GB2108183A

GB2108183A - Edging Unit

Info

Publication number: GB2108183A
Application number: GB08224031A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josef Fischer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-08-24
Filing date: 1982-08-20
Publication date: 1983-05-11
Also published as: ES274743Y; NL8203303A; FR2511577A1; DE3133420A1; GB2108183B; IT1154318B; ES274743U; IT8249021A0

Abstract

An edging block or strip for delimiting or separating different areas from each other, e.g. in gardens, or for marking playing fields, is characterised in that its transverse surface on the side used as the upper face (1) is generally narrower than on the other faces. The strip can thus be laid, without concrete foundations, in a sand- filled trench (20), and may be of rubber, plastics, or any other suitable material. The specification discloses a variety of cross-sectional shapes and a number of composite constructions of base and cover strips, and also discloses means for coupling aligned strips or blocks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Edging unit The invention relates to an edging device or edging unit for delimiting or separating different areas from each other, particularly in the open.

These edging units are particularly used for separating off or edging turfed areas from areas used for other purposes. Hithereto this has only been possible with concrete blocks and roadway edging stones or kerbstones.

The latter are made very deep so that gardeners frequently avoid using such visually unappealing edging units, which also constitute a hazard as people may trip on such. If concrete blocks are used for edging, large trenches must be excavated for their installation and in general a concrete footing or concrete support must be used in order to ensure that they stand erect.

It is an object of the invention to provide an edging unit which can be used to edge or separate areas in a visually appealing way, which is easy to instal and which resists toppling.

This object is achieved through the transverse surface of the side used as the upper face being generally narrower than that of the other sides. For this purpose the surface of the side used as a base is generally broader that that of the side used as the upper surface.

As a result of this wedge-shaped design of the edging unit it is possible to make the edging unit of less overall height, thus considerably simplifying and easing installation.

As a result of this low height the amount of earth which must be removed for installation of the edging unit, i.e. the excavation, is very much less than in the case where known edging units are used. No special footing, e.g.

of concrete is required, nor are lateral concrete supports necessary. The edging units are placed directly in the excavated trench, or a flat bed of sand or the like may be placed in the trench if appropriate. When the edging units have been located in position they can be packed in on both sides with sand or earth and puddled-in with water. As a result of their wedge shape, the edging units are thus keyed into the earth-thus ensuring high stability.

The edging unit according to the invention is prefereably installed so that its upper surface is level with the ground, thus avoiding burdensome trimming of the edges of a lawn.

The advantageous wedge shape of the edging unit according to the invention has also the effect that earth pressures mainly act uniformly on the side surfaces and are more or less balanced out. The edging units do not lift even as a result of the action of frost. As a result of the advantageous weight distribution with the centre of gravity towards the base, the edging units according to the invention are very stable. The possibility of topping is ruled out or minimised by their key shape.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the edging unit is provided with at least one channel running in a longitudinal direction. The base is thus provided with e.g. a groove and can thus be placed over drainage or watering pipes, which are advantageously made of plastics, thus greatly aiding alignment of the edging units on installation, locating installed units in their position and increasing lateral stability.

In particular, edging units in which at least one of the side surfaces runs at least partly obliquely to the base are advantageously used for edging turfed areas. This is frequently the case for with side surfaces so that the crosssection of the edging unit has the shape of a trapezium or a truncated triangle.

Further features of the edging unit according to the invention are given in subsidiary claims 6 to 10.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la, 1b are perspective views of different embodiments of edging units; Figures 2a to 2g are perspective views of parts of embodiments of edging units according to the invention in which the lower part of the cross-section is quadrangular and the upper part of the cross section is inclined; Figures 3a, 3b are perspective views of further embodiments of units having several cavities or recesses; Figures 4a to 4g are perspective views of further embodiments of edging devices having a covering part; and Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a trench in the ground with an installed edging unit according to the invention.

Fig. 1 a shows the basic version of an edging unit comprising a long or elongate body which can be of unitary or strip-like form and has a cross-section in the form of a triangle with a truncated top. An upper surface 1 runs parallel to a base 2 and is substantially smaller than base 2. In the edging unit illustrated in Fig. 1 b, one side surface 6 runs at right angles from base 2 and the other side surface 5 is at an angle of less than 90 to top surface 1. One end 30 is provided with a groove 31 which runs vertically from base 2 to upper surface 1 while opposite end 32 is provided with a rib 33 corresponding to groove 31. This type of edging unit can be laid upon a solid base of e.g. stone or the like.

