Protective and display cover for access control barrier

Abstract

Protective cover (100) for a mounting bracket (1) of an access control barrier (200), the protective cover (100) comprising: - a protective portion (2) configured to be removably attached to the mounting bracket (1) and to protect a top region of the mounting bracket (1), - a display portion (3) configured to be arranged above the protective portion (2) when the cover is attached to the mounting bracket (1), the display portion (3) comprising a display device (8). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Protective and display cover for access control barrier

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of access control barriers. In particular, the present invention relates to a protective cover for protecting the top region of an access control barrier mounting bracket.

[0002] Access control barriers are traditionally used to control vehicle access to protected sites, traffic lanes, such as motorway access roads, parking entrances, etc. To date, access control barriers only provide one piece of information: "access open" or "access closed". There are several additional accessories to guide users among the different options available to them. However, these accessories remain limited. They only provide a few indications, for example, STOP or NO ENTRY. Signs are provided to indicate "reserved access", covers indicate "do not reverse, we are coming". In the case of parking lots, we can find signs indicating, for example, 'PI full', 'P2 free' with a display of the number of spaces available. But all these installations offer solutions which, in addition to being limited, are expensive for the customer.They require additional civil engineering and in the majority of cases the level of information is limited and often static: in the majority of cases it is not possible to vary the message.

[0003] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome at least one of the drawbacks described above. To this end, the present invention provides a protective cover for an access control barrier fixing support, the protective cover comprising:

[0004] - a protective portion configured to be removably attached to the support fixing and to protect a summit region of the fixing support,

[0005] - a display portion configured to be disposed above the display portion protection when the cover is attached to the mounting bracket, the display portion comprising a display device.

[0006] Thus configured, the protective cover of the invention provides a raised display portion of the mounting bracket so as to allow a clearly visible display for a user. In addition, the display portion being integral with the protective portion, it structurally benefits from a more stable support, which limits the risk of damage due to vandalism or bad weather. This configuration also avoids an additional costly civil engineering step when implementing visual information distribution systems: in the invention, the access control barrier is implemented at the same time as the display device, which limits civil engineering. In addition, the protective cover of the present invention being separate from the mounting bracket and removably attached to said bracket, it can be used to replace standard covers, without a display part, on access control products already installed or not. This does not involve any modification of the access control barrier. This protective cover retains the functionalities of the current standard cover, in particular with regard to the protection of the top region of the mounting bracket, to which is added a display device, which can be dynamic and controllable by the customer.

[0007] In this document, the terms 'front', 'rear' and 'side' are understood to mean an orientation relative to the direction of the access route on which the access control barrier is intended to be installed.

[0008] By the terms 'lower', 'upper', is meant in this document an arrangement relative to the protective cover fixed on the fixing support, itself fixed to the ground.

[0009] According to one arrangement, the display portion comprises a housing configured to house the display device, the housing comprising a viewing face in which is provided an opening configured to allow a user to view a screen of the display device. This arrangement advantageously makes it possible to protect the display device housed within the display portion while allowing the screen to be viewed from the outside.

[0010] Specifically, the opening of the housing is provided with a transparent plate, so as to provide protection to the display device. This also makes it possible to prevent the formation of scratches on the screen, without limiting the visual properties of the screen.

[0011] According to one arrangement, the transparent plate is made of polycarbonate.

[0012] In addition, the transparent plate includes an anti-UV treatment so as to increase the longevity of the screen.

[0013] Similarly, the transparent plate includes an anti-reflective coating allowing better viewing of the displayed content.

[0014] According to one possibility, the screen is a touch screen in contact with the transparent plate and the transparent plate is compatible with the transmission of tactile information. The driver of a vehicle can interact with the screen and make orders, payments, etc.

[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment, the protective cover comprises a raised portion arranged between the display part and the protective part, so as to raise the display part. This configuration makes it possible to raise and make the information displayed on the screen even more easily readable. When an object is interposed between the display part and the user, in particular a barrier grid detachable access control, the raised portion advantageously allows the screen to be kept at a visible height.

[0016] According to one arrangement, the protective part comprises a receiving housing opening into a lower face of the protective cover, the receiving housing being configured to house a part of a motorization device of the access control barrier, for example a geared motor which protrudes from the fixing support.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment, the receiving housing and the housing of the display part form a common internal volume.

[0018] In particular, the receiving housing and the housing of the display part delimit a lateral access opening opening onto the common internal volume. This lateral access opening provides access to the common internal volume. It is then possible for an operator to access the display device and the part of the motorization housed in the receiving housing, for maintenance for example. It is therefore not necessary to open the fixing support or to separate the protective cover from the fixing support.

