GB1565504A - Paving - Google Patents

Description

t54) IMPROVED PAVING (71) We, S. MARSHALL & SONS LIMITED, of Southowram, Halifax, in the County of York, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to paving and more particularly to a paving block, a method of producing a pavement and a pavement produced by the method.

According to one aspect of this invention, a paving block formed of concrete comprises two or more parallel spaced-apart ribs and two or more parallel spaced-apart webs extending transversely to the ribs, which ribs and webs define a framework having one or more cavities in the central area thereof and one or more open-sided cavities on each side of the block, each cavity extending from an upper to a lower surface of the block, wherein the area of the cavities at the upper surface of the block is equal to or greater than the surface area of the ribs and webs at said upper surface and each cavity has a substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its depth.

Preferably, the sides of each of the cavities extend perpendicularly to the plane of the upper surface of the block. Preferably, also, the area of the cavities is between 50% and 60% of the area of the block. The paving block, preferably, consists of two parallel spaced-apart ribs and two parallel spaced apart webs extending transversely to the ribs.

Preferably, the ends of each rib and each web are substantially plane surfaces. Alternatively, each rib and each web of the block may be provided at one end with a projection and at the other end with a recess which is adapted to receive therein the projection on the end of a rib or a web of a similar block positioned in adjacent touching relationship thereto.

Preferably, the ribs and webs defining the framework are located in the same plane and extend perpendicularly or substantially per pendicularly to each other.

According to another aspect of this invention, a method of producing a pavement comprises laying two or more paving blocks according to said one aspect of the invention on a surface in touching relationship.

Preferably, two or more paving blocks are laid on a surface in touching relationship with the projections of the or each block in engagement with the associated recesses of the other blocks adjacent thereto. Preferably, also, the cavities in each block are filled with aggregate which is levelled off with the upper surface of the associated block. The aggregate is, preferably, soil which may be seeded with plant seeds such as grass seed.

According to a further aspect of this invention a pavement comprises two or more paving blocks in accordance with said one aspect of the invention which may be assembled together by the method according to said other aspect of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a paving block; and Figure 2 is a side view of the paving block.

Referring now to the drawings, a paving block indicated generally at 10 comprises two parallel spaced-apart ribs 12 and two parallel spaced-apart webs 14 which extend at right angles to the ribs 12. The ribs 12 and webs 14 are formed of concrete by a conventional moulding or pressing process. The moulding process can comprise inserting the concrete into a mould, vibrating the concrete, and after the concrete has curred the block is removed from the mould. The alternative pressing process can include hydraulically pressing the concrete using a conventional wet concrete process, a semi-dry concrete process, or a combination of both processes.

The ribs 12 and webs 14 together define a framework having a central cavity 16 and open sided cavities 18 along each side of the framework. Each rib 12 and each web 14 is provided at one end with a protrusion 20 of arcuate cross-section extending the full depth of the rib or web and is provided at the opposite end with a recess 22 of arcuate crosssection extending the full depth of the rib or web. Each recess 22 is adapted to receive therein a protrusion 20 of a similar block disposed in side-by-side relationship with the block 10 to interlock the blocks together.The surface area of the cavities 16 and 18 of each block 10 is arranged to be equal to or greater than the surface area of the ribs 12 and webs 14 of each block 10 and it is preferred that the surface area of the cavities is between 50% and 60 % of the surface area of the block.

A pavement, which term includes pavement areas, tree grills, paved embankments and similar construction, is formed by laying the paving blocks 10 in touching side-by-side relationship with the protrusions 20 and recesses 22 of adjacent blocks interlocked together. The cavities 16 and 18 are filled with any form of aggregate up to the level of the surface of the blocks 10. The aggregate may be different colours of gravel, or may be soil which is then seeded with plant seeds such as grass. The concrete forming the ribs 12 and webs 14 can also be coloured by the addition of conventional pigments to produce a block of a colour which blends with the background, such as, for example, green concrete where the cavities are seeded with grass.

In a modification, the ribs and webs of the block may be provided at their ends with other forms of suitable interlocking means such as, for example, a peg and hole arrangement or the like.

In a further modification, the recesses or projections in the ends of the ribs and webs of the concrete paving block are dispensed with and the ends of the ribs and webs are plane surfaces. When two or more blocks are assembled to form a paved area, the plane surfaces of the ends of the ribs and webs of one block are brought into touching relationship with the corresponding plane surfaces of the ends of the ribs and webs of the or each adjacent block.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A paving block formed of concrete comprising two or more parallel spacedapart ribs and two or more parallel spacedapart webs extending transversely to the ribs, which ribs and webs define a framework having one or more cavities in the central area thereof and one or more open-sided cavities on each side of the block, each cavity extending from an upper to a lower surface of the block, wherein the area of the cavities at the upper surface of the block is equal to or greater than the surface area of the ribs and webs at said upper surface and each cavity has a substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its depth.

