GB2588987A

GB2588987A - Kerbstone and kerb construction method employing same

Info

Publication number: GB2588987A
Application number: GB2007267.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Comer Lee
Original assignee: Jason Butterworth; Michael Dean Story
Current assignee: Jason Butterworth; Michael Dean Story
Priority date: 2019-05-16
Filing date: 2020-05-15
Publication date: 2021-05-19
Also published as: GB201906908D0; GB202007267D0

Abstract

The kerb 1 comprises a lower portion 10 for mounting in the road and an upper portion 20 for mounting on the lower portion wherein the portions comprise interlocking elements. Both portions may comprise an elongate block and the upper portion may further comprise an inclined face 26. The inter-engagement element may comprise a channel or groove 12 in one portion and a reciprocating protrusion or rib 22 on the other. Preferably, the channel is in the lower portion and the protrusion on the upper. A plurality of inter-engaging elements may be arranged longitudinally along the kerb. The portions may be bonded together using cement or mortar in gaps 14 between the engaging elements. Also claimed is a kit of parts for forming kerbstones, a method of constructing said kerbstones and a kerb of a plurality of kerbstones. The method may involve using a temporary fillet to protect the lower portion before addition of the second portion.

Description

KERBSTONE AND KERB CONSTRUCTION METHOD EMPLOYING SAME

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a kerbstone. It further relates to a method of constructing a kerb employing any number of the kerbstones, and to kits comprising such kerbstones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

In the construction of roads, pavements and paths a kerb is generally required to be constructed on at least one lateral side thereof, in order to define and form an edging or border of the usable road, pavement or path surface. The kerb serves not only to demarcate and strengthen the edge or border region of the usable road, pavement or path surface, but it also serves to define and form a stable edging of the ground construction immediately adjacent the usable road, pavement or path surface, which is typically raised in height compared with the usable road, pavement or path surface. A common example of such a kerb installation is that which defines a stepped border or boundary region between a road or path surface usable by motor vehicles or cyclists and a pavement extending laterally adjacent thereto.

Typically a kerb is formed from a series of elongate, narrow stone or concrete blocks, called kerbstones, which are laid end-to-end and cemented in place during the construction of the road, pavement or path. In many conventional road or path construction methods, once one or more basal layers of the road or path have been formed or laid, a series of temporary blocks are laid end to end to define what will become in effect a lateral trench or channel in which the finally laid kerbstones will be accommodated in the finished road/path construction. Once the temporary blocks have been installed, subsequent groundworks adjacent thereto can be completed so as to stably build up one or more intermediate and/or upper layers of the road or path, this being done up to and against the laid temporary blocks which therefore define a stable but temporary edging to the road or path's lateral boundary.

Prior to laying the final top layer of the road or path, the temporary blocks are removed and usually discarded, and replaced with a series of permanent kerbstones of a desired material, colour, profile, etc. The final top finish layer of the road or path can then be laid or applied, including laterally up to and against the now permanently installed final kerbstones, to form a stable and secure final kerb construction of the desired aesthetics.

This conventional kerb construction technique employing temporary blocks in the midway stages of the road or path construction comes with various disadvantages. For instance, the need to accurately lay but then subsequently remove the temporary blocks involves an additional operational stage which incurs added time and cost, which has economic ramifications for the overall cost of constructing the road or path. The fact that the temporary blocks are often discarded, or at least may be unable to be reused as a result of damage or disfigurement, also leads to unnecessary wastage. Moreover, the task of physically removing the pre-laid temporary blocks after the intermediate and/or upper layer(s) groundworks have been completed can itself prove difficult and time consuming, and it may even lead to damage or disturbance of those completed groundworks themselves in the vicinity of the road or path edge region(s) immediately adjacent to which the temporary blocks need to be removed before they can be replaced with the final permanent kerbstones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to ameliorate, or at least partially solve, at least some of the above problems associated with known kerbstones and known kerb construction methods.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the present invention provides a kerbstone for use in the construction of a kerb adjacent a road, pavement or path, the kerbstone comprising: a first, lower portion for mounting in a layer of the road, pavement or path; and a second, upper portion for mounting on or against the first, lower portion; wherein the first and/or second portions comprise interengagement means by which the first and second portions are engageable with each other in the forming of the kerb.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided, as a kit or set of component parts, a plurality of assemblable kerbstones for use in the construction of a kerb adjacent a road, pavement or path, wherein the kit or set comprises: a plurality of first kerbstone portions for constituting or forming respective lower portions of respective ones of the plurality of kerbstones, each said first portion being for mounting in a layer of the road, pavement or path adjacent to which the kerb is to be constructed; and a plurality of second kerbstone portions for constituting or forming respective upper portions of respective ones of the plurality of kerbstones, each respective second portion being mountable on or against a respective first portion for forming a respective one of the plurality of kerbstones; wherein the first and/or second portions of each respective pair of the first and second portions comprise interengagement means by which the first and second portions of the said respective pair are engageable with each other in the forming of the kerb.

In embodiments of the kit or set of the above second aspect, each one of the respective pluralities of first and second kerbstone portions may each correspond to a or a respective kerbstone portion of a kerbstone according to the first aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof.

In a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of constructing a kerb adjacent a road, pavement or path, the method comprising: providing at least one kerbstone according to the first aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof; mounting the first, lower portion of the said kerbstone in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof; and mounting the second, upper portion of the said kerbstone on or against the first, lower portion thereof, with the said interengagement means engaging together the first and second portions to form the said kerbstone.

In a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a kerb constructed from a plurality of kerbstones each independently being a kerbstone according to the first aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof, or constructed by a method according to the third aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof.

In many embodiments of the above-defined kerb construction method, the step of mounting the first, lower portion of the said kerbstone in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof may be carried out prior to, especially in a discrete separate step prior to, the step of mounting the second, upper portion of the said kerbstone on or against the first, lower portion thereof, with the said interengagement means engaging together the first and second portions to form the said kerbstone. In other words, the latter step of mounting the second, upper portion of the said kerbstone on or against the first, lower portion thereof, with the said interengagement means engaging together the first and second portions, may be carried out subsequent to, especially in a discrete separate step subsequent to, the former step of mounting the first, lower portion of the said kerbstone in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof.

