Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WALL ELEMENT, ESPECIALLY A PALISADE
The in-renticn concerns a preferably rod-shaped wall
component, in particular a palisade, with visible or nail
surfaces arranged on opposite sides, and intermediate er_d
faces, wherein one of the end faces is provided with a
projecting head and she other end face is provided wish a
receptacle, and wherein the head and the receptacle engage
,,pith a receptacle or a head of a neighboring wall component
to f orn a wal l .
The vertical burying of palisades or posts in the ground or
the fixing thereof in a different manner, one next to the
other, to form walls has been conventional for a long time.
While the palisades originally served as fortress walls, they
are also used today for designing gardens and outdoor areas,
e.g. for elevated garden beds, slope supports, terraces atc.
The palisades are usually made from wood or concrete and are
anchored in the earth with a concrete foundation. If the
palisades are subjected to only little loading, it may be
sufficient to merely bury them in the ground.
A wall formed from palisades, disposed one next to the other,
which can either stand freely or be filled up with earth, at
least on one side, is described below by way of example.
2
In previous times, logs were usually used for palisades which
therefore had a circular cross-section. Modern palisades are
mostly produced as prefabricated concrete parts, which
permits adjustment of she cross-sectional shape of the
palisades to the requirements. Such a palisade has visible or
wall surfaces disposed on two opposing sides which, when
erected, and together :vith t=.e corresponding visible or wall
surfaces of neighboring palisades, form the surfaces of the
,call. Each end of the visible or wall surfaces of the
palisade has an end face which exterds substantially
perpendicular to the ~risible or wall surfaces. When the
palisades are disposed next to each other, neighboring
palisades are disposed such that their facing end faces abut.
The stability of each individual palisade is effected through
embedding in the ground. For a better absorption of localized
forces substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wall,
neighboring palisades have been conventionally connected or
engaged such that transverse loads which act on a palisade
are transferred to neighboring palisades and absorbed by them
to increase the stability of the wall.
The mutual engagement of neighboring palisades is usually
achieved by engagement elements disposed on the end faces of
the palisades. Both e.g. DE ~97 15 696 U1 and US 1 502 438
have proposed providing one end face with a centrally aligned
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head which extends substantially over the entire width of the
end face and which has a partially circular convex shape and
providing the opposite end face with a receptacle having the
shape of a partially circular concave hollow cavity which
also extends over the entire width of the end face. Since the
head can be disposed in different positions within the
receptacle, a joint, having a vertical joint axis, is formed
between neighboring palisades which permits bending between
neighboring palisades and formation of polygonally curved
walls.
It has, however, turned out that the range of possible
configurations of such conventional palisades is relatively
limited. They also have disadvantages with regard to
appearance. One reason therefor is that formation of a smooth
continuous wall surface is not possible due to the head
projecting on the end face, which is clearly offset on both
sides with respect to the visible or wall surfaces via
waists. Subdivision of the palisade wall surface into a body,
a waist and a head produces a plurality of recesses on the
wall surface of a palisade giving the surface an irregular
appearance. Moreover, the edge for connection to base plates
is not straight due to the recesses in the foot region of the
palisade wall leading to gaps in the transitional region
between the wall and the base area which tend to get dirty
and which attract moss or weeds.
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It is tre underlying purpose of the invention to produce a
rod-shaped wal= compo:.?nt of she abc-re-mentioned type, in
particular in the fore: of a palisade, which eliminates the
above-mentioned problems and chose constructive design offers
the user many design rossibilities for constructing a wall.
This obect is achieved in accordance with the invention with
a wall component or a palisade comprising the features of
claim 1.
The inventive :gall co;rnonent is characterized in that its two
visible cr wal= surfaces have a different design. ~ first
visible cr wall surface comprises a depression extending
along the entire length of tre wall component, wherein the
peripheral sur'ace of the head extends into the depression.
In this =ashion, the peripheral surface of the head is
enlarged by the amount extending into the depression thereby
permitting adjustment of the joint formed by the head and a
receptacle engaging therewith, over a sufficiently large
angular region.
