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.

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, and a secondary connecting system comprising at least two lower connecting portions; and at 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, and wherein 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.

Description

[0020] The invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a joint region between an enibodiment of two neighboring paving stones;

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic vertical section through an embodiment of two adjacently positioned paving stones; and

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of joint between another embodiment of two neighboring paving stones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] 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).

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.