US3491660A - Portable,easy-to-assemble and easy-to-mount curb - Google Patents

Description

P. KWASNEY .Iam 27, 1970 PORABLE, EASY-TO-ASSEMBLE AND EASYTO-MOUNT CURB Filed Oct. 25, 1967 United States Patent Pauline Kwasney, 425 Charlesmont Road, Elmira, kN.Y. 14904 Filed Oct. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 677,900 Int. Cl. E01c 11/22; A01g 1/08 U.S. Cl. 94-31 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The specification discloses a portable, multi-unit curbing having curb units joined together in end-to-end relationship by a novel type of cross-sectional-area-coextensive interlocked and overlapped junction engagement means and fastening means positively locking the junction engagement means together and fastening the assembled multi-unit curbing to an underlying supporting surface. In one preferred form, the fastening means may comprise a fastening portion and a vertically-adjustable, visiblyperceptible head means which maybe of a decorative type and/or a warning-signal-producing type. Also, in one form, the curbing may be exteriorly provided with visiblyperceptible simulation means presenting the appearance of a desired decorative object and, in certain cases, may comprise a decorative planter means.

Generally speaking, the present invention comprises a portable, easy-to-assemble, and easy-to-mount curb made up of one or more curb unit means, each of which comprises a longitudinal hollow member of non-frangible (usually compressible) and, in certain preferred forms, resilient, elastomeric material, such as molded rubber, plastic, or the like, which may be suitably reinforced with an inner cord structure in a manner similar to the construction of a tire, in certain forms of the invention. Each curb unit is provided with end-positioned junction engagement means of an interlocking type, and a plurality of penetrating fastening elements are provided for pinning an individual curb unit, or a plurality of such curb units in longitudinally assembled relationship, on a ground surface in virtually any desired configuration and position. At least one of the penetarting fastening elements may be drive through the effectively interlocked junction ends of a pair of longitudinally adjacent assembled curb units whereby to positively lock them together and prevent their separation until said fastening element is withdrawn. In one specific preferred form of the invention, the exterior of the curb units may simulate in appearance some other desired structure and may be provided with planter means therealong and/or light reflective marker means which will clearly mark the curbing line in an easily visibly perceptible manner even after dark as long as there is any incident light thereupon and, if desired, means Jmay 'be provided for vertically adjusting such reflector or marker means.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel, portable, easy-toassemble and easy-to-mount curb which, of course, can be just as easily dismounted and disassembled when desired, which provides a very effective divider between two adjacent, horizontal surface areas, and which is capable of functioning in a manner substantially equivalent tol a conventional concrete curb or the like which is, of course, much more expesive and requires considerable labor to install and which is, of course, not portable or easily removable after such installation.

`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel portable curb of the type referred to in the preceding object which is of a substantially unbreakable ice type, being made of non-frangible, compressible or resilient material which, in certain preferred forms, may be an elastomeric material such as molded rubber or plastic, such as polypropylene or the like, although not specifically so limited, and which, in certain cases, may be suitably reinforced with a fibrous reinforcing material positioned theerin and, if desired, may be appropriately laminated. These constructional variations act to ytoughen the curb unit and increase its useful life. However, in any of the forms of the curbing, it will normally be found that, because of the unbreakable and somewhat compressible or elastic nature thereof, the assembly of curb units forming a curbing will not normally be injured if an automobile wheel runs over same or if it is otherwise heavily loaded or subjected to substantial impact which might even tend to damage a concrete curb under certain conditions.

Additionally, the curb of the present invention can be mounted in a matter of just a few minutes, and dismounted just as quickly and may be of a decorative nature in certain forms thereof, wherein it simulates in appearance a masonry curbing made up of fitted stones and mortar or concrete rigidly fastening same together.

Also, the curb, in one form of the invention, may be made quite decorative in another fashion and, also at the same time, utilitarian 4by providing planter means therealong, or means for mounting auxiliary plants therealong, so that a plurality of plants can be grown therein and, thus, provided a very attractive and living boundary to a driveway or the like, defined -between two such longitudinally assembled sets of the novel curb units of the present invention.

