U.S. patent application number 12/467460 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-05 for paving stone.
Invention is credited to Rolf SCHEIWILLER.
Application Number | 20090274514 12/467460 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39135359 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090274514 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHEIWILLER; Rolf |
November 5, 2009 |
PAVING STONE
Abstract
The invention relates to a grass paver with a grid-type body
which is formed by intersecting transverse portions and
longitudinal portions, said portions forming at least one grid
opening, wherein the transverse portions project beyond the
longitudinal portions, and the longitudinal portions project beyond
the transverse portions, wherein corners of the grass paver are
each formed by a limb of one of the transverse portions and a limb
of one of the longitudinal portions, and wherein the grass paver
has a flat upper face. In this case, the longitudinal portions and
the transverse portions have different heights and the lower
surfaces of said portions define at least one lower contact plane
and at least one upper contact plane on an underside of the grass
paver.
Inventors: |
SCHEIWILLER; Rolf;
(Hergiswil, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURR & BROWN
PO BOX 7068
SYRACUSE
NY
13261-7068
US
|
Family ID: |
39135359 |
Appl. No.: |
12/467460 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/EP2007/010011 |
Nov 20, 2007 |
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12467460 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
404/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 9/004 20130101;
E01C 2201/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
404/42 |
International
Class: |
E01C 5/00 20060101
E01C005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 20, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 054 851.5 |
Claims
1. A grass paver with a grid-type body which is formed by
intersecting transverse portions and longitudinal portions, said
portions forming at least one grid opening, wherein the transverse
portions project beyond the longitudinal portions, and the
longitudinal portions project beyond the transverse portions,
wherein corners of the grass paver are each formed by a limb of one
of the transverse portions and a limb of one of the longitudinal
portions, and wherein the grass paver has a flat upper faced,
wherein the longitudinal portions and the transverse portions have
different heights and the lower surfaces of said portions define at
least one lower contact plane and at least one upper contact plane
on an underside of the grass paver.
2. The grass paver as claimed in claim 1, wherein an overall area
of the lower surfaces belonging to the upper contact plane is in an
area ratio of approximately 1:2 to 1:1 to an overall area of the
lower surfaces belonging to the lower contact plane.
3. The grass paver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower
surfaces of the longitudinal portions lie exclusively in the lower
contact plane or exclusively in the upper contact plane.
4. The grass paver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower
surfaces of the transverse portions lie exclusively in the upper
contact plane or exclusively in the lower contact plane.
5. The grass paver as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of
the contact planes is designed as a shearing protection plane and
has ribs which are designed as projections and/or recesses.
6. The grass paver as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ribs of at
least one shearing protection plane run parallel to one
another.
7. The grass paver as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one
transverse portion and/or at least one longitudinal portion
have/has a zigzag-shaped and/or wavy profile in top view.
8. The grass paver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grass paver
has a rectangular grid.
9. The grass paver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grass paver
has a square grid.
10. The grass paver as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact
planes and shearing protection planes are at a distance of at least
15 mm from one another.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is based on the object of developing a grass
paver which has increased shearing protection in relation to the
underlying surface.
[0002] The grass paver according to the invention has longitudinal
portions and transverse portions with different heights, with the
lower surfaces of said portions defining at least one lower contact
plane and at least one upper contact plane on an underside of the
grass paver. This produces an interlocking connection between an
underlying surface which bears the grass paver and at least one of
the portions of the grass paver. The core of the invention is
therefore the piercing or penetrating of the underlying surface, in
particular of a gravel bed or an earth bed on which the grass paver
is laid. For this purpose, the grass paver penetrates with at least
one of the portions thereof and therefore has an increased
resistance in relation to shearing forces which are capable of
displacing the grass paver on the underlying surface. Consequently,
the grass paver according to the invention can conduct at least a
portion of the shearing forces acting on the grass paver during the
braking, accelerating and cornering of vehicles into the underlying
surface and can thus contribute to reducing a load on adjacent
paving blocks.
[0003] According to the invention, an area ratio of approximately
1:2 to 1:1 between an overall area of the lower surfaces belonging
to the upper contact plane and an overall area of the lower
surfaces belonging to the lower contact plane is provided. Such an
area distribution makes it possible to achieve a particularly
effective interlocking.
[0004] Furthermore, the invention provides arranging the lower
surfaces of the longitudinal portions exclusively in the lower
contact plane or the upper contact plane, and arranging the lower
surfaces of the transverse portions exclusively in the upper
contact plane or the lower contact plane. This ensures planar
resting of the grass paver on an underlying surface. This
facilitates the laying and transportation.
[0005] One variant embodiment of the invention envisages providing
at least one of the contact planes with ribs which are designed as
projections and/or recesses. This makes it possible to increase the
shearing protection effect even further and to design the contact
planes as shearing protection planes.
