AU736655B2

AU736655B2 - A paver

Info

Publication number: AU736655B2
Application number: AU76174/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Glenn Scott Fuller; Marc Anthony Mearing; Glenn Whiteford
Original assignee: Rocla Pty Ltd
Current assignee: C&M Masonry Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-07-17
Filing date: 1998-07-15
Publication date: 2001-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-15
Also published as: AU7617498A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including Invention Title: Applicant: I A PAVER ~OCLA LIMITED the best method of performing it known to me:

C:IWNVVORDSHARONIANDREWGENERAUIPCTFORMS.DOC

A PAVER The present invention relates to a paving unit, which is alternatively known as a paving block or tile, for paving outdoor areas. For simplicity, the paving unit, block or tile will hereinafter be referred to as a "paver".

Pavers for outdoor areas are well known and these can take various shapes and forms. For example, pavers are often square or rectangular, or alternatively, they are often shaped so as to nest with one another. Such known pavers are normally laid on a bed of sand or an open coarse gravel bed and this material also fills the gap between adjacent pavers. This arrangement provides a stable supporting bed for the pavers and also allows a limited flexibility between pavers which is advantageous in supporting a load.

There is a substantial requirement given the nature of paved areas for them to have an overall aesthetically pleasing appearance. For that reason, pavers are often manufactured in shapes which promote such appearance and often pavers of 0:..0i 15 different colours, and sometimes different surface textures, are laid together to provide a paved area having a patterned appearance which adds to the aesthetic '000 quality of the paved area.

One difficulty with known pavers is that surface water, such as rain water or water from sprinkler systems, will collect on the upper surface of the paved area if 20 facility is not provided for drainage of that water. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a paver which includes such facility suitable for drainage of surface water.

It is a further aim of the invention to provide a paver which includes a °ooE* recess, which enables the formulation of a paved surface having a pattern of drainage cavities in the surface of the paved area.

In a first aspect the present invention provides a paver including a top surface and a bottom surface and a peripheral wall extending between said top and bottom surfaces; the paver being of generally star-shaped configuration having three extending portions, the peripheral wall of each extending portion including opposite side walls and a pair of mutually inclined end walls that converge from a ,3 respective one of said side walls; at least one of said extending portions including a SERVERDOCUMENT\LWR\Iwrdonotdelete~m4988 amended 9 Ocober 200a.doc%09o10/o recess disposed between the end walls, the recess interrupting the peripheral wall and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface; and each side wall of the extending portions being inclined relative to, and merging with, the side wall of an adjacent extending portion to form an insert portion between adjacent extending portions; wherein the paver is configured such that each extending portion will interlock with an insert portion of a like shaped paver laid adjacent thereto with the end walls of the extending portions being in abutting relationship along their entire length with respective ones of the side walls defining the insert portions of a the like paver, and the recess of the at least one extending portion defining a liquid drainage channel between that extending portion and the insert portion to which it is interlocked.

In a preferred form, the recess includes a pair of planar surfaces that converge from respective ones of the end walls of the at least one extending portion.

15 In a particularly preferred form, the angle between the planar surfaces is substantially the same as the angle between the side walls defining the respective insert portions.

In a preferred form, the end walls of the other extending portions not including a the recess merge together to form an outer edge of the paver.

20 In a particularly preferred form, the paver is formed of three uniformly dimensioned hexagonal bodies unitarily formed so that two contiguous sides of each hexagonal body merge with a side of one of the other two hexagonal bodies, each of the hexagonal bodies having a hexagonal top surface, a bottom surface, .and four peripheral side walls extending between the top and bottom surfaces which form the peripheral wall of a respective one of the extending portions; and wherein the recess interrupts two of the four side walls of one of the hexagonal bodies.

In a preferred form, each hexagonal top surface is formed with a bevelled edge which extends thereabout to result in a recessed three pointed channel-like structure which is formed in the top of the paver and which extends between and separates each of the hexagonal top surfaces.

\\SER R\DOCUMENT\WR donodele 98 amended 9 Ocober 2000.do1/01/00 In a second aspect the present invention provides a paved area including a plurality of uniformly shaped pavers, each of the pavers having a star-shaped configuration formed of three uniformly dimensioned hexagonal bodies unitarily formed so that two contiguous sides of each hexagonal body merge with a side of one of the other two hexagonal bodies, each of the hexagonal bodies having a hexagonal top surface, a bottom surface and four peripheral side walls extending between the top and bottom surfaces; and a recess interrupting two of the four side walls of one of the hexagonal bodies, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the recess being provided to cooperate with two peripheral side walls of an identically shaped paver laid adjacent thereto, to define a liquid drainage cavity therebetween, and wherein each of the pavers being disposed so that two side walls of each paver contact two side walls of an adjacent paver and so that each drainage cavity communicates with one end of a three pointed channel-like structure.

