DEVICE FOR POSITIONING ITEMS
20230038692 · 2023-02-09
Inventors
- Julián Guillermo FLÓREZ VARGAS (Bucaramanga, CO)
- Daniel Fernando MONTERO MEZA (Floridablanca, CO)
- Carlos Emilio SILVA PARRA (Bucaramanga, CO)
Cpc classification
G09F7/18
PHYSICS
International classification
G09F7/18
PHYSICS
Abstract
The present invention corresponds to a device for positioning elements along a support body, comprising a first plate with a groove on its perimeter and a second plate with a groove on its perimeter, the first plate is in contact with the second plate, wherein the groove of the first plate and the groove of the second plate are coincident, and in which the positioning elements are arranged between the grooves of the first plate and the second plate. Additionally, the first plate and second plate have fastening means allowing them to be fastened to the support body.
Claims
1. Device for positioning elements along a support body, comprising: a first plate (1a) with a groove (2) on its perimeter; a second plate (1b) with a groove (2) on its perimeter, the first plate (1a) is in contact with the second plate (1b); wherein the groove (2) of the first plate (1a) and the groove (2) of the second plate (1b) are coincident; wherein the elements to position are arranged between the grooves (2) of the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b); and wherein the first plate (1a) and second plate (1b) have fastening means that allow them to be fastened to the support body (12).
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means correspond to a perforation (11) to allow the support body (12) to be inserted in a certain position.
3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that a support element (13) is located in the contour of the perforation (11) of any of the plates (1a) and (1b), wherein said support element (13) has a perforation (11) through which the support body (12) is inserted.
4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a fastener (4) is located in the groove (2) of any of the plates (1a) and (1b), wherein an enclosure is formed between the groove (2) of any of the plates (1a) and (1b) and the fastener (4).
5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first plate (1a) includes a guide (7), in said guide (7) a locking pin (3) is positioned having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adjacent to the groove (2), and wherein said locking pin (3) moves along said guide (7).
6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking pin (3) is connected to a displacement element (8), wherein the displacement element (8) is configured to displace the locking pin (3) along the guide (7).
7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the fastener (4) has a notch (5), wherein the first end of the locking pin (3) fits in the notch (5) of the fastener (4), which prevents the movement of the fastener (4) in the groove (2).
8. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide (7) is a grooved guide on any of the plates (1a) and (1b).
9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the second end of the locking pin (3) is connected to a pressure element (6), in such a way that it continuously exerts a force on the locking pin (3) along the guide (7).
10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure element (6) is selected from the group consisting of: springs, elastomeric materials, and a combination thereof.
11. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that a positioning plate (10) is arranged on the surface of any of the plates (1a), (1b).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
[0010]
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention corresponds to a device for positioning elements, in order to arrange elements such as advertisements or lighting in private or public places, in such a way that the environmental conditions or the constant interaction with users do not knock down what is to be positioned in the device, and that additionally, when an element is positioned in the element positioning device, said device does not visually block the element to be positioned, be it a light-emitting device or another element.
[0015] Therefore, the present invention corresponds to a device for positioning elements along a support body, comprising a first plate (1a) with a groove (2) on its perimeter, and a second plate (1b) with a groove (2) on its perimeter, the first plate (1a) is in contact with the second plate (1b). The groove (2) of the first plate (1a) and the groove (2) of the second plate (1b) coincide, which allows an element to be arranged in the grooves (2) of both plates. Additionally, the first plate (1a) and second plate (1b) have fastening means allowing said plates to be fastened to the support body.
[0016] Preferably, and referring to
[0017] The device for positioning elements in the present invention can contain a plurality of plates, arranged with each other to increase the cross-sectional area of the device for positioning elements and, thus, increase the contact area between the plates and the element to be fastened, which allows for increased grip of the device according to the number of plates.
[0018] The groove (2) of this invention can have any shape that will vary depending on the application or element that is going to be housed inside said groove. In this way, if the element to be placed between the groove has a circular shape, then the groove should have a circular shape, so there is a coincidence between the inner surface of the groove and the external shape of the element to be housed therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it should be understood that the shape of the groove (2) in the present invention can be selected from the group consisting of squares, triangles, circles, rectangles, pentagons, trapezoids, ellipses, rhombuses, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, decagon, equivalent shapes known to a person of ordinary skill in the art or a combination thereof.
[0019] Additionally, the shape of both the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b) is selected from the group consisting of: circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, pentagons, trapezoids, ellipses, rhombuses, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, decagon, star, rhombus, regular polygons and any other geometric figure known to a person moderately versed in the matter or combinations thereof.
