Abstract:
A paver restraint comprises an extruded length of plastic that has a general cross-sectional shape of an ell or an angle iron, having a generally flat upwardly extending upper rectangular section and a lower or second rectangular section extending substantially perpendicularly from the lower edge of the upper section along the length of the upper section. A plurality of openings are formed in the lower rectangular section, with the openings being spaced from each other so that the legs of elongate, u-shaped staples can be received through adjacent slots or openings and driven into the ground to securely hold the paver restraint in position on the ground.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/959,257 filed on Jul. 13, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to an improvement in landscape edging strips adapted to be employed in landscaping and pavement areas in which the strips fit around paving blocks. Such edging strips are often referred to as paver restraints. The invention in particular is concerned with a divider construction adapted to be employed for dividing a lawn or other area from another area such as a flower bed or a paved area. 
         [0004]    2. State of the Art 
         [0005]    The use of dividers for landscaping purposes and as paver restraints is well known. In the past, dividers were formed of wood, concrete or metal. Wood dividers were considered unsightly and bulky and they required relatively frequent painting. In addition, they had to be replaced periodically due to the fact that they would readily rot under most conditions. 
         [0006]    Metal dividers were subject to corrosion, and/or they could also be readily bent or otherwise damaged, particularly when stuck by mowers, edgers, spreaders, wheelbarrows or other lawn care equipment. Thin sheet metal dividers were also a hazard because they presented relatively sharp cutting edges. Concrete dividers were and are still satisfactory from a performance standpoint; however, the installation of such dividers remains prohibitively expensive in most cases. 
         [0007]    A divider is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,801 that was directed to elimination of various problems encountered when employing dividers, for example in situations which involve the use of beds formed outside the walls of a building to catch water dripping from the eaves. Such beds eliminate damage to the sod and they avoid the splashing of mud on the sides of the building. Shrubbery is often planted within the beds to suit landscaping plans. The divider of U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,801 comprised an extruded length of plastic including an enlarged upper section. An integrally formed flange extended downwardly from the upper section and was adapted to be substantially completely inserted in the ground whereby the upper section was located immediately above the top surface of the ground while the flange acted as a barrier to the growth of grass, roots and the like into the plot. The flange means comprised a relatively narrow portion extending substantially completely along the length of said upper section, and a projecting portion attached to the flange adjacent the bottom edge thereof assisted in securing the flange in place. Stakes could be driven through the projecting portion to hold the divider firmly in place, and gravel or soil would be used to bury the flange and stakes. 
         [0008]    Paving or paver blocks are used commonly in landscaping to achieve both a decorative and a utilitarian function. The natural freezing and thawing cycles of the ground upon which paver blocks are laid, as well as vehicular and pedestrian traffic over the paver blocks, causes movement of the blocks. Such movement destroys both the decorative and the utilitarian function of the blocks. It becomes desirable to hold the paving blocks in place, and various edge support arrangements exist to hold paving blocks in place. 
         [0009]    A typical paver restraint system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,343. This system includes a vertical side for contacting the paving blocks which is buttressed by gusset members, which, in turn, are supported by a boss member. The boss member provides for driving a stake into the underlying soil in order to hold the vertical side in place. This system is a one-piece injection molded device which is capable of use for restraining curved areas of a paving surface, if certain portions of the restraint system are removed (cut-out) by the user. Additional restraint systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,831,776; 5,212,917; and 5,375,941. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In accordance with this invention, a divider and/or paver restraint is provided for defining the limits of a flower bed or especially a paved area comprising paver blocks and the like relative to adjoining ground. The divider or paver restraint comprises an extruded length of plastic that has a general cross-sectional shape of an ell or an angle iron. The divider or paver restraint has a generally flat upwardly extending upper section which takes the form of an elongated rectangle. A lower or second section, having a generally flat rectangular form, is formed integrally with the upper section and extends substantially perpendicularly from the lower edge of the upper section along the length of the upper section. A plurality of slots or openings are formed in the lower section, with the slots or openings being spaced from each other so that the legs of elongate, u-shaped staples can be received through adjacent slots or openings and driven into the ground upon which the restraint is placed. The base of the u-shaped staples interconnect respective ends of the staples as are well known in the art, and the base of the staples abuts against the portion of the lower section that is between the slots or openings when the staples are driven through the slots or opening into the ground. 