The opposing second visible cr wall surface is substantially
flat and gradually maps into the peripheral surface of the
head, without grooves, recesses or projections. If the head
has a continuously curved peripheral surface, the second
visible or wall surface preferably extends tangentially with
respect to the peripheral surface of the head. Since the
second visible or wall surface does not have a depression,
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the angular region over which the joint can be adjusted is
limited such that a continuous, visually smooth wall surface
can be formed on one side of a wall composed of the inventive
wall components which is not interrupted by a plurality of
recesses or projections. Moreover, the different designs of
the two visible or wall surfaces of the wall component
provide the user with considerably increased design
possibilities since different wall designs can be obtained in
dependence on the mutual orientation of neighboring wall
components.
The wall component can be horizontally mounted rather than
vertically, in particular, for forming a wall for plants or
an embankment. Several wall components are thereby disposed
on a base surface, preferably with their end faces defining
the receptacle facing downwards, to thereby form a first
layer, wherein they can be disposed either directly next to
one another or at a mutual separation from one another. The
receptacles of further wall components are then disposed on
the upwardly facing head sections of the wall components of
the first layer, thereby forming a second layer. An
orientation other than vertical can be effected through
adjustment of the joint formed between head and receptacle.
As usual in the construction of walls, the wall components of
one layer should be offset in the longitudinal direction with
respect to the wall components of the layer disposed below
and/or above and optionally be glued together or connected
through mortar.
. ~ 6
If there is a separation bet:veen the individual wall
components of a layer, a wall for p=ants or an embankment
:vall can be easily provided -with openings to permit plants to
grow on the wall.
In a preferred embodiment of the in-rention, the depression is
disposed substantially in tl:e center of the first visible or
;vall surface .
possible embodiment provides that the depression has a
depression bot~om extending substantially parallel to the
second visible or oval-- surface and side walls which extend at
an inclination. thereto, of which one is part of the
peripheral sur~ace of the head. The cross-section of the
depression car. be substantially concave and map smoothly and
continuously cover into the frst visible or wall surface and
the peripheral surface of the head. nor this reason, the
first visible or wall surface does not have any shoulders,
corners or edges which is ad~rantagecus in that high localized
corner stresses are prevented in the wall component and dirt
cannot accumulate in the corners of the first visible or wall
surface. The wall component .s therefore also easy to clean.
A further embodiment provides that the head and the
receptacle are formed in the center of the respective end
face, wherein their width preferably corresponds to the
mutual separation between the two visible or wall surfaces.
The heads can be larger or smaller and, in particular, the
receptacle can be smaller.
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The peripheral surface of the head should extend over an
angular region of approximately 180° to 225°. The head can
have a partially circular, convex cross-section.
Alternatively, the head can have a polygonal cross-section,
in particular, in the shape of a regular polygon. In this
case, the smooth continuous transition between the second
visible or wall surface and the peripheral surface of the
head is effected in that either one of the peripheral -partial
surfaces of the head is part of the second visible or wall
surface or the peripheral surface of the head joins the
second visible or wall surface while forming a bend. The head
and receptacle can be disposed only in predetermined relative
positions, but have an improved, in particular non-rotatable
engagement. The partially circular embodiment of the head and
the receptacle permits continuous angular adjustment between
neighboring palisades.
The receptacle which is formed on the end face opposite the
head, has a shape which is complementary to that of the head.
The receptacle is preferably formed as a hollow cavity, which
either has a partially circular concave cross-section, or a
polygonal cross-section, corresponding to the configuration
of the head. In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle is
defined by a border extending through an angular region of
approximately 45° to 180° and, in particular, through
90°.
A further development of the invention provides that the end
region of the visible or wall surfaces proximate the
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receptacle is tapered towards the center of the palisade such
that the width of the receptacle is smaller than the mutual
separation between the visible and wall surfaces. This
produces a sharp edge between the receptacle and the
respective visible or wall surfaces which permits a
collision-free immersion into the depression in an extreme,
bent orientation between two neighboring wall components. In
addition, the tapering at the end of the visible or wall
surfaces reduces the width of the receptacle such that
neighboring wall components can be adjusted over a larger
angular region. To prevent graduations or irregularities on
the visible or wall surfaces of the wall component or to at
least keep them small, the tapered end regions map over into
the respective visible or wall surface in a smooth, e.g.
continuously curved fashion.
