Abstract:
A landscape barrier comprised of pre-formed elements having interlocking features is presented. The pre-formed elements lock onto a carrier plate which can be pinned to the ground using anchors. The interlocking features are post and socket that snap fit together to secure the elements to each other. The carrier plate may protrude outwardly to form a border, thereby reducing grass and weed trimming around the barrier.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/888,773, filed Oct. 9, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to landscaping. More particularly, the present invention relates to landscape barriers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Millions of Americans spend countless hours maintaining and beautifying their lawns and landscape. They manicure their grass, plant and maintain flowers, shrubs, bushes, and trees, install ponds and gardens all for the sake of enhancing the aesthetics of their property. For many maintaining a beautiful home having a beautiful yard offset by beautiful landscaping are matters of personal pride and personal expression as well as a way to increase the value of their property. 
     One (1) very popular item that has found favor in recent times is plastic lawn edging. Plastic lawn edging, which is usually black, is placed around sidewalks, paths, flowerbeds, and other areas where grass is not desired. It provides a neat and clean look for any environment while retarding grass expansion. However, plastic lawn edging is usually very thin and does not always present the most desired visual accent. While wider materials such as wood, concrete or the like can be and have been used to provide more pleasing appearances such materials are often expensive, heavy, and time consuming to work with. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for aesthetically pleasing, eye-catching wide landscape barriers suitable for use around walkways, flower beds, trees, sidewalks, paths driveways and the like. Such wide landscape barriers should be easy to work with, provide simplicity of handling, all while avoiding the difficulties of installation common with concrete and wood. Such landscape barriers ideally should be comprised of individually molded sections that interlock to form a desired pattern. Ideally, such landscape barriers would reduce the need for lawn trimming while providing highly flexible barriers, including tiered barriers. Preferably such wider barriers could be made available in multiple colors and styles and would include both straight and curved sections. Ideally, such wide landscape barriers would be suitable for burial in soil, mulch, or other landscaping materials. Ideally, such wide landscape barriers would not rot and would be insect resistant and suitable for residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial properties. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for wide landscape barriers that can be used around walkways, flower beds, trees, sidewalks, paths driveways and the like to provide aesthetically pleasing landscaping. The wide landscape barriers are easy to work with, are made from highly configurable, lightweight, insect resistant, interlocking sections that can be partially buried in soil, mulch, or other landscaping materials without rotting. The wide landscape barriers are suitable for use on residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial properties. 
     A landscape barrier that is in accord with the present invention include a carrier plate having an aperture and a first post, a curved wall element having a bottom with a socket configured to receive the first post and a top with a second post, a curved cap element having a bottom with a socket configured to receive the second post; and an anchor for passing through the aperture. The curved wall element and the curved cap element can be interconnected by locking the second post of the curved wall element into the socket of the curved cap element and the curved wall element and the carrier plate can be interconnected by locking the first post into the socket of the curved wall element. 
     The second curved wall element can have a bottom with a second socket that is configured to receive the second post and a top with a second post. The first posts and the second posts are beneficially similarly dimensioned and the first posts and the second posts are configured to both fit into a socket. In practice, the first post includes a male locking feature and the socket includes a female locking feature. Preferably, the first post snap-fits into the socket. 
     The carrier plate may be an arcuate-shaped planar structure suitable for burial. The second post and the socket of the curved cap element enable the curved cap element and the curved wall element to be horizontally offset when interconnected. 
     Another landscape barrier that is in accord with the present invention include an elongated carrier plate having an aperture and a first post, a straight wall member having a bottom with a socket that is configured to receive the first post and a top with a second post, a straight cap member having a bottom with a socket that is configured to receive the second post, and an anchor for passing through the aperture. The straight wall element and the straight cap member can be interconnected by locking the second post of the straight wall element into the socket of the straight cap member and the straight wall element and the carrier plate can be interconnected by locking the first post into the socket of the straight wall element. 
