DAL PANE, Marco (Via Baldini 67, Castel Bolognese, I-48010, IT)
FABBRI, Fabio (Via Mengozzi 34, Rocca San Casciano, I-47017, IT)
DAL PANE, Marco (Via Baldini 67, Castel Bolognese, I-48010, IT)
| Claims 1. A barrier comprising respective panels (10) and means (13) for supporting the panels, each panel (10) having a panel body (12) with a top face (16) and a bottom face (18) and at least one respective lateral end portion (12a, 12a) extending between corresponding transversal portions (13a, 13a) of the panel supporting means and having a lateral face (14) positioned to face a corresponding perpendicular portion (13b) of the supporting means themselves; the barrier being characterized in that it further comprises interposed means (20, 50) between the lateral face (14) of the panel and the corresponding perpendicular portion (13b) of the supporting means. 2. The barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the interposed means (20, 50) extend from the lateral surface (14) of the panel. 3. The barrier according to either of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means (20, 50) are connected between respective superposed panels (10, 10). 4. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means (50) comprise flexible plate means (52). 5. The barrier according to claim 4, characterized in that the flexible plate means (52) have a respective end tip that engages the lateral surface (14) of the panel. 6. The barrier according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the flexible plate means (52) comprise a plurality of plates (52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e). 7. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 6, characterized in that the flexible plate means (52) comprise a plurality of plates (52a) that are equal in length. 8. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 7, characterized in that the flexible plate means (52) comprise a plurality of plates (52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e) that are different in length. 9. The barrier according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the flexible plate means (52) comprise a plurality of plates (52a) that are equal in length and are located in the region at the centre of the interposed element (50). 10. The barrier according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the length of the plate (52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e) decreases towards the respective end of the interposed element (50). 11. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 10, characterized in that the flexible plate means (52) extend from a respective base member (53) which, in use, extends parallel to, and spaced from, the lateral panel surface (14). 12. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 11, characterized in that the flexible plate means (52) extend transversally of the base member (53). 13. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 12, characterized in that the flexible plate means (52) extend across the full width of the base member (53). 14. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed element (50) comprise respective tongue means (54, 54) inserted between superposed panels. 15. The barrier according to claim 14, characterized in that said tongue means comprise a first and a second tongue (54, 54) which are inserted between superposed panels (10, 10). 16. The barrier according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the tongue means (54, 54) are longer than the plate means (52). 17. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 14 to 16, characterized in that the first and the second tongue (54, 54) are transversally spaced. 18. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 14 to 17, characterized in that the first and the second tongue (54, 54) are located at the sides of the base member (53). 19. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 14 to 18, characterized in that the tongue means (54, 54) extend from a respective shaped member (53) which extends parallel to, and spaced from, the lateral panel surface (14). 20. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 14 to 19, characterized in that the plate means comprise a first and a second plurality of plates (52, 52) that extend on opposite sides of the retaining tongue means (54, 54). 21. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means comprise a base member (53) comprising an end (53') for engaging an opposite surface (13b) of the supporting means (13). 22. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 21, characterized in that the base member (53) comprises a base layer (53a) from which there extend lateral ribs (53b, 53b) and intermediate internal ribs (53c, 53d), longitudinal and transversal, perpendicularly to the base layer (53a). 23. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 22, characterized in that the shaped member (53) comprises a base layer (53a) from which there extend longitudinal end and inclined ribs (53e, 53e). 24. The barrier according to claim 23, characterized in that the longitudinal end ribs (53e, 53e) have a portion protruding from the face of the base layer (53a) to form a respective end plate (53e). 25. The barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the interposed means (20) are fixed to the panel. 26. The barrier according to claim 25, characterized in that the interposed means (20) are in the form of a full, compact element (20a). 27. The barrier according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the interposed means (20) comprise an extension and fastening portion (20b) that fits into a corresponding hole in the panel. 28. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 25 to 27, characterized in that the interposed means (20) are in the form of a short, stubby element. 29. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims from 25 to 28, characterized in that the interposed means (20) are in the form of a cylindrical element. 30. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means comprise an element (120a) with a tapered side profile. 31. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means comprise a full element (120a), centrally hollow and recessed to allow insertion of a fastening screw (120b). 32. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means comprise a screw (120b) that cooperates with corresponding longitudinal retaining tabs (12Od). 33. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means (220) are in the form of adjustable means. 34. The barrier according to claim 33, characterized in that the interposed means (220) are in the form of means whose length is adjustable relative to the lateral face (14) of the panel. 35. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means comprise a rod-like element (220a) having an engagement head (220b) at its free end. 36. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means comprise means for engaging a corresponding perpendicular portion (13b) of the supporting means (13) and which comprise an enlarged head covered by an engagement portion or layer (220c) of elastic material. 37. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means comprise a rod-like element (220a) having an outer surface that is threaded to cooperate with a corresponding threaded bush (22Od) provided on the inside face of the side wall (14) of the respective panel. 38. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means comprise means (22Oe) for locking the rod-like element (220a) of the interposed means (220) in the extended working position. 39. The barrier according to claim 38, characterized in that the means for locking the rod-like element in the extended working position comprise a threaded nut (22Oe) cooperating with the outside threading on the rod-like element (220a) and designed to be tightened against the front surface of the corresponding side wall (14) of the panel. 40. The barrier according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the interposed means (20, 50) are made of an elastic material. 41. The barrier according to claim 40, characterized in that the interposed means (20) are made of EPDM. 42. An interposed element characterized in that it is made according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 41. |
Barrier
Technical Field
This invention relates to a barrier usable preferably alongside lines of communication such as roads, motorways and railways, in particular to isolate them acoustically from the surrounding environment.