[0019] Also, this side access opening allows the installation of the transparent plate on the viewing opening, the installation of the display device in the housing, as well as the installation of the electronic cards necessary for the operation of the display device.

[0020] According to one arrangement, the lateral access opening extends over at least 80% of the height of the protective cover, in particular over at least 90% of the height, so as to facilitate access to the interior of the common internal volume.

[0021] Preferably, the protective cover also comprises a door configured to close the side access opening. The door is provided with a lock so as to prevent access to the common internal volume to anyone who does not have the corresponding key.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the viewing face of the housing and the front face of the protective part each extend in a substantially vertical plane when the protective cover is fixed to the fixing support, the viewing face and the front face forming an angle α of between approximately 15 and 25 degrees, in particular approximately 20 degrees. This configuration makes it possible to offer high visibility of the screen to the user coming from a traffic lane, upstream of the access control barrier, and easy reading of the visual information displayed.

[0023] According to a variant, the viewing face of the housing and the front face of the protective part each extend in a substantially vertical plane when the protective cover is fixed to the fixing support, the viewing face and the front face forming an angle a' of between 40 and 50 degrees, in particular of approximately 45 degrees. As will be seen later in [Fig. 6], this configuration makes it possible to free up space above the protective part to allow the re-bending of a rail of a removable barrier. Also, this variant allows the reversibility of the fixing of the display part on the protection part of the display device depending on whether the barrier, and therefore the rail, is arranged to the right or left of the traffic lane.

[0024] According to one possibility, the display portion has an overall frame shape. The thickness of the frame is determined to be able to accommodate the display device, electronic power supply and communication cards between the display device and a central control unit. This overall frame shape allows minimal encroachment on the total upper surface of the protective portion, which allows reversibility of fixing the display portion on the protective portion.

[0025] Concretely, the cross-section of the protection part has an overall rectangular shape and the display part is arranged on a triangular half of the cross-section, as will be seen later in [Fig.5].

[0026] In this document, the term "cross-section" means a cross-section along the horizontal plane when the protective cover is fixed to the fixing support.

[0027] According to one arrangement, the protective cover comprises an element for fixing the display part to the protective part, the fixing element comprising a thickness which decreases going from the protective part towards the display part when the display part is fixed to the fixing element. This guarantees good mechanical strength of the display part fixed to the protective part.

[0028] According to one possibility, the fixing element extends in a substantially vertical plane and forms an angle α' between approximately 40 and 50 degrees with the front face extending in a substantially vertical plane of the protective part.

[0029] According to a second aspect, the present invention also provides an access control barrier for controlling vehicle traffic, the access control barrier comprising:

[0030] a fixing support in which a motorization device is received at least in part,

[0031] a protective cover as previously described, the protective portion being removably attached to the mounting bracket, and

[0032] a rail mounted to pivot on the fixing support, between a closed position in which the rail prohibits access and an open position in which the rail allows access.

[0033] According to other features, the present invention comprises one or more of the following optional features considered alone or in combination:

[0034] - The display part partially covers the protection part.

[0035] - The protective part has a parallelepiped overall shape.

[0036] - The protective part comprises a front face, an opposite rear face and two side faces connecting the front face and the back face.

[0037] - The front face, the rear face and the two side faces delimit at least in part the reception accommodation.

[0038] - The lower face of the protective cover comprises a lower opening of overall rectangular shape.

[0039] - The dimensions of the lower opening of the protective cover are determined for interlocking with the top region of the mounting bracket.

[0040] - The display portion comprises an upper face inclined with respect to the horizontal.

[0041] - The upper face of the display part is inclined at an angle [3 inclusive between approximately 5 and 15 degrees from the horizontal.

[0042] - The protective portion comprises at least one upper surface extending glo swing in a plane having an inclination relative to the horizontal plane, in particular an inclination of an angle [3 between approximately 5 and 15 degrees with the horizontal plane and for example 10 degrees.

[0043] - The protective portion comprises two upper surfaces extending generally each in a plane having an inclination relative to the horizontal plane, in particular an inclination of an angle [3 of between approximately 5 and 15 degrees with the horizontal plane and for example 10 degrees.

[0044] - The protective portion comprises two upper surfaces extending on either side other part of the display.

[0045] - The protective part comprises a horizontal cross-section having an overall rectangle shape.

[0046] - The upper surface of the protective part forms an angle between approximately 95 and 105 degrees with the viewing face of the housing, including an angle of approximately 100 degrees.

[0047] - The screen of the display device is arranged against the transparent plate.

[0048] - The screen of the display device has the same orientation as the plate transparent.

[0049] - The screen of the display device is in contact with the transparent plate.

[0050] - The screen of the display device is a touch screen in contact with the plate transparent and the transparent plate is compatible with the transmission of tactile information.

