(19)
(11) EP 3 006 640 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43) Date of publication:
13.04.2016 Bulletin 2016/15

(21) Application number: 14805139.4

(22) Date of filing: 30.05.2014
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E04C 3/02(2006.01)
A47C 11/00(2006.01)
E04C 3/22(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/ES2014/070442
(87) International publication number:
WO 2014/191606 (04.12.2014 Gazette 2014/49)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME

(30) Priority: 31.05.2013 ES 201330799

(71) Applicant: Parra Pardos, Esther
12200 Onda (Castellón) (ES)

(72) Inventor:
  • PARRA MUÑOZ, Cleto
    E-12200 Onda (Castellón) (ES)

(74) Representative: Ungria López, Javier 
Avda. Ramón y Cajal, 78
28043 Madrid
28043 Madrid (ES)

   


(54) CONSTRUCTION METHOD FOR STREET FURNITURE AND STREET FURNITURE ITEM CONSTRUCTED


(57) The subject matter of the invention is a construction method for street furniture that comprises the following steps: placing at least two pieces of porcelain material (1) adjacent and in parallel; joining the at least two pieces of porcelain material (1) by means of an adhesive (2), thus forming a solid body (3); performing at least one machining operation of the solid body (3); inserting at least one securing profile (5) during machining (4) such that the pieces of porcelain material (1) that form the solid body (3) are joined to said securing profile (5); fixing the securing profile (5) to an external structure (7) in such a manner that the external structure (7) forms the support for the street furniture item. A further subject matter of the invention is the street furniture item obtained by means of this construction method.




Description

Subject matter of the invention



[0001] The present invention relates to a construction method for street furniture, said street furniture being of the type with flat surfaces. It is applicable in the field of construction for street furniture with porcelain elements and the construction elements are both functional and decorative elements.

Background of the invention



[0002] In the state of the art, a multitude of street furniture items that meet a series of needs of the inhabitants of the population nuclei (temporary waste storage, rest areas, plant sites, etc.), which are made up of highly resistant materials, both to weather and to the daily use thereof, are easy to maintain, accessible and long-lasting.

[0003] The most frequently used materials in the construction of the elements that make up street furniture are concrete, iron, steel, natural stone and wood with special outdoor treatments.

[0004] Known street furniture is manufactured in two ways, either in a single piece of solid material or manufactured in various pieces that are subsequently assembled to form the street furniture. Likewise, the street furniture may be manufactured from a single material or from pieces of different materials.

[0005] Street furniture is often subject to acts of vandalism where said street furniture is damaged or even rendered useless. These acts of vandalism make the maintenance of street furniture expensive and at times must even be replaced, further raising the cost of maintaining street furniture.

[0006] In relation to the subject matter of the invention, document ES 1 072 065 U is known, which discloses street furniture formed from a superposition of ceramic layers.

[0007] Document ES 1 075 419 U is also known, which discloses street furniture also made up of a superposition of ceramic layers.

[0008] Due to the large stock of pieces of porcelain material stored, currently without outlet due to lack of construction, alternative uses for said stock of pieces of porcelain material are being sought. The alternative uses of the pieces of porcelain material give rise to the subject matter of the invention, which discloses a construction method for porcelain street furniture.

[0009] No document that discloses a construction method for street furniture that produces porcelain street furniture is known.

Description of the invention



[0010] The invention described discloses a construction method for street furniture that comprises the following steps:
  • placing at least two pieces of porcelain material adjacent and in parallel;
  • joining the at least two pieces of porcelain material by means of an adhesive, thus forming a solid body;
  • performing at least one machining operation of the solid body;
  • inserting at least one securing profile during machining such that the pieces of porcelain material that form the solid body are joined to said securing profile;
  • fixing the at least one securing profile to an external structure, in such a manner that the external structure forms the support of the street furniture item.


[0011] In the construction method for street furniture, object of the invention, the adhesive forms a connecting body between the pieces of porcelain material that form the solid body, such that the pieces of porcelain material are separated therebetween by the volume occupied by said connecting body.

[0012] In the construction method for street furniture, object of the invention, the support structure comprises a securing profile with a prismatic cross-section and pieces of porcelain material disposed around said securing profile with a prismatic cross-section.

[0013] In the construction method for street furniture, object of the invention, the support structure is manufactured from a metal material.

[0014] Another object of the invention is a street furniture item constructed in accordance with the previously defined construction method for street furniture.

Description of the drawings



[0015] In order to easily understand the present description, the invention is complemented by a set of drawings wherein the following has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a street furniture item that offers a flat surface manufactured according to the construction method, object of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the street furniture item of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of two ways of joining the pieces of porcelain material that form a module for the street furniture according to the construction method, object of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a table-type street furniture item constructed according to the construction method, object of the invention;

Figure 5 shows a side view of the street furniture item of figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a side view of the street furniture item similar to that of figure 4 wherein the support structure has been changed with respect to that of figure 5; and

Figure 7 shows a side view of a bench-type street furniture item constructed according to the construction method, object of the invention.



