Modular gaff with a reduced carbon footprint

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular boat hook (1) with a reduced carbon footprint, adapted for installing or removing a covering element on a skip or container, or on any other space or surface to be covered. The boat hook (1) comprises a pole (3) and a bracket (7), characterized in that the boat hook (1) further comprises a fitting (10) for joining one end (6) of the pole (3) to the proximal end (8) of the bracket (7), the pole (3) and the bracket (7) being made of a composite material. Abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Modular gaff with reduced carbon impact Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of gaffs for covering skips or containers, or any other space or surface to be covered. Prior art

[0002] Covering skips, particularly for waste collection or material transport, is essential to prevent materials from falling onto traffic lanes and the environment. Deploying a tarpaulin over a skip can be done by climbing onto the skip and unfolding the tarpaulin, but such a technique is tedious, difficult and even dangerous for an operator.

[0003] Solutions exist, for example, EP 2 341 014 discloses a boat hook made of aluminum consisting of a pole having a bent end for attaching a tubular extension. Said boat hook makes it possible to correctly handle a net positioned on a skip by inserting the tubular extension into a groove in the net, thus making it possible to cover skips transporting materials safely from the ground.

[0004] In a context of accelerating climate change, it is desirable to reduce the carbon impact of such a gaffe, the production of which in aluminum is costly for the environment. Summary

[0005] The present disclosure improves the situation.

[0006] A modular boat hook is proposed with a reduced carbon impact and which is suitable for installing or removing a covering element on a skip or container, or on any other space or surface to be covered, the boat hook comprising a pole and a bracket, the boat hook further comprising a connection for assembling one of the ends of the pole to the proximal end of the bracket, the pole and the bracket being made of a composite material.

[0007] The modular boat hook according to the invention ensures the same technical results as the boat hook of the prior art, while having a less harmful impact on the environment thanks to the pole and the bracket each being made of a composite material while maintaining the mechanical resistance properties of the boat hook. In addition, the assembly connection between the pole and the bracket allows modularity of the boat hook and ease of production of the pole and the bracket.

[0008] The characteristics set out in the following paragraphs can, optionally, be implemented, independently of each other or in com- combination with each other:

[0009] - the connection is fixed to the pole and the jib in a removable manner;

[0010] - the connection is formed of two complementary half-pieces and designed to form respectively a first sleeve surrounding the end of the pole and a second sleeve surrounding the proximal end of the bracket;

[0011] - the gaff further comprising a hook separate from the connector, the hook being mounted at the end of the pole near the connection;

[0012] - the hook has a sleeve receiving the pole, a radial extension extending radially from the sleeve relative to the pole, and two legs extending on either side of the radial extension;

[0013] - the stem is provided with an attachment member near its end proximal assembled to the pole by means of the connector;

[0014] - the pole is telescopic and includes a movable locking ring between a open position in which the length of the pole is adjustable, and a closed position in which the length of the pole is fixed;

[0015] - the pole and the jib are made of a fiber-reinforced composite material long;

[0016] - the connection is made at least partially of thermoplastic polymer;

[0017] - the pole is provided with a member for moving the pole along a sideboard. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the attached drawings, in which: Fig.l

[0019] [Fig.l] shows a modular gaff according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2

[0020] [Fig.2] shows the modular gaff of [Fig.l] in which the jib is assembled to the pole using the connector. Description of the embodiments

[0021] Reference is now made to [Fig.l].

[0022] In [Fig.l], a modular boat hook 1 according to the invention is shown. The modular boat hook 1 comprises a pole 3 made of a composite material.

[0023] The use of composite materials instead of metal helps limit the impact of the modular gaff on climate change due to manufacturing processes that are less energy-intensive and release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Metal requires heating to a very high temperature to be shaped. Examples of the gaff production process will be discussed below. A gaff according to the invention is also lighter than the gaff of the prior art made of metal thanks to the use of composite materials.

[0024] Composite materials include, for example, glass fibers, carbon fibers, and / or natural fibers such as flax fibers, or cotton fibers or hemp fibers.

[0025] The chosen fibers are preferably integrated into a polymer matrix, in particular resin, for example vinylester resin.

[0026] In particular, the pole 3 is made of a composite material reinforced with long fibers. By long fibers is meant fibers several meters long. Long fibers include, for example, unidirectional fibers, cross-fibers, non-woven fibers.

[0027] Preferably, the pole 3 is free of metal.

[0028] The pole 3 is the part of the gaff 1 held by an operator when he uses the blunder 1.

[0029] The pole 3 has in particular a straight and hollow tubular shape. Such an embodiment makes it even lighter.

[0030] The pole 3 thus produced has very good resistance to bending, just like the metal pole of the prior art.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the pole 3 is telescopic. It thus allows an operator to reach a high target while reducing the danger and the arduousness of the work for the operator who does not need to climb onto the bucket, and who can adjust the length of the pole 3 to his convenience.

