IE48924B1

IE48924B1 - Improvements in or relating to kerb stones

Info

Publication number: IE48924B1
Application number: IE1467/80A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Bdc Concrete Products Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-02
Filing date: 1980-07-15
Publication date: 1985-06-12
Also published as: GB2077329B; GB2077329A; HK16285A; FR2481723A1; IE801467L; DE3105814A1; FR2481723B1; BE887623A; NL8100774A

Abstract

A kerb block length is greatly reduced as compared with the length of a conventional kerb stone. The greatly reduced length allows the kerb block to be handled easily by a single operative and eliminates the need for curved kerb stones. The block is of generally cuboidal shape with edge cut away as shown to provide a step and an inclined surface 5. It can be positioned with the side AB horizontal to provide a driveway-access ramp, or with the side BC horizontal. Pairs of opposed blocks may be used to form (a) a drainage channel or (b) a "sleeping policeman" speed restriction hump.

Description

This invention relates to kerb stones and has particular reference to kerb stones used to define the boundary of roads on housing estates and housing sites.

The present invention envisages a new concept for such 5 devices and comprises a kerb block of substantially square cross-section, having one lengthwise-extending edge cut away to provide a first surface parallel to another face of the block and an inclined surface leading from the first surface to a second surface also parallel to the said another face, the length of the block being about one half the depth of the block and considerably less than the length of a conventional kerb stone (1 metre).

Typically, the length of the block may be about 100 mm.

The other dimensions of the block may correspond substantially to those of a conventional stone, which are determined principally by local bylaws and regulations.

Preferably, the inclined surface of the block lies at an angle of 45° to the first surface. -3The second surface may be of a front-to-back dimension of about twice that of the first surface.

A block embodying the invention has dimensions as follows:length - 100 mm depth (front to back) - 190 mm maximum height - 160 mm depth (front to back) of first surface - 40 mm depth (front to back) of second surface - 100 mm By way of example only, a kerb block embodying the 15 invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, side elevation, plan view and rear elevation of the block.

The kerb block 1 is approximately cuboid form with plane faces and having one edge 2 cut away to provide a first surface comprising a narrow ledge 3 separated from a second broader surface 4 by an inclined surface 5. The . 48924 -4ledge 3 and the surface 4 lie in spaced, parallel planes. The remaining faces of the block are plain as can be seen from the drawings.

The block can be used, as a kerb block, in two 5 orientations. One of those orientations is shown in Fig. 1. The line AB is the base of the block which is sunk, at the boundary of the road, to a depth such that the narrow ledge 3 is level with the adjacent road surface indicated at 6. The broader surface 4 is level with the adjacent pavement surface shown at 7.

The edges of the block at point D and along the junctions between ledge 3 surface 5, and surfaces 4 and 5 may be radiussed as shown, a typical radius of curvature being 3 mm.

In the orientation just described, the block is used at “cross-overs, i.e. where the drive of a house joins the road. The inclined surface 5 enables a vehicle to be driven over the kerb without damaging the tyres of the vehicle whilst at the same time providing a clearly defined boundary.

In its second orientation, the block 1 lies with line BC (Fig. 1) at its base. The surface 4 is then vertical and adjacent the road. The block 1 is sunk to a depth that brings the adjacent road surface level with the junction between surfaces 4 and 5. Line AB (Fig. 1) is tbe pavement side of the block and the surface of the pavement is level with the surface AD.

In its second orientation, the block may be used along lengths of road not intersected by cross-overs.

The size of the block 1 is such that it can be handled without difficulty by a single operative. This involves a substantial departure from conventional practice in that the length is reduced very considerably. Typically, a conventional kerb stone is about one metre in length and requires two men to handle it whereas the length of a block embodying the invention is about 100 mm.

In addition to greatly easing the handling of the block, the much reduced length just mentioned enables the block to be used on bends in a road thereby obviating the need for the curved kerb stones used at present. By suitable placing of adjacent blocks 1, a bend of relatively small radius of curvature in a road can be readily defined. 8924 -6Typical dimensions of a block embodying the invention have been given above. Surface 5 is inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 45° and the height AD is 110 mm.

With these dimensions, it will be appreciated that the height of the block 1 when in the first orientation is less than the height in the second orientation. Thus, a transition block may be used between a row of blocks in the first orientation and another row in the second orientation to avoid the possible hazard to pedestrians of an upstanding edge of some 40 mm at the commencement and end of a row of blocks in the second orientation.

The transition block has an inclined upper surface to provide a gradual change in level.

Blocks of the form shown in the drawings may also be used to construct other structures.

For example, two rows of blocks placed back-to-back, i.e. with faces CB in close proximity and sunk across a road to a depth that brings the ledge 3 level with that of the road form a so-called “sleeping policeman i.e. a device for restricting the speed of vehicles passing along the road. The change in level from the road surface -7to that of surfaces 4 is sufficient to create an obstacle that will restrict the vehicle speed.

Additionally, the blocks can be used to construct channels, for example, drainage channels. Two adjacent rows of blocks with ledges 3 in close proximity provide a channel whose floor comprises the adjacent ledges 3 and which is bounded by the inclined surfaces 5. Because of the length of the blocks, such a channel having bends of relatively small radius of curvature may be easily be constructed.

The kerb blocks are manufactured by the moulding process conventionally used for cement and concrete blocks from a mix designed to produce the requisite physical strength in the finished block. The greatly reduced length of a block embodying the invention also greatly eases handling problems during manufacture.

Claims

1. A kerb block of substantially square cross-section, having one lengthwise-extending edge cut away to provide a first surface parallel to another face of the block and 5 an inclined surface leading from the first surface to a second surface also parallel to the said another face, the length of the block being about one half the depth of the block and considerably less than the length of a conventional kerb stone (1 metre). 10

2. A kerb block as claimed in claim 1, in which the maximum overall height of the block is not substantially less than its depth.

3. A kerb block as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the inclined surface lies at an angle of 45° to the 15 first surface.

4. A kerb block as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the depth of the second surface is about twice that of the first surface.

5. A kerb block substantially as described herein with 20 reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawi ngs.