Patent Publication Number: US-11639586-B1

Title: Walkway paver

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a walkway paver and, more particularly, to a walkway paver that is secured to a ground surface to create a walkway and further illuminates the walkway created. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Several designs for walkway pavers have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a walkway paver or landscaping stone which is made from a fiberglass material and is hollow wherein the stone could have an internal light for illuminating the paver at night or be filled with water for ornamental purposes. The present invention allows for a walkway or pathway to be created and further be illuminated for added safety to the user, especially at night. Further, the present invention allows the user to improve the aesthetics of their homes with lights and water, which form a part of the walkway pavers. 
     Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,325, for a walkway paver made from a composite vinyl material. Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,481 for a decorative functional construction element, such as a paver or block, which can be made from fiberglass. None of these references, however, teach of hollow and fiberglass walkway pavers that include illuminating members to illuminate a walkway created by the landscaping stones. Further, the present invention has the ability of being filled with water for added ornamental purposes. 
     Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a walkway paver which are interconnected with multiple other walkway pavers to create a walkway or pathway. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a walkway paver that can improve the safety of the user by providing visibility of the walkway created, even at night. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a walkway paver that improves the aesthetics or ornamentation of a surrounding area to where the walkway pavers are installed. 
     It is also another object of the present invention to provide a walkway paver that is customizable. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to implement and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    represents an operational setting in which multiple of walkway paver  10  are interconnected to create a walkway. 
         FIG.  2    shows an isometric view of the walkway paver  10 . 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a top view of the paver  22 . 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a top view of the attaching assembly  40  assembled on a ground surface G to secured walkway paver  10  to the attaching assembly  40 . 
         FIG.  5    is a representation of a side view of the paver  22  secured to the ground surface G with the attaching assembly  40 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it, walkway paver  10 , basically includes paver assembly  20  and attaching assembly  40 . 
     When beautifying a location and the surrounding area, there are often pathways or walkways created by landscaping stones that are oriented in a manner that leads to a point of interest. The present invention facilitates and improves on the walkways or pathways created. Additionally, the present invention is capable of being visible and providing visibility to the surrounding area. 
     Multiple of walkway paver  10  may be interconnected to create a walkway or pathway, as best seen in  FIG.  1   . Paver assembly  20  may assist in creating the walkway. Paver assembly  20  includes a paver  22 , as best seen in  FIG.  2   . Multiple of paver  22  may be interconnected in a predetermined configuration or design as desired by the user. Paver  22  may preferably be made of fiberglass. Preferably, solid fiberglass. Each of paver  22  may also, preferably, be substantially hollow. It may be suitable for each paver  22  to be either transparent, semitransparent or opaque. It is to be understood that each of paver  22  may be in a predetermined color and design. Paver  22  may be customizable as desired. There may be saying, logos, engravings, phrases, or images mounted on paver  22 . Paver  22  may also be rectangular, in one embodiment. However, it may be suitable for paver  22  to be of any other predetermined shape. In order to complete the walkway, multiple of paver  22  may be secured to each other and to a ground surface G as well. 
     As best seen in  FIG.  3   , paver  22  may include a central opening  24  extending therethrough. Central opening  24  may facilitate securing of each of paver  22  to attaching assembly  40  and further ground surface G. Central opening  24  may extend vertically and entirely through paver  22 . It is to be understood that while, central opening  24  may be centrally located on paver  22 , it may be suitable for central opening  24  to extend through other predetermined locations through paver  22 . Central opening  24  may preferably be circular, but other predetermined shapes may be suitable for central opening  24 . 
     Paver  22  may preferably be hollow in order to allow filling of paver  22  with water, sand, other suitable materials or combinations thereof. It may be desired that materials used to fill pavers  22  be visible for ornamental purposes. To be able to fill paver  22  with desired materials, paver  22  may include a filling opening  26 , as seen in  FIG.  3   . In one embodiment, filling opening  26  may be circular, however, other predetermined shapes may be suitable for filling opening  26 . It should be understood that filling opening  26  simply leads to an interior of paver  22 . It may be suitable for filling opening  26  to be at a predetermined location on paver  22 . To prevent the materials inserted into paver  22  from being released, filling opening  26  may be cover by a plug  28 . Plug  28  may cooperate with the dimensions and shape of filling opening  26 . In one embodiment, filling opening  26  and plug  28  may be threaded to better secure plug  28  into filling opening  26 . In an alternate embodiment, plug  28  may simply be inserted into filling opening  26 . Plug  28  maintains materials inserted into paver  22  within paver  22 . It may be suitable for plug  28  to include a grip portion that may be used when it is necessary to remove plug  28  from filling opening  26  to expose filling opening  26 . 