In embodiments of the above-defined kerb construction method, the layer of the road, pavement or path in which is mounted the first, lower portion of the said kerbstone during the construction of that layer may be a basal or intermediate layer of the road, pavement or path. Thus, in practising some embodiments of the above-defined kerb construction method, in the step of mounting the or respective ones of the first, lower portions of the said kerbstones in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof, the said first, lower portion(s) may be mounted in a basal or intermediate layer of the road, pavement or path during the construction of that basal or intermediate layer.

In practising some embodiments of the above-defined kerb construction method, the method may comprise constructing the kerb using a plurality of the said kerbstones, the respective first, lower and second, upper portions of the respective kerbstones being formed from a kit or set of component parts according to the second aspect of the invention.

Thus, in such practical embodiments of the above-defined kerb construction method, the method may comprise: providing the components of a plurality of kerbstones according to the first aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof; mounting respective ones of the first, lower portions of the said kerbstones in a layer, especially a basal or intermediate layer, of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof; and mounting respective ones of the second, upper portions of the said kerbstones on or against the respective first, lower portions thereof, with the respective said interengagement of the respective said kerbstones engaging together the respective first and second portions thereof to form the respective said kerbstones.

In some such embodiment methods the plurality of kerbstones may form a complete kerb (according to the fourth aspect of the invention) by virtue of being mounted in a longitudinal or linear end-to-end series or array, which may be either substantially straight or alternatively may be curved or otherwise of a non-straight, especially a non-straight linear, configuration. Thus, in such embodiments, in the step of mounting respective ones of the first, lower portions of the said kerbstones in a layer, especially a basal or intermediate layer, of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof, the said respective first lower portions of the respective said kerbstones may be mounted in the said layer of the road, pavement or path, during the formation thereof, in a longitudinal or linear end-to-end series or array, especially so as to abut or to be bonded to neighbouring ones thereof in the series or array.

In forming embodiments of such kerbs or kerb sections comprising longitudinal or linear end-to-end series or arrays of kerbstones according to embodiments of the invention, the upper kerbstone portions in an upper longitudinal or linear end-to-end series or array and the lower kerbstone portions in a lower longitudinal or linear end-to-end series or array may be either (i) substantially in-register with one another in respective upper and lower pairs, with the longitudinal sides of each pair of lower and upper portions being substantially in-line with or contiguous with one another, or alternatively (ii) substantially out-of-register with or staggered with respect to one another in respective upper and lower pairs, with the longitudinal sides of each pair of lower and upper portions being substantially out-of-line with or non-contiguous with or staggered with respect to one another.

In some practical embodiments of the invention in its various aspects, the or each respective first, lower portion of the or each respective kerbstone may comprise an elongate generally rectangular-sectioned block, e.g. of stone, concrete, ceramic or other suitable natural or synthetic material, which may be formed by cutting, machining or moulding, as appropriate.

Likewise, in some practical embodiments of the invention in its various aspects, the or each respective second, upper portion of the or each respective kerbstone may comprise an elongate block of any suitable desired profile shape, e.g. shaped with a rounded or inclined/sloping face for forming an exposed edge face of the resulting kerb, such as a bull-nosed or "half-batter" type kerbstone. As another optional alternative, in order to form a "dropped" kerb, a second, upper portion of a or a respective kerbstone may comprise a ramped or sloping-topped block, i.e. ramped or sloping in a longitudinal direction along the length thereof.

The or each respective second, upper kerbstone portion may likewise be formed (again e.g. by cutting, machining or moulding, as appropriate) from any suitable or desired material, e.g. stone, concrete, ceramic or other suitable natural or synthetic material, which may for example be selected depending on the final aesthetics desired of the resulting kerb, such as any of colour, surface texture, toughness, durability or other desirable properties thereof.

It may, however, be possible within the scope of the invention for the lower and upper kerbstone portions to be formed from different materials.

In embodiments of the invention in its various aspects, the interengagement means, which enable the first and second portions of the or each respective kerbstone to engage with each other, may take various forms.

In some such embodiment forms the interengagement means may comprise one or more first engagement elements or features carried on or formed in one of the first and second kerbstone portions, and one or more second engagement elements or features carried on or formed in the other of the first and second kerbstone portions, wherein the first and second engagement elements or features are interengageable to engage the first and second kerbstone portions together.

For example, the first engagement element(s) or feature(s) may comprise at least one recess, channel, trough or groove formed in the said one of the first and second kerbstone portions, especially in a respective engagement face or surface thereof, and the second engagement element(s) or feature(s) may comprise at least one protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder formed in the said other of the first and second kerbstone portions, especially in a respective engagement face or surface thereof. Any number of interengageable pairs of such recesses, channels, troughs or grooves and protrusions, spigots, tongues, ribs or shoulders in the respective kerbstone portions may be provided, e.g. 1, 2, 3 or 4 or even more than 4 thereof, with the optimum number of pairs depending for example on the amount of space available to accommodate them, the strength of the resulting interengagement required and/or the integrity of the material from which the respective kerbstone portions are made.

In some such embodiments the or each pair of interengageable recesses, channels, troughs or grooves and protrusions, spigots, tongues, ribs or shoulders may be oriented, arranged or configured longitudinally along or parallel to the length direction of the respective first and second kerbstone portions. However, in other embodiments any other suitable spatial orientation, arrangement or configuration thereof may be possible. Where plural such pairs of interengageable recesses, channels, troughs or grooves and protrusions, spigots, tongues, ribs or shoulders are provided, they may be equispaced and/or symmetrically oriented, arranged or configured relative to each other, or alternatively they may be non-equispaced or asymmetrically oriented, arranged or configured relative to each other. Alternatively still, one or more of a plurality of pairs of interengageable recesses, channels, troughs or grooves and protrusions, spigots, tongues, ribs or shoulders may have a spatial orientation, arrangement or configuration that is the same as or different from the spatial orientation, arrangement or configuration of one or more of the other pair(s) thereof.

