GB1600198A - Blocks or slabs of lattice structure - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN BLOCKS OR SLABS OF LATTICE STRUCTURE (71) We, MONO CONCRETE LIMITED. a British Company of Wettern House, Dingwall Road, Croydon, Surrey, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention concerns blocks or slabs of lattice structure and of the type comprising a plurality of spaced apart parallel bars separated and held as a unitary structure by transverse spaced apart webs or cross bars so that channel-like openings are formed which extend completely through the block or slab.

Such blocks are known and are used for paving and like surfacing being laid coplanar the bars providing tread members, and the openings being filled with earth so that grass and vegetation will grow out from the openings. The blocks or slabs provide a firm support stabilising the ground below the bars and webs whilst enabling grass to grow up from the openings.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved form of lattice like slab or block, which is primarily for use on sloping ground surfaces such as embankments or revetments and which can form a firm surfacing unlikely to slide or move or erode by flood water and in which the growth of grass and vegetation is enhanced.

According to the invention there is provided lattice-shaped block or slab to be laid upon sloping ground so that bars of the block or slab are spaced apart in the direction of the slope and webs of the block or slab which interconnect the bars are spaced apart transversely of the slope wherein the longitudinal side of each bar which will be the downhill side in use is chamfered at its junction with the top surface of the bar in such a way that if, when the stone has been laid on a slope, each opening in the block or slab defined by the intersecting bars and webs is filled with soil or like plant-growing material to a substantially horizontal level substantially coinciding with the top surface of one bar said level will meet the bar next above said one bar in the region of the junction of the downhill longitudinal side of said next above bar and the chamfer thereof, the chamfer being substantially vertical.

With the above arrangement when the openings are filled with earth, humus, gravel or the like the upper surface will tend to settle horizontally. Moreover a large opening is formed for vegetative growth, and earth retention which is not overhung by the upper bar delimiting it. The vegetation ensures firm anchorage of the slabs.

Preferably the ends of the bars project beyond the webs and the ends of the webs project beyond the bars, and the opposite projecting bar ends are formed with complementary inter-engaging surfaces, the ends of the webs being similarly formed. In this way when a surface is laid adjacent and contiguous, ends of bars and webs of adjacent slabs or blocks will inter-engage. The configuration of the ends preferably allows for lateral tolerance and so permit inter-engagement even when an adjacent slab is slightly displaced.

An embodiment according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 a view of Figure 1 in the direction of arrow A, Figure 3 a view of Figure 1 in the direction of arrow B, Figure 4 a perspective view from the top and to the left of Figure 1, and Figure 5 a part section on the line V-V Figure 1, with the slab laid on an embankment.

The slab or block illustrated has parallel bars 10 united by transverse webs 11, the bar ends iota, 10b projection beyond the webs and terminating co-planar at each side, the web ends 1 la, I lb similarly projecting beyond the bars. The structure provides rectangular openings 0 extending completely through the slab thickness. The projecting bar and web ends are shaped to inter-engage when laid, as shown by tongues and grooves, the projecting ends being of a dimension such that when laid, adjacent ends form openings identical with openings 0, so that a substantially uniform lattice work is obtained. The grooves are made larger than is necessary for a "fit" of the tongues so that sufficient interlock is assured even if adjacent slabs are slightly displaced.The slabs or blocks also can be laid in bonded fashion.

As will be seen particularly from Figures 4 and 5, the upper bar tread surfaces 14 are flat, and one side of each bar is inclined or chamfered as at 13. When laid on a revetment or embankment of usual slope, these sloping sides 13 are substantially vertical. It will be understood that blocks or slabs can be manufactured with the slopes 13 at an angle to conform with the slope of the embankment.

Both sides of each web 11 also have a slight chamfer 15 from top downwardly. The bars and webs also widen downwardly as shown to provide substantially trapezoidal openings, i.e. wider at the top than at the bottom.

As shown in Figure 5, when slabs are laid to surface an embankment, the inclined bar surfaces 13 are substantially vertical. This facilitates the natural growth of grass G.

Although the slab is shown with tongue and groove fittings, it will be understood that other forms of engagement could be used between web or bar ends, such as dovetail or the said ends could butt.

The slabs or blocks preferably are of concrete although other hard mouldable material could be used. Said slabs or blocks can be made easily by conventional methods, are stable in use and easy and quick to lay and show a saving in cost over conventionaal granite blocks.

