Patent Description:
Artificial grass has grown in popularity in domestic environments. However, it is difficult to provide a fixed edge providing a neat finish for lawn coverings, such as artificial grass lawns where the boundary with another landscape feature is not linear. At the same time, a lawn edging must in practice provide a fixed boundary line which is neat and also durable. Known devices are generally serviceable to an extent when applied to a linear boundary. However, in the significantly large number of cases where the boundary is non-linear, ad hoc solutions must be devised and applied on site during installation. These solutions generally involve cutting and shaping processes which result in a product which is unsatisfactory in one way or another.

<CIT> recognises that lawns will sometimes have a non-linear border although in this case only in the limited context of a corner section of a rectangular lawn. The document discloses an edge piece <NUM> of artificial turf <NUM> disposed on a resiliently flexible backing member <NUM> which may be arc-shaped. The backing member may be made of elastomeric foam, polyethylene foam or foam rubber and may comprise a section of insulating material. The edge piece may further comprise an attachment means such as a plurality of screws <NUM> for attaching the edge piece to a surface. The document does not address the problem of providing an edging in situations where the lawn edge comprises a non-linear section.

<CIT> and <CIT> (<CIT>) discloses an edging system for open borders of artificial grass or natural grass (ie as distinct from borders with eg a wall or paved area). The product is made of galvanised steel and has spikes along each section for fixing the edging into the ground. Once fixed into the ground, an upright steel edge is formed as an abutment for an artificial grass or natural grass lawn area. The grass stratum butts up to the product leaving it exposed.

<CIT> discloses a border member for establishing a border around a synthetic turf field which comprises (see eg Figures 1A and <FIG>) an elongate body moulded from a flexible material, at least one notch formed in an upper surface of the elongate body and extending along a length of the elongate body and a rigid spine embedded within the elongated body and extending along the length of the elongated body. The border member is positioned adjacent to the synthetic turf field such that a portion of synthetic turf rests on the notch. The trim is used to create a visible border around an artificial grass field.

<CIT> discloses a surfacing system that has a border member formed from a plurality of interconnected tile members. The border member is configured to accept a suitable amount of infill material. A covering layer such as an artificial turf layer is applied over the infilled border member. The tile members are interconnected by a first and a second connector. The ends of the border member are flexible toward the front, but substantially inflexible toward the back, when the second connector is not severed. The ends of the border member are flexible either toward the front or back when the second connector is severed.

This enables the border member to be straight when desired, and bend around curves or other surface irregularities when circumstances require, such as going around a tree or a curb.

<CIT> discloses a synthetic turf border system that uses multiple turf border elements to provide a flexible synthetic turf border system that cleanly affixes synthetic turf around an entire area regardless of the shape of the area. This is achieved by either providing pre-shaped angular and non-angular components, or by allowing individual elements, namely turf border bases, to rotate through degrees of arc in relationship to each other as necessary to fit the area. Synthetic turf is attached to the border bases then cut before final securement to the system.

Providing flexibility, in at least a part of the length of a lawn edging comprising an elongate member, by segmentation of the elongate member and connection of the segments each to its next adjacent segment by means of an articulation, rather than by reliance on use of flexible materials to provide such flexibility. The segmentation just referred to may also be combined with flexibility restraint by use of rigidity-conferring segment-to-segment connection(s), to provide for handling and carriage, flexibility restraint being disapplied when the edging is put to use and that restraint no longer needed.

The invention has several aspects, each having plural embodiments.

In summary, the invention provides an edging for artificial grass lawn in which one or more segments of a segmented elongate member of the edging are connected to a next adjacent segment by an articulation enabling the edging to follow a non-linear boundary between the artificial lawn and another landscape feature. For convenience of handling, the edging may be made in a form in which the flexibility is restrained at individual connection level by severable further connection between the segments so that the edging can more easily be handled and transported. With interests of that state in mind, the material of which the edging is made would ordinarily be a rigid material as opposed to a flexible material such as a rubber. The flexibility restraint may be disapplied for one segment connection, and usually two or more segment connections, so that the edging can be deployed and made to conform to, or at least to follow, any one or more non-linearities in the boundary.

