AU617309B2 - Improvements in garden edging strips - Google Patents

Description

PETER TURKO.

COWIE, THOMSON CARTER Patent Attorneys 71 Queens Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia

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(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. C: Application Number: Lodged: 0 :9omplete Specification-Lodged: 0 0 Accepted: Lapsed: *r 4 441 4 00P1 P'riorliy: Published: 404*04 t I Related Art: Name of Applicant: Address df Applicant: Actual Inventor: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT PETER TURKO, of 3 Coorong Court, Wantirna, Victoria 3152, Australia.

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iil8 i 3 d AS ABOVE Care of: Address for Service: COWIE, THOMSON CARTER, Patent Attorneys, 71 Queens Road, Melbourne, Vic.., 3004, Australia.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS IN GARDEN EDGING STRIPS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to -1- Note: The description is to be typed in double spacing, pica type face, in an area not exceeding 250 mm in depth and 160 mm in width, on tough white paper of good quality and it is to be inserteO, inside this form.

B~A1T 14599/78-LL Printed by C.J. THOMPSON, Commonwealth Govcrnment Printer, Canbcrra ITThis invention relates to a ga2-e edigutip and relates pariularly to an improved construction of garden edging strip suitable for retaining earth or the like around a garden or for use as a lawn edging, drive or path edging, decorative edging, or as edging or formwork for concrete, bitumen, crushed rock or any other type of surfacing material.

Garden and lawn edging is commonly formed of concrete strips, bricks, timber strips, tiles or other relatively rigid material. While such edging is relatively straight forward and easy to use and acts as a solid, separating medium between for example, a garden bed and lawn, its use is relatively simple and does not easily lend itself to taking up free-form shapes or the like. Further, the aesthetic appearance of such edging can detract from the appearance of the garden as a whole.

Other forms of edging material have been proposed which include a plurality of relatively rigid edge members interconnected so as to form a somewhat interconnected by wire or the like. Such form of edging is relatively expensive to produce and is limited in its applications, being unsuited for formwork and the like.

It is ck'sirable to provide an improved form of garden edging which is extremely versatile in use, is simple and relatively cheap to manufacture, and is easy to locate in place.

It is also desirable to provide an improved garden edging which has a relatively long life span and which is sufficiently flexible or adaptable as to be able to be used to edge any appropriate shape including mounds and depressions.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a garden edging or formwork system to retain a surfacing material, said system comprising a continuous, elongated strip of synthetic plastics material and anchor means to secure the strip to the ground in a desired position, the strip having a trainsverse upper edge portion with two spaced skirt parts extending downwardly from the upper edge portion, the upper edge portion having a vertical thickness substantially greater than the combined maximum transverse thicknesses of the skirt parts, the upper edge portion having a plurality of spaced receptor holes passing downwardly through the upper edge portion from a top surface thereof to communicate with the space defined between the skirt parts, said anchor means comprising a plurality of elongated, removable groundengaging support means each having a transverse dimension to be closely received in a said receptor hole and a longitudinal dimension such that the support means extends downwardly from the upper edge portion to pass between, and be substantially hidden by, the skirt parts to engage with the ground thereby supporting the strip with the upper edge portion uppermost so that at least one of the skirt parts presents a surface material retaining surface.

In one form of the invention, the upper edge portion is provided with a plurality of spaced, downwardly extending holes to receive spikes for securing the edging to the ground.

The two downwardly extending skirt parts of the edging may be of equal or different heights. With the arrangement of the invention, the ground engaging support means will be concealed between two skirt parts which, in use, will have their lower portion buried in or engaged with the ground.

A twin skirt edging has sufficient rigidity and mass to maintain its linear *41 shape in use but contains less material than would otherwise be required for a single skirt edging having similar edging characteristics and rigidity. Thus, a twin skirt edging will be more economical of material.