Although in the preceding example embodiments it may in principle be possible for the at least one recess, channel, trough or groove (and likewise the at least one protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder) to be formed in either of the said first and second kerbstone portions, in many practical scenarios it may be desirable or preferred that the at least one recess, channel, trough or groove is/are formed in a respective first, lower kerbstone portion of the or each pair, and the at least one protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder is/are formed in a respective second, upper kerbstone portion of the or each pair. This is in order that, during the relevant groundworks stage(s) during which the first kerbstone portion(s) are or become mounted in the (preferably) basal or intermediate layer of the road, pavement or path, any breakage, damage or fouling of an exposed, e.g. upstanding, such protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder caused by building or engineering equipment or workers' feet may be substantially avoided.

Thus, in practising such preferred or desirable embodiments of the invention in which the at least one recess, channel, trough or groove is/are formed in a respective first, lower kerbstone portion of the or each pair, during or prior to the step of carrying out the one or more groundworks stage(s) in which one or more road, pavement or path basal or intermediate layer(s) is/are formed in which the respective first kerbstone portions are or become mounted, it may be desirable to have placed inside the or each respective recess, channel, trough or groove a or a respective appropriately shaped temporary fillet or insert member, which blocks the entrance to same and prevents ingress therein of dirt, soil or other unwanted material during that basal or intermediate layer groundworks stage. The temporary fillet or insert member may be inserted into the respective recess, channel, trough or groove either before or after the actual placement or mounting of the respective first, lower kerbstone portion in the road, pavement or path basal or intermediate layer(s).

Such a temporary fillet or insert member, which may usefully fit tightly within the respective recess, channel, trough or groove by virtue of being formed with an exterior shape which substantially matches or is geometrically similar to the interior shape of the respective recess, channel, trough or groove (although it may optionally be up to around 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5% smaller than the corresponding dimension(s) of the interior of the respective recess, channel, trough or groove in at least one, especially in at least 2, or optionally in 3, dimensions). Thus, in some example instances, especially those in which the or each first engagement element/feature in the or the respective first kerbstone portion comprises an elongate channel, trough or groove of a generally rectangular cross-section, the or each respective temporary fillet or insert member may simply take the form of an elongate strip with a similar rectangular cross-section. Of course, other cross-sectional shapes of the or each elongate channel, trough or groove and the or each respective temporary fillet or insert member may be possible.

Indeed, in some alternative example embodiments, the or each respective temporary fillet or insert member may, instead of having a simple rectangular cross-section, alternatively be formed with a T-shaped cross-section, in which the lower limb of the "T" substantially shape-matches and fits within the respective elongate recess, channel, trough or groove in the respective first, lower kerbstone portion, and the pair of upper limbs of the "T" are configured as a pair of oppositely extending flanges which abut and/or cover or overlay the upper face(s) or surface(s) of the or the respective first, lower kerbstone portion to either side of the recess, channel, trough or groove therein. This configuration of the pair of upper flanges of such a "T"-shaped fillet or insert member may thus serve to overlie and protect the upper face(s) or surface(s) of the or the respective first, lower kerbstone portion (especially substantially the whole of the upper face(s) or surface(s) thereof) during the subsequent basal or intermediate groundworks.

Furthermore, such an alternative "T"-shaped temporary fillet or insert member may have the upper, exposed faces or surfaces of its upper flange portions formed or painted with a suitable colour, e.g. yellow or red, in order to act as a warning or hazard indicator during the time period in which the fillet or insert member is in position on the or the respective first kerbstone portion and the or the respective second kerbstone portion has not yet been installed. This may help to prevent on-site workers or even members of the public treading or walking on a partially constructed kerb and potentially damaging it while in this partly-built state, and it may also help to avoid trip hazards for on-site workers or the public, especially when a given partially completed kerb construction operation or site needs to be temporarily left unattended.

The or each respective temporary fillet or insert member may be formed of e.g. wood, synthetic plastics material, or possibly even a ceramic, or other suitable material.

If desired, such a temporary fillet or insert member such as any of those mentioned above may be included as an additional component of any kit or set of component parts according to the second aspect of the invention or any embodiment thereof.

Once the relevant groundworks stage(s) have been completed in which the road, pavement or path basal or intermediate layer(s) is/are formed, whereby the respective first kerbstone portions have been or have become mounted therein, prior to mounting the respective second, upper kerbstone portion on the respective first, lower kerbstone portion of the pair the temporary fillet or insert member may simply be removed manually or with the aid of a suitable tool, and optionally then reused.