Background Art
Generally speaking, prior art barriers erected alongside lines of communication, especially railways, comprise panels mounted on H uprights by inserting the edges of the panels between the flanges of the uprights. One of the drawbacks of prior art barriers, especially those exposed to intense vibrations, is due to the slackening and gradual movement of the panels relative to the uprights, with risk of the panels falling.
Summary of the Invention It is therefore provided a barrier comprising respective panels and means for supporting the panels, each panel having a panel body with a top face and a bottom face and at least one respective lateral end portion extending between corresponding transversal portions of the panel supporting means and having a lateral face positioned to face a corresponding perpendicular portion of the supporting means themselves; the barrier is characterized in that it further comprises interposed means between the lateral face of the panel and the corresponding perpendicular portion of the supporting means. hi a barrier made in this way, there is no risk of the panels slipping out of their mountings formed on the panel supporting means. Indeed, the presence of an interposed element between the lateral face of the panel and the corresponding perpendicular portion of the supporting means holds the panel firmly in place and prevents it from slackening and disengaging from the corresponding transversal portions of the supporting means. Brief Description of the Drawings
The technical characteristics of the barrier and its advantageous aspects are more apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred non limiting example embodiment of the invention and in which:
- Figure 1 is a horizontal cross section of a first preferred embodiment of a barrier according to this invention;
- Figure 2 is a cross section illustrating the zone where a first embodiment of an interposed element engages a respective panel, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 3 is a horizontal cross section similar to that of Figure 1 and illustrating the first preferred embodiment of the interposed element associated with a different panel;
- Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross section showing a third preferred embodiment of the barrier mounting a second embodiment of the interposed element in the engaged condition;
- Figure 5 is a transversal cross section through line V-V of Figure 4, showing the third preferred embodiment of the barrier mounting the second preferred embodiment of the interposed element in the engaged condition; - Figure 6 is a front view of the second preferred embodiment of the interposed element;
- Figure 7 is a top view of the second preferred embodiment of the interposed element;
- Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross section of the second preferred embodiment of the interposed element according to the invention;
- Figure 9 illustrates the back of the interposed element according to the second preferred embodiment of the interposed element;
- Figure 10 is a cross section illustrating the zone where a third embodiment of an interposed element engages a respective panel, according to a first preferred embodiment of the barrier;
- Figure 11 is a cross section illustrating the zone where a fourth embodiment of an interposed element engages the respective panel, according to a first preferred embodiment of the barrier. Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a first preferred embodiment 11 of the barrier according to the invention.
The barrier 11 comprises a plurality of panels, only one of which - labelled 10 - is shown in Figure 1. Each of the panels comprises a panel body 12 extending principally in two dimensions and having a rear side, a front side and lateral or side edges, denoted respectively by the reference numeral 14, 14.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the barrier 11 further comprises respective supporting means embodied by metal sections for supporting the panels, each being in the form of an H profile section 13 that comprises two opposite flanges
13a, 13a parallel to the panel 10 and connected to each other by a perpendicular core 13b.
