MULTI-COLOUR SIGNAGE SLAB AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A SLAB

Abstract

The sign plate (1) is made of plastic. It has a plurality of upward-facing raised areas (4) and includes, at least on its upper surface, areas (2, 3) of different colors resulting from the molding process. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: MULTI-COLOUR SIGNALING TABLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A TABLE Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a signage tile made of plastic and having at least two colors on its upper surface. The invention is particularly relevant to tactile paving tiles and guidance strips, especially for blind and visually impaired people.

[0002] A tactile paving slab is intended in particular to constitute floor devices designed to raise awareness among people in general, and in particular among blind or visually impaired people during their travels, and which are classically located at the edge of a platform providing access to public transport, at the edge of a sidewalk, at road crossings or at the top of a flight of stairs.

[0003] The applications of such a slab are not limited to such vigilance alert devices and can be implemented in any other type of application in which the aim is to attract attention or optimize signage.

[0004] Guidance strips also aim to facilitate the movement of blind or visually impaired people, particularly in the context of their movement in all places, whether on public roads or inside buildings. Previous art

[0005] Tactile paving slabs, that is to say those fitted on their upper surface with raised studs, are in widespread use today, and moreover standardized by the NF P 98-351 standard. These slabs are intended to be fixed to the ground, typically by gluing, in particular places where it is desired to raise the awareness of users, whether pedestrians, cars etc.

[0006] Such slabs can be made of plastic material, in particular by molding, or can be of a metallic nature, as described for example in document FR 2 767 846.

[0007] While these tiles are generally satisfactory, experience shows that they suffer from a lack of visibility, which may therefore affect their primary function, namely the awakening of vigilance.

[0008] We encounter the same problem with regard to guide strips.

[0009] The objective of the present invention is primarily to optimize this visibility. It also aims to implement a method for achieving such tiles and strips, allowing them to be declined, particularly in terms of colours, almost infinitely. Description of the invention

[0010] The invention therefore relates to a sign tile made of plastic material having a plurality of raised areas relative to the general plane in which said tile is inscribed, and comprising at least on its upper face areas of differentiated colors resulting from molding.

[0011] In other words, the invention relates to a slab made of plastic material, and in this case by injection molding, comprising at least on its visible surface, that is to say on its upper surface, different colors, this differentiation of colors resulting from the molding alone.

[0012] In other words, the slabs of the invention are obtained by bi-material and / or bi-color injection, and the different colors do not result from the application of a subsequent coating such as paints, varnishes etc.

[0013] According to the invention, the differentiated color areas correspond to parts of the upper surface of the slab.

[0014] Alternatively, the areas of differentiated color correspond respectively to the raised areas and the base.

[0015] The plastic material used is chosen from the group including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and flexible PVC, or any other thermoplastic.

[0016] According to the invention, the underside of the slab, i.e. intended to be fixed to the ground or to any other surface, is coated after production with a double-sided adhesive, provided with a protective film for the adhesive, typically made of silicone paper.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method for making such a slab.

[0018] This process consists of:

[0019] - to implement a two-part mold with cavities, one part of which the imprint comprises at least one sliding pad, the upper face of said pad, intended to come into contact with the other part of the imprint, called the static part, being provided with recessed areas corresponding to the raised parts; - to close the mold - to induce the translation of said at least one block until it comes into contact with the inner wall of the static footprint area - to inject a first plastic material of a specific color - to allow said injected plastic material to partially cool - to induce the translation of said at least one movable block in the direction opposite to the previous translation - to inject a second plastic material to fill the space thus freed, and of a different color than the first plastic material, and to cool the mold - then to eject the resulting slab.

[0020] Thus, the implementation of a mold in which one of the cavities, and for example the lower cavity, has at least one pad moving in vertical translation, makes it possible to limit the progression of the first plastic material in determined areas in which a first color is desired, and then to obtain the second area(s) of a different color after cooling of said first injected plastic material and injection of the second plastic material.

