Abstract:
A specialized curb forming tool and a method of using the tool to simply and easily create custom concrete curbing of any shape and length without complicated equipment or specialized expertise.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/340,721, filed May 24, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile re-production by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       FIELD 
       [0003]    At least some embodiments disclosed herein relate, in general, to apparatuses and methods for forming concrete curbing and more specifically to the use of a specialized tool for the formation of concrete curbing of varying shapes and forms. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    Homeowners and owners of commercial buildings commonly wish to provide beautiful landscaping for their homes and buildings. Such landscaping may include beds for various plants and other decorative items such as, for example statues or birdbaths. Such beds often have some sort of edging. Typical do-it-yourself edging that homeowners often install is made from bricks, stones, wooden pegs, or some sort of short fencing. Such that have some sort of edging around the beds. Such edging, however, is square, choppy, or flimsy, and may not be particularly attractive. 
         [0005]    Alternatively, the homeowner could hire a contractor to install professional curbing. Unfortunately, such professional curbing can be expensive, costing over $16 a linear foot. The complicated equipment used to create professional curbing may well be beyond the skill of a typical homeowner to use, leaving the homeowner no choice but to hire a contractor or install substandard edging. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a specialized curb forming tool and a method of using the tool to simply and easily create custom concrete curbing of any shape and length without complicated equipment or specialized expertise. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a curb forming tool in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the curb forming tool in  FIG. 1  including dimensions of the tool. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates preparing ground in a yard of a house for laying a curb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates packing cement into the curb forming tool as part of the method of forming a curb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates moving the curb forming tool off of packed cement in preparation for forming a next segment of the curb of  FIG. 4  as part of the method of forming a curb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates using the curb forming tool to smooth the curb of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  as part of the method of forming a curb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding. However, in certain instances, well known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure are not necessarily references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one. 
         [0015]    Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a curb forming tool in accordance with the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the curb forming tool in  FIG. 1  including dimensions of the tool (excluding the width of the tool seen from the top of the tool, which in an embodiment is approximately 6.75″) 
         [0017]    With respect to both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the curb forming tool  100  comprises a sheet  110  of rigid material. In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet  110  is a single portion of material. In other embodiments, the sheet  110  could be composed of two or more portions of rigid materials joined together. In such embodiments, each portion could be a different rigid material or the same material. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness of the sheet  110  it is about ¼ inch. However it should be noted that the thickness of the sheet could vary based on the material used. 
         [0018]    Various materials can be used, so long as they are relatively rigid. In the illustrated embodiment, the material used as a plastic. The plastic has the advantage of being cheap and easy to manufacture, and also provides a lightweight device that does not have sharp edges. Other materials that could be used include metal, wood, fiberglass, and silicone. 
         [0019]    In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet  110  has a first side  116 . The first side  116  is curved upward adjacent to the edge of the first side. The sheet  110  also has a second side  117  which is similarly curved upward adjacent to its edge. Curbing the edge of the two sides  116  and  117  aid in providing a smooth surface to a curb that is formed using the curb forming tool. The sheet  110  additionally has a first and  113  and a second end  114 . 
         [0020]    The sheet  110  is formed into a curved configuration having a top  111 ,  112 , and  113  and a bottom comprising a space between the first end  113  and the second end  114  of the sheet  110 . The curved configuration encloses a volume  130  that is in open communication with the first side  113  of the sheet  110 , the second side  114  of the sheet  110 , and the bottom  130  of the curved configuration of the sheet. 
         [0021]    In the illustrated embodiment, the top of the curved configuration of the sheet  110  is segmented into three distinct flat surfaces, a first flat surface  111 , a second flat surface  112 , and a third flat surface  113 . The first flat surface  111  is connected to the second flat surface  112  at a first angle, and the second flat surface  112  is connected to the third flat surface  113  at a second angle.0 
         [0022]    Configuring the top of the curved configuration in three flat surfaces gives curbs formed by the curb forming tool  100  a distinct appearance. Other embodiments are possible, for example, a single flat surface which leads to a rectangular curb. Alternatively there could be two, three, four, five, or more flat surfaces at various angles to one another. Note that the dimensions of the tool given above and in  FIG. 2  represent only one possible embodiment, and the dimensions of the tool could be larger or smaller without altering the functions of the tool or its use. 
         [0023]    In the illustrated embodiment, the curb forming tool  100  additionally comprises a handle  120  attached to the second flat surface  112  of the sheet  110 . The handle  120  enables the tool to be used more easily, as should be apparent when the use of the tool is described below. 
