Abstract:
A paver edging device has a linear metal strip with at least one bend along the length of the strip forming a first and second side and voids within the metal strip on a first side of the bend, without passing to the edge, and extending through the curvature of the apex of the bend. A method sets the paver edging device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional application No. 60/968555 filed Aug. 28, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to paver edging devices. 
         [0003]    Paver edging devices are used to form edges of pathways or other defined transit areas. The paver edging devices are generally used to define the boundaries of such transit area to aid in defining the limits of these areas when they are constructed. The paver edging devices also may be used to define other areas, such as the boundaries of gardens, parking areas, play areas, and other such distinct property use areas. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, a need therefore exists for improvement in paver edging devices. The present invention addresses this and other needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention includes a paver edging device having a linear metal strip having a bend along the length of the strip and voids formed within the metal strip on a first side of the bend, without passing to the edge thereof, and extending through the apex of the bend. 
         [0006]    The present invention also includes a method for using a paver edging device comprising the steps of providing the above-identified paver edging device, cutting the metallic area from the void to the edge of the first side, bending the metal strip on a second side adjacent to the location of the void, laying the bent metal strip adjacent to a paver path and placing paver components on top of the first side of the metal strip and adjacent to the second side of the bent metal strip. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an illustration showing an embodiment of the paver edging device of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is an illustration showing a metal strip prior to bending into the paver edging device of the present invention, with representative dimensions thereon; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is an illustration showing an end view of the paver edging device of the present invention after bending; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an illustration showing an embodiment of the paver edging device of the present invention; and, 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4A-4C  is a diagram showing the steps of the method for using the paver edging device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention includes a paver edging device  10  formed from a linear metal strip  12 , with the metal strip  12  bent  14  along the length of the metal strip  12 . The metal strip  12  further includes one or more voids  20  formed within the metal strip  12  on a first side  16  of the bend  14 . The second side  18  is preferably has a continuous solid surface area. However the second side may have voids formed therein. The metal strip  12  preferably has a composition of steel, aluminum or other like metal. 
         [0013]    The voids  20  are formed within the side of the metal strip  12  so that the void area does not pass through or invade edge  16 E of the first side  16  of the metal strip  12 . As such, these void areas constitute enclosed areas. Additionally, the voids  20  extend into and through the apex  14 A of the bend  14 . Voids  20  formed within the first side  16  may constitute any configuration or arrangement, such as multiple voids linearly extending between the apex  14 A and the edge  16 E of the first side  16 , e.g., the area between a first void  20  and the edge  16 E of the first side  16  has a second void  24  formed therein. Voids  20  may be formed to include various distinct configurations. Voids  20  formed within the first side  16  may constitute any appropriate amount effective for retaining the integrity of the metal strip. Determination of the amount of material absent on the first side  16  resulting from the formation of the voids  20  therein is preferably made considering desired weight, bending resistance, safety and other characteristics affecting the use of the paver edging device  10 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, the voids  20  in the first side  16  of the paver edging device  10  constitute less than about fifty percent, and more preferably less than about twenty percent of the total area of the first side  16 .  FIG. 1  shows the paver edging device  10  with voids  20  that are formed as an extended oval configuration to project an end  20 M of the void into and/or across the apex  14 A of the bend  14 . With projection of the end  20 M into and/or across the apex  14 A of the bend  14 , the void  20  extends through the apex of the bend  14 , permitting the paver edging device  10  to be readily manipulated at that area. As seen in  FIG. 3 , this embodiment shows the paver edging device  10  having triangular voids  20  that are formed to project an end  20 M into the apex  14 A of the bend  14 . 
         [0014]    Although any appropriate angle of the bend in the metal strip  12  may be used for a given use, the bend  14  in the paver edging device  10  preferably forms an angle α of approximately ninety degrees. Referring to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2A  illustrates the metal strip prior to bending into the paver edging device of  FIG. 1 , which forms the shape shown in end view perspective of  FIG. 2B , once bent. 
         [0015]    The paver edging device  10  may be formed of flat, smooth and/or textured, surface areas, with flat surface areas preferred. Ridges, ornamentation, and other design features may be included on the surfaces or edges of the paver edging device  10 . These design features may include, for example, one or both edges of the metal strip  12  forming an irregular edge. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the paver edging device  10  includes a thickness that is severable using a hand tool. As such, the thickness of the paver edging device  10  preferably has a thickness of from about 0.15 inches or less, with more preferred thicknesses of from about 0.12 inches to about 0.02 inches, still more preferably from about 0.12 inches to about 0.07 inches. Representative gauges useful for the paver edging device  10 , include, for example, 20, 18, 16, 14 and 12 gauge material, with preferred gauges of from about 20 gauge to about 16 gauge. 
         [0017]    The paver edging device  10  may include additional features useful in its placement or utility. These features include, for example, holes  22  formed within the first side  16  for placement of stakes therethrough, ridges within the first  16  or second side  18  surface areas, welded attachments, pictures or printed information, etc. In one preferred embodiment, the paver edging device  10  includes a shearing indicator, or score line,  30  and  32  in the area between the void  20  and the edge  16 E of the first side  16 . When present, the shearing indicator  30  preferably has a reduced thickness of the metal strip  12  to aid in hand tool cutting. 
         [0018]    Representative dimensions of the surface area remaining between the void  20  and the edge  16 E on the first side  16  include, for example, widths of from about one inch or less, such as from about 0.15 inches to about 0.75 inches, or from about 0.25 inches to about 0.3 inches, with selection of an appropriate space determinable by one skilled in the art for a given size paver edging device  10 , gauge and/or purpose. 
         [0019]    As seen in  FIGS. 4A-4C , the selected  102  paver edging device used in the placement or setting  100  of the paver edging device  10  is cut  104  at the area between the void  20  and the edge  16 E of the first side  16 . The sheared  104  paver edging device is then bent  106  along the metal strip on the second side at the location of the sheared void. Once the bent  106  paver edging device is laid  108  on the ground along the paver path, paver components, such as shaped stones, are placed  110  adjacent to the bent metal strip effective to line the side of the bent metal strip. These steps preferably include shearing multiple voids  20  and the edge  16 E of the first side  16 , such as a second void  20 . Multiple, e.g., second, third, etc., shears may be made at any one void  20 . 
         [0020]    Once the first side  16  is cut the paver edging device  10  may be conformed, e.g., curved, in either direction, such that the bending or curving of the metal strip  12  on a second side  18  at the location of the sheared void  20  causes the sides on either side of the void  20  to overlap or diverge. 
         [0021]    While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0022]    The foregoing description is provided to illustrate and explain the present invention. However, the description hereinabove should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention set forth in the claims appended here to.