[0021] To optimize the quality of the differentiation between the at least two colors, the static cavity, and for example the upper cavity of the mold, is equipped with a projecting rib extending around the entire periphery of the areas intended to be filled with the second plastic material. This avoids the need to thin the first plastic material, thereby optimizing the sharpness of the differentiation between the different colored areas. Brief description of the figures

[0022] The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the resulting advantages will be more apparent from the following embodiment examples, given by way of illustration and not limitation, in support of the attached figures.

[0023] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a schematic top-view representation of a first embodiment of the invention relating to a tactile paving slab.

[0024] [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view along line II-II of the [Fig.1].

[0025] [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a schematic top-view representation of a second embodiment of the invention also relating to a tactile paving slab.

[0026] [Fig.4] Fig.4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV-IV of the [Fig.3].

[0027] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] is a simplified view from below of the [Fig.1].

[0028] [Fig.6] The [Fig.6] is a detail view of the [Fig.5].

[0029] [Fig.7] The [Fig.7] is a partial sectional view of the [Fig.6].

[0030] [Fig.8] Fig.8 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the first step injection of the method of the invention, in which the movable pad is in contact with the upper impression.

[0031] [Fig.9] Fig.9 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the second step injection method of the invention, in which the movable pad is moved away from the upper impression.

[0032] [Fig. 10] The [Fig. 10] is a schematic top-view representation of a first embodiment of the invention relating to a guide strip.

[0033] [Fig. 11] The [Fig. 11] is a schematic representation seen from above of a second embodiment of the invention relating to a guide strip.

[0034] [Fig. 12] The [Fig. 12] is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the strip in Figures 10 or 11. Detailed description of the invention

[0035] Figure [1] shows a top view of a tactile paving slab. (1) in accordance with a first application of the invention. As can be seen, this slab has differentiated zones, respectively (2) and (3) in terms of color. In addition, it is provided with raised studs (4), in this case dome-shaped with a base diameter of approximately 25 millimeters and a height of approximately 5 millimeters. These studs (4) could, however, be pyramid-shaped or otherwise, or even be provided with grooves capable of generating an anti-slip effect, when required.

[0036] In the example described, this slab has two different colors. However, the thickness of the base of the slab remains constant, typically 2.5 millimeters, and, as can be seen in [Fig.2], the height of the raised studs is also substantially constant.

[0037] This slab is made of plastic material obtained by bi-injection, and more particularly of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) or PVC. The differentiation of colors results from the use of different pigments.

[0038] The production of such a slab is carried out, as already mentioned, by injection molding, and in the following manner.

[0039] A mold is used having a lower cavity part (9) and an upper cavity part (8).

[0040] The lower portion of the footprint (9) is provided with blocks (10), movable in vertical translation, mounted on hydraulically operated ramps (12). The number of movable blocks corresponds to the zones (2) of the second-colored slab. Furthermore, the upper face of the movable blocks (10) is machined in such a way as to define, in particular, the volumes (11) corresponding to the blocks (4) to be produced.

[0041] Thus, once the mold consisting of these two impression parts is closed, the movable blocks (10) in question are moved vertically by a height corresponding to the thickness of the base of the slab, i.e. in this case approximately 2.5 millimeters, as can be seen in [Fig.8]. In doing so, the upper surface of the movable blocks comes into contact with the lower face of the upper impression part.

[0042] Due to this contact between the movable blocks and the upper cavity portion, during the first injection of plastic material, in this case TPU or PVC, the plastic material will therefore spread throughout the mold, excluding the areas thus sealed by the blocks, and thus constitute the zones (3). This injection is advantageously carried out by several injection nozzles, the injection temperature and pressure depending on the material used, and in particular its grade.

[0043] After a few seconds of cooling, the movable pads (10) of the lower impression area are retracted by the same height, approximately 2.5 mm (see [Fig. 9]), while simultaneously releasing the injection nozzles for the second plastic material, which is of a different color. This material, typically flexible polyurethane or PVC but differently colored, is then injected to form the zones (2).

