Patent Description:
A variety of grass paver panels is known. Grass paver is known from No. <CIT>) made of plastic and consisting of hexahedral prismatic cells with holes and bases with holes in the center of honeycomb structure node points. The disadvantage of such solution is absence of possibility of compact stocking of such paver, which increases net volume of the assembly of such products and, asa result, makes it impossible to reduce the volume during transportation, thus affecting increase of transportation expenses.

Grass paver is known according to <CIT>) having a porous structure in the plan and consisting of quadrihedral cells with plane edges and provided with panel joining fasteners around the perimeter. Fasteners for joining of adjacent panels are provided on side face of the panel in the form of longitudinal vertical notches with profile in the form of dovetail and projections corresponding thereto. Half of the cells arranged chequerwise in the panel have no floor and all side edges have holes. Design of this panel allows good growth of roots in horizontal direction and worsens growth thereof in vertical direction. The disadvantage of such solution is absence of possibility of compact stocking of such paver, which increases net volume of the assemblyof such products and, as a result, makes it impossible to reduce the volume during transportation, thus affecting increase of transportation expenses.

Design of the grass paver panel (patent No. <CIT>; IPC E01C5/<NUM>; E01C5/<NUM>, publ. <NUM>) is taken as the closest prior art to the claimed variants of the panels. The panel has a cellular structure in the plan consisting of quadrihedral cells, wherein each edge of the cells has a shape of space harmonic in the plan with a length equal to or divisible by the harmonic half cycle and with a zero amplitude in the joining rib of adjacent cells, and provided with panel joining fasteners and support points around the perimeter, cell edges projecting around the perimeter are connected to one another radially by pairs, support surfaces of the panel are designed in the form of discs with centers compatible with the centers of connection ribs of adjacent cells, and panel joining fasteners are arranged on the cell edges projecting around the perimeter next but one with offset in relation to one another on the opposite side faces of the panel, on which limiting projections of longitudinal and transverse movement under the projecting edges of adjacent cells of adjacent panels are arranged. Design of this panel ensures increase of operational performance of the panel, in particular, increase of durability thereof and ease of assembly of extended reinforced ground coats.

Disadvantage of this grass paver panel may include impossibility of compact stocking during storage and transportation thereof, since it does not provide staking of the panels to their full height structurally. In addition, design of this panel does not allow good growth of roots in horizontal direction, since edges of the structure cells are solid preventing growths of plants in intercellular horizontal direction.

<CIT> shows a drainage element comprising a support element, inner cells, outer cells and a permeable foil, wherein the inner walls of inner cells and outer walls of outer cells are provided with notches on the side of the top surface of the drainage element support element.

<CIT> shows a ground-reinforcing grid for grass reinforcement in areas of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, has set of connector units connecting modular units, respectively, where each unit has rigidity to enable grid to provide ground reinforcement.

<CIT> shows a modular support for heavily used turf areas consists of laterally engaging interlocking modules with open cells defined by vertical walls and bottom wall.

<CIT> shows a grass paving unit of honeycomb cell construction with side walls and underlying base surfaces contoured to provide complementary interlocking surfaces and cleat members to add positional stability to the units.

<CIT> shows a honeycomb-shaped structural module for use in roof terrace system, has cutout portions arranged to allow assembly of module, and cells whose side walls of are engaged with each other in interlocked manner.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a grass paver panel having the features of claim <NUM>.

Further preferred embodiments are defined by the features of dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

Technical result of the claimed grass paver panel is a possibility of reduction of the product assembly volume during stocking thereof cutting down the transportation expenses. Technical result may also include provision of packing stiffness of the products on a pallet decreasing defects during storage and transportation thereof. Also, additionally, technical result is an assurance of roots growth in horizontal direction.

Technical result is achieved by the fact that panel according to the first embodiment has a cellular structure, consists of the cells with coupled edges and is equipped with support points made on the lower end face of the panel. New feature in the grass paver panel design is the fact that the apertures with a width exceeding the edge thickness are made in the middle part of the cell edges or on the top, wherein support points in the plan have a profile that may be fitted in the internal profile of the cells.

