Abstract:
Architectural feature elements or decorative elements of metal for supplementing and/or as a replacement for concrete elements, such as paving stones, curbstones, bollards, stelae, palisades or for elements of marble, polymer-concrete composite material or the like, such as slabs, tiles, beadwork, moldings or the like, which are manufactured from metal sheets as hollow bodies.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority from Austrian Application Ser. No. 1377/2005 filed Aug. 17, 2005.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to architectural feature elements or decorative elements of metal for supplementing and/or as a replacement for concrete elements, such as paving stones, curbstones, bollards, stelae, palisades or for elements of marble, polymer-concrete composite material or the like, such as slabs, tiles, beadwork, moldings or the like.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Elements of metal which can be assigned to the generic type mentioned at the beginning are known. Paving elements were formerly produced from cast iron and used in order to replace the paving stones made of concrete or stone or the like. Likewise, it is known to use steel panels as a floor covering or wall cladding as a replacement for marble or stone tiles.  
         [0004]     Furthermore, it is prior art to lay tiles made of stainless steel for floor and wall (HOBA STEEL GMBH, in D-45503, Hattingen).  
         [0005]     These known generic elements of metal are therefore various embodiments of solid bodies. These solid bodies are cubic and are heavy or flat with a two-dimensional effect.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The invention is based on the object of providing, for generic elements, possibilities for a wealth of shapes, versatile use and easy processing, and a method for economically producing them.  
         [0007]     The hollow bodies can be manufactured from metal sheets comprising steel, stainless steel, aluminum or the like, with it being possible for the outer surface not to be machined or to be machined by brushing, polishing, sandblasting, dyeing, stove-enameling or the like, and with it being possible for the upper side of the hollow bodies to have a relief. A relief can be adapted from a natural stone surface, or else can be designed in the form of grooves, ribs or knobs. Protruding letters can also form the relief.  
         [0008]     Architectural feature elements and decorative elements of metal can therefore be provided which can be used to supplement and/or as a replacement for concrete elements and so forth, for tasks as described at the beginning. The various types of materials to be used and the different possibilities for configuring the surface make it possible to use the elements according to the invention for numerous ranges of applications. They also have the advantage of being low in weight, which turns out to be economical for processing and transporting them.  
         [0009]     Hollow bodies, which are open on one side, preferably the lower side, can be manufactured in each case from a single part, it being possible for the outer skin, at least approximately, to have a uniform thickness with only very small dimensional deviations.  
         [0010]     As a result, it is possible to produce many varied shapes with a cubic effect. The elements according to the invention being light and requiring only a small amount of material to be used.  
         [0011]     The formation of flanges on the lower side of the hollow bodies, project downward over the lower edges of the hollow body at least approximately by the wall thickness d of the hollow body and, as seen in top view, being arranged in each case in the clockwise direction at the beginning of a side, with the flanges being smaller than half of a side.  
         [0012]     The elements according to the invention can be used, for example, as paving elements, with a bond between the individual elements being produced by the arrangement of the flanges.  
         [0013]     It is pointed out that architectural feature elements or decorative elements according to the invention are fitted homogeneously or else mixed with concrete elements or the like.  
         [0014]     There are technical possibilities of processing the elements according to the invention in respect of fitting them into a bearing bed, with this applying both to the floor and to the wall.  
         [0015]     There is the possibility of equipping elements according to the invention with lamp or light elements or with heating elements.  
         [0016]     Elements according to the invention in their diverse applications can also be used for drainage measures, to be precise, in such a manner that the hollow bodies have outflow openings for conducting surface waters away into the underlying surface or into a drainage system.  
         [0017]     An interesting possibility of designing architectural feature elements or decorative elements according to the invention is described. The filling of the hollow bodies with lightweight filling material by filling them with foam, or filling them with insulating or sound-absorbing material expands the diversity of applications. For example, tile-like elements can be of relatively flat design in order to rest with a close fit on the bearing bed. On the other hand, insulating or sound-absorbing tasks can be taken on.  
         [0018]     Elements according to the invention are filled with concrete. This increases the stability of the hollow bodies which, for example in the form of paving elements, can withstand the load of vehicles.  
         [0019]     Impressions are formed on one or more of the side walls of the hollow bodies. The impressions project inward and form a securing means for the filling or for the filling concrete. That is to say that filling or filling concrete is prevented from dropping or slipping out of the hollow body during transportation or in the event of another mechanical stress.  