The visible or wall surface preferably has a convexly curved
section extending from its tapered end region which
continuously maps into the concavely curved depression which,
in turn, joins with the convexly curved peripheral surface of
the head. The peripheral surface of the head changes smoothly
and continuously over into the second visible or wall
surface, whose receptacle-sided end smoothly maps into the
tapered end region. In this fashion, the surface of the wall
component extending between the two edges of the tapered end
sections, i.e. the two visible or wall surfaces and the head-
sided end face, is free of shoulders or bends and travels in
a steady, continuous smooth manner, thereby preventing
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localized corner stresses and considerably reducing
accumulation of dirt.
As an alternative, the tapered end regions can map into the
visible or wall surface through formation of a small bend.
The wall component is usually made from concrete and has a
substantially constant cross-section throughout its length,
wherein it may or may not be armored depending on the loads
which must be accommodated.
If the construction height is correspondingly small, the wall
component can be alternatively used as a bordering stone for
forming the border of a lawn, vegetable garden, or flower
patch. To border a lawn or garden area, the circumference of
at least one partial region of the area is bordered with an
edge formed of stones disposed in a row defining a clear
border. In case of a lawn border, which is below described by
way of example, the upper side of the lawn border is
substantially at the height of the lawn surface to allow side
wheels of a lawn mower to be moved along the lawn border to
facilitate cutting of the grass in the edge region of the
lawn.
The inventive bordering stone has a front surface, a rear
surface disposed on the opposite side, and intermediate end
faces, wherein one of the end faces has a projecting head and
the other end face has a receptacle, wherein the head and the
receptacle engage with a receptacle or a head of a
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neighboring bordering stone when forming a lawn or patch
border. The bordering stone is characterized in that the rear
surface has a depression extending over the entire height of
the bordering stone and the peripheral surface of the head
extends into the depression. The front surface is
substantially flat and smoothly maps into the peripheral
surface of the head. This increases the peripheral surface of
the head by the amount projecting into the depression thereby
permitting adjustment of the joint, which is formed by the
head and a receptacle engaging therewith, over a sufficiently
large angular region, wherein a bend between neighboring
bordering stones of 90° can be effected. To obtain as
continuous a flat surface as possible on the front side of a
lawn border facing the lawn area, the front side of the
bordering stone is substantially flat and maps smoothly and
continuously into the peripheral surface of the head without
the formation of grooves, recesses or projections.
Further embodiments of the bordering stone can be extracted
from the above embodiments of a palisade which differ only in
overall height.
Further details and features of the invention can be
extracted from the following description of embodiments with
reference to the drawing.
Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through a rod-shaped wall
component in accordance with a first embodiment;
11
Fig. 2 shows two wall components according to Fig. 1 used
as palisades, in mutual engagement and straight
alignment;
Fig. 3 shows different wall components according to Fig. 1
used as a palisade with mutual engagement thereby
forming angles;
Fig. 4 shows various wall components according to Fig. 1,
used in horizontal alignment for forming a call for
plants; and
Fig. 5 shows a cross-section through a rod-shaped wall
component according to a second embodiment.
A wall component shown in cross-section in Fig. 1 is made
from concrete and has a substantially uniform cross-section
throughout its length, i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the
drawing. It has a first visible or wall surface 11 and, on
the opposing side, a second visible or wall surface 12 which
is substantially flat. Opposing end faces 13 and 14 extend
between the two visible or wall surfaces 11, 12 at their
lateral ends.
The right end face 13 of Fig. 1 is formed as a head 15 having
a partially circular cross-section whose center lies
approximately in the center of mutual separation between the
two visible or wall surfaces 11 and 12. In the embodiment
shown, the radius of the head 15 corresponds to substantially
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half the width of the wall component i.e. half the separation
between the two visible or wall surfaces 11 and 12, wherein
the head 15 and its peripheral surface 15a map smoothly and
substantially tangentially into the flat second visible or
wall surface.
The first visible or wall surface 11 has a substantially
central depression defining a depression bottom 17a extending
substantially parallel to the second visible or wall surface
11, and with inclined side walls 17b and 17c, wherein the
side wall 17c is simultaneously part of the peripheral
surface 15a of the head 15. The transitions between the side
walls 17b and 17c and the depression bottom 17a are rounded
such that the depression 17 has a concave cross-section which
maps smoothly, and at one side, monotonically into the
peripheral surface 15a of the head. In this fashion, the
peripheral surface 15a of the head reaches into the
depression 17 and extends over an angular region of more than
180°, and of approximately 225° in the embodiment shown.