It is advisable to arrange the apertures on the cell edges to a height from <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> of the cell edge height. Preferably, they are arranged to a height of <NUM>/<NUM> of the cell edge height. Height of apertures of less than <NUM>/<NUM> of the cell edge height insignificantly reduces the product stocking volume and height of apertures of more than <NUM>/<NUM> of the cell edge height, in case of insufficient thickness thereof, may reduce stiffness of the panels during formation of grass paver therefrom.

Preferably, apertures are arranged in the bottom in order to ensure root growth in horizontal direction and maintenance of strength of the grass paver on the top during use. Provision of relieving points in the area of aperture floor, for example, in the form of discs, ensures stiffness of packing of the panels on a pallet and protects them against possible damage during storage and transportation, as well as increases reliability of panel fastening in the ground during use.

At the same time, the grass paver panel may consist of quadrihedral cells, for example, may be of square or rectangular shape in the plan. As a special case, each panel cell edge may have a space harmonic shape in the plan with a length equal to or divisible by the harmonic half cycle and zero amplitude in the joining rib of adjacent cells. Support points arranged in the joining area of the adjacent cell edges may have random shape and sizes including: disc, square, hexagon, ellipse, and other profiles, provided that they may be fitted in the internal profile of the cells. Support points for such panels may be, for example, in the form of discs with the centers attached to the centers of joining ribs of adjacent cell edges.

The grass paver panel may also consist of hexahedral cells, for example, in the form of honeycombs. Support points, just like for quadrihedral cells may have random shape and sizes including: disc, square, hexagon, ellipse, and other profiles, provided that they may be fitted in the internal profile of the cells. As a special case, support points may be in the form of discs with the centers attached to the centers of joining ribs of adjacent cell edges. Support points may also be in the form of elliptic plates arranged on the edges parallel to the end surface of the panel with larger axis extended along the lower end surface of the edge, wherein the apertures are provided on the edges free from support points on the bottom and top.

The grass paver panel may consist of cylindrical cells joined by centerline planes with straight-line edges.

Also, the grass paver panel may consist of cells with different profile alternating with regular spacing, for example, of alternating cylindrical and rectangular quadrihedral cells.

It is advisable to make the grass paver panels monolithic, for example, by means of casting or stamping.

Essence of the invention is explained by the attached drawings intended only for demonstration of the invention implementation examples. The attached examples do not exhaust the possibility of other embodiments of structural design of the grass paver panel characterized in the claims.