[0032] To do this, the pole 3 is composed of at least two concentric tubes which slide one inside the other. For example, the pole 3 has a length of between 2.5 m and 3.5 m when the pole 3 is folded, preferably between 2.7 m and 3.1 m. For example, the pole 3 has a length of between 3.0 m and 4.0 m when the pole 3 is deployed, preferably between 3.3 m and 3.7 m. in [Fig.l], the pole 3 is shown in the folded position.

[0033] The pole 3 comprises in particular a locking ring 5 movable between an open position in which the length of the pole 3 is adjustable, and a closed position in which the length of the pole 3 is fixed. It is sufficient to tighten or loosen the locking ring 5 to move it between the open position and the closed position, and thus choose the length of the pole 3.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the pole 3 comprises a member 9 for moving the pole 3 along a side wall, for example a side wall of a skip. This reduces the efforts made by the operator when covering the skip. The member 9 for moving the pole 3 along a side wall is for example a removable caster 91.

[0035] The removable caster 91 is preferably mounted on a female tube of the pole 3 when the pole 3 is telescopic. Thus, it is not necessary to move the removable caster 91 when deploying the pole 3. The removable caster 91 is for example mounted on the pole 3 by means of a clip, for example a metal one screwed onto itself.

[0036] As can be seen in [Fig. 2], the boat hook 1 further comprises a bracket 7 and an assembly connector 10 from one of the ends 6 of the pole 3 to the proximal end 8 of the bracket 7.

[0037] The boom 7 is made of a composite material. The characteristics described in relation to the pole with respect to composite materials also apply to the boom 7.

[0038] The stem 7 is in particular in the form of a hollow straight tube.

[0039] Advantageously, the bracket 7 is provided with an attachment member 12 in the vicinity of its proximal end 8 assembled to the pole 3 by means of the connector 10. The attachment member 12 comprises in particular a tubular sleeve 14 for receiving the bracket 7 and two lugs 16, 18, in particular a first lug 16 substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bracket 7 and extending in the extension of the tubular sleeve 14, and a second lug 18 forming an acute angle with the bracket 7. The two lugs 16, 18 extend on either side of the bracket 7. The two lugs 16, 18 make it possible to attach the bracket 7 to a hooking part, for example a ring or an elastic link, of the covering element.

[0040] The attachment member 12 is for example fixed to the bracket 7 by riveting or by screwing.

[0041] The attachment member 12 is for example made at least partially of polymer thermoplastic. Thus, it is possible to produce complex patterns and obtain a part having sufficient resistance to mechanical stresses and having good resistance to humidity and corrosive environments. Preferably, the fastening member 12 is made of polyamide. More preferably, the fastening member 12 is made of polyamide 6.

[0042] When the boom 7 is installed on the boat hook 1, the boom 7 forms an angle a relative to the pole 3 allowing it to be inserted into a net groove, for example to deploy a net on a skip from the ground. In particular, the angle a is between 90° and 130°.

[0043] According to an exemplary embodiment, the pole 3 and the jib 7 are produced by a continuous manufacturing process.

[0044] Unidirectional and oriented fibers are supplied in reels, then passed through a heated die. A resin is injected into the die simultaneously with the passage of the fibers to impregnate the fibers. A traction device allows continuous pulling of the impregnated fibers. Then a cutting device, for example a saw circular, cuts the impregnated fibers to the desired length to obtain a profile and form the pole 3 or the jib 7.

[0045] This process leads to mechanical homogeneity of the parts obtained and the advantage of being a continuous process.

[0046] According to a variant, the pole 3 and the jib 7 are produced by filament winding around a mandrel. Continuous fibers are supplied in reels and passed through separating combs, then bathed in a resin bath and passed between two pinch rollers. A guide then brings the fibers around a rotating mandrel. The rotation of the mandrel ensures the traction of the fibers from the reels.

[0047] According to another variant, the pole 3 and the jib 7 are produced by pultrusion.

[0048] According to yet another variant, the pole 3 and the gallows 7 are made by Manual rolling of a fabric of pre-impregnated fibers around a mandrel to form a tube. A heat-shrinkable plastic film is then wrapped around the tube to ensure compaction of the pre-impregnated fibers. The assembly is then baked in an oven and then removed from the mold.

[0049] The connection 10 for assembling the pole 3 to the bracket 7 is designed to be able to connect the bracket 7 to the pole 3 when necessary.

