The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
An example of a grass anti-compaction or water permeable paver (1) is shown in
Located on each of the side wall (9) and the end wall (11) are two first connectors (10), while located on each of the side wall (12) and the end wall (14) are two second connectors (13).
The first connectors (10) as shown in close up in
Located spaced apart and parallel to the outer finger (15) is a first inner finger (17) defining a keyway (18), and located spaced apart and parallel to the outer finger (16) is a second inner finger (19) defining a keyway (20). Located intermediate the first and second inner fingers (17 & 19) is a small projection (21), which defines two converging keyways (22 & 23). Thus we have two convergent series of two parallel fingers and parallel keyways.
As shown, in
AS shown in close up in
Thus the outer walls of the two outer keyways (24 & 26) are buttressed by the structurally strong columnar spacer members (7), which are braced by the upper & bottom rigid frame works (2 & 6).
Located intermediate first outer finger (25) and the second outer finger (27) are two adjoined inner fingers (28 & 29). The first inner finger (28) being substantially parallel to the first outer finger (25) and forming a first inner keyway (30) therebetween. The second inner finger (29) being substantially parallel to the second outer finger (27) and forming a second inner keyway (31) therebetween.
In another embodiment, not shown, the two adjoined inner fingers (28 & 29), could be replaced by a necked bulbous projection.
To connect two pavers together the two connectors (10 & 13) are slid vertically into engagement. Thus the first and second outer fingers (15 & 16) of the first connector (10), respectively slide vertically into the first and second keyway (24 & 26) of the second collector (13), while the first and second outer fingers (25 & 27) of the second connector (13), respectively, slides vertically into the first and second outer keyways (18 & 20) of the first connector (10), and the first and second inner fingers (28 & 29) of the second connector (13) slides vertically into the converging keyways (22 & 23) of the first connector (10), as shown in
Therefore in this embodiment, the first connector (10) has a first series of two substantially parallel keyways (18 & 22) and two substantially parallel fingers (15 & 17), and a second series of two substantially parallel keyways (20 & 23) and two substantially parallel fingers (16 & 19); the two series being substantially convergent.
While the second connector (13) has a first series of two substantially parallel keyways (24 & 30) and two substantially parallel fingers (25 & 28), and a second series of two substantially parallel keyways (26 & 31) and two substantially parallel fingers (27 & 29); the two series being substantially divergent.
The angle of the keyways and fingers can be from 60° to 30° from the normal, but is preferably 45°.
Thus when the when the two connectors are vertically slid together there is a multiple interlocking between the angled fingers and keyways. Further the columnar spacer members form part of the outer walls of the outer keyways and are braced by the upper and bottom rigid frameworks. Similarly the outer fingers of the first connector are braced by the columnar spacer members, from which they extend.
This provides an extremely strong interconnection to resist lateral separation of the connectors.
It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that variations and modification can be made to the described connectors without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006902867 | May 2006 | AU | national |