, Additionally, the curb units may be made highly reflective so as to provide very effective curbing line markers at night or at other times when poor visibility conditions prevail, by providing therealong appropriate reflective material such as a plurality of glass beads, small glass facets, similar plastic structures, or the like, carried either embedded in transparent matrix material (usually plastic) or mounted on an adhesive type of material so as to comprise reflective tape or the like. There is also a type of reflective paint carrying such a plurality of small reflective elements therein, which may be used for providing the reflective marking means carried by the curb units. This is facilitated in one form of the invention'by providing a plurality of vertically extensible members along the length of an assembly of a plurality of such curb units with the upper portions of said vertically extensible members being provided with such light rellective, visibly perceptible marking and warning means.

It is a further object to provide curb units of the type referred to herein which are of hollow construction and so shaped as to allow a plurality of same to be vertically nested, one upon the other, in a manner allowing a relatively large number of such curb units to be so positioned in a relatively small space volume. This facilitates storage and portability of the plurality of such units during nonuse periods thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to in the preceding object, having any or all of the advantages referred to herein, and including any or all of the features referred to herein, generically and/ or specifically, and individually or in combination, and which is of extremely simple, inexpensive, easily mountable and dismountable constructtion capable of being stored in a relatively small space volume for ready portability and storage, and ywhich is of relatively simple construction requiring a minimum of tooling and, therefore, of capital costs, and which is also adapted for production at a relatively low cost per unit, whereby to facilitate widespread manufacture, sale, and use of the invention for the purposes outlined herein.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be-considered exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects'will be apparent to persons sleilled in Ythevart after a careful study'of the-detailed description which follows hereinafter, and all such irnplicit objects are intendedrto be includes and comprehended herein as fully as if particularly VVVdefined and pointed out herein. Y For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several embodiments of Vthe invention are illustrated in the hereinbelowldescribed guresof the accompanyingY drawings and are described in detail hereinafter:

FIG, 1 is a greatly reduced-size, fragmentary, perspective view illustrating two laterally4 spaced, longitudinally assembled sets of one exemplary form of the curb unit or element means ofthe present invention lin'fully mounted relationship so that each defines a length lof curbing or cnrb transversely spaced the same distance form the other whereby to effectively define a driveway or the like between the two 1lengths of curbing. In the example illustrated, the driveway isY shown Vfragmentarily as comprising a conventional type such as is frequently `provided on Vthe grounds or relatively large homes and which normally, upon completing the semicircle (which is broken away at tiie left end in FIG. 1), provides two Yconnections with a street or roadl Normaiiy, the central portion of theldrivewayY at about the point Where it brokenV away at the left end of FIG. 1 will be found to be adjacent to the front portion of a residence or the like. However, this'is not shown, nor is the other portion of the curved driveway of FIG. 1 shown, since said features do not pertain to theYY real inventive concept of the present invention, which is not limited to such an arrangement, which is merely illustrative of one exemplary use of a plurality of the curb unitsof the present invention. i t Y v FIG. 2 is a much larger, partially broken away, fragmentary, sectional View, taken substantially algng the planeand in the direction indicated by the arrows 2--2 of FIG. l.

3 is lan enlarged, partially broken away, fragindicated by the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2'. i

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the plane and in the direction indicated by the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a greatly reduced-size top plan View of a portion of an end-to-end assembled group of curb units shown in solid lines forming a straight curbing and shown in phantom in two alternate and oppositely curved directions. This view is for the purpose of illustrating the fact that the curbing line extending along the length of a plurality of the end-to-end assembled curb units may follow virtually any desired non-straight configuration within certain limits-in other words, that it is flexible and adjustable as to position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view which may be said to a construction quite similar to a tire-that is, vmade of molded and reinforced rubberand, in certain cases, of a laminated construction type. The reinforcing may be conventional cord of cotton, rayon, nylon, iibreglass, steel, or any other; suitable reinforcing material may be employed., Also,. a preferred type of plastic material might be polypropylene, whichvisrextremeiy tough and rugged, Aalthough many other plastic materials having suitablecharacteristics maybe employed. The important point to note is thatl the inventionis not limited to a particularftype of Ymaterial and construction thereof, but rather to the over-all inventive concept of a plurality of unbreakable and relatively easily deflectable curb units and the lmeans for fastening them in longitudinally assembled relationship YVas shownVV in FIG. l or FIG. 5.

Ingthe exemplary arrangement illustrated, each curb unit` 20 has an enlarged, longitudinal Lbase portion 22 v (which is actually centrally discontinuous therewithin,

as ,wjill be described hereinafter) which lies in a substantially horizontal plane and sadapted to rest upon and engage an auxiliary horizontal supporting surface such as the.l ground surface shown at 24, nfor example.