     The corner member may have a bottom with a socket that is configured to receive the first post and a top with a second post. The landscape barrier may also include a second straight wall element having a bottom with a second socket that is configured to receive the second post and a top with a second post. In practice the first posts and the second posts are similarly dimensioned while the first posts and the second posts are configured to fit into a socket. Beneficially, the first post includes a male locking feature while the socket includes a female locking feature. Ideally, the first post snap-fits into the socket. The second post and the socket of the straight cap member are preferably located such that the straight cap member and the straight wall element can be horizontally offset when interconnected. Preferably the carrier plate is comprised of a material suitable for burial. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preformed landscape barrier  10  forming an exemplary assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded close-up view of the preformed landscape barrier  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the preformed landscape barrier  10  taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a representative post  25 ,  26  and socket  28  of the preformed landscape barrier  10  taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of a straight assembly embodiment  200  of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5   b  is a partially exploded view of the straight assembly embodiment  200  shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  preformed landscape barrier 
               20  curved wall element 
               22  curved cap element 
               25  first post 
               26  second post 
               28  socket 
               30  male locking feature 
               32  female locking feature 
               40  curved carrier plate 
               43  anchor aperture 
               100  tree 
               110  ground 
               120  anchor 
               200  straight assembly embodiment 
               220  straight wall element 
               222  straight cap element 
               224   a  left corner element 
               224   b  right corner element 
               240  straight carrier plate 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 4  and in terms of an alternate straight embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b . However, the invention is not limited to the specifically described embodiment. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. While only one particular configuration is shown and described that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     In the figures like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Additionally, the terms “a” and “an” as used herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. Finally, any directional signal such as top, bottom, left, right, upper and lower are take with reference to the orientation shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5   a.    
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a curved preformed landscape barrier  10 , while an alternative embodiment is a straight assembly embodiment  200  landscape barrier. The landscape barrier  10  includes a carrier plate  40  which supports generally flat interconnecting curved elements which are described in more detail subsequently, while the straight assembly embodiment  200  has straight elements. The landscape barrier  10  and the straight assembly embodiment  200  can be freely arranged to form a decorative retaining barrier around trees  100 , flower beds, driveways, walkways, and other similar locations. 
     Refer now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively front perspective and sectional views of the landscape barrier  10 . The landscape barrier  10  is shown providing an assembly of interlocking members having matching radii. The landscape barrier  10  includes a plurality of curved wall elements  20 , a plurality of curved cap elements  22 , and a carrier plate  40 . 
     The curved wall elements  20  and curved cap elements  22  are envisioned as being made of molded high-density polystyrene, molded or extruded plastic or equivalent light-weight material. The tiers of curved wall elements  20  are preferably arranged horizontally offset to overlap subjacent and superjacent tiers. Each curved wall element  20  and each curved cap element  22  is envisioned as being approximately twelve to fourteen inches (12-14 in.) long, two inches (2 in.)thick, and six inches (6 in.) wide. However, the dimensions of the elements  20 ,  22  may vary based upon particular applications of the landscape barrier  10 . 
     The carrier plate  40  is a rigid or semi-rigid flat arcuate-shaped panel lying along a horizontal plane and being about one-quarter inch (¼ in.) thick. The carrier plate  40  is preferably made from a water-resistant material such as a coated metal, plastic, or wood. The carrier plate  40  is positioned beneath the curved wall elements  20  and curved cap elements  22  on a ground  110 . The carrier plate  40  supports and stabilizes the curved wall elements  20  and curved cap elements  22  and has a perimeter that extends beyond those elements, creating a decorative border. The carrier plate  40  eliminates the need for grass and weed trimming around the landscape barrier  10  and prevents grass from growing between the curved wall elements  20 . The carrier plate  40  may be covered with soil, mulch, or other landscaping materials based upon a user&#39;s preference. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , and as explained in more detail subsequently, the carrier plate  40  also supports removable attachment of the curved wall elements  20  via a plurality of integral first posts  25 . Those first posts  25  enable secure mechanical connection to corresponding sockets  28  of the curved wall elements  20  and curved cap elements  22 . 
     The landscape barrier  10  may be introduced with curved wall elements  20  and curved cap elements  22  having different radii, thereby being used with different sized trees  100 , various existing structures, or the like. Furthermore, it should be understood that the landscape barrier  10  may be used to form other shapes besides circular as shown in  FIG. 1 . Preferably curved walls  20  and curved caps  22  may be assembled together to form a structure without the carrier plate  40 . This is particularly useful if the landscape barrier  10  is used on a patio or other surface. 
