Patent Application
20170051459
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with wooden pavers and tiles adapted to complete the construction, decoration and/or landscaping of outdoor areas.
2. Description of Related Art
Concrete and asphalt are ubiquitous in urban environments, yet these paving methods, while durable and easy to create, are impermeable and prevent water from reaching underground aquifers. Precipitation that lands on an impermeable surface will either become standing water and evaporate, or will run down slope, potentially coming into contact with any number of contaminants until it reaches an area where groundwater can permeate the surface. In regions with high levels of precipitation, impermeable surfaces greatly contribute to flooding, which often results in costly infrastructural damage. By contrast, in regions with little precipitation, preventing water from infiltrating into the substrate, and in certain cases, underground aquifers, can have numerous negative structural and environmental impacts.
Another unfortunate side effect of impermeable paving methods, such as concrete and asphalt, is that they absorb heat as short-wave radiation during the day and release that stored thermal energy as long-wave radiation at night, contributing to what is known as an “urban heat-island” effect. The “urban heat-island” effect refers to the significant heating of an urban area due to human activities, largely as a result of reduced vegetation and the widespread use of impermeable paving methods. To compensate for the heat, people use more energy to run fans and air conditioners, creating a vicious cycle of more pollution, more greenhouse gas effect, and even higher temperatures. Apart from these environmental consequences, asphalt and concrete aren't aesthetically unique or visually pleasing.
Wood is an age-old material, and has been used for paving. Although wood tends not to contribute to the urban heat island effect and has more aesthetically pleasing characteristics, wood blocks and tiles aren't very durable or rot resistant and will tend to disintegrate when left in contact with the ground for long periods of time. For that reason, wood is traditionally treated with creosote, tar, or other chemicals, as shown by Ruff, U.S. Pat. No. 853,034, a 1907 patent. While wood treatments have advanced over the last century, treating wood blocks to improve their durability and environmental resistance is complex and involves environmental risks.
One aspect of the invention relates to a paver. The paver is made entirely of natural wood, such as Black Locust wood, and may be in the form of a block or tile. A plurality of wooden pavers set in the earth with a regular defined distance between each creates a paved area, such as a patio, while allowing water to permeate the surface and potentially reducing unwanted solar heating. A wire mesh, or another form of matrix, may be used in some embodiments in order to maintain the correct spacing during installation.
In one embodiment according to this aspect of the invention, each paver may have the general shape of a cube. In other words, each paver may have four sidewalls connected at the corners by one superior and one inferior face of identical dimension. Depending on the installation, aesthetics, and other factors, the grain of each paver may be oriented vertically. Alternatively, some pavers may have their grain oriented in other directions.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows.
The invention will be described with respect to the following drawing figures, in which like numerals represent like features throughout the invention, and in which:
As was described above, soft woods are not typically suitable for paving without first undergoing some form of chemical treatment. The same is true of many common hardwoods. There are a number of exotic hardwoods that may be durable enough to be suitable for paving tiles 12, but many of those woods have a high oil content, and thus tend to be slippery when wet. High oil content can also prevent tropical hardwoods from accepting decorative colorants, such as stain. Additionally, non-sustainable harvesting methods and international trade restrictions make exotic hardwoods expensive and difficult to acquire.
In the illustrated embodiment of the patio 10, the wooden tiles 12 are made of untreated Black Locust wood (Robinia pseudoacacia). Black Locust wood is a domestically grown and sustainably harvested lumber well suited for the embodiments of the invention. Among the favorable properties of Black Locust wood are a Janka Hardness rating of 1,700 lbf, durability, and organic rot resistance. While the present inventor does not wish to be bound by any particular theory, the pores of Black Locust wood are typically filled with minerals instead of oil, which allows the wood to be especially durable and resistant to slip hazards while retaining some capacity to accept decorative stain. Given the favorable properties of Black Locust wood, it is believed that without any chemical treatment, the plurality of paving tiles 12 may last up to sixty years. Moreover, at the end of their useful life, the paving tiles 12 can be incinerated without significantly polluting the environment. Although the present inventor has found Black Locust wood to be appropriate for embodiments of the invention, woods having other properties that compare favorably with those of Black Locust wood could be used.
The present inventor has found it advantageous to use a cube-shaped hard wood tile 12, as that allows the installer to choose the most aesthetically presentable face of the tile 12 and position it accordingly during installation without changing the way that the tiles 12 fit together. This means that the grain 14 of each tile 12 may be oriented differently; however, the visible surface of the patio 10 will be more aesthetically pleasing as a whole. Of course, depending on the application, the tiles 12 could be rectangular, cylindrical, or a variety of shapes. In some cases, the individual tiles 12 could be different shapes, for example, shapes that are intended to be complementary to one another.
In order to create the patio 10 of
The wire mesh 16 could have a variety of mesh or hole sizes depending on the application. In a fastened embodiment of the invention, the wire mesh 16 could be constructed of a metal such as iron or mild steel, such that it oxidizes upon coming into contact with earth and water, and disintegrates over some period of time.
The permeability of the overall patio 10 or paved surface is derived from void spaces, generally indicated at 18, which allow groundwater to infiltrate beneath the ground surface. The void space 18 could be ⅜″ in one embodiment of the invention, but the spacing is not critical so long as it allows water to permeate and is not so large that it creates an uneven surface. However, regulatory requirements in effect in particular locales may specify minimum or maximum spacings (e.g., ½ inch space) between pavers in order to maintain an even, easily navigable surface for wheelchair users. The void space could be filled with any number of materials to maintain the space 18.
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The plurality of wooden tiles 12 is not expected to absorb short-wave radiation during the day and thus, should not release long-wave radiation during the night, which could help to reduce the aforementioned effects of an urban heat island. Additionally, the aesthetic qualities are considerably more unique and potentially pleasing than methods of paving that involve concrete.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, the embodiments are intended to be illuminating rather than limiting. Modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
