Abstract:
A precast, crushed stone landscape edging module comprises block body, a first, bidirectional interlocking joint, and a second, bidirectional interlocking joint. The block body has a first outer surface and a second outer surface and a first end surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and a second end extending from the first surface to the second surface. A first bidirectional, interlocking first joint is disposed on the first end surface and a second bidirectional, interlocking joint is disposed on the second end surface, wherein the first bidirectional, interlocking joint adapted to interlock with the second bidirectional, interlocking joint to prevent slippage and to enable rotation of the block body. The first bidirectional, interlocking joint has a first sawtooth and a first recess positioned adjacent to and joining the first sawtooth. The first recess is designed to receive a second sawtooth with a shape and dimension comparable to the first sawtooth. The second bidirectional, interlocking has the second sawtooth and a second recess positioned adjacent to and joining the second sawtooth. The second recess is designed to receive a sawtooth with a shape and dimension comparable to the first sawtooth. The first bidirectional, interlocking joint also has a first flat surface extending from said first outer surface to a first sawtooth and a second flat surface extending from a second outer surface to a first recess. The second bidirectional, interlocking joint also has a third surface extending from the outer surface to the second recess and a fourth surface extending from the second outer surface to the second sawtooth.

Description:
PARTIAL WAIVER OF COPYRIGHT PURSUANT TO 1077 O.G. 22(MAR. 20, 1987) 
     © Copyright. 2000. Pavestone Co. All of the material in this patent application is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and of other countries. As of the first effective filing date of the present application, this material is protected as unpublished material. 
     However, permission to copy this material is hereby granted to the extent that the owner of the copyright rights has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to the decorative edging, particularly joints and design features used for dry cast, compacted concrete landscape edging and the multipurpose utilization of the unit in landscape design. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Garden and landscape design is a huge industry in the United States and throughout the world. A major challenge of garden and landscape design is the use and placement of edging and other materials used to edge gardens or planting areas. Over the past few centuries, rocks, bricks, metal edging (e.g., steel and aluminum), railroad ties, and lumber have been used to edge a garden or planting area and to prevent soil erosion. Generally, these traditional edging structures do not naturally interlock with one another and, therefore, are usually labor intensive and require high maintenance. For instance, if rocks or bricks are used, a mason and mortar are needed to fill in the gaps between the rocks or bricks and to secure the individual bricks or stones together. Similarly, if railroad ties or lumber are used, a craftsman is needed to cut, place, and nail individual pieces together. These traditional edging structures are also fairly limited in a design sense, in that they do not permit the easy creation of curved beds and are much less flexible, in that they often move when the underlying soil shifts. Finally, many of these traditional edging structures are not modular and do not otherwise interlock together. And, if the traditional edging units do join together, they are not equipped to lock specific modular units in definite or proper alignment and otherwise permit individual, modular units to be turned left or right to change direction of the resulting edge configuration. 
     There are other disadvantages of existing edging structures as well. 
     SUMMARY 
     A precast, concrete landscape edging module comprises a block body, a first, bidirectional interlocking joint; and a second, bidirectional, interlocking joint. The block body preferably has a first outer surface and a second outer surface and a first end surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and a second end extending from the first surface to the second surface. A first bidirectional, interlocking first joint is preferably disposed on the first end surface and a second bidirectional, interlocking joint is preferably disposed on the second end surface. The first bidirectional, interlocking joint is adapted to interlock with the second bidirectional, interlocking joint to prevent slippage and to enable rotation of the block body, if physically able to do so. In preferred applications, however, the first bidirectional, interlocking joint of one such module is actually adapted to interlock with a second bidirectional, interlocking joint of a second module, which is similar to the second bidirectional, interlocking joint of the first module, in order to form a chain or edge comprised of such modules. The first bidirectional, interlocking joint has a first sawtooth and a first recess positioned adjacent to and joining the first sawtooth, such as by a continuous, planar surface that extends from the peak of the first sawtooth to the valley of the recess. The first recess is designed to receive a second sawtooth with a shape and dimensions comparable to the first sawtooth, which provides, in part, the reciprocal and flexible nature of the preferred joints. Likewise, the second bidirectional, interlocking has the second sawtooth and a second recess positioned adjacent to and joining the second sawtooth, such as by a continuous, planar surface. Once again, for the same reasons, the second recess is designed to receive a sawtooth with a shape and dimensions comparable to the first sawtooth. The first bidirectional, interlocking joint also preferably has a first flat surface extending from said first outer surface of the block body to a first sawtooth and a second flat surface extending from a second outer surface of the block body to a first recess. Similarly, the second bidirectional, interlocking joint also has a third surface extending from the outer surface of the block body to the second recess and a fourth surface extending from the second outer surface of the block body to the second sawtooth. These straight edges conceal the inner workings of the joints (e.g., the jagged nature of the edge) and help secure the modules in position. 