In some practical embodiment forms of the above interengagement means, the respective recess, channel, trough or groove (or other such first engagement elements or features) and the respective protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder (or other such second engagement elements or features) may be dimensioned relative to one another so as to form or leave one or more gaps or spaces between them, especially on at least one or alternatively on a plurality of sides thereof. Such gap(s), e.g. from about 0.5 or 1 or 1.5 up to around 2 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 8 or 10 mm, may preferably be of sufficient width or depth to accommodate therein an amount of mortar, cement, grout or resin (e.g. a conventional mortar, cement or grout, or even a resin or other synthetic plastics material that provides enhanced strength and/or bonding) that is sufficient to bond together the respective kerbstone portions via their respective interengageable engagement elements or features. Such mortar, cement, grout or resin may be applied or placed as necessary just prior to the mounting of the or the respective second, upper kerbstone portion on the or the respective first, lower kerbstone portion of the or each respective pair of kerbstone portions, as each whole kerbstone is formed during the overall construction of the kerb.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. Thus, any one or more features referred to or described with reference to one particular embodiment should be construed as being applicable to any or all embodiments, unless expressly stated otherwise or such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention in its various aspects will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a simplified end-on view of a two-part kerbstone in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of an edge region of a road and adjacent pavement construction in which a kerb is in the process of being formed, showing the road, pavement and kerb in an intermediate constructional stage in which the first, lower portion only of a kerbstone of FIG. 1 has been mounted in a basal or intermediate road layer during the construction thereof, a temporary fillet/insert has been inserted in the longitudinal recess, channel, trough or groove in an upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion while those basal or intermediate groundworks are carried out, and the second, upper kerbstone portion is ready to be installed thereon, once the temporary fillet/insert has been removed, prior to the carrying out of the final groundworks stage for the laying of the final top road layer and upper pavement layer; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the same edge region of the road construction of FIG. 2, but showing it in a finally completed constructional state, in which the second, upper kerbstone portion has been installed on the first, lower kerbstone portion and the final top road layer and adjacent upper pavement layer have been laid in the final stage of the groundworks; FIGURE 4(a) is a cross-sectional view of an edge region of an alternative road and pavement construction which corresponds to, and is in a corresponding mid-constructional state as, that of FIG. 2, but in which an alternative T-shaped form of temporary fillet/insert has been inserted in the longitudinal recess, channel, trough or groove in the upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion while the basal or intermediate groundworks are carried out; FIGURE 4(b) is a cross-sectional view of a closely similar arrangement to that of FIG. 4(a), but in which the basal or intermediate groundworks to either side of the longitudinal recess, channel, trough or groove in the upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion have been completed so that they extend or terminate somewhat higher up so as to lie substantially contiguous with, or substantially aligned with or parallel to, the upper flange surfaces of the T-shaped temporary fillet/insert; FIGURE 5 is a schematic sectional-perspective overview of a kerbstone construction system according to a more advanced general embodiment of the invention, showing the manner in which different upper profiles of upper kerb sections can be constructed using the system of this embodiment of the invention; FIGURES 6(a), (b) and (c) are perspective illustrations demonstrating sequentially the implementation and practising of an embodiment kerbstone construction system of the invention which employs a rectangular-sectioned temporary fillet/insert strip to temporarily fill and block the entrance to the recess/channel/trough/groove in the upper face of the lower kerbstone portion while groundworks are carried out around it; FIGURES 7(a), (b) and (c) are perspective illustrations demonstrating sequentially the implementation and practising of an alternative embodiment kerbstone construction system of the invention which employs a T-sectioned temporary fillet/insert strip to temporarily fill and block the entrance to the recess/channel/trough/groove in the upper face of the lower kerbstone portion while groundworks are carried out around it; FIGURES 8(a), (b), (c) and (d) are perspective illustrations demonstrating sequentially various stages in the later maintenance of a kerbstone, such as that of FIG. 5, constructed using the systems of either FIG. 6 or FIG. 7; and FIGURES 9(a) and (b) are perspective views illustrating some different example jointing methods that can be used in constructing kerbs using the various embodiment kerb construction systems of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, here there is shown a practical example embodiment of a two-part kerbstone in accordance with the invention. The kerbstone, shown generally as 1, comprises a first, lower portion 10 for mounting in a basal or intermediate layer 34R of the road, pavement or path 32, 34R, 38R (seen more clearly in FIGS. 2 & 3), and a second, upper portion 20 for mounting on or against the first, lower portion 10.

The first, lower kerbstone portion 10 takes the form of an elongate (i.e. elongated in a direction perpendicular to the paper, and e.g. from around 20 or 30 or 40 up to around 50 or 60 or 80 or even 100 cm in length) generally rectangular-sectioned block, e.g. of moulded concrete, ceramic or other suitable synthetic material, or cut and/or machined stone. The second, upper kerbstone portion 20 is likewise of an elongate block construction, and may be formed of a similar or the same material as the first, lower kerbstone potion (although it is possible within the scope of the invention for the two kerbstone portions to be formed from different materials). The second, upper kerbstone portion 20 has an obliquely inclined or sloping front side face 26, which is that face which will become the exposed face of the kerb when in its finally completed state. If desired, the front side face 26 of the second, upper kerbstone portion 20 may be curved or rounded, and/or it may be textured or decorated to provide desired final aesthetics to the resulting kerb.

For enabling the first, lower and second, upper kerbstone portions 10, 20 to be interengageable, they respectively include first and second interengagement elements in the form of a cooperating elongate recess, channel, trough or groove 12 formed in the upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 and a corresponding elongate protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder 22 formed in the lower face of the second, upper kerbstone portion 20. The elongate recess, channel, trough or groove 12 and the elongate protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder 22 are oriented, arranged or configured longitudinally along or parallel to the length direction of the respective first and second kerbstone portions 10, 20.

The elongate recess, channel, trough or groove 12 and the elongate protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder 22 interengage with each other to unite the two kerbstone portions 10, 20 together in the formation of the final complete kerbstone 1.

The recess, channel, trough or groove 12 and the protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder 22 are dimensioned relative to one another so as to form one or more side gaps or spaces 14 between them. Such gaps or spaces, which may for example be up to around 2 or 4 or or 6 or 8 or 10 mm wide, are of sufficient width or depth to accommodate therein a suitable amount of mortar, cement or grout -e.g. a conventional mortar, cement or grout, or even a resin or other synthetic plastics material that provides enhanced strength and/or bonding that is sufficient to bond together the respective kerbstone portions 10, 20 via their respective interengageable elements 12, 22. Such mortar, cement, grout or resin may be applied or placed as necessary just prior to the mounting of the second, upper kerbstone portion 20 on the first, lower kerbstone portion 10, as the or each whole kerbstone 1 is formed during the overall construction of the kerb.

If desired or necessary, additional mortar/cement/grout gaps or spaces 48 may be formed or left between the lower and upper end faces of the respective kerbstone portions 10, 20, in order to further enhance the mutual interconnection or interbonding between the two kerbstone portions 10, 20.

Turning now to FIG. 2, here there is shown a cross-sectional view of an edge region of a road and adjacent pavement construction in which a kerb is in the process of being formed, showing the road, pavement and kerb in an intermediate constructional stage. In a preceding constructional stage, a basal support layer 30 of e.g. semi-dry concrete has been formed in an appropriate ground excavation, which basal support layer 30 will ultimately provide the primary support for the kerb constructed above it. Adjacent the basal support layer 30 has also been formed, on the road side of the kerb, a road basal layer 32.