In a first aspect, the invention provides an artificial lawn edging for installation as part of an artificial lawn installation, according to claim <NUM>. The edging comprises an artificial grass layer extending to form an artificial lawn between perimeter edges which terminate the artificial grass layer at a boundary thereof with another landscape surface, eg hard landscape such as a path or paved other area, the edging comprising a segmented elongate member in which each segment of a plurality of individual segments (preferably, a plurality of three or more segments, eg eight segments) is connected to its next adjacent said segment(s), each segment having a first face for receiving a perimeter edge portion of said artificial grass layer for fixture thereto when the edging is in a boundary-located state wherein a second face of said segment is supported on a ground-support surface for the elongate member, for example a sub-surface underlying a support surface upon which the artificial grass layer is disposed, the segments of at least a pair of next adjacent segments of said plurality of segments being connected together at a segment connection by connection means, preferably connection means respective or specific to that segment connection, provided at a connection region of said elongate member, said connection means comprising first connection means which comprises a resilient connector in the form of a sprung member fixed to a pair of next adjacent segments, the sprung member being configured to provide an articulation to enable relative displacement between the so-articulated segments at said articulation to deform said elongate member at said connection region so that said elongate member in said boundary-located state of the edging can follow a non-linearity (eg a curve or an angled turn) in said boundary local to said connection region.

A second connection means may apply, by severable further connection between the so-articulated segments connected by said first connection means.

By the expression" severable further connection", the intention of the Applicant is to refer to a condition or state of connection being provided (in this case, one which is severable), in the sense of an abstract noun, rather than to a connection in the physical sense of a concrete noun.

Still referring to the first aspect of the invention as describe above, three or more segments of said segment plurality (eg eight segments) may, for example, be connected, in one more separate segment successions, each segment to a next adjacent segment in the succession containing them, by a said connection means. In general, the number of so-connected segments will amount to most or all of the segments of said segment plurality.

Of primary, although not exclusive, interest in terms of the invention, however, there is provided an artificial lawn edging for installation as part of an artificial lawn installation comprising an artificial grass layer extending to form an artificial lawn between perimeter edges which terminate the artificial grass layer at a boundary thereof with another landscape surface, the edging comprising a segmented elongate member in which each segment of a plurality of individual segments is connected to its next adjacent said segment(s), each segment having a first face for receiving a perimeter edge portion of said artificial grass layer for fixture thereto when the edging is in a boundary-located state wherein a second face of said segment is supported on a ground-support surface for the elongate member, the segments of at least a pair of next adjacent segments of said plurality of segments being connected together at a segment connection by connection means respective to that segment connection and provided at a connection region of said elongate member, said connection means comprising first connection means which comprises an articulation connecting together said segments of said segment pair and second connection means which applies, by severable further connection between those segments, flexibility restraint across the connection region at which said segments are connected, said first connection means enabling, except if and to the extent that said flexibility restraint is applied across said connection region, relative displacement between the so-articulated segments at said articulation to deform said elongate member at said connection region so that said elongate member in said boundary-located state of the edging can follow a non-linearity in said boundary local to said connection region, specifically one which it could not, when said flexibility restraint is applied, follow.

A remarkable feature is the flexibility differential between the edging in the condition in which the segment pair is provided with both an articulation and means for restraining flexibility and the condition in which it is provided with only the articulation. In the former case (when both first and second connection means are provided), the flexibility will be modest (at best) in practice and it is generally the case that the construction will provide rigidity or substantial rigidity (this may be expressed, for example, as an inability to follow a line requiring one segment to be displaced in relation to the other of the segment pair through an angle of more than <NUM> degrees, commonly an inability to follow a line requiring one segment to be rotationally displaced in relation to the other of the segment pair through a smaller angle such as <NUM> degrees or less). In the condition in which the segment pair is provided with an articulation but no means for restraining flexibility, the edging can follow a line requiring one segment to be rotationally displaced in relation to the other of the segment pair through an angle of <NUM> degrees. Further reference to this feature appears hereinafter. It will, of course, be understood that when the number of articulated segments in succession is greater than a single pair of segments, there is cumulative rotational displacement capacity.