     Preferred embodiments have a number of advantages. In particular, preferred embodiments of the individual landscape blocks or units are visibly attractive as well as tremendously flexible, which is important for professional landscape designers and home gardeners alike. The bidirectional and interlocking nature of the preferred embodiments of the individual blocks or units permitted by the novel, joint design enables the overall, completed edging to assume a varying number of configurations with various shapes, including any number of circular or serpentine shapes or straight edges, as well as various sizes. In fact, curved units can be combined with straight sections. The prefabricated nature of the preferred embodiments do not require additional construction or masonry at the working site, which thereby simplifies the on-site construction, and are relatively easy to manufacture via the use of molds. The use of rigid, solid materials, such as precast concrete in preferred embodiments enables the resulting assembly to retain soil and to prevent erosion as well as to retain its shape, which thereby reduces the required maintenance. Likewise, the use of modular units with flexible, interlocking joints, enables the resulting assembly to conform to the ground surface over time, as the soil may shift, and to conform to the particular area to be edged. In addition, preferred embodiments are decorative and ecologically friendly. 
     Additional advantages may become apparent upon review of the detailed description and corresponding drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification to illustrate several examples of the present inventions. These drawings together with the description serve to explain the principles of the inventions. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative examples of how the inventions can be made and used and are not to be construed as limiting the inventions to only the illustrated and described examples. Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and more particular description of the various embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 , 4 , and  5  show a perspective, end, top, side, and bottom views, respectively, of first preferred embodiment  100  of decorative edging module, having a plurality (e.g., four) of pickets  18 , namely pickets  18 A,  18 B,  18 C, and  18 D, organized in a straight line and having bidirectional, interlocking joints  4 A and  4 B, which, if able, would interlock with one another, joint  4 A being positioned on one end of first preferred embodiment  100  and joint  4 B being positioned on another end of first preferred embodiment  100 , and joints  4 A and  4 B used to join one first preferred embodiment  100  with other first preferred embodiments  100  to edge a flower garden or comparable planting area; 
     FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  show a perspective view, interior view, top view side view, first end view, second end view, exterior view, and bottom view, respectively, of second preferred embodiment  200  of curved decorative edging module having a plurality (e.g., two) of pickets  38 , namely pickets  38 A and  38 B, organized in a curved fashion and having bidirectional, interlocking joints  4 A and  4 B, which, if able, would interlock with one another, joint  4 A being positioned on one end of second preferred embodiment  200  and joint  4 B being positioned on another end of second preferred embodiment  200 , and joints  4 A and  4 B used to join one second preferred embodiment  200  with other second preferred embodiments  200  to edge flower garden or comparable planting area; 
     FIG. 13 is a top view a first preferred embodiment  1300  of a bidirectional, interlocking joint  1304 , joining units  1301  and  1302 ; 
     FIG. 14 is a top view a second preferred embodiment  1400  of a bidirectional, interlocking joint  1404 , joining units  1401  and  1402 ; 
     FIG. 15 is a top view a third preferred embodiment  1500  of a bidirectional, interlocking joint  1504 , joining units  1501  and  1502 ; 
     FIGS. 16,  17 , and  18  show circular configurations  400 ,  500 , and  600 , respectively, incorporating various numbers of second preferred embodiments  200 ; 
     FIG. 19 shows a serpentine configuration  700 , incorporating numerous second preferred embodiments  200 ; 
     FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of circular configuration  500 , having the same number of second preferred embodiments  200  as the circular configuration shown in FIG. 17, namely ten ( 10 ) second preferred embodiments  200 ; and 
     FIGS. 21A,  21 B, and  21 C shows the flexibility and bidirectional nature of second preferred embodiment  200 , due to the use of bidirectional, interlocking joint. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment will be described by referring to apparatus showing various examples of how the inventions can be made and used. When possible, like reference characters are used throughout the several views of the drawing to indicate like or corresponding parts. Also, note that throughout the following discussion, references are made somewhat interchangeably to decorative edging with bidirectional, interlocking joints; decorative edging; individual blocks or units; decorative edging module; landscape edging unit; and precast, crushed stone or compacted concrete landscape edging modules, etc. In most cases, unless the corresponding explanation suggests otherwise, please do not attach any special significance to these slight changes in terminology. These terms were adopted and used to make the resulting application more readable. 
     FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  show a perspective view, end view, top view side view, and bottom view, respectively, of first preferred embodiment  100  of decorative edging having a plurality (e.g., four) of pickets  18 , namely pickets  18 A,  18 B,  18 C, and  18 D, which are intended to resemble pickets traditionally found on a white, picket fence, manufactured from wood. Of course, first preferred embodiments  100  shown in FIGS.  1 , 2   3 ,  4 , and  5  are preferably smaller than a traditional, white, picket fence and are used to edge a flower bed or the like. Further, when compared to the pickets found on a traditional, white, picket fence, the pickets in preferred embodiment  100  are joined together with a solid or rigid section of substantially the same width, rigidity, weight, and height (excluding the protruding portion) that extends substantially the length of the pickets  18 A,  118 B,  18 C and  18 D and utilize joints  4 A and  4 B to link various units of first preferred embodiment  100  together to slow or to prevent the erosion of dirt from the flower bed and/or to prevent the growth of certain vegetation (e.g., grass) from entering the flower bed. The joint is designed to keep the interlocked units in alignment with one another, so that a slight bump of one unit from any direction front or back, such as by a foot or lawnmower, will not knock the units from alignment. 
     Each of pickets  18 A,  18 B,  18 C, and  18 D have a first surface and a second surface. Specifically, picket  18 A has first picket surface  2 A and second picket surface  10 A; picket  18 B has first picket surface  2 B and second picket surface  10 B; picket  18 C has first picket surface  2 C and second picket surface  10 C; and picket  18 D has first picket surface  2 D and second picket surface  10 D. Further, picket  18 A is joined with picket  18 B with section  12 C; picket  18 B is joined with picket  18 C with section  12 D; and picket  18 C is joined with picket  18 D with section  12 E. Section  12 C has first section surface  8 C and second section surface  6 C; section  12 D has first section surface  8 D and second section surface  6 D; and section  12 E has first section surface  8 E and second section surface  6 E. Sections  12 A and  12 B, which are smaller than full sections  12 C,  12 D, and  12 E, end with bidirectional, interlocking joints  4 A and  4 B, respectively. Sections  12 A and  12 B are approximately half the size of full sections  12 C,  12 D, and  12 E, so that, when one first preferred embodiment  100  is joined with another first preferred embodiment  100 , section  12 A of one first preferred embodiment  100  when combined with section  12 B of another first preferred embodiment  100  is approximately equal to full sections  12 C,  12 D, and  12 E, so that the seam formed at the location in which joint  4 A of one first preferred embodiment  100  joins joint  4 B of another first preferred embodiment  100  is disguised or otherwise not easily visible. In short, since the dimensions of section  12 A of one first preferred embodiment  100  when combined with another section  12 B of another first preferred embodiment  100  are virtually identical to the other full sections  12 C,  12 D, and  12 E of either of the first preferred embodiments  100 , the resulting combination utilizes a pattern apparent from the side and the top that is continuous and relatively consistent, as the pattern of pickets and the joining units is repetitive. Also, note that first preferred embodiment  100  is straight, solid, rigid, and continuous structure and has sufficient width, height, and weight to hold dirt or other gardening material in place on one side of first preferred embodiment  100 , such as along surfaces  6 A,  10 A,  6 C,  10 B,  6 D,  10 C,  6 E,  10 D, and  6 B. 
     FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  show a perspective view, interior view, top view, side view, first end view, second end view, exterior view, and bottom view, respectively, of second preferred embodiment  200  of curved decorative edging having a plurality (e.g., two) of pickets  38 , namely pickets  38 A and  38 B, which, as with the first preferred embodiment  100 , are intended to resemble pickets traditionally found on a white, picket fence, manufactured of wood. Of course, second preferred embodiments  200  shown in FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  are in some cases smaller than a traditional picket fence and are used to edge a flower bed or the like. Further, as with first preferred embodiment, when compared to the pickets found on a traditional, white, picket fence, the pickets in preferred embodiment  200  are joined together with a solid or rigid section of substantially the same width, rigidity, weight, and height (excluding the protruding portion) that extends substantially the length of the pickets  38 A and  38 B and utilize joints  4 A and  4 B to link various units of first preferred embodiment  200  together to slow or to prevent the erosion of dirt from the flower bed and/or the growth of certain vegetation (e.g., grass) from entering the flower bed. Also, as discussed above, the joint is designed to keep the interlocked units in alignment with one another, so that a slight bump of one unit from any direction front or back, such as by a foot or lawnmower, will not knock the units from alignment. 
     Each of pickets  38 A and  38 B have a first picket surface and a second surface. Specifically, picket  38 A has first picket surface  52 A and second picket surface  60 A and picket  18 B has first picket surface  52 B and second picket surface  60 B. Further, picket  38 A is joined with picket  38 B with section  28 C, having first section surface  54 C and second section surface  56 C. Section  28 A has first section surface  54 A and second section surface  56 A; and section  28 B has first section surface  54 B and second section surface  56 B. Sections  28 A and  28 B, which are smaller than full section  28 C, end with bidirectional, interlocking joints  4 A and  4 B, respectively. Sections  28 A and  28 B are approximately half the size of full size section  28 C, so that, when one preferred embodiment  200  is joined with another preferred embodiment  200 , section  28 A of one second preferred embodiment  200  when combined with another second preferred embodiment  200  is approximately equal to full section  28 C, so that the seam at the location that joint  4 A of one second preferred embodiment  200  and joint  4 B of another second preferred embodiment  200  is disguised or not easily visible. In short, as with first embodiment  100 , since the dimensions of section  28 A of one first preferred embodiment  200  when combined with another section  28 B of another second preferred embodiment  200  is virtually identical to full section  28 C of either of the second preferred embodiments  200 , the resulting combination utilizes a pattern apparent from the side and top that is continuous and relatively consistent, as the pattern of pickets and joining unit is repetitive, as shown in the perspective view often (10) second preferred embodiments  200  assembled together into a circular assembly  500  in FIG. 20, which corresponds the circular assembly  500  shown in FIG.  17 . 
     Referring to FIG. 20, in order to understand the respective orientation and use of second preferred embodiments  200  in FIG. 20, two (2) second preferred embodiments  200 , namely  200 A and  200 B, have been labeled with similar numbers used in FIGS. 6-12, along with additionally labeled units. Second preferred embodiment  200  is curved, solid, rigid, and continuous structure and has sufficient width, height, and weight to hold dirt or other gardening material in place on one side of second preferred embodiment  200 , such as along surfaces  56 A,  60 A,  56 C,  60 B, and  56 B. 
