Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Landscaping Block for a Modular Landscaping System
NAME OF INVENTOR:
David Brent Lambert
Sandra Elizabeth Davison
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interlocking style of
block of the type used for building modular landscaping
structures.
R~a~oUND OF THE INVENTION
United States Patent 5,168,678 which issued to Scott et
al for an invention entitled "Modular Landscaping System and
Structuresl is representative of the state of the art in
landscaping blocks. The Scott reference discloses an elongate
rectangular block with a tongue at one end and a groove at the
other. Both the tongue and the groove have apertures, which
in use are oriented vertically. These landscaping blocks are
connected in end to end relation by inserting the tongue of one
block into the groove of an adjacent block. The tongues are
prevented from withdrawing from the groove by placing the
apertures in the tongue and the groove in register and
inserting a spike therethrough.
One criticism of the teachings of the Scott et al
reference is the fact that tools are needed to configure the
system initially. Similarly, the structure constructed must
be disassembled in order to reconfigure the landscaping blocks.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
5What is required is a landscaping block which is easier
to configure and reconfigure.
According to the present invention there is provided a
landscaping block which includes an elongate body having a
substantially planar top surface, a bottom having a peripheral
edge, a tapered first end and a tapered second end. A first
male member projects from the top surface adjacent the first
end. A second male member projects from the top surface
adjacent the second end. A first female socket is positioned
in the bottom adjacent the first end. The socket has a
peripheral lip on substantially the same plane as the
peripheral edge on the bottom of the elongate body. A second
female socket is positioned in the bottom adjacent the second
end. The socket has a peripheral lip on substantially the same
plane as the peripheral edge on the bottom of the elongate
body.
With the landscaping block, as described above, structures
may be configured merely by interlocking the male members of
one block with female members of adjacent blocks. When it is
necessary or desirable to reconfigure the structure, the
tapered ends allow a range of pivotal movement to reconfigure
the structure, thereby minimizing or obviating the need for
disassembly during the process of reconfiguring.
Although beneficial effects may be obtained through the
use of the landscaping block, as described above, it is
preferable that the landscaping blocks be interlocked in such
a secure fashion that they will not become detached if
accidentally struck. It is of course, undesirable to have a
modular landscaping structure that is continually falling
apart. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be
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obtained when the first male member and the second male members
have bulbous ends, and the first female socket and the second
female socket have bulbous interior cavities. This enables one
of the male members of one landscaping block to interlock in
mating engagement with one of the female sockets of an adjacent
1A n~ scAping block.
Although beneficial effects may be obtained through the
use of the landscaping block, as described above, pivotal
movement of the male members relative to the female sockets
during reconfiguring can cause stresses on the material out of
which the landscaping block is made. This is particularly true
for the lowermost landscaping blocks of a structure. Even more
beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when annular
bearing surfaces are positioned on the top surface of the
elongate body encircling a base of each of the first male
member and the second male member. The annular bearing
surfaces can engage the peripheral lips of the female sockets
during pivotal movement.
The tapering of the ends to provide for pivotal movement
is preferably within a range of between 30 and 60 degrees. The
optimum tapering is a 45 degree taper.
BRIEF n~CRTPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a landscaping block
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention .
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the landscaping block
illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is an end elevation view of the landscaping block
illustrated in FIGURE 1.
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FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the landscaping block
illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a modular landscaping
structure constructed using the landscaping block illustrated
in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of the modular
landscaping structure illustrated in FIGURE 5.
FIGURE 7 is a side elevation view in section of the
modular landscaping structure illustrated in FIGURE 5.
DET~T~n D ~PTPTION OF THE rK~r~nn~v EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a landscaping block generally
identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with
reference to FIGURES 1 through 7.
Referring to FIGURE 1, landscaping block 10 includes an
elongate body 12 having a substantially planar top surface 14
and a bottom 16. Referring to FIGURE 4, bottom 16 has a
peripheral edge 18. Referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, elongate
body 12 has a tapered first end 20 and a tapered second end 22.