Each curb unit 2G has an upwardly spaced top portion 26 which, in the example illustratedk is substantially flat and liesfin a substantially horizontalV plane, although the invention is not specifically Vso limited, with the top portion 26 being connected by a pair'of longitudinal side wall portions 28,.which are usually substantially similar, although not specifically so limited in all forms of the invention, and which.are transversely Yspaced apart and normally positioned in a substantially predetermined, symmetrically related manner witlrrespect to an imaginary longitudinal center plane vertically bisecting the curb unit 20 along the length thereof, such as is perhaps best shown in phantom at 30 in FIG. 4.

The side waii portions 28 are integrally connected to, and comprise a downward extension part of, the top portion 26 and an upward extension part of the previously mentioned base portion 22 of each complete curb u'nit 20. In fact, it may besaid thatfthe previously mentioned base portion 22 actualiy comprises the lower end surfaces of the side wall portions 28 and the end wall 32 carried by just the special curb units 20 adapted to define the end of a longitudinal assembly of a plurality of such curb units, as most clearly shown at the extreme near end of the driveway 34 in FIG. 1. Of course, it should be understood that there are a pair of similar end type curb units Y 20 at the opposite end of the driveway 34, but they are not shown in FIG. 1.

y channel-like configuration (in the shapeof a prism in comprise an endelevational viert1 of a slightly modified form of the end curb unit of a plurality thereof, and it is shown partially broken away Vand partially in section adjacent to the top thereof to illustrate the modification thereof comprising the positioning of a planter along the top surface thereof.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of a plurality of front, slightly modified curb units which, in this case, is provided with exterior simulation means of an esthetically unattractive type simulating a desired an end one of appearance-in this case, a curbing or low vwall made v,

cross-section), terminating at the bottorn in the horizontal plane indicated in phantom at 38 as best shown in FIG. 4, which is common to the base portion 22 of each curb unit 20 and the top of the underlying auxiliary horizontal ground surface 24.

The curb units 20 are provided with fastening means for fastening themwithl respect to the ground surface 24 in any desired configuration and also for fastening them relative to each other in end-to-end relationship, one

v example of which is shown in FIG. 1. In the example illustrated, the fastening means referred to above comprises a plurality of holes such as the lower, angularly directed hoies 39 and a plurality of top positioned holes, such as shown at 40, and corresponding penetrating fastening elements, such as the simple headed fastener pins 42 shown mounted in the holes 39 and the more complex top-positioned or top and end positioned fastener means indicated generally at 44 which are received within'the top and end positioned fastening holes 40.

In the case of the angular fastening holes 39 and headed fastening pins 42, they are merely driven angularly downwardly into retained, penetrated relationship within the underlying auxiliary horizontal supporting surface 24, which usually comprises a ground surface, and this type of fastening is along each end wall 32 and the side walls 28 of the assembled plurality ofcurb units 20. However, the other top and end positioned fastening elements 44 and the corresponding top and end positioned fastening holes 40 are somewhat different in that they effectively comprise a part of a combination junction and fastening means which is generally designated by the reference numeral 46 and which functions to not only fasten down the assembled plurality of longitudinally adjacent curb units 20 but also functions to firmly lock adjacent ones of same together in end-to-end, effectively overlapped, interlocked, and -engaged relationship.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, the combination junction'and fastening means, indicated generally at 46, comprises a first junction engagement means, indicated generally at 48, and a second junction engagement means, indicated generally at 50. It should, of course, be understood that each of the curb units 20', with the exception of the two most remote end curb units not shown in FIG. 1, has such a rst junction engagement means at the left end thereof, such as that shown at 48 in FIG. 2, and that each of the curb units 20 with the exception of the two near end curb units 20 of FIG. l has a second junction engagement means at the right end thereof similar to that shown at 50, with the first and second junction engagement means 48 and v50 of longitudinally adjacent pairs of said curb units 20 being adapted to be matingly engaged in the manner most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the effectively inwardly projecting, centrally inwardly directed engagement fiange 52 of each such first junction engagement means 48 defines immediately to the right thereof what might be termed an effective outwardly directed groove or recess 54 which extends radially outwardly beyond the inner end of the flange 52.