[0050] Advantageously, the connector 10 is fixed to the pole 3 and to the bracket 7 in a removable manner. It is thus possible to remove the connector 10 from the pole 3 and / or the bracket 7 at will.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the connector 10 is formed of two complementary half-pieces 20, 21 (only one of the half-pieces 20 is visible in Figures 1 and 2, the other half-piece 21 being located at the rear of the half-piece 20) and designed to form a first sleeve 22 surrounding the end 6 of the pole 3 and a second sleeve 24 surrounding the proximal end 8 of the bracket 7.

[0052] For example, each half-piece 20, 21 has a first hollow half-tube 25 receiving the pole, and a second hollow half-tube 26 provided to receive the bracket 7. The second half-tube 26 of a half-piece 20, 21 is advantageously intersecting with the first half-tube 25 of said half-piece 20, 21. Each half-piece 20, 21 also has surfaces 30 for fixing the first half-piece 20 to the second half-piece 21. The fixing surfaces 30 are connected to the half-tubes 25, 26. The fixing surfaces 30 of each of the two half-pieces 20, 21 are preferably substantially planar to be placed opposite each other when the connector 10 is assembled at least to the pole 3.

[0053] The two half-pieces 20, 21 are for example fixed to each other by screwing. In the example shown in the figures, the two half-pieces 20, 21 are fixed to each other by means of four screws 32.

[0054] The connector 10 is for example fixed to the pole 3 by means of rivets 34. Such a rivet fixing allows the connector 10 to be held in place around the pole 3 and prevents untimely rotations of the connector 10 around the pole 3 when using the boat hook 1.

[0055] According to variants, the two half-pieces 20, 21 of the connector 10 can be assembled by fitting, by clipping, by gluing, or by screwing onto the pole 3.

[0056] The bracket 7 is advantageously mounted on the boat hook 1 by sleeving in the connector 10.

[0057] According to the example shown, the modular boat hook 1 further comprises a hook 40 separate from the connector 10, the hook 40 being mounted at the end 6 of the pole 3 in the vicinity of the connector 10.

[0058] The hook 40 has, for example, a sleeve 42 receiving the pole 3, a radial extension 44 extending radially from the sleeve 42 relative to the pole 3, and two legs 46, 48 extending on either side of the radial extension 44. The two legs 46, 48 extend, for example, in the extension of one another. They can be straight or curved.

[0059] Advantageously, the hook 40 is fixed to the pole 3 in a removable manner. It is thus possible to remove the hook 40 from the pole 3 at will.

[0060] The hook 40 is for example fixed to the pole 3 by means of rivets 34. Such a rivet fixing makes it possible to hold the hook 40 in place around the pole 3 and to avoid untimely rotations of the hook 40 around the pole 3 when using the boat hook 1.

[0061] According to variants, the hook 40 can be assembled by gluing, or by screwing onto the pole 3.

[0062] The hook 40 is for example made at least partially of thermoplastic polymer. Thus, it is possible to produce complex patterns and to obtain a part having sufficient resistance to mechanical stresses and having good resistance to humidity and corrosive environments. Preferably, the connector 10 is made of polyamide. More preferably, the connector 10 is made of polyamide 6.

Claims

Claims

1. Modular boat hook (1) with reduced carbon impact and which is suitable for installing or removing a covering element on a skip or container, or on any other space or surface to be covered, the boat hook (1) comprising a pole (3) and a bracket (7), characterized in that the boat hook (1) further comprises a connector (10) for assembling one of the ends (6) of the pole (3) to the proximal end (8) of the bracket (7), the pole (3) and the bracket (7) being made of a composite material.

2. Modular boat hook (1) according to claim 1, in which the connector (10) is fixed to the pole (3) and to the bracket (7) in a removable manner.

3. Modular gaff (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the connector (10) is formed of two complementary half-pieces (20, 21) designed to form respectively a first sleeve (22) surrounding the end of the pole (3) and a second sleeve (24) surrounding the proximal end of the bracket (7).

4. Modular boat hook (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a hook (40) separate from the connector (10), the hook (40) being mounted at the end (6) of the pole (3) in the vicinity of the connector (10).

5. Modular gaff (1) according to claim 4, in which the hook (40) has a sleeve (42) receiving the pole (3), a radial extension (44) extending radially from the sleeve (42) relative to the pole (3), and two legs (46, 48) extending on either side of the radial extension (44).

6. Modular gaff (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the bracket (7) is provided with an attachment member (12) in the vicinity of its proximal end (8) assembled to the pole (3) by means of the connector (10).

7. Modular boat hook (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pole (3) is telescopic and comprises a locking ring (5) movable between an open position in which the length of the pole (3) is adjustable, and a closed position in which the length of the pole (3) is fixed.

8. Modular gaff (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the pole (3) and the bracket (7) are made of a composite material reinforced with long fibers.

9. Modular gaff (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the connector (10) is made at least partially of thermoplastic polymer.

10. Modular boat hook (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the pole (3) is provided with a member (9) for moving the pole (3) along a side panel.

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