Suspension system, for example of a nest, with a support bar

Abstract

The invention relates mainly to a suspension system (1) for an element to be suspended (22), which is essentially characterized in that it comprises a portion (2) for attachment to a support bar (14), for example a railing, a portion (3) for attachment to the element to be suspended (22) which is essentially longitudinal and which comprises at least one bore (5) intended to receive means (15) for attachment to the element to be suspended (22), and a consolidation portion (4) comprising means (17) for cooperation with an element for adjusting the verticality of the attachment portion (18) when the attachment portion (2) is in place on the support bar (14), in that the attachment portion (2) and the consolidation portion (4) are respectively provided at the opposite ends of the longitudinal attachment portion (3), and in that the attachment portion (2), the attachment portion (3) and the consolidation portion (4) are made in one piece.The invention applies in particular to the suspension of a birdhouse, as well as any other floral or ornamental element.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention falls within the field of systems for suspension from a support bar, for example from a balcony or terrace railing, intended to suspend a birdhouse or any other suitable element such as tubs or pots of floral ornaments, or even decorative elements. PRIOR ART AND DISADVANTAGES OF PRIOR ART

[0002] Systems for hanging flower pots or other hanging items that include means for attaching them to a window support bar or the edge of a balcony or terrace railing are well known.

[0003] These suspension systems generally consist of a portion for hanging from the support bar and means for holding the item to be suspended.

[0004] The means for holding the element to be suspended may comprise a flat base on which the element to be suspended rests. However, in this configuration, the holding of the element to be suspended is not secure. Furthermore, it is not possible to guarantee that the element to be suspended will remain in a vertical position.

[0005] There are also holding means that cooperate with the element to be hung to ensure its support. This is the case of the system in publication FR1367888 which provides for a curved part to fit into the water drainage hole of the flower pot. But this configuration, on the one hand, does not ensure the water drainage required for the plants, and on the other hand is only suitable for hanging elements provided with an orifice in the lower part.

[0006] Finally, there are holding means which, without being embedded in the element to be suspended, cooperate with means previously fixed under the element to be suspended. Most often, these cooperating means are fixed to the element to be suspended by drilling. In addition, this configuration results in the assembly of at least two different parts and most often requires turning the element to be suspended to mount the cooperating means before installing the element to be suspended.

[0007] Finally, in all these configurations, the vertical position of the element to be suspended is not guaranteed. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention therefore aims to propose a system for suspending an element to be suspended from a support bar which adapts to any configuration of said element to be suspended, which requires few assembly steps, which avoids the element to be suspended from turning over before it is fixed to the support bar, while ensuring good resistance to wind and bad weather.

[0009] The invention further relates to a suspension system which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0010] The invention finally aims at a suspension system which is securely held in a vertical position. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] To this end, the suspension system of an element to be suspended of the invention is essentially characterized in that it comprises a portion for attachment to a support bar, for example a railing, a portion for fixing to the element to be suspended which is essentially longitudinal and which comprises at least one bore intended to receive means for fixing to the element to be suspended, and a consolidation portion comprising means for cooperating with an element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion when the attachment portion is in place on the support bar, in that the attachment portion and the consolidation portion are respectively provided at the level of the opposite ends of the longitudinal fixing portion, and in that the attachment portion, the fixing portion and the consolidation portion are made in a single piece.

[0012] The suspension system of the invention may also include the following optional features considered in isolation or in all possible technical combinations: the attachment portion to the element to be suspended comprises at least two holes. the holes in the attachment portion are circular or oblong. the attachment portion to the element to be suspended is entirely longitudinal. the attachment portion is essentially U-shaped. the attachment portion comprises at least one hole intended to receive flexible attachment means to the support bar. the consolidation portion comprises at least one hole intended to receive a threaded rod secured to a vertical wedging means by forming an element for adjusting the verticality of the attachment portion. the consolidation portion comprises a U-shaped branch in the extension of the attachment part, the two opposite branches of which each comprise at least one aligned hole. the consolidation portion comprises a support part for the lower part of the element to be suspended.the alignment of the two holes is perpendicular to the fixing portion and the support part is perpendicular to the fixing part.

[0013] The invention also relates to a device for suspending an element to be suspended which is essentially characterized in that it comprises the suspension system as previously stated, the consolidation portion of which comprises at least one bore, and an element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion comprising a threaded rod intended to be housed in said bore and secured to a means for wedging in verticality.

[0014] The suspension device of the invention may also include the following optional features considered in isolation or in all possible technical combinations: the verticality wedging plate has a length greater than 11 centimeters. the consolidation portion comprises a U-shaped branch in the extension of the fixing part, the two opposite branches of which each comprise at least one aligned bore and in that the threaded rod secured to the verticality wedging plate of the element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion has a length greater than the distance between the two bores. the attachment portion is essentially U-shaped and comprises at least one bore intended to receive flexible fixing means to the support bar.

