Concrete paving block

To improve the flow-off of liquids from the laying pattern and mechanical laying in a concrete paving block, the ground area of the body (1) of the block has a rectangular shape formed by three squares (2, 3, 4) of equal size, the upright side surfaces of the body (1) extend evenly transversely to the ground area and each side surface of the body (1) has at least one projecting strip-like extension (5) which can be supported in the pattern with the formation of seams on adjacent bodies (1) and form interlocks or the like with extensions (5) of adjacent bodies (1).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. The Prior Art 
Ground covering elements serving as paving blocks and having a rectangular 
base surface and planar side surfaces extending transversely to the 
rectangular base surface are known (DE-OS 2,448,312). During laying of 
these ground covering elements or when arranging the same in the laying 
packet, the ground covering elements are arranged with the side surfaces 
in contact with each other, resulting in a substantially closed surface 
which has the disadvantage of making the run-off of liquids into the 
ground, for example, rainwater, difficult. In addition, the non-connected 
ground covering elements are not suited for a mechanical laying since 
during the absence of sufficiently large friction forces between adjacent 
ground covering elements, individual ground covering elements often fall 
out of the laying packet. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to improve a paving block of the 
above type in such a manner that after laying the same with additional 
paving blocks, the run-off of liquids is possible and a safe mechanical 
laying is provided. 
According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the outer side 
surfaces of the body of the stone each have two strip-like attachments 
with a spacing "b" from each other, forming grooves with a spacing "a" 
between the center planes of the grooves and the nearer corner edges, and 
an attachment with a spacing "a" relative to the remote corner edge, 
whereby spacing "a" of the last-mentioned attachments corresponds with the 
distance of the center planes of the grooves from the first-mentioned 
corner edges. The faces of the body of the stone each have two attachments 
forming a groove with spacing "b" from each other, whereby the attachments 
of the faces are arranged with spacing "a" from the nearer corner edges. 
Furthermore the inner side surfaces of the body of the stone each have an 
attachment with spacing "a" from corner edges. Within the laid composite, 
the attachments form spacing joints relative to adjacent identical stone 
bodies and hook-ups with attachments of adjacent stone bodies. 
Due to its geometric shape, the paving stone of the invention so created 
can be laid in a simple way with variations of the laying pattern and is 
suitable for forming laying sets which can be handled (by machines). In 
this connection, the paving stone jointly with other paving stones forms 
joints via which rainwater or the like can be drained off free from 
obstruction. Furthermore, by supporting the strip-like attachments on 
adjacent stone bodies, adequate friction grip is obtained as protection 
against displacement or shifting of stone bodies. For example, this grip 
occurs when the paving stones are subjected to vehicular traffic, whereby 
the "hook-ups" support safe cohesion in the course of the laying operation 
and in the installed or laid condition. 
Additionally, while maintaining the groove-forming extensions and a single 
extension on the two outer longitudinal surfaces of the stone body, the 
inner longitudinal surfaces of the stone body are provided with one 
extension each as a tongue for associated grooves of adjacent stone 
bodies, and selectively to arrange on the end surfaces of the stone body 
either two extensions for forming grooves or only one extension for 
forming a tongue. The modifications in the paving block regarding the 
arrangement of grooves and tongues, which may be selected arbitrarily, 
make different paving patterns and an adaptation of the pavings to local 
conditions possible. It is also conceivable to provide the outer 
longitudinal surfaces of the stone body with groove-forming extensions and 
one single extension each, while the inner longitudinal surfaces have two 
extensions forming a groove or one extension serving as a tongue, and the 
end surfaces each have one extension or have extensions forming a groove. 
In an additional modification of the stone body, it is provided 
selectively to equip the outer longitudinal surfaces of the stone body 
with two extensions forming a groove and a single extension at a distance 
and to equip the two end surfaces as well as the inner longitudinal 
surfaces with one single extension as a supporting body or interlocking 
element. 
