GB2120699A - Improvements in or relating to paving or building blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

The surface of each of a series of interlocking paving blocks 1 is patterned in relief in a geometrical manner based at least in part on the geometrical configuration (28) of the block. The patterning x may take the form of shallow grooves centred on parts of the geometrical configuration. Alternatively, the surface may have one or more raised areas separated by extensions of the geometrical configuration. In this manner, the visual appearance of an area paved with the blocks is not determined solely by the joints between adjacent blocks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to paving or building blocks This invention relates to blocks whose principal use is for paving surfaces, for example, the surfaces of roads, pavements and car parks but which may also be used to surface embankments and other sloping or vertical surfaces. The invention relates particularly to artificial blocks made of concrete, clay and other similar materials.

When used to pave surfaces that have to support movement of vehicles, it is important that the paved surface shall be able to withstand forces tending to move the blocks apart after they have been laid and it has been proposed to form each block with faces which interlock with the faces of adjacent blocks in such manner that the blocks interlock both longitudinally and laterally of the paved surface. In that way, resistance is provided to the separating forces referred to.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows, in plan view, a known block formed in the manner just described.

The block 1 shown in Figure 1 is of generally rectangular form when seen in side view with upper and lower parallel, flat, wearing surfaces 2 and 3.

The block has side walls 4, 5, each formed with two outwardly flared recesses and inwardly flared projections. The recesses 6, 7 in the side wall 4 lie opposite the projections 8, 9 respectively in side wall 5. Side wall 5 also has outwardly flared recesses 1 0, 11 that lie opposite projections 12, 1 3 respectively in side wall 4.

The block 1 also has an end wall 14 with an outwardly flared recess 1 5 and an inwardly flared projection 1 6 which lie opposite to inwardly flared projection 1 7 and outwardly flared recess 1 8 respectively in the other end wall 19 of the block.

As can be seen from Figure 1, recesses 7, 10, 1 5 and 18 are bounded on one side by projections 13, 8, 1 6 and 1 7 respectively and, on the other side, by further projections 21 which are in effect, continuations of the projections 13, 8, 1 6, 1 7 at the corners of the block. The projections 21 each point in a different direction as is seen in Figure 1. The projections 21 and vertices as at 22 are radiussed.

The recesses and projections of the block are dimensioned in such a way as to enable a number of blocks 1 to be laid side by side with a constant spacing between the walls of adjacent blocks. As can be seen from Figure 1 the block is asymmetric but the geometric configuration, indicated at 28 in Figure 1 within which the block is contained and which coincides with the centre line of the joint between adjacent blocks when laid side-byside with the constant spacing, is symmetrical with respect to the superimposed rectangle shown at 29 in Figure 1 and whose sides connect together the points 30. The constant spacing between adjacent blocks when laid side-by-side may be twice the spacing between the block and the geometrical configuration.

Figure 1 also shows that the length of the inner face of a recess on the geometrical configuration 28 indicated by dimension 31 is equal to the extension of a projection such as 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 1 7 as measured, on the geometrical configuration 28, along the flared surface of the projection. The extension is the dimension indicated at 32 in Figure 1. The extent, measured in the same way, of projections 21 is half the length of the inner face.

The blocks are used to pave an area, for example, an area of ground, by first levelling the area and if necessary preparing it to provide a firm base and then placing the blocks in an interlocking manner on a sand bed laid on the base. The blocks are then compacted down by vibration, adjacent faces of adjoining blocks being spaced apart to receive sand or other suitable material brushed into the spaces. The blocks are thus able to move relatively to one another vertically but are interlocked against horizontal movement.

The visual appearance of an area paved with blocks as described above with reference to Figure 1 is determined almost exclusively by the configuration joints between adjacent blocks.

That appearance may be satisfactory in some applications but there may be other applications for which a more attractive visual appearance is desirable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide paving blocks which when used to pave a surface are able to provide a visual appearance not resulting solely from the joints between adjacent blocks.

By way of example only, paving blocks embodying the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 2 is an explanatory plan view of a paved area, Figures 3, 4 and 5 are, respectively, plan, side elevation and section on line V-V of Figure 3 of a first embodiment, Figure 6 is a plan view of a paved area, Figure 7 is a plan view of another paved area, Figures 8 and 9 are plan views of further paved areas, Figures 10, 11 and 12 are, respectively, plan, side elevation and section on the line Xll-Xll of Figure 10 of further embodiment, Figure 13 is a plan view of an area paved with blocks of the form shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, and Figures 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are plan views of other paved areas.

