DEVICE FOR DETERRING THE PASSAGE OR PARKING OF

VEHICLES

The present invention relates to a device for deterring the passage or parking of vehicles along a route, in the text also referred to as a traffic or parking deterrent device (also known as traffic or parking bollard) . The device object of the present patent application can be installed along roads, paths or routes, or in areas dedicated to the parking of vehicles, such as parking lots or squares, and has the purpose of blocking the passage or parking of vehicles in the stretch in which it is installed on .

In the present patent application, the asphalt plane is the plane on which the vehicles slide.

In the present patent application, all the operating conditions reported in the text must be understood as preferred conditions even if not expressly declared.

For the purposes of the present discussion the term "comprise" or "include" also comprises the term "consist in" or "essentially consisting of" .

For the purposes of the present invention the definitions of the intervals always comprise the extreme values unless otherwise specified.

There is a need to limit or prohibit the presence of vehicles in some areas for various reasons. For this purpose, different types of deterrent devices (bollards) have been made, some are fixed devices without moving parts, others are automated and mobile devices, for example those equipped with a retractable mechanism.

Said devices can be installed so that they protrude at least in part from the support surface (for example the road surface) , possibly they can disappear (when mobile) thanks to a retractable mechanism under the support surface .

There are different types of retractable mechanisms for traffic bollards.

Among the most common we observe devices with an automatic hydraulic mechanism that presents some critical issues, as it requires the installation of dedicated power lines, and cannot be laid on products with slabs with a thickness of less than 50 cm (for example viaducts, parking lots) . In addition, it has high purchase costs and high maintenance costs as it can only be performed by specialized personnel. Semiautomatic gas mechanisms are also available which in any case present the same critical points as previously indicated. Finally, there are fixed bollards made of reinforced concrete (new jersey or concrete bollard) or plastic bollards filled with water, bulky and heavy which require the use of lifting appliances and adequate spaces for storage, and therefore have high transport costs.

Instead, Applicant has designed a deterrent device for the passage or parking of vehicles which has a completely manual or automatic actuation system; said device has very low maintenance incidence and the same can be performed by non-specialized personnel.

Furthermore, it does not require the installation of dedicated power lines, it can be positioned on products with slabs with a thickness of only 35-45 cm, the installation is simple as it does not require the use of dedicated installation means, contrary to what happens with fixed concrete systems. Overall, therefore, the device has low manufacturing costs.

The deterrent device object of the present patent application can be installed in all areas where there are sub-services (gas pipes, water pipes, telephone lines, power lines, sewers) or low-density aerial slabs, and archaeological finds, without interfering with them. Maintenance of the device is simple. The device does not require sealing systems, electrical wiring, oil / gas refills. Furthermore, the device is visible because it protrudes, when open, for a height of 70-100 cm.

Therefore, the subject of the present patent application is a device for deterring the passage or parking of vehicles which includes a parallelepiped-shaped container which lays on a horizontal plane (P.A.) by means of one of the greater largeness; said device being characterized in that it comprises:

• One of the surfaces of greater largeness, the one opposite the surface which lays on the P.A., which does not lay on the P.A. and which includes a first flat element (S.B.l) parallel to a second flat element (S.B.2), the first element being positioned at a lower depth with respect to the second element, said elements not touching and not adhering to each other at any point;

•a rotation plate (C) which rotates around a rotation

pivot (D) , fixed to the two lateral surfaces of greater width of the container, whose rotation is of an angle lower or equal than 90° with respect to the first flat element (S.B.l)

wherein said plate includes a first flat body (Cl) and a second flat body (C2), parallel and staggered between them, connected between them by means of said rotation pivot (D) , where in the absence of rotation the first body (Cl) is parallel to the first flat element (S.B.l) and the second body (C2) is positioned below and parallel to the second element (S.B.2) .

Advantageously the present invention allows to carry out a shallow excavation where to position the bollard, of only 35-45 cm while maintaining the height of the bollard identical or higher than that of the bollards on the market (60-80 cm) but which require an excavation over 1 meter deep .

A shallow excavation greatly limits the potential impact on sub-services on roads and sidewalks, also completely eliminates the possible impact with archaeological finds in areas with a high probability of discovery.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description and from the annexed figures, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, which represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figures 1-12 illustrate preferred embodiments of the device for deterring the passage or parking of vehicles according to the present invention, in different views, used on an asphalted plane.