4 According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing garden edging or formwork to retain a surfacing material comprising anchoring to the ground an elongated continuous strip of synthetic plastics material St, Vwherein the strip has a transverse upper edge portion with two spaced skirt parts extending downwardly from the upper edge portion, the upper edge portion having a vertical thickness substantially greater than the combined maximum transverse thicknesses of the skirt parts, the upper edge portion having a plurality of spaced receptor holes passing downwardly through the upper edge portion from a top surface thereof to communicate with the space defined between the skirt parts, the strip being anchored to the ground by a plurality of removable ground-engaging means in a position with the upper edge portion uppermost and the skirt parts extending downwardly to the ground so that at least one of the skirt parts provides a surfacing material retaining strip, each removable ground-engaging support means being received in a respective receptor hole and having a portion engageable with the upper -3Aedge portion and an elongate body portion extending downwardly through the hole in the edge portion passing between, and being substantially hidden by, the skirt parts to engage with the ground.

In order that the invention will be more readily understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an edging in accordance with the embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the edging of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the edging of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the edging with a securing spike; and Figure 5 is a view illustrating the manner in which the edging of the invention can be used to follow curves.

Referring to the drawings the edging of the invention comprises an S 15 elongated, continuous strip of synthetic plastic material having an upper edge portion 0 12 with downwardly depending spaced skirt parts 14 and 16. The strip of the invention is preferably formed by extrusion and may be made from a linear, low density iL a w o: 0 polyethylene or any other suitable synthetic plastic material. If desired, the material may include additives to reduce ultraviolet, bacteriological and/or micro-organism degradation. Alternatively, the edging may be painted or otherwise coated to increase the life of the material both above and in the ground. The edging, or any coating thereon, may be of any desired colour or colour combination and may even be luminescent for decorative and/or highlighting use. Fluorescent plastics materials may also be used if desired for use in association with decorative lighting, black lights or the like.

In the preferred form, the extruded plastics material is of relatively simple shape having substantially planar, prallel outer surfaces of the upper edge portion 12 and skirt parts 14 and i6. The cross-sectional shape of the edging is more clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4.

While the skirt parts 14 and 16 are shown as tapering downwardly to an edge r 17 at their lowermost points, it will be appreciated that the skirt parts 14 and 16 may S i15' be of any suitable cross-sectional shape commensurate with use of the edging. Thus, the skirt parts 14 and 16 may be of constant thickness or may be formed with longitudinally and/or transversely extending ribs, ridges, grooves or other formations I for decorative and/or strengthening purposes. Thus, a longitudinally extending rib I may provide additional stiffness to the skirt parts 14 and 16 adjacent their lower edge 17. Similarly, the skirt parts 14 and 16 may be formed with transversely extending ribs or the like to resist transverse deformation of the skirt parts 14, 16.

i The upper edge portion 12 of the edging is provided with spaced, downwardly extending holes 18 each having a recessed upper end 19 and opening into the space between the skirts. The holes 18 receive elongated, headed spikes 21 used to fasten the edging in position in the ground. Although the spikce 21 illustrated in Figure 4 is of relatively simple construction comprising a narrow, elongate body with a wider head 22 at one end, it will be appreciated that such spikes may be formed with barbs, ribs or the like to assist retention of the spikes in the ground. If desired, securing plates, washers or the like may be engaged on the spikes 21 adjacent their lower end -4-

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Each hole 18 and its recessed upper end 19 define a shoulder which engages with the head 22 of a respective spike 21 to support the spike in the hole. This engagement between the shoulder and the head of the spike acts to restrain, upward movement of the strip relative to the spikes when they are engaged in the ground.

The head 22 of each spike 21 is contained within the recessed end 19 of the respective hole 18 and does not, therefore, project above the upper edge of the upper portion 12.

i As shown in Figure 5, the edging of the present invention may be used to ot define any desired shape including mounds and depressions in the ground. In order Sthat the edging can be curved to fit within a depression, the skirt parts 14, 16 are slit transversely as shown at 23. When the edging is formed into the shape of the S: depression, the slits 23 open to enable the skirt parts 14, 16 to assume the shape of Sf the depression.