     Refer now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively sectional views of the landscape barrier  10 . The landscape barrier  10  provides protection against damage due to wind and other forces. To that end the landscape barrier  10  includes a plurality of ground anchors  120 , a network of interconnecting first posts  25 , second posts  26  and sockets  28 , and a plurality of anchor apertures  43  through the carrier plate  40 . The interconnecting first posts  25 , second posts  26  and sockets  28  are used to securely connect the curved wall elements  20 , curved cap elements  22  and the carrier plate  40  together, while the ground anchors  120  pass through the anchor apertures  43  into the ground  110  to pin the carrier plate to the ground  110 . The anchors  120 , which are beneficially metal or rigid plastic spikes, or equivalent ground fasteners driven into the ground  110  using an appropriate driving tool. 
     In practice a bottom tier of curved wall elements  20  is placed upon and secured to the carrier plate  40  by interlocking a plurality of integral first posts  25  of the carrier plate  40  with correspondingly positioned sockets  28  that are spaced along the bottom of the curved wall elements  20 . Then, additional tiers of curved wall elements  20  can be attached above lower curved wall elements  20  using a plurality of second posts  26  that are spaced along the top of each curved wall element  20 . Those second posts  26  attach to the sockets  28  on the bottoms of the curved wall elements  20 . Tiers of curved wall element  20  can be stacked to obtain a desired landscape barrier  10  height. 
     Turning now primarily to  FIG. 4 , in practice each second post  26  is dimensioned to be inserted into a corresponding socket  28  to form a removable “snapping” connection. Those snapping connections are formed by respective male locking features  30  and female locking features  32 . The male locking features  30  are protruding annular features located along a top perimeter edge of the first posts  25  and second posts  26 . The female locking features  32  are located along the upper perimeter within each socket  32 . 
     It is envisioned that the landscape barrier  10  elements would be introduced in multiple colors and external textures to simulate various materials which complement an existing or a planned landscaping scheme. 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  provide perspective and partially exploded views of a straight assembly embodiment  200 . The straight assembly embodiment  200  enables creating straight barriers which may also incorporate right or left ninety degree)(90° angles to create various barrier designs. The straight assembly embodiment  200  may be used to form opened or closed structures as well as retaining walls having varying lengths, widths, and perimeter shapes. 
     The straight assembly embodiment  200  uses similar materials and attachments as the previously described landscape barrier  10 . However, the straight assembly embodiment  200  includes a plurality of straight wall elements  220 , a plurality of straight cap elements  222 , a plurality of left corner elements  224   a , and a plurality of right corner elements  224   b . The straight wall elements  220 , straight cap elements  222 , left corner elements  224   a , and right corner elements  224   b  used the previously described integral first posts  25 , second posts  26  and sockets  28  to secure the straight assembly embodiment  200 . 
     The straight assembly embodiment  200  may further include straight carrier plates  240  to secure the straight assembly embodiment  200  to a ground  110  in a similar manner as the previously described preferred embodiment  10 . It is envisioned that the straight carrier plate  240  would include anchor apertures  43  and would be cut to length as needed by a user to provide an aesthetic border around the straight assembly embodiment  200 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only particular configurations are shown and described, that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the landscape barrier  10  it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the landscape barrier  10  may be achieved by: procuring a model of the landscape barrier  10  having a desired radius, number of curved wall elements  20 , curved cap elements  22  and a carrier plate  40  as well as a desired color and/or texture; installing the carrier plate  40  at a desired location by placing the carrier plate  40  upon a ground  110 ; driving anchors  120  through the anchor apertures  43  and into the ground  110 ; installing a tier of curved wall elements  20  on the carrier plate  40  by aligning and pressing the sockets  28  of each curved wall element  20  onto corresponding first posts  25  of the carrier plate  40  until making a “snapping” connection; installing additional tiers of curved wall elements  20  being successively aligned in an offset manner and pressing the sockets  28  of each curved wall element  20  onto corresponding second posts  26  of the subjacent curved wall elements  20  until obtaining a desired height; installing a tier of curved cap elements  22  by aligning and pressing the sockets  28  of each curved cap element  22  onto corresponding second posts  26  of a subjacent tier of curved wall elements  20  in like manner; and, benefiting from reduced effort required to construct a secure and light-weight landscaping barrier afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     The straight assembly embodiment  200  may be assembled in a similar manner as the preferred embodiment  10  using alternate straight wall elements  220 , straight cap elements  222 , left corner elements  224   a , right corner elements  224   b , and straight carrier plates  240  to form a desired linear or rectangular barrier having a desired perimeter shape and height. In a similar manner as the preferred embodiment  10 , the first posts  25 , second posts  26  and sockets  28  are used to provide a stable structure. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.