Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Artificial Flagstone For Providing A Surface With A Natural Random Look

a technology of artificial flagstones and random appearance, applied in the direction of decorative arts, single unit pavings, ways, etc., can solve the problems of not providing a satisfactory old natural look, becoming a real puzzle for users, etc., and achieve the effect of extremely stable end resul

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-09-20
OLDCASTLE BUILDING PROD CANADA INC
View PDF86 Cites 83 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] Advantageously, the present invention makes it possible to obtain a pavement with a real natural random look with no “linear line effect” by simply using a plurality of artificial flagstones having all the same shape. In other words, a single module is sufficient to create a multitude of different designs. There is no need to use different shapes of flagstone to obtain the sought after natural look. Also, the split deviation provided on each side provides an irregular profile that gives the flagstone a more natural look.
[0013] The flagstone according to the invention can advantageously be used for creating patio, pathways, sidewalks or stepping stones. Its asymmetrical shape makes the flagstone the ideal material for creating a great variety of designs. With its six irregular sides, the flagstone fits perfectly together, since the flagstone is provided with matingly engageable stone, the end result is extremely stable. Also, for a different look, you can leave wider joints between them and fill the voids with grass.
[0014] The present invention is also very advantageous for a manufacturer, since the production of the flagstones requires only a single shape for the mould used for moulding the flagstones.
[0020] Advantageously, the flagstones of the present invention can easily be laid out to form a pavement or a wall surface where no straight lines and hardly any repetition can be seen, giving as a result, the look of old world craftsmanship.

Problems solved by technology

One drawback however with that prior art flagstone, which is provided with regular segments, is that it still does not provide a satisfactory old natural look.
A major drawback however with those sets is that it often becomes a real puzzle for a user to install and combine those stones in a proper way.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Artificial Flagstone For Providing A Surface With A Natural Random Look
  • Artificial Flagstone For Providing A Surface With A Natural Random Look
  • Artificial Flagstone For Providing A Surface With A Natural Random Look

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0031] In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals and in order to lighten the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a preceding figure.

[0032] Referring to either one of FIGS. 1A, 7A, 8A and 9A, the outline of an artificial flagstone 10 according to the invention is illustrated. The illustrated flagstone 10 has a generally hexagonal body with six (6) consecutive vertices 1 to 6 and six (6) sides 12a to 12f, defining three pairs 12a-12b, 12c-12d and 12e-12f of mutually engageable surfaces. The first and second sides (12a-12b) extend radially from the first vertex 1 and are rotationally spaced from each other by an angle α of approximately 120°. The third and fourth sides (12c-12d) extend radially from the third vertex 3 and are rotationally spaced from each other by an angle β of approximately 120°. Finally, the fifth and sixth sides (12e-12f) extend from the fifth v...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

An artificial flagstone for use in combination with other similar flagstones for covering a surface with a natural random look, the flagstone having a generally hexagonal body comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth consecutive vertices; a first pair of generally congruent irregularly-shaped first and second sides extending radially from the first vertex and being rotationally spaced from each other by an angle α of approximately 120°; a second pair of generally congruent irregularly shaped third and fourth sides extending radially from the third vertex and being rotationally spaced from each other by an angle β of approximately 120°; a third pair of generally congruent irregularly shaped fifth and sixth sides extending radially from the fifth vertex and being rotationally spaced from each other by an angle ω of approximately 120°; wherein the sides of each of the first, second and third pair of sides have at least one split deviation along their length and are respectively rotational images of each other, whereby in use in combination with other flagstones, each one of the sides is matingly engageable with the sides of an equivalent pair of sides of a neighbouring flagstone.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of artificial stones or flagstones for laying out pavements or for covering a wall surface, and is more particularly directed to such stones giving the resulting pavement or wall surface a natural-looking appearance. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is worth mentioning that the expressions “stone” and “flagstone” are used throughout the present description without distinction to define a flat slab of stone used as a paving or building material. Artificial stones often made of concrete are well-known to lay out pavements or covering wall surfaces on residential or commercial properties, for example defining the surface of walkways or patios. Such stones are advantageously relatively inexpensive to make, as opposed to natural carved flagstones, but the resulting pattern is often repetitive or has what is called in this field an unnatural “linear line effect”. Great efforts are therefore being made ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): E01C5/00
CPCE01C5/00E01C15/00E04F2201/09E01C2201/06E04F13/147E01C2201/02B44F9/04E04F13/0873E01C5/06E04F15/08E04F2201/091
Inventor CASTONGUAY, BERTINTHOMASSEN, MARCEL
Owner OLDCASTLE BUILDING PROD CANADA INC
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products