LAWN AND FLOWER BED EDGING KIT

ENSEMBLE POUR BORDURE DE PELOUSE ET DE PLATE-BANDE

English Abstract

Imitation bricks (10) made of molded plastic are linked by hinged connectors (48) to form edging strips for flower beds, lawns or
garden paths. Compressible rectangular washers (11) between the bricks simulate mortar joints. Anchoring prongs (32) with barded tips
are used to implant the blocks into the soil. A 3 plate (60) snaps into the connecting hole of the last brick in a series. A string of lights
(40) can be run through a string of bricks to illuminate all or some of them.

French Abstract

Des briques d'imitation (10) en matière plastique moulée sont reliées par des raccords articulés (48) afin de former des bandes de bordure pour parterres de fleurs, pelouses ou allées de jardins. Des joints d'étanchéité (11) rectangulaires compressibles sont placés entre les briques pour simuler des joints de mortier. Des pics d'ancrage (32) à pointes barbelées sont utilisées pour implanter les blocs dans le sol. Une plaque couverture (60) vient s'encliqueter dans le trou de connexion de la dernière brique de la série. Un cordon lumineux (40) peut passer dans une série de briques afin de les éclairer ou d'éclairer certaines d'entre elles.

Claims

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1. A block for use in combination with other symmetrical
blocks in building edgings for flower beds, lawns and garden
paths, which comprises:
a rectangular top having substantially planar upper
and lower surfaces;
first and second end-walls, each end-wall having an
inner face and an outer face;
a pair of side-walls;
said end-walls and side-walls extending downwardly
and peripherally from said top to define an internal
chamber;
an interlocking member projecting outwardly from the
outer face of the first end-wall;
the second end-wall having a first cavity shaped and
positioned to engage over a second of said interlocking
members associated with a second of said blocks;
means for hingedly securing said second interlocking
member within-said cavity, said means for securing being
oriented and positioned, and said cavity being sized to
allow limited lateral, arcuate movement of said second
interlocking member within said first cavity; and
a rectangular slab of resilient, compressible
material, said slab being commensurate with said end-wall
and having a central channel sized and positioned to engage
over said second interlocking member and form a compressible
filler between two of said blocks.

10
2. The structure of Claim 1, wherein said resilient
material is selected from a group consisting of synthetic
foams, natural foams, natural rubber and elastomers.
3. The structure of Claim 1, which further comprises at
least one anchoring prong extending downwardly beyond lower
edges of said end-walls and side-walls into an underlying
material supporting said block.
4. The structure of Claim 3, wherein said prong comprises a
barbed distal section.
5. The structure of Claim 4, wherein said prong extends
from the lower surface of said top.
6. The structure of Claim 3, wherein said top, end-walls,
side-walls, prong, and interlocking members are integrally
molded out of plastic.
7. A block for use in combination with other symmetrical
blocks in building edgings for flower beds, lawns and garden
paths, which comprises:
a rectangular top having substantially planar upper
and lower surfaces;
first and second end-walls, each end-wall having an
inner face and an outer face;

11
a pair of side-walls;
said end-walls and side-walls extending downwardly
and peripherally from said top to define an internal
chamber;
an interlocking member projecting outwardly from the
outer face of the first end-wall;
the second end-wall having a first cavity shaped and
positioned to engage over a second of said interlocking
members associated with a second of said blocks;
means for hingedly securing said second interlocking
member within said cavity, said means for securing being
oriented and positioned, and said cavity being sized to
allow limited lateral, arcuate movement of said second
interlocking member within said first cavity;
wherein said means for hingedly securing comprises
interlocking elements aligned about vertical axes;
wherein said first end-wall has a second cavity
symmetrical to said first cavity;
said interlocking member is separable from said
block and comprises a central portion and a pair of
symmetrical projections extending in opposite axial
directions from said central portion;
wherein said interlocking elements further comprise:
at least one vertical nib projecting vertically
from each of said symmetrical projections, and
each of said first and second cavities having a

-12-
recess shaped, dimensioned and positioned to releasably nest
one of said nibs;
wherein each of said symmetrical projections
and each of said cavities have a substantially quadrangular
cross-section and substantially commensurate heights; and
each of said projections has a width substantially
shorter than the width of said cavities to allow limited
rotational movement of one of said interlocking members
within one of said cavities about one of said vertical axes
when a stub associated with said projection is nested within
a recess associated with said cavity.
8. A block for use in combination with other symmetrical
blocks in building edgings for flower beds, lawns and garden
paths, which comprises:
a rectangular top having substantially horizontal
and substantially planar upper surface;
first and second substantially vertical end-walls,
each end-wall having an inner face and an outer face;
a pair of side-walls;
said end-walls and side-walls extending downwardly
and peripherally from said top to define an internal
chamber;
means for attaching said block to a substantially
planar surface of a substrate wherein said rectangular top
is held substantially parallel with said surface of said