The chamfer angle of the surface 13 can of course be varied, e.g. according to the slope of an embankment.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A lattice-shaped block or slab to be laid upon sloping ground so that bars of the block or slab are spaced apart in the direction of the slope and webs of the block or slab which interconnect the bars are spaced apart transversely of the slope, wherein the longitudinal side of each bar which will be the downhill side in use is chamfered at its junction with the top surface of the bar in such a way that if, when the stone has been laid on a slope, each opening in the block or slab defined by the intersecting bars and webs is filled with soil or like plant-growing material to a substantially horizontal level substantially coinciding with the top surface of one bar said level will meet the bar next above said one bar in the region of the junction of the downhill longitudinal side of said next above bar and the chamfer thereof, the chamfer being substantially vertical.

2. A block or slab as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of the bars project beyond the webs and the ends of the webs project beyond the bars, and the opposite projecting bar ends are formed with complementary interengaging surfaces, the ends of the webs being similarly formed.

3. A block or slab as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projecting ends of bars and webs are dimensioned such that when said blocks or slabs are laid adjacent ends form openings identical with the openings through the slabs.

4. A block or slab as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sides of each web are chamfered from the top surface.

5. A block or slab as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bars and webs widen from the top downwardly to provide openings wider at the top than the bottom.

6. A block or slab substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ends iota, 10b projection beyond the webs and terminating co-planar at each side, the web ends 1 la, I lb similarly projecting beyond the bars. The structure provides rectangular openings 0 extending completely through the slab thickness. The projecting bar and web ends are shaped to inter-engage when laid, as shown by tongues and grooves, the projecting ends being of a dimension such that when laid, adjacent ends form openings identical with openings 0, so that a substantially uniform lattice work is obtained. The grooves are made larger than is necessary for a "fit" of the tongues so that sufficient interlock is assured even if adjacent slabs are slightly displaced.The slabs or blocks also can be laid in bonded fashion. As will be seen particularly from Figures 4 and 5, the upper bar tread surfaces 14 are flat, and one side of each bar is inclined or chamfered as at 13. When laid on a revetment or embankment of usual slope, these sloping sides 13 are substantially vertical. It will be understood that blocks or slabs can be manufactured with the slopes 13 at an angle to conform with the slope of the embankment. Both sides of each web 11 also have a slight chamfer 15 from top downwardly. The bars and webs also widen downwardly as shown to provide substantially trapezoidal openings, i.e. wider at the top than at the bottom. As shown in Figure 5, when slabs are laid to surface an embankment, the inclined bar surfaces 13 are substantially vertical. This facilitates the natural growth of grass G. Although the slab is shown with tongue and groove fittings, it will be understood that other forms of engagement could be used between web or bar ends, such as dovetail or the said ends could butt. The slabs or blocks preferably are of concrete although other hard mouldable material could be used. Said slabs or blocks can be made easily by conventional methods, are stable in use and easy and quick to lay and show a saving in cost over conventionaal granite blocks. The chamfer angle of the surface 13 can of course be varied, e.g. according to the slope of an embankment. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A lattice-shaped block or slab to be laid upon sloping ground so that bars of the block or slab are spaced apart in the direction of the slope and webs of the block or slab which interconnect the bars are spaced apart transversely of the slope, wherein the longitudinal side of each bar which will be the downhill side in use is chamfered at its junction with the top surface of the bar in such a way that if, when the stone has been laid on a slope, each opening in the block or slab defined by the intersecting bars and webs is filled with soil or like plant-growing material to a substantially horizontal level substantially coinciding with the top surface of one bar said level will meet the bar next above said one bar in the region of the junction of the downhill longitudinal side of said next above bar and the chamfer thereof, the chamfer being substantially vertical.

2. A block or slab as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of the bars project beyond the webs and the ends of the webs project beyond the bars, and the opposite projecting bar ends are formed with complementary interengaging surfaces, the ends of the webs being similarly formed.

3. A block or slab as claimed in claim 2, wherein the projecting ends of bars and webs are dimensioned such that when said blocks or slabs are laid adjacent ends form openings identical with the openings through the slabs.

4. A block or slab as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sides of each web are chamfered from the top surface.

5. A block or slab as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bars and webs widen from the top downwardly to provide openings wider at the top than the bottom.

6. A block or slab substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.