Road structure – process – or apparatus – Pavement – Modules or blocks
Utility Patent
1999-03-01
2001-01-02
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Pavement
Modules or blocks
C404S042000
Utility Patent
active
06168347
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paving stone and more particularly to a set of paving stones each of which might have a different configuration but can be laid out in rows to form a surface pattern of predetermined outline covered by the paving stones.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known to provide a set of paving stones each having an identical shape or configuration, laid in a predetermined interlocking pattern or laid in rows of similar rectangular prisms. Many patents describe such paving stones. All such patents describe paving stones that are molded from the same or similar molds or are pairs or sets of complementary paving stones.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the aim of the present invention to provide a set of paving stones of irregular shapes or configuration but which can be laid in a predetermined pattern of rows.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a set of paving stones which are molded by a predetermined array of individual molds producing paving stones of individually different configurations, but which nevertheless can be laid in a pattern of orderly rows.
It is still a further aim of the present invention to provide a set of paving stones that have a natural random appearance while being able to be laid in orderly rows. Thus, the paving stones are randomly selected in any given row.
A construction in accordance with the present invention comprises a set of paving blocks with each block being a prism having side and end walls that are irregular in outline but are contained only within a respective virtual rectangular perimeter, wherein the rectangular perimeter has a length L in an X axis and a width W in the Y axis at right angle to the X axis; at least two spaced apart, parallel sections of the prism extend between the side walls, parallel to the Y axis and terminating at the virtual rectangular perimeter, such that each section has a width equal to W and the prism having at least one section which bisects the distance between the end walls, parallel to the X axis and terminating at the rectangular perimeter and having a length equal to L wherein L is a multiple of a constant d when d is equal to the distance between the at least two sections, and wherein the virtual rectangular perimeter of each prism has a width equal to W.
In a more specific embodiment of the present invention the length L of the virtual rectangular perimeter of each prism of the set is expressed as L
1
is equal to 3d; L
2
is equal to 4d; L
3
is equal to 5d; and L
n
is equal to (n+2)d.
More specifically, at least two of the blocks of a set have different configurations although each prism has a dimension T extending between a top and bottom surface of the prism along an axis Z, wherein the dimension W and T of each prism are constants.
In yet another more specific embodiment of the present invention the side and end walls of the prisms are non-linear.
Thus, a set of paving stones may be provided wherein each paving stone is a molded block and the blocks may appear to have different configurations, but since each block has side walls that are generally parallel and the outside width of each block is the same, the blocks may be laid in regular rows to form a pattern even though the length of each block might vary.
The sections represent the widest and longest extent of the block and in fact coincident with the sections are the contact areas of each block with other blocks. Thus, since the section planes extending in the Y axis are spaced apart at constant distances for each block, then no matter how long or short a block in one row will be, it will necessarily align itself along section planes of adjacent blocks in other rows, and therefore the contact areas of each block will be in contact with contact areas of adjacent blocks. Likewise, since the longest extent of the block in the X axis is at least along the section in a plane bisecting the block or rectangle, it will necessarily coincide with the contact points of each adjacent block in one row.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 159255 (1950-07-01), Decker, Sr. et al.
patent: 708470 (1902-09-01), Flood
patent: 847471 (1907-03-01), Gross
patent: 889692 (1908-06-01), Kratzer
patent: 2323848 (1943-07-01), Schaeffer
patent: 5533827 (1996-07-01), Scheiwiller
patent: G8701270 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 0274344 (1988-07-01), None
Milot Eric
Wilkie Pierre
Foley & Lardner
Groupe Permacon Inc.
Hartmann Gary
Lillis Eileen D.
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