The opposite end face 14 has a receptacle 16 formed as hollow
cavity whose radius of curvature corresponds to the radius of
the head 15 and whose concave peripheral surface extends over
an opening angle of approximately 90°.
The two visible or wall surfaces 11 and 12 are tapered in
their end regions lla, 12a proximate the receptacle 16
through continuous curvature of the visible or wall surfaces
11 and 12 towards the center of the palisade 10 such that the
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width of the receptacle 16 is slightly less, e.g. by 100,
than the mutual separation between the visible or wall
surfaces 11 and 12. The corner region between the respective
visible or wall surface 11 and 12 and the concave peripheral
surface of the receptacle 16 defines a sharp edge. The first
visible or wall surface 11 therefore has a section llb of
convexly curved cross-section starting from its tapered end
region lla, which continuously maps into the concavely curved
depression 17 which, in turn, joins with the convexly curved
peripheral surface 15a of the head. The continuously convexly
curved peripheral surface of the head maps smoothly and
continuously into the second visible or wall surface 12
which, in turn, changes smoothly over, in a continuously
curved fashion, into the tapered end region 12a on its
receptacle-sided end.
Fig. 2 shows that several wall components 10, serving as
palisades, are disposed next to one another to form a
palisade wall, wherein the head of a palisade engages in the
receptacle of the neighboring palisade and the facing end
faces of the neighboring palisades abut, thereby forming a
substantially flat surface on the front side which is only
interrupted by the tapering of the end regions lla, 12a.
Since the receptacle 16 only extends through an angular
region of approximately 90°, whereas the head 15 has a
peripheral surface extending through a region of
approximately 225°, neighboring palisades can be disposed in
any orientation with respect to one another, throughout an
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angular range of approximately 135°, wherein each head lies
in a receptacle. In this fashion, bends between neighboring
palisades can be realized over a large angular region. Fig. 3
shows two possible bends between two neighboring palisades.
The upper palisade 10~ shows the position of maximum bend in
which the sharp corner formed between the visible or wall
surface 12 and the receptacle 16 is disposed in the
depression 17 of the other palisade 10. The further bent
palisade 10 " is disposed in the other extreme position in
which the corner lies between the first visible or wall
surface 11 and the receptacle 16 at the transition region
between the peripheral surface of the head 15 and the first
visible or wall surface 11 of the other palisade 10.
Fig. 4 shows a section of a wall for plants or an embankment
which consists of several wall components 10 disposed in
vertical orientation. In the embodiment shown, three wall
components 10 are disposed on a base surface with their end
faces having the receptacle facing downward, thereby forming
a first layer. The wall components 10 are oriented in their
longitudinal direction and are disposed to define a residual
gap 18. The receptacles of several wall components are
disposed on the upwardly facing head sections of the wall
components 10 of the first layers thereby forming a second
layer, wherein the wall components 10 of the second layer
bridge the gaps 18 between the wall components 10 of the
first layer thereby defining intermediate gaps 18~. The two
layers must not be disposed exactly vertically, since
adjustment of the joint formed between the head of the wall
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components of the first layer and the receptacle of the wall
components of the second layer permits mutual angular
adjustment or tilting of the layers. This embodiment shows a
further wall component 10 of a third layer which again
bridges the gap 18' between neighboring wall components of
the second layer. In this fashion, a wall for plants or an
embankment is formed with openings or gaps 18,18 which can
either have a vertical orientation or be polygonally curved
through adjustment of the joints between the individual
layers of the wall components.
Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a cross-section of
the wall component which only differs from the configuration
of Fig. 1 in that the depression 19 has a different shape.
The bottom 17a of that depression 19 extends substantially
parallel to the second visible and wall surface 12 and, on
the side facing the receptacle 16, joins with a side wall 17b
to define a bend. The side wall 17b and the second visible or
wall surface 12 form a corner.
The other side wall 17c is also part of the peripheral
surface 15a of the head 15 and is convexly curved in
correspondence thereto.
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