In a further embodiment of the paving block, there is provided a prismatic 
stone body with a rectangular base surface and having the length of two 
joined squares whose one longitudinal surface and one transverse surface 
have two groove-forming extensions each, optionally in association with a 
single extension serving as a tongue, and on the opposite surface one or 
two individual extensions, one extension being aligned with an opposite 
groove, while the other extension is aligned adjacent the opposite 
extension. It is also conceivable in a stone body having a rectangular 
base surface to arrange on its longitudinal surfaces two individual 
extensions each serving as tongues and on its end surfaces to arrange one 
extension as supporting body and interlocking element. The rectangular 
form of the stone body allows to fill in rectangular spaces resulting from 
modifications during paving procedures, thus assuring supports and 
interlocks and a tight holding together of stone body sets. In addition, 
it is possible to provide a paving block having a prismatic stone body and 
whose base surface is square which has two extensions on adjacent side 
surfaces forming a groove each and which has on the opposite side surfaces 
one extension each. Here, one of the individual extensions is aligned with 
the opposite groove and the other extension is aligned as a whole adjacent 
the opposite extensions. Also, the square stone body may have extensions 
forming a groove only on one side surface and on the other side surfaces 
may have one single extension each in such a way that the extension 
opposite the groove is aligned with the groove, while the extensions of 
the other side surfaces are offset towards the corner areas. This assures 
that in pavings where square openings are formed, the openings can be 
closed by the square stone bodies to provide secure cohesion of the laying 
packet. 
Further, it is provided to combine a number of stone bodies of the 
afore-described formations in a rectangular laying packet as a unit having 
outer measurements of 40.times.60 cm and to mechanically seize the laying 
packet so formed and to lay it as a unit. 
It has been shown to be especially advantageous if a number of stone bodies 
according to the above-described embodiments form a rectangular laying 
packet having outer measurements of 20.times.40 cm, and the laying packet 
is capable of being combined with additional laying packets having the 
same measurements into a single laying packet having measurements of 40, 
60, 80 and so on .times.40 cm. Then these packets can be mechanically 
seized and laid together simultaneously. In the last-mentioned laying 
packets, a closed laying pattern is created in which seams are formed 
extending in the longitudinal direction at distances of 20 cm and in the 
transverse direction at distances of 40 cm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The stone body 1 of the paving block is manufactured from concrete material 
and has, as shown in FIG. 1, a rectangular-shaped base. The base is formed 
substantially by three identical squares 2, 3, and 4 attached to each 
other (FIG. 2). The side surfaces of stone body 1 extend transversely to 
the base, as especially shown in FIG. 18, and carry on the outside 
extensions 5 which form seams and serve as a reciprocal support of stone 
bodies 1 joined to each other and form interlocks with extensions 5 of 
adjacent stone bodies 1. Stone body of FIG. 1 shows on its outer 
longitudinal surfaces 6, of two extensions 5 forming a groove 7, 
extensions 5 being spaced at distance "b" from each other and being 
arranged at a distance "a" from corner edges 8, 9'. In additional, 
longitudinal surfaces 6 each have a single extension 5 at a distance "a" 
from corner edge 9 or 8. The inner longitudinal surfaces 10, 10' of stone 
body 1 are provided with one single extension 5 each, one of which is 
arranged at distance "a" from inner corner edge 11 and the other one is 
arranged at distance "a" from outer corner edge 12. When the stone bodies 
1 are joined, extensions 5 either interlock with grooves 7 of adjacent 
stone bodies 1 or engage extensions 5 of the adjacent paving blocks, in 
order to serve, in addition as support, interlocking or the like, also to 
solidify the laying set. The end surfaces 13, 13' of stone body 1 always 
have two extensions 5 forming grooves 7, these extensions 5 together with 
individual extensions 5 of end surfaces 13, 13' of adjacent stone bodies 1 
forming interlocks. 
FIGS. 2 to 6 show paving blocks whose stone bodies 1 have modified 
arrangements of extensions 5. The stone bodies 1 are each again shaped 
rectangularly by three identical squares 2, 3 and 4. The side surfaces 
again extend transversely to the base surface of stone body 1 and carry 
extensions 5 in such a manner that the outer longitudinal surfaces 6 each 
have two extensions 5 forming a groove 7 and an individual extension 5. 
