Landscape system apparatus

• US 5,930,947 A
• Filed: 08/19/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald J. Eckhoff
• Original Assignee: Gerald J. Eckhoff
• Inventors: Eckhoff, Gerald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABBOTT, YVONNE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US08/914,488
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 47/1.01, 47/31, 47/33, 52/102
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 2300/0029 Steel; Iron
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 2600/20 comprising details of connection between elements
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/0225 comprising retention means in the backfill

Abstract

An apparatus for forming a landscape system comprising a plurality of system members which edge and retain fill material and facilitate landscaping. Each system member includes a base plate, a front portion, a connecting member and an accepting member. The base plate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a proximal end and a distal end. The base plate is configured to be substantially held in place by the fill material. The front portion includes a first side, a second side, an upper side and a lower side. The first side includes a first receiving member which is capable of releasable mating engagement with a second receiving member of another of the plurality of system members, and, the second side includes such a second receiving member capable of releasable mating engagement with a first receiving member of another of the system members. Such attachment facilitates horizontal engagement. The connecting member is capable of attachment with the accepting member of another of the plurality of system members, to, in turn, facilitate vertical engagement of the system members.

Claims

1. A landscape system comprising a plurality of system members to be used to edge and retain fill material and landscaping placed therein, each member comprising:

a base plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a proximal end and a distal end;

said base plate being further configured so as to be capable of being substantially held in place by said fill material;

a front portion associated with the base plate, the front portion having a first side, a second side, an upper side and a lower side,

said front portion having a desired outer appearance;

the first side having a first receiving member, the second side having a second receiving member, the first receiving member capable of releasable mating engagement with the second receiving member of another of the plurality of system members;

to, in turn, enable horizontal engagement of same; and

the second receiving member capable of releasable mating engagement with the first receiving member of another of the plurality of system members;

to, in turn, enable horizontal engagement of same;

at least one connecting member associated with at least one of the bottom surface of the base plate and the lower side of the front portion; and

at least one accepting member associated with of the upper side of the front portion and capable of attachment with the connecting member of another of the plurality of system members;

to, in turn, facilitate vertically stackable orientation thereof.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said base plate includes at least one stiffening rib spanning between said base plate and said front portion.

3. The system according to claim 1 further including at least one brace associated with at least a portion of the base plate and the front portion.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the width of the base plate is greater at the proximal end than at the distal end.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the base plate includes at least one combination weep hole and sliding resistance cleat.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the base plate includes at least one anchor hole, the apparatus further comprising:

an anchor member having a first end adapted to releasably engage the at least one anchor hole and a second end capable of attachment to an outside structure.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the front portion includes a surface configured to resemble at least one of the group consisting of natural rock, cut stone and masonry.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the releasable mating engagement of the first and second receiving members comprises rotatable mating engagement about a plane substantially parallel to the base plate.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of system members are substantially identical.

10. A method of forming a landscape system which comprises:

(a) providing at least three system members, each member comprising;

a base plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a proximal end and a distal end;

said base plate being further configured so as to be capable of being substantially held in place by said fill material;

a front portion associated with the base plate, the front portion having a first side, a second side, and upper side and a lower side,

said front portion having a desired outer appearance;

the first side having a first receiving member, the second side having a second receiving member, the first receiving member capable of releasable mating engagement with the second receiving member of another of the least three system member;

to, in turn, enable horizontal engagement of same; and

the second receiving member capable of releasable mating engagement with the first receiving member of another of the at least three system members;

to, in turn, enable horizontal engagement of same;

at least one connecting member associated with at least one of the bottom surface of the base and the lower side of the front portion; and

at least one accepting member associated with the upper side of the front portion and capable of attachment with the connecting member of another of the at least three system members;

to, in turn, facilitate vertically stackable orientation thereof;

(b) positioning a first system member into a desired orientation;

(c) connecting one of the first and second receiving members of second system member to the corresponding other of the first and second receiving member of the first system member;

(d) positioning the second system member into a desired orientation; and

(e) vertically connecting a connecting member of the third system member to the accepting member of at least one of the first system member and the second system member.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of positioning a fourth system member on at least a portion of at least one of a first side of the first system member, an upper side of the first system member, a second side of the second system member, an upper side of the second system member, a first side of the third system member, a second side of the third system member, and an upper side of the third system member.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the step of connecting the first and second system member comprises the step of rotating the second system member relative to the first system member about the first receiving member of the first system member and the second receiving member of the second system member.

13. The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of attaching an anchor member to at least one anchor hole.

14. The method according to claim 10 further comprises the step of placing a fill material on a top surface of a base plate of at least one of the first and second system members.