CA2044864A1 - Paving block - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The paving block includes at least two slab-like elements, preferably made of compressed vibrated concrete, which are shaped so as to form, when arranged mutually adjacent, a preset geometrical figure to be associated with others in the forming of a pavement. The shaped elements define an exposed surface provided with gaps suitable for simulating the composition of the geometrical figure with small-size composition elements.

Description

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The present invention relates -to a paving block, and in particular to a bloc~ for paving squares, sidewal~s and the li~e.
The blocl; can also be conveniently used to cover walls.
5 Concrete blocks are currently used to cover outdoor surfaces and for urban furnishings; if they are appropriately colored or laid, such blocks can create geometrical patterns.
It is also common to use, for paving his-torical centers 10 or areas surrounding rustic or ancient buildings, natural stones such as porphyry or -the like.
The laying of these natural stones entails various problems, the most important of which is the need to cut the pieces extracted from the quarries into more or less similar 15 cubic elements, Another equally important problem resides in the difficulty encountered in laying for the execution of regular and repetitive patterns on the pavement, which entail considerable labor use.
Natural stone cubes naturally have a variously irregular edge, so that the connec-ting joint in laying (normally equal to 5-6 mm~ is jagged and aesthetically scarcely linear, considering the regular nature of the patterns which are generally produced in the pavement.
Finally, in order to ensure the adequate self-loc~ing of the individual pieces, it is necessary to fill the ; connecting joints with cement mortar.

The aim of the present inven-tion is to provide a paving ~ [14~
block which allows to provide geometrical figures with regular lines both in the figures as a whole and in the joints between the individual elements which compose said figures.
A conse~uent primary object is to provide a block whose installation allows considerable labor savi.ng.
Another objec-t is to improve the aesthetics of the finished pavement.
Not least object is to provide a block which allows to 10 provide pavements at a lower cost with respect to currellt ones.
This aim, these ob~ects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a paving block, characterized in that it comprises at least two slab-like 15 elements which are shaped so as to form, when arranged mutually adjacent, a preset geometrical figure to be associated with others in the forming of a pavement, said shaped elements defining an exposed surface provided with gaps suitable for simulating the composition of said 20 geometrical figure with small-size composition elements.

~urther characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed desc.ription of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a disassembled block according to the invention, comprised of three elements;
figure 2 is a perspective vie~ of the block of figure 1 when assembled;

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figure 3 is a plan view c>f a series of blocks, such as the one of the precediny figures, arranged so as to form a pavement with geometrical figures.

With reference to the above figures, a paving block, 5 particularly for paving squares, sidewalks and the like, is generally indicated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises three slab-like elements, preferably made oE compressed vibrated concrete, which are indicated in the figures by the reference numerals 2, 3 and 4 and form, in the present 10 embodiment, a substantially fan~ e pattern when the~ are arranged mutually adjacent.
According to the invention, each of said elements 2, 3 and 4 has, on its e~posed surface, gaps 5, having an appropriate depth and uniform width, which simulate the 15 presence of smaller composition elements 6 the dimensions whereof are comparable with those of conventional porphyry cubes used for pavements.
The outer profile of each element 2, 3 or 4 naturally adapts to the surface division defined by means of the gaps 20 5, so that each element simulates the presence of a whole number of small elements 6.
As can be seen in the figures, the faces to be arranged adjacent between the elements 2, 3 and 4 in the composition conveniently have vertical raised spacing portions 7 which 25 are suitable for mutually spacing said elements by an extent equal in width to that of the gaps 5 and for giving, from above, an illusion of continuity for said gaps.
It should furthermore be noted that the upper edges of each small element 6 are rounded in order to give an effect of roundness and uniformity in the vertica~ direction as well.
As can be easily understood, the execution of pavements with blocks of the type according to the invention is 5 easier, more rapid and does not entail a great use of labor.
The final effect is the one illustrated in figure 3, wherein the individual composi-tion elements 6 appear to be separate from one another ancl independent, giving the illusion of havir.g been laid one by one.
o According to the requirements, the gaps and the areas hetween the adjacently arranged elements may optiona:Lly be conveniently filled with sand or with another filling material.
As mentioned above, the block according to the 1~ invention allows to simulate the laying of porphyry, giving, differently from this material, greater regularitY and aesthetics in the composition of the figuresO
In practice it has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.
All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the ma~erials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.

Claims (7)

1. Paving block, particularly for paving squares, sidewalks and the like, comprising at least two slab-like elements which are shaped so as to form, when arranged mutually adjacent, a preset geometrical figure to be associated with others in the forming of a pavement, said shaped elements defining an exposed surface provided with gaps suitable for simulating the composition of said geometrical figure with small-size composition elements.

2. Block according to claim 1, wherein said gaps have constant depth and width suitable for the purpose of simulating the presence of said small-size composition elements.

3. Block according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least two slab-like elements has a profile for arrangement adjacent to the other elements which allows to include, on its exposed surface, a whole number of said composition elements.

4. Block according to claim 1, wherein each of said two slab-like elements has, on its lateral surfaces for arrangement adjacent to the other elements, spacing raised portions which are equal in width to said gaps, so that the continuity of said gaps is simulated when said elements are arranged adjacent.

5. Block according to claim 1, wherein said yaps are filled with sand or with another filling material.

6. Block according to claim 1, wherein the corners of said small-size composition elements are rounded.

7. Block according to claim 1, wherein said slab-like elements are made of compressed vibrated concrete.