COBBLESTONE WITH PERIPHERAL STRUCTURING AND A PAVEMENT LAID THEREWITH

Abstract

A cobblestone comprises a bottom side, a top side, and at least one side surface substantially perpendicular to the top side and the bottom side. The at least one side surface defines a plurality of surface features. The plurality of surface features comprise alternating projecting portions and receding portions.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A cobblestone comprising: a bottom side; a top side; and at least one side surface substantially perpendicular to the top side and the bottom side, wherein the at least one side surface defines a plurality of surface features, wherein the plurality of surface features comprise alternating projecting portions and receding portions.

10. The cobblestone according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of surface features extend over a portion of a height of the at least one side surface.

11. The cobblestone according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of surface features comprise a wavy configuration.

12. The cobblestone according to claim 9, wherein the at least one side surface comprises a top region and a bottom region, wherein the bottom region comprises a projecting strip configured to project farther from the at least one side surface than the top region.

13. The cobblestone according to claim 12, wherein the projecting strip comprises a plurality of surface features that correspond to the plurality of surface features of the top region of the at least one side surface.

14. The cobblestone according to claim 9, further comprising a base defining a plurality of surface features and at least one stone head arranged on the base.

15. The cobblestone according to claim 9, wherein the alternating projecting portions and receding portions are formed asymmetrically by laterally offsetting a pattern of the alternating projecting and receding portions from a midline of the pattern.

16. A pavement comprised of a plurality of cobblestones arranged adjacent to each other, wherein each of the plurality of cobblestones comprises: a bottom side; a top side; and at least one side surface substantially perpendicular to the top side and the bottom side, wherein the at least one side surface comprises, a top region, and a bottom region configured to protrude from the at least one side surface farther than the top region, wherein at least one of the top region and the bottom region defines a plurality of surface features, wherein the plurality of surface features comprise alternating projecting portions and receding portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. In the figures:

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a cobblestone;

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a cobblestone;

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a cobblestone;

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of an embodiment of meandering lines of the side surface of adjacently positioned cobblestones; and

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic representation of another embodiment of meander lines of adjacently positioned stones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a cobblestone 1 of concrete that has been produced in a suitable shape. The cobblestone 1 has a rectangular shape in a horizontal cross-section and possesses a bottom side 2, a top side 3 which both are configured substantially flat, and four side surfaces 4. The four side surfaces 4 are provided with a structuring 10, such as surface features, arranged peripherally in a pattern and configured meanderingly and consisting of projecting and receding sections. The structuring is configured to be wavy so that wave crests and wave troughs alternatingly result. The wave crests correspond to projecting strips, and the wave troughs correspond to receding troughs arranged therebetween. As shown, the structuring 10 is arranged peripherally on all side surfaces 4 of the cobblestone.

[0025] In the bottom region, the side surfaces 4 are provided with a peripheral spacing strip 5 that also has a structuring which corresponds to the structuring 10, but which projects further than it from the side surface 4. The spacing strip 5 transitions via a step 6 into the top part of the side surfaces 4 that have the structuring 10.

[0026] When corresponding cobblestones are adjacently positioned to form a pavement, only the structured spacing strip 5 enters into contact with corresponding spacing strips of adjacent stones. In so doing, the projecting sections of the structuring of the spacing strip S penetrate more or less into the receding sections of the adjacent stones and vice versa. A displacement safeguard between the cobblestones is thereby achieved. In the top region, i.e., above the spacing strip 5, a joint arises that is filled with corresponding joint material. Since there is a wavy structuring 10 here as well, a corresponding displacement safeguard is also achieved in this region in conjunction with the associated joint material.

[0027] Since the bottom spacing strip 5 of the cobblestone 1 is provided with a peripheral wavy structuring that is arranged in a certain pattern, such cobblestones can be assembled substantially independent of their shape into a pavement with other cobblestones of any other desired shape. Accordingly, for example, cobblestones with regular shapes can be combined with cobble-stones with irregular shapes (round, angular, etc.), wherein a plurality of projecting and receding sections are available for adjacently placing the stones. The same pattern does not even have to be maintained by all the stones; instead, given the many projecting and receding sections, other pattern dimensions can be used, and the stones can nonetheless be adjacently positioned in an interconnection.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a spatial view of an embodiment of a cobblestone that has a bottom base 11 with a flat bottom side 2 and a flat top side 3 on which four stone heads 7 are arranged that are separated from each other by joints 8. In this case, the base 11 of the cobblestone possesses a corresponding structuring like the embodiment of the cobblestone 1 shown in FIG. 1. When two stones are in an adjacently positioned state, basically three regions need to be considered: In the bottom region of the spacing strips 5, the adjacent stones are in contact with each other; in the region thereabove of the side surfaces that have the structuring 10, a joint is formed between the adjacent stones, and in the top region of the stone heads 7, a comparatively wider joint arises. Apart from the stone heads 7, this cobblestone has the same features as the embodiment of the cobblestone 1 in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the cobblestone that has a corresponding base 11 like the stone in FIG. 2, but only possesses a single stone head 7 on the base 11. The base is correspondingly designed like the one of the cobblestone in FIG. 2. As already mentioned above, when several cobblestones are adjacently positioned, they are in contact with each other via the provided spacing strips 5. To prevent an extensive, or respectively keyed contact between the spacing strips 5 from resulting, the meander of the particular spacing strips is configured asymmetrically, wherein the corresponding meander peak 20 is laterally offset in this case from the midline 21 of the meander pattern. FIG. 4 shows the corresponding meander lines of a spacing strip 5 of a first stone and a spacing strip 9 of a second stone. The wave peak 20 of the corresponding wavily structured spacing strip is laterally offset in this case from the midline 21 of the meander pattern so that asymmetrical conditions result. Given the adjacent positioning of the spacing strips of two stones, the spacing strips are then not against each other in an extensive or keyed contact; instead, there are only individual contact lines 22 between the spacing strips, wherein such a linear contact line 22 is arranged on each wave flank. In the depiction in FIG. 4, this is identified as a point contact 22. In the bottom depiction in FIG. 4, such a “distorted meander line” is depicted in comparison to a symmetrically configured meander line, wherein in this case, the lateral offset of the meander peak 20 is drawn.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows the meander lines 5, 9 of two adjacently positioned cobblestones, wherein in the top representation, a round, top stone contacts a flat, bottom stone. In the bottom representation, two stones with flat side surfaces are adjacently positioned. It can be seen that, in both cases, only a linear contact arises that is shown at “A”.