~~
substrate;
said first end-wall having a first cavity;
said second end-wall having a second cavity;
an interlocking member, separable from said block;
said interlocking member comprising:
a rigid oblong body having first and second
ends,
said first end sized and dimensioned to allow
lateral penetration into said first cavity, and
said second end sized and dimensioned to allow
lateral penetration into said second cavity;
first internal means for hingedly securing said
first end within said first cavity;
second internal means for hingedly securing said
second end within said second cavity; and
said first and second internal means for securing
being oriented and positioned, and said first and second
cavity being sized to allow arcuate movement of said
interlocking member within either of said cavities, said
arcuate movement being substantially within a plane parallel
to said rectangular top.
9. The structure of Claim 8, wherein first and second ends
extend in opposite axial directions, said cavities-are
symmetric with each other and said ends of said interlocking
member are symmetric with each other.

12/2
10. The structure of Claim 9, wherein said interlocking
member further comprises:
at least one vertical nib projecting vertically from
each of said ends; and
each of said first and second cavities having a
recess shaped, dimensioned and positioned to releasably nest
one of said nibs.
11. The structure of Claim 9, wherein said interlocking
member comprises resilient material to facilitate
penetration of an end of said interlocking member into a
cavity in said block.
12. The structure of Claim 8, which further comprises an
end cap which comprises:
a cover having substantially planar inner and outer
surfaces substantially parallel to one another, said outer
surface sized and dimensioned to be commensurate with the
outer dimensions of said first end-wall; and
a plug sized and dimensioned to tightly engage said
first cavity, said plug projecting from said inner surface
of said cover.

Description

- Wo 95108257 2 1 7 1 5 3 ~ PcrruS93/08871
LAWN A~ E~ER BED EDGING KIT
SPECIFICATION
Fi e l tl of the Tr ver t; or
This invention relates to building blocks, and
more specifically to substitutes for masonry blocks
used in forming edging for flower beds, lawns and
the like.
R~ çrro~n~ of the Tnve~ti or
In the landscaping arts, it is customary to
delineate flower beds, lawns and pathways with
masonry edgings made from a series of bricks,
masonry blocks or a combination of edging elements
cast out of cement. The installation of those
types of edgings requires considerable time and a
variety of building elements, as well as some
masonry skill.
-~ There is a need for a more efficient medium
for creating effective and esthetically pleasant
borders between flower beds, lawns and garden
paths.
Summary of the Tnve~ti or
The principal and secondary objects of this
invention are to provide a simple, basic building

- W095/08257 2171 S 3 3 PCT~S93/08871
element which can be used to quickly and
conveniently form borders around flower beds, lawns
and along garden pathways without the use of-
special tools or any masonry skill.
These and other objects are achieved by
imitation brick elements made of molded plastic
which can be hingedly interconnected with a series
of similar blocks to form sinuous sections of
edging which closely resemble those made from
additional bricks. Each block element has a pair
of anchoring prongs that facilitates its
positioning and retention into and over any
penetrable surface.
Rr; ef Descri pti o~ of the Dr~w; ng
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a series of
blocks forming a lawn edging;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a joint
washier;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of a block;
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;
Figure 5 is an elevational front view thereof;
Figure 6 is a left side elevational view
thereof;

_ Wo95/08257 2 1 7 1 S 3 3 PCT~S93/08871
Figure 7 is a right side elevational view
thereof;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a block
equipped with internal lighting;
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of an
alternate embodiment of a block;
Figure 10 is an end-view thereof;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of an
interlocking member;
Figure 12 is an end-view thereof; and
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a end plug.
Descriptio~ of the Preferre~ ~kQ~i~ents of the
Trlver~ti or~
- Referring now to the drawing, there is shown
in Figure 1 a section of a series of blocks 10
. . .
separated by joint-washers 11 according to the
invention, forming an edging between a lawn area 12
and a garden path area 13.
Each block 10 is made of molded plastic as
illustrated in Figures 3-7. Each block essentially
consists of a rectangular polyhedron having the
general dimensions and color of a standard
~ construction brick approximately 20.4 centlmeters

- WO95/08257 2 1 7 1 5 3 3 PCT~S93/08871
(7 inches) long, 8.8 centimeters (3 1/2 inches)
wide, and 5.7 centimeters (2 1/4 inches) high; or
of a closely similar oblong construction block.
For esthetical reasons, each block may be colored
to preferably resemble a new or used brick. Each
block 10 comprises a roof 14, a pair of parallel
end-walls 15, 16, and a pair of side-walls 17, 18.
The end-walls and the side-walls extend
orthogonally and downward from the periphery of the
roof 14 to define an interior cha-mber 19 having an
open bottom.
A substantially rectangular interconnecting
element 20 extends orthogonally and outwardly from
the center of the right end-wall 15. The
interconnecting element 20 has a vertical cross-
section which tapers down slightly from its root 21
on the face of the right side-wall to its distal
end 22. A pair of aligned pins or nibs 23, 24
project upwardly and downwardly from the upper and
lower surfaces of the interconnecting element. The
center of the interconnecting element forms a
hollow channel 25 in commllnication with the block
internal chamber 19.
The left end-wall 16 has a rectangular cavity

