Formwork for landscape edging

Abstract

A system of formwork guides of consistent width and depth but of various lengths; some of which provide bends or curves or junctions is developed for easier laying of garden and landscaping edges of the type having a concrete base (and optional masonry on top). The system of guides comprises prefabricated sacrificial shuttering that delimits straight and curved edging. The guides can be cut to suit a layout. Preferred guides are U-shaped channels of vacuum-formed moulded plastic sheeting. Cross-bridging formations within the guides help maintain the walls upright and can be used to hold optional reinforcing metal rods and/or optional pipes or cables in place until concrete has been poured.

Description

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: is a perspective view of a prototype channel unit according to the invention.

FIG. 2: is an end elevation view of a moulded item of formwork.

FIG. 3: is a plan view 300 of a moulded item of formwork.

FIG. 4: is a side elevation view 400 of part of a moulded item of formwork.

FIG. 5: is a perspective view of a complete item of formwork.

FIG. 6: is a perspective view of a quarter-circle prefabricated item of formwork.

FIG. 7: is a perspective view of a 45 degree corner item.

FIG. 8: is part of an item of formwork illustrating some possible edge formations.

FIG. 9: illustrates an item comprising a short straight length including an incline (or decline).

FIG. 10: illustrates an item comprising a straight length including a corner at one end.

FIG. 11: illustrates another version of modular formwork using sacrificial pegs used to locate edging, and re-usable shutters.

FIG. 12: as 12a and 12b illustrates a variation of the formwork based on a corrugated, hence bendable yet rigid configuration.

FIG. 13: as 13a and 13b illustrates rollers useful for finishing the top surface of the concrete poured into the pre-formed edging.

FIG. 14: illustrates an “X” connection for making intersecting edging.

FIG. 15: illustrates a “T” connection for making intersecting edging.

FIG. 16: illustrates another version of modular formwork for making curved edging comprising short straight sections.

Claims

1. Formwork for a settable fluid material, wherein the formwork includes a channel unit having a generally U-shaped cross-section comprised of a base and two sides extending upwardly from the base, and including at least one bridge arranged in use to extend transversely across the channel unit between the two sides.

2. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the formwork includes a plurality of said channel units, wherein each channel unit has at least one open end, and the ends are engageable to define a continuous channel along a plurality of said units.

3. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two sides have top edges and the bridge has a top surface, the top surface being entirely below the top edges, so that in normal use the bridge can be entirely immersed in a settable fluid contained between the sides.

4. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two sides have top edges and the bridge has a top surface, the top surface being at a level substantially the same as that of the top edges, so that in normal use the bridge can serve as a crack former during curing of the settable fluid material.

5. Formwork as claimed in claim 3, wherein the formwork includes at least one aperture under each said bridge between the top surface of the bridge and the base of the channel unit, so that in normal use settable fluid contained within the channel unit can flow under the bridge and merge with settable fluid beyond the bridge.

6. Formwork as claimed in claim 3, wherein the top surface of the bridge is notched, to, in normal use, seat at least one elongate beam extending along and parallel to the channel unit.

7. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge comprises an integrally formed component of the channel unit.

8. Formwork as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each bridge comprises a separate element engageable with the channel unit or conforming to the interior of the channel unit.

9. Formwork as claimed in claim 2 wherein the formwork includes at least one elongate channel unit having two open ends facing in opposite directions, defining a substantially straight channel between said ends.

10. Formwork as claimed in claim 2 wherein the formwork includes at least one corner channel unit having two open ends, one said end being arranged tangentially with respect to the other.

11. Formwork as claimed in claim 10, wherein the corner channel unit is comprised of a first substantially straight section having two open ends; the first section having a second section joined to the first section between the open ends so that a “T” junction having a third open end is provided.

12. Formwork as claimed in claim 10, wherein the corner channel unit is comprised of two substantially straight sections joined tangentially so that a sharp elbow or corner is formed; the corner channel unit having two open ends, one said end being arranged at an angle in a range of from about 30 degrees to about 120 degrees to the other.

13. Formwork as claimed in claim 10, wherein the corner channel unit is curved about a substantially vertical axis; the corner channel unit having two open ends, one said end being arranged at an angle in a range of from about 15 degrees to about 120 degrees to the other.

14. Formwork as claimed in claim 10, wherein the corner channel unit is curved about a substantially horizontal axis; the channel unit having two open ends, one said end being arranged at an angle in a range of from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees to the other.

15. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and sides of the channel unit are formed from a flexible, corrugated material, so that in use the corrugations can be compressed together on one side of the channel unit and stretched out on the other, to flex the channel unit about an axis yet maintain a substantially constant width between the sides of the channel unit.

16. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and sides of the channel unit are formed from a chain of interlinked segments, each segment having at least two walls extended lengthwardly thereby permitting attachment to adjacent segments, and thereby allowing tilting of one segment in relation to an adjacent segment, so that in use the chain of segments can be assembled as a channel unit yet may curve in horizontal or vertical axes.

17. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and sides of the channel unit are located prior to hardening of the settable fluid material by being placed within a shallow trench cut into a substrate.

18. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base and sides of the channel unit are located prior to hardening of the settable fluid material by use of a plurality of holding frames placed on or in the substrate.

19. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base of the channel unit includes at least one aperture, so that when in use part of the settable fluid material can flow out through the base and form a contact with the substrate, thereby relieving the formwork of the weight of the settable fluid material.

20. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base of the channel unit includes at least one aperture, so that the channel unit may be fixed on to the substrate.

21. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sides have shapes permitting subsequent removal of the sides after the settable material has cured sufficiently.

22. Formwork as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sides are formed of a material capable of degradation after the settable material has cured sufficiently

23. A method for creating an edging, wherein the method includes the steps of: a. Laying out a course along a substrate along which the edging is to run;b. fitting formwork into the course, the formwork comprising a channel unit having a generally U-shaped cross-section comprised of a base and two sides extending upwardly from the base, and a plurality of bridges extending between the sides, above the base,c. and pouring a settable fluid material into the formwork to fill the channel unit above the level of said bridges.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, further including the step of placing at least one elongate member along said bridges before pouring the settable fluid material, to a level above the level of the bridges and the elongate member or members; the elongate member or members being selected from a range including (a) reinforcing steel bars, (b) pipes, and (c) electrical or optical cables.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23, further including the step of removing at least an upper part of the sides after the fluid material has set.