[0006] The invention also provides arranging the ribs of at least
one contact plane designed as a shearing protection plane parallel
to one another. This simplifies the manufacturing of the grass
paver, since molds with simple drawing plates can be used to
produce the grass paver.
[0007] The invention also provides designing at least one
transverse portion and/or at least one longitudinal portion of the
grass paver with a zigzag-shaped and/or wavy profile in top view.
By selecting different laying techniques and/or a different
orientation of the grass pavers, paving arrangements of differing
geometry can be produced with grass pavers of this type. This
measure therefore results in a grass paver which can be used for
paving arrangements having different intended uses. Such a grass
paver permits optimum support between the grass pavers of the
paving arrangements having different intended uses, since use is
made of identical grass pavers which are optimally matched to one
another. Furthermore, such a grass paver considerably facilitates
the planning of building projects, since initially only the
requirement for a certain area has to be calculated and the
intended use and appearance of an area can be established at a
later time.
[0008] According to the invention, grass pavers with a rectangular
and in particular a square grid are provided. Such grass pavers can
be laid in a simple manner.
[0009] Finally, the invention provides a distance between the
contact planes and shearing protection planes of at least 15 mm. At
and above such a distance, even comparatively large shearing forces
can be dissipated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Further details of the invention are described in the
drawing with reference to exemplary embodiments which are
illustrated schematically.
[0011] FIGS. 1a, 1b show a top view and a section of a first grass
paver according to the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second grass paver
according to the invention;
[0013] FIGS. 3a, 3b show a side view and a top view of a third
grass paver according to the invention, and
[0014] FIG. 3c shows a paving position of grass pavers according to
FIG. 3b.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] FIG. 1a illustrates a top view of a first grass paver 1
according to the invention. The grass paver 1 has a body 2 which
comprises two transverse portions 3, 4 and two longitudinal
portions 5, 6. Said portions together form a grid 7 which has a
laterally closed grid opening 8. The portions 3 to 6 are arranged
in a manner similar to a double cross or a "diamond symbol". The
intersecting transverse portions 3, 4 and longitudinal portions 5,
6 each project laterally beyond each other by means of limbs 3a,
3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b. Further grid openings 9a to 9h lie
between said limbs 3a to 6b. Four corners 10a to 10d of the grass
paver 1, which has a square grid RQ in top view, are formed by in
each case two limbs 4a, 5a and 6a, 4b and 3b, 6b and 5b, 3a. In
each case two spacers 12, 13 for the interlocking with an adjacent
grass paver (not illustrated here) are arranged at lateral ends 11
of the transverse portions 3, 4 and longitudinal portions 5, 6. The
grass paver 1 has a grid width RB and a grid length RL, wherein
RB=RL for the grass paver 1 illustrated in FIG. 1a. The lateral
ends 11 of the transverse portions 3, 4 and longitudinal portions
5, 6 and the spacers 12, 13 arranged at said ends are arranged
point-symmetrically with respect to a center point M of the grass
paver 1. On a flat upper face 14, the grass paver 1 has four
notches 15 which provide the grass paver 1 with the appearance of
four individual blocks.
[0016] FIG. 1b illustrates a section through the grass paver 1
illustrated in FIG. 1a along the section line Ia-Ia shown in FIG.
1a. The transverse portion 3 which can be seen in the sectional
view and the longitudinal portion 5 which can be seen in the
sectional view have different heights H3 and H5, respectively. The
upper face 14 of the grass paver 1 is of planar or flat design. The
longitudinal portions 5 project by a distance D beyond the
transverse portions 3 with respect to an underside 17 of the grass
paver 1. Lower surfaces 18, 19 of the transverse portion 3 lie in
an upper contact plane 20, and lower surfaces 21, 22 of the
longitudinal portion 5 lie in a lower contact plane 23. A cross
section (illustrated in FIG. 1b) of the transverse portion 5 is
widened from the upper face 14 of the grass paver 1 to the upper
contact plane 20 and is reduced slightly again from the latter to
the lower contact plane 23. The longitudinal portions 5 and 6 both
have a tunnel T5 and T6 (also see FIG. 1a) through which irrigation
pipes and electric cables (not illustrated) can be guided.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a further grass paver 1 in a schematic
and perspective view. The lower surfaces 18, 19, 24 and 25 of
transverse portions 3, 4 of said grass paver have ribs 26 which are
designed as projections 27. Ribs 26 on lower surfaces 21, 22 of
longitudinal portions 5, 6 are designed as recesses 28. The lower
surfaces 18, 19, 24 and 25 of the transverse portions 3, 4 form an
upper contact plane 20 which is designed by means of the ribs 26 as
an upper shearing protection plane 30. Similarly, the lower
surfaces 21, 22 of the longitudinal portions 5, 6 form a lower
contact plane 23 which is designed by means of the ribs 26 as a
lower shearing protection plane 31. By means of the design of the
two contact planes 20, 23 as shearing protection planes 30, 31, the
individual grass pavers 1 can transmit even greater shearing loads
into the underlying surface. A rectangular grid RR of the grass
paver 1 is indicated by a dashed line. An underside 17 of the grass
paver 1 is formed by the lower surfaces 18, 19, 24, 25 and 21, 22
of the transverse portions 3, 4 and longitudinal portions 5, 6,
respectively, said lower surfaces lying at a different level.