A developed form of the edging unit according to the invention in which the lower region of the cross-section is rectangular is illustrated in Fig. 2a. The upper parts of side walls 5 and 6 slope towards base 2. The edging unit illustrated in Fig. 2b is character ised by sides 5 and 6 which slope towards the base and end in a central upper rib. A variation on this embodiment in which sides 5 and 6 are concave is shown in Fig. 2c. In the edging unit with a trapezoidal cross-section illustrated in Fig. 2d a dovetail groove 34 which may take mountings for screens or the like is provided in upper surface 1. The edging unit illustrated in Fig. 2e comprises a narrow rectangular cross-section rising from base 2 with an adjacent narrow trapezoidal cross-section which passes again into a tall rib of rectangular cross-section.Fig. 2f illustrates an embodiment of the edging unit in which base 2, top 1 and sides 5 and 6 are concave.

In this case a curved channel 3 is made in base 2. The edging unit illustrated in Fig. 2g again comprises a flat base 2 and a flat top 1 in which a narrow trapezoidal cross-section leads from base 2 to top 1 by means of an Sshaped side 5 and a question-mark-shaped side 6.

The edging unit according to Fig. 3a includes several longitudinal internal cavities 7.

These cavities can be used to take connecting pieces for securing the units together, and depending on the material thay may also take rods or the like in order to reinforce the units.

Cavities 7 may also be used for drainage of the adjacent groung. The embodiment according to Fig. 3b includes an indentation passing through base 2.

The edging unit illustrated in Fig. 4a is surrounded by a cover 8 on ali sides except the base. Cover 8 can have various recesses in its upper surface into which can be inserted e.g. strip 34 illustrated in Fig. 4b which can be used as a marking for various purposes.

An edging unit of this type is particularly suitable for use in sportsgrounds and for delimiting games fields. Fig. 4c illustrates an edging (unit) device which is constructed with a longitudinal recess 9 to take cover 8. The latter is provided with a central rib 10 which is located in this recess. The baseplate of the edging unit is provided with securing holes on either side of recess 9.

The cover can be made as a strip which can be cut into suitable lengths for installation.

The cover of the edging units thus comprises a minimum number of individual units, which is very suitable e.g. for use in sportsgrounds.

The upper surface of the cover is provided with longitudinal grooves 11 which prevent the hazard of slipping particularly on wet ground.

The edging unit illustrated in Fig. 4d is used as a boundary for playing fields. It comprises a lower portion which may be solid or hollow and a cover 8 of rubber or plastics.

This edging unit can also be manufactured entirely of rubber or plastics. The edging unit illustrated in Fig. 4e has a cover 8 made in the form of a capping of artificial turf. In the embodiment according to Fig. 4f cover 8 is snapped onto a plastics tube 19. In the edging unit according to Fig. 4g a central round headed rail 1 7 is provided to take a cover with a corresponding longitudinal groove 1 8.

Fig. 5 illustrates an edging unit laid in a striplike trench 20. The top surface 1 of the edging unit is level with the ground. It is a relatively simple matter to excavate the trench, lay the edging unit and pack it with sand.

The edging units may be manufactured from a coloured or plain, natural or artificial, fine or coarse grained material dependihng on their application. With edging units according to the invention it is possible to achieve the desired resistance to trampling, creep and flexibility in relation to the edge surfaces irrespective of whether these comprise turf, artifical turf, red sand or hard tennis courts. The surface material of the edging units can also be selected so that it is undamaged by spikes and the edging units and their marking strips can be wiped.

Edging units of the form described above and close variants can obviously be used in either unitary or strip form for all sportsgrounds.

Claims

1. An edging device or unit for delimiting or separating different areas from each other characterised in that its transverse surface on the side used as the upper face is generally narrower than on the other faces.

2. An edging unit as claimed in claim 1, in which its transverse surface on the side used as the base is generally broader than on the side used as the upper surface.

3. An edging unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the unit has at least one longitudinal groove in the base.

4. An edging unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which at least one recess is provided for means securing the edging unit.

5. An edging unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which at least one of the side surfaces is at least in part inclined to the base.

6. An edging unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which at least one of its side surfaces is of concave form.

7. An edging unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the unit is assembled from several parts.

8. An edging unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which a cover unit member is provided.

9. An edging unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which means are provided for drainage purposes.

10. An edging unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, in which the unit is made of coloured or plain, natural or artificial, fine or coarse grained material and is laid level with the surface in an excavated, cut or scraped strip-like trench.

11. An edge unit or device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.