     Extending about an entire perimeter of paver  22  may be a connection surface  32 , as best seen in  FIG.  3   . Connection surface  32  may facilitate mounting of additional of paver  22  together. Connection surface  32  may further be adapted for added and better securement of paver  22  to ground surface G. Some portions of connection surface  32  may extend vertically along the perimeter of paver  22 . Other portions of connection surface  32  may extend horizontally along the perimeter of paver  22 . Select corners of connection surface  32  may be cut to allow connecting of other connection surface  32  together to mount multiple of paver  22  together. That is, connection surface  32  may include angle cuts  34 . At least two of angle cuts  34  may be interconnected to connect at least two of paver  22  together. 
     Extending about the perimeter of paver  22  may be light connectors  36 , as seen in  FIG.  5   . Light connectors  36  may be perpendicular to paver  22 , in one embodiment. Lights  38  may be connected to light connectors  36 . Light connectors  36  may be connected to a power source in order to supply power to lights  38 . Lights  38  may be oriented or mounted in a predetermined configuration on paver  22 . It may be possible for paver  22  to further be customizable by having the position and orientation of lights  38  be customizable as desired by the user. In one embodiment, lights  38  may be LED lights or light strips which supply a steady light. Lights  38  may be of a predetermined color or intensity. In one embodiment, it may be suitable for lights  38  to flash. It may be suitable for lights  38  to be controlled by a user either remotely or locally. Lights  38  may assist in improving the safety of those who walk on paver  10 . Lights  38  may do more than just provide decoration. Lights  38  may provide visibility, especially at night, by illuminating paver  22  and the surrounding area. In one embodiment, walkway paver  10  may include solar panels to provide power to lights  38 . 
     Attaching assembly  40  may be best seen in  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   . Attaching assembly  40  may be mounted onto ground surface G. Attaching assembly  40  may include beams  42 . Beams  42  may preferably be fiberglass beams. Beams  42  may be oriented latitudinally and longitudinally on ground surface G. Beams  42  may create multiple cross configurations. It should be understood that at least one cross configuration may be achieved with beams  42 . In one embodiment, beams  42  may all be on one same plane. In an alternate embodiment, beams  42  may be mounted atop each other. That is, beams  42  oriented latitudinally may be mounted underneath of beams  42  oriented longitudinally, or vice versa. Beams  42  may provide a base or foundation for each of paver  42  to be secured thereto. Paver  22  may be mounted atop of beams  42  on ground surface G. More specifically, paver  22  may be mounted atop of beams  42  so that central opening  24  is directly on one of beams  42 . A threaded fastener  44  may then be inserted through central opening  24  and one of beams  42 . Threaded fastener  44  may continue to extend through one of beams  42  and be inserted a predetermined distance into ground surface G, as best seen in  FIG.  5   . Threaded fastener  44  may include a washer  46  and a nut  48 , at a distalmost end, which may be used to further secure threaded fastener  44  to ground surface G with beams  42 . Threaded fastener  44  allows for each of paver  22  to be secured to ground surface G. Thereby increasing the safety of anyone in the vicinity of paver  22 . Paver  22  is less likely to lift off the ground during hurricanes, theft or other such events that may lead to paver  22  being lifted if not secured with threaded fastener  44 . When secured properly to ground surface G, paver  22  may withstand harsh weather conditions such as hurricanes and tornadoes. 
     Paver  22  may be further secured to beams  42 . Connection surface  32  of each of paver  22  may be mounted onto and across beams  42 . Through connection surface  32  may extend connecting fasteners  52  which further secure paver  22  in place. Connecting fasteners  52  may be used to secure connection surface  32  to beams  42 . Connecting fasteners  52  extend through both of connection surface  32  and beams  42 . Further, each of paver  22  may be mounted and secured to each other. Angle cuts  34  may be cooperate with one another to connect one of paver  22  flushly with another of paver  22  until a pathway or walkway is created and defined. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.