Abstract:
The disclosure is directed towards a landscape edging system includes a first edging component having a body. The body having a base and a form disposed in the base. The base includes at least one coupling element formed in the base. The at least one coupling element is configured to couple to another coupling element formed in a second body of a second edging component. The first edging component is configured to couple to the second edging component in a serial arrangement. The serial arrangement is repeatable along a length of a landscape feature.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
   This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 60/411,551 filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Sep. 17, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The present disclosure relates to the field of landscaping. In particular, the disclosure relates to a system for landscape edging. 
   Landscaping often includes a variety of features such as grass lawns, shrubbery, flower gardens, vegetable gardens and walkways. Lawns and gardens often abut other landscape features, such as sidewalks and plantings, along common borders. In an attempt to separate and protect the various landscape features a physical boundary or edging is placed between the landscape features. Some past solutions for the physical boundary included plastic vertical strips of material inserted at the boundary of the landscape features. Metal sheet materials and wood planks have been substituted for the plastic. A vertical peg or anchor was used to support the vertical sheet material along the boundary. The sheets and strips allowed for a flexible system of edging. Unfortunately, this edging can become loose and dislodge or raise up out of the ground or fall over to one side. The wood and metal also deteriorate over time and do not allow for an easy interface with lawn mowing equipment. 
   Another edging used in the past has been a continuous concrete curbing poured onsite between the landscape features. The continuous concrete edging often has a curved profile that allows for ease of use of lawn mowing equipment. As an example, a concrete curbing machine would be brought onsite. A furrow would be created along the boundary of the lawn and shrubbery beds. The concrete curbing machine could then lay down a continuous curbing or edging of concrete. The concrete would then set, and a sturdy edging would be in place. However, if the landscape needed to be altered, the concrete edging would have to be broken up and removed, such that it would not be reused. Fresh concrete would have to be poured in order to construct the new edging. In addition to the need for specialized concrete equipment to be onsite, minimum quantities of edging are required in order to engage a contractor to bring the equipment onsite to lay down the edging. For example, a homeowner would need to lay down at least one hundred feet of edging as a minimum, to get the contractor to bring the equipment and lay down the edging. 
   What is needed in the landscaping art is a sturdy, lawn equipment compatible, multi-configurable, reusable system for landscape edging. 
   SUMMARY 
   The disclosure is directed towards a landscape edging system comprising a first edging component having a body. The body having a base and a form disposed in the base. The base includes at least one coupling element formed in the base. The at least one coupling element is configured to couple to another coupling element formed in a second body of a second edging component. The first edging component is configured to couple to the second edging component in a serial arrangement. The serial arrangement is repeatable along a length of a landscape feature. 
   The disclosure is directed toward another embodiment of a landscape edging system. The landscape edging system comprises a first edging component having a body including a base. The base includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The base includes an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. A form is disposed on the upper surface of the base, wherein the lower surface is configured to contact a ground feature. The form includes at least one conduit disposed in the form. At least one coupling member is configured to demountably couple with the first edging component proximate one of the first end and the second end. The at least one coupling member including a body having a side wall mounted on a coupling base. A mating portion is disposed in the side wall and is configured to couple with the first edging component. The coupling base is configured to anchor to the ground feature. 
   A method of using landscape edging is disclosed. The method includes preparing a ground feature. The method includes disposing a first edging component on the ground feature, the first edging component including a body having a base, the base including a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The base including an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. A form is disposed on the upper surface of the base wherein the lower surface is configured to contact the ground feature. The form includes at least one conduit disposed in the form. The method includes mounting a first coupling member to the first end of the first edging component. The first coupling member is configured to demountably couple with the first edging component proximate one of the first end and the second end. The at least one coupling member includes a body having a side wall mounted on a coupling base. The at least one coupling member includes a mating portion disposed in the side wall and configured to couple with the first edging component. The coupling base is configured to anchor to the ground feature. The method includes anchoring the coupling base to the ground feature. The method includes mating a second edging component to the first coupling member, wherein the second edging component includes a body having a base. The base includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end and the base includes an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. A form is disposed on the upper surface of the base wherein the lower surface is configured to contact the ground feature. The form includes at least one conduit disposed in the form. The method includes coupling the first edging component conduit with a second edging component through the coupling member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary edging component. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross section side view of an exemplary edging component. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of various coupling elements of the exemplary edging component. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of exemplary embodiments of various forms of edging components. 
       FIG. 5  is a side profile view of exemplary embodiments of various forms of edging components. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of an exemplary coupling member. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of an exemplary coupling member. 
       FIG. 8  is an end view of an exemplary coupling member. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of an exemplary coupling member. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of an exemplary coupling member. 