In practice, the edging will be usually provided for use by the user as a length of the elongate member in which all the two or more segments (for example, eight segments) are connected at a connection region as described above by first and second connection means (giving, for example, four articulated segment pairs). However, as few as two segments, eg in an elongate member comprising a larger number of segments overall, may be so-connected. In such configurations as just mentioned, as indeed is the case in all configurations, the capacity for the elongate member to deform so as to follow a boundary non-linearity will, of course, be limited to its capacity to deform at the locality or localities of the so-articulated segments. In the case of a single pair of articulated segments, this presents the user with narrow choices in terms of the severable further connections available to sever. An edging comprised of more than a single articulated pair could be configured to follow a boundary non-linearity at each of eg two locations spaced apart more widely than the distance between one connection region and the next (which latter is broadly, in practice, the distance between one pair of so-articulated segments and the next pair, measured between their respective centre points). However, such a specific configuration would be an unusual and narrowly useful form of the edging of the invention, such a practical situation ordinarily being addressed in the field by an edging in which each of the segments making up an elongate member of eg eight segments is connected to a next adjacent segment by first and second connection means, those segment connections where it is necessary for the edging to deform to follow a boundary non-linearity being subject to severance of the severable further connection provided by the second connection means.

Conveniently, the "at least a pair of next adjacent segments" comprises at least one succession of three or more said segments each of which segments is connected by a said connection means to its next adjacent segment in its succession and which collectively make up the or one length of said elongate member, and optionally one or more further segments which make up a balance of that length, form part of said plurality of segments and are not articulated. For example, one succession of at least three next adjacent segments may be present and comprise at least eight said segments and there may be no other (ie non-articulated) segments. It follows that, in practice, edging in which the elongate member has been deployed could have had only a small number of severable further connections severed but the number could be quite large in real field situations when eg a lengthy curving boundary is involved. The invention includes within its scope an edging in which, as manufactured or resulting from a process which involves post-manufacture severance of said severable further connection(s), the elongate member comprises at least two segments connected by a said first connection means and at least one segment connected to a segment so-connected by both a said first connection means and a said second connection means.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, said second connection means comprises one or more sub-members of said elongate member which are removable of otherwise disconnectable from it to disapply said flexibility restraint. For example, the second connection means is conveniently in the form of one or more severable stiffening members which are severable from the elongate member using eg a hand-held snipping tool. The second connection means may conveniently take the form of a single severable stiffening member or two such members.

The or each stiffening member may conveniently extend between elements of next adjacent segments connected together by said connection means, each of which elements provides at least part of said first face and/or the or each stiffening member extends between elements of next adjacent so-connected segments each of which elements provides at least part of said second face.

In particular, the second connection means may comprise a first stiffening member which extends between an elongate member element of a first segment and an elongate member element of a next adjacent second segment connected to said first segment by said connection means, and a second stiffening member which extends between another elongate member element of said first segment and another elongate member element of said next adjacent second segment.

The first-mentioned elongate member elements may advantageously form at least part of said first face and the second-mentioned elongate member elements may form at least part of said second face.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second connection means comprises one or more separable regions of elongate member material which confers or, in the case of plural such separable regions, which together or individually are (is) responsible for, applying said flexibility restraint. The separable regions are advantageously visibly (or, in any event, advantageously physically) designated to enable identification.

Most preferably, the separable regions comprise regions of designated removable elongate member material whose designation is indicated by said so-designated regions having lesser thickness than surrounding regions of the elongate member, which will commonly have uniform thickness. For example, as described in greater detail hereinafter, the first and second faces of the elongate member may be faces of construction elements of the elongate member which have a thickness of <NUM> to <NUM>, most commonly <NUM>, in which case the separable regions referred to above may have a lesser thickness eg of <NUM> to <NUM>, most commonly <NUM>.