[0015] The invention finally relates to the use of the system as previously described for hanging a nest box. PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

[0016] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figure: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of a first embodiment of the suspension system of the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of a second embodiment of the suspension system of the invention; [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 is a schematic side illustration of the suspension system of the invention according to the first embodiment; [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 is a schematic illustration in perspective and elevation of the suspension device of the invention supporting a nest box and mounted on a balcony railing; [ Fig. 5 ] There Figure 5is a schematic illustration in perspective and from below of the suspension device of the invention supporting a nest box and mounted on a balcony railing; and [ Fig. 6 ] There figure 6 is a schematic illustration in perspective from behind of the suspension device of the invention supporting a nest box and mounted on a balcony railing DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] It is first of all specified that in the figures, the same references designate the same elements regardless of the figure in which they appear and regardless of the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their references can be easily found by referring to another figure.

[0018] It is also specified that the figures essentially represent two embodiments of the subject of the invention but that there may be other embodiments which meet the definition of the invention.

[0019] The invention essentially relates to a suspension system which is made in a single piece. The suspension system comprises a portion for attachment to a support bar, a portion for fixing to the element to be suspended and a consolidation portion which cooperates with a verticality adjustment element when the system is in place on the support bar. The suspension system of the invention and the associated device are described in detail according to two embodiments and with reference to figures 1 to 3 .

[0020] The suspension system of the invention 1, 1a firstly comprises a hooking portion 2, 2a having a U shape intended to surround the support bar on which the suspension system is intended to be hooked. The free end 9, 9a of the hooking portion 2, 2a is curved downwards so as to secure the attachment of the system to the support bar.

[0021] Depending on the method of implementation of the figure 1 , the attachment portion 2 has a series of oblong holes 8, 10 which extend transversely along said attachment portion 2. More precisely, the attachment portion 2 has two first holes 8 at its curved free end 9 and four second holes 10 at its central branch 11 and its curved opposite end 12. The oblong holes 8, 10 are intended to receive means of fixing to the support bar constituted in this embodiment of a locking strap 13 ( Figure 3 ) which is first inserted into a second hole 10 from the upper face of the attachment portion 2, then into a first hole 8 from the lower face of the attachment portion 2 surrounding the support bar 14. Means for tightening the locking strap 13, not shown but well known to those skilled in the art, are also provided.

[0022] Depending on the method of implementation of the figure 2 , the tightening means consist of a sling with ferrets (not shown) which comprises a rope made of natural or synthetic material equipped with a rocking ferret at its two ends. During installation, a lark's head knot can be made in order to secure the rope to the railing and the ferrets are introduced into the holes 10a of the attachment portion 2a. The ferret's rocking naturally operates in blocking and the rope can support more than 100 kg, this tightening means ensures maximum security of maintenance of the system.

[0023] In a variant not shown, the attachment portion 2, 2a does not have any holes and no means of attachment to the support bar is provided. This is particularly the case when the curvature of the attachment portion 2, 2a cooperates perfectly with the shape of the support bar.

[0024] In the extension of the hanging portion 2, 2a extends a longitudinal fixing portion 3, 3a which comprises two holes 5, 5a intended to receive fixing screws 15 of the element to be suspended ( figure 6 ) passing through the holes 5.5a to and in the rear wall of the element to be suspended.

[0025] The holes 5, 5a can be round or oblong. In the latter case, the positioning of the fixing screws 15 will be easier.

[0026] The holes are shown in two in number in these embodiments, but the number and position of the holes 5, 5a are adapted to the height and shape of the element to be suspended. Alternatively, all of the holes are not used if the height of the element to be suspended is less than the height of the vertical fixing portion 3, 3a.

[0027] In the lower part of the fixing portion 3, 3a, in its extension and opposite the attachment portion 2, 2a, a consolidation portion 4, 4a has a U-shaped branch 16, 16a which is inverted with respect to the U-shape of the attachment portion 2, 2a and which extends on the opposite side of the fixing portion 3, 3a.

[0028] The U-shaped branch 16, 16a of the consolidation portion 4, 4a extends in the extension of the fixing portion 3, 3a, up to a flat support part 6, 6a which extends perpendicular to the fixing portion 3, 3a and in the direction opposite to said fixing portion 3, 3a.

[0029] The U-shaped branch 16, 16a comprises, at the level of its two opposite branches, two holes 17, 17a which are aligned perpendicular to the fixing portion 3, 3a and which are intended to receive an element for adjusting the verticality of the visible fixing portion 18 on the figure 3 . We can predict, as illustrated in the figure 2 , a guide insert 17a' which is inserted by forcing into the bore 17a located on the rear face of the U-shaped branch 16a on the side of the fixing portion 3a.

[0030] The element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion 18 comprises a threaded rod 19 which has a length greater than the distance between the two holes 17, 17a and which passes through the two holes 17, 17a of the U-shaped branch 16 of the consolidation portion 4, and a verticality adjustment plate 20 fixed to the end of the threaded rod 19 facing vertically the attachment portion 2.

[0031] The vertical wedging plate 20 extends parallel to the fixing portion 3 and has a length greater than 11 centimeters in order to be able to rest against two adjacent bars of the balcony whose maximum spacing meets the standards in force.

