Street furniture system.

Abstract

Street furniture system (1, 13) comprising a fountain (3) under a planted shade (4, 16), and plant tubs (14) with benches (18), each of the tubs being watered by a first pipe (17) forming an upright (15) of the shade (16) fixed to this fountain (3) and to the tub (14). Filling of an olla (37) in the plant tub (14) with the first pipe (17) is triggered by a hydrometric probe (34) connected by an electric cable (35), passing through a second pipe (19) of the upright (15), to a control of a solenoid valve (36). The tubs (14) are double-walled, an outer perforated wall (39) allows air circulation which reduces their internal temperature and limits drying by evaporation. They have an open bottom (43), or an open base (44), and are placed on unprepared ground (2) or in open ground.

Description

Title of the invention: Street furniture system. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an urban furniture system. Technological background

[0002] Heatwave periods, which are becoming more and more frequent these days, are particularly difficult to bear in cities, where the soils are increasingly mineralized, which amplifies the heat effect or "urban heat island".

[0003] In order to improve the well-being of people using public places, in its French patent FR3096378B1, the applicant company proposed a street furniture system comprising modular multi-function fountains intended to be installed temporarily or permanently so as to allow all users (children, adults, people with reduced mobility) to quench their thirst and refresh themselves by grouping together several options of drinking fountain, water dispenser, misting system and shade structure.

[0004] In its French patent FR3130299B1 the applicant company proposed to reinforce the attractiveness of its fountains by using them to create real islands of freshness (more water, more air, more shade) by associating with a fountain one or more elements of street furniture, in particular planters, public benches, and kiosks.

[0005] In this street furniture system, a base of each of the planters has at least one capillary irrigation wick dipping into a water reserve or a reservoir of a base of the fountain.

[0006] While this feature has the advantage of allowing the use of waste water from fountains as well as rainwater for watering plants, it has the disadvantages of a relatively complex installation, of requiring maintenance, and of not allowing the installation of planters on unprepared ground or in the open ground. Presentation of the invention

[0007] The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide an urban furniture system comprising a fountain and at least one plant container overcoming these drawbacks of the type in which at least one upright of a shade is supported at a first end by the fountain and at a second end by the plant container.

[0008] This street furniture system is remarkable in that this amount includes a first pipe for supplying water to the plant pot from the fountain.

[0009] According to the invention, the plant container comprises a hydrometric probe connected by a electrical connection to a water supply control arranged in the fountain.

[0010] Advantageously, the amount of the shade includes a second pipe in which an electrical cable is arranged constituting this electrical connection.

[0011] Preferably, these first and second pipes are metallic and form the upright of the shade.

[0012] In the street furniture system according to the invention, the plant container comprises a reservoir made of porous material supplied by the first pipe.

[0013] This tank is very advantageously a pottery of the “ollas” type.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, this reservoir is supported by an openwork bottom of the plant container, alternatively, the plant container has an open base and the reservoir is then supported by a support capable of being arranged in the ground.

[0015] Very advantageously, in the street furniture system according to the invention, the plant container is double-walled and an openwork outer wall allows air circulation.

[0016] Advantage is taken of the fact that, in the street furniture system according to the invention, the plant container comprises a bench.

[0017] The street furniture system according to the invention is also remarkable in that the shade is planted.

[0018] These few essential specifications will have made obvious to the person skilled in the art the advantages provided by the street furniture system described above compared to the prior art, in terms of great ease of installation, reduced maintenance and the services offered to the public, in particular by creating cool spots.

[0019] The detailed specifications of the invention are given in the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings, including a schematic overview of an urban furniture system already disclosed by the inventive entity.

[0020] It should be noted that these drawings have no other purpose than to illustrate the text of the description and do not constitute in any way a limitation of the scope of the invention. Brief description of the figures

[0021] [Fig.l] is a schematic overview of an urban furniture system comprising a fountain, planters and a planted shade structure in a known embodiment.

[0022] [Fig.2] illustrates the principle of the street furniture system including a fountain, plant boxes and a shade house according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.3] is a schematic overview from above of the street furniture system according to the invention shown in [Fig.2].