Each such second junction engagement means 50 comprises a mating type of longitudinally and outwardly directed engagement ange 56 which is adapted to lie in the so-called groove or recess 54 of the first junction engagement means 48 and therebetween has a longitudinal annular flange portion 58 which has an outwardly directed portion 60 joining it to the right end of the next leftwardly adjacent curb unit 20. Thus, it may be said that the outwardly directed flange portions 56, 60, and the intermediate, longitudinally directed annular flange portion 58 of the second engagement means 50` effectively define an inwardly grooved portion of the second junction engagement means 50, which receives the engagement flange 52 of the first junction engagement means 48 therein with a central boss partion 62 thereof lying directly over the annular portion 58 of the second engagement means 50 and each being provided with aligned hole means 40 and 64, respectively, throughwhich the penetrating top and end positioned fastener means 44 is adapted to be downwardly driven for not only locking the two first and second junction engagement means 48 and 50 together, but for positively fastening the entire assembled structure to the underlying supporting surface 24.

Each of said top and end positioned fastening elements 44 just referred to above effectively comprises a combination vjunction and fastening means including a downwardly directed hollow penetrating outer sleeve member 66 adapted to be driven through the aligned holes 40 and 64 into the penetrated Irelationship within the ground surface 24 best shown in FIG. 2, and also includes an inner vertically adjustable rod member 68 provided with an elevation-adjustable, enlarged, visibly perceptible head means 70 carried at the top thereof and exteriorly provided with visibly perceptible warning-signal-producing means, such as is indicated generally at 72 and which may comprise refiective paint, refiective tape, or any other suitable type of light-reective means adapted to pick up small magnitudes of incident light and refiect same in a very strongly visibly perceptible manner under conditions of relatively low background illumination.

The inner rod member 68 is telescopically adjustably mounted for height modification and may be said to include height adjustment and locking means for effecting adjustment of the relative height of said said rod 68 with respect to the sleeve 66 and for locking same in a selected height-adjusted position. :In the example illustrated, the height adjustment and locking means is indicated generally at 74 and comprises a plurality of vertically spaced, laterally directed recesses or holes 76 carried by the rod memberl 68 and a corresponding, laterally directed locking pin 78 insertible into a selected one of said recesses for locking same and provided with a exible retaining member 80, which may be a chain or the like, connecting the locking pin to a fixed attachment point 82 on the curb unit 20 whereby to prevent the inadvertent loss thereof.

The penetrating fastening sleeve 66 has an enlarged, upwardly extending, impact anvil means 83 at the top thereof to facilitate the impact driving of same downwardly into penetrated relationship within the ground surface 24. This is, of course, done with the rod 68 removed. After completion of this operation, the rod 68 is replaced within the sleeve 66 and adjusted to a selected height by the height adjustment and locking means 74 or it can be fastened down in the lower phantom-line position shown in FIG. 2 directly over the anvil 83 by engagement of the male exterior thread means 84 thereof within the female interior threaded means 86 of the head means 70.

It should be noted that the curb units 20 are provided with interior reinforcing ribs 88 which greatly stiffen and rigidify same without adding much weight thereto. A greater or lesser number of such reinforcing and stiffening ribs may be provided and may lie in various different positions and configurations, including longitudinal positions and configurations in certain forms of the invention, if desired.

FIG. 5 merely illustrates the fact that the flexible nature of the curb units 20 is such that a longitudinal assembly thereof can be laterally deflected very substantially such as to follow the lower curved curbing line or the upper curved curbing line or the central straight curbing line shown in FIG. 5. However, it should be understood that these are merely illustrative of the flexibility of the multiple curb unit assembly, and the showing of FIG. 5 is not to be construed as specifically limiting the invention to just the types of lateral deflection illustrated therein.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view illustrating an end curbing unit which is generally designated by the reference numeral 20a and is similar in most respects to the first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 except for the fact that it is provided with utilitarian means at the top thereof, generally indicated at 90, and taking the form of a planter means comprising a receptacle extending along the length thereof, adapted to receive dirt 92, a plurality of plants 94, and may be provided with suitable drain means for proper watering of the plants 94 so that a very attractive plant-bordered driveway or plant-topped divider structure can be defined and used.

FIG. 7 fragmentarily illustrates a further modification of the invention and again is an end elevation of an end curb unit similar to that shown at 20a in FIG. 6 and which, in this modification, is generally designated by the reference numeral 20b. It will be noted that exterior surface portions thereof are provided with esthetically attractive and decorative simulation means, such as indicated generally at 96, and which, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, comprises a simulation of a masonry curb or wall. Otherwise, this modification of the invention is very similar to the first form, and no further detailed description of this modification, or of the FIG. 6

modification, is throught necessary or desirable in view of the full disclosure of the rst form of the invention set forth hereinbefore.