At the bottom of it, the profile section is fixed to a base plate which is in turn fastened to a foundation by respective bolts or rods, the bolts and the foundation not being illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the panel 12 lateral end portions, labelled 12a, 12a in the drawings, extend, hi use, between the front and rear flanges 13a and 13a of the vertical supporting profile section.
The panel 10 also has respective lateral or side faces or walls 14, 14 which face and are spaced from a respective face of the perpendicular core 13b of the supporting profile section. hi this embodiment, the side walls 14 are the side walls of a "C" profile section 14' constituting a profile for supporting the panel body 12 which extends principally in two dimensions. According to the invention, the barrier 11 advantageously comprises means
20 designed to be interposed between the lateral face 14 of the panel and the corresponding perpendicular portion 13b, or core, of the supporting means 13.
As illustrated, the interposed element 20 extends alongside, and is supported by, the corresponding lateral surface 14 of the respective panel 10. In a first embodiment 20 of it, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the interposed element 20 is fixed to the panel 10 and is in the form of a full, compact element of elastic material, preferably EPDM, which comprises a main body 20a, cylindrical in shape and in the form of a short, stubby element, that is to say, the interposed element 20 is larger in diameter than it is in height or thickness. As illustrated, the interposed element 20 also has a protuberance 20b that fits into a matching hole 19 in the side wall 14 of the panel and comprising an enlarged head 20c forming a snap tooth for holding the elastic interposed element 20 against the respective panel.
In a second preferred embodiment of the barrier, as illustrated in Figure 3, the interposed snap-in plug or stopper 20, besides being inserted directly into the structure, and more specifically, in this case, into the metal structure supporting the panel - in this particular case a panel having a corresponding transparent part
10' - can also be inserted into a respective element 25, in particular a plastic element, associated with the side of the panel and acting as a compensating element between the panel and the corresponding transversal flanges 13a, 13a of the panel itself.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a third preferred embodiment of the barrier. In the third preferred embodiment, too, the barrier comprises respective panels 10, placed over each other, and means for supporting the panels, in the form of H profile sections each comprising respective flanges 13a, 13a perpendicularly spaced and connected to each other by a perpendicular core 13b.
The barrier panel 10 has a panel body 12 with a front face and a rear face, as well as top and bottom edges, or faces, and respective lateral end portions that extend between the corresponding transversal portions 13a, 13a of the respective vertical supporting profile section 13.
The panel 10 also has respective lateral or side faces or walls 14, only one of which is illustrated in the drawings, the face 14 being positioned to face, and being spaced from, a respective face of the perpendicular core 13b of the supporting profile section. In the third embodiment, too, it is advantageously contemplated the provision of means 50 designed to be interposed between the lateral face 14 of the panel and the corresponding perpendicular portion 13b, or core, of the supporting means 13.
As illustrated, the second preferred embodiment 50 of the interposed element is suitably connected to panels 10, 10 that are placed over each other.
As illustrated, the interposed element 50 extends alongside and in contact with the corresponding lateral surface 14 of the respective panel 10, in particular of both the superposed panels at the lateral surface 14 of the panels 10.
In the second embodiment of it too, the interposed element is made of an elastic material. Advantageously, the interposed element 50 comprises flexible plate means 52 having respective end tips that engage the lateral surface 14 of the respective panel.
As illustrated, the flexible plate means 52 comprise a plurality of plates 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e which are longitudinally spaced from each other in the axis along which the interposed element 50 extends. hi particular, the flexible plate means comprise a first plurality of plates 52a of equal length and extending in the central part of the interposed element 50.
More specifically, five plates 52a of the same length are provided. The flexible plate means 52 also comprise a plurality of plates whose lengths differ, decreasing towards the longitudinal end of the interposed element.
As illustrated, the flexible plate means 52 extend from a respective base member 53 which, in use, extends parallel to, and spaced from, the lateral surface 14 of the panel, the plates 52 extending perpendicularly to the base member 53. In particular, as illustrated, the flexible plate means 52 extend transversely across the full width of the base member 53.
The interposed element 50 further comprises respective tongue means 54, 54 designed to be inserted and held between the bottom face 18 of the upper panel 10 and the top face 16 of the lower panel 10. Between the top and bottom faces 16, 18 of the panels there might also be, as illustrated in the drawings, an elastic seal "G" that terminates further in relative to the lateral edge 14, so as to enable the tongue means 54, 54 to be placed at the side of the panels 10, 10.