[0051] - The display part and the protection part are in one piece.

[0052] - The display part is separate from the protection part.

[0053] - The raising portion is distinct from the protection part and the part display

[0054] - The raised portion has the same thickness as that of the part display, in particular when the display part has the overall shape of a frame.

[0055] - The raising portion has a height of between approximately 5 and 20 cm, in particular between about 10 and 15 cm, for example about 12 cm.

[0056] - A lower end region of the rear face or front face of the part protection includes a notch configured to allow the attachment of the rail.

[0057] Other aspects, aims and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the following description of two embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings. The figures do not necessarily respect the scale of all the elements represented so as to improve their readability. In the remainder of the description, for the sake of simplification, identical, similar or equivalent elements of the different embodiments bear the same numerical references in which:

[0058] [Fig-1] represents a schematic view of a protective cover, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, attached to an access control barrier.

[0059] [Fig.2] represents an exploded view of a protective cover according to the first embodiment of carrying out the invention.

[0060] [Fig.3] represents a schematic view of a protective cover, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, attached to an access control barrier.

[0061] [Fig.4] represents an exploded view of the rail of an access control barrier according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[0062] [Fig.5] represents a top view of a protective cover of a barrier of access control according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[0063] [Fig.6] represents a schematic view of the space required for unhinging the rail of an access control barrier and the second embodiment of the invention.

[0064] [Fig. 1] illustrates the first embodiment of the protective cover 100 according to the invention intended to be removably attached to a fixing support 1 of an access control barrier 200. The protective cover 100 comprises a protective part 2 configured to protect the top region of the fixing support 1, and secured to a display part 3 configured to be arranged above the fixing support 1 in the position of use of the protective cover 100. The protective part 2 is configured to be removably attached to the fixing support 1. It also comprises a receiving housing 4 opening into a lower face 5 of the protective cover 100, this housing 4 being configured so as to house a part of a motorization device of the barrier 200 ([Fig.2]) in particular a 6 geared motor.

[0065] The display portion 3 comprises a housing 7 configured to house a display device 8. The housing 7 comprises a viewing face 10 in which an opening is provided through which a screen of the display device 8 is visible to a user. As illustrated in [Fig.2], the opening is provided with a transparent plate 21a intended to protect the screen from bad weather and vandalism. This transparent plate 21 can also be treated with anti-UV to guarantee very good visibility of the screen. In this first embodiment, the receiving housing 4 and the housing 7 of the display portion 3 form a common internal volume 11.The receiving housing 4 and the housing 7 of the display part 3 delimit a lateral access opening 9 opening onto the common internal volume 11, facilitating access to the motorization 6 as well as to the display device 8 as well as to a rigid panel 12, allowing the fixing of electronic cards. These electronic cards allow the power supply and the remote control of the operation of the dynamic or non-dynamic display device 8, or even include a touch screen.

[0066] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the protective cover 100 comprises a door 13 configured to close the side access opening 9. Only an operator having a key to open the lock of the door 13 can operate its opening, so as to avoid malicious acts and to guarantee the correct operation of the barrier 200. According to one arrangement, a face opposite the viewing face 10 of the screen comprises in its lower end region a notch 22 configured to allow the fixing of the rail 15 to the fixing support 1.

[0067] Also illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the viewing face 10 of the housing 7 and the front face 14 (i.e. face oriented towards the user and the direction of travel on the track) each extend in a vertical plane when the protective cover 100 is fixed to the support 1 and in this embodiment, the viewing face 10 and the front face 14 form an angle α of between 15 and 25 degrees to allow very good viewing of the screen with respect to a user in the position of use.

[0068] Of course, depending on the configurations, the viewing face 10 and the front face 14 form a different angle, this is particularly the case in the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 6. This embodiment is suitable for access control barriers 200 with a detachable rail 15. As shown diagrammatically in [Fig.6], when the rail 15 is being re-hinged, it moves from its open position, for example substantially vertical, in which it allows circulation, to a closed position F, for example substantially horizontal. During this re-hinging movement, the rail 15 moves above an upper portion 16 (dotted lines) of the protective part 2 of the cover 100. Also, to allow this unhindered movement, it is necessary to shift the positioning of the display part 3 relative to its positioning in the first embodiment. In this case of a detachable rail, the viewing face 10 of the housing 7 and the front face 14 also each extending in a vertical plane form an angle a' of between approximately 40 and 50 degrees. The width of the display part 3 remains unchanged, the display device 8 is also unchanged, only the positioning of the display part 3 is shifted in a triangular half 17 of the rectangle formed by the cross-section of the protective part 2, the triangular half 17 being delimited by the diagonal of said rectangle ([Fig.5]). In the first embodiment, the base of the display part 3 covers said triangular half 17 and also extends beyond the diagonal of the protective part 2 (not shown).

