PAVING STONE INCLUDING AN INFILTRATION REGION AND ASSOCIATED METHOD OF MANUFACTURING

Abstract

A paving stone comprises at least one functional region comprising, a primary connecting system comprising at least two upper connecting portions, and a secondary connecting system comprising at least two lower connecting portions; and at least one infiltration region. The at least one functional region and the at least one infiltration region are positioned on a same side of the paving stone. The at least two upper connection portions and at least two lower connecting portions of functional regions of adjacent paying stones are configured to cooperate with each other to form a narrow joint in a region of the primary connecting system and a wide joint in the region of the secondary connecting system. The at least one infiltration region of the adjacent paving stones tbrrn a chamber which is open at a bottom end.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The following disclosure relates to an improved paving stone.

BACKGROUND

A paving stone is disclosed, for example, in EP 2 966 223. The disclosed paving stone is characterized in that it has a plurality of protruding connecting portions arranged spaced apart from one another on at least one side face, wherein these connecting portions comprise a lower primary connecting system and an upper secondary connecting system. In this case, the connecting portions of the primary connecting system protrude further from the side face than the connecting portions of the secondary connecting system, so that in the laid state with. a neighboring stone a narrow joint is produced in the lower region and a substantially wider joint is produced in against displacement whilst the secondary connecting system is designed to provide a correspondingly large buffer space for joint material in order to guarantee the desired flexibility of the laid paving.

With the disclosed paving stone, the sung portions are ged at equal spacings from one another on the side face of the paving stone, wherein in the laid state the corresponding connecting portions of the neighboring stone engage in the intermediate spaces of the connecting portions of the one paving stole, and in this manner produce the corresponding protection against displacement or respectively, generate a connecting action.

Such a paving stone thus ensures a good protection against displacement in the lower part and a good buffering in the upper part. Moreover, a lower joint seal for joint material is substantially achieved by means of the narrowjoint in the lower part so that this joint material is not able to escape downwardly

The object of the present irtw invention t is to develop a paving stone having a good connecting action and improved drainage properties along with an associated method of manufacture.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of a paving stone comprises alternating functional regions and infiltration regions on at least one side face. The functional regions each comprise a lower primary connecting system with at least two connecting portions protruding far from the side face and an upper secondary connecting system with at least two connecting portions protruding less far. The connecting portions of the connecting systems cooperate only within the functional regions with corresponding connecting portions of a neighboring paving stone in the manner of a toothed rod, such that within the functional regions a narrow joint is formed in the region of the primary connecting system with the neighboring paving stone and a wide joint is formed in the region of the secondary connecting system, and wherein for forming a chamber which is open at the bottom the infiltration regions do not have their own connecting portions and are configured such that in the laid state of the paving stones they do not receive any connecting portions of a neighboring paving stone.

Paving stones of the prior art described above have good connecting properties and also ensures a good protection against displacement and buffering. However, due to the narrow joint which is formed in the lower stone region and which extends over the entire side face of the stone, the removal of water in the laid paving poses certain problems. Thus in this case it may lead to water collecting on the paving surface since the intended primary connecting system permits only a relatively low water infiltration.

The inventive paving stone disclosed herein has improved infiltration while also providing good buffering and protection against displacement. In an embodiment, functional regions and infiltration regions arc alternately provided on at least one side face of the paving stone. In this embodiment, the functional regions ensure with a primary and a secondary connecting system the desired protection against displacement and buffering, whilst the infiltration regions which are arranged between the functional regions and which form open chambers without connecting portions ensure a rapid drainage of the paving. It is essential here that infiltration regions, which are separate from the functional regions, are provided so that the infiltrating water is not able to impair the desired buffering in the functional regions, or only slightly, i.e. joint material is able to be entrained downwardly, so that an undesired direct contact between neighboring stones is avoided thereby.

In an embodiment, the connecting portions or the paving stones are arranged or, respectively, configured such that in the laid state, the functional regions of a first stone alwa cooperate with functional regions of a second stone and infiltration regions of a first stone always cooperate with infiltration regions of a second stone. As a result, downwardly open chambers, which in the laid state of the paving stones are not narrowed by connecting portions of neighboring stones, are formed as infiltration regions.

Accordingly, primary and secondary connecting systems are arranged only in the functional regions, whilst open chambers are configured in the infiltration regions. In paving with laid paving stones, therefore, substantially downwardly closed joints in the functional regions alternate with joints which are open at the bottom in the infiltration regions.

