Modular element for forming lawn or flowerbed borders or the like

• US 20050081437A1
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marker Deutschland GmbH (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Marker Deutschland GmbH (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Heinemann, Udo
• Application Number:
  US10/919,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20050081437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/33
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/28 Raised beds; Planting beds; Edging elements for beds, lawn or the like, e.g. tiles

Abstract

A modular element or a so-called edging stone for forming a lawn or flowerbed border, consisting of a lower part 1, 51, which forms a continuous channel 11 for receiving a hose and/or cable, and a lid 3, 53 that is attached in a snap-on or hinged fashion to the lower part, which when the modular element is embedded so as to be flush with the surface forms a flat top that can be walked on or driven on. The lid and lower part are concavely curved on one end and convexly with the same radius on the other end, so that contiguous modular elements can be laid down at a desired angle to one another without forming a gap, in order to form curved lawn or flowerbed borders. Within the modular element, built-in parts or connectors can be arranged, such as for example a luminous element 73, an electrical socket 85, or a water-hose hook-up 81, 82.

Claims

1. Modular element for use as an edging stone for lawn or flowerbed borders or the like, in the form of an elongated block that when embedded in the earth can be laid flush with its surface, and that has a flat top that can be walked on, wherein the modular element has at its one end a convex outward rounding and at its other end a concave inward rounding complementary to this, such that contiguous modular elements can be laid down at a desired angle to one another without forming a gap at their faces,

characterized such that the modular element comprises a lower part that forms a channel which is continuous in the longitudinal direction and is open at both faces, and a lid that is set upon the lower part,

wherein the outlet of said channel at the convexly rounded end of the modular element is bounded in width by inwardly projecting curved wall parts in such a way that it connects up without any lateral gaps to the mouth of the channel at the concave end of an adjoiningly arranged modular element.

2. Modular element based on claim 1, characterized such that the lid is detachably attached to the lower part by means of a snap-on connection.

3. Modular element based on claim 1, characterized such that the lid is hinged on the lower part in such a way that it can be raised up.

4. Modular element based on claim 3, characterized such that the lid can be arrested in the raised position.

5. Modular element based on claim 1, characterized such that at least one drain opening is provided in a floor wall of the lower part.

6. Modular element based on claim 1, characterized such that a luminous element is arranged in the lower part and the lid is constructed to be permeable to light.

7. Modular element based on claim 1, characterized such that a plug-in termination for the connecting up of a hose or else an electrical socket is arranged within the modular element.

8. Modular element based on claim 1, characterized such that it has at its one end a hook-shaped coupling projection and at the other end a receiving means which is suited to the receiving of such a coupling projection, such that two contiguous modular parts can be coupled together in such a way as to resist being pulled apart, by means of an interlocking of the coupling projection and the receiving means, wherein the coupling projection and receiving means are arranged in the form of circular arcs in such a way that the modular parts can be coupled together at a desired angle.

9. Modular element based on claim 1, characterized such that in the lower area it has a floor, which forms a supporting surface, and such that in the interior of the lower part supporting shoulders are provided at a distance above the floor.

14. Modular element based on claim 2, characterized such that at least one drain opening is provided in a floor wall of the lower part.

15. Modular element based on claim 3, characterized such that at least one drain opening is provided in the floor wall of the lower part.

16. Modular element based on claim 4, characterized such that at least one drain opening is provided in the floor wall of the lower part.

17. Modular element based on claim 2, characterized such that a luminous element is arranged in the lower part and the lid is constructed to be permeable to light.

18. Modular element based on claim 3, characterized such that a luminous element is arranged in the lower part and the lid is constructed to be permeable to light.

19. Modular element based on claim 4, characterized such that a luminous element is arranged in the lower part and the lid is constructed to be permeable to light.

20. Modular element based on claim 5, characterized such that a luminous element is arranged in the lower part and the lid is constructed to be permeable to light.

10. A system comprising a plurality of modular elements for forming a lawn or flowerbed border, each said modular element comprising a lower part that forms a channel which is continuous in the longitudinal direction and is open at both faces, and a lid that is set upon the lower part, wherein the channel outlet of the channel at the convexly rounded end of the modular element is bounded in width by inwardly projecting curved wall parts in such a way that it connects up without any lateral gaps to the mouth of the channel at the concave end of an adjoiningly arranged modular element, characterized such that the system includes a plurality of differently equipped modular elements that form a single continuous channel, and at least one of the following modular elements comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of:

a built-in lamp and a lid permeable to light;

an electrical socket; and

a hose hook-up.

11. The system of claim 10, characterized in that a modular element has a lid detachably attached to the lower part by means of a snap-on connection.

12. The system of claim 10, characterized in that a modular element has a lid hinged on a lower part of the element.

13. The system of claim 10, characterized in that a modular element has a lower part with a floor wall provided with at least one drain opening.