, said first material density being lower than said second material density.

[0021] This makes it possible to strengthen certain areas that would require it, for example areas more exposed to stresses (wind, attachment areas).

[0022] According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, said chassis has attachment means configured to allow said illuminated street furniture element to be attached to a surface.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said second zone of said chassis has attachment means configured to allow said luminous street furniture element to be attached to a surface.

[0024] According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, the light source comprises a light strip equipped with a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

[0025] According to the invention, the chassis comprises a housing having a plurality of compartments, and the chassis comprises control means for said light source capable of varying a luminous intensity of said light source so as to create luminous effects, these control means being provided inside a compartment of said housing.

[0026] According to the invention, the control means include means of communication by radio waves, Wifi or Bluetooth so as to be able to send and receive control information to or from an external terminal.

[0027] According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, the control means include a memory capable of storing a plurality of predetermined lighting effects.

[0028] According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, the power supply means include a photovoltaic module, a rechargeable battery, or means of connection to the electrical network.

[0029] According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, the thermoplastic material comprises at least glycolized polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

[0030] According to a particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, the element is a luminous decoration.

[0031] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a piece of illuminated street furniture according to one of the aforementioned embodiments, from a recyclable thermoplastic material, characterized in that it comprises: a step of printing said one-piece chassis in three dimensions from a predefined quantity of material, according to a predefined shape; a step of blocking said light source by the means of holding said chassis. Presentation of the figures

[0032] The invention, and its various advantages, will be more easily understood in light of the following description of an illustrative and non-limiting embodiment thereof, and the accompanying drawings, among which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a top perspective view of an illuminated piece of street furniture according to a first embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] is a top perspective view of a housing for a piece of illuminated street furniture according to a first embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 3] is a top view of an illuminated piece of street furniture according to a second embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 4 ] is a top perspective view of an illuminated street furniture element according to a third embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 5 ] is a top perspective view of an illuminated street furniture element according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 6 ] is a top perspective view of part of an element of illuminated street furniture according to the fourth embodiment of the invention, and [ Fig. 7 ] is a side perspective view of means of fixing an element of illuminated street furniture to an external surface. Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0033] The general principle of the invention is based on the implementation of a luminous urban furniture element comprising a one-piece chassis formed from a thermoplastic material which is easily reusable due to the material in which it is made, which is implemented without gluing or welding which allows this reuse, and which proves to be relatively light.

[0034] A thermoplastic material is defined as a material that softens when heated sufficiently, but hardens upon cooling. The advantage of such a material is that it reversibly retains its initial thermoplasticity and is reusable and recyclable. In the embodiment below, the thermoplastic material comprises PETG (glycolized polyethylene terephthalate).

[0035] According to another embodiment, the thermoplastic material could also include polylactic acid.

[0036] According to another embodiment, the thermoplastic material could also include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

[0037] We could also consider other thermoplastic materials with the same characteristics of reusability and respect for the environment.

[0038] Recycling a piece of illuminated street furniture can involve grinding the plastic components finely enough to transform them into granules or filaments. The granules can be reused directly. For filaments, they must be ground before being heated.

[0039] Thus, the material used to manufacture a piece of illuminated street furniture according to the invention can originate from a recycled source, thereby avoiding the need to consume new material for a new piece of illuminated street furniture once the recycling process has been completed. This could potentially allow for a mixture of new and recycled material if different quantities of material are required.

[0040] It should be noted that this piece of illuminated street furniture is removable so that it can be positioned in a predefined location and removed from that location, for example to be replaced or to be positioned in another predefined location.

[0041] We now present, in relation to the figures 1 to 7 several embodiments of the invention.

[0042] As illustrated in these different figures, the illuminated street furniture element includes a chassis, which here is a single piece, and which is formed from a thermoplastic material.

[0043] In general, the removable illuminated street furniture element made from recyclable thermoplastic material is manufactured using a process that includes: a step of printing the one-piece chassis in three dimensions from a predefined quantity of material, according to a predefined shape; a step of blocking the light source by the holding means.

[0044] In this embodiment, this removable illuminated street furniture element, made from a recyclable thermoplastic material, is manufactured using a process comprising: a step of printing the one-piece chassis in three dimensions from a predefined quantity of material, according to a predefined shape; a step of integrating the light source into the groove formed in the chassis.

[0045] This chassis has a groove in which a light source 2 is held, powered by power supply means 3.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiments, the light source 2 comprises a light strip equipped with a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

[0047] The power supply means 3 which supply this light source 2 may include a photovoltaic module, a rechargeable battery, or means of connection to the electrical network.

[0048] As can be seen, the illuminated street furniture element illustrated in figure 3This is a light decoration, specifically designed for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), comprising a 1' frame with a shape characteristic of this period. This 1' frame has a 10' groove housing and holding the light source, as well as 4' attachment points configured to allow this piece of illuminated street furniture to be hung on a surface.