During this intermediate constructional stage, the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 of a or a respective one of a series of kerbstones 1, such as that of FIG. 1, is mounted on top of the preformed basal support layer 30. Inserted into the elongate upper recess, channel, trough or groove 12 of the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 (either before or after the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 is itself mounted on top of the preformed basal support layer 30) is a rectangular-sectioned elongate wooden fillet or insert strip 40, which substantially fills the space within the recess, channel, trough or groove 12. The wooden fillet or insert strip 40 forms a tight friction fit within the recess, channel, trough or groove 12. Thus, the fillet or insert strip 40 blocks the entrance to the recess, channel, trough or groove 12 and prevents ingress therein of dirt, soil or other unwanted material during the next groundwork stage(s) in which the further basal or intermediate road and/or pavement layer(s) are built up or laid.

Those further groundwork stage(s) in which further basal or intermediate road and/or pavement layers can now be carried out, include the laying of an intermediate road binder layer 34R (on the road side of the kerb) and a corresponding intermediate pavement semi-dry concrete haunching layer 36 (on the pavement side of the kerb). Thus, those further groundworks stages can be carried out by forming those further road and pavement layers 34R, 36 right up to and so as to abut the sides of the block-like first kerbstone portion 10, without disturbing it, and so as to permanently encase the first kerbstone portion 10 in the road/pavement kerb construction, without it needing to be removed in a subsequent groundworks stage.

It is to be understood that FIG. 2 shows merely a cross-section through just one kerbstone 1 and adjacent partial road/pavement construction only, and in most practical scenarios it is to be expected that a long or continuous series or array of like kerbstones 1 will be laid or assembled in situ in an end-to-end arrangement to form a linear (e.g. straight or perhaps even curved) kerb of any desired length or linear extent.

Once the intermediate groundworks for forming the basal 30, 32 and intermediate 34R, 36 road and pavement layers have been completed, the temporary fillet/insert strip 40 can be removed from the recess, channel, trough or groove 12 in the upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion 10, e.g. manually or with the aid of a suitable tool, and may then be reused for another kerbstone's installation. This therefore leaves the now securely and permanently installed first, lower kerbstone portion 10 exposed and ready to have the second, upper kerbstone portion 20 mounted thereon and secured thereto and the remaining groundworks stage(s) completed for the laying of the final top road layer 38R (e.g. of tarmac or asphalt) and upper pavement layer 38P (e.g. of stone or any other suitable paving or flagging material).

This finally completed constructional stage is shown having been completed in FIG. 3, which illustrates the same edge region of the road construction of FIG. 2, but now in a finally completed constructional state in which the second, upper kerbstone portion 20 has been installed on and bonded to the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 and the final top road layer 38R (e.g. of tarmac or asphalt) and adjacent upper pavement layer 38P (e.g. of stone or any other suitable paving or flagging material) have been laid in the final stage of the groundworks.

The secure mounting and bonding of the second, upper kerbstone portion 20 onto the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 is effected or facilitated by virtue of the side gaps or spaces 14 (see Fig. 1) and facial gaps or spaces 48 (see FIGS. 1 & 3), into which gaps or spaces is forced or placed (e.g. just prior to the mounting of the second, upper kerbstone portion 20 on the first, lower kerbstone portion 10) a suitable amount of mortar, cement, grout or resin that is sufficient to bond together the respective kerbstone portions 10, 20 via their interengaging recess, channel, trough or groove 12 and protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder 22.

Prior to the laying of the final upper pavement layer 38P, if desired or necessary an additional intermediate haunching layer 37 may be laid therebeneath, i.e. immediately above the basal or first intermediate haunching layer 36.

As each complete kerbstone 1 of a linear series or array of a plurality of such kerbstones 1 is laid end-to-end in the construction of a complete linear kerb, each respective pair of first and second kerbstone portions 10, 20 can be mounted and bonded together, and the various road and pavement basal, intermediate and top layers laid in a corresponding sequence and manner as described above.

FIG. 4(a) illustrates a corresponding kerb construction arrangement in the same state as that of FIG. 2, but in which an alternative form of temporary fillet/insert 40' has been inserted in the longitudinal recess, channel, trough or groove 12 in the upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 while the basal or intermediate groundworks are carried out.

In this modified form of temporary fillet/insert 40', it is formed with a T-shaped cross-section, in which the lower limb or base 40'a of the "T" substantially shape-matches and fits tightly within the recess, channel, trough or groove 12 in the first, lower kerbstone portion 10, and the pair of upper limbs or arms 40'b of the "T" are configured as a pair of oppositely extending flanges which abut and/or cover or overlay the upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 to either side of the recess, channel, trough or groove 12 therein. This configuration of the pair of upper flanges 40'b of such a "T"-shaped fillet or insert member 40' may thus serve to overlie and protect the upper surfaces of the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 during the subsequent groundworks in which the basal and/or intermediate road and pavement layers are laid.

To further assist such a protective function, the upper, exposed faces or surfaces of the upper flange portions 40'b of such a "T"-shaped fillet or insert member 40' may be formed or painted with a suitable colour, e.g. yellow or red, in order to act as a warning or hazard indicator during the time period in which the fillet or insert member 40' is in position on the first, lower kerbstone portion 10 and the associated second, upper kerbstone portion 20 has not yet been installed. This may help to prevent on-site workers or even members of the public treading or walking on a partially constructed kerb and potentially damaging it while in this partly-built state, and it may also help to avoid trip hazards for on-site workers or the public, especially when a given partially completed kerb construction operation or site needs to be temporarily left unattended.

FIGURE 4(b) shows a very similar, but modified, arrangement to that of FIG. 4(a), but here the lower kerbstone portion 10', together with its T-shaped fillet or insert member 40", sits somewhat lower down within the layers of the basal or intermediate groundworks. In other words, in this alternative arrangement the basal or intermediate groundworks -comprising at least the basal or first intermediate haunching layer 36 and the intermediate road binder layer 34R -to either side of the longitudinal recess, channel, trough or groove 12' in the upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion 10', have been completed so that they extend or terminate somewhat higher up so as to lie substantially contiguous with. or substantially aligned with or parallel to, the upper surfaces of the flanges 40"a and 40"b of the T-shaped temporary fillet/insert 40". This alternative arrangement may serve to reduce or avoid risks of tripping or damage to the edges of the T-shaped fillet/insert whilst it is in place. It may also help to create a neater finish when the final, second, upper kerbstone portion 20 is finally mounted in position in the final finished kerb arrangement.

