Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Notched paving stone unit and paved assemblies fabricated therewith
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to paving stone units. More
specifically, the present invention is concerned with notched paving stone
units
and paving assemblies fabricated therewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Paving units used to pave surfaces are available in a number of
shapes and sizes, and have been used to lay paving arrangements of a variety
of
visual appearances.
[0003] Lately, a random-type style of paving is much appreciated, wherein
the resulting paving shows few continuous lines of joint. However, creating a
random-type style paving using standard square or rectangular pavement units,
even of different sizes, requires planning ahead the laying thereof, which
results
cumbersome and time wasting for the pavement workers.
[0004] A number of paving units having complex interlocking geometric
shapes, such as hexagonal paving units for example, which have appeared on the
market, offer means to create such random-type style. However, the resulting
paving assemblies still miss the desired random looking visual impact.
[0005] There is still a need in the art for paving stone units and random
looking paving assembly fabricated therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0006] In the appended drawings:
[0007] Figures 1 are schematical views of paving assemblies according to
embodiments of the present invention;
[0008] Figure 2 is a detailed schematical view of a paving assembly
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0009] Figure 3 is a further detailed schematical view of a paving assembly
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a paving assembly, comprising a plurality of regular paving stone
units
and of notched paving stone units laid one adjacent the other, separated by
lines
of joint, the notched paving stone units breaking the continuity of the lines
of joint,
the regular paving stone units and the notched paving stone units being
randomly
installed from mixed skids thereof, the paving assembly having a randomized
layout.
[0011] There is further provided a method for laying a random looking
paving assembly, comprising the steps of providing regular paving stone units;
providing notched paving stone units; and randomly installing the regular
paving
stone units and the notched paving stone units; whereby the notched paving
stone
units have an irregular shape formed by a notch in a regular envelope; said
step of
installing the notched paving stone units breaking lines of joint formed
between
regular paving stone units.
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[0012] There is further provided a notched paving stone unit, having an
irregular shaped formed by a notch in a regular envelope, wherein the notched
paving stone unit, when introduced in a layout of regular paving stone units,
breaks
lines of joint formed between said regular paving stone units.
[0013] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will
become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description
of
specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to
the
accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The present invention is illustrated in further details by the
following
non-limiting examples.
[0015] A paving assembly as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a
collection of paving stone units 10 and 12.
[0016] Paving stone units may be cut during layout of the paving assembly
to accommodate curves for example, as shown in 14 (see Figure 3).
[0017] Generally, paving stone units as shown in 10, have regular shapes,
i.e. rectangular or quasi-square shapes, in a variety of sizes. They are laid
one
adjacent the other, separated by a line of joint.
[0018] Selecting paving stone units 10 of different sizes and making sides
of different lengths face together allow forming varied paving assemblies.
However, even though varied, such assemblies of paving stone units 10 are
still
characterized by lengths of continuous joints, as shown between arrows C and
C'
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in Figure 1 c for example.
[0019] Indeed, only a limited random style look may be achieved using
paving stone units 10 of different sizes and making sides of different lengths
face
together, and only by lengthy and cumbersome planning ahead of the laying of
the
paving stone units 10.
[0020] Paving stone units 12 have a generally irregular shape: their
envelope 18 (shown in dash lines in Figure 3) is a rectangle or a square for
example, and they are provided with a notch 16 breaking the regularity of this
envelope.
[0021] Such paving stone units 12 allow laying an irregular design.
Moreover, such paving stone units 12 allow extra breaking of joint (see joints
D-D'
and A-A, compared to joint B-B' in Figure 3).
[0022] Introducing a paving stone unit 12a in a layout of regular-shaped
paving stone units 10 automatically breaks lines of joint (see paving stone
12a
breaking joint line D-D' in Figure 3). Each paving stone 12 modifies a current
alignment of joints.
[0023] No planning ahead is needed. A paving worker only needs to
randomly lay paving stone units from different stacks of paving stone units
10, of
different sizes for example, and of paving stone units 12. For example, a
ready for
use skid may comprise, for a surface of paving assembly of 9.75 m2 for
instance, a
number of standard paving stone units 10 (small rectangles 150 X 76 mm;
squares
150X150 mm; medium rectangles 150X225 mm; medium rectangles 150X300 mm;
large rectangles 225 X 300 mm) and a number of notched paving stone units 12.
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[0024] The paving stone units 12 may come in a range of sizes too, with
notches of different sizes in a generally lengthwise direction or widthwise
direction.
Their use provides randomizing the layout of the paving assembly, by
multiplying
the breaking of lines of joint.
[0025] As known in the art, the underlying ground is first prepared. The
paving stone units 10, 12 are then installed from skids thereof, working
vertically
down the rows. Sand is then spread and swept over the top of the paving stone
units and a compactor is used as known in the art.
[0026] As shown in the Figures, the resulting paving assembly has an
improved random looking style.
[0027] The paving stone units 10 and 12 may be made in a concrete
material or natural stone for example, in a mild, as known in the art. Their
surfaces
is generally flat, either smooth or tumbled.
[0028] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by
way of specific embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing
from the
spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.
