GB2432869A

GB2432869A - Paving system

Info

Publication number: GB2432869A
Application number: GB0524718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Poole; Roger Andrew Wilfred Taylor
Original assignee: Marshalls Mono Ltd
Current assignee: Marshalls Mono Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-03
Filing date: 2005-12-03
Publication date: 2007-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-03
Also published as: GB0524718D0; GB2432869B

Abstract

The paving system comprises a number of paving blocks 1,2,3,4,5 that are shaped with first and second opposed curved edges and designed so that a number of blocks can be fitted together end to end to form a strip of paving in the form of a wave, the form of which enables a number of identical strips to be placed adjacent one another. Each curved edge is preferably generated by an arc, the arc of each edge being centred on a point spaced from the centre of the other arc. Each curved edge is preferably elliptical with the strip resembling a sinusoidal wave. The curved edges are preferably connected by non-curved edges which extend at a ninety degree angle to the direction of a strip of paving. Five or seven blocks preferably form one wavelength on a strip of paving and the paving can be formed so that there is a staggered bond 10 between adjacent strips.

Description

PAVING

The invention relates to paving.

It is well known to provide paving modules with curved edges, for example to enable areas to be paved with concentric circular sections of paving, as an alternative to straight edge paving. However, the modules for each of the concentric circles have to be individually formed, as they will not otherwise mate correctly.

The invention provides paving modules each having an outer curved edge and an inner curved edge, at least part of each edge being generated by a curved line, the curved line associated with the outer edge having an origin which is spaced from the origin of the curved line associated with the inner edge, such that the modules can be fitted together end to end to provide a strip of paving which has the form of a wave, the manner in which the inner and outer edges are generated making it possible for additional identical strips to be fitted against the inner or outer edges of the said strip, thus allowing unlimited expansion of the paving in any direction.

Each curved edge may be generated by an arc, the arc associated with the outer edge having a centre point which is spaced from the centre point of the arc associated with the inner edge.

Alternatively, a different curvature may be used. The curved edges may for example be elliptical.

Preferably the wave resembles a sinusoidal wave.

Preferably a set of modules is provided, the modules of the set making up one wavelength, when fitted together end to end.

The set preferably comprises five modules.

However, the module may comprise other numbers of modules, for example seven.

s The set of modules may be provided in combination with auxiliary modules, shaped to provide a straight edge to an area of paving.

A preferred wavelength is 3.00 metres, including any joints.

A preferred width for the strip is 0.30 metres, including any joints.

Preferably, the ends of the modules are straight, and are such that when a strip of wave form paving is laid, the straight ends extend in a direction which is at 900 to the longitudinal axis of the wave.

The modules are preferably such that the modules of one strip of paving can be staggered with respect to the modules of an adjacent strip, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the wave, to give a staggered bond.

The invention also provides paving modules each having an outer curved edge and an inner curved edge, the modules being capable of being fitted together end to end to provide a strip of paving which has the form of a wave, with peaks and troughs, the curved edges having rotational symmetry where each peak turns into a trough, this symmetry making it possible for additional identical strips to be fitted against the inner and outer edges of the said strip, thus allowing unlimited expansion of the paving in any direction.

The set of modules is preferably such that it can be mated with other paving modules, for example a curved line of sets, to create a variety of different visualeffects.

Different modules may have different colours, shades, or textures, to add to the visual effects that can be created.

By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows first embodiments of paving modules according to the invention, fitted together end to end to form the strip of paving which has the form of a wave; Figure 2 shows four of the strips as shown in Figure 1, fitted together edge to io edge to expand the area of paving; Figure 3 shows in more detail the five modules used to make up the strip shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a modified version of Figure 2, showing how some alternative modules may be provided to give a straight edge to an area of paving which is principally in wave form; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing an embodiment of the invention where seven modules are used to make up each strip, rather than five modules; Figure 6 shows in more detail the modules of Figure 5; and Figure 7 shows modules in use with the other paving material.

Figure 1 shows seven paving modules fitted together end to end to make up a strip of paving which has the form of a wave. The wave resembles a sinusoidal wave.

In order to create a wave-like outer edge and a wave-like inner edge, five slightly different shapes of module are used, numbered 1 to 5. The sixth and seventh modules shown in Figure 1, at the left hand of the figure, also comprise modules 4 and 5. This demonstrates how more of the modules can be fitted together end to end, to give the strip any desired length.

To show how the shapes of the modules are created, Figure 1 is provided with an x axis and y axis.

The ends 10 of the module are straight, and are all parallel to the x axis. By adding more and more of the modules 1 to 5, the length of the strip can be extended as desired in the direction of the y axis.

Conventional curved paving, for example used to provide concentric circles, must necessarily have inner and outer edges which have different radii. This means that the modules of each concentric circle are not identical to the modules of each other concentric circle and if it is desired, say, to have four concentric circles, modules having four different forms of curvature must be manufactured. It is desired to extend the curved paving further in the outward or inner direction, additional, different, modules have to be manufactured.

