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(11) | EP 2 075 393 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Support for mast or indication sign |
| (57) The present invention concerns a base suitable for holding and mounting a carrier
element such as a pole or a sign or the like, and a method for manufacturing and assembling
such. The base is particularly suitable to be made heavier in a modular way depending
on the required weight and is multifunctional. The base (10) comprises a base plate
(1), a holder (2) which is permanently or removably provided on said base plate (1)
and one or more stacking plates (6) suitable to be placed upon the base plate and
which are provided with an opening (7) for receiving said holder (2). The base may
further be provided with a cover plate. The holder (2) comprises a tube (3) to which
a support element (5) is attached. |
Technical field
[0001] The present invention concerns a base for holding and mounting a carrier element such as a pole or a sign or the like, and a method for manufacturing and assembling such. The invention concerns also the use of a base for holding and mounting a carrier element such as a pole or a sign or the like.
Background of the invention
[0002] In the prior art bases are known which are used to hold poles, such as, for example parasol poles or flag poles, posts or signs and the like.
[0003] Furthermore, bases are disclosed in the prior art consisting of a plastic holder in which a fluid, such as water, or sand is introduced when used at a later stage. Apart from a heavy weight, such bases often also have as an additional problem that they are not always sufficiently stable. Moreover, plastic materials become filthy and may slightly loose their color and stability over time. Additionally, plastic bases feature a certain height and hence, they are sometimes less esthetic and may disturb the view.
[0004] Also, bases are known that are made of a heavy material, such as, for example, concrete. Not only are such bases less esthetic, moreover in practice, such bases often have a weight of 40 kg or even more. For handling, transporting and storing such bases, such a weight is particularly impractical and strains the back of people who need to handle these bases.
[0005] Another disadvantage of the prior art bases is that there is little or no room to adapt the existing bases to conditions for use, for example as function of weight, size, location, look, etc. Hence, existing bases are not multifunctional and are difficult to adapt.
[0006] Existing bases have as an additional disadvantage that they are difficult to mount and to disassemble, and that mounting and disassembling them is time-consuming.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for bases, in particular bases for holding and mounting carrier elements such as, for example, poles or signs, which may at least partially solve the disadvantages of the prior art bases.
[0008] The goal of the present invention is to provide an improved base, which is not only less heavy, or at least which can be made heavier as desired, which is user-friendly, and in particular which is less back-straining and which is therefore ergonomical.
[0009] Another goal of the present invention is to provide a base which is more easy and more rapid to mount and to disassemble and which is more user-friendly.
Summary
[0011] Therefore, in a first embodiment the invention provides a base suitable for holding and mounting a carrier element. More in particular, the invention provides a base suitable for holding and mounting a carrier element such as a pole or a sign or the like, comprising
- a base plate,
- a holder which is permanently or removably provided on said base plate, and comprising a tube to which is attached a support element, and
- one or more stacking plates, suitable for being placed upon the base plate and which are provided with an opening for receiving said holder.
[0012] The base according to the invention can be used to mount a carrier or carrier element such as a pole or a sign in a stable manner. The present base has as a particular advantage that the base can be made heavier in a modular way depending on the desired weight and the required application. The required weight can be adapted in a simple manner by making a suitable choice of A) the number of desired stacking plates and dimensions and/or weights thereof and/or B) the weight and/or the size of the base plate.
[0013] A further remarkable advantage of the present base is that each component of the base per se, hence both base plate, stacking plate, optional cover plate, as well as the holder are sufficiently light to be carried by a person in a "back-friendly" way. A base according to the invention is an ergonomic product which can be rapidly assembled and disassembled, which can be easily handled, transported and stored.
[0014] In a second aspect, the invention provides a method for manufacturing and assembling a base as defined herein for holding and mounting a carrier element, comprising the steps of :
- manufacturing a base plate with a suitable shape and size,
- manufacturing a holder consisting of a tube to which is attached a support element,
- attaching permanently or removably said holder on the base plate,
- manufacturing one or more stacking plates with a suitable shape and size, and making an opening in said stacking plates for received the holder,
- optionally manufacturing a cover plate with a suitable shape and size, and making an opening in said cover plate for receiving the holder,
- providing one or more small feet at the bottom side of the base plate, stacking plate and optional cover plate,
- stacking the stacking plates on the base plate, and
- optionally covering the stacked stacking plates with a cover plate.