     One advantage of joints  4 A and  4 B, the placement and the nature of which will be explained in more detail below in reference to FIGS. 13,  14 , and  15 , is that it enables the flexible use of second preferred embodiment  200  and the easy design of circular assemblies of various sizes and dimensions (e.g., different diameters). For example, circular assembly  400  in FIG. 16, having a diameter  401  of 36 inches, incorporates nine (9) second preferred embodiments  200 ; circular assembly  500  in FIG. 17, having a diameter  501  of 40 inches, incorporates ten (10) second preferred embodiments  200 ; and circular assembly  600  in FIG. 18, having a diameter  601  of 44 inches, incorporates eleven (11) second preferred embodiments  200 . While a small gap at the joints is visible from a location outside of circular assembly  400  in FIG. 16 and a small gap at the joints is visible from a location inside of circular assembly  600  in FIG. 18, no gap should at the joints should be present in circular assembly  500  in FIG.  17 . 
     In addition, the smaller size of second preferred embodiment  200 , namely the length, and the presence of only two pickets  18 A and  18 B, contributes to the flexibility of the second preferred embodiment. Likewise, the curvature of second preferred embodiment  200  or the angle that second preferred embodiment  200  is curved preferably produces a circle to the center of the embodiment (e.g., curvature  29  shown in FIGS. 8 and 12) that has a 40 inch diameter or a 20 inch radius, which also contributes to the flexibility of second preferred embodiment  200 . Further, as shown in FIGS. 19,  21 A,  21 B, and  21 C, the bidirectional nature of the joints  4 A and  4 B means that the individual units of second preferred embodiment  200  can be combined, linked, positioned, or oriented together in such a manner that the surfaces positioned on the interior region of second preferred embodiment  200 , namely second section surface  56 A, second picket surface  60 A, second section surface  56 C, second picket surface  60 B, and second section surface  56 B in FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , can be oriented in a different direction that the comparable interior surfaces of the preceding second preferred embodiment  200  in a chain of preferred embodiments  200  or the subsequent preferred embodiment  200  in a chain of preferred embodiments  200  to create a serpentine or winding decorative garden edge (sections  702  and  704  of assembly  700  in FIG.  19 ). In other words, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 21A,  21 B, and  21 C, during the serpentine portion, section surfaces  56 A, picket surface  60 A, section surface  60 B, and section surface  56 B of one preferred embodiment may face toward the interior of the flower bed (e.g., toward the flowers), but on the next preferred embodiment  200  in line may face toward the outside of the flower garden (e.g., away from the flowers). Alternatively, in the same configuration, as shown in FIG. 19, several second preferred embodiments  200  can be combined, linked, positioned, or oriented together to create a substantially curved section, such as sections  706  and  708  of assembly  700  in FIG.  19 . This flexibility provides a tremendous amount of options for the garden designer to design the respective flower beds, around trees, bushes, or other garden structures. 
     The bidirectional nature of joints  4 A and  4 B is shown in more detail in FIGS. 21A,  21 B, and  21 C. The reference numbers used in FIGS. 21A,  21 B, and  21 C correspond to the reference numbers used in FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  that show the second preferred embodiment  200  ( 200 A and  200 B). As shown in FIGS. 21A,  21 B, and  21 C, preferred embodiment  200 B can be rotated according to the circular direction  31  and joint  4 B of preferred embodiment  200 A can work with either joint  4 A or joint  4 B of preferred embodiment  200 B. 
     FIGS. 13,  14 , and  15  show atop view of bidirectional, interlocking joint  4 A and  4 B used in first preferred embodiment  100  and second preferred embodiment  200 , with the primary difference being the variation and shape of gaps  1319 A and  1319 B (in FIG.  13 ),  1419 A and  1419 B (in FIG.  14 ), and  1519 A and  1519 B (in FIG. 15) within a single embodiment and of the variation and the shape of gaps  1319 A,  1419 A, and  1519 A and gaps  1319 A,  1419 B, and  1519 B, between embodiments, respectively. 
     Referring to FIG. 13, joint  1304  is created by combining joint  1304 A of unit  1301  and joint  1304 B of unit  1302  to form joint  1304  and is preferably in the center of section  1306 . Units  1301  and  1302 , with pickets  1305 A and  1305 B and section  1306 , of FIG. 13 corresponds to second preferred embodiment  200 , with pickets  38 A and  38 B and section  28 C, in FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , but, of course, could also correspond to first preferred embodiment  100  shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  and the corresponding subparts. Joint  1304 A and  1304 B are configured such that they align together when positioned as shown in FIG. 13, but note that the nature of joint  1304  permits units  1301  and  1302  to rotate in or out in the direction shown by lines  1311 A and  1311 B to make the resulting circular assembly larger or smaller, as shown in FIGS. 16,  17 , and  18 , or to change direction altogether, as shown in FIGS. 21A,  21 B, and  21 C, in order to create the serpentine assembly shown in sections  702  and  704  of FIG.  19 . 