Turning now to FIG. 5, this shows in further detail how many embodiment kerbstone construction systems according to the invention can be implemented in practice, with this FIG. 5 showing in particular the manner in which differently configured upper profiles of upper kerbstone portions 120a, 120b, 120c of distinct longitudinally spaced kerb sections can be constructed using such embodiment kerbstone construction systems of the invention.

In essence the two-part kerbstone construction system is designed to be functional during construction as well as after construction, as the design of the main component parts of the kerbstone 101 -i.e. the lower 110 and upper 120a/120b/120c kerbstone portions -allows for the upper kerbstone portion 120a/120b/120c to be easily replaced if it experiences damage in the future. This facility can lead to significant savings in future maintenance costs, but it also leads to benefits of cheaper construction costs at the outset, since the system incurs less waste and employs less outlay of materials (e.g. concrete) as well as incurring lower labour costs. In many practical scenarios the kerbstone construction system may find particularly beneficial use in new housing and road developments, although of course it could be deployed in any desired scenario where any kind of kerb building or construction is wanted.

As shown schematically in FIG. 5 (where reference numerals that relate to the same or corresponding features as in the earlier embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4 utilise the same basic reference numeral but incremented by 100), 101 is the two-part kerbstone in its entirety, which in this illustrated example comprises three distinct elongate kerbstone sections longitudinally disposed relative to each other, with each kerbstone section exhibiting -by way of illustrative example only -a different upper profile. 110 is the respective lower kerbstone portion and 120a, 120b & 120c are the respective upper kerbstone portions 120a constituting the upper portion of a "6 by 5" substantially rectangular two-part kerbstone, 120b constituting the upper portion of a two-part "dropped" kerbstone, and 120c constituting the upper portion of a two-part "half-batter" (or bull-nosed) kerbstone. 130 represents the kerb's preformed basal support layer, 132 represents the road basal layer, 134R represents the intermediate road binder layer, and 138R represents the final top road layer (e.g. tarmac).

By virtue of its novel construction and manner of assembly/deployment, the weight of the upper 120a/120b/120c and bottom 110 kerbstone portions may typically be around half that of a conventional kerbstone (per unit longitudinal length), which in itself may lead to significant handling advantages and lower risks of injuries or health & safety complaints on the part of workers.

FIGS. 6(a), (b) and (c) show sequentially various stages in the deployment of one embodiment kerbstone construction system of the invention, which employs a rectangular-sectioned temporary fillet/insert strip 140 for temporarily filling and blocking the entrance to the recess/channel/trough/groove in the upper face of the lower kerbstone portion 110 while groundworks are carried out around it.

As shown in FIGS. 6(a) -(c), the "split" two-part kerbstone of this embodiment ameliorates the problems of prior art kerbstones in two stages: -First, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the lower kerbstone portion 110 is installed at typically around 45mm below the final road surface level (which distance therebelow is typically around the same as the distance therebelow of the intermediate road binder layer 134R). This lower kerbstone portion 110 is thus left in place throughout the remaining subsequent construction stages. A brightly painted (e.g. yellow or red) temporary fillet or insert strip 140 is then inserted into the elongate recess/channel/trough/groove 112 in the upper face of the lower kerbstone portion 110, whereby the latter is protected against damage or ingress of dirt or debris during the rest of the construction and in particular during the rest of the groundworks carried out to either side of the kerbstone, as already described in detail hereinabove in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 -4. The brightly painted fillet or insert strip 140 also acts as a safety measure, for example to delineate part-constructed kerb sections that require care in avoiding damage thereto, and/or possibly even to clearly define approved walkways and suchlike, as shown in FIG. 6(b). In this embodiment the temporary fillet or insert strip 140 is rectangular in cross-section, so that substantially the whole of it fits snugly within the recess/channel/trough/groove and is securely held there by a simple friction-fit.

-Second, the temporary fillet or insert strip 140 is then removed (so that it can be reused as necessary/desired) and the appropriately selected upper-profiled upper kerbstone portion 120a (or 120b or 120c) is placed over a thin (e.g. of a few, e.g. about 1 or 2 up to about 4 or 5 or 6mm, thickness) layer of mortar (or a resin) that is spread over the upper face of the lower kerbstone portion 110 and into the recess/channel/trough/groove 112 therein, with the tongue, rib, or other elongate protruding member 122 on the lower face of the upper kerbstone portion 120a/120b/120c being seated thereinto, and the mortar (or resin) allowed to dry/cure, thereby completing the two-part kerbstone 101.

It is to be noted that prior to the fitting of the upper kerbstone portion 120a/120b/120c the protected (by the fillet/insert 140) upper face of the lower kerbstone portion 110 may typically remain "flush" with the upper surface(s) of partly-competed groundworks (which could themselves be temporarily tarmaced) throughout the construction process, thereby allowing site machinery to pass over the partially-completed kerb construction with ease whilst not causing damage to the upper face of the lower kerbstone portion 110.

FIGS. 7(a), (b) and (c) correspond closely to FIGS. 6(a), (b) and (c), respectively, and show substantially the same sequential stages in the deployment of an alternative embodiment kerbstone construction system, but again as described above. In this alternative embodiment, however, although corresponding features and the same sequential stages are carried out as described above in relation to FIGS. 6 (a) -(c), here in the embodiment of FIGS. 7(a) -(c) instead of the fillet/insert being rectangular in cross-section, it is T-shaped in cross-section, as shown as 140' -which corresponds to the T-sectioned fillet/insert 140' in the earlier described embodiment of FIGS. 4(a) & (b), with the same utility and advantages as described earlier in relation to those FIGS. 4(a) & (b).