         [0020]     A method describes an economical filling of the hollow bodies with concrete, with, primarily, a filling frame being placed onto a vibrating table, and the hollow bodies which are inserted upside down being filled from above.  
         [0021]     A method is described for manufacturing architectural feature elements or decorative elements of metal according to the invention by mechanical or hydro-mechanical deep-drawing of the metal sheets used.  
         [0022]     The use of the invention opens up many paths for engineering and architecture. Architectural feature elements and decorative elements in very diverse shapes are possible both in the garden and for landscaping and also for the inside. Surface configurations on floor and wall, borders, guiding devices, drainage systems and more of the like can be realized. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     The invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example below in the drawings with reference to 6 figures, in which:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of an architectural feature element or decorative element according to the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of an architectural feature element or decorative element according to the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an architectural feature element or decorative element according to the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a section through a series of architectural feature elements or decorative elements according to the invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a section through an architectural feature element or decorative element according to the invention; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic illustration of the method according to claim  17 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a cubic hollow body  1  with a cutout providing the viewer with an improved view into it. The outer skin  2  has a uniform thickness d and is manufactured from a single part. The outer skin  2  or the hollow body  1  is bounded on the lower side by straight lower edges  5 .  
         [0031]     A plan view of an architectural feature element or decorative element can be seen in  FIG. 2 , said element being approximately in the shape of a paving stone divided into four parts. The element is provided on the upper side with a relief  3  which, in this example, has approximately the appearance of a natural stone surface. Flanges  4  protrude from the body of the element according to the invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates the side view of an element and can be assigned to the plan view from  FIG. 2 . The hollow body can be seen from the side, with a relief  3  being formed on the upper side. The flanges  4  are situated below the lower edge  5 , with the left flange  4  protruding outward and the right flange  4  being seen from the front analogous to the illustration in  FIG. 2 . In this figure, an impression  3 ′ can also be seen. Inscriptions  9  can also be applied or inserted on the side surfaces or else on the upper side.  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 4 , a section through a series of hollow bodies  1 , the bond between the elements which is obtained by the flanges  4  can be seen. The hollow bodies  1 , which are mounted in a bed  6  comprising chippings, sand, mortar, a bed with a concrete sub-base, or installation foam or elastic cement are situated in each case on the right-hand side with the lower edge  5  on the flange  4  of the right neighboring element, thus ensuring that individual elements are secured against lifting out. If a thermal insulation is provided, the hollow bodies  1  can also be filled in the interior with insulating material  14 , as illustrated in the case of the left hollow body  1 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows a section through an architectural feature element or decorative element with an upright hollow body  1 . The element is used as a boundary of a paving surface and has an outflow opening  8  for draining the paving surface. A channel for conducting away the water is arranged below the lower edge  5  of the element. On the upper side, the hollow body  1  of the element has a light element  7 , for example a reflector, on the outside which can have a guiding function.  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates diagrammatically the method for filling the hollow bodies  1  with concrete. A filling frame  10  is supported on a vibrating table  13  via height-adjustable, elastic supports  11  which stand on a base plate  12 . The filling frame  10  has apertures for receiving the hollow bodies  1 , which are inserted with the openings upward, said hollow bodies latching slightly with the upper side (situated at the bottom) into the associated openings of the base plate  12 . The advantage of this procedure and of the device is that residues of concrete caused by the production process fall into the remaining space between the upper side of the vibrating table  13  and upper side (situated at the bottom) of the hollow body  1  and the upper side of the hollow bodies  1  is thus prevented from being scratched. It can also be seen from the drawing that the hollow body  1  on the left is already filled with concrete, the central hollow body  1  is approximately half filled with concrete while the right hollow body is still empty. After all of the hollow bodies  1  are filled and the concrete is screeded and smoothed, the filling frame  10  is raised and the filled hollow bodies  1  can be removed and supported in order for the concrete to harden.  
         [0036]     Of course, the diagrammatic examples illustrated in the drawing show only a small section of the application possibilities and shapes of architectural feature elements or decorative elements according to the invention. Under the instructions of the description, the patent claims and the drawing, a person skilled in the art will, of course, find further solutions within the scope of the invention.