[0015] The present invention further provides the use of a base according to the present invention for holding and mounting a carrier element such as a pole or a sign or the like.
[0016] With the aim to better demonstrate the features of the invention, hereafter, as an example without any limiting character, some preferred embodiments are described with reference to the enclosed figures.
Description of the figures
[0017]
FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 illustrate embodiments of a base according to the present invention in an assembled form.
FIG. 2 shows several components of a base in a disassembled form according to the present invention.
Detailed description
[0018] In a first aspect the invention provides a base for holding and mounting a carrier element. With "carrier element" any shape of the carrier or holder is meant, such as for example, but not limited to telescopic and non-telescopic poles, flag poles, poles for beach flags and deco flags, parasol poles, poles for rotary clotheslines, poles for billboards and other boards, poles on which artworks and the like may be assembled, etc., as well as any form of a sign such as, for example poles for traffic information, traffic signs or other signs, road signs, and the like. The base according to the present invention is suitable for use in all kinds of applications in which a carrier is provided. In a particular preferred embodiment, the invention concerns a flag base intended to mount a flag pole for a beach flag, preferably of the type "beach flag Aventos".
[0019] The components of a base according to the invention comprise a base plate, one or more stacking plates, a holder and optionally a cover plate. The holder is permanently or removably attached to the base plate. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a base wherein the holder is preferably provided centrally on the base plate and wherein the holder is permanently or removably attached.
[0020] In a first embodiment, the invention provides a base wherein the holder is permanently attached on said base plate and comprises a tube which is provided with a central pin or pen which extends in axial direction from the tube. Preferably, the tube is a cylindrical tube or a tube with an equivalent shape, but it is obvious that this tube may also have different shapes. Preferably, the tube is hollow. Preferably, such a tube has a height ranging between 10 and 50 cm, and preferably a height of 15 cm (measured from the base plate up), and an outer diameter, for example in the case of a cylindrical tube or a tube with an equivalent shape, ranging between 3 and 10 cm, and preferably of 3.7 cm.
[0021] The pin or pen may also have different shapes and is for example a cylindrical pin, and preferably has a height ranging between 20 and 40 cm and a diameter ranging between 0.8 and 2 cm, for example 1 cm.
[0022] The base is further provided with a support element preferably comprising a plate-shaped support element and which extends from the side of the tube. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a base wherein the support element extends on the side of the tube over a distance equal to or smaller than half of the height of the tube, and preferably over a distance ranging between 1/3 and 1/4 of the height of the tube. In a further preferred embodiment, the invention provides a base wherein the base plate is provided with an opening under the holder to drain water.
[0023] The plate-shaped support element may have for example the shape of a square or a rectangle, and is preferably rectangular, and has for example a height ranging between 7 and 10 cm, for example 7 cm, a width ranging between 3.5 and 5 cm, for example 3.5 cm, and a thickness ranging between 0.3 and 0.8 cm, for example 0.4 cm. The support element has as a particular advantage that it prevents moving or rotating of the stacking plates.
[0024] In a second embodiment, the invention provides a base wherein a holder is provided which is removably attached to the base plate. Hence, the invention provides the possibility to combine several types of holders with a base plate. Hence, a base is obtained that can be used for several types of poles. Hence, the present base is multifunctional. In particular, in a second embodiment, the invention concerns a base wherein the holder is removably provided on said base plate and comprises a tube which is provided with a assembling element to fit the tube on the base plate. Preferably, the tube is a cylindrical tube or a tube with an equivalent shape, but it is obvious that this tube may also have different shapes. The tube may be hollow. A tube as used in the present invention preferably has dimensions such as given above for the first embodiment.
[0025] Assembling elements to assemble said tube to the base plate comprise for example, but are not limited to screw elements or a click system.
[0026] In this embodiment the base further includes also a support element, preferably a plate-shaped support element, which is located at the bottom side of the tube and which supports the tube. In a further preferred embodiment, the invention also provides a base wherein the base plate is provided with an opening to hold exchangeable or removable holders or inserts.