Figure 1 illustrates the horizontal plan of said device at the level of the asphalt visible externally, both when it is manual and when it is automatic.

Figure 2 illustrates the underground plan of the body of said device (horizontal section below the asphalt level) both when it is manual and when it is automatic.

Figure 3 shows a vertical section with respect to the long side of said device when it is closed, when it is manual. Figure 4 shows a vertical section with respect to the long side of said device when it is open, i.e. when the rotation plate is rotated, when it is manual.

Figure 5 illustrates a front with respect to the short side of said device when it is open, both when it is manual and when it is automatic.

Figure 6 illustrates the opposite front of Figure 5 where, however, reflectors positioned above the rotating plate (C) are visible, both when it is manual and when it is automatic . Figure 7 illustrates the service rod (R) or opening key which operates the device subject of this patent application .

Figure 8 is a perspective drawing of the device when it is closed (8A) and when it is open (8B) . The figure shows a section of the asphalt surface/plane (P.F.) and the concrete structure (C.A.) in which the device is installed. Figures 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E illustrate the opening sequence of the deterrent device object of the present patent application, when it is manual.

Figures 10A, 10B, IOC, 10D illustrate the closing sequence of the deterrent device object of the present patent application, when it is manual.

Figure 11 shows a vertical section with respect to the long side of said device when it is closed, when it is automatic. Figure 12 shows a vertical section with respect to the long side of said device when it is open, i.e. when the rotation plate is rotated, when it is automatic.

Applicant now describes in detail the device for deterring the passage or parking of vehicles object of the present patent application, also referring to Figures 1-12.

The deterrent device object of the present patent application can be manual as illustrated for example in Figures 1-10, or automatic (Figures 1-8, Figures 11 and 12) .

When manual, said device is operated by means of a service rod (R) , or an opening key (Figure 7); when it is automatic, said device is operated by a piston (Figure 11-12, T) which is set in motion by a motor (Figure 11-12, U) , which rotates a rotation plate (C) automatically.

Said device for deterring the passage or parking of vehicles, both in manual and automatic mode, includes a container (Figure 3, 4, 11 and 12; A) in the shape of a parallelepiped which lays on a horizontal plane (PA) by one of the surfaces of greater largeness. Preferably the container (A) is closed.

In both manual and automatic mode, the container (A) can be buried below the asphalt level (P.F. in Figures 1-12) . The container can be buried in such a way that one of the two surfaces of greater width (base surface) remains on the asphalt level so that it is visible externally, while the lateral surfaces orthogonal to the base surfaces are completely buried under the asphalt surface.

In both manual and automatic mode, the surface of greater amplitude that does not lay on the PA, that means the one opposite the surface that lays on the PA, includes a first flat element (Figure 3, 4, 11 and 12; S.B.l) parallel to a second flat element (Figure 3, 4, 11 and 12; S.B.2) . The first element is positioned at a lower level with respect to the second element, both elements have no contact points and are not adherent to each other at any point .

The device, manual or automatic, also includes a rotation plate (C) which rotates around a rotation pin (D) , fixed to the two lateral surfaces of the container of greater width. The plate (C) rotates at an angle lower than or equal to 90° with respect to the first flat element (S.B.l) . Said plate includes a first flat body (Cl) and a second flat body (C2), parallel and staggered to each other, connected to each other by means of said rotation pin (D) . In the absence of rotation, the first body (Cl) lays on the first flat element (S.B.l) and the second body (C2) is positioned below and parallel to the second element (S.B.2) .

Therefore, the S.B.2 surface is always visible at the asphalt level, while the S.B.l surface is partially visible when the rotation plate is moving and the device is open. In the manual or automatic device, one or more ropes can also be provided, each connected to the rotation plate (C) in two distinct points (Figures 3, 4, 6, 11, 12; N) , which, during rotation, each slide through one or more service holes (Figure 3, 4, 11, 12; II, 12, 13, 14) which are located on the first flat element (S.B.l) .

