GB2355027A

GB2355027A - Demountable wall

Info

Publication number: GB2355027A
Application number: GB9923638A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Trevor Laubscher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-06
Filing date: 1999-10-06
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Also published as: GB9923638D0

Abstract

A wall, e.g. for a garden feature, comprises blocks formed with through holes 5 for the receipt of calibrated rods 1 which are driven into the ground and protrude from a laid course of bricks a sufficient distance to receive a given number of further courses. The blocks may have end-and top- spacers 6,7, respectively, and blocks for the top course may have blind bores so as to present a plain upper surface.

Description

2355027 GA"EN FEATURE WALL SYSTEM This invention relates to a system for

erecting a small garden feature wall without special tools or mortar.

Garden feature walls are used for separating one form of landscaping from another. They are also employed when there is a requirement to hold back a different level of ground or landscaping material from each other, as a small retaining wall, or they can be used for delineating one area of a garden from another for example: a lawn from a path, a gravel area from a lawn, or combinations of garden surface features from each other. They are generally constructed by providing a base of concrete, usually a shallow depth of foundation, and then building the wall on top of this foundation to the desired level by the use of bricks, decorative blocks or stone blocks, The materials used for the bricks and blocks are varied. These can be made of ceramic materials, plastic materials, concrete materials (with or without decorative finishes and various colours), re- constituted stone materials and other man-made materials offering a good degree of wear and lasting strength. They can also be constructed from natural materials such as wood, reeds, canes. Some retaining walls consist of natural wooden poles or planks sunk into the ground with or without a foundation of concrete or stone.

Retaining walls made of blocks or bricks, where a low garden feature wall is required, are generally expensive and time consuming to construct with the need for specialist skills with regards to brick or block laying. Once built garden feature walls are a permanent fixture requiring demolition works to remove.

According to the present invention there is a system whereby a low feature or retaining wall can be assembled and disassembled with minimum preparation and skills, in the form of a system comprising blocks made of various materials, preformed with index holes and fitted with pre-formed, integral or loose spacers. The first row of blocks are positioned on the ground and then fixed by rods of various precalibrated lengths through the pre-formed holes in the blocks to allow further blocks to interlock above and thereby build a feature wall without specialist tools or skills. The rods are provided in calibrated lengths to allow walls of differing heights to be constructed and are pre marked for ease of positioning. The blocks are provided in differing texture, colour, size and finish to allow a completed wall to be constructed as though produced conventionally. The finished wall can be straight, curved or angular. The wall can easily be moved.

A specific application of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure I shows the ground prepared and levelled accepting the first row of blocks in front elevation.

Figure 2 shows the ground prepared and levelled accepting the first row of blocks in plan view. Figure 3 shows the first row of blocks in front elevation fitted with precalibrated rods (1) positioned through the preformed holes of the blocks to accept a wall three courses of blocks high. The final precalibrated rod is still to be driven into the ground on the right hand side of the drawing. Figure 4 shows the second row of blocks in front elevation fitted with blocks of various sizes (2) and (3) positioned through their respective pre-formed holes of the blocks onto the pre-calibrated rods. Figure 5 shows the completed wall, finished with topping blocks (9) which are part drilled to provide an unbroken, aesthetically acceptable, topping to the wall. Figure 6 shows a standard block comprising index holes (5) and end alignment ribs (6) which allow the blocks to be self aligning with respect to further courses. The block also has face ribs (7) on one face which separates the blocks sufficiently to present the appearance of conventional coursing. Topping blocks are not fitted with face ribs. End blocks are fitted with edge ribs on one edge only.

Referring to the drawings the system comprises pre-calibrated rods (1) which are driven into the ground, by pushing or hammering, and predrilled ribbed and formed blocks (2) and (3), which are positioned over the rods to form a low feature garden wall.

In order to construct a low feature garden wall the ground is first levelled to accept the first row of blocks. This levelling of the ground as shown in figure (1) can be stepped (not shown) or flat. The first row of blocks are placed touching each other thereby allowing the index holes in the first row of blocks to align with subsequent rows of blocks. A 45' block (3) is positioned with its respective ribs touching the standard blocks (2). Pre calibrated rods are then hammered into the ground up to their respective calibration markers (4), through the now positioned blocks pre-formed holes, thus securing the blocks in place and providing a means for the next rows of blocks to be accurately positioned. An end block (8) is fitted to each end of the wall with standard and comer blocks fitted in place to make up the second course. The topping blocks (9), as shown in figure 5, are now fitted to the rods to complete the wall.

The blocks can also be supplied without pre-calibrated ribs in which instance the blocks are positioned with spacer pieces in between to achieve the desired, calibrated spacing.

Should the wall need to be disassembled (or moved to another location) the procedure is carried out in reverse sequence.

Claims

I A garden feature wall system comprising blocks, pre-formed with index holes and fitted with pre-formed, integral spacers where the blocks are positioned on the ground and then fixed by metal or plastic rods of various pre-calibrated lengths through the pre-formed holes in the blocks to allow further blocks to slide over the rods above and thereby construct a feature wall which can be easily moved.
2 A garden feature wall system as claimed in claim 1, where the rods are provided in differing pre-calibrated lengths to allow walls of different heights to be constructed.
3 A garden feature wall as claimed in claim I or claim 2, where the blocks are manufactured without pre-formed integral spacers.
4 A garden feature wall system as claimed in claim I or claim 2 or claim 3, where the system is provided with loose spacers for positioning the blocks.
A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the final row of blocks' index holes are formed part way through the blocks.
6 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the final row of blocks' index holes are formed part way through the blocks and the blocks are of a larger area with the tops sloped to an apex to provide a decorative final row.
7 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the final row of blocks' index holes are formed part way through the blocks and the blocks are of a larger area with the tops forming a convex curve to provide a decorative final row.
8 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the blocks are manufactured of coloured concrete.
9 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the blocks are manufactured of textured concrete.
A garden feature wall system as claimed in claims 8 and 9 where the concrete has the addition of expanded polystyrene beads.
11 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the blocks are manufactured of reconstituted stone.
12 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the blocks are manufactured of textured plastic materials.
13 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the blocks are manufactured of coloured plastic materials.
14 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the blocks are manufactured of ceramic materials.
A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the blocks are manufactured such as to allow curved walls to be built.
16 A garden feature wall system as claimed in all preceding claim, where the blocks are manufactured such as to allow angular walls to be built.
17 A garden feature wall system substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.