The modules which make up the wave form in Figure 1 have inner and outer curved surfaces which are such that identical strips can be used to extend the paved area inwardly or outwardly, to any desired extent. Figure 2 shows how four strips may be used. The modules having 180 rotational symmetry where each wave trough turns into a wave peak. The modules of each strip can be staggered in the longitudinal direction with respect to the modules of adjacent strips, so that staggered bond joints are achieved. In other words ends 10 of one strip are not aligned with ends 10 of adjacent strips.

The reason why the modules shown in Figure 2 can fit together in the perfectly mated manner shown is because the inner and outer edges of each module are generated using an arc which has a different centre point. Referring to the left hand side of Figure 1, it can be seen that the outer edges 11 of the modules 1 and 5 are generated using an arc which has a centre point 12.

However, the inner edges 13 are generated using an arc which has a centre point 14. The centre point 14 is spaced from the centre point 12 by a distance of 0.30 metres, in the direction of the x axis.

The modules at the right hand side of Figure 1 have curved edges which are generated in a similar manner, but using arcs which have spaced apart centres and 16.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 1, the generating arcs have a radius of 2.15 metres and the strip of paving has a wave length of 3.00 metres, io including 3 mm joints.

The 0.30 metre spacing of the centre points 12 and 14 also allows for a 3 mm joint between adjacent strips of wave-like paving.

is Figure 3 shows in more detail the shapes of the individual modules I to 5.

Each module has a length of 597 mm. This, with a 3 mm joint, gives a unit length of 600 mm. Since five modules make up each wave, it will be appreciated why the wave length is 3.00 metres.

Each end 10 of each module has a length of 297 mm. This, with a 3 mm joint, gives a width of 0.30 metres for each strip.

The extent to which the right-hand end of each module is shifted in the direction of the x axis, with respect to the left hand end of the module is shown in Figure 3.

In some circumstances, it may be desired to finish an area of wave form paving with a straight edge. This can be achieved by using the auxiliary modules IA to 5A, as shown in Figure 4.

Although it is preferred to make up each strip of wave form paving using five modules, other arrangements are possible, and Figures 5 and 6 illustrate strips made up from seven different modules.

Although Figure 4 shows how a straight edge can be provided, the strips of modules can also be combined with other forms of paving to provide a variety of visual effects. For example, Figure 7 shows how groups of staggered bond s strips 17, 18, 19 are combined with curved lines of sets 20, to provide one particular visual effect.

Many other effects are possible. Different colours, shades and textures may be used. For example in Figure 7, the sets 20 are of a darker shade than the curved modules.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s).

The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. Paving modules each having an outer curved edge and an inner

curved edge, at least part of each edge being generated by a curved line, the curved line associated with the outer edge having an origin which is spaced from the origin of the curved line associated with the inner edge, such that the modules can be fitted together end to end to provide a strip of paving which has the form of a wave, the manner in which the inner and outer edges are generated making it possible for additional identical strips to be fitted against the inner or outer edges of the said strip, thus allowing unlimited expansion of the paving in any direction.

2. Paving modules as claimed in claim 1, in which each curved edge is generated by an arc, the arc associated with the outer edge having a centre point which is spaced from the centre point of the arc associated with the inner edge.

3. Paving modules as claimed in claim 1, in which each curved edge is elliptical.

4. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the wave resembles a sinusoidal wave.

5. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a set of modules, the modules of the set making up one wavelength, when fitted together end to end.

6. Paving modules as claimed in claim 5, comprising a set of five modules.

7. Paving modules as claimed in claim 5, comprising a set of seven modules.

8. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, provided in combination with auxiliary modules, shaped to provide a straight edge to an area of paving.

9. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a set of modules arrangeable to provide a wavelength of 3.00 metres, including any joints.

10. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the width of joint strips is 0.30 metres, including any joints.

11. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ends of the modules are straight, and are such that when a strip of wave form paving is laid, the straight ends extend in a direction which is at 900 to the longitudinal axis of the wave.

12. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the modules being such that the modules of one strip of paving can be staggered with respect to the modules of an adjacent strip, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the wave, to give a staggered bond.

13. Paving modules each having an outer curved edge and an inner curved edge, the modules being capable of being fitted together end to end to provide a strip of paving which has the form of a wave, with peaks and troughs, the curved edges having rotational symmetry where each peak turns into a trough, this symmetry making it possible for additional identical strips to be fitted against the inner and outer edges of the said strip, thus allowing unlimited expansion of the paving in any direction.

14. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a set of modules such that the set can be mated with other paving modules, for example a curved line of sets, to create a variety of different visual effects.

15. Paving modules as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having different colours, shades, or textures, to add to the visual effects that can be created.

16. Paving modules constructed and arranged substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.