First end 20 and second end 22 are tapered at between 30 and
60 degrees, with the optimum taper being substantially 45
degrees. The taper serves a role in facilitating the rapid
reconfiguration of modular landscaping structures constructed
using landscaping block 10, as will hereinafter be further
described. It will be appreciated that the taper can be
created with either straight lines or curved lines. Referring
to FIGURES 1 and 2, a first male member 24 is provided having
a base 26 secured to top surface 14 adjacent first end 20 and
a bulbous end 28 projecting from top surface 14. A second male
member 30 is similarly provided having a base 32 secured to top
surface 14 adjacent second end 22 and a bulbous end 34
projecting from top surface 14. Referring to FIGURES 4 and 7,
a first female socket 36 is positioned in bottom 16 adjacent
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first end 20. First female socket 36 has a bulbous interior
cavity 38 and a peripheral lip 40. Referring to FIGURE 4, it
can be seen that peripheral lip 40 has a slot 42. Slot 42
allows peripheral lip 40 to e~r~n~ during insertion of one of
male members 24 or 30, as will hereinafter be further
described. Referring to FIGURE 7, it can be seen that
peripheral lip 40 is on substantially the same plane, marked
by broken line 44, as peripheral edge 18 on bottom 16 of
elongate body 12. Referring to FIGURES 4 and 7, a second
female socket 46 is positioned in bottom 16 adjacent second end
22. Referring to FIGURE 7, second female socket 46 also has
a bulbous interior cavity 48 and a peripheral lip 50.
Referring to FIGURE 4, it can be seen that peripheral lip 50
has a slot 52. Referring to FIGURE 7, it can be seen that
peripheral lip 50 is on substantially the same plane, as marked
by broken line 44, as peripheral edge 18 on bottom 16 of
elongate body 12. Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, annular
bearing surfaces 54 and 56 are positioned on top surface 14 of
elongate body 12 encircling base 26 and 32 of first male member
24 and second male member 26, respectively.
The use of lAn~scAring blocks 10 as part of a modular
landscaping system will now be described with reference to
FIGURES 1 through 7. Referring to FIGURE 5, a plurality of
landscaping blocks 10 have been interlocked to form a modular
landscaping structure, generally identified by reference
numeral 58. Modular landscaping structure 58 outlines an
irregular shaped flowerbed. It should be noted that tapered
ends 20 and 22 permit tremendous flexibility in terms of the
shapes that can be made. Included in FIGURE 5 are circles,
curves, parallel lines, and angles of varying degrees. Modular
landscaping structure 58 can easily be knocked over if it is
built too high. For this reason, it is preferable if the
height does not exceed much higher than 18 inches. With
heights of less than 18 inches, modular landscaping structure
58 gains stability from the various bends. Referring to FIGURE
6, where a long straight stretch is used to form a wall, it is
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recommended that "L" shaped anchoring pins 59 be used to secure
a lowermost layer 61 of modular structure to a ground surface
63. Referring to FIGURE 7, the method of interlock of a
plurality of landscaping blocks 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, is shown.
Landscaping blocks 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 are identical to
landscaping block 10, and are assigned different reference
numerals merely for the purpose of the description of
interlocking. Landscaping blocks 60 and 62 are placed on
ground surface 63 in end to end relation. Landscaping blocks
64, 66, and 68 are then placed on top of landscaping blocks 60
and 62. First male member 24 of landscaping block 60 fits into
second female socket 46 of landscaping block 64. Second male
member 26 of landscaping block 60 fits into first female socket
36 of landscaping block 66. First male member 24 of
landscaping block 62 fits into second female socket 46 of
landscaping block 66. Second male member 26 of landscaping
block 62 fits into first female socket 36 of landscaping block
68. It will be appreciated that the described process of
interlocking landscaping blocks 10 can be continued until
modular landscaping structure 58 with desired dimensions is
erected. It will be appreciated that modular landscaping
structure 58 can be constructed without tools merely be
snapping the male members into the female sockets. If it is
desired to reconfigure landscaping structure 58, substantial
reconfiguring can be accomplished to meet most situations
merely by placing pressure on the structure to pivot the
landscaping blocks. The pivotal movement is accommodated by
the tapered ends. The strain of relative movement of the male
members and the female sockets is accommodated, at least in
part, by the annular bearing surface~.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