[0069] According to another arrangement visible in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the display part 3 has an overall frame shape whose thickness e is determined by the thicknesses of the display device 8, the transparent plate 21 and the rigid panel 12 serving as support for the electronic cards. A sheet 18 fixed to the rear of the display part 3 on the side opposite the viewing face 10 closes the assembly. Also visible in Figures 3 to 5, the display part 3 and the protective part 2 are distinct. The protective part 2 advantageously comprises a fixing element 19 for fixing the display part 3. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the fixing element 19 has a thickness e which decreases from its base, on the surface of the protective part 2, towards the display part 3 (when the latter is fixed in the fixing element 19). Note that the protective cover variant 100 illustrated in [Fig.6], does not include the fixing element 19. Also visible in Figures 3 and 4, the protective cover 100 includes a raised portion 20 interposed between the protective part 2 and the display part 3 so as to raise the display part 3, which is particularly useful in the event of the presence of an object located in front of the display face 10, in the absence of this raised portion 20. This is particularly the case when there is a grid (not illustrated) commonly used in barriers 200 with a removable rail 15. Note that the variant of the cover 100 illustrated in [Fig. 6] includes a raised portion 20 integral with the display part 3.

[0070] Thus, the present invention proposes an elaborate protective cover 100, comprising a display device 8 configured to allow the display of information dynamically. The display device 8 is thus protected in a closed housing 7 and avoids additional civil engineering steps for placing other display devices, less stable and not always dynamic. In addition, the protective cover 100 of the present invention comprises a protective part 2 configured to be removably fixed on fixing supports 1 already installed on site or not.

Claims

Claims

1. Mounting bracket (1) for an access control barrier (200), comprising a protective cover (100) comprising: - a protective portion (2) configured to be removably attached to the mounting bracket (1) and to protect a top region of the mounting bracket (1), - a display portion (3) configured to be arranged above the protective portion (2) when the cover is attached to the mounting bracket (1), the display portion (3) comprising a display device (8) comprising a screen, wherein the protective portion (2) comprises a receiving housing (4) opening into a lower face (5) of the protective cover (100), the receiving housing (4) being configured to house a portion of a motorization device of the access control barrier (200).

2. An access control barrier (200) mounting bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein the display portion (3) comprises a housing (7) configured to house the display device (8), the housing (7) comprising a viewing face (10) in which an opening is provided configured to allow viewing of the screen of the display device (8) by a user.

3. An access control barrier (200) mounting bracket (1) according to claim 2, wherein the viewing face (10) of the housing (7) and the front face (14) of the protective portion (2) each extend in a substantially vertical plane when the protective cover (100) is attached to the mounting bracket (1), the viewing face (10) and the front face (14) forming an angle (a) of between about 15 and 25 degrees.

4. An access control barrier (200) mounting bracket (1) according to claim 2, wherein the viewing face (10) of the housing (7) and the front face (14) of the protective portion (2) each extend in a substantially vertical plane when the protective cover (100) is attached to the mounting bracket (1), the viewing face (10) and the front face (14) forming an angle (a') of between 40 and 50 degrees.

5. Mounting bracket (1) for access control barrier (200) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the opening of the housing (7) is provided with a transparent plate, so as to offer protection to the display device (8).

6. Mounting bracket (1) for an access control barrier (200) according to one of claims 1 to 5, which comprises a raising portion (20) arranged between the display part (3) and the protection part (2), so as to raise the display part (3).

7. Mounting bracket (1) for an access control barrier (200) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receiving housing (4) and the housing of the display part (3) form a common internal volume (H).

8. Mounting bracket (1) for access control barrier (200) according to claim 7, wherein the receiving housing (4) and the housing of the display part (3) delimit a lateral access opening (9) opening onto the common internal volume (11).

9. An access control barrier (200) mounting bracket (1) according to claim 8, which comprises a door (13) configured to close the side access opening (9).

10. Mounting bracket (1) for an access control barrier (200) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the display portion (3) has an overall frame shape.

11. Mounting bracket (1) for an access control barrier (200) according to one of claims 1 to 10, which comprises a fixing element (19) for fixing the display part (3) to the protection part (2), the fixing element (19) comprising a thickness (e) which decreases going from the protection part (2) towards the display part (3) when the display part (3) is fixed to the fixing element (19).

12. An access control barrier (200) for controlling vehicle traffic, the access control barrier (200) comprising: a barrier mounting bracket (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which a motorization device is received at least in part, the protective part (2) being removably attached to the mounting bracket (1), and a rail (15) pivotably mounted on the mounting bracket (1), between a closed position in which the rail (15) prohibits access and an open position in which the rail (15) allows access.

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