Similarly, when the edging is to be used over a mound, the skirt parts 14 and 16 are cut and, preferably, a portion removed to allow the skirt parts 14, 16 to assume the shape of the mound. In another form, the skirt parts 14, 16 may be cut and the edges of the cuts overlapped to enable the skirt parts to take up the appropriate shape.

Naturally, the edging may be used around curved paths, garden beds or the like by simply bending the flexible material in the horizontal plane.

As the edging material of the present invention is much more flexible than timber or other relatively rigid formwork, it is far more versatile in use and can be used to provide an edging for gardens and the like of almost any desired shape.

Further, because of the relatively long life of the synthetic plastic material from which the edging is formed, it will not rot or deteriorate when buried in the ground. Being lighter than timber and other forms of edging, it is also easier to handle and to

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-6lifted and re-used.

While the preferred form of the invention incorporates a pair of spaced skirt parts 14, 16, it will be appreciated that the edging may be formed with more than two skirts.

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Claims (9)

1. A garden edging or formwork system to retain a surfacing material, said system comprising a continuous, elongated strip of synthetic plastics material and anchor means to secure the strip to the ground in a desired position, the strip having a transverse upper edge portion with two spaced skirt parts extending downwardly from the upper edge portion, the upper edge portion having a i vertical thickness substantially greater than the combined maximum transverse Sthicknesses of the skirt parts, the upper edge portion having a plurality of spaced receptor holes passing downwardly through the upper edge portion from a top surface thereof to communicate with the space defined between the skirt parts, said anchor means comprising a plurality of elongated, removable ground- engaging support means each having a transverse dimension to be closely received in a said receptor hole and a longitudinal dimension such tha? the support means extends downwardly from the upper edge portion to pass between, and be substantially hidden by, the skirt parts to engage with the ground thereby supporting the strip with the S upper edge portion uppermost so that at least one of the skirt parts presents a surface material retaining surface.

2. A garden edging or formwork system according to claim 1 wherein each support means comprises a spike receivable in a respective one of the holes in the upper edge portion.

3. A garden edging or formwork system according to claim 2 wherein the or each spike comprises a narrow elongate body with a wider head at one end, and the or each hole in the upper edge portion of the strip has a wider, head-receiving portion above a narrower, body-receiving portion defining a shoulder engageable with the head of the spike when it is received in a respective hole so as to restrain upward I~i movement of the strip relative to the spike when the spike is engaged in the ground.

4. A garden edging or formwork system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the skirt parts, in cross-section, taper from a relatively thick upper part to a relatively thin lower edge.

5. A garden edging or formwork system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer surfaces of the two skirt parts extending downwardly from the upper edge portion are planar and substantially parallel. IU, -o 0~ m i 1. I

6. A garden edging or formwork system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a number of transverse slits or cuts are provided in the skirt parts.

7. A method of providing garden edging or formwork to retain a surfacing material comprising anchoring to the ground an elongated continuous strip of synthetic plastics material wherein the strip has a transverse upper edge portion with two spaced skirt parts extending downwardly from the upper edge portion, the upper edge portion having a vertical thickness substantially greater than the combined maximum transverse thicknesses of the skirt parts, the upper edge portion having a plurality of spaced receptor holes passing downwardly through the upper edge portion from a top i 10 surface thereof to communicate with the space defined between the skirt parts, the strip being anchored to the ground by a plurality of removable ground-engaging means in a position with the upper edge portion uppermost and the skirt parts extending downwardly to the ground so that at least one of the skirt parts provides a surfacing material retaining strip, each removable ground-engaging support means being S 15 received in a respective receptor hole and having a portion engageable with the upper edge portion and an elongate body portion extending downwardly through the hole in the edge portion passing between, and being substantially hidden by, the skirt parts to engage with the ground.

8. A garden edging or a formwork system to retain a surfacing material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of providing garden edging or formwork to retain a surfacing material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 18th day of September, 1991. PETER TURKO CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Qantas House, 2 Railway Parade, Camberwell, Victoria 3124 Australia. i_ i