Paving block and its installation method

• US 6,705,797 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kogyo Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kogyo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wada, Shohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann, Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US09/700,723
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 404/17, 404/34, 404/38, 404/39, 404/41, 404/50, 525/96, 526/03, 526/04, 526/05, D25/113, 14/24
• US Class Current: 404/38
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/24 Methods or arrangements for preventing slipperiness or protecting against influences of the weather measures taken in connection with the foundation E01C3/06; paving elements with anti-slip inlays E01C5/22; aggregates resisting to grinding E01C7/085, E01C7/142, E01C7/182; specially for surface layers E01C7/35; reinforcements extending up to the surface E01C11/16, E01C11/18, E01C11/185; drainage E01C11/22; windscreens E01F7/02; snow fences E01F7/02; combating fog E01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2201/02 having fixed spacing features
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2201/12 vertically interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 5/00 Pavings made of prefabricated single units specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds E01C13/04, for footpaths, sidewalks or cycle tracks E01C15/00; making artificial stones C04B; building stones E04C; flooring E04F
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/60 Planning or developing urban green infrastructure

Abstract

A paving block and a paving block assembly include a prism-shaped paving block body having a top surface, a bottom surface disposed opposite the top surface and a first pair of opposing side walls and a second pair of opposing side walls. The first and second pair of opposing side walls are disposed between the top and bottom surfaces with respective ones of the first pair of opposing side walls and the second pair of opposing side walls connected perpendicularly to each other. The top surface has a plurality of longitudinal grooves which are formed therein and extend parallel to each other. Each one of the plurality of grooves has a width substantially equal to each other. The paving block body has at least one projection connected to one of the side walls and positioned between the top and bottom surfaces. The at least one projection projects from the one side wall a distance equal to or substantially equal to the width of the grooves.

Claims

1. A paving block, comprising:

a prism-shaped paving block body extending along and about a horizontal axis x, a transverse axis y and a vertical axis z perpendicularly intersecting one another at a common point and having a top surface extending in an x direction and a y direction, a bottom surface disposed opposite the top surface and extending in the x direction and the y direction, a first pair of opposing side walls extending in the x direction and a z direction and a second pair of opposing side walls extending in the y direction and the z direction, the first and second pair of opposing side walls disposed between the top and bottom surfaces, with respective ones of the first pair of opposing side walls and the second pair of opposing side walls connected perpendicularly to each other, the top surface having a plurality of grooves which extend parallel to each other in the y direction and uninterruptedly across the top surface commencing at one side wall and terminating at an opposite side wall, each one of the plurality of grooves having a width substantially equal to each other; and

at least one projection which is located between the top and bottom surfaces and which abuts on at least one of the side walls of the first pair of opposing side walls, the at least one projection projecting from the at least one side wall of the first pair of opposing side walls a distance equal to or substantially equal to the width of the grooves, the at least one projection extending at least substantially between the top and bottom surfaces in the z direction to define a projection height and having a projection width extending in the x direction, the projection height being larger than the projection width,

one side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls is formed with a rib extending in the y direction parallel to the plurality of grooves for engaging the block with an adjacent block, and a remaining side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls is formed with an engaging groove extending in the y direction parallel to the plurality of grooves for engaging with a rib of another adjacent block,

the rib extending continuously across the one side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls, with two ends thereof located at connection areas where the one side wall joins the side walls of the first pair of opposing side walls, and

the engaging groove extending continuously across the remaining side wall of the second pair of opposing side walls, with two ends thereof located at connection areas where the remaining side wall joins the side walls of the first pair of opposing side walls.

2. A paving block according to claim 1, wherein the rib and the engaging groove located below a center of the side walls.

3. A paving block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a notch is provided at the bottom of each one of the second pair of opposing side walls, the notch extending along in the y direction adjacent to and below a respective one of the rib and the engaging groove entirely across each one of the second pair of opposing side walls and between the first pair of opposing side walls.

4. A paving block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rib is configured in cross-section generally as a trapezoid with inclining surfaces, the engaging groove of another adjacent block configured to engage in face-to-face contact with the inclining surfaces.