Figure 2 is an explanatory plan view of an area paved with blocks of the form described above and shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The block 1 is shown surrounded by a number of similar blocks, the dotted lines 28 indicating the geometrical configuration of each block and the centre line of the spacing between adjacent blocks. As explained above, adjacent blocks are laid side-by-side with constant spacing that is twice the spacing between the faces of a block and the respective faces of the geometrical configuration.

As is apparent from Figure 2 (disregarding the dotted lines on the face of block 1), the visual appearance of the paved area is determined solely by the joints between adjacent blocks.

By extending the geometrical configuration of the block across its face, a basis is provided for modifying the visual appearance of the paved area. This is illustrated in Figure 2, by the chain dotted lines across the face of the block 1. In most cases, the lines across the face are extensions of the geometrical configuration of the block 1 itself, but a few of the lines-those marked X are, in fact, extensions of the geometrical configuration of blocks adjacent to block 1.

Thus, by relief treatment of the surface of the block along part or all of some at least of the lines of the extended geometrical configuration, modification of the visual appearance of the paved area is obtained. This will now be described in more detail.

The paving block 33 shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 is of the same overall form as that described above with reference to Figure 1, the superimposed rectangle with respect to which the geometrical configuration 28 is symmetrical being indicated by the chain dotted line 29.

The upper surface 34 of block 33 is formed with shallow grooves along some of the lines of the extended goemetrical configuration and parts of such lines. Grooves 35 and 36 are, in effect, extensions of the upper edges of the bases of the recesses 1 5 and 18 respectively, the grooves being centred on the horizontal part of line 28 and being of a width in the surface 34 equal to the spacing between adjacent blocks.

In similar manner, the surface 34 has grooves 38, 39 and 40,41 that are extensions of the upper edges of the bases of the recesses 6, 7 and 10, 11 respectively. These grooves 38 41 are centred on the vertical parts of the line 28 and are of a width in the surface 34 equal to the spacing between adjacent blocks.

Figure 6 is a plan view of an area paved with blocks whose surface is configured as just described. The visual appearances of the surface suggest the use of rectangular blocks with patterned junction areas between adjacent blocks. The grooves 35, 36, 38--40 integrate with genuine junctions between adjacent blocks to create the effect just described. In Figure 6, grooves are hatched with diagonal lines to distinguish them from junctions between adjacent blocks.

The patterning of the junction areas between adjacent blocks can be increased by further sets of grooves in each of the projections 8, 9, 12, 13, 16 and 1 7 of the blocks 33. In Figures 3-5, the grooves of the sets of projections 8 and 13 are designated 44 and 46. Projections 9, 12, 16 and 1 7 have only two grooves as shown. Grooves 44 and 46 are centred on the respective cross points between rectangle 29 and geometric configuration 28.

The large rectangular area of each block within the patterned junction may be subdivided by horizontal grooves indicated in Figure 3 by the dotted lines 42, 43 which, in a paved area as shown in Figure 6, integrate with junction lines and grooves on adjacent blocks.

The appearance of an area paved with blocks with the additional grooves 44, 46 is shown in Figure 7. Grooves 42, 43 are also shown in Figure 7 but these are, of course, optional as is the set of intersecting grooves 48 shown midway of the grooves 42, 43. The additional intersecting grooves 48 add to the apparent concealment of the true shape of the blocks.

By employing only diagonal grooves on the face 34 of the block, i.e. grooves formed by extending grooves 44 and 46 right across the face and by omitting all of the grooves shown in Figure 3, a paved area having the appearance shown in Figure 8 is obtained. Again, the grooves on the faces of the blocks are integrated with existing junctions between adjacent blocks thereby creating the impression of the use of square blocks.

Afurthervariation is shown in Figure 9 where a more limited combination of diagonal grooves is used, i.e. some of the diagonal grooves of the blocks used in Figure 8 are omitted.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show an alternative form of contouring for the top surface 34 of a block. Diagonal grooves 47-51 are continuations of the upper edges of inclined faces of the block. The grooves are centred on the appropriate part of the line 28 but have widely divergent sides as can be seen in Figures 11 and 12. A further diagonal groove 49 joins the midpoints of the incline sides of the projections 8 and 13. The width of the bottoms of the grooves is equal to the spacing between adjacent blocks but the width of the grooves in the surface 34 is considerably greater.

The more widely divergent grooves employed in the embodiment shown in Figures 10-12 produce a more pronounced break-up of the appearance of individual blocks and thus of the paved area. This is shown in Figure 13 where horizontal and vertical shade lines are employed to emphasise the sloping sides of the grooves.