[0027] In a further preferred embodiment, the base may further optionally include a cover plate. Such a cover plate is suitable to be placed upon the base plate and/or the stacking plates. Such cover plate is provided with an opening or recess for received the holder. The cover plate may have the same size and shape as the base plate and/or stacking plates, and optionally be provided with a sign, logo, drawing, information or the like. The cover plate have as a particular advantage that it provides the base plate with a very esthetic look.
[0028] In a further preferred embodiment, the invention provides a base as defined herein wherein the bottom side of the base plate, stacking plate, and optional cover plate is provided with one or more small feet, preferably manufactured from an elastic material, such as for example, but not limited to rubber. In an example, four small feet are located on the bottom side of a base, preferably adjustable in height, to place the base plate in a stable manner on the ground and to easily lift it from the ground. In another example, also four small rubber feet are located on the bottom side of a stacking plate or a cover plate to easily lift the stacking plate of the base plate.
[0029] The base plate, stacking plate and cover plate as defined herein, may be manufactured in different sizes and/or with several weights and may thus be combined according to the application. Hence, the base plate, stacking plate and optional cover plate may have every suitable shape such as for example, triangular, square, rectangular, round, or polygonal, such as for example, a pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal shape.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the base plate, stacking plate and optional cover plate have at least one side with a length ranging between 350 and 850 mm, and for example between 500 and 700 mm. Thickness of the base plate, stacking plate and optional cover plate ranges between 3 and 10 mm, and is preferably 5 mm. In a square preferred embodiment, the base plate, stacking plate and cover plate have for example sizes ranging between 400 x 400 mm and 750 x 750 mm and a thickness ranging between 5 and 10 mm, and for example a size of 500 x 500 mm and a thickness of 5 mm.
[0031] Components of a base according to the present invention, and in particular the base plate, stacking plate, holder, and cover plate can be manufactured in all possible colors or even in several colors in accordance with the invention.
[0032] A base plate, stacking plate, and cover plate according to the present invention may also be manufactured with several weights, for example weights of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 kilograms, and for example of 10 kilograms. In accordance with the present invention, the weight of a base according to the invention will be adaptable by a suitable choice of the number and/or weight of base plate, stacking plates and cover plate. It should be noticed that the components of a base as defined herein are manufactured with regard to weight, such that they can be handled by people with less force.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a base wherein the stacking plate has the same or a different, and preferably smaller size than the base plate, for example as illustrated in FIG 1. In yet another preferred embodiment, the stacking plate has the same or a different, and preferably smaller shape than the base plate, for example a square shape. A cover plate preferably has the same shape, for example a square shape, and the same size as a base plate.
[0034] In yet another embodiment also a holder as defined herein may be provided with several weights depending on the application. Hence, holders according to the two embodiments given above may be provided which have a weight between 1 and 15 kilograms and for example of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 kilograms.
[0035] Materials used to manufacture the components of a base according to the present invention comprise for example, but are not restricted to metal. Certain components of the base may also be manufactured from plastic.
[0036] In the following, the invention will be elucidated in more detail by means of the embodiments represented in the figures.
[0037] FIG 1 shows in particular a base for a flag according to the present invention in an assembled state wherein a metal base plate 1 with holder 2 and a metal stacking plate 6 are illustrated, wherein the stacking plate 6 is smaller than the base plate 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a base plate 1 on which is welded a permanent pole holder 2 suitable for one type of pole. The illustrated holder is a cylindrical tube 3 with a suitable diameter. In this tube 2 a pin 4 is provided onto which a flag pole (not illustrated) can be slid. A small plate or support element 5 is provided along the tube 2 to reinforce the whole and to fix a stacking plate.
[0038] In another embodiment, the holder may be provided as a removable insert. One or more inserts may be provided per base plate. In such case, each holder or insert preferably comprises a tube, for example cylindrical, adapted to the pole diameter and a small plate at the bottom side. Such a small plate may be provided with an assembling element such as a screw to fit the insert on the base plate. In the base plate an arrangement is provided to attach therein the different inserts.
[0039] FIG. 1 further illustrates a stacking plate 6 to put on the base plate. The stacking plate 6 is provided with an opening for received said holder. At the bottom of the stacking plate four small feet are located, for example rubber feet, to lift the stacking plate easily of the base plate. The stacking plate may be provided in several sizes and weights according to the application. A finish in several colors is also possible. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a base according to the present invention in disassembled state, wherein stacking plate 6 and base plate 1 have the same size and shape. The stacking plate 6 is provided with an opening 7 for received the holder 2.
