Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"Grass paver"
The invention relates to a grass paver according to the
preamble of claim 1.
DE 20 2004 009 898 U1 discloses a grass paver which has
a lattice-like body which is formed by intersecting
transverse struts and longitudinal struts which form at
least one lattice opening, wherein the transverse
struts project beyond the longitudinal struts and the
longitudinal struts project beyond the transverse
struts, wherein corners of the lattice paver are each
formed by a leg of one of the transverse struts and a
leg of one of the longitudinal struts. The disadvantage
of such grass pavers is that, regardless of whether
there is any variation in the laying technique between,
for example, a running bond and cross-joint bond and/or
a change in the orientation, they give a virtually
unchanged appearance to a paver arrangement composed of
a plurality of identical grass pavers.
The object on which the invention is based is to
develop a grass paver by means of which paver
arrangements having different structures can be
produced, with the result that identical grass pavers
can be used, for example, to construct driving areas,
parking areas or walking areas having a different
appearance.
Taking the features of the preamble of claim 1 as a
starting point, this object is achieved by the
characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous and
expedient developments are given in the subclaims.
The grass paver according to the invention comprises at
least one transverse strut and/or at least one
longitudinal strut which have a zigzag-shaped and/or
wavy profile when seen in plan view. It is possible by
selecting different laying techniques and/or different
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orientations of the grass pavers for paver arrangements
having different geometries to be produced with such
grass pavers. Therefore, the essence of the invention
is a grass paver which can be used for paver
arrangements having different intended uses. Such a
grass paver allows optimum cohesion between the grass
pavers of the paver arrangements having different
intended uses, since identical grass pavers optimally
tailored to one another are used. Furthermore, such a
grass paver makes the planning of building projects
considerably easier, since only the requirement for a
certain area has to be calculated first of all and the
intended use or the appearance of an area can be
determined at a later time.
Furthermore, the invention provides for at least one of
the corners of the grass paver to be formed by legs of
different length. This makes it possible to further
vary the appearance of paver arrangements in which the
grass pavers are laid with different laying techniques
and/or orientations.
Provision is made according to the invention for at
least one of the transverse struts and/or longitudinal
struts to be provided, at an underside, with a
tunnel-like recess which extends in the direction of
the transverse strut or the longitudinal strut and
which opens at the lateral ends of the transverse strut
or longitudinal strut. This makes it possible, for
example, to lay electrical lines and/or irrigation
lines continuously over the paver arrangement.
Furthermore, the invention provides for at least one
strut, and in particular the longitudinal struts and/or
the transverse struts, to be formed with a trapezoidal
cross section. A tunnel-like recess can be easily
integrated in such struts without substantially
weakening the strut. Furthermore, compressive loads and
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tilting moments can be readily transmitted or absorbed
by a downwardly widening strut.
The invention also provides for the longitudinal struts
to be designed with a greater height than the
transverse struts and to be allowed to project beyond
the transverse struts at an underside of the grass
paver. As a result, higher vehicular traffic loads can
be achieved for the individual grass pavers, since the
grass paver also interacts positively with the ground
and therefore can better take up shear loads in
particular.
Provision is made according to the invention to design
the grass paver with a square grid when seen in plan
view. As a result, a change in orientation of the grass
paver in 90 steps is possible even within a paver
arrangement. Such a change in orientation of the grass
paver increases the number of laying variants.
According to the invention, provision is made to
arrange undersides of the transverse struts and
longitudinal struts of the grass paver in an upper
bearing plane and a lower bearing plane. As a result,
any floating of the grass paver on the ground is better
prevented, because the grass paver penetrates the
ground by way of individual struts.
The invention provides a paver arrangement having grass
pavers as claimed in claim 1, in which arrangement a
grass paver, which is surrounded by six or eight grass
pavers, forms together with these adjacent grass pavers
at least two lattice openings which differ from one
another in their shape andlor area, wherein at least
one of these lattice openings differs from a rectangle.
A completely different visual impression can be
achieved with such paver arrangements when changing the
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laying technique and/or the alignment of the grass
pavers with identical grass pavers.
Finally, the invention provides a further paver
arrangement composed of grass pavers as claimed in
claim 1, in which arrangement a grass paver, which is
surrounded by six or eight grass pavers, forms together
with these adjacent grass pavers at least three lattice
openings which differ from one another in their shape
and/or area, wherein at least two of these lattice
openings differ from a rectangle. A completely
different visual impression can also be achieved with
such a paver arrangement when changing the laying
technique and/or the alignment of the grass pavers with
identical grass pavers.
Further details of the invention are described in the
drawing by way of schematically illustrated exemplary
embodiments.