[0044] Once the cooling has been completed, the mold is opened and the part is ejected.

[0045] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, and taking into account the flexibility of the injected plastic material, when the second plastic material is injected, therefore at a high temperature, fining effects may occur between the two materials during the injection of the second, which may affect the aesthetic characteristics of the resulting slab at the junction lines.

[0046] To overcome this difficulty, the upper or static mold cavity (8) is fitted with a rib (13), typically 1.8 millimeters high and 2 millimeters wide in the example described, which extends towards the lower mold cavity (9) around the entire periphery of the areas (3) receiving the second material. This rib is designed to counteract the pressure generated during the injection of the second plastic material, and thus to limit this thinning, as well as to limit the shrinkage of the part thus produced in the mold. The detail of the groove (5) resulting from this rib is shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0047] According to a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the color differences occur between the raised studs (4) on the one hand and the base (6) on the other. The principle of embodiment, however, remains identical to that described above.

[0048] Another application of the invention, more specifically dedicated to tactile paving for blind and visually impaired people, is shown in relation to Figures 10 to 12. More specifically, these tactile paving strips are made up of several tiles placed side by side and have raised linear areas on their upper surface. Typically, these raised linear areas have a width of approximately 30 millimeters and a height of approximately 30 millimeters. relative to the adjacent slab or strip by 5 millimeters. These raised linear areas are separated from each other by a distance of approximately 30 millimeters.

[0049] According to the invention, these bands are also two-tone. They are made of plastic material, of the same type as those previously mentioned, and by bi-injection.

[0050] They have differentiated colours on the upper face, either by integral zones of the band ([Fig. 10]), or corresponding to the linear areas in relief ([Fig. 11]), this differentiation of colours resulting from the molding.

[0051] Their embodiment is similar to the embodiment described in relation to Figures 8 and 9, only the upper shape of the movable pad being modified.

[0052] Regardless of the embodiment, once the tile has cooled and been ejected from the mold, a double-sided adhesive, typically in rolls or cut to size, is positioned on its face (7) intended to be fixed to the floor and then laminated to said face. Alternatively, the tiles can be fixed to the floor using a suitable adhesive.

[0053] The full advantage of the slab of the invention is clear, which can be two-tone or even multi-colored, thus increasing the signaling effect, and in particular raising awareness and consequently the security sought through the implementation of such slabs.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for producing a plastic signage slab provided with a plurality of raised areas (4) directed upwards, consisting of: - implementing a mold with two impression parts (8, 9), one (9) of the impression parts of which comprises at least one block (10) movable in translation, the upper face of said block, intended to come into contact with the other static impression part (8) being provided with hollow areas (11) corresponding to the raised areas (4) to be produced; - closing the mold; - inducing the translation of said at least one movable block (10) until it comes into contact with the internal wall of the static impression part (8); - injecting a first plastic material of a determined color; - allowing said plastic material thus injected to partially cool; - inducing the translation of said at least one movable block (10) in the direction opposite to the previous translation;- to inject a second plastic material to occupy the volume thus freed and of a different color from the first plastic material; - to cool the mold; - then to eject the slab thus obtained.;

2. Method for producing a signaling slab according to claim 1, in which the static impression part (8) of the mold is provided with a projecting rib (13) extending over the entire periphery of the areas intended to be filled with the second plastic material.

3. Method for producing a signage slab according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the plastic material used is chosen from the group comprising thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and flexible PVC.

4. Signaling tile (1) made of plastic material provided with a plurality of raised zones (4) directed upwards, and comprising at least on its upper face zones (2, 3) of differentiated colors resulting from the molding, characterized in that it is obtained by the method according to one of claims 1 to 3, and in that the lower face 8 (7) of the slab, that is to say intended to be fixed on the ground or on any other surface, is coated after production with a double-sided adhesive, provided with a protective film of the adhesive, typically in silicone paper, or glue.

5. Signaling tile (1) according to claim 4, the raised areas of which consist of linear areas, and constituting a guide strip.

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