AU2015101211A4 - Garden Edging - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Garden edging is formed from facing pieces, connected to pegs. The facing pieces have a double-folded upper rim which forms a lip into which pegs can connect. The lip is notched regularly along its length to allow for curving of the edging. Fig. 1

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention title: "GARDEN EDGING" Applicant: STRAIGHTCURVE PTY LTD Associated provisional applications: The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "GARDEN EDGING" Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to garden edging provided in a modular fashion Background to the Invention [0002] Modular garden edging generally has two components: a facing piece and at least one peg for fixing the facing piece into the ground. Facing pieces may have side edges which are complementary in shape, such that lengths of garden edging can be created by joining a number of facing pieces together edge-to-edge. [0003] Frequently, the joining of edges requires specialist tools and expertise. [0004] A typical method of installation requires a trench to be dug in which the garden edging is to be located. As the garden edging rests on the base of this trench during the installation process, any variability in the depth of the trench results in an uneven finish to the top of the garden edging. [0005] The modular nature of existing garden edging typically requires facing pieces to be installed sequentially. This means that earlier facing pieces must be fixed into position before later pieces are added. Adjustment of a multiple-piece length of garden edging is frequently difficult or impossible. [0006] Frequently, known garden edging of this type has dedicated slots into which securing pegs must be located. When a peg cannot be located in a particular position (for instance, due to rocks or pipes under the surface), that part of the edging must remain unsecured. [0007] Facing pieces are typically rigid and rectangular, to assist in providing a straight edge. Where a curve is required, this is generally 3 achieved by manually bending individual pieces as they are placed.. Alternatively, genuine curves can be created by moulding facing pieces in a suitable shape (typically when the garden edging is plastic), or pre-bending metal garden edging to create curves. [0008] The present invention seeks to create a form of garden edging which ameliorates some of the problems of known modular garden edging. Summary of the Invention [0009] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided garden edging having facing pieces and pegs; each facing piece having an upper rim, the facing piece being bent at the upper rim by an obtuse angle to form a rear lip, the lip including a peg engaging portion; each peg having a lower ground-penetrating end and an upper end, the upper end including a lip engaging portion; wherein the peg can be located into the ground, and the facing piece attached to the peg by means of engagement between the peg engaging portion of the lip and the lip engaging portion of the peg. [0010] It is preferred that the facing piece is bent twice to form the rear lip, each bend being by an obtuse angle or a reflex angle, such that the rear lip has an outer face oriented away from a main portion of the facing piece and an inner ridge located between the outer face and the main portion of the facing piece, the outer face extending between two bends and the inner ridge extending between a second of the two bends and an upper edge of the facing piece. In this way the inner ridge serves as the peg engaging portion. [0011] It is preferred that the lip engaging portion of the peg is formed by a flap cut into the peg, the flap having an upper edge joined to the peg and a lower edge free from the peg, the flap being bent relative to the peg at an acute angle.