.l 15 In a preferred form, each the hexagonal top surface is formed with a bevelled edge which extends thereabout to result in a recessed three pointed channel-like structure which is formed in the top of the paver and which extends between and separates each of the hexagonal top surfaces.

In a particularly preferred form, the recess on each paver has a pair of planar surfaces that converge from each of the two side walls that it interrupts and which planar surfaces form a wedge shape.

*In a preferred form, the planar surfaces are angled with respect to one another at substantially the same angle as defined between any two contiguous OeO walls of the three hexagonally shaped bodies.

The problem of dispersing surface water on paved areas has been overcome in some instances in the past, by constructing the paved ares on an incline so that surface water flows towards a designated area. This area for example, may be a drainage outlet or gutter. The need for inclination however, complicates the construction of the paved area and is therefore undesirable. This need for inclination may be advantageously avoided with the use of pavers according to the present invention, because in a paved area formed of these \\SERVER\DOCMENLWR\IwrdonotdeleteJm498OOO amended 9 Odober 2OOO.docl1I/10100 4A pavers, the drainage facility can be provided throughout the paved area itself. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the drainage cavities are uniformly provided throughout the paved area with adjacent drainage cavities being formed not more than 200 mm apart so as to facilitate good drainage across the entire paved area and to minimise puddling. Most preferably, adjacent drainage cavities are no more than 140 mm apart.

Sl ••o i ooD i o oooi i •4oi In order to assist in arriving at an understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the attached drawings. However, it should be understood that the following description is illustrative only and should not taken in any way as a restriction on the generality of the invention as described above.

Referring to Figure 1, a paver according to the invention is shown. The paver includes a top surface 11 which is the surface which will be exposed when the paver is laid.

The bottom surface 12 is the surface which is laid on the supporting surface which supports the paver. Both of these surfaces are planar and are substantially parallel to one another. A peripheral side wall 13 extends substantially perpendicular between the upper and lower surfaces 11 and 12 and defines the peripheral edge of the paver The paver 10 is star-shaped, being formed of 3 hexagonal bodies A, B and C which are integrally joined. The paver 10 could be made of any suitable material, such as concrete or ceramic and may be manufactured by any suitable process such as moulding.

The side wall of the paver 10 is interrupted in extending portion 21 by a recess 14 15 which extends inwardly of the wall 13. The recess has side faces 15 and 16 which converge to an apex 17 at an angle oa. In the embodiment illustrated, the recess is provided in the hexagonal body A. The recess 14 extends the full height of the side wall 13 and extends •through the upper and lower surfaces 11 and 12. The paver has inset portions 22, 23 and 24.

Figure 2 illustrates a paved area 18 which includes a plurality of the pavers shown in 20 Figure 1 and nested together. It can be seen from this figure that the recesses provided in the pavers 10 cooperate with the two parts of the side wall of the inset portion 22 of an adjacent paver to form a regular cavity 19 which extends from the upper or exposed surface of the S"paved area 18 to the lower surface which rests against a supporting surface. This is typically a bed of sand or an open coarse gravel bed. The cavities 19 allow drainage of surface water from the upper surface of the paved area to the supporting surface, where it is likely to be absorbed or drained away. The recess 14 lies adjacent the side wall 13 of an adjoining paver and the position of the recess 14 relative to an adjacent paver is always the same. Thus, a regular pattern is formed by the recesses and in Figure 2, this is seen as a plurality of diagonally disposed recesses. In the embodiment shown adjacent cavities 19 are approximately 130 mm apart.

SC C:\WINWORD\SHARONANDREWINODELETEPAVER.DOC -6- The drainage cavities 19 advantageously can be filled with gravel or an alternative suitable material, so that they do not become filled with refuse that renders them blocked and restricts or prevents drainage therethrough.

As is apparent from Figure 2, the cavities 19 are formed as parallelograms by virtue of the recess 14 being positioned to lie at the junction of adjacent hexagons that form the paver This configuration contributes to the aesthetic appeal of the pattern which is formed when the pavers are laid.

The paver 10 as illustrated, not only facilitates the provision of drainage cavities 19 in a paved area, but the cavities 19 are provided in a manner which is of high aesthetic quality, such that the provision of the cavities does not detract from the overall appearance of the paved area.