     Joints  1304 A and  1304 B preferably incorporate the use of two (2) axes  1303 A and  1303 B, approximately positioned at locations equidistant from each other and from the outside surfaces  1315 A and  1315 B and interior surfaces  1316 A and  1316 B. In other words, axis  1303 A and  1303 B are positioned at locations marking one third (⅓) of the distance from exterior surfaces  1315 A and  1315 B and interior surfaces  1316 A and  1316 B. Note the use of the word interior and exterior is mostly for convenience, the word interior loosely referring to the interior region of a circular flower bed and the word exterior loosely referring to the exterior region of a circular flower bed. Of course, these words can be alternated, depending upon which region is regarded as the interior and which region is regarded as the exterior. Further, joint  1304  bends or otherwise changes direction (e.g., left to right) at the respective axis  1303 A and  1303 B, such that joint  1304  changes from being oriented left or traversing left (when looking down on the combination of units  1301  and  1302 ) at a 45° angle from the horizontal to traversing right at axis  1303 B at a 45° angle from the horizontal and from being oriented right or traversing right (when looking down on the combination of units  1301  and  1302 ) at a 45° angle from the horizontal to traversing left at axis  1303 A at a 45° angle from the horizontal to create corresponding sawtooth and recess pairs. The angle of the bend or change of direction, namely angles  1307 A and  1307 B, in the preferred embodiment  1300  shown in FIG. 13, which are equal to one another, and is preferably equal to 90°. However, angles  1307 A and  1307 B could have different, preferably equal amounts, such as 30°, or, perhaps, varying amounts, but angles of equal amounts (e.g., 90°) provide the greatest flexibility. This design creates a sawtooth and corresponding recess adapted to receive a sawtooth of similar design. The crooked or jagged nature of joint  1304  permits units  1301  and  1302  to interlock with one another without the use of mortar and also to prevent the erosion of dirt or soil from the flower bed created by the use of such edging. Once again, this joint is designed to keep the interlocked units in alignment with one another, so that a slight bump of one unit from any direction front or back, such as by a foot or lawnmower, will not knock the units from alignment. 
     The use of two axises also creates two (2) pivot points about which the units  1301  and  1302  may rotate, rather than just one, so that the units  1301  and  1302  can interlock with one another, so that dirt is not able to push over either unit  1301  and  1302  or otherwise travel between joints  1304 . At the same time, the use of two (2) axises provides the flexibility to change the size of the resulting circular assembly, such as that found in FIGS. 16,  17 , and  18 , or create a serpentine assembly, such as that found in FIG.  20 . In addition, the use of a straight surfaces along gap  1319 A and  1319 B initially conceals the jagged edge created by the change of directions of the seam at each of the two axis. Further, the width of gap  1319 A is larger than the width of gap  1319 B, which permits greater rotation of units  1301  and  1302  toward one another to reduce the size of the circular assembly partially created by units  1301  and  1302 . 
     Similar to FIG. 13, FIG. 14 shows joint  1404  created by combining joint  1404 A of unit  1401  and joint  1404 B of unit  1402  to form joint  1304 , preferably in the center of section  1406 . Units  1401  and  1402 , with pickets  1405 A and  1405 B and section  1406 , of FIG. 14 correspond to second preferred embodiment  200 , with pickets  38 A and  38 B and section  28 C, in FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , but, of course, could also correspond to first preferred embodiment  100  shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  and the corresponding subparts. Joint  1404 A and  1404 B are configured such that they align together when positioned as shown in FIG. 14, but note that the nature of joint  1404  permits units  1401  and  1402  to rotate in or out in the direction shown by lines  1411 A and  1411 B to make the resulting circular assembly larger or smaller, as shown in FIGS. 16,  17 , and  18  or to change direction altogether, as shown in FIG. 21, to create the serpentine assembly shown in sections  702  and  704  of FIG.  19 . 