         [0011]    The staples have been found to be particularly effective in securing the divider or paver restraint to the ground. In addition, it is advantageous to terminate the opposite ends of the divider or paver restraint from an adjacent slot or opening by one-half the distance between the other slots or openings in the lower section of the divider or paver restraint. This is particularly suited for applications wherein two or more dividers or paver restraints are installed in end-to-end relationship. The slots or openings in the abutting ends of respective dividers or paver restraints can then receive a staple such that the base of the staple engages the end portion of each of the abutting dividers or paver restraints and thus securely holds both ends of the dividers or paver restraints securely in position abutting each other. This is particularly advantageous when the dividers or paver restraints are adapted to be curved so as to form an arcuate section. The abutting ends of such curved sections of dividers or paver restraints are held securely abutting each other by the staples. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of a divider or paver restraint in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the divider or paver restraint of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary side elevation of the divider or paver restraint of  FIG. 1  taken from the left hand side of the divider or paver restraint as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an end elevation of the divider or paver restraint of  FIG. 1  taken from the lower end of the divider or paver restraint as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an end elevation of the divider or paver restraint of  FIG. 1  taken from the upper end of the divider or paver restraint as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of a divider or paver restraint in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the divider or paver restraint of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary side elevation of the divider or paver restraint of  FIG. 1  taken from the left hand side of the divider or paver restraint as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an end elevation of the divider or paver restraint of  FIG. 1  taken from the lower end of the divider or paver restraint as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an end elevation of the divider or paver restraint of  FIG. 1  taken from the upper end of the divider or paver restraint as shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a staple that is used to hold the divider or paver restraint of the present invention to the ground. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Two particularly preferred embodiments of the divider or paver restraint of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the divider or restraint  10  comprises a one-piece longitudinal member formed of extruded polymeric material, and consisting of an elongated, rectangular upper section or vertical plate  12  and a lower section or lateral plate  14  that is formed integrally with the upper section  12  and extends outwardly from the bottom edge of the upper section  12  at a substantially perpendicular angle to the upper section  12 . The overall shape of the divider or restraint  10  is thus similar to an angle iron having a substantially L-shaped cross section. 
         [0024]    The upper or vertical plate or section  12  preferably has a continuous surface so as to form a solid rectangular shape. However, there could be some open spaces or cut out openings spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal length of the section  12  if it is desired to limit the weight or the amount of material used in the upper plate or section  12 . The longitudinal upper and lower edges of the plate or section  12  are continuous without any break in them. The length of the upper plate or section  12 , and thus the effective length of the divider or restraint  10  can vary over a large range from several feet to 16 feet or more. Preferably, the length of the divider or restraint  10  will be between about 4 feet and 15 feet. The thickness of the upper or vertical plate  12  can also vary. Preferably, that thickness will be between about ⅛ inch and ¼ inch, most preferably about 3/16 inch. 
         [0025]    The lateral section or plate  14  has essentially the same length and thickness as the upper section or plate  12 , and as mentioned previously is formed integrally with the upper plate  12  so as to extends substantially perpendicular from the upper plate  12  at the lower edge of the upper plate  12 . The lateral plate  14  will generally have a width, i.e., dimension extending outwardly from the upper plate  12 , that is somewhat greater than the height of the upper plate  12 . The upper plate  12  can have a height of between about 1 inch or less and 2.5 inches or greater, with the lateral plate  14  having a width of between about 2 inches or less and 3.5 inches or greater. The outer sidewall of the upper plate  12  that faces away from the lateral plate is intended to abut paving blocks when installed in a paving system. The lower sidewall of the lateral plate  14  that faces away from the upper plate  12  is intended to contact the ground upon which the divider or retainer  10  is positioned. 
         [0026]    In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the lateral plate  14  has a plurality of cut out openings  16  spaced along the length of the plate  14 . These openings  16  extend inwardly from an outer, distal edge of the lateral plate  14 . The openings  16  can extend all the way to the juncture with the vertical plate  12 , or as illustrated in the drawings the openings  16  can approach closely to the vertical plate  12 . The openings  16  can have various shapes. It is important that the spacing of the openings  16  is sufficient to provide solid sections  18  that have a longitudinal dimension along the longitudinal direction of the plate  14  of about 2 inches or less to 3.5 inches or greater. These openings  16  allow the divider or retainer  10  to be formed into curvilinear shape by flexing and bending of the vertical plate  14 . The vertical plate  14  can be flexed in one direction so that the open space between solid sections  18  of the lateral plate  14  increase and in the other direction so that the open space between solid sections  18  of the lateral  14  decreases or closes. This allows the divider or retainer  10  of  FIGS. 1-5  to be formed into smooth, curvilinear shapes as is desirable in many landscaping applications. 
         [0027]    A pair of receiver openings  22  are spaced apart from each other in each of the solid sections  18  of the lateral plate  14  of the divider or retainer  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The receiver openings  22  are spaced from each other by a distance sufficient to receive staples  30  (a staple is shown in  FIG. 11 ). The staples  30  have a generally block u-shape, with the base or crown  32  of the staples  30  having a dimension to span the distance between spaced apart receiver openings  22 . The legs  34  of the staples  30  can have various lengths and preferably about 10 inches or greater. The staples  30  are preferably formed from 8 gauge metal wire, but could be made of other materials such as polymeric material. The legs  34  of the staples  30  are driven into the ground upon which the divider or retainer  10  is placed with the base or crown  32  lying against the portion of the solid sections  18  to hold the divider or retainer  10  in place on the ground. 