[0020] The shape of the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b) allows you to change the number of grooves (2) you have, e.g., when the plates have a triangular shape, and each side has a single groove (2), said device would have only three grooves (2) to position elements. On the other hand, if the plates are hexagon-shaped, and the grooves (2) are interspersed, said device for positioning elements would only have three grooves (2). However, when the shape of the plates corresponds to a regular polygon, such as a square, each of its sides can have more than one groove (2). Additionally, the shape of the plates also allows the device to position elements to adapt to where it is going to be installed.
[0021] The plates (1a) and (1b) of the present invention can be formed by two or more plates joined together in a coplanar manner by means of fastening mechanisms (e.g., riveting, welding, interference fitting, pressure fixing, thermal fixing, staples, and joining mechanisms known to those ordinarily skilled in the art). Interference fits are preferably used as they allow easy coupling and uncoupling. For example, the first plate (1a) can be a circular plate, wherein said circular plate is formed by two plates, each of the plates in the shape of a semicircle joined together.
[0022] On the other hand, the material of the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b) can be made of different materials, in order to provide such rigidity to allow the elements to be supported and positioned within the grooves (2) without deformation of these plates. Moreover, the plates can be made of a translucent material, in such a manner that it does not affect the passage of light. In this way, the plates could be formed by plastic materials (thermo-plastic, thermo-stable), polymer chain composite materials, fibers (natural, synthetic), crystals, ceramics, metallic materials, transparent materials, translucent materials and/or opaque materials, equivalent materials known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, or a combination of the foregoing. In preferred embodiments, the material is transparent so the accessory does not affect the visual signal of the element fastened in the groove (2), when the fastened element is a light-emitting device (9) which shows a visual signal.
[0023] The material of each plate of the element positioning device can be of different materials, which allows the properties of the element positioning device to be changed as desired. For example, when the device for positioning elements has two plates, one of the plates can be made of a translucent material, while the other can be made of a reflective material. On the other hand, when the device for positioning elements has two or more plates, one of the plates may be a metal plate, but the other plate(s), depending on the number, can be made of a less dense material. This allows the metallic silver to provide rigidity to the device to position elements, while the other plates are made of another material to reduce its weight.
[0024] Referring to
[0025] On the other hand, a support body (12) can be connected to the device for positioning elements. The support body (12) is a bar, a pipe or a column, which is inserted into the fastening means when it contains a perforation (11), which allows both the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b) in a desired position along said support body (12), i.e., the support body (12) is configured to place the first plate (1a) and second plate (1b) in a certain position.
[0026] Referring to
[0027] On the other hand, the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b) include fastening means that allow said plates to be fastened to the support body. Said fastening means are optionally selected from the group formed by screws, bolts, nuts, rivets, studs, pins, wedges, clamps, equivalent elements known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, or a combination thereof.
[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, and referring to
[0029] Referring again to
[0030] Although the support body (12) can be a bar or a tube, said support body (12) is optionally a non-straight bar, e.g., said support body (12) can be a bar with an arc, wavy, curved, zigzag, broken shape, among others, in order to generate different shapes, which allows different devices to position elements. Additionally, when the support body (12) is a tube, wiring can be inserted inside it according to requirements, or when the light-emitting device (9) requires it.
[0031] Referring to
[0032] Referring again to
[0033] Additionally, the support body (12) can have the shape of a bar that is not straight throughout its length, which allows different devices to position elements and, in turn, to have different light-emitting devices (9) in different positions. This allows generating different types of visual signs with different shapes, depending on the shape of the support body (12) and the arrangement of the devices to position elements on it.
[0034] In one embodiment of the invention, when the fastening means is a perforation (11), in said contour of the perforation (11) of the first plate (1a) or in the contour of the perforation (11) of the second plate (1b) a support element (13) is provided. Said support element (13) has a shape integral with the contour of the perforation (11) of any of the plates, wherein said support element (13) has a perforation (11) through which the support body (12) is inserted. Additionally, said support element (13) can be located only in the perforation (11) of the first plate (1a), in the perforation (11) of the second plate (1b), or in both perforations (11). The device for positioning elements can also have two support elements (13) located on each one of the contours of the perforation (11) of each plate.
[0035] Said support element (13) is an element that generates pressure and friction in the support body (12), which allows neither the first plate (1a) nor the second plate (1b) to move on the support body (12) without an external force being exerted. For example, the support element (13) can be a ring, an O-ring or a gasket, which generates pressure in the support body (12), thus allowing the device to position elements in a support body (12) preventing it from moving through said support body (12) and without requiring other additional fastening elements, such as rivets or screws.
[0036] The material of said support element (13) is selected from the group consisting of: natural rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, equivalent elastomeric materials known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, or a combination thereof. The fact that said support element (13) is made of an elastomeric material allows greater friction and pressure to be generated with the support body (12), allowing the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b) to be secured with said support body (12).