4 [0012] The peg may be trapezoidal in shape, with a straight upper edge arranged to be parallel, in use, to the upper rim of the facing piece. [0013] Each facing piece may have open side edges arranged to engage with complementary shaped connecting plates. [0014] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for installing garden edging, the method including the steps of: providing pegs, each peg having a lower ground-penetrating end and an upper end, the upper end including a lip engaging portion; inserting the ground-penetrating ends of the pegs into desired locations in the ground to mark out a garden edge; providing face engaging pieces, each facing piece having an upper rim, the facing piece being bent at the upper rim by an obtuse angle to form a rear lip, the lip including a peg engaging portion; connecting face engaging pieces side-to-side to form an elongate section of garden edging; mounting the connected face engaging pieces on the pegs such that the peg engaging portions of the lips engage with the lip engaging portions of the leg; and driving each peg further into the ground as desired in order to set the height of the garden edging. [0015] Advantageously, this allows for the bending of the elongate section of garden edging to form a natural curve. Also advantageously, this allows for easy levelling of the height of the finished garden edging, as well as placement of pegs away from impediments such as below-ground pipes. Brief Description of the Drawings [0016] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not 5 to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: [0017] Figure 1 is a rear perspective of garden edging formed in accordance with the present invention; [0018] Figure 2 is a side view of a facing piece from within the garden edging of Figure 1; [0019] Figure 3 is a side view of a peg from within the garden edging of Figure 1; and [0020] Figure 4 is a rear perspective of the peg of Figure 3. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [0021] Referring to the Figures, there can be seen a section of garden edging 10 formed from facing pieces 12 and pegs 14. Although Figure 1 shows a single facing piece 12 and peg 14, it will be appreciated that the garden edging can extend to a required length by the addition of further facing pieces 12 and pegs 14. [0022] Each facing piece 12 is elongate, and is generally planar rectangular in shape. It has a lower edge 16, two side edges 18 and an upper rim 20. Each facing piece 12 has a main portion 21 having a front face 22 and a rear face 24. [0023] It is envisaged that the facing pieces 12 are formed from a corrosion-resistant metal, such as galvanised steel. [0024] Each facing piece 12 is bent twice at the upper rim 20: a first bend 26 of about 1650 to form an outer face 28 of a rear lip 30 facing away from the rear face 24; and a second bend 32 of about 1950 to form an inner ridge 34 of the rear lip 30. The inner ridge 34 is positioned between the outer face 28 and the rear face 24, and extends between the second bend 32 and an 6 upper edge 36. It will be appreciated that the upper edge 36 is the upper edge of the facing piece 12 before it is bent to form the upper rim 20. [0025] The upper edge 36 is thus located within the rear lip 30, and thus even if sharp does not present a hazard. [0026] A recess 38 between the inner ridge 34 and the outer face 28 acts as a peg engaging portion. [0027] The rear lip 30 includes notches 39 spaced along its length. The notches 39 are perpendicular to the upper rim 20. The presence of the notches 39 acts to significantly decrease the stiffness of the facing piece 12 in its elongate direction. [0028] A peg 14 can be seen in more detail in Figures 3 and 4. The peg 14 is formed from the same metal as the facing member 12. The peg 14 is generally planar, and trapezoidal in shape, with an upper edge 40 parallel to a much shorter lower edge 42, and two side walls 44 tapering inwardly toward the lower edge 42. The peg 14 thus has a lower end 46 which is arranged to penetrate the ground, and an upper end 48 which is arranged to support a facing member 12. [0029] The peg 14 has a front face 50 and a rear face 52. [0030] The peg 14 has a flap 54 located in the upper end 48, towards the upper edge 40. The flap 54 is formed by a rectangular piece of the peg 14 which has been cut out around three sides of the flap 54, leaving an upper edge 56 of the flap joined to the peg 14. The upper edge 56 is parallel to the upper edge 40. [0031] The flap 54 is bent outwards of the rear face 52 by about 150. This leaves a lower edge 58 of the flap spaced from the rear face 52. [0032] The garden edging 10 can be installed along a desired garden edge by inserting pegs 14 into the ground at regular intervals along the edge. The 7 pegs 14 need only be inserted a short distance at this stage. If the desired location for a peg 14 proves unsuitable, it can be merely moved along the edge to the closest suitable location. [0033] The required length of garden edge can then be assembled by joining sufficient numbers of facing pieces 12 edge-to-edge, using connecting pieces 60 as shown in Figure 1. Connecting pieces 60 are arranged to locate beneath the lip 30 of a facing piece 12, protruding from the side edge 18. A second facing piece 12 can then be slid into position alongside the first facing piece 12. [0034] Each connecting piece 60 is formed with pre-drilled holes 62 arranged to align with complementary holes along the side edge 18, allowing for attachment of connecting pieces 60 to facing pieces 12 using connectors such as bolts or tek-screws. [0035] It will be appreciated that a sufficiently long, elongate length of garden edge can thus be formed. This piece is rigid in its short dimension (that is, between lower edge 16 and upper rim 20), but relatively flexible along its elongate dimension due to the notches 39. In this way, the garden edging can be readily curved to follow a curved edge formed by the pegs 14. [0036] The facing pieces 12 are then connected to the pegs 14 such that the rear face 24 of the facing edges 12 abuts the front face 50 of the pegs 14. The facing pieces 12 may be slid downwards along the front face 50 of the pegs 14 until inner ridge 34 of the rear lip 30 passes over the flap 54. [0037] The flap 54 will flex inwardly as this happens, and then spring back to position (with a 'click') when clear of the inner ridge 34. This will allow the lower edge 58 of the flap 54 to locate within the recess 38. [0038] The pegs 14 can then be driven into the ground a desired depth in order to provide the garden edging 10 at a desired height.

8 [0039] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. Garden edging having facing pieces and pegs; each facing piece having an upper rim, the facing piece being bent at the upper rim by an obtuse angle to form a rear lip, the lip including a peg engaging portion; each peg having a lower ground-penetrating end and an upper end, the upper end including a lip engaging portion; wherein the peg can be located into the ground, and the facing piece attached to the peg by means of engagement between the peg engaging portion of the lip and the lip engaging portion of the peg.

2. Garden edging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the facing piece is bent twice to form the rear lip, each bend being by an obtuse angle or a reflex angle, such that the rear lip has an outer face oriented away from a main portion of the facing piece and an inner ridge located between the outer face and the main portion of the facing piece, the outer face extending between two bends and the inner ridge extending between a second of the two bends and an upper edge of the facing piece.

3. A facing piece for garden edging as claimed in any preceding claim.

4. A peg for garden edging as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2.

5. A method for installing garden edging, the method including the steps of: providing pegs, each peg having a lower ground-penetrating end and an upper end, the upper end including a lip engaging portion; inserting the ground-penetrating ends of the pegs into desired locations in the ground to mark out a garden edge; providing face engaging pieces, each facing piece having an upper rim, the facing piece being bent at the upper rim by an obtuse angle to form a rear lip, the lip including a peg engaging portion; connecting face engaging pieces side-to-side to form an elongate section of garden edging; 10 mounting the connected face engaging pieces on the pegs such that the peg engaging portions of the lips engage with the lip engaging portions of the leg; and driving each peg further into the ground as desired in order to set the height of the garden edging. STRAIGHTCURVE PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP P2168AU00