         [0024]    The handle  120  could be attach to various positions on the top of the curved configuration of the sheet  110 , for example the flat surface  111  or the flat surface  113 . The handle  120  can be any shape suitable for the effective use of the tool. The handle  120  can be separately attached to the sheet  110 , or could be an integral part of the sheet  110 , and could be composed of any suitable material. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle is composed of an inexpensive lightweight plastic different than that composing the sheet  110 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  through  FIG. 5  illustrate an exemplary use of and embodiment of the curb forming tool of the present disclosure to cast a curb for a portion of land in a typical homeowner&#39;s yard. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates preparing ground in a yard of a house for laying a curb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0027]    In the illustration, a homeowner is clearing a strip  210  on a portion of land  200  using a shovel. The strip  210  is cleared of loose dirt, vegetation, and any other loose materials. The homeowner need not dig into the ground, as the curb will set right on the surface of the strip  210 . The strip  210  could, of course, be cleared using any conventional means suitable to the task. In clearing the strip  210 , the strip is given a visible edge  220 . The strip  210  could be as long or short as the homeowner desires. Furthermore, the strip  210  could be linear, or could be curvilinear, or any other shape the homeowner desires. In  FIG. 3 , the strip  210  is curvilinear. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates packing cement into the curb forming tool as part of the method of forming a curb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0029]    In the illustrated embodiment, the process of casting a curb on the strip  210  is begun at one end of the strip  210 . The curb is cast in a plurality of curb segments.  FIG. 4  shows the casting of the first curb segment of the curb. 
         [0030]    The process of casting this segment is as follows. The curb forming tool  100  is placed on the strip  210  such that the first and of the curb forming tool  100  is adjacent to the visible edge of the strip  220  and the bottom of the curb forming tool sits on the strip. (i.e. flat on the ground.) 
         [0031]    The volume of the curb forming tool  100  is then packed with a cement mixture at the first side of the curb forming tool. In the illustrated embodiment, this requires about two handfuls of cement mixture. This forms a curb segment. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, the cement mixture is a mixture of sand and Portland Cement. In an embodiment, the ratio of sand to Portland Cement is 4 to 1. and sand. Finer sand will produce a smoother finish than coarse sand. Premix concrete is less desirable, as it typically contains rocks and will not form a smooth curb. Additionally it requires too much water and will not hold freestanding as is necessary to create good curbs 
         [0033]    Regardless of what materials are used in the cement mixture, the cement mixture should have a consistency that ensures the mixture once formed using the curb forming tool will hold its shape until it dries. Thus, a particularly wet cement mixture, and typical premix concrete mixtures, are not suitable. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates moving the curb forming tool off of packed cement in preparation for forming a next segment of the curb of  FIG. 4  as part of the method of forming a curb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0035]    After a curb segment has been cast, such as shown in  FIG. 4 , the curb forming tool  100  is slid down the curb  300  off of the curb segment that has just been cast, in the illustrated embodiment, in the direction of the first side of the curb forming tool. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end of the curb forming tool  100  remains adjacent to the visible edge  220  of the strip  210 . In  FIG. 5  several segments of the curb  300  have already been cast. The process illustrated in  FIG. 5  is repeated until the plurality of curb segments required to cast the curb have all been cast. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates using the curb forming tool to smooth the curb of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  as part of the method of forming a curb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0037]    In an embodiment, after a number of curb segments have been cast, the appearance of the curb  300  can be refined by smoothing the curb. In the illustrated embodiment  FIG. 6 , the curb forming tool  100  has been rinsed with water and the curb forming tool is then slid down at least a portion of the curb  300 , thereby smoothing that portion of the curb. 
         [0038]    In various other embodiments, the appearance of a curb cast using the curb forming tool can be further refined by buffing the cast curb with a wet sponge before the curb has fully dried. Minor defects in the curb, such as holes or pits, can be repaired with a wet cement mixture. 
         [0039]    In various embodiments, finished curbs can be sustained, painted, etched. Colors designs and textures can be added to wet concrete. Using the curb forming tool illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the finished curb is approximately 7 inches wide and about 4 inches high and made of solid concrete. Grass and weeds do not grow under it or through it. The curb sits directly on the ground, the same as with professional curbing contractors. Installation is the same in all geographic locations regardless of seasonal climate change. 
         [0040]    In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.