FIGS. 8(a), (b), (c) and (d) show various sequential stages in the later maintenance of a kerbstone, such as that of FIG. 5, constructed using the systems of either FIG. 6 or FIG. 7. For instance: If the two-part kerbstone 101 is damaged during or after the construction phase (for instance, as depicted in FIG. 8(a), where a force, such as from a vehicle, depicted by arrow F hits it or some other object crashes into it, or it suffers excessive frost-damage, for example, as well as possibly other damaging occurrences), it can easily be replaced owing to the way in which it would most likely fail as a result of its novel construction -which is that the lower tongue, rib, or other elongate protruding member 122 on the lower face of the upper kerbstone portion 120a/120b/120c most likely is the only part that will either snap off, become detached or otherwise fracture -as depicted in FIG. 8(b). Thus, upon that happening the upper kerbstone portion 120a/120b/120c can simply be removed, and any remaining parts of the lower tongue, rib, or other elongate protruding member 122 that might still be attached or bonded to the lower kerbstone portion 110 (or in its recess/channel/trough/groove 112 therein) removed. If necessary it is a simple matter for the recess/channel/trough/groove 112 in the upper face of the lower kerbstone portion 110 to be chiselled and/or cleaned out, as depicted in FIG. 8(c). To facilitate this, the width of the recess/channel/trough/groove 112 may be designed to substantially match the width of a standard chisel or chiselling tool C (FIG. 8(c)).

Once the lower kerbstone portion 110, and especially its newly cleaned out upper recess/channel/trough/groove 112N has been satisfactorily cleared and restored to its initial condition prior to the initial installation of the upper kerbstone portion 120a/120b/120c, a new bed of mortar (or resin) can be applied onto the upper face of the exposed lower kerbstone portion 110 (and into its newly prepared recess/channel/trough/groove 112N) and a new upper kerbstone portion 120a/120b/120c can then be re-installed atop it, in exactly the same manner as the original one was, as described hereinabove. Thus, the lower kerbstone portion 110 remains intact and undisturbed in situ throughout the repair procedure.

In the majority of practical instances it may be expected that the two-part kerbstone 101 of the invention embodiment can only fail in one direction, i.e. towards the roadway as depicted by arrow F (FIG. 8(a)), as it is completely sideways supported in all other directions. The thin layer of mortar (or possibly a resin) inbetween the upper 120a/120b/120c and lower 110 kerbstone portions may thus be important in facilitating this "snap & replace" design of kerbstone, which allows straightforward replacement of just the upper kerbstone portion 120a/120b/120c only whilst the lower kerbstone portion 110 remains undisturbed in situ.

FIGS. 9(a) and (b) show an example of a modified example jointing method that may be used in constructing kerbs or kerb sections comprising elongate or linear series or arrays of upper and lower kerbstone portions forming end-to-end-laid two-part kerbstones according to embodiments of the invention, using the various embodiment systems of the invention described hereinabove in relation to the other FIGS. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) & (b), upper kerbstone portions 120, 120', 120", etc may be laid in a "hit & miss" fashion in order to stagger the joints between those upper kerbstone portions 120, 120', 120", etc and the corresponding joints between the lower kerbstone portions 110, 110', 110", 110"', etc, as shown. This relative arrangement between upper and lower kerbstone portions may be optional, however, although it can add strength to the overall kerb structure and will not detrimentally affect the future ease of maintenance or repair of the kerb as described above.

It is to be understood that the above description of some specific embodiments of the invention in terms of their various features and aspects has been by way of non-limiting example(s) only, and various modifications may be made from what has been specifically described and illustrated whilst remaining within the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and linguistic variations of those words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", mean "including but not limited to", and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, elements, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless expressly stated otherwise or the context dictates otherwise. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless expressly stated otherwise or the context dictates requires otherwise.

