CA2631926A1

CA2631926A1 - Edging block

Info

Publication number: CA2631926A1
Application number: CA002631926A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Marc-Andre Lacas; Sabine Merault; Gianni Mossa
Original assignee: Materiaux de Construction Oldcastle Canada Inc
Current assignee: Materiaux de Construction Oldcastle Canada Inc
Priority date: 2008-05-21
Filing date: 2008-05-21
Publication date: 2009-11-21

Abstract

An edging block comprising: a body with longitudinal surfaces and end surfaces;
a first longitudinal surface having a recess for receiving a paving stone.

Description

EDGING BLOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to landscape edging systems, methods and components. More particularly, the present invention relates to paving block edging systems, methods and components for forming borders or walkways between adjoining garden, landscape, driveway, walkway, patio or sidewalk areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Paving blocks, also known as slab elements or ground covering elements, are employed generally and assembled as ground covers in such areas as patios, walks, driveways, and other areas where a firm but decorative surface is desired or required. The blocks are usually made from brick, concrete or cement poured into molds having the desired shape.

[0003] Gardeners, landscapers and homeowners frequently use border or edging material such as fences, logs, railroad ties, bricks, concrete blocks and the like to provide a decorative edge for a landscape, garden, walkway, driveway, or patio. Such border or edging material is also frequently employed to physically separate landscape, garden walkway, driveway, patio and other areas from one another. Physical separation of two adjoining areas (e.g. driveway and lawn) is often desirable as it encourages users to stay on one side of the border (i.e. on the driveway and off the lawn). Edgers are also useful to prevent adjacent pavement or other material from moving or crumbling at the edges.
Existing edgers do not allow for the use of two or more materials, such as concrete and wood, do not provide an area for growing plants, and do not allow for the insertion of decorative products therein.

[0004] In the past, landscape edging has been formed from lengths of wood, corrugated metal strips, plastic, cement blocks and poured concrete. Wood is subject to rot and insect attack and decays over time. Wood landscape timbers must therefore be replaced rather frequently. Ungaivanized metal bands oxidize and rust, and tend to become bent and misshapen over time. Even galvanized metal bands eventually corrode once the protective zinc coating has been oxidized. Plastic landscape edging can be easily damaged by lawn mowers or displaced if it is walked on, kicked or bumped.

[0005] It is, therefore, desirable to provide a modular edging block that is durable, decorative and allows for a variety of different ways to physically demarcate the border of a landscape, garden, walkway, driveway, or patio.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of previous edging blocks.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a paving stone edging block having a body with longitudinal and end surfaces, a first longitudinal surface having a recess for receiving a paving stone.

[0008] In a preferred aspect, the recess is shaped and sized to fittingly receive a paving stone in either an upright or sideways orientation, most preferably two paving stones in an end to end arrangement.

[0009] In another preferred aspect, the recess has a width equal to the standard thickness of a paving stone for placement of the edger along the perimeter of a paving stone array and about paving stones in the outermost row of stones in the array.

[0010] In a further preferred aspect, the recess is in the form of a groove extending from end to end of the block. In one embodiment, the groove has a wider upper cross-section and a more narrow lower cross-section, thereby forming a shoulder, whereby a paver may sit on the shoulder and therefore does not sink down.

[0011] In yet another aspect of the invention, the recess extends through the edging block from the first longitudinal surface to a second longitudinal surface opposite the first side surface to allow use of the edging block as an edging block planter by placement of the second side surface onto the ground and filling the recess with soil or gravel.

[0012] Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the edging block;
Fig. 2 is a top view of another embodiment of the edging block;
Fig. 2A is a cross-sectional view through the edging block of Fig. 2;
Fig. 2B is another cross-sectional view through the edging block of Fig. 2 with an paving stone inserted in the channel;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the edging block demarcating a brick walkway's edge;
Fig. 4 is a side view of the edging block in another demarcation of the walkway's edge;
Fig. 5 is a side view of the edging block in a further demarcation of a predetermined portion of a driveway;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the edging bock with plant material growing therein and bordering a brick walkway;
Fig. 7a is a perspective view of an edging block with a transparent insert therein;
Fig. 7b is cross-sectional view of the edging block of Fig. 7a with an LED
(light-emitting diode) module therein;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an edging block with a wood insert therein;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an edging block with natural stones therein;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an edging block with ceramic tiles therein;
and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an edging block with gravel therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Similar elements of the embodiments shown in the various figures are identified using consistent reference numerals.

[0015) Generally, the present invention provides a modular paving stone edging block. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the edging block 10.
The edging block 10 generally has the shape of a rectangular right prism. The edging block can have a substantially square cross-section, as shown in Figure 1. A
longitudinal first side 12 of the edging block 10 includes a channel 14 running substantially lengthwise along the edging block 10, the channel 14 being defined by inner side walls 15 of the edging block 10. The channel 14 can extend across the entire length of the edging block 10, as shown in Figure 1 thereby forming a groove in the longitudinal surface of the block 12.
The channel 14 can alternatively extend only a portion of the length of the edging block 10, as shown in Figure 2 with end walls 15a. In either case, the channel width is preferably selected to be the same as the width or height of rectangular paving stones in association with which the edger is to be used.