[0016] A list of the different elements represented in the figures that are included in the invention is provided below:

1.- ceramic piece,

2.- adhesive,

3.- solid body,

4.- machining,

5a, 5b.- securing profile,

6.- connecting body,

7a, 7b.- support structure,

S.- flat surface.


Preferred embodiment of the invention



[0017] The subject matter of the invention is a construction method for street furniture items constructed from porcelain material, said construction method resulting in a street furniture item having a very high finish quality with minimum maintenance and very high durability.

[0018] The construction method for street furniture items arises as an alternative use of pieces of porcelain material (1), due to the large stock of these pieces of porcelain material (1) accumulated in factories which cannot be used for traditional construction applications because new building projects are not being executed.

[0019] Said method comprises a first stage, wherein the pieces of porcelain material (1) are placed parallel therebetween and the pieces of porcelain material are joined together by one of the flat faces of the pieces of porcelain material (1), such that the portion of the piece of porcelain material (1) that remains visible once joined together is the edge of the piece of porcelain material (1). An adhesive (2) is used to join the pieces of porcelain material (1), which may be distributed between the pieces of porcelain material (1), such that the two pieces of porcelain material (1) are joined together, being in contact with each other, or creating a connecting body (6) between the pieces of porcelain material (1) such that the pieces of porcelain material (1) are not in contact with each other (the two options can be observed in figure 3).

[0020] Joining the pieces of porcelain material (1) forms a solid body (3) having at least one flat surface (S), which is that offered by the edges of the pieces of porcelain material (1) placed next to each other forming the solid body (3).

[0021] Next, in the construction method for street furniture items, object of the invention, the solid body (3) is subject to machining to obtain at least one slot (4) in the solid body (3) longitudinally to the solid body (3), i.e. each piece of porcelain material (1) of the solid body (3) receives said machining and, therefore, at least one slot (4) is made in each piece.

[0022] Next in the construction method for street furniture items, object of the invention, at least one securing profile (5) is inserted in the at least one slot (4), such that all the pieces of porcelain material (1) are fixed, ensuring the formation of the solid body (3).

[0023] Lastly in the construction method for street furniture items, object of the invention, the at least one securing profile (5) is fixed to a support structure (7a, 7b), such that the street furniture item is completely configured.

[0024] According to the shape of the securing profile (5) and the support structure (7a, 7b), the construction method for street furniture items produces rounded street furniture items, for example a bench (as can be observed in figure 6). In order to adapt the pieces of porcelain material (1) to rounded shapes, the adhesive (4) that forms the adhesive union between said pieces of porcelain material (1) must create the aforementioned solid body (6) between pieces of porcelain material (1).

[0025] The support structure (7a, 7b) is embodied in two different ways, by means of a metal structure to which the at least one securing profile (5) is fixed, such as to obtain a metal support structure (7a). And, in an alternative embodiment, it is in turn formed by a prismatic securing profile (5b) with a polygonal cross-section, around which the pieces of porcelain material (1) are fixed, in such a way as to obtain a ceramic support structure (7b) which is disposed in an upright position and, in this position, can be equated with a vertical foot on which to place the solid body (3).

[0026] The construction method, object of the invention produces a street furniture item which is also the subject matter of the invention, which offers a multitude of chromatic possibilities since, according to the colour of the pieces of porcelain material (1) used to form the solid body (3), it will be the colour or colours of the solid body (3) formed.

[0027] As porcelain material is a hard material whose colour remains unchanged over time, the construction method, object of the invention, produces a street furniture item whose maintenance is inexpensive, that is practically indestructible and has an infinite number of chromatic options.

[0028] The invention should not be limited to the particular embodiment described herein. Persons skilled in the art may develop other embodiments in light of the description made herein. Consequently, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.


Claims

1. A construction method for street furniture characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

A. placing at least two pieces of porcelain material (1) adjacent and in parallel;

B. joining the at least two pieces of porcelain material (1) by means of an adhesive (2), thus forming a solid body (3);

C. performing at least one machining operation of the solid body (3), obtaining at least one slot (4) in the solid body (3) with the machining;

D. inserting at least one securing profile (5) in the longitudinal slot (4) such that the pieces of porcelain material (1) that form the solid body (3) are joined to said securing profile (5);

E. fixing the at least one securing profile (5) to a support structure (7), such that the support structure (7) forms the support of the street furniture item.


 
2. The construction method for street furniture, according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive (2) forms a connecting body (6) between the pieces of porcelain material (1) that form the solid body (3), such that the pieces of porcelain material (1) are separated therebetween by the volume occupied by said connecting body (6).
 
3. The construction method for street furniture, according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support structure (7) comprises a securing profile (5b) with a prismatic cross-section and pieces of porcelain material disposed around said securing profile (5b) with a prismatic cross-section.
 
4. The construction method for street furniture, according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the support structure (7) is manufactured from a metal material.
 
5. A street furniture item constructed according to the construction method for street furniture defined in any of the preceding claims.
 




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Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description