[0024] [Fig.4] is a partial exploded view of the street furniture system according to the invention showing a plant tub, part of a planted shade structure and its connection to the fountain in a preferred embodiment.

[0025] [Fig.5] is a front perspective view of a plant container comprising a bench according to the invention.

[0026] [Fig.6] is a perspective view from the back of the plant container shown in [Fig.5] having an openwork outer wall according to the invention.

[0027] [Fig.7] is a vertical sectional view of a plant container comprising an olla according to the invention.

[0028] [Fig.8] is a vertical sectional view of a plant container comprising an olla in an alternative embodiment of the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0029] In the street furniture system 1 already disclosed by the applicant company shown in [Fig.l], a base 2 supports a modular multifunction fountain 3 comprising a planted shade structure 4.

[0030] This known urban furniture system 1 comprises, in addition to the modular multifunction fountain 3, planters 5 each supported by a self-supporting support 6 comprising a seat comprising a water reserve common with the base 2 of the fountain 3.

[0031] This reserve of water coming from the lost water 7 of the fountain 3, supplied with drinking water 8, results from an envelope 9 common to a self-supporting structure of the fountain 3 and to the self-supporting supports 6 of the planters 5. The planters 5 comprise a wick 11 for irrigation by capillarity, preferably made of felt, plunging into the reserve of water.

[0032] This wick 11 may require maintenance, and does not allow the planters 5 to be placed on unprepared ground 12, nor in open ground.

[0033] In the urban furniture system according to the invention 13 shown in principle in [Fig.2], the plant tubs 14 can be placed on a ground 12 without prior arrangement, an arched upright 15 of a new planted shade 16 comprising a first pipe 17 for a water supply from the fountain 3.

[0034] The plant tubs 14, three in number in this example, comprise benches 18 under the three elements in the general shape of a palm or leaf of this shade 16, as shown in the top view of [Fig.3].

[0035] The first pipe 17, preferably metallic, is associated with a second pipe 19, preferably also metallic, which together form the upright 15 of each of the elements of the shade 16 supporting a plurality of spike-shaped rods 20 supporting vegetation, advantageously metallic, welded at one end to the upright 15 in this case and connected at another end by a peripheral frame 21.

[0036] Each of the elements of the shade 16 extends radially around the fountain 3 over approximately 2.5 m and rises to approximately 3 m above the ground 12. The palms or leaves have a maximum width of approximately 1.5 m.

[0037] Rods 20 and peripheral reinforcement 21 are advantageously made of reinforcing bars.

[0038] A first end 22 of the upright 15 is fixed to an upper part 23 of the fountain 3 and a second end 24 of the upright 15 is fixed to the plant container 14 as clearly shown in detail in [Fig.4].

[0039] The first end 22 comprises a flange 25 fixed by first bolts 26 on a sleeve 27 secured to the upper part of the fountain 23 with first nuts 28.

[0040] The second end 24 comprises a plate 29 fixed by second bolts 30 on a counter-plate 31 secured to an interior wall 32 of the plant container 14 with second nuts 33.

[0041] A hydrometric probe 34, arranged in the plant container 14, is connected by means of an electric cable 35 passing through the second pipe 19 to a control (not shown) in the fountain 3 controlling a solenoid valve 36 in series with the first pipe 17 for the water supply.

[0042] This command takes into account the degree of humidity of the soil in the plant container 14 so as to make the watering automatic, but also priority orders for opening or closing the solenoid valve 36 sent remotely by a radiofrequency control center for the fountains depending on the weather conditions or forecasts.

[0043] When the solenoid valve 36 is opened, the water supply does not arrive directly in the plant container 14, but in a reservoir 37 made of porous material which allows more gradual and economical watering.

[0044] This reservoir 37 is preferably a pottery of the “ollas” type.

[0045] Figures 5 and 6, showing respectively a front view and a back view of the tray to plants 14 in the street furniture system according to the invention 13, highlight its technical and decorative aspects.