[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a base 10 according to the present invention in an assembled state, wherein stacking plate 6 and base plate 1 have the same shape and size. The holder 2 extends through the recess of the stacking plate 6.
[0041] In the following is explained how a metal base according to the present invention is manufactured in practice. The manufacturing process may of course change as function of the material from which the parts of the base are manufactured.
[0042] The base plate is cut into a suitable format. Depending on the type additional components may be welded to it. The stacking plate is also cut into a suitable format. An opening is welded out or lasered out for fixing. The stacking plates (weights) are cut into a suitable format. The components for the holder that have to carry the pole are welded to each other.
[0043] With a permanent holder, the holder is welded centrally onto the base plate. Preferably, a drain opening is bored out under the holder. With a removable holder, the holder is fitted centrally onto the base plate. In the base plate an opening is provided to hold the exchangeable inserts. Preferably, the holder is centrally provided with an opening thereto.
[0044] Next, the small feet, for example black rubber feet of the type chair leg cap, are attached to the base plate and stacking or cover plates, for example by gluing. The base, stacking and cover plates are trimmed and cleaned. The whole of the base is painted in a rust-preventive undercoat or is galvanized. Subsequently, a finishing layer, for example a paint layer is applied.
[0045] In an example during assembly a base plate is placed on the correct location. The base plate is provided with a permanent holder or with a removable holder which is mounted in advance or on the location on the base plate. One or more stacking plates are stacked separately on the base plate, through the holder. In the example beach flags, the number of stacking plates is depending a.o. on the weather conditions and more in particular on how hard the wind blows. Optionally, a cover plate may be placed on the stacking plates. A pole, for example a beach flag, is slid into the pole holder.
1. Base suitable for holding and mounting a carrier element such as a pole or a sign
or the like, comprising
- a base plate,
- a holder which is permanently or removably provided on said base plate, and comprising a tube to which is attached a support element, and
- one or more stacking plates, suitable for being placed upon the base plate and provided with an opening for receiving said holder.
2. Base according to claim 1, wherein the holder is permanently provided on said base
plate and comprises a cylindrical tube which is provided with a central pin which
extends in axial direction from the tube.
3. Base according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support element comprises a plate-shaped
support element which extends at the side of the tube.
4. Base according to claim 3, wherein the support element extends at the side of the
tube over a distance which is equal to or smaller than half of the height of the tube.
5. Base according to claim 1, wherein the holder is removably provided on said base plate
and comprises a tube which is provided with an assembling element to fit the tube
on the base plate.
6. Base according to any one of the previous claims 1 or 5, wherein the tube comprises
a plate-shaped support element which is located at the bottom side of the tube and
which supports the tube.
7. Base according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 6, further provided with a cover
plate suitable to be placed upon the base plate and/or the stacking plates and which
is provided with an opening for receiving said holder, wherein the cover plate preferably
has the same size and shape as the base plate, and is optionally provided with a sign,
logo, drawing, or the like.
8. Base according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 7, wherein the bottom side of
the base plate, stacking plate, and optional cover plate is provided with one or more
small feet, preferably manufactured from an elastic material.
9. Base according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 8, wherein the base plate, the
stacking plate and the optional cover plate have a triangular, square, rectangular,
round, or polygonal shape.
10. Base according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 9, wherein the stacking plate
has a different size, and preferably, a smaller size than the base plate.
11. Method for manufacturing a base according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 10
for holding and mounting of carrier element, comprising the steps of
- manufacturing a base plate with a suitable shape and size,
- manufacturing a holder consisting of a tube to which is attached a support element,
- attaching permanently or removably said holder on the base plate,
- manufacturing one or more stacking plates with a suitable shape and size, and making an opening in said stacking plates for received the holder,
- optionally manufacturing a cover plate with a suitable shape and size, and making an opening in said cover plate for receiving the holder,
- providing one or more small feet at the bottom side of the base plate, stacking plate and optional cover plate,
- stacking the stacking plates on the base plate, and
- optionally covering the stacked stacking plates with a cover plate.
12. Use of a base according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 10, for holding and
mounting a carrier element such as a pole or a sign or the like.