Yet another different combination of the grooves 44,46 of the Figure 3 blocks with added interconnected grooves is shown in Figure 14 where the impression of the use of octagonal blocks is created.

It is also possible to employ a block whose surface 34 has discrete raised areas related only in part to the extended geometrical configuration of the block but which are equi-distant from extensions of that configuration thus concealing the actual shape of the block. Figure 1 5 is a plan view of an area paved with blocks on whose surfaces are formed raised areas 52 that are circular when seen in plan. The studs lie on lines parallel to the inclined side faces of the projections 8, 9, 12, 16, 1 7 of the block and include some studs of which part is formed on one block and part on another, studs 53 are examples.

It is also possible to undulate the surfaces of the block along some of the extended geometrical configuration and an example of this is shown in Figure 16. Flat crests of the undulation are indicated at 54 and flat troughs at 55, the hatched areas 56, 57 in between being inclined surfaces. The contour of the block described above with reference to Figure 1 requires a 900 rotation of certain blocks relatively to adjacent blocks when the undulated surface effect of the blocks shown in Figure 1 6 is employed.

The raised area of the surface of a block may constitute all or a major part of that surface. For example, Figure 1 7 shows part of an area paved with blocks each with a central raised area 58 whose edges are chamfered as indicated at 59.

The visible surfaces of the projection 60 of each block are thus at a lower level than the surface of the central area 58. It will be appreciated that the chamfers 59 are, in effect, formed by extensions of part of the geometrical configuration.

If desired, the raised area may be divided into two or more parts to produce raised portions of smaller area.

Whilst the relief patterning described with reference to Figure 1 7 produces a visual impression of areas paved with rectangular blocks, that effect may be enhanced by the formation of grooves in the areas between the rectangles, i.e. in the projections 60.

Such grooving is illustrated in Figure 1 8. The blocks shown each have the raised rectangular area 58 with the chamfered edges 59. Grooves 61 formed in the surfaces of the projections 60 help to conceal the actual joints between adjacent blocks-these joints being indicated at 62. The grooves 61 will be recognised as parts of the extended geometrical configuration of the blocks.

It will be appreciated that the depth of the grooves in the surface 34 of a block and the extent, if any, of the divergence of the side walls of the grooves can be varied according to the effect desired on the paved area. Similarly, variation of the shape and nature of the discrete raised areas, in embodiments employing these, is also possible. For example, studs of a shape other than the cylindrical shape shown in Figure 1 5 could be used.

Conveniently, the blocks are made of concrete, a typical mix comprising about 1 part cement 2 parts aggregate 3 parts sand and are formed in moulds one face of which is contoured to produce the requisite grooves or other formations on the face of the block.

A colouring substance may be added to the mix where blocks of a colour other than "off white" are required.

Multi-coloured blocks can be produced by employing different batches of mixes incorporating different colours.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the surface contouring techniques described above may be applicable to blocks whose interlocking surfaces are of a configuration different from that described above with reference to Figure 1.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. A paving block having parallel surfaces with side and end walls perpendicular to the surfaces formed with a series of spaced projections contoured to provide an interlock with adjacent blocks when !aid on a surface, and in which one at least of the parallel surfaces is patterned in relief in a geoemtrical manner related to the side and end contours of the block.

2. A paving block having parallel surfaces with side and end walls perpendicular to the surfaces formed with a series of spaced projections to provide an interlock with adjacent blocks when laid on a surface, the spaced projections being related to the geometrical configuration of the block, and in which at least one of the parallel surfaces is patterned in relief in a manner based at least in part on the geometrical configuration as extended over that one surface.

3. A paving block as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the patterning is confined to the surface of the spaced projections.

4. A paving block as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 in which the patterning comprises a series of grooves.

5. A paving block as claimed in claim 4 in which the walls of the groove diverge in a direction away from the base of the groove.

6. A paving block as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 in which the patterning includes a series of discrete areas raised with respect to the remainder of the surface.

7. A paving block as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the pattern comprises a series of undulations across the surface.

8. A paving block as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 in which some of the grooves lie along lines parallel to parts of the contour of the side and end walls.

9. A paving block substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 2 or Figures 3-5, or Figure 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 8 or Figure 9 or Figures 10-12 or Figure 13 or Figure 14 or Figure 1 5 or Figure 1 6 or Figure 1 7 or Figure 1 8 of the accompanying drawings.