[0016] The embodiment shown in Figure 2 further illustrates the channel 14 as extending through the block 10 to the second longitudinal side 16, opposite the first side 12.
This is illustrated more clearly in Figures 2A and 2B, showing the sectional view along the line 2A-2A of Figure 2. Figure 2A also shows that the width of channel 14 can vary across the depth of the channel. In the illustrated embodiment, channel 14 includes a wider portion 14a and a narrower portion 17. The intermediate shoulder 19 between the wider portion 14a and the narrower portion 17 of the channel 14 can support bricks or paving stones 18, not shown. It would be obvious to one of skill in the art that supporting bricks 18 could also be achieved in an edging block 10 having a channel 14 of substantially constant width if one or more laterally spaced supports joined oppositely facing inner sides 15 below the bricks 18.

[0017] It would also be apparent to one of skill in the art that the channel 14 could be a single channel, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or a plurality of channels, not shown. The plurality of channels could be spaced parallel to each other, or could be spaced sequentially along the length of the edging block 10.

[0018] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the channel 14 is sized to accept the bricks 18 of defined size such that a portion of the brick 18 extends beyond the first side 12 of the edging block 10. Of course, appropriately sized paving stones or other pre-formed blocks could be used in place of bricks 18. Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of the edging block 10 where the brick 18 provides the physical demarcation of the edge of a pathway, the pathway being formed by bricks 20. Depending on the depth of the channel 14, the size of the brick 18 extending beyond the first side 12 of the edging block 10, and the depth that the edging block is dug into the ground, the physical demarcation imparted by the brick 18 can be a small protrusion from the level of the walkway, providing a subtle yet solid barrier. Altematively, the physical demarcation can be taller and include a portion of the edging block 10, providing a more significant barrier.

[0019] Figure 4 illustrates another manner in which the edging block 10 can be used to demarcate the edge of a pathway. Bricks 20 are used to form .the pathway, with bricks 18 being partially inset into the edging blocks 10. In this pathway, the edging blocks 10 are partially dug into the ground and assist in anchoring the bricks 20, inhibiting them from shifting around, even though the bricks 20 are not themselves dug into the ground. The edging blocks 10 provide the physical demarcation between the pathway and the adjacent ground.

[0020] Figure 5 illustrates a manner in which the edging block 10 can be used to provide a tactile indication of when a driver of a car reaches a specific point of a driveway.
Edging blocks 10 can be placed adjacently and parallel to one another, with bricks 18 subtly protruding from the channels 14. The parallel arrangement of protruding bricks 18 could allow the driver of the car to feel when the car's wheels had engaged with the protruding bricks 18, indicating to the driver that the car, for example, should.be stopped or slowed.

[0021] Figure 6 illustrates a further manner in which the edging block 10 can be used to define the edge of a walkway. The walkway, formed by bricks 20, can be edged with the edging blocks 10 shown in Figure 2. The channel 14 can be filled with dirt 22 or other material amenable to plant growth, and plants or grasses 24 can be grown therein. The channel 14 can extend through the edging block 10, and can allow the roots of the plants or grasses to grow into the ground, it can also allow water entering the channel 14 to drain into the ground. The roots of the plants can help stabilize the soil and prevent soil run-off.

[0022] The length of the channel 14 can be a whole number multiple of the length of a predetermined brick 18, thereby not requiring that the brick 18 be cut in order to be placed in the channel 14. The edging block 10 can comprise concrete, and can be formed using dry-cast or wet-cast concrete production methods. The edging block 10 can also comprise stone, brick, or any other material suitable for pre-fabricated blocks.

[0023] The edging block 10 can have a length of about 40 to about 50 cm, a height of about 9 cm to about 11 cm, and a width of about 9 cm to about 11 cm. The channel 14 can have a width of about 3 cm to about 6 cm. The narrower portion 17 can comprise from about 40% to about 60% of the depth of the channel 14.

= CA 02631926 2008-05-21 [0024] Figures 7 to 11 show a variety of fillings for the channel. Figures 7a and 7b show a block with a transparent insert therein, Figure 7b showing a light-emitting-diode (LED). In Figure 8, the channel is filled with a wood insert. In Figure 9, natural stones fill the channel. In Figure 10, ceremic tiles have been inserted into the channel. In Figure 11, the channel contains gravel.

[0025] In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the invention.

[0026] The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An edging block comprising:
a body with longitudinal surfaces and end surfaces;

a first longitudinal surface having a recess for receiving a paving stone.

2. The edging block of claim 1, wherein the recess is shaped and sized to fittingly receive a paving stone in either an upright or sideways orientation.

3. The edging block of claim 2, wherein the recess is shaped to receive at least two paving stones in an end to end arrangement.

4. The edging block of claim 1, wherein the recess is in the form of a groove extending from end surface to end surface of the block.

5. The edging block of claim 1, wherein the recess extends through the edging block from the first longitudinal surface to a second longitudinal surface opposite the first longitudinal surface, to allow use of the edging block as an edging block planter by placement of the second side surface onto the ground and filling the recess with soil or gravel.

6. The edging block of claim 1, wherein the recess is a channel defined by inner side walls;
and the body has a substantially square cross section.

7. The edging block according to claim 1, wherein the channel extends the length of the edging block.

8. The edging block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the edging block further comprises a second longitudinal surface opposite the first longitudinal surface, and the channel extends substantially through the edging block to the second surface.