[0037] On the other hand, and referring to
[0038] In one embodiment of the invention, a light-emitting device (9) is arranged in the enclosure between the groove (2) of any of plates (1a), (1b) and the fastener (4), wherein said light-emitting device (9) can be a LED strip. Preferably, the fastener (4) has a shape integral with the groove (2), which allows them to fit together. For the understanding of this invention, it will be understood that two elements have an incorporated shape, that two elements have a tongue-and-groove-type connection, which allows them to fit together.
[0039] Referring to
[0040] Referring to
[0041] On the other hand, and referring to
[0042] I t should be understood in the present invention that the guide (7) is a canal, a concavity, or a covered and elongated tunnel-type element, wherein the locking pin (3) is arranged. When the first end of the locking pin (3) fits in the notch (5) of the fastener (4), the locking pin (3) prevents the fastener (4) from moving in the groove (2). Preferably, the shape of the notch (5) and the first end of the locking pin (3) have an incorporated shape, which allows them to be coupled without the need for any pressure.
[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, and referring to
[0044] The first plate (1a) can have said grooved guide (7) while the second plate (1b) does not or vice versa, which allows the locking pin (3) to rest on said second plate (1b) while the locking pin (3) slides on the grooved guide (7), when the second plate (1b) is located below the first plate (1a).
[0045] Additionally, both the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b) can have a grooved guide (7). When the first plate (1a) and the second plate (1b) have a grooved guide (7), said guide (7) and the groove (2) coincide.
[0046] Additionally, and referring again to
[0047] Said scrolling element (8) can be a thumb stack, cables, needles, pins, or equivalent elements to be inserted into the hole (15) of the locking pin (3) allowing a user to move said locking pin (3) on the guide (7).
[0048] In one embodiment of the invention, and referring to
[0049] In the same way, when an external force acts on the locking pin (3), or on the displacement element (8) when it is connected with the locking pin (3) moving the first end away from the groove (2), the element (6) stores energy allowing that, when said external force stops acting on the locking pin (3), the first end of the locking pin (3) moves to the groove (2) due to the action exerted by the element of pressure (6) when the energy is released.
[0050] Said pressure element (6) is selected from the group formed by springs, natural rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, equivalent elements known to a person of moderate skill in the art or a combination thereof. For example, when the pressure element (6) is an elastic rubber, and a force is exerted on the locking pin (3) in such a way that it moves in the opposite direction to the groove (2), the pressure element (6) is arranged in such a way that it contracts. And, when said force stops acting on the locking pin (3), the first end of the locking pin (3) moves towards the groove (2) due to the elongation of said elastic band, and subsequently towards the notch (5) of the fastener (4).
[0051] In an embodiment of the invention, the pressure element (6) is a spring. When an external force acts on the locking pin (3), or on the displacement element (8) when it is connected with the locking pin (3), the pressure element (6) contracts, moving the locking pin (3) on the guide (7). When said force ceases to act on the locking pin (3) or the displacement element (8), the first end of the locking pin (3) moves to the groove (2) due to the fact that said spring, i.e., the element (6), elongates pushing the locking pin (3) on the guide.
[0052] In one embodiment of the invention, and referring to
[0053] Referring to the detail
[0054] Referring to
[0055] The device for positioning elements of
[0056] In one embodiment of the invention, the support body (12) is located within a structural body. Said structural body can be an oblong element with a cavity with an internal surface, a base and an end opposite to the base, wherein, said base is preferably embedded in the floor or a surface. Said base can also be coupled to a support on the base (e.g., a flange), which is fastened to the floor by means of fastening elements, such as screws, rivets or bolts. On the other hand, the extreme upper end may correspond to an open end, which is sealed by a cap.
[0057] The structural body allows to protect the device to position elements, preventing environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, rain, among others, from making direct contact with it and with the elements it is fastening in the groove (2), e.g., a light-emitting device (9).
[0058] The support body (12) is inside the structural body, wherein the support body (12) can extend longitudinally along the structural body. The support body (12) can have the same length as the structural body, but it can also be shorter compared to it. The shapes of the support body (12) can be selected from the group consisting of a frustoconical shape, cylinders, pyramidal shape, orthohedral shape, canals with a polygonal cross-section (e.g., square, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, rhomboid), known equivalent shapes by a person moderately versed in the matter or a combination thereof. The shape of the support body (12) can be the same shape as the structural body, e.g., if the structural body is in the shape of an arch, the support body (12) would also be in the shape of an arch. Moreover, optionally the support body (12) is concentric within the structural body.