<FIG> shows a fragment of the grass paver panel in axonometric perspective consisting of quadrihedral cells with support points made in the form of discs with the centers attached to the centers of joining ribs of adjacent cell edges, with notches in the edges provided in the bottom; <FIG> is a bottom view of the panel from <FIG> in axonometric perspective; <FIG> is a fragment of the stacked panels from <FIG>, stocking: "bottom of the upper one on the top of the lower one", in axonometric perspective; <FIG> is the same as <FIG>, a top view; <FIG> is an axonometric perspective of two panels given in <FIG> arranged as "bottom of the upper one on the top of the lower one"; <FIG> is the same as <FIG>, a top view; <FIG> shows the panel with cells in the form of harmonics with support points made in the form of discs with the centers attached to the centers of joining ribs of adjacent cell edges, with notches in the edges provided in the bottom, in axonometric perspective; <FIG> is the same as <FIG>, a top view; Fig. <NUM> shows a scaled up fragment of <FIG>; <FIG> is an axonometric perspective of two panels given in <FIG> arranged as "bottom of the upper one on the top of the lower one"; Fig. <NUM> is the same as <FIG>, a top view; <FIG> shows view of the panel consisting of hexahedral cells with support points made in the form of discs with the centers attached to the centers of joining ribs of adjacent cell edges, with notches in the edges provided in the bottom, in axonometric perspective; <FIG> shows a scaled up fragment of <FIG> is a bottom view of the panel from <FIG> in axonometric perspective; <FIG> is a top view of two panels given in <FIG> arranged as "bottom of the upper one on the top of the lower one"; <FIG> shows a scaled up fragment of <FIG> in axonometric perspective; <FIG> is the same as <FIG>, a top view; <FIG> shows a fragment of the grass paver panel in axonometric perspective consisting of hexahedral cells with support points made in the form of elliptic plates arranged on the edges parallel to the end surface of the panel with larger axis extended along the lower end surface of the edge, with notches in the edges provided in the bottom; <FIG> is a bottom view of the panel from <FIG> in axonometric perspective; <FIG> is an axonometric perspective of two panels given in <FIG> arranged as "bottom of the upper one on the top of the lower one"; <FIG> shows a scaled up fragment of <FIG>; <FIG> is a top view of <FIG>; <FIG> shows a scaled up fragment of <FIG>; <FIG> show a fragment of the panels consisting of cylindrical cells joined by centerline planes with straight-line edges, with notches in the edges arranged on the bottom and the top, respectively; <FIG> and <NUM>-B show an axonometric perspective of two panels respectively given in <FIG> arranged as "bottom of the upper one on the top of the lower one"; <FIG> is a top view of two panels of <FIG>; <FIG> show fragments of the panels consisting of alternating cylindrical and rectangular quadrihedral cells with notches in the edges arranged on the bottom and the top, respectively; <FIG> is a top view of the panel of <FIG> is an axonometric perspective of the panel of <FIG> is a top view of the panels staked as "bottom of the upper one on the top of the lower one" of <FIG> is an axonometric perspective of fragments of two panels given in <FIG>; Regarding the second embodiment,.

Grass paver panel <NUM> has a rectangular shape in the plan and consists of polyhedral cells <NUM>. Panels <NUM> are equipped with fasteners <NUM> around the perimeter for joining of panels <NUM>. Preferably, panel <NUM> is made monolithic by means of casting or stamping.

In special case, it may consist of, for example, coupled hexahedral cells <NUM>. Edges <NUM> of cells <NUM> may be plane <NUM><NUM> (<FIG>) or may have a space harmonic shape in the plan <NUM><NUM> (<FIG>) with a length equal to or divisible by the harmonic cycle with zero amplitude in the joining rib of adjacent cells <NUM>. Panel <NUM> is equipped with support points <NUM> arranged on the lower end face of edges <NUM> of panel <NUM>. Apertures <NUM> with a width exceeding the thickness of edges <NUM> are provided in the middle part of cell <NUM> edges <NUM> on the bottom. Support points may be in the form of discs <NUM>, in the plan with the centers attached to the centers of joining ribs of adjacent cell <NUM> edges <NUM>. Radius of discs <NUM><NUM> is selected from calculation of possibility of arrangement thereof in the internal profile of cells <NUM>. It is advisable to provide the relieving points <NUM> in the area of aperture <NUM> floor, for example, in the form of discs of small diameter.

Panel <NUM> may consist of coupled hexahedral cells <NUM>. Support points <NUM> may be in the form of discs <NUM>, with the centers attached to the centers of joining ribs of adjacent cell <NUM> edges <NUM>. Support points may also be in the form of elliptic plates <NUM><NUM> arranged on the edges <NUM><NUM> parallel to the end surface of the panel with larger axis extended along the lower end surface of the edge <NUM>.

The grass paver panel may consist of cylindrical cells <NUM> joined by centerline planes with straight-line edges <NUM>.

Also, the grass paver panel may consist of alternating cells with different profile, for example, of alternating cylindrical cells <NUM> and rectangular quadrihedral cells <NUM>.

Stocking of the grass paver panels may be performed as follows: sequential staking of the panels (mounted on one another). Upper panel <NUM><NUM> is placed in lower panel <NUM><NUM> by moving it in horizontal direction in relation to lower panel <NUM><NUM> in such a way that support points <NUM> of upper panel <NUM><NUM> is arranged inside cells <NUM> of lower panel <NUM><NUM>. Offset of panels in horizontal direction does not exceed half of cell <NUM> width.