In the drawing:
figure la shows a plan view of a grass paver
according to the invention;
figure lb shows a section through the grass
paver shown in figure la along a
section line Ia-Ia;
figure 2 shows a paver arrangement in which the
grass paver shown in figure la is laid
in a cross-joint bond;
figure 3 shows a paver arrangement
corresponding to figure 2 in which the
grass pavers do not have any notches
on their upper sides;
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figure 4 shows a paver arrangement in which the
grass paver shown in figure la is laid
in a running bond;
figure 5 shows a paver arrangement
corresponding to figure 4 in which the
grass pavers do not have any notches
on their upper sides;
figure 6a shows a second variant of a grass
paver according to the invention, in
plan view;
figure 6b shows a section through the grass
paver shown in figure 6a along a
section line VIa-VIa;
figures 7a, 7b show a third variant of a grass paver
according to the invention, in side
view and plan view;
figure 7c shows a paver arrangement composed of
grass pavers corresponding to
figure 7b;
figure 8a shows a fourth variant of a grass
paver according to the invention, in
plan view;
figure 8b shows a paver arrangement composed of
grass pavers corresponding to
figure 8a;
figures 9a, 9b show a fifth variant of a grass paver
according to the invention, in plan
view, and a paver arrangement composed
of corresponding grass pavers, and
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figures 10a - 10c show a sixth variant of a grass paver
according to the invention, in plan
view, and two paver arrangements
composed of corresponding grass
pavers.
Figure la depicts a plan view of a first grass paver 1
according to the invention. The grass paver 1 has a
body 2 which comprises two transverse struts 3, 4 and
two longitudinal struts 5, 6. These together form a
lattice 7 which has a laterally closed lattice opening
8. The struts 3 to 6 resemble a double cross or a so-
called hash sign. The intersecting transverse struts 3,
4 and longitudinal struts 5, 6 each project laterally
beyond one another by way of legs 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a,
5b, 6a, 6b. Between these legs 3a to 6b are situated
further lattice openings 9a to 9h. Four corners 10a to
10d of the grass paver 1, which has a square grid RQ
when seen in plan view, are respectively formed by two
legs 4a, 5a and 6a, 4b and 3b, 6b and 5b, 3a. The
transverse struts 3, 4 and the longitudinal struts 5, 6
each have a zigzag-shaped profile corresponding to the
zigzag lines Z3 to Z6 when the upper side 14 of the
grass paver 1 is seen in plan view. The zigzag lines
each have two inflection points Kl, K2. Two spacers 12,
13 are arranged on each of the lateral ends 11 of the
transverse struts 3, 4 and longitudinal struts 5, 6 for
interlocking with an adjacent grass paver (not shown
here). The grass paver 1 has a grid width RB and grid
length RL, where RB = RL in the case of the grass paver
1 depicted in figure la. With regard to the lateral
ends 11 of the transverse struts 3, 4 or longitudinal
struts 5, 6 and the spacers 12, 13 arranged thereon,
they are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to a
center point M of the grass paver 1. The grass paver 1
is provided on its upper side 14 with four notches 15
which give the grass paver 1 the appearance of four
individual pavers.
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Figure lb illustrates a section through the grass paver
1 depicted in figure la along the section line Ia-Ia
shown in figure la. The transverse strut 3 which can be
seen in the sectional view and the longitudinal strut 5
which can be seen in the sectional view each have
identical heights H3 and H5, respectively.
Figure 2 depicts a paver arrangement 16 in plan view in
which the grass paver 1 shown in figure la is laid in a
cross-joint bond KFV. To aid better understanding, one
of the grass pavers 1 depicted is distinguished by
means of a hatching. Together with adjacent grass
pavers 101 to 108, the grass paver 1 forms around its
laterally closed lattice opening 8 a further eight
laterally closed lattice openings 9a to 9h. Of these,
the lattice openings 9a, 9c, 9e and 9g take the form of
squares when seen in plan view. The lattice openings
9b, 9d, 9f and 9h each form a lozenge when seen in plan
view.
In figure 3, the paver arrangement 16 known from
figure 2 is additionally depicted without notches (see
figure la) in order to simplify the overview. The
cross-joint bond KFV depicted exclusively comprises
cross joints KF between the grass pavers 1.
Figure 4 depicts a further paver arrangement 16 which
is made up of grass pavers 1 corresponding to
figure la. By contrast with figure 2, the grass pavers
1 in this paver arrangement 16 are laid in a so-called
running bond LVB. This means that adjacent paver rows
R1 to R3 are each staggered relative to one another by
half a grid width RB. The grass paver 1, which is
emphasized by means of a hatching, forms around its
laterally closed lattice opening 8, together with six
adjacent grass pavers 101 to 106, a further eight
laterally closed lattice openings 9a to 9h. Here, the
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lattice opening 9e is configured as a square when seen
in plan view. The lattice openings 9c, 9d, 9f and 9g
are configured as congruent quadrilaterals. The lattice
openings 9a, 9b and 9h are formed by further polygons
which are not congruent to one another.