In an embodiment, a specific separation is carried out into regions which ensure the connecting functions and regions which ensure a removal of water (infiltration). As a result, joint material which is required in the functional regions is not able to be flushed out downwardly since these regions are substantially sealed downwardly. Thus the lower primary connecting system is preferably configured such that the connecting portions thereof engage almost positively with connecting portion channels of a neighboring paving stone, maintaining a small spacing to form the narrow joint. In other words, in these regions a joint which is as narrow as possible and which corresponds to an almost positive connection is intended to be achieved but, on the other hand, a direct contact between the laid paving stones is intended to be avoided in order to maintain the desired flexibility of the laid paving.

As mentioned above, the primary connecting system is configured in the functional regions such that a narrow joint is formed with adjacently positioned stones. In one embodiment, this is achieved by the connecting portions and/or the connecting portion channels of the primary connecting system having small protruding projections lbr contact with the side faces or connecting portion channels and/or connecting portions of neighboring paving siones. As a result, a contact of the stones with one another is produced only via the small protruding projections so that a contact which is made over a longer distance is avoided and an almost positive contact may be maintained between neighboring stones. As a result, it is substantially ensured that the functional regions are sealed at the bottom so that no joint material is able to escape downwardly. Any combination is possible.

In an embodiment, the connecting portions of the primary connecting system are configured to be meandering, in particular undulating, over the functional regions. In this case, therefore, with adjacently positioned stones the meandering or, respectively, undulating connecting portions of the neighboring paving stones may abut one another, preferably maintaining a narrow joint. “Meandering” in this case is understood to mean portions which are alternately protruding and recessed and which can be configured both in a curved and rectilinear manner. Preferably, an undulating design is used, wherein here both the connecting portions and the connecting portion channels are provided with the aforementioned small protruding projections. In particular, the connecting portions of the primary corereeting system are configured as a continuous strip over the functional regions.

Embodiments of the inventive paving stone may result in a narrow joint between paving stones or may comprise a posit contact. It has been found that embodiments with a narrow joint are most preferred. It is desired that these regions extend only over the functional regions and not into the infiltration regions. The connecting regions of the primary connecting system may also be configured such that, in the laid state, a joint of almost equal width is produced with a neighboring paving stone.

As a whole, therefore, a protection against displacement, buffering, protection against loss ofjoint material and infiltration of the sortlice water may be achieved by the inventive paving stones. The primary connecting system in the functional region in the lower stone region reduces the potential for displacement between neighboring stones by means of narrow spacings (positive connection at maximum) between connecting portions or, respectively, side faces and optimizes thereby the protection against displacement. The secondary connecting system in the functional region in the upper stone region ensures aan optimal buffering with generous spacings between connecting portions or, respectively, side faces of neighboring stones. This generous buffering space in the upper stone region is required since each individual stone, when loaded in the horizontal direction by road traffic, rotates slightly about its horizontal central axis svithin the clearance which the buffering provides. The buffering ensures that the stone subsequently returns to its original position and the neighboring stones also remain in their positions since the horizontal force reduced by the buffering is not sufficient to displace the neighboring stones.

In an embodiment, the primary connecting system is configured such that its primary connecting portions taper slightly upwardly. The connecting portions of the primary and secondary connecting system are preferably also arranged such that they are positioned one above the other. In an embodiment, the connecting portions of the secondary connecting system are configured, in particular, to be semi circular in cross section. In an embodiment, the connecting portions of the primary connecting system are configured to be meandering or, respectively, undulating and transition into connecting portions of the secondary connecting system, which in cross section have the aforementioned semi-circular design. It has been shown that this shape of the connecting portions of the secondary connecting system is particularly suitable for absorbing lateral loads.

In an embodiment, the transition between the connecting portions of the primary and secondary connecting systems is configured as a step rising from the center to the edges of the connecting portions. This embodiment has proved particularly suitable in terms of production technology.

The present invention further relates to paving eoinpoSed of a plurality of paving stones of the type described above.

The invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a joint region between an enibodiment of two neighboring paving stones;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic vertical section through an embodiment of two adjacently positioned paving stones; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of joint between another embodiment of two neighboring paving stones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows the joint between two adjacently positioned paving stones 1, 2. These paving stones 1, 2 may be, for example, rectangular stones which have a lower side, an upper side and four side faces. Each side face may be provided alternately with functional regions 6 and infiltration regions 5 which may extend over a part of a side face over the entire side face. The functional regions 6 and infiltration regions 5 may be arranged in a specific pattern (repeating pattern).

