Overlapping connector for an edge restraint

• US 6,767,159 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen Jones
• Original Assignee: Stephen Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addie, Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US10/158,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20020141819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 404/7, 404/8, 521/02, 525/825, 47/33
• US Class Current: 404/7
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/28 Raised beds; Planting beds; Edging elements for beds, lawn or the like, e.g. tiles
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/221 Kerbs or like edging members, e.g. flush kerbs, shoulder retaining means specially adapted for guiding or warning traffic or for display purposes E01F9/535; Joint members, connecting or load-transfer means specially for kerbs

Abstract

An overlapping or nesting connector is provided for connecting adjacent edge restraint sections. The edge restraint includes a substantially upright section and a base section, and may include braces extending between the upright section and the base section. The connector may be formed integrally with or separate from the edge restraint sections, and includes at least an upper wall, and optionally lateral walls and/or a rear wall. The upper wall may define an opening for a spike, and the brace or coupling structure with which the connector overlaps may define a corresponding opening for receiving the spike, which openings are aligned when the connector overlaps the brace. After adjacent edge restraints have been connected via the overlapping connector/brace, the spike is driven through the aligned openings into the underlying surface to provide a strong connection between the adjacent edge restraints and between the edge restraints and the underlying surface.

Claims

1. An edge restraint system, comprising:

a first edge restraint and bracing section having a longitudinal length and including a connector arranged at one end of said edge restraint section; and

a second edge restraint section including a substantially upright wall;

said bracing system extending away from one side of said upright wall, said bracing system defining a plurality of openings along the longitudinal length of the first edge restraint section, the longitudinal length of the second edge restraint section being variably configurable such that one of said plurality of openings is maintained at a longitudinal end of said first edge restraint section;

wherein said connector comprises at least one portion of the bracing system which overlaps a top surface of said one opening of said first edge restraint section.

2. The edge restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of openings in the bracing system each include thin-walled portions to facilitate insertion of a spike.

3. An edge restraint section, comprising:

a substantially upright section;

a base section extending from a lower end of said upright section; and

a plurality of engagement elements extending from said base section; and

a connector located at a longitudinal end of said base section, said connector configured to overlap at least part of a top surface of any one of a plurality of engagement elements arranged at a longitudinal end of another edge restraint section, and wherein said connector comprises an upper wall extending laterally from said longitudinal end and an inner lateral wall extending downward from an inner lateral edge of the upper wall, the upper wall defining a connector opening, and an aperture for receiving spike capable of extending though both said connector opening and said one engagement elements of another edge restraint section secure the edge restraint sections in a longitudinal direction.

4. An edge restraint system for placement on a surface and for maintaining a predetermined boundary, comprising:

at least first and second edge restraint section, each of which having a longitudinal length, each section further comprising a substantially upright wall having a first surface facing toward the boundary,

a base section extending from the upright wall and a bracing system extending from a surface of said base section, said bracing system defining at least one opening along its longitudinal length thereof;

wherein one of said edge restraint sections includes a connector arranged at a longitudinal end and being configured to overlap at least part of a top surface of any one of said openings configured to be at a longitudinal end of another edge restraint section.

5. An edge restraint system for placement on a surface and for maintaining a predetermined boundary, comprising:

at least first and second edge restraint sections, each of which having a longitudinal dimension and first and second ends, each section having a substantially upright wall,

a base section extending from the upright wall;

a brace, on at least said first restraint section, said brace extending away from said base section;

an engagement portion on at least said second restraint section, said engagement portion being configured to at least partially envelop said brace in substantially rigid engagement therewith;

whereby said first and second restraint sections are maintained substantially immobilized with respect to each other at their point of engagement.

6. The edge restraint according to claim 5, wherein said bracing system includes at least one aperture, and wherein said engagement portion includes an aperture positioned to be in co-axial alignment with said brace aperture said sections are engaged, so that a fixation device may be inserted through said aligned apertures to further immobilize said sections.

7. The edge restraint according to claim 6, wherein a portion of said brace and said engagement portion are each sized to nest said brace portion within said engagement portion when said sections are engaged.

8. The edge restraint according to claim 7, wherein said brace includes a protrusion and wherein said engagement portion includes a receptacle sized to engage said protrusion in a nesting relationship to immobilize relative movement of said receptacle and protrusion when engaged.

9. An edge restraint section, comprising:

a substantially upright section;

a base section extending from a lower end of said upright section; and

a plurality of braces extending from said base section; and

a connector located at a longitudinal end of said base section, said connector configured to be in nested engagement with at least part of a top surface of any one of a plurality of braces arranged at a longitudinal end of another edge restraint section, so that adjacent edge restraint sections are immobilized from moving apart from each other, and

wherein each of said braces defines a brace opening for receiving a fastener, and wherein said connector defines a connector opening for receiving said fastener, said connector opening being aligned with said brace opening of said one of the braces of another one of the edge restraints, said connector including an upper wall extending laterally from said longitudinal end, said upper wall defining a connector opening for receiving a spike; and

wherein said connector further comprises at least one of;

(a) an inner lateral wall extending downward from said base section;

(b) an outer lateral wall extending downward from said base section; and

(c) a rear wall extending downward from a rear edge of said base section.

10. An edge restraint section, comprising:

a substantially upright section;

a base section extending from a lower end of said upright section; and

a plurality of braces extending from said base section; and

a connector located at a longitudinal end of said upright and base sections, said connector configured to be in nested engagement with at least part of a top surface of any one of a plurality of braces arranged at a longitudinal end of another edge restraint section, so that adjacent edge restraint sections are immobilized from moving apart from each other, and

wherein said connector comprises an upper wall extending laterally from a longitudinal end of the edge restraint section and an outer lateral wall extending downward from an outer lateral edge of said upper wall, the overlapping connection with the brace of another edge restraint section securing the edge restraint sections in a longitudinal direction.

11. An edge restraint section, comprising:

a substantially upright section;

a base section extending from a lower end of said upright section; and

a plurality of braces extending from said base section; and

a connector located at a longitudinal end of said upright and base sections, said connector configured to overlap at least part of a top surface of any one of a plurality of braces arranged at a longitudinal end of another edge restraint section, and wherein said connector comprises an upper wall extending laterally from said longitudinal end and an inner lateral wall extending downward from an inner lateral edge of the upper wall, the upper wall defining a connector opening, and a fastener extending through both said connector opening and said one brace of another edge restraint section secure the edge restraint sections in a longitudinal direction.