2. A paving block according to Claim 1, wherein the sides of each of the cavities ex tend perpendicularly to the plane of the upper svrse òf the block.

3. A paving block according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the area of the cavities is between 50% and 60% of the area of the block.

4. A paving block according to any one of the preceding claims, consisting of two parallel spaced-apart ribs and two parallel spacedapart webs extending transversely to the ribs.

5. A paving block according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ends of each rib and each web are substantially plane surfaces.

6. A paving block according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each rib and each web of the block is provided at one end with a projection and at the other end with a recess which is adapted to receive therein the projection on the end of a rib or a web of a similar block positioned in adjacent touching relationship thereto.

7. A paving block according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ribs and webs defining the framework are located in the same plane and extend perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to each other.

8. A method of producing a pavement comprising laying two or more blocks according to any one of the preceding claims in touching relationship.

9. A method of producing a pavement according to Claim 8, comprising laying two or more paving blocks according to Claim 6 on a surface in touching relationship with the projection of the or each block in engagement with the associated recesses of the other blocks adjacent thereto.

10. A method of producing a pavement according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the cavities in each block are filled with aggregate which is levelled off with the upper surface of the associated block.

11. A method of producing a pavement according to Claim 10, wherein the aggregate is soil which is seeded with plant seeds such as grass seed.

12. A pavement comprising two or more paving blocks in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7 which are assembled together by the method according to any one of Claims 8 to 11.

13. A paving block constructed, and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of producing a pavement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.

15. A pavement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (15)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. web. Each recess 22 is adapted to receive therein a protrusion 20 of a similar block disposed in side-by-side relationship with the block 10 to interlock the blocks together. The surface area of the cavities 16 and 18 of each block 10 is arranged to be equal to or greater than the surface area of the ribs 12 and webs 14 of each block 10 and it is preferred that the surface area of the cavities is between 50% and 60 % of the surface area of the block. A pavement, which term includes pavement areas, tree grills, paved embankments and similar construction, is formed by laying the paving blocks 10 in touching side-by-side relationship with the protrusions 20 and recesses 22 of adjacent blocks interlocked together. The cavities 16 and 18 are filled with any form of aggregate up to the level of the surface of the blocks 10. The aggregate may be different colours of gravel, or may be soil which is then seeded with plant seeds such as grass. The concrete forming the ribs 12 and webs 14 can also be coloured by the addition of conventional pigments to produce a block of a colour which blends with the background, such as, for example, green concrete where the cavities are seeded with grass. In a modification, the ribs and webs of the block may be provided at their ends with other forms of suitable interlocking means such as, for example, a peg and hole arrangement or the like. In a further modification, the recesses or projections in the ends of the ribs and webs of the concrete paving block are dispensed with and the ends of the ribs and webs are plane surfaces. When two or more blocks are assembled to form a paved area, the plane surfaces of the ends of the ribs and webs of one block are brought into touching relationship with the corresponding plane surfaces of the ends of the ribs and webs of the or each adjacent block. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A paving block formed of concrete comprising two or more parallel spacedapart ribs and two or more parallel spacedapart webs extending transversely to the ribs, which ribs and webs define a framework having one or more cavities in the central area thereof and one or more open-sided cavities on each side of the block, each cavity extending from an upper to a lower surface of the block, wherein the area of the cavities at the upper surface of the block is equal to or greater than the surface area of the ribs and webs at said upper surface and each cavity has a substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout its depth.

2. A paving block according to Claim 1, wherein the sides of each of the cavities ex tend perpendicularly to the plane of the upper svrse òf the block.

3. A paving block according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the area of the cavities is between 50% and 60% of the area of the block.

4. A paving block according to any one of the preceding claims, consisting of two parallel spaced-apart ribs and two parallel spacedapart webs extending transversely to the ribs.

5. A paving block according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ends of each rib and each web are substantially plane surfaces.

6. A paving block according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each rib and each web of the block is provided at one end with a projection and at the other end with a recess which is adapted to receive therein the projection on the end of a rib or a web of a similar block positioned in adjacent touching relationship thereto.

7. A paving block according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ribs and webs defining the framework are located in the same plane and extend perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to each other.

8. A method of producing a pavement comprising laying two or more blocks according to any one of the preceding claims in touching relationship.

9. A method of producing a pavement according to Claim 8, comprising laying two or more paving blocks according to Claim 6 on a surface in touching relationship with the projection of the or each block in engagement with the associated recesses of the other blocks adjacent thereto.

10. A method of producing a pavement according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the cavities in each block are filled with aggregate which is levelled off with the upper surface of the associated block.

11. A method of producing a pavement according to Claim 10, wherein the aggregate is soil which is seeded with plant seeds such as grass seed.

12. A pavement comprising two or more paving blocks in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7 which are assembled together by the method according to any one of Claims 8 to 11.

13. A paving block constructed, and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of producing a pavement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.

15. A pavement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.