[0059] Preferably, the structural body is made of a translucent material, which allows light to be displayed on its external surface, when the device for positioning elements fastens a light-emitting device (9) in the groove (2). The translucent material of the structural body can be selected from the group consisting of fiberglass reinforced polyester (FRP), polymethylmetracylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC); chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC); polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides (PA) (e.g., PA12, PA6, PA66); polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE); polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); ethylene polytetrafluoride (PTFE); ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE); plastics (polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, vinyl resins) reinforced with fibers (e.g., glass, aramid, polyester) and combinations thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, the translucent material of the structural body is fiberglass reinforced polyester (FRP).
[0060] In an embodiment of the invention. the structural body can be formed by at least two parts, which facilitates this maintenance, and also facilitates the installation of the device for positioning elements. When the structural body is formed by two parts, said parts can be longitudinal and/or cross sections of the structural body.
[0061] Additionally, when the support body (12) is located inside the structural body, different types of devices can be arranged on said support body (12) to position elements, wherein the shapes of plates in each of said devices can be different. The foregoing allows different devices to be arranged to position elements in such a way that they can be arranged along the structural body, when the structural body has a shape wherein the base has a larger area compared to the end opposite to the base.
[0062] In one embodiment of the invention, a positioning plate (10) is provided on the surface of any of the plates (1a), (1b). Said positioning plate (10) has the largest surface, compared to the first plate (1a) or the second plate (1b), and allows to fasten the device to position elements inside the structural body, when the device to position elements is located therein. This is because the contour of the positioning plate (10) is arranged on the internal surface of the cavity in the structural body.
[0063] Said positioning plate (10) also has a fastening means, such as a perforation (11), wherein the support body (12) is connected. Additionally, on the contour of the perforation (11) of the positioning plate (10), a support element (13) with a perforation can also be located, in such a way that the support body (12) is connected to it.
[0064] Preferably, the locating plate (10) allows the groove (2) to be spaced a specific length from the internal surface of the structural body cavity. The foregoing allows the light to be projected with the desired refractive index on the external surface of the structural body, when a light-emitting device (9) is arranged in the groove (2), e.g., a LED strip, and the material of the structural body is a translucent material.
[0065] Referring to
[0066] The fact that the vertices of the positioning plate (10) of
[0067] Referring to
[0068] In one embodiment of the invention, and referring to
[0069] The second device for positioning elements (B) corresponds to the device in
[0070] On the other hand, the second device for positioning elements (C) corresponds to the device in
[0071] Referring to
[0072] This invention will be presented in detail through the following examples, which are provided for illustrative purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting its scope.
Example 1
[0073] Referring to
[0074] In said
Example 2
[0075] Referring to
[0076] The device for positioning elements of
[0077] Additionally, in the contour of the perforation (11) of the first plate (1a) a support element (13) was arranged corresponding to a circular rubber ring, wherein the support body (12) was inserted.
Example 3
[0078] Referring to
[0079] Said device for positioning elements had a fastener (4) arranged in a groove (2), and in the area between said groove (2) and the fastener (4), a light-emitting device (9) was arranged corresponding to a LED strip.
[0080] Additionally, the perforation (11) of the first plate (1a) was larger compared to the perforation of the second plate (1b) and the positioning plate (10), and in the contour of said perforation (11) there was a support element (13) corresponding to a rubber ring, through which the support body (12) was inserted, which allowed the support element (13) to exert force on the support body (12) and thus maintain the device for position elements in a single position.
[0081] The first plate (1a) had a grooved guide (7), wherein the guide (7) was connected to the groove (2). Inside said guide (7) a locking pin (3) with a first end and a second end was arranged, wherein the first end was located in the part of the guide (7) that connected with the groove (2). Inside the grooved guide (7), there was a pressure element (6) connected to the second end of the locking pin (3).
[0082] The locking pin (3) had a hole (15) through which a displacement element (8) was connected, which allowed the locking pin (3) to be moved along the grooved guide (7). Additionally, the second plate (1b) had an additional perforation above the grooved guide (7), in order to be able to connect the displacement element (8) with the locking pin (3), and to be able to move said locking pin (3).
[0083] The device for positioning elements of
[0084] In said EXAMPLE 3, the procedure to arrange the LED strip is the following: if the fastener (4) is located in the grooves (2), the displacement element (8) is inserted into the hole (15) of the locking pin (3), to move the locking pin (3) on the guide (7). Subsequently, the locking pin (3) is removed from the notch (5) of the fastener (4), in order to remove the fastener (4) from the groove (2). Once the fastener (4) is removed, an element is placed in the grooves (2), such as a light-emitting device (9) corresponding to a LED strip. Subsequently, the fastener (4) is arranged in the groove (2), which allows the light-emitting device (9) corresponding to the LED strip to be fastened between the fastener (4) and the groove (2).
[0085] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the modalities described and illustrated herein, since there are possible variations and modifications that do not deviate from the spirit of the invention, which is only found defined by the following claims, as will be evident to a person versed in the art.