[0032] The rotation of the wedging plate 20, when the threaded rod 19 is in position in the holes 17 of the U-shaped branch 16 of the consolidation portion 4, causes the increase or decrease of its distance from the fixing portion 3 and makes it possible to position the fixing portion 3 of the suspension system in a strict verticality, which results in the vertical positioning of the element to be suspended. More precisely, during the assembly of the suspension device comprising the suspension system 1 and the element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion 18, the threaded rod 19 of the element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion 18 is inserted into the two holes 17 of the U-shaped branch 16 of the consolidation portion 4, the wedging plate 20 is positioned vertically or horizontally ( figure 6) and manually rotated by the installer until the fixing portion 3 is vertical when the shim plate 20 is resting against the railing. For the embodiment illustrated in figure 2 , the threaded rod 19 is guided towards the opposite hole 17a by the guide insert 17a'.

[0033] This vertical positioning system is advantageous because it requires few operations while allowing the element to be suspended to be kept in a vertical position. It also does not alter the railing. For this purpose, the wedging means can be made of wood.

[0034] The flat support part 6, 6a of the consolidation portion 4, 4a may include an orifice 20, 20a intended to fix by screwing the lower wall of the element to be suspended. But this fixing is optional since the main fixing is carried out by the fixing portion 3, 3a and the orifices 5, 5a which it includes in accordance with what is described previously.

[0035] As regards the material constituting the element to be suspended, it is preferably made of metal and more preferably of stainless steel with a thickness of between 2 and 8 millimeters, preferably 5 millimeters.

[0036] THE figures 4 to 6 represent a suspension device of the invention comprising two suspension systems 1 of the invention and for each of the two suspension systems a vertical wedging means which is in surface contact support against a glazed viewing screen 21. The device of the invention makes it possible to suspend a nest box 22 in a vertical position on a railing 14.

[0037] It will be noted that one of the wedging means 20 is positioned vertically against the glazed view cover 21 while the second wedging means is positioned horizontally, which results in an optimized positioning of the system relative to the glazed view cover 21. It may be provided that the wedging means has any appropriate shape to ensure the best possible wedging.

[0038] The system and device of the invention apply to the suspension of a nest box in the embodiments presented, but they find application for any floral or decorative element to be suspended from a support bar.

Claims

1. Suspension system (1,1a) of an element to be suspended (22), characterized in that it comprises a portion (2, 2a) for attachment to a support bar (14), for example a railing, a portion (3, 3a) for attachment to the element to be suspended (22) which is essentially longitudinal and which comprises at least one bore (5, 5a) intended to receive means (15) for attachment to the element to be suspended (22), and a consolidation portion (4, 4a) comprising means (17, 17a) for cooperation with an element for adjusting the verticality of the attachment portion (18) when the portion (2, 2a) is in place on the support bar (14), in that the hooking portion (2, 2a) and the consolidation portion (4, 4a) are respectively provided at the opposite ends of the longitudinal fixing portion (3, 3a), and in that the attachment portion (2, 2a), the fixing portion (3, 3a) and the consolidation portion (4, 4a) are made in a single piece.

2. Suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment portion (3,3a) to the element to be suspended (22) comprises at least two holes (5,5a).

3. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the holes (5,5a) of the fixing portion (3,3a) are circular or oblong.

4. Suspension system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment portion (3,3a) to the element to be suspended (22) is entirely longitudinal.

5. Suspension system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment portion (2.2a) is essentially U-shaped.

6. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the attachment portion (2, 2a) comprises at least one hole (8, 10) intended to receive flexible fixing means (13) to the support bar (14).

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe consolidation portion (4, 4a) comprises at least one bore (17, 17a) intended to receive a threaded rod (19) secured to a verticality wedging means (20) by forming an element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion (18).

8. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the consolidation portion (4) comprises a U-shaped branch (16, 16a) in the extension of the fixing part (3) of which the two opposite branches each comprise at least one aligned hole (17, 17a).

9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the consolidation portion (4,4a) comprises a support portion (6) of the lower part of the element to be suspended (22).

10. System according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the alignment of the two holes (17, 17a) is perpendicular to the fixing portion (3, 3a) and in thatthe support part (6,6a) is perpendicular to the fixing part (3).

11. Device for suspending an element to be suspended, characterized in that it comprises the suspension system of claim 1, the consolidation portion (4, 4a) of which comprises at least one bore (17, 17a), and an element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion (18) comprising a threaded rod (19) intended to be housed in said bore (17, 17a) and secured to a verticality wedging means (20).

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the vertical alignment plate (20) has a length greater than 11 centimeters.

13. Device according to any one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the consolidation portion (4, 4a) comprises a U-shaped branch (16, 16a) in the extension of the fixing part (3) of which the two opposite branches each comprise at least one drilling (17, 17a) in alignment and in thatthe threaded rod (19) secured to the verticality adjustment plate (20) of the element for adjusting the verticality of the fixing portion (18) has a length greater than the distance between the two holes (17, 17a).

14. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the attachment portion (2) is essentially U-shaped and comprises at least one hole (10) intended to receive flexible fixing means (13) to the support bar (14).

15. Use of the system according to claims 1 to 10 or of the device according to claims 11 to 14 for suspending a nest box (22).

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