GB2246799A

GB2246799A - Block/slab suitable for paving

Info

Publication number: GB2246799A
Application number: GB9017340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allan John Dowson; Sally Elizabeth Marshall
Original assignee: Marshalls Mono Ltd
Current assignee: Marshalls Mono Ltd
Priority date: 1990-08-08
Filing date: 1990-08-08
Publication date: 1992-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-08
Also published as: GB9017340D0; GB2246799B

Abstract

A block, slab or other component 11 is formed from settable material, such as concrete. The material 11 has incorporated therein at least one region 10 formed from an already set material, or a material which is otherwise visually different. The invention provides, for example, a paving slab having markings thereon, the life of the markings being as long as that of the life of the paving slab itself. <IMAGE>

Description

BLOCKS, SLABS AND OTHER COMPONENTS The invention relates to blocks, slabs and other components formed from settable material. The invention is concerned particularly, though not exclusively, with concrete.

It is often desirable to be able to provide markings on blocks, slabs and like components, for example constructed from concrete, and one known use for such markings is to provide lines marking out parking areas within a car park. Until now, it has been necessary to paint such markings on the concrete, but the markings wear away in due course, and have to be replaced.

The invention provides a block, slab or other component formed from a settable material, the said settable material having incorporated therein at least one region formed from an already set material, or a material which is otherwise visually different.

The settable material may be concrete, and the already set material may also be concrete.

A third material may be interposed between the settable material, and the already set material.

The already set material may be provided with a surround.

The surround may be of plastics material.

The third material may comprise glue, adhesive or the like to provide adhesion between the first and second materials and/or accommodate any shrinkage.

The visually different material may differ in colour.

Alternatively, or in addition, the visually different material may differ in texture.

The settable material may comprise concrete which is initially formed as a very wet mixture, is then hydraulically pressed, and is de-watered under pressure.

Preferably a surface of the component receives a finishing process which enhances the visual distinction between the two materials.

The finishing process may comprise polishing or shot blasting.

The component may comprise a paving slab.

By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of paving slab according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of paving slab according to the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through a third embodiment of paving slab according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through a fourth embodiment of paving slab according to the invention.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a star shaped plug 10 is initially cast from concrete. This star shaped plug is then incorporated in a paving slab 11 by moulding wet concrete around the already set plug 10.

The wet concrete is initially formed as a very wet mixture, is then hydraulically pressed into slab form, around the plug 10, is then de-watered under pressure, and is allowed to set.

The paving slab according to the invention can be used for decorative purposes or to provide information or demarkation zones. A plurality of the paving slabs may for example be used to mark the boundaries of a local borough, or county boundaries.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment in which the slab 11 is cast around a plurality of cylindrical plugs 12 to provide a direction arrow.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, there is a pre-cast cylindrical plug 13 surrounded by subsequently cast concrete 14, but there is a plastics surround 15 between the two materials.

The surround 15 may be formed from other material, and it may for example comprise glue or adhesive to increase the bond between the two materials, and/or accommodate any shrinkage.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, there are two separate regions of settable material, namely a central region 16 and the surrounding region 17. The regions are both cast at the same time, but the region 16 is visually distinct. It may for example have a different colour or a different texture.

Each of the embodiments shown in the Figures provides a paving slab in which the relevant marking has a life which is as long as that of the paving slab itself, since the marking extends right through the body of the paving slab.

If desired, the exposed surface of the slab may receive a finishing treatment, for example by shot blasting or polishing, to enhance the quality of the surface and emphasise the visual distinctiveness between the two regions.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A block, slab or other component formed from a settable material, the said settable material having incorporated therein at least one region formed from an already set material, or a material which is otherwise visually different.

2. A component as claimed in Claim 1, in which the settable material is concrete, and the already set material is also concrete.

3. A component as claimed in Claim 3, in which a third material is interposed between the settable material and the already set material.

4. A component as claimed in Claim 3, in which the already set material is provided with a surround.

5. A component as claimed in Claim 4, in which the surround is of plastics material.

6. A component as claimed in Claim 3, in which the third material comprises glue, adhesive or the like, to provide adhesion between the first and second materials and/or accommodate any shrinkage.

7. A component as claimed in Claim 1, in which the visually different material differs in colour.

8. A component as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 7, in which the visually different material differs in texture.

9. A component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the settable material comprises concrete which is initially formed as a very wet mixture, is then hydraulically pressed, and is dewatered under pressure.

10. A component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which a surface of the component receives a finishing process which enhances the visual distinction between the two materials.

11. A component as claimed in Claim 10, in which the finishing process comprises polishing.

12. A component as claimed in Claim 10, in which the finishing process comprises shot blasting.

13. A component as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims comprising a paving slab.

14. A block, slab or other component constructed and arranged substantially as herein, with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.