In figure 5, the running bond LVB shown in figure 4 is
depicted, analogously to figure 3, again without
notches (see figure la). In the paver arrangement 16
illustrated in figure 5, the T-joints TF which occur
between the individual grass pavers 1 as a result of
the laying with a running bond LVB can be seen clearly.
Figure 6a depicts a second variant embodiment of a
grass paver 1 in plan view. Reference is made in
principle here to the description relating to
figure la. By contrast with the grass paver shown in
figure la, the transverse struts 3, 4 and longitudinal
struts 5, 6 of the grass paver 1 shown in figure 6a
extend along zigzag lines Z3 to Z6 which each have
three inflection points K1 to K3. The grass paver has
four short legs KS, namely legs 4b, 3b, 6b and 5b, and
four long legs LS, namely legs 3a, 4a, 5a and 6a. A
first corner 10a of the grass paver 1 is formed by two
long legs LS, that is to say 5a, 5a. A diagonally
opposite corner 10c is formed by two short legs KS,
that is to say 3b, 6b. Two further diagonally opposite
corners 10b, 10d are formed by one respective short leg
KS, that is to say b4 and 5b, and one respective long
leg LS, that is to say 6a and 3a. With regard to the
lengths of its legs, the grass paver 1 is not point-
symmetrical with respect to a center point M. By virtue
of notches 15, the grass paver 1 is divided into four
congruent cruciform sub-bodies TK1 to TK4 having the
same orientation.
Figure 6b depicts a section through the grass paver 1
illustrated in figure 6a along a section line VIa-VIa.
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In the sectional view can be seen the transverse strut
3 and the longitudinal strut 5 which have uniform
heights H3 and H5, respectively.
Figures 7a and 7b show a third variant of a grass paver
1 according to the invention, in side view and plan
view. The grass paver 1 has two transverse struts 3, 4
and two longitudinal struts 5, 6. The transverse struts
3, 4 run along wavy lines or meandering lines S3, S4.
The longitudinal struts 5, 6 extend rectilinearly and
are designed to resemble a trapezoid when seen in
section or in side view. Furthermore, the transverse
struts 5, 6 are each provided at undersides U5, U6 with
a tunnel-like recess T5, T6 which is intended for
laying electrical lines or irrigation lines. By
contrast with the grass pavers shown in figures la and
6a, the grass paver 1 shown in figures 7a and 7b has
different heights H4 and H5, H6 for its transverse
struts 3, 4 and longitudinal struts 5, 6. The
transverse struts 3, 4 and longitudinal struts 5, 6
form a planar upper side 14 of the grass paver 1. At an
underside 17 of the grass paver 1, the longitudinal
struts 5, 6 protrude beyond the transverse struts 3, 4.
As a result, undersides 18 and 19 of the transverse
struts 3, 4 and the longitudinal struts 5, 6 of the
grass paver 1 lie in two different bearing planes AE1
and AE2 (see figure 7a) . This shear protection in the
gravel bed and/or sand bed and/or soil bed is
particularly effective since the grass paver 1 is
supported on soil layers situated at different levels,
and consequently a gradual smoothing of the subsurface
by the grass paver is made more difficult. According to
a variant embodiment (not shown) of the invention, at
least the underside 18 of the transverse struts 3, 4 or
the underside 19 of the longitudinal struts 5, 6 is
provided with additional ribs. As a result, the
respective bearing plane becomes a shear protection
plane which increases further still the supporting of
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the grass paver on or in the subsurface against shear
forces.
Figure 7c depicts a paver arrangement 16 which is
formed from grass pavers 1 which each correspond to the
grass paver shown in figures 7a and 7b. Within the
paver arrangement 16, the grass pavers 1 are laid in
different orientations. A grass paver 1, which is
marked by means of a hatching, is surrounded by eight
grass pavers 101 to 108. Around the laterally closed
lattice opening 8 of the grass paver 1, the lattice
openings 9a to 9h are closed by the adjacent grass
pavers 101 to 108. Here, the lattice openings 9a, 9b,
9d, 9c, 9f and 9h are congruent to one another when
seen in plan view. Furthermore, the lattice openings 9c
and 9g are congruent to one another.
Figure 8a depicts a plan view of a fourth grass paver
1.