     Once again, joints  1404 A and  1404 B preferably incorporate the use of two (2) axises  1403 A and  1403 B, approximately positioned at locations equidistant from each other and from the outside surfaces  1415 A and  1415 B and interior surfaces  1416 A and  1416 B. In other words, axis  1403 A and  1403 B are positioned at locations marking one third (⅓) of the distance from exterior surfaces  1415 A and  1415 B and interior surfaces  1416 A and  1416 B. Note the use of the word interior and exterior is mostly for convenience, the word interior loosely referring to the interior region of a circular flower bed and the word exterior loosely referring to the exterior region of a circular flower bed. Of course, as stated above, these words can be alternated, depending upon which region is regarded as the interior and which region is regarded as the exterior. Further, joint  1404  bends or otherwise changes direction (e.g., left to right) at the respective axis  1403 A and  1403 B, such that joint  1404  changes from being oriented left or traversing left (when looking down on the combination of units  1401  and  1402 ) at a 45° angle from the horizontal to traversing right at axis  1403 B at a 45° angle from the horizontal and from being oriented right or traversing right (when looking down on the combination of units  1401  and  1402 ) at a 45° angle from the horizontal to traversing left at a 45° angle from the horizontal at axis  1403 A at a 45° angle from the horizontal to create corresponding sawtooth and recess pairs. The angle of the bend or change of direction, namely angles  1407 A and  1407 B, in the preferred embodiment  1400  shown in FIG. 14, which are equal to one another, and is equal to 90°. However, angles  1407 A and  1407 B could have different, equal amounts, such as 30°, or, perhaps, varying amounts, but angles of equal amounts (e.g., 90°) provide the greatest flexibility. The crooked or jagged nature of joint  1404  permits units  1401  and  1402  to interlock with one another without the use of mortar and also to prevent the erosion of dirt or soil from the flower bed created by the use of such edging. As with the other joints, this joint is designed to keep the interlocked units in alignment with one another, so that a slight bump of one unit from any direction front or back, such as by a foot or lawnmower, will not knock the units from alignment. 
     The use of two (2) axises also creates two (2) pivot points about which the units  1401  and  1402  may rotate, rather than just one, so that the units  1401  and  1402  can interlock with one another, so that dirt is not able to push over either unit  1401  and  1402  or otherwise travel between joint  1304 . At the same time, joint  1304  provides some flexibility to change the size of the resulting circular assembly, such as that found in FIGS. 16,  17 , and  18 , or create a serpentine assembly, such as that found in FIG.  20 . In addition, the use of a straight surfaces along gap  1419 A and  1419 B initially conceals the jagged edge created by the change of directions of the seam at each of the two (2) axises. Further, the width of gap  1419 A is identical to the width of gap  1419 B, which permits equal rotation of units  1401  and  1402  toward one another or away from one another to reduce the size of the circular assembly partially created by units  1401  and  1402 . 
     Referring to FIG. 15, joint  1504  is created by combining joint  1504 A of unit  1501  and joint  1504 B of unit  1502  to form joint  1304  and is preferably in the center of section  1506 . Units  1501  and  1502 , with pickets  1505 A and  1505 B and section  1506 , of FIG. 15 corresponds to second preferred embodiment  200 , with pickets  38 A and  38 B and sections  28 C, in FIGS. 6,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , but, of course, could also correspond to first preferred embodiment  100  shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  and the corresponding subparts. Joint  1504 A and  1504 B are configured such that they align together when positioned as shown in FIG. 15, but note that the nature of joint  1504  permits units  1501  and  1502  to rotate in or out in the direction shown by lines  1511 A and  1511 B to make the resulting circular assembly larger or smaller, as shown in FIGS. 16,  17 , and  18  or to change direction altogether, as shown in FIGS. 21A,  21 B, and  21 C, to create the serpentine assembly shown in sections  702  and  704  of FIG.  19 . 
