GB2257168A

GB2257168A - Paving bricks for constructing steps

Info

Publication number: GB2257168A
Application number: GB9112394A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-10
Filing date: 1991-06-10
Publication date: 1993-01-06
Also published as: GB9112394D0

Abstract

A paving brick (10), suitable for interlocking with slabs (12) or other interlocking paving bricks to form a step, has a first face (13) intended to form the riser of the step and a second face (14), generally perpendicular to the face (13), intended to form at least part of the tread of the step. A lower recess (20) is formed perpendicular to the side face of the brick (10) adjacent to the riserface (13) at its lower edge. Recess (20) is in the shape of a right-angled groove sized so that it can interlock with a conventional paving slab (12) or with a similar, upper recess of another interconnecting brick (10). The paving bricks are especially suited to being laid side by side to form the width of the step and may have protrusions and/or indentations on their side faces to aid in correct laying of the bricks. A flight of steps may have corner bricks (11) having two generally perpendicular riser faces (15, 16) forming the corner of each step, and a tread face (17) perpendicular to the riserfaces (15, 16). <IMAGE>

Description

PAVING BRICKS FOR CONSTRUCTING STEPS This invention relates to paving bricks used for constructing steps.

It is usual to use conventional paving bricks or slabs to construct flights of steps, as shown in Figure 1.

This necessitates the use of formwork to produce a bedding 1 of the correct shape on which to lay paving slabs 2, which can be complicated and time-consuming. Pointing 3 between the slabs 2 is necessary to secure them in place, and this is generally visible near the top of the riser of the step, which is unsightly. There is also a tendency for the slab 4 forming the tread of the step to become lifted in use of the steps.

This invention seeks to alleviate these problems by providing paving bricks for constructing steps which may be laid without the need for formwork, and which are securely located without pointing.

According to the present invention, there is provided a paving brick for constructing at least part of a step, said brick having first and second generally mutually perpendicular faces having a common edge, said first face being intended to form at least part of the riser of said step and said second face being intended to form at least part of the tread of said step, said brick also having a region adjacent an edge of the first face opposite said common edge which region is shaped so as to interlock with another paving brick or slab located below said first face.

Preferably, a region of the brick adjacent an edge of the second face opposite said common edge is also shaped to interlock with another paving brick or slab which forms another part of the tread of the step or at least a part of the step above the said step. In particular, the other paving brick or slab forms part of the depth of the tread of the step, or at least a part of the height of the riser of the step above the said step.

In one embodiment, the brick has a third face which is perpendicular to and has a common edge with each of the first and second faces, said third face being intended to form another part of the riser at a corner of the step, and a region of said brick adjacent an edge of said third face opposite the common edge with the second face is also shaped so as to interlock with another paving brick or slab located below said third face.

In one example, the or each of the regions is shaped to form a right-angled recess intended to receive either a corner edge of a conventional paving brick or slab or a corner edge of another paving brick in accordance with the present invention.

Preferably, one face of the brick forms the entire height of the riser of the step, so that no unsightly join is visible. The brick is not liable to lifting since it interlocks with the step below. The bricks with which it interlocks may be either conventional paving slabs forming the rear portion of the tread of each adjacent step, or other interlocking paving bricks according to the invention. In the latter case, one face of each block forms the entire height of the riser of each step.

The interlocking bricks are intended to be laid side by side to form the width of each step. One or both of the side faces may be provided with cooperable locating means, for example protruding and recessed parts, to enable them to be more easily laid in alignment with each other.

One or both of the side faces may further be provided with spacing ridges to produce a regular small gap between each brick. As an additional or alternative feature, a shaped indentation is formed in one face of the brick in order to indicate the intended orientation of the brick when used to form the step.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side view of steps in accordance with a prior art construction, as described hereinabove; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a flight of steps incorporating interlocking paving bricks according to one embodiment of the invention; Figures 3a, b and c are a side view, top view and elevation view respectively of a paving brick of Figure 2; Figures 4a, b and c are a side view, top view and elevation view respectively of a corner brick of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic sectional side view of the steps of Figure 2 taken along the line V-V; Figure 6 is a schematic sectional side view of the steps of Figure 2 taken along the line VI-VI;; Figure 7 is a sectional side view of steps incorporating interlocking bricks according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of an interlocking brick according to yet another embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 shows alternative shapes of a corner block; and Figure 10 shows alternative shapes of flights of steps incorporating the blocks of Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 2, a flight of steps abuts a rear wall 6, and has a front edge 7 and two side edges 8,9. The steps are constructed using interlocking paving bricks 10, and interlocking corner bricks 11 according to the invention, together with conventional paving slabs or bricks 12. The interlocking bricks 10 are placed side by side and each have a first face 13 to form the riser of each step, and a second face 14 generally perpendicular to the first face 13 to form the front portion of the tread of each step at the front 7 of the flight, and the entire depth of the tread of each step at the sides 8,9 of the flight.