Figure 8b shows a further paver arrangement 16 which is
built up from grass pavers 1 which correspond to the
grass paver shown in figure 8a. In a left subarea I of
the paver arrangement 16, the grass pavers 1 are
arranged in a cross-joint bond KFV. In a central
subarea II of the paver arrangement 16, the grass
pavers 1 are arranged in a running bond LVB. Dependent
on the laying technique - cross-joint bond or running
bond - there result, as seen in plan view, different
geometric shapes of the lattice openings 9a to 9h which
are formed by interacting grass pavers 1. This also
produces a different overall impression which does not
result from the joint pattern as in the case of
conventional paving stones but from the geometries of
the lattice openings 9a to 9h. In the left subarea I,
the grass paver 1 marked by a thick contour line is
surrounded by eight grass pavers 101 to 108. Around the
laterally closed lattice opening 8 of the grass paver
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1, lattice openings 9a to 9h are closed by the adjacent
grass pavers 101 to 108. Here, the lattice openings 9b,
9d, 9f and 9h are congruent to one another when seen in
plan view. Furthermore, the lattice openings 9c and 9g
are congruent to one another and, finally, the lattice
openings 9a and 9e are also congruent.
In the central subarea II, the grass paver 1 marked by
a thick contour line is surrounded by six grass pavers
101 to 106. Around the laterally closed lattice opening
8 of the grass paver 1, lattice openings 9a to 9h are
closed by the adjacent grass pavers 101 to 106. These
lattice openings are partially congruent to one
another. In a right subarea III, the grass paving
stones 1 are each rotated by 90 with respect to the
grass paving stones 1 of the left and central subareas
I, II. Overall, the different laying techniques or
different orientations shown in figure 8b result in
areas having different actions. Thus, it is possible to
use a single type of a grass paver to produce paver
arrangements of different appearance. This allows the
formation of traffic areas having different purposes,
such as roadways, pathways, cycleways or parking
places, from identical grass pavers. Here, the
different appearances are determined by the openings
which result between adjacent grass pavers in the paver
arrangement.
Figure 9a depicts a plan view of a fifth grass paver 1.
It has two transverse struts 3, 4 which are bent in an
S shape and extend parallel to one another and two
rectilinear longitudinal struts 5, 6 which extend
parallel to one another. The lateral ends 11 of the
transverse struts 3, 4 and the longitudinal struts 5, 6
are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to a
center point M of the grass paver 1.
Figure 9b shows a further paver arrangement 16 which is
built up from grass pavers 1 which correspond to the
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grass paver shown in figure 9a. These pavers are laid
in different orientations and with different laying
techniques.
Figure 10a depicts a plan view of a sixth grass paver
1. It has two transverse struts 3, 4 bent in an S shape
and two rectilinear longitudinal struts 5, 6 extending
parallel to one another. The lateral ends 11 of the
transverse struts 3, 4 and the longitudinal struts 5, 6
are arranged point-symmetrically with respect to a
center point M of the grass paver 1. By contrast with
the grass paver shown in figure 9a, the S-shaped
transverse struts 3, 4 are arranged mirror-
symmetrically with respect to a mirror plane SE.
Figure 10b shows a further paver arrangement 16 which
is built up from grass pavers 1 which correspond to the
grass paver shown in figure 10a. The paver arrangement
16 is laid as a so-called cross-joint bond KFV.
Figure 10c shows a further paver arrangement 16 which
is built up from grass pavers 1 which correspond to the
grass paver shown in figure 10a. The paver arrangement
16 is laid as a so-called running bond LVB.
The grass pavers described are preferably embodied as
paving stones and produced from concrete. However,
according to a variant embodiment, provision is also
made to configure the grass pavers from plastic or
other suitable materials or combinations of materials.
The invention is not limited to exemplary embodiments
which have been depicted or described. Rather, it
encompasses developments of the invention within the
scope of the claims. According to a variant embodiment
which has not been depicted, provision is also made for
paving stones embodied as grass pavers which have a
rectangular grid when seen in plan view and in which
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the grid length and the grid width are dimensioned
differently.
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List of reference signs:
1 Grass paver
2 Body
3, 4 First, second transverse strut
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b Leg of 3 and 4, respectively
5, 6 First, second longitudinal strut
5a, 5b Leg of 5
6a, 6b Leg of 6
7 Lattice
8, 9a-9h Lattice opening
10a-10d Corner of 1
11 Lateral ends of 3, 4, 5 and 6
12, 13 Spacer on 11
14 Upper side of 1
15 Notch on 14
16 Paver arrangement
17 Underside of 1
18, 19 Underside of 3, 4 and 5, 6,
respectively
101-108 Adjacent grass paver to 1
H3-H6 Height of 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively
K1-K3 Inflection point of Z3 to Z6 or S3, S4
KF, KFV Cross-joint, cross-joint bond
KS, LS Short leg, long leg
LVB Running bond
M Center point of 1
R1-R3 Paver row
RB, RL, RQ Grid width of 1, grid length of 1,
grid
S3, S4 Meandering line
AE1, AE2 Bearing plane
T5, T6 Recess
TF T-joint
TK1-TK4 Sub-body of 1
U5, U6 Underside of 5 and 6, respectively
Z3-Z6 Zigzag line
I - III Left, central, right subarea of 16