     Again, joints  1504 A and  1504 B preferably incorporate the use of two (2) axises  1503 A and  1503 B, approximately positioned at locations equidistant from each other and from the outside surfaces  1515 A and  1515 B and interior surfaces  1516 A and  1516 B. In other words, axis  1503 A and  1503 B are positioned at locations marking one third (⅓) of the distance from exterior surfaces  1515 A and  1515 B and interior surfaces  1516 A and  1516 B. Note the use of the word interior and exterior is mostly for convenience, the word interior loosely referring to the interior region of a circular flower bed and the word exterior loosely referring to the exterior region of a circular flower bed. Of course, these words can be alternated, depending upon which region is regarded as the interior and which region is regarded as the exterior. Further, joint  1504  bends or otherwise changes direction (e.g., left to right) at the respective axis  1503 A and  1503 B, such that joint  1504  changes from being oriented left or traversing left (when looking down on the combination of units  1501  and  1502 ) at a 45° angle from the horizontal to traversing right at axis  1503 B at a 45° angle from the horizontal and from being oriented right or traversing right (when looking down on the combination of units  1501  and  1502 ) to traversing left at axis  1503 A at a 45° angle from the horizontal to create corresponding sawtooth and recess pairs. The angle of the bend or change of direction, namely angles  1507 A and  1507 B, in the preferred embodiment  1500  shown in FIG. 15, which are equal to one another, is preferably equal to 90°. However, angles  1507 A and  1507 B could have different, equal amounts, such as 30°, or, perhaps, varying amounts, but angles of equal amounts (e.g., 90°) provide the greatest flexibility. The crooked or jagged nature of joint  1504  permits units  1501  and  1502  to interlock with one another without the use of mortar and also to prevent the erosion of dirt or soil from the flower bed created by the use of such edging. 
     The use of two (2) axises also creates two (2) pivot points about which the units  1501  and  1502  may rotate, rather than just one, so that the units  1501  and  1502  can interlock with one another, so that dirt is not able to push over either unit  1501  and  1502  or otherwise travel between joint  1504 . At the same time, the use of two (2) axises provides the flexibility to change the size of the resulting circular assembly, such as that found in FIGS. 16,  17 , and  18 , or create a serpentine assembly, such as that found in FIG.  20 . In addition, straightening out the direction of the seam and the use of a straight joint across region  1506  initially conceals the jagged edge created by the change of directions of the seam at each of the two axis. Further, the width and shape of gap  1519 A is equal to the width and shape of gap  1519 B, which permits rotation of units  1501  and  1502  toward one another to reduce the size of the circular assembly partially created by units  1501  and  1502  and away from one another to increase the size of the circular assembly partially created by units  1501  and  1502 . The slanted or opening nature of gaps  1519  and  1519 B provide more flexibility to rotate units  1501  and  1502  than the use of gaps  1419 A and  1419 B used in FIG. 14, but also reveals more of the inner surfaces of joint  1504 . 
     Further Modifications and Variations 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Thus, the embodiments shown and described above are only intended as an example. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiment as well as alternate embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. For instance, alternate shapes of pickets, such as triangular shaped pickets, pointed pickets, etc., may be adopted and utilized. Further, while the preferred embodiments described above are a manufactured dry cast landscape product and are manufactured with crushed stone, sand, water, and, in some cases, certain types of pigment to colorize the edging product, alternate materials may be used, such as wood, concrete, or plastic, so long as the materials used result in a rigid, fixed structure (both the pickets and joining regions) to function as permanent or semi-permanent garden edging. Also, the angles referenced above may vary. 
     Thus, even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present inventions have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the inventions, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the inventions to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the attached claims. Accordingly, it should be understood that the modifications and variations suggested above and below are not intended to the exhaustive. These examples help show the scope of the inventive concepts, which are covered in the appended claims. The appended claims are intended to cover these modifications and alternate embodiments. 
     In short, the description and drawings of the specific examples above are not intended to point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to provide at least one explanation of how to make and use the inventions contained herein. The limits of the inventions and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.