Furthermore, through this specification any feature, component, element, integer, characteristic, property, compound, chemical moiety or group described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention is/are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith or expressly stated otherwise.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A kerbstone for use in the construction of a kerb adjacent a road, pavement or path, the kerbstone comprising: a first, lower portion for mounting in a layer of the road, pavement or path; and a second, upper portion for mounting on or against the first, lower portion; wherein the first and/or second portions comprise interengagement means by which the first and second portions are engageable with each other in the forming of the kerb.
2. A kerbstone according to claim 1, wherein the first, lower portion thereof comprises an elongate generally rectangular-sectioned block.
3. A kerbstone according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second, upper portion thereof comprises an elongate block with a profile shape comprising a rounded or inclined/sloping face for forming an exposed edge face of the resulting kerb.
4. A kerbstone according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the interengagement means comprise one or more first engagement elements or features carried on or formed in one of the first and second kerbstone portions, and one or more second engagement elements or features carried on or formed in the other of the first and second kerbstone portions, wherein the first and second engagement elements or features are interengageable to engage the first and second kerbstone portions together.
5. A kerbstone according to claim 4, wherein the first engagement element(s) or feature(s) comprise at least one recess, channel, trough or groove formed in one of the first and second kerbstone portions, and the second engagement element(s) or feature(s) comprise at least one protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder formed in the other of the first and second kerbstone portions.
6. A kerbstone according to claim 5, wherein the at least one recess, channel, trough or groove is/are formed in the first, lower kerbstone portion, and the at least one protrusion, spigot, tongue, rib or shoulder is/are formed in the second, upper kerbstone portion.
7. A kerbstone according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the or each respective pair of interengageable recesses, channels, troughs or grooves and protrusions, spigots, tongues, ribs or shoulders is oriented, arranged or configured longitudinally along or parallel to the length direction of the respective first and second kerbstone portions.
8. A kerbstone according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein a plurality of pairs of interengageable recesses, channels, troughs or grooves and protrusions, spigots, tongues, ribs or shoulders are provided on or in the first and second kerbstone portions and are: (i) either (a) equispaced and/or symmetrically oriented, arranged or configured relative to each other, or (b) non-equispaced or asymmetrically oriented, arranged or configured relative to each other; and (h) in either case (0(a) or (0(b), one or more of the plurality of pairs of interengageable recesses, channels, troughs or grooves and protrusions, spigots, tongues, ribs or shoulders has/have a spatial orientation, arrangement or configuration that is the same as or different from the spatial orientation, arrangement or configuration of one or more of the other pair(s) thereof.
9. A kerbstone according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the or each respective first engagement element or feature and the or each respective second engagement element or feature are dimensioned relative to one another so as to form or leave one or more gaps or spaces between them, especially on at least one or alternatively on a plurality of sides thereof, wherein such gap(s) is/are of sufficient width or depth to accommodate therein an amount of mortar, cement, grout or resin that is sufficient to bond together the respective kerbstone portions via their respective interengageable engagement elements or features.
10. A kit or set of component parts for use in forming a plurality of kerbstones for use in the construction of a kerb adjacent a road, pavement or path, wherein the kit or set 25 comprises: a plurality of first kerbstone portions for constituting or forming respective lower portions of respective ones of the plurality of kerbstones, each said first portion being for mounting in a layer of the road, pavement or path adjacent to which the kerb is to be constructed; and a plurality of second kerbstone portions for constituting or forming respective upper portions of respective ones of the plurality of kerbstones, each respective second portion being mountable on or against a respective first portion for forming a respective one of the plurality of kerbstones; wherein the first and/or second portions of each respective pair of the first and second portions comprise interengagement means by which the first and second portions of the said respective pair are engageable with each other in the forming of the kerb.
11. A kit or set of component parts according to claim 10, wherein each one of the respective pluralities of first and second kerbstone portions each corresponds to a or a respective kerbstone portion of a kerbstone according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
12. A kit or set of component parts according to claim 10 or claim 11, further including one or more, optionally a plurality of, temporary fillet or insert member(s) for placement inside a or a respective recess, channel, trough or groove formed in a or a respective first, lower kerbstone portion as a or a respective first engagement element or feature thereof, for blocking the entrance to the said respective recess, channel, trough or groove and preventing ingress therein of dirt, soil or other unwanted material during a groundworks stage of constructing the kerb.
13. A method of constructing a kerb adjacent a road, pavement or path, the method comprising: providing at least one kerbstone according to any one of claims 1 to 9; mounting the first, lower portion of the said kerbstone in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof; and mounting the second, upper portion of the said kerbstone on or against the first, lower portion thereof, with the said interengagement means engaging together the first and second portions to form the said kerbstone.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein: (i) the step of mounting the first, lower portion of the said kerbstone in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof is carried out prior to, especially in a discrete separate step prior to, the step of mounting the second, upper portion of the said kerbstone on or against the first, lower portion thereof, with the said interengagement means engaging together the first and second portions to form the said kerbstone; or (H) the step of mounting the second, upper portion of the said kerbstone on or against the first, lower portion thereof, with the said interengagement means engaging together the first and second portions, is carried out subsequent to, especially in a discrete separate step subsequent to, the step of mounting the first, lower portion of the said kerbstone in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof.
15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the layer of the road, pavement or path in which is mounted the or each respective first, lower portion of the or each respective kerbstone during the construction of that layer is a basal or intermediate layer of the road, pavement or path, whereby in the step of mounting the or respective ones of the first, lower portions of the said kerbstones in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof, the said first, lower portion(s) is/are mounted in a basal or intermediate layer of the road, pavement or path during the construction of that basal or intermediate layer.
16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the method comprises constructing the kerb using a plurality of the said kerbstones, the respective first, lower and second, upper portions of the respective kerbstones being formed from a kit or set of component parts according to any one of claims 10 to 12.
17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the method comprises: providing the components of a plurality of kerbstones according to any one of claims 1 to 9; mounting respective ones of the first, lower portions of the said kerbstones in a layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof; and mounting respective ones of the second, upper portions of the said kerbstones on or against the respective first, lower portions thereof, with the respective said interengagement of the respective said kerbstones engaging together the respective first and second portions thereof to form the respective said kerbstones.
18. A method according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the plurality of kerbstones form the kerb by virtue of being mounted in a longitudinal or linear end-to-end series or array, and wherein, in the step of mounting respective ones of the first, lower portions of the said kerbstones in the layer of the road, pavement or path during the formation thereof, the said respective first lower portions of the respective said kerbstones are mounted in the said layer of the road, pavement or path, during the formation thereof, in a longitudinal or linear end-to-end series or array, especially so as to abut or to be bonded to neighbouring ones thereof in the series or array.
19. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the kerbstone is a kerbstone according to claim 6 whereby at least one recess, channel, trough or groove is/are formed in the or a respective first, lower kerbstone portion as a or a respective first engagement element or feature thereof, and wherein during or prior to the step of carrying out one or more groundworks stage(s) in which one or more road, pavement or path basal or intermediate layer(s) is/are formed in which the respective first kerbstone portions are or become mounted, a or a respective temporary fillet or insert member is placed inside the or the respective recess, channel, trough or groove, which temporary fillet or insert member blocks the entrance to the respective recess, channel, trough or groove and prevents ingress therein of dirt, soil or other unwanted material during the said subsequent groundworks stage.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the or the respective temporary fillet or insert member fits tightly within the or the respective recess, channel, trough or groove by virtue of being formed with an exterior shape which substantially matches or is geometrically similar to the interior shape of the or the respective recess, channel, trough or groove.
21. A method according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the or the respective temporary fillet or insert member takes the form of an elongate strip with a geometrically similar cross-section to that of the or the respective recess, channel, trough or groove.
22. A method according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the or the respective temporary fillet or insert member is formed with a T-shaped cross-section, in which the lower limb of the "T" substantially shape-matches and fits within the or the respective elongate channel, trough or groove in the or the respective first, lower kerbstone portion, and the pair of upper limbs of the "T" are configured as a pair of oppositely extending flanges which abut and/or cover or overlay the upper face(s) or surface(s) of the or the respective first kerbstone portion to either side of the channel, trough or groove therein.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the upper faces or surfaces of the upper flange portions of the T-shaped temporary fillet or insert member are formed or painted with a suitable colour in order to act as a waming or hazard indicator during the time period in which the fillet or insert member is in position on the or the respective first kerbstone portion and the or the respective second kerbstone portion has not yet been installed thereon.
24. A method according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the one or more groundworks stage(s) is/are carried out such that at least a basal or intermediate haunching layer and/or an intermediate road binder layer to either side of the longitudinal recess, channel, trough or groove in the upper face of the first, lower kerbstone portion are completed so that they extend or terminate so as to lie substantially contiguous with, or substantially aligned with or parallel to, the upper surfaces of the flange portions of the T-shaped temporary fillet or insert member.
25. A kerb constructed from a plurality of kerbstones each independently being a kerbstone according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or constructed by a method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.