In terms of the edging in "as manufactured form" in which each segment comprises a segment base and an opposed wall member, as described hereinbelow, the segment base and/or the wall member may extend as a region of designated removable elongate member material into the connection region. Preferably, one such region will be provided in each of the segment base and an opposed wall member.

Amoungst embodiments in which flexibility restraint is applied across one or more connection regions at which elongate member segments connect together at a connection region, preferred are those in which the elongate member is in the form of a hollow body defined by one or more body walls, segments (eg those of an articulated segment pair - or larger succession of such segments) of the elongate member being separated from one another by a said connection region and the body walls including one or more bridge portions which bridge across the connection region to link the segments of said pair in order to provide the flexibility restraint and which are differentiated from adjacent body wall portions eg by doing so per se (ie bridging per se) and/or by other means. Self-evidently, in cases where there is a segment succession larger than a pair, not all connection regions need to be bridged in this way but it is most convenient if this is the case.

It will be understood from the above that the second connection means may comprise plural components which together contribute the flexibility restraint referred to. It will therefore be recognised that the required severance of the severable further connection to disapply the flexibility restraint and enable relative displacement between segments will usually in practice call for all second connection means components to be severed.

Turning now to the first connection means, this component comprises according to the invention a resilient connector which is fixed to both segments to provide the articulation, the resilient connector being a sprung member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first connection means is configured to a V-shape to provide a pair of arms which are resiliently hinged, in particular at the crutch of the V, to permit relative displacement between the segments connected by said first connection means to deform said elongate member at said connection region so that said elongate member can follow a non-linearity in said boundary local to said connection region.

The first connection means most preferably comprises a plastics hinge, for example, one having the particular form and operation just referred to (ie a V-configuration).

Each connection region is normally an inter-segmental region of the elongate member but, in certain embodiments, the segments of each segment pair may be juxtaposed at the connection region and not spaced apart.

In the "as manufactured" state of the edging, the connection region of the elongate member at which the segments of an articulated segment pair are connected (or, where there are more such segments than a single pair, all or only some of them, eg one connection region) preferably comprises the articulation, the second connection means, a first window separating the respective first faces of the articulated segments each in part from one another (eg apart from said faces being connected by an element of the second connection means) and a second window separating the respective second faces of the articulated segments each in part from one another (eg apart from said faces being connected by an element of the second connection means). The foregoing structure may be adopted by the elongate member at any one or more of said connection regions, conveniently most of them and preferably all of them.

In a favoured embodiment of the invention, as just described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the windows meet at the articulation in order to present as a single window interrupted by the articulation.

Conveniently, as is preferred in all embodiments of the invention, the articulation is disposed at a junction between the first and second faces (where, for example, means defining a third face may be provided such as a third face which can be butted to a lawn boundary object forming part of the other landscape surface referred to earlier), in which case the window in the favoured embodiment described above conveniently extends either side of said interruption between an extremity defined by a component of said second connection means connecting together the segment first faces in the segment pair and an extremity defined by a component of said second connection means connecting together the segment second faces in the segment pair, whereby the elongate member is inflexible or rigid across said connection region as a result of the severable further connection created across the connection region.

In such a structure as just defined above, the second connection means components may be omitted whereby the connection region is a void between the segments bridged by said articulation so that the elongate member is already flexible across said connection region in readiness for use; or alternatively, if included (as preferred according to the invention for "as manufactured" embodiments), the second connection means components may be included and then later removed to the same effect. The elongate member can in either manner conform to or follow a non-linearity in a boundary which the edging is to define between a lawn area and another landscape surface.

Of course, instead of removal or omission of a second connection means component, the further severable connection between the segments of an articulated segment pair may be severed by implementing a measure other than removal (eg by cutting). Thus, in any articulated segment pair, one or each of the second connection means components may be (i) omitted or (ii) included but then (a) removed or (b) the further severable connection severed by other means such as cutting in such a manner as to sever the