         [0028]    Each of the extreme ends of the lateral plate  14  of the divider or retainer  10  has a receiver opening  22  which is spaced from the respective end of the lateral plate  14  by a distance of about one-half the distance between the receiver openings  22  in the remainder of the lateral plate  14  of the divider or retainer  10 . When two dividers or retainers  10  are aligned with respective ends abutting each other, a single staple  30  can be driven into the ground so that one leg  34  of the staple  30  is received through the receiver opening  22  in the end of the first divider or retainer  10  and the other leg  34  of the staple  30  is received in the receiver opening  22  in the end of the second divider or retainer  10 , with the base or crown  32  lying across each of the respective ends of the two dividers or retainers  10  so as to hold the two ends together in their desired abutting positions. 
         [0029]    As illustrated in the embodiment of the divider or retainer  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the receiver openings  22  have elongated shapes with a circular portion being formed at one end so that the second end comprises a slot extending from the circular portion. The slots are aligned along a common axis that in turn passes through the centers of the circular portions. The circular portion can be used to receive a nail (not shown in the drawings) if it is desired to hold the divider or retainer  10  to the ground with nails instead of staples  30  or in addition to the staples  30 . As illustrated, the receiver openings  22  are oriented so that the slot ends of each pair of openings  30  in each of the solid sections  18  face each other. However, any orientation of the circular portion can be utilized, and as will be described with reference to the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 6-10 , the circular portion of the openings  22  can be centered with two slots extending diametrically from the circular portion. 
         [0030]    Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 6-10  of the drawings. This latter embodiment is very similar to the previously described embodiment. The divider or restraint  10  again comprises a one-piece longitudinal member formed of extruded polymeric material, and consists of an elongated, rectangular upper section or vertical plate  12  and a lower section or lateral plate  14  that is formed integrally with the upper section  12  and extends outwardly from the bottom edge of the upper section  12  at a substantially perpendicular angle to the upper section  12 . The overall shape of the divider or restraint  10  is thus similar to an angle iron having a substantially L-shaped cross section. 
         [0031]    In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-10 , the lateral plate  14  has a plurality of cut out openings  16   a  spaced along the length of the plate  14 . These openings  16   a  can extend inwardly from an outer, distal edge of the lateral plate  14 , but they do not extend all the way to the juncture with the vertical plate  12 . In addition to the openings extending inwardly from the outer edge of the lateral plate  12 , enclosed openings  16   b  can be spaced along the lateral plate as shown. The openings  16   a  and  16   b  can have various shapes. It is important that the spacing and orientation of the openings  16   a  and  16   b  is such that the lateral plate  14  remains rigid. This embodiment of the invention provides rigid dividers or restraints  10  that retain a straight, rigid shape. 
         [0032]    A plurality of receiver openings  22   a  are spaced apart from each other in essentially a straight line along the longitudinal length of the lateral plate  14 . The receiver openings  22   a  are spaced from each other by a distance sufficient to receive staples  30  (a staple is shown in  FIG. 11 ). As previously described, the staples  30  have a generally block u-shape, with the base or crown  32  of the staples  30  having a dimension to span the distance between spaced apart receiver openings  22   a . The legs  34  of the staples  30  can have various lengths and preferably about 10 inches or greater. The staples  30  are preferably formed from  8  gauge metal wire, but could be made of other materials such as polymeric material. The legs  34  of the staples  30  are driven into the ground upon which the divider or retainer  10  is placed with the base or crown  32  lying against the portion of the lateral plate  14  between the receiver openings  22   a  to hold the divider or retainer  10  in place on the ground. 
         [0033]    Each of the extreme ends of the lateral plate  14  of the divider or retainer  10  has a receiver opening  22   a  which is spaced from the respective end of the lateral plate  14  by a distance of about one-half the distance between the receiver openings  22   a  in the remainder of the lateral plate  14  of the divider or retainer  10 . When two dividers or retainers  10  are aligned with respective ends abutting each other, a single staple  30  can be driven into the ground so that one leg  34  of the staple  30  is received through the receiver opening  22   a  in the end of the first divider or retainer  10  and the other leg  34  of the staple  30  is received in the receiver opening  22   a  in the end of the second divider or retainer  10 , with the base or crown  32  lying across each of the respective ends of the two dividers or retainers  10  so as to hold the two ends together in their desired abutting positions. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in the embodiment of the divider or retainer  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the receiver openings  22   a  have elongated shapes with a central circular portion and two slots extending from the circular portion. The circular portion can be used to receive a nail (not shown in the drawings) if it is desired to hold the divider or retainer  10  to the ground with nails instead of staples  30  or in addition to the staples  30 . It should be recognized that the positioning of the circular portion can be varied. The circular portion could be provided at the end of the slot as previously described with respect to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , or placed anywhere along the length of the slot associated therewith.