The rope has the function of increasing the resistance of the rotation plate (C) in the event of a vehicle colliding with the rotation plate (C) when it is raised. The rope is always optional both when the device is manual and when the device is automatic. The rope has the function, in the event of a car crash, to allow Cl to resist and not break. It is an element to increase the resistance of plate Cl . As already reported, the described and claimed device can be manual or automatic.

When said device is manual, it has a different configuration in the actuation mechanism; in particular, when a service rod or opening key (R) is manual it activates the opening and closing of the device; when automatic, a piston (T) driven by a motor (U) opens or closes the device. In manual mode, at least four service holes (II, 12, 13,

14) and a lock (L) can be on the base surface S.B.l.

A similar lock (LI) can also be on the rotation plate, in correspondence with the lock (L) when the plate is not rotating and is parallel to the surface S.B.l.

The locks (Figure 4, L, LI) have the function of activating the deterrent device and in particular of activating the plate rotation mechanism (C) through the use of a service rod (R) , or opening key (Figure 7) .

When the service rod (R) is inserted in the lock (Figures 9A-9E and Figures 10A-10D, L, LI) the rotation plate is unlocked, starting to rotate, and the deterrent device is open. Figures 9A-9E illustrate the opening sequence of the deterrence device in manual mode described and claimed as explained below. The manual or automatic deterrent device can optionally comprise a cylindrical or quadrangular section body (FI) which connects the flat lateral surfaces of the container (A) and is fixed to them, which has two functions: the first is to prevent the rotation of the plate (C) beyond the desired angle, the second is to offer resistance in the event of a collision of vehicles from the left.

The rotation of the plate (C) therefore ends when it meets the cylindrical or quadrangular section body (FI) .

The described and claimed manual and automatic deterrent device can preferably include a tilting safety device (G) and a hollow pin (F2) both positioned inside the container (A) .

During rotation, the plate (C) can trigger the rotation of said tilting safety device (G) which rotates around its own pin (S) . The rotation of said safety device ends when it touches the surface of the rotation plate (C) .

At this point the opening key can be inserted into a service hole (13) by pushing a second pin (H, male) which fits into the hollow pin (F2, female) . In this way, the male pin (H) can lock the rotation plate (C) preventing it from returning to its initial position and ensuring an additional locking mechanism for the rotation plate (C) . The male pin (H) also has the function of withstand the impact of any vehicles from the right.

The tilting safety device can preferably be formed of a plate which rotates around a central pin shaped so as to form a recess, into which the pin (H) is inserted.

In the absence of the male pin (H) , the tilting safety device acts by blocking the rotation of the plate (C) .

A stop is present along the side wall of the side on which G is located, having the purpose of blocking G when the rotation has finished. The described and claimed deterrent device, both manual and automatic, can preferably comprise an elastic body (0) connected to a protruding pin (01) and both inserted in one of the holes present on the base surface S.B.l of the container .

This elastic body (0) has the function of helping the opening or closing of the deterrent device and avoiding crushing of the operator's fingers.

Preferably the plate (C) can comprise one or more fixed (Q, Figure 6) or removable (Ql, Figure 5) reflectors both when the device is manual and when it is automatic.

Preferably the container (A) can comprise a service compartment (P) in the manual mode of the described and claimed device.

Figures 10A-10D illustrate the closing sequence of the manual deterrent device described and claimed.

In a similar way, the service rod (R) first inserted in a service hole (14) activates the rotation of the safety device (G) returning it to its initial position; subsequently the service rod (R) is inserted in the service hole 13 to extract the pin (H) and thus activates the rotation of the plate (C) . Once the rotation plate returns parallel to the visible base surface of the container (A) , the service rod can be inserted in the lock (L, LI) by closing the described and claimed deterrent device.

In the automatic operating mode (Figures 11, 12), the described and claimed deterrent device comprises, in addition to all the features previously mentioned, a piston (T) which is driven by a motor (U) . The piston (T) rotates around a support (S) , for example a hinge, and is connected to the rotation plate (C) , in particular to the flat body (C2) . Said piston can kay on a circular support. In the opening phase, the piston (T) , driven by the engine, drags the body (C2) by rotating the rotation plate (C) and tending the rops, which slide as previously described in a similar way to the manual mode of the deterrent device. During the closing phase, the motor controls the piston which rotates the rotation plate in the closed configuration or initial position.