It should be understood that the figures and the specificY description thereof set forth in this application are 'for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

1. A portable, easy-to-assemble and easy-to-mount curb assembly including a plurality of curb unit means with adjacent curb unit means effectively comprising end-to-end positioned pairs thereof, each of effectively upwardly convex, hollow cross-sectional configuration provided with end-positioned junction engagement means coextensive with respect to a complete cross-sectional portion of a corresponding end of the curb unit means, the endpositioned junction engagement means carried by adjacent ends of each such pair of curb unit means comprising a mating pair of junction engagement means matingly engageable with each other and providing effective substantially complete exterior surface continuity of said pair of mating junction engagement means of said pair of curb unit means; and fastening means, each mating adjacent attachment-end-positioned pair of said junctinn engagement means of each of said longitudinally adjacent joined pairs of said pluarlity of curb unit means effectively comprising combination junction and fastening means including a first junction engagement means coextensive with a complete cross-sectional portion of a first attachment end of a corresponding first curb unit means and a second junction engagement means at a longitudinally adjacent second end of a second physically discrete, longitudinally adjacentone of said pair of curb unit means and coextensive with a complete cross-sectional end portion thereof, said first and second junction engagement means of each mating pair thereof including a mating pair of effectively interlocked, overlapping, interfitting alternately inwardly and outwardly directed flange means coextensive with the complete cross-sectional configuration of the corresponding end of the corresponding curb unit means and having the inwardly directed flange means thereof positioned immediately outwardly adjacent to and in longitudinally interlocked, effectively engaged and abutted -relationship with respect to the outwardly directed flange means thereof across a complete cross-sectional plane coextensive with the joined first and second curb unit means of saidpair thereof; said fastening means comprising a plurality of downwardly directed aligned pairs of apertures carried by and extending through said interfitting flange means and corresponding downwardly directed penetrating means, at least one of the penetrating means of a corresponding end-positioned one of the fastening means effectively comprising a part of a corresponding one of said combination junction and fastening means and taking the form of a downwardly directed hollow penetrating outer sleeve member driven through a corresponding aligned pair of said apertures of said fastening means into penetrated relationship with respect to an auxiliary, underlying, supporting surface when said plurality of curbing unit :means are assembled and mounted, and vfurther comprising an inner, vertically adjustable member provided with an elevation-adjustable, enlarged, visibly perceptible head means.

Z. Apparatus as defined in calim 1, wherein said downwardly directed hollow penetrating outer sleeve member of each of said combination junction and fastening means has an outwardly enlarged upwardly directed impact anvil at the top thereof to facilitate the impact driving of same downwardly into penetrated retained relationship with respect to an auxiliary underlying supporting surface.

,3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including height adjustment and locking means for effecting adjustment of the relative height of said inner member with respect to said outer sleeve member and for locking same in a selected height-adjusted position. v 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein-said height adjustment and locking means comprises a plurality of vertically spaced, laterally directed recesses carried by said inner member and a corresponding laterally directed locking pin insertable into a selected one of said recesses for locking same and provided with a flexible retaining member connecting said locking pin to a fixed attachment point on the curb unit means whereby to prevent the inadvertent loss thereof.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the exterior of said impact anvil means below a top impact surface thereof is circumferentially provided with male thread means and said height-adjustable head means is provided at the Ibottom thereof with corresponding mating interior female threads for threaded attachment to the exterior threads around the impact anvil means of the sleeve member.

`6. A portable, easy-to-assemble and easy-to-mount curb as defined in claim 1, wherein exterior portions of said curb unit means are provided with visibly perceptible simulation means.

7. A portable, easy-to-assemble and easy-to-mount curb as defined in claim 1, wherein exterior portions of said curb unit means are provided with visibly perceptible utilitarian and decorative planter means along with length thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 207,155 8/ 1878 Bassett 94-31 1,599,975 9/ 1926 Peterson. 2,136,709 11/1938 Robertson 94-1.5 2,145,936 2/ 1939 Landeen 94-15 2,153,392 4/1939 Robertson 94-1.5 2,841,059 7/1958 Wiswell 94-1.5 2,851,935 9/1958 Weeks 94-l.5 3,040,636 6/ 1962 Gregoire 94-15 JACOB L. MACKENOFF, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 47-33; 94-1.5

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