- w095/08257 2 1 7 1 5 3 3 PCrrUSs3/0887l
26 which is shaped, positioned and dimensioned to
engage over the interconnecting element 25 of an
adjacent block. The height of the cavity 26 is
substantially equivalent to the height of the
interconnecting element 20 near its root 21. The
width of the cavity 26 is slightly larger than the
overall width of the interconnecting element 20.
The internal upper surface 27 and lower surface 28
of the cavity 26 have aligned oblong windows 29 and
30 respectively which are sized and positioned to
engage nibs 23, 24 of the adjacent block
interconnecting element 20. Due to the rotational
connection between the nibs 23, 24 and the windows
29, 30 respectively, the width of the windows 29
and 30 corresponding to approximately one-third of
the total width of the block 10, and the fact that
the width of the cavity is larger than the width of
the interconnecting element, two adjacent blocks
can be connected in a hinged manner allowing
horizontal arcuate movement of one block in
relation to the other in order to create curved
edging sections as illustrated in Figure 1.
Rectangular washers 11 made of compressible
material such as natural or synthetic r-lbber,

` - W095l08~7 2 1 7 1 5 3 3 PCT~S93/08871
natural or synthetic foam and elastomers are
slipped over the interconnecting element 20 of each
block to serve as a buffer, and simulate cement
joints between the blocks 10.
Two prongs 31, 32 extend downwardly from the
undersurface 33 of the roof beyond the lower edge
34 of the block. Each prong has a pointed and
barbed distal section 35, 36. The prongs are used
to anchor each block to the underlying supporting
surface. That supporting surface may be a natural
one such as turf or solid, some prepared aggregate
or cementitious medium. Prongs 31, 32 are
stabilized by two cross-bars 37, 38 spanning the
two side-walls 17, 18 near the lower edge 34 of the
box and the midsections of the prongs.
Figure 8 illustrates a block 39 which is
traversed by a section of illuminating strip 40 of
the type having bulbs 41 at regular intervals
enclosed along with the wiring in a transparent
tubing 42. The block 39 is preferably made of a
transparent material, and a whole series of them
can be strung like beads over the illuminating
strip, passing through the channel 25 of the
interconnecting element, internal chamber 19, and

- woss/08257 2 1 7 1 S 3 3 PCT~ss3/08871
the cavity 26.
The alternate embodiment 43 of the block
illustrated in Figures 9-13 is characterized by two
symmetrical cavities 44, 45 in opposite end walls
46, 47. These cavities are substantially similar
to the rectangular cavity 26 in the left wall of
the first-described embodiment. A separate
interlocking member 48 is used to hingedly join two
of such blocks. The interlocking member 48 has a
quadrangular central portion 49 and a pair of
symmetrical, tapered projections 50, 51 extending
in opposite axial directions from said central
portion. Each of said projections is substantially
similar to the interconnecting element 20 of the
earlier-described embodiment. The vertically
aligned pairs of nibs or stubs 52, 53 and 54, 55
- that extends from the top and bottom surfaces of
each projection are shaped, dimensioned and
positioned to snap into the corresponding pairs of
recesses 56, 57 and 58, 59 respectively of two
adjacent blocks. The insertion of the projections
50, 51 into the cavities 44, 45 is facilitated by
the outwardly tapering of the projections. It
should be noted that the projections 50, 51 have a

`~~ WO95t08257 ~ 5 3 3 PCT~Ss3/0887l
--8--
height substantially commensurate with the height
of the cavities 44, 45, but a smaller width in
order to allow limited rotation of the
interconnecting element within the cavities about
the vertical axes of the ribs and recesses.
An equivalent mode of attachment can be .
achieved by providing cavities or recesses in the
projections of the interlocking member and placing
the mating nibs or stubs inside the block.
An end cap 60 is provided to close the end
- wall of a last one of a series of interlocked
blocks. The end cap has a cover 61 commensurate
with the outer dimensions of the end walls 46, 47
and a plug 62 shaped and ~ir^~Rioned to be forcedly
engaged into the opening of either one of the
cavities 44, 45.
While the preferred embodiments of the
invention have been described, modifications can be
made and other embodiments may be devised without
departing from the spirit of the invention and the
scope of the appended claims.

Representative Drawing