[0049] The illuminated street furniture element shown in figure 4 is also a light decoration intended for the Pink October period, comprising a 1" frame with a shape characteristic of this period, different from the shape of the 1" frame illustrated in figure 3 . This 1" chassis features a 10" groove housing and holding the light source, as well as 4" attachment means configured to allow this piece of illuminated street furniture to be hung on a surface.

[0050] As for the illuminated street furniture element illustrated in figure 5 This is an illuminated sign, suitable for placement, for example, on a shop front to enhance the shop's visibility. It comprises a 1" frame with a shape incorporating, for example, the company logo and name. This 1" frame has a 10" groove that houses and secures the light source.

[0051] The illuminated street furniture element shown in figure 1 is a light decoration, and more specifically a light decoration intended for the Christmas period, comprising a frame 1 with a shape characteristic of this period. This frame 1 has a groove 10 housing and holding a light source allowing the frame to be colored and thus giving a visual appearance characteristic of the Christmas period.

[0052] This chassis 1 further includes attachment means 4 configured to allow this illuminated street furniture element to be attached to a surface.

[0053] As illustrated in figure 7 , the fastening means may for example include a body 91 having a rectangular profile and provided with an orifice 92 so that the body 91 can come to grip a surface.

[0054] This surface could, for example, be a lamppost, a wall, or any other surface, indoors or outdoors.

[0055] This chassis 1 has a heterogeneous material density, and includes a first zone 11 having a first material density D1 and a second zone 12 having a second material density D2.

[0056] Here, the first material density D1 is lower than the second material density D2. Furthermore, and as can be seen in this figure, the second zone 12 of the chassis 1 presents the attachment means 4. In this way, it makes it possible to further stiffen and solidify the area of ​​the chassis which will allow attachment to an external surface and therefore improve the solidity and resistance of the illuminated street furniture element, especially if it is placed in an outdoor environment which may be subject to weather stresses.

[0057] It should be noted that, according to a variant of this embodiment, the chassis could have more than two zones, each with a specific density.

[0058] As illustrated in figure 2The chassis includes a housing 6. This housing 6 is formed of a base portion 60 and a cover 61. It is also provided with a fixing hole 62 allowing the base portion to be fixed to the cover by means of screws.

[0059] This 6-inch case has a plurality of compartments with a first compartment that allows for housing the power supply.

[0060] A second compartment can accommodate control equipment.

[0061] These control means 5 of the light source 2 are capable of varying the light intensity of the light source 2 in order to create light effects.

[0062] To achieve this, these control means include means for generating a control signal for the light source.

[0063] This signal is generated here following control instructions which can be received by means of communication 50 by radio waves, Wifi or Bluetooth, from an external terminal such as a user's mobile phone or a computer.

[0064] These means of communication 50 are implemented not only so as to be able to receive control information from an external terminal, but also to send control information to an external terminal.

[0065] These control means 5 further include a memory 51 capable of storing a plurality of predetermined lighting effects.

[0066] Memory 51 can also be used to store preferred operating time slots for scenery so as to allow the light source to be switched on at predefined times.

[0067] For example, operating hours could be scheduled to allow illuminated street furniture to be switched off in the middle of the night to save energy. This variety of predetermined lighting effects could, for instance, allow the illuminated street furniture to be used on different occasions.

Claims

1. Removable luminous urban furniture element comprising a monobloc frame (1, 1', 1", 1‴) formed from a thermoplastic material, a light source (2) powered by power supply means (3), said frame (1) comprising retaining means (10, 10', 10", 10‴) for said light source, characterized in that said frame (1) has a heterogeneous material density and comprises a first zone (11) having a first material density (D1) and at least one second zone (12) having a second material density (D2), said first material density (D1) being lower than said second material density (D2), and in that said frame (1) comprises a housing (6) having at least one compartment, and control means (5) of said light source (2) adapted to vary a luminous intensity of said light source (2) so as to create light effects, said control means (5) being arranged inside the at least one compartment of said housing (6), the control means (5) comprising: - communication means (50) by radio waves, Wifi or Bluetooth so as to be able to send and receive control information from or to an external terminal; - a memory (51) adapted to store a plurality of predetermined light effects.

2. Removable luminous urban furniture element according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (1) comprises attachment means (4, 4', 4") configured to allow fastening of said luminous urban furniture element on a surface.

3. Removable luminous urban furniture element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light source (2) comprises a light strip provided with a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

4. Removable luminous urban furniture element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power supply means (3) comprise a photovoltaic module, a rechargeable battery, or means of connection to the electrical grid.

5. Removable luminous urban furniture element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermoplastic material comprises at least polyethylene terephthalate glycol, polylactic acid, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

6. Removable luminous urban furniture element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element is a luminous decoration.

7. Method of manufacturing a removable luminous urban furniture element according to one of claims 1 to 6, from a recyclable thermoplastic material, characterized in that it comprises: - a step of three-dimensional printing of said monobloc frame (1) from a predefined quantity of material, depending on a predefined shape; - a step of blocking said light source (2) by the retaining means of said frame (1).

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