It is to be noted that the provision of the cavities 19 does not prevent the application of "other pattern or ornamentation to the upper surface 11 of the paver 10 and as shown in Figure 1, the paver 10 includes a simple bevelled edge 20 extending about the upper peripheral edge of the paver. The bevel could also be applied to the upper edges of the side faces 15 and 16 of the recess 14 if desired.

S-Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be many variations and modifications of the configuration described herein which are within the scope of the present invention.

.•oooo 0o SC C:WMNWORDSARONMANDREWVODELETEWPAVER.DOC

Claims

1. A paver including a top surface and a bottom surface and a peripheral wall extending between said top and bottom surfaces; the paver being of generally star-shaped configuration having three extending portions, the peripheral wall of each extending portion including opposite side walls and a pair of mutually inclined end walls that converge from a respective one of said side walls; at least one of said extending portions including a recess disposed between said end walls, said recess interrupting said peripheral wall and extending from said top surface to said bottom surface; and each side wall of the extending portions being inclined relative to, and merging with, the side wall of an adjacent extending portion to form an insert portion between adjacent extending portions; wherein the paver is configured such that each extending portion will 15 interlock with an insert portion of a like shaped paver laid adjacent thereto with the end walls of the extending portions being in abutting relationship along their entire 0.0length with respective ones of the side walls defining the insert portions of a said like paver, and the recess of said at least one extending portion defining a liquid drainage channel between that extending portion and the insert portion to which it :l i: 20 is interlocked.

2. A paver according to claim 1, wherein said recess includes a pair of planar surfaces that converge from respective ones of the end walls of said at least one extending portion.

3. A paver according to claim 2, wherein the angle between said planar surfaces is substantially the same as the angle between the side walls defining the respective insert portions.

4. A paver according to any preceding claim, wherein the end walls of the other extending portions not including a said recess merge together to form an outer edge of the paver.

5. A paver according to any preceding claim, wherein the paver is formed of three uniformly dimensioned hexagonal bodies unitarily formed so that two \\SERVERDOCUMENT.LWR.mdonotdeletem4g8OOO amended 9 Oober 2000.doc\91 O 00 UPF contiguous sides of each hexagonal body merge with a side of one of the other two hexagonal bodies, each of the hexagonal bodies having: a hexagonal top surface; a bottom surface; and four peripheral side walls extending between said top and bottom surfaces which form the peripheral wall of a respective one of said extending portions; and wherein the recess interrupts two of the four side walls of one of the hexagonal bodies.

6. A paver according to claim 5, wherein each hexagonal top surface is formed with a bevelled edge which extends thereabout to result in a recessed three pointed channel-like structure which is formed in the top of the paver and which extends between and separates each of the hexagonal top surfaces.

7. A paved area including: 15 a plurality of uniformly shaped pavers, each of the pavers having a star- shaped configuration formed of three uniformly dimensioned hexagonal bodies unitarily formed so that two contiguous sides of each hexagonal body merge with a side of one of the other two hexagonal bodies, each of the hexagonal bodies i having: a hexagonal top surface; a bottom surface; and four peripheral side walls extending between said top and bottom surfaces; tand a recess interrupting two of the four side walls of one of the hexagonal bodies, and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, said recess being provided to cooperate with two peripheral side walls of an identically shaped paver laid adjacent thereto, to define a liquid drainage cavity therebetween, and wherein each of the pavers being disposed so that two side walls of each paver contact two side walls of an adjacent paver and so that each drainage cavity communicates with one end of a three pointed channel-like structure. \XSERVERVDOCUMENTNWRVwdonotdelet elim49800 amended 9 October 2000.docKI 0100 9

8. A paved area according to claim 7, wherein each said hexagonal top surface is formed with a bevelled edge which extends thereabout to result in a recessed three pointed channel-like structure which is formed in the top of the paver and which extends between and separates each of the hexagonal top surfaces.

9. A paved area according to either of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the recess on each paver has a pair of planar surfaces that converge from each of the two side walls that it interrupts and which planar surfaces form a wedge shape.

A paved area according to claim 9, wherein the planar surfaces are angled with respect to one another at substantially the same angle as defined between any two contiguous walls of the three hexagonally shaped bodies.

11. A paver substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A paved area substantially as described herein with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings. DATED: 3 October 2000 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK 20 Attorneys for ROCLA LIMITED Z. ERVER\DOCUMENTLWRVwrdonotdeletem48OOO amended g October 2000.docXO91 00 *o o* t*