       FIG. 11  is an end view of an exemplary coupling member. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing the relationship of an exemplary coupling member and an exemplary edging component. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of an exemplary coupling member with an edging component. 
       FIG. 14  is an end view of an exemplary coupling member with an edging component. 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of an exemplary coupling member with an edging component. 
       FIG. 16  is an end view of an exemplary coupling member with an edging component. 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of an exemplary edging component. 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of an exemplary coupling member with an edging component. 
       FIG. 19  is an end view of an exemplary edging component. 
       FIG. 20  is exemplary hardware for use with the exemplary coupling member of  FIGS. 17 ,  18  and  19 . 
       FIG. 21  is a side view of an exemplary edging component with body features. 
       FIG. 22  is a side view of an exemplary edging component with body features. 
       FIG. 23  is a side view of an exemplary edging component with body features. 
       FIG. 24  is a side view of an exemplary edging component with body features. 
       FIG. 25  is a side view of an exemplary edging component with light fixture. 
       FIG. 26  is a top view of an exemplary edging component with an electrical access. 
       FIG. 27  is a top view of an exemplary edging component with various light fixtures. 
       FIG. 28  is a top view of an exemplary edging component with various light fixtures. 
       FIG. 28  is a top view of an exemplary edging component with various irrigation fixtures and an electrical knockout. 
       FIG. 30  is a side view of an exemplary edging component with various light fixtures. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description of the present invention is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. 
   The disclosure describes a landscape edging system that incorporates individual edging components into a complete landscape edging system. The edging components include a base supporting a form. The edging components include a coupling member that couples one edging component to another edging component. The edging components can anchor to ground features. The edging components can include conduits that communicate between the edging components. The conduit can facilitate the flow of fluids as well as carry electrical and optical conductors. The edging components can include light fixtures and irrigation equipment. The landscape edging system can cover various landscape features, supply water and light along the landscape features as well as provide a flexible and durable boundary. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary edging component. 
   A landscape edging system  10  (or simply edging system) can be made of multiple components interlocked or otherwise fixed together in a detachable form. The edging system  10  can include edging components  12 , such as the exemplary edging component  12  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The edging component  12  includes a body  14 . The body  14  has a platform (or base)  16  coupled to a form  18 . The base  16  can comprise a plastic plate or sheet formed into a container shape or a U-shaped profile. The body also includes at least one coupling element or coupling member  20  and preferably two coupling elements  20  configured to couple with an adjacent coupling element of an adjacent edging component  12  in the edging system  10 . The form  18  is preferably concrete material poured into the base  16  and having a top surface  22  shaped in a crown or undulated curve shape that is both aesthetic and functional for lawn equipment. Of course other materials are acceptable such as composites, plastics, polymers, and the like for the form  18 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary edging component  12  is shown in a cross section side view. The base  16  can include any variety of discontinuities or stiffening members  24  along its surface that provide strength and rigidity to the body  14 . For example and by no means limiting the variety, an undulated discontinuity  26  or a T-shaped discontinuity  28  can serve as a stiffening member  24 . The base  16  can include sides (or walls)  30 . In another exemplary embodiment, the base  16  may not have sides. A reinforcement member  32 , such as rebar, can be disposed in the form  18  to provide tensile strength to the edging component  12 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a side view of various coupling elements  20  is illustrated. The edging system  10  comprising multiple edging components  12  of various shapes and sizes is interconnected by the use of any variety of coupling elements  20 . The coupling elements  20  can be located in the base  16 , in the form  18  or in a combination of both. In one embodiment, the coupling element  20  can be a threaded fastener that is threadably adjusted to tighten the edging components  12  together. The coupling elements  20  can also be tongue and groove, dovetail, pin and rod, latch and pin, press fit, interference fit, and the like. The coupling members  20  facilitate the edging components  12  to be coupled and decoupled without being destroyed. 
   The landscape edging system  10  has the capacity to be reconfigured to match various landscape features. The landscape edging system  10  can be reused. The assembly of the landscape edging system  10  allows for a series of edging components  12  coupled end to end in a landscape edging pattern. The landscape edging pattern is repeatable, as well as allowing for variation along the pattern. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate examples of the shapes that the edging components  12  can take. The examples are not limiting in this disclosure. The edging component  12  can take virtually an infinite number of shapes. By way of example only and by no means limiting, the edging component  12  can be a straight shape  36 , a curve shape  38 , a stub end  40 , a corner shape  42 , and any variety of those shapes.  FIG. 5  illustrates side views of various profiles of the top surface  22 . Anchoring pins (see  FIG. 9 ) can also be used in combination with the edging components, as well as other couplings to landscape features or ground features, such as soil, lawn, rocks, driveway materials, sidewalks and patios. 
     FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a coupling member  20  and an edging component  12 . The coupling member  20  includes a coupling base  50  configured to anchor to a ground feature (not shown). The coupling base  50  is mounted to a coupling side wall (or simply side wall)  52 . The side wall  52  includes a mating portion  54 . The side wall  52  extends distally from the coupling base  50  and is configured to mate to sides  56  of the edging component  12  via the mating portion  54 . The side wall  52  is shown in  FIG. 7  as having a smaller area than the edging component side  56 . The side wall  52  can match the area of the edging component side  56 . The mating portion  56  is configured to mate to the edging component  12 . The coupling base  50  includes anchor tabs  58  that receive anchor pins  60  for anchoring the landscape edging system  10  to ground features. The anchor tabs  58  can be formed in the coupling base  50  or attached to or disposed on the coupling base  50 . 
   In an exemplary embodiment, the edging component  12  includes conduit  62  formed in the edging portion  12  (See  FIG. 12 ). The conduit  62  forms a passage that communicates through the form  18  and allows for the flow of fluids or the passage of electrical or optical conductors through the edging component  12 . The mating portion  54  can be configured to insert into the conduit  62  in a sealed condition. The mating portion  54  can include a seal  64  with a seal receiver  66  configured to receive an O-ring. The seal  64  can form a fluid tight boundary between the conduit  62  from one edging component  12  to another edging component  12 . The sealed union eliminates infiltration of contaminants into the conduit  62 . The conduit  62  can facilitate fluid flow and therefore be employed to carry irrigation water along the landscape edging system  10 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 12  an exemplary edging component  12  is illustrated. The edging component  12  includes a recessed portion  68  that allows the coupling member  20  to fit into the edging component  12  flush. With the recessed portion  68 , the edging components  12  can be mated together flush having minimal gap or voids between the edging components  12 . The edging component  12  is shown with the conduit  58  configured to receive the mating portion  54  of the coupling member  20 . In an exemplary embodiment, two conduits  58  are formed in the edging component  12  to facilitate fluid flow in one and electrical conduction in the other conduit  58 . The conduit  58  can be formed in the form  18  or in the base  16 , as well as be part of the stiffening members  24  or discontinuities  26  formed in the base  16 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 13 through 19  exemplary embodiments of the edging component and the coupling member are illustrated. In  FIGS. 13 through 16  the coupling member  20  is in the form of a rod and pin coupling  70 . The exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17 through 20  is a latch and pin coupling  72 . The latch and pin  72  can be actuated from outside the edging component  12 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 21 through 26  exemplary embodiments of the edging component are illustrated. The edging component  12  can include two conduits  58 . A fluid conduit  74  is configured to fluidly couple the edging components  12  allowing for water to flow through the landscape edging system  10  to provide irrigation. Any variety of irrigation elements  76  can be coupled to the fluid conduit  74 . A sprinkler head or a drip irrigation element  76  can be incorporated. An electrical conduit  78  can be included to electrically couple the edging components  12  allowing the flow of electricity through electrical conductors  80  to electrical fixtures  82 . Access plates  84  can be mounted to the edging component  12  (see  FIG. 26 ) in order to promote maintenance on the electrical portions. 
     FIGS. 27 through 30  illustrate a variety of exemplary embodiments of edging components.  FIGS. 27 and 28  illustrates a variety of lens covers  86  mounted with the electrical fixtures  82 . The lens covers  86  can be mounted flush with the top surface  22 . In alternate embodiments, the lens covers  86  can be convex, concave, and the like. The lens covers  86  can also face away from the landscape features, toward landscape features, upward toward the sky and along the terrain of the earth.  FIGS. 29 and 30  illustrate lens covers  83  as well as irrigation elements  78 , and electrical fixtures  82 . As discussed above, the fluid conduit  74  can be coupled to irrigation elements  78 , such as pop-up sprinkler heads, drip irrigation elements, fountain nozzles, and the like. The electrical conduit  76  can be coupled to electrical fixtures  82 , such as low voltage lights, spot lights, strobes, beacons, guide lights, pathway lights, advertisements, and the like. 
   The landscape edging system  10  can be versatile and provide a variety of functions while marking a boundary between landscape features. The various shapes can be interconnected and placed between landscape features, such as between a lawn and a flower bed. The lighting features can provide specialized light effects on the landscape features. The irrigation features can provide specific irrigation to each landscape feature. Fountains and spot lights or colored effects lights can be incorporated to provide a special effect to a specific landscape feature. The edge components can also be used as sidewalk and road curbing, as well as culvert and storm drain curbing. Special lighting for traffic control can be incorporated. The interconnected edging components can be fixed together and when one pleases, disconnected and rearranged into other configurations or moved to be placed in other landscape features without being destroyed. The edging system described herein provides both a sturdy lawn machine-friendly system, as well as a flexible and adaptable reusable system that is long lasting. While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.