[0018] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a third variant of a grass paver 1
according to the invention in side view and top view. The grass
paver 1 has two transverse portions 3, 4 and two longitudinal
portions 5, 6. The transverse portions 3, 4 run along wavy lines or
serpentine lines S3, S4. The longitudinal portions 5, 6 have a
rectilinear profile and are designed in a manner similar to
trapezoids in section and in the side view shown in FIG. 3a.
Furthermore, lower surfaces 21, 22 of the transverse portions 5, 6
each have a tunnel-like cutout T5, T6 provided for the laying of
electric lines or irrigation pipes. The transverse portions 3, 4
and longitudinal portions 5, 6 of the grass paver 1 have different
heights H3, H4 and H5, H6, respectively. The transverse portions 3,
4 and longitudinal portions 5, 6 form a flat upper face 14 of the
grass paver 1. The longitudinal portions 5, 6 project beyond the
transverse portions 3, 4 with respect to an underside 17 of the
grass paver 1. By this means, the underside 17 of the grass paver 1
has two contact planes 20 and 23 (see FIG. 3a). Said shearing
protection is particularly effective in a gravel bed and/or sand
bed and/or earth bed, since the grass paver 1 is supported on earth
layers lying at different levels. By this means, a gradual
smoothing of the underlying surface due to repeated movement of the
grass paver 1 caused by shearing forces is made more difficult.
[0019] FIG. 3c illustrates a paving arrangement 16 which is formed
from grass pavers 1 which all correspond to the grass paver shown
in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The grass pavers 1 are laid in a different
orientation within the paving arrangement 16. A grass paver 1
indicated by its shading is surrounded by eight grass pavers 101 to
108. Around the laterally closed grid opening 8 of the grass paver
1, further closed grid openings 9a to 9h are formed by the adjacent
grass pavers 101 to 108. In this case, the grid openings 9a, 9b,
9d, 9c, 9f and 9h are congruent to one another in top view.
Furthermore, the grid openings 9c and 9g are congruent to one
another. In FIG. 3c, the left nine grass pavers are laid in a cross
joint assembly KVB and the right nine grass pavers are laid in a
stretcher-type assembly LVB.
[0020] The invention is not restricted to exemplary embodiments
which are illustrated or described. On the contrary, it comprises
developments of the invention within the scope of the patent
claims. According to a variant embodiment (not illustrated), paving
stones which are designed as grass pavers are also provided with a
grid which is rectangular in top view, in which the grid length and
the grid width differ in size.
LIST OF DESIGNATIONS
[0021] 1 Grass paver [0022] 2 Body [0023] 3, 4 First, second
transverse portion [0024] 3a, 3b Limb of 3 [0025] 4a, 4b Limb of 4
[0026] 5, 6 First, second longitudinal portion [0027] 5a, 5b Limb
of 5 [0028] 6a, 6b Limb of 6 [0029] 7 Grid [0030] 8, 9a-9h Grid
opening [0031] 10a-10d Corner of 1 [0032] 11 Lateral ends of 3, 4,
5 and 6 [0033] 12, 13 Spacer at 11 [0034] 14 Upper face of 1 [0035]
15 Notch on 14 [0036] 16 Paving arrangement [0037] 17 Underside of
1 [0038] 18, 19 Lower surface of 3 and 4 [0039] 20 Upper contact
plane [0040] 21, 22 Lower surface of 5 and 6 [0041] 23 Lower
contact plane [0042] 24, 25 Lower surface of 3 and 4 [0043] 26 Rib
[0044] 27 Projection [0045] 28 Recess [0046] 30 Upper shearing
protection plane [0047] 31 Lower shearing protection plane [0048]
101-108 Grass paver adjacent to 1 [0049] D Distance between 20 and
23 [0050] H3-H6 Height of 3, 4, 5 and 6 [0051] KFV Cross joint,
cross joint assembly [0052] LVB Stretcher-type assembly [0053] M
Center point of 1 [0054] RB, RL, RQ Grid width of 1, grid length of
1, grid [0055] S3, S4 Serpentine line [0056] T5, T6 Cutout
* * * * *