More specifically, the tongue means are, as illustrated, in the form of a first and a second tongue 54, 54 to be inserted between respective superposed panels
10, 10, the length of the tongues 54, 54 being greater than that of the plate means
52, and more specifically, their length and thickness are substantially twice those of the flexible engagement plates 52a.
As illustrated, the first and second tongues 54, 54 are transversely spaced and extend at the sides of the base member 53.
The tongue means 54, 54 also extend perpendicularly from the shaped base member 53, and more specifically, at a part of the latter that protrudes slightly relative to the part from which the engagement plate means 52 extend, and that is in the form of slightly inclined, mutually convergent portions 53 'a, 53 'a of the base member. As illustrated, the plate means comprise a first and a second plurality of plates 52, 52 that extend on opposite longitudinal sides of the retaining tongue means 54 so they touch the lateral surfaces of both the superposed panels 10, 10.
The shaped base member 53 has a base layer 53a which, in use, extends substantially parallel to the corresponding lateral surface 14 of the panels 10 it is associated with. From the layer 53a there extend lateral ribs 53b, 53b and intermediate ribs 53c, 53d, respectively longitudinal and transversal, which extend in criss-cross fashion.
The ribs extend perpendicularly to the base layer 53a. Also extending from the base layer 53a there are longitudinal end ribs 53e,
53e inclined relative to the base layer 53a and having a respective portion which protrudes from the opposite face of the base layer 53a and which forms a corresponding lowermost end plate 53e of the perpendicular plates
In particular, the ribs 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e have an end edge 53' constituting means for engaging the corresponding perpendicular portion 13b of the panel supporting means 13.
The base layer 53a also has central portions 53'a, 53'a that are slightly inclined relative to the main wall of the layer 53a and protrude towards the lateral surface 14 of the panel 10. Figure 10 illustrates a third preferred embodiment 120 of the interposed means. As illustrated, the interposed element 120 comprises advantageous means for engaging a corresponding perpendicular portion 13b of the supporting means 13 and which extend perpendicularly from a respective side wall 14 of the respective lateral upright of the panel. hi particular, the engagement means are in the form of a full element 120a, preferably of elastic material, with a slightly tapering lateral profile, that is widest at the surface of the panel it is associated with and has a free end face 120 'a for engaging the supporting means 13b.
Further, the engagement element 120a is centrally hollow and recessed, at 120"a, to enable insertion of a self-tapping fastening screw 120b passing through a hole 19 in the corresponding side wall 14 of the panel upright, and acting in conjunction with a washer 120c located on the inside of the side wall 14 of the panel upright to retain the plug 120a.
In practice, longitudinal tabs 12Od are provided, these being widened by the screw 120b in such a way as to engage the washer 120c. As illustrated, the longitudinal tabs 12Od extend from the main body 120a of the engagement plug and are positioned peripherally or radially outside the screw 120b and pass, as one with the screw 120b, through the hole 19 in the panel wall and the corresponding central hole in the washer 120c. hi practice, the internal washer 120c constitutes the part that fastens the interposed element to the respective panel.
Figure 11 illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment 220 of the interposed means. As illustrated, this interposed element 220 constitutes adjustable interposed means, in particular interposed means whose length is adjustable relative to the lateral face 14 of the panel.
As illustrated, the interposed element 220 comprises advantageous means for engaging a corresponding perpendicular portion 13b of the supporting means 13 and which extend perpendicularly from a respective side wall 14 of the respective lateral upright of the panel. Said interposed means comprise a rod-like element 220a having at its free end an engagement head in the form of an enlarged portion 220b of the rod 220a, the head being covered by an engagement portion or layer 220c of elastic material in the form of an elastic cap fitted over the enlarged head 220b.
The rod-like element 220a also has an outer surface that is conveniently threaded to cooperate with a corresponding threaded bush 22Od provided on the inside face of the side wall 14 of the respective panel upright.
The internal bush 22Od constitutes the part that fastens or connects the rod 220a to the respective panel.
Means are advantageously provided for locking the rod in the extended working position, said means being in the form of a threaded nut 22Oe cooperating with the outside threading on the element or rod 220a. Advantageously, the nut
22Oe is designed to be tightened against the front surface of the corresponding front wall 14 of the respective panel upright.
As illustrated, the element, or rod 220a extends through a corresponding hole 19 made in the side wall 14 of the panel.
The invention described above is susceptible of industrial application and may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.
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