[0046] The bench 18, consisting of a shelf approximately 1.5 m long and 0.35 m wide arranged approximately halfway up the plant pot 14 or at a standard height of approximately 500 mm, is associated with a backrest arranged in the upper part 38 of an external wall 39 for greater comfort.

[0047] The plant container 14 is provided with feet 40 allowing it to be picked up by a pallet truck, which is essential given the mass of the plant container 14 once filled with soil of approximately 600 kg for dimensions of approximately 1 m (L) x 0.55 m (1) x 0.8 m (H).

[0048] On the side opposite the bench 18, the outer wall 39 of the plant container 14 has ornamental patterns made up of 41 laser-cut recesses.

[0049] In addition to their decorative function, these recesses 41 allow air to circulate between the inner 32 and outer 39 walls of the plant container 14, these preferably being double-walled as shown in the sections of Figures 7 and 8.

[0050] Convection movements of the air in the double wall 32, 39 make it possible to maintain an interior temperature of the plant container 14 lower than an exterior temperature and therefore to limit drying by evaporation of the contents of the plant container 14.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment of the street furniture according to the invention 13, the olla 37 of the plant pot 14 is mounted on an H-shaped base 42 supported by an openwork bottom 43.

[0052] Alternatively, the plant container 14 has an open base 44 and the olla 37 is supported by a support 45 formed from a plate 46 and an auger 47 capable of being arranged in the ground 12.

[0053] In both preferred embodiments, the plant container 14 is fixed to the ground 12 by lag screws 48 and a ground clearance 12 of the feet 40 is adjustable by means of screw jacks 49.

[0054] As goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments set out above.

[0055] The dimensions of the shade 16, the plant container 14 and the bench 18 indicated are only indicative, just as the type of tank 37 cited is given only as an example.

[0056] A "fountain" means any construction from which water comes out, brought by a pipe, which may in particular be a water fountain, that is to say a drinking water dispenser, and in particular a modular multifunction fountain 3 comprising, in addition to water distribution, a mist sprayer and a drinking trough.

[0057] A "shade" refers to a structure providing shade, consisting of a horizontal surface at height and its supports, and by extension, more broadly, to protect from bad weather (Wiktionary - www.lalanguefrancaise.com).

[0058] The shade 16 may include in particular a veil or a tarpaulin, as well as form an arbor, a kiosk or a bus shelter or other, planted or not.

[0059] The invention therefore embraces, on the contrary, all possible variant embodiments within the limits of the subject of the following claims.

Claims

Claims

1. Street furniture system (1, 13) comprising a fountain (3) and at least one plant tub (5, 14) of the type in which at least one upright (15) of a shade (4, 16) is supported at a first end (22) by said fountain (3) and at a second end (24) by said plant tub (14), characterized in that said upright (15) comprises a first pipe (17) for supplying water to said plant tub (14) from said fountain (3).

2. Street furniture system (13) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plant container (14) comprises a hydrometric probe (34) connected by an electrical connection (35) to a control of said water supply arranged in said fountain (3).

3. Street furniture system (13) according to claim 2, characterized in that said upright (15) comprises a second pipe (19) in which an electric cable (35) constituting said electrical connection is arranged.

4. Street furniture system (13) according to claim 3, characterized in that said first and second pipes (17, 19) are metallic and form said upright (15).

5. Street furniture system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said plant container (14) comprises a reservoir (37) made of porous material supplied by said first pipe (17).

6. Street furniture system (13) according to claim 5, characterized in that said reservoir (37) is a pottery of the "ollas" type.

7. Street furniture system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said reservoir (37) is supported by an openwork bottom (43) of said plant container (14), or, alternatively, in that said plant container (14) has an open base (44) and in that said reservoir (37) is supported by a support (45) capable of being arranged in the ground (12).

8. Street furniture system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said plant container (14) has a double wall (32, 39) and in that an openwork outer wall (39) allows air circulation.

9. Street furniture system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said plant container (14) comprises a bench (18).

10. Street furniture system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said shade (16) is planted.

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