The corresponding functional regions 6 have in each case a lower primary connecting system and an upper secondary connecting system arranged thereabove (not shown here) in each case comprise two protruding connecting portions 3, wherein the connecting portions the secondary connecting system do not protrude as far as the connecting portions 3 of the primary connecting system. The respective connecting portions of these primary and secondary systems are arranged one on top of the other.

The primary connecting system of each functional region 6 thus comprises two protruding connecting portions 3, a corresponding channel being arranged therebetween. FIG. 1 shows the two stones 1 and 2 in the adjacently positioned state, wherein here small protruding projections 4 at the tips of the connecting portions 3 of the primary connecting system are respectively in contact with the side face of the neighboring stone. In this manner, a narrow continuous joint is formed in the functional regions 6 in the region of the primary connecting system.

Infiltration regions 5, in which no connecting portions are provided, are arranged between the respective functional regions 6 and, even in the adjacently positioned state of the stones, no connecting portions of a neighboring stone occupy the infiltration regions 5. As shown, the infitration regions 5 and the functional regions 6 are respectively arranged alternately.

FIG. 2 shows two adjacently positioned paving stones 1, 2 which in the functional region 6 form a narrow joint 7 in the lower region and a wide joint 8 in the upper region. By the arrangement shown here of functional regions 6 and infiltration regions 5 which are arranged alternately to one another, a protection against displacement is achieved by the primary connecting system, a buffering (by filling with joint material) is achieved by the secondary connecting system, a corresponding joint seal is achieved in the functional region and a drainage is achieved via the infiltration region 5.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, therefore, the narrow joint between the two neighboring stones is achieved by the small projections 4 on the tip of the connecting portions 3 of the primary connecting system. Conversely, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the connecting portions at primary connecting system are configured to be undulating, so that when adjacently positioning two neighboring stones, the respective connecting portions 3 abut one another with a substantially positive connection or, depending on the type of layout, may be arranged with a spacing. The connecting portions 9 of the secondary connecting system arranged thereabove are configured to be approximately semi-circular in section so that a further joint is produced. Here too, infiltration regions 5 are arranged alternately between the respective functional regions 6, said infiltration regions forming downwardly open chambers and no connecting portions being arranged therein.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A paving stone comprising; at least one functional region comprising, a primary connecting system comprising at least two upper connecting portions, anda secondary connecting system comprising at least two lower connecting portions; andat least one infiltration region, wherein the at least one functional region and the at least one infiltration region are positioned on a same side of the paving stone,wherein, the at least two upper connection portions and at least two lower connecting portions of functional regions of adjacent paving stones are configured to cooperate with each other to form a narrow joint in a region of the primary connecting system and a wide joint in the region of the secondary connecting system, andwherein the at least one infiltration region of the adjacent paving stones form a chamber which is open at a bottom end.

13. The paving stone according to claim 12, wherein the at least two upper connecting portions of the primary connecting system are configured to engage connecting portion channels of the adjacent paving stone in order to form the narrow joint.

14. The paving stone according to claim 13, wherein one of: (1) the at least two upper connecting portions; and (2) the connecting portion channels comprise small protruding projections configured to contact the connecting portion channels of the adjacent paving stone.

15. The paving stone according to claim 13, wherein one of; (1) the at least two upper connecting portions; and (2) the connecting portion channels comprise small protruding projections configured to contact connecting portions of the adjacent paving stone.

16. The paving stone according to claim 12, wherein the at least two upper connecting portions of the primary connecting system are configured to comprise one or more undulations extending over the at least one functional region.

17. The paving stone according to claim 12, wherein the at least two upper connecting portions of the primary connecting system are configured as a continuous strip over the at least one functional region.

18. The paving stone according to claim 12, wherein the at least two upper connecting portions of the primary connecting system are configured such that a joint of almost equal width is produced with the adjacent paving stone.

19. The paving stone according to claim 12, wherein the at least two upper connecting portions taper upwardly.

20. The paving stone according to claim 12, wherein the at least two lower connecting portions are positioned in an extension of the at least two upper connecting portions.

21. The paving stone according to claim 12, wherein the at least two lower connecting portions are configured to comprise a semi-circular cross-section.

22. The paving stone according to claim 12, wherein a transition between the upper and lower connecting portions is configured as a step rising from a center to an edge of the upper and lower connecting portions.