It is advisable to make apertures <NUM> in panels <NUM> in the bottom of edges <NUM> thereof (<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). In this case, apertures <NUM> of edges <NUM> of upper panel <NUM><NUM> are aligned with edges <NUM> of lower panel <NUM>, and upper panel <NUM><NUM> is moved downwards until edges <NUM> of lower panel <NUM><NUM> into relieving points <NUM> arranged in apertures <NUM> of upper panel <NUM><NUM>. Thus, each following upper panel <NUM><NUM> is placed on the lower panel <NUM><NUM> with sequential offset in horizontal direction towards side faces alternatively.

If apertures <NUM> in panels <NUM> are provided on the top of edges <NUM>, then edges <NUM> of upper panel <NUM><NUM> are inserted into apertures <NUM> of lower panel <NUM><NUM> and upper panel <NUM><NUM> is moved downwards until its edges <NUM> into relieving points <NUM> arranged in apertures <NUM> of lower panel <NUM><NUM>. Thus, each following upper panel <NUM><NUM> is placed on the lower panel <NUM><NUM> with sequential offset in horizontal direction towards side faces alternatively. In this case, it is advisable to arrange aperture <NUM> to a maximum height with provision of maintenance of the mechanical properties of the panels required for transportation and use.

Stocking of the grass paver panels <NUM> may be performed by other methods: by pairwise placement of panels <NUM> on one another with offset in horizontal direction as in the second embodiment. In this case, requirement to the necessity of arrangement of support points in the plan in the internal profile of cells is in excess.

If apertures <NUM> in panels <NUM> are provided on the top of edges <NUM> thereof and are not equipped with relieving points, then during placement of the panels apertures <NUM> of both panels <NUM><NUM> and <NUM><NUM> are aligned and upper panel <NUM><NUM> is moved until the bottom of apertures <NUM> thereof is in contact with the bottom of apertures <NUM> of lower panel <NUM>, (<FIG>). If apertures <NUM> are provided with relieving points <NUM>, then they may be designed in the form of support points at both sides of aperture <NUM> (not shown) in order to ensure mutual passage of edges <NUM> of interconnected panels <NUM><NUM> and <NUM><NUM>. In this case, it is advisable to arrange apertures <NUM> to a height < <NUM>/<NUM> of the edge height. In case of equal sizes of apertures <NUM>, more tight packing is performed for this type of stocking comparing to the method mentioned above.

Arrangement of apertures <NUM> on panel <NUM> cell <NUM> edges <NUM> with provision of alignment of support points <NUM> with internal profile of cells <NUM> of panels <NUM> during stocking allows compact stocking of the product assembly, therefore, reducing the assembly volume and increasing the product packing stiffness.

Offset of panels <NUM> in horizontal direction insignificantly increases storage space of the panels that is substantially compensated by reduction of the height of the stoked panels at the same quantity thereof. It leads to sufficient reduction of the product packing volume.

Claim 1:
Grass paver panel (<NUM>) having cellular structure in the plan comprising cells (<NUM>) with coupled edges (<NUM>), the cells (<NUM>) having an internal profile and the edges (<NUM>) of the cells (<NUM>) having apertures (<NUM>) with a width exceeding the thickness of the edges (<NUM>), said apertures (<NUM>) are made in the middle part of the edges (<NUM>) of the cells (<NUM>), and said apertures (<NUM>) are provided on the bottom or on the top of the cells (<NUM>), characterized in that the cells (<NUM>) are also provided with support points (<NUM>) made on the lower end face of the panel (<NUM>), the support points (<NUM>) in the plan have a profile that is configured to fit in the internal profile of the cells (<NUM>) of other panel (<NUM><NUM>), such that when panels (<NUM><NUM>, <NUM><NUM>) are mounted on one another, the support points (<NUM>) of one panel (<NUM><NUM>) are arranged inside the internal profile of the cells (<NUM>) of the other panel (<NUM><NUM>).