Method of creating a concrete paved area

• US 7,000,361 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H2 Pre-Cast, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Masons Supply Company
• Inventors: Merriman, Patrick J., Merriman, William Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): SLACK, NAOKO N
• Application Number:
  US10/810,015
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 527/471.2, 527/471.1, 527/461.2, 527/461, 522/22, 522/31, 527/421, 404/19, 404 27- 31, 404/82, 404/75, 404/34
• US Class Current: 52/742.1
• 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 19/43 Machines or arrangements for roughening or patterning freshly-laid paving courses, e.g. indenting rollers
• 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: E04F 15/08 only of stone or stone-like material, e.g. ceramics, concrete; of glass or with a top layer of stone or stone-like material, e.g. ceramics, concrete or glass E04F15/02005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/01 Hand tools for assembling building components

Abstract

A method of providing a paved area having a predetermined set of surface features. The method begins with the pouring of wet concrete into a predetermined area. Then a predetermined thickness of the wet concrete is removed in a predetermined portion of the predetermined area, thereby creating a lower, upwardly facing surface in the predetermined portion. At this point, a paving tile having the predetermined set of surface features is placed on the lower, upwardly facing surface. Finally, the wet concrete underneath and about the paving tile is permitted to cure.

Claims

1. A method of providing a paved area having a predetermined set of surface features, said method comprising:

(a) providing a paving tile having said predetermined set of surface features;

(b) pouring wet concrete into a predetermined area;

(c) removing a predetermined thickness of said wet concrete in a predetermined portion of said predetermined area, thereby creating a lower, upwardly facing surface in said predetermined portion;

(d) placing said paving tile on said lower, upwardly facing surface; and

(e) permitting said wet concrete underneath and about said paving tile to cure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said paving tile is a concrete paving tile.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said concrete paving tile is a pre-stressed concrete paving tile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said paving tile has a top surface and said predetermined set of surface features are protrusions from said top surface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said protrusions are truncated domes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said paving tile is less than 4 cm (1.57 in) thick.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said paving tile includes a bottom surface and wherein an adhesive is spread on said bottom surface prior to step (d).

8. The method of claim 1 further including the installation of additional paving tiles adjacent to said paving tile.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said additional paving tiles also include surface features.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) creates an indentation in said predetermined area of said wet concrete that is sized and shaped to accommodate at least a single paving tile and is approximately the depth of a single paving tile.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) creates an indentation in said predetermined area of said wet concrete that is sized and shaped to accommodate two paving tiles placed side by side and that is approximately the depth of a single paving tile.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is accomplished with the aid of a tool that includes a frame that is pushed into the wet concrete, said frame having an interior volume that is the size and shape of an integer number of paving tiles placed side by side.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said integer number of paving tiles is one.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said integer number of paving tiles is two.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said tool has a handle attached to said frame and adapted to facilitate said step of pushing said tool into said wet concrete.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said tool includes at least one shovel guide at said frame bottom, and wherein a tool user moves his shovel along said top of said shovel guide in removing said wet concrete.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said wet concrete is more specifically a mixture including Portland cement and sand.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said paved area is a part of a sidewalk.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (d) said paving tile is placed entirely on said lower upwardly facing surface created in step (c).

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said paving tile is made of reinforced concrete.