The corner bricks 11 each have two generally perpendicular riser faces 15,16 to form the corner of the riser of each step, and a tread face 17 generally perpendicular to the riser faces 15,16.

As shown in Figures 3a to 3c, an interlocking brick 10 has two side faces 18,19 generally parallel to each other. A lower recess 20 is formed perpendicular to the side faces and adjacent the riser face 13 at the lower edge 21 thereof. A similar upper recess 22 is provided at the opposite corner of çhe brick 10 and parallel to the lower recess 20, adjacent the tread face 14, at the rear edge 23 thereof. The recesses are in the shape of right-angled grooves sized so that the lower recess 20 may interlock with a conventional paving slab 12, as shown in Figure 5; or alternatively, the lower recess 20 of one brick 10 may interlock with the upper recess 22 of another brick 10, accommodating the rear edge 23 of the brick, as shown in Figure 6.

Each corner brick 11 has one generally flat face 24 and a lower recess 25, similar in shape to those formed in the interlocking brick 10, and extending around the other three sides 26,27,28 of the brick 11, as shown in Figures 4a to 4c. This allows the brick 11 to be used on either corner of a flight of steps, with recesses on two adjacent sides 26,27 or 27,28 interlocking with another paving brick in each case, in a similar manner as described above.

As shown in Figures 3a to 3c, the interlocking bricks 10 have two spacers 29,30 in the form of parallel small ridges formed on one side face 18, to form a regular small gap between the bricks when laid side by side in a similar manner to conventional paving slabs. The gap may be filled with fine sand such as silver sand. An arrow shaped indentation 31 formed in a side face 18 of the brick provides an indication of the intended orientation of the brick 10.

Referring also to Figures 5 and 6, to construct the steps of Figure 2, bricks 32 are laid around the three edges 7,8,9 of the intended position of the flight, and the base area enclosed by the bricks 32 is filled with lean mix concrete 33 up to the level of the top of the bricks 32.

Paving slabs 12 are laid on the bricks 32 in alignment with the edge of the base area. The first step is constructed by laying interlocking corner bricks 11 with the lower recess 25 interlocking with the inner corners of the paving slabs 12 along two of the sides 26,27 and 27,28 of each corner brick. Interlocking bricks 10 are laid along the edges 7,8,9 between the corner bricks 11 with the lower recess 20 of each brick 10 interlocking with the paving slabs 12.

The area enclosed by the bricks is filled with blocks 34 of light concrete mix, or breeze blocks, up to the level of the upper recesses 22 of the interlocking bricks 10. Further paving slabs 12 are placed in the upper recesses 22 of the bricks 10 which form the front edge 7 of the step, and rest on the blocks 34. A new edge is thus formed of paving slabs 12 at the front 7 of the flight, and interlocking bricks 10,11 at the sides 8,9. More interlocking bricks 10,11 are laid around the new edge to form the second step. This process is repeated until the required number of steps have been constructed.

The area enclosed by the bricks may alternatively be filled with concrete instead of blocks, but in either case this may be done as each layer of interlocking bricks forming a step is laid, without the need for formwork.