The end surfaces 13, 13' either have two extensions 5 forming a groove 7 
or a single extension 5, while the inner longitudinal surfaces 10, 10' 
always carry one extension 5 or two extensions forming a groove and a 
single extension. Illusionary seams 14 are formed between the rectangular 
part of stone body 1 and the square part. FIGS. 2 to 6 show that 
extensions 5 are arranged on the stone bodies in deviations individually 
or together with two extensions 5 each, forming grooves 7. 
In the paving blocks of FIGS. 7 to 11, stone bodies 1 are shown in a 
mirror-image embodiment to the stone bodies 1 of FIGS. 2 to 6. Stone 
bodies 1 are shaped rectangularly and also formed by three joined 
identical squares 2, 3, and 4. Illusionary seams 14 are formed between 
square part 4 and rectangular part 2, 3, of stone body 1. 
FIG. 12 shows a prepared laying set 15. It can be recognized that the stone 
bodies 1 of laying set 15 are spaced from each other and subsequently form 
a closed laying packet 16 by being pushed together in a longitudinal and 
transverse direction (FIG. 13). The spaced extensions 5 are utilized as 
supporting bodies or interlocking elements with adjacent stone bodies or 
extensions. In the pushed-together condition, the stone bodies 1 together 
form a laying packet 16 measuring 40.times.60 cm which is stable in itself 
and suitable for a secure mechanical laying according to the laying 
pattern of FIG. 19. 
Deviating therefrom, laying packets 17 having outer measurements of 
20.times.40 cm are used in the laying pattern of FIG. 20 which, when 
joined with additional laying packets 17 having measurements of 
20.times.40 cm, yield larger laying packets with the measurements 40, 60, 
80 cm and so on .times.20 cm, which can be seized and laid together 
simultaneously. The result of this is continuously extending longitudinal 
seams 18 and transverse seams 19, leading to an optically uniform laying 
pattern. 
Rectangular or square gaps (not shown), which may occur during the laying 
of the stone bodies 1 in the laying set, may be filled with stone bodies 
20 and 21 according to FIGS. 14 to 17. FIGS. 14, 15 show stone bodies 20 
having a rectangular base which are formed by two identical squares 2 and 
3 and have side surfaces 26, 27, 28, 29 extending transversely to the 
base. Extensions 5 are formed on the side surfaces of stone bodies 20 in 
such a way that the longitudinal surfaces 26, 27 always have two spaced 
individual extensions 5 and the end surfaces 28, 29 each have one 
individual extension 5 (FIG. 14). In contrast, stone body 20 of FIG. 15 
has on one longitudinal surface 26 two extensions 5 forming a groove 7 and 
a single extension 5, on one end surface 28 two extensions 5 forming a 
groove 7, and on the respective opposite side surface 27 or end surface 29 
a single extension 5 or two extensions 5. Of the last-named extensions 5, 
one each is aligned with groove 7 of the opposite end surface or 
longitudinal surface, while the other extension 5 of the longitudinal 
surface is aligned next to the single extension 5 of the opposite 
longitudinal surface. 
The stone body 21, which is square in its base surface, of FIG. 16 has two 
extensions 5 each on two adjoining side surfaces 24, 25, for forming 
grooves 7, while the two other side surfaces, 24', 25', each have a single 
extension 5. The extension of one side surface 24' is flush with groove 7, 
while the extension 5 of the other side surface 25' is arranged in an 
offset manner to the extension 5 of the opposite side surface 25. In the 
square paving block of FIG. 17, one side surface 24 has two extensions 5 
for forming a groove 7, while the other side surfaces 24', 25, 25', always 
carry a single extension 5. One extension 5 of side surface 24' is aligned 
with groove 7 and the extensions of the two other side surfaces 25, 25' 
are aligned with each other in an offset manner. 
While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and 
described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may 
be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention as defined in the appended claims.