Referring to Figure 8, notches 35 may be provided on a brick 10 below the upper recess 22 on the inside face 36 of the brick. When concrete is poured into the area enclosed by the bricks, it will fill the notches 35 and help to secure them in position. Also shown in Figure 8, an indentation 37 may be formed in one side face 18 of the block 10 and a corresponding protrusion (not shown) may be formed on the other side face 19. The indentations 37 and protrusions fit together when the bricks are laid side by side and locate them in correct alignment.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which the interlocking bricks 10 have a lower recess 38 only, with the opposite corner 39 of the brick abutting a paving slab 40 forming part of the tread of the step.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, flights of steps of different shapes may be constructed using other corner bricks. A corner brick 41 having two riser faces 42,43 at an angle of 450 may be used to construct the flight 44 of steps wherein the sides 45,46 of the steps are at an angle of 450 to the front 47 of the steps. Alternatively, a corner brick 48 having a rounded riser face 49 may be used in the flight 50 of steps.

This invention is advantageous in that it can save time in the construction of steps since no bedding or pointing is necessary. Also there is no need for formwork before starting to lay the steps. Since each tier of the steps locks together with the previous one, the downward force of the weight of the steps tends to reinforce the locking, and thus provides a simple and yet stable construction. The bricks can easily be made in a mould, and due to the fact that they can be arranged in an interlocking configuration no space is wasted in the mould. Furthermore they can easily be stacked.

Whilst various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be appreciated that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the locating protrusions and recesses provided on the side faces of the interlocking bricks, which are shown as part-conical in Figure 8, may have any other suitable shape.

Although the flight of steps as illustrated and described has steps at the sides and at the front, a flight of steps constructed in accordance with the present invention may alternatively have vertical retaining walls at one or both sides.

Claims

1. A paving brick for constructing at least part of a step, said brick having first and second generally mutually perpendicular faces having a common edge, said first face being intended to form at least part of the riser of said step and said second face being intended to form at least part of the tread of said step, said brick also having a region adjacent an edge of the first face opposite said common edge which region is shaped so as to interlock with another paving brick or slab located below said first face.

2. A brick according to claim 1, wherein a region of the brick adjacent an edge of the second face opposite said common edge is also shaped to interlock with another paving brick or slab which forms another part of the tread of said step or at least a part of an adjacent step above said step.

3. A brick according to claim 2, wherein said other paving brick or slab forms part of the depth of the tread of said step, or at least a part of the height of the riser of the adjacent step above said step.

4. A paving brick for constructing at least part of a step, said brick having first and second generally mutually perpendicular faces having a common edge, said first face being intended to form at least part of the riser of said step and said second face being intended to form at least part of the tread of said step, the brick also having a region adjacent an edge of at least one of the first and second faces opposite said common edge which region is shaped so as to interlock with another paving brick or slab forming at least part of an adjacent step located above or below said step.

5. A brick according to claim 4, and having a region adjacent an edge of each of said first and second faces opposite said common edge, said region adjacent said first face being shaped to interlock with another paving brick or slab forming at least part of the adjacent step located below said step and said region adjacent said second face being shaped to interlock with another paving brick or slab forming another part of the tread of said step or at least a part of the adjacent step located above said step.

6. A brick according to any preceding claim, iricluding a third face which is perpendicular to and has a common edge with each of the first and second faces, said third face being intended to form another part of the riser at a corner of said step, and a region of said brick adjacent an edge of said third face opposite the common edge with the second face is also shaped so as to interlock with another paving brick or slab located below said third face.

7. A brick according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each region is shaped to form a right-angled recess intended to receive either a corner edge of a conventional paving brick or slab or a corner edge of another interlocking paving brick of similar construction.

8. A brick according to any preceding claim, wherein one face of the brick forms the entire height of the riser of the step, so that no join is visible.

9. A brick according to any preceding claim, wherein the bricks or slabs with which it interlocks are conventional paving slabs forming the rear portion of the tread of each adjacent step.

10. A brick according to any preceding claim, wherein the bricks with which it interlocks are other interlocking paving bricks of similar construction.

11. A brick according to claim 10, wherein one face of each brick forms the entire height of the riser of each step.

12. A brick according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of interlocking bricks are intended to be laid side by side to form the width of said step.

13. A brick according to claim 12, wherein one or both of its side faces are provided with coopeable locking means to enable them to be more easily laid in alignment with each other.

14. A brick according to claim 13, wherein one or both of its side faces are further provided with spacing ridges to produce a regular small gap between adjacent bricks.

15. A brick according to any preceding claim, wherein a shaped indentation is formed in one face of the brick in order to indicate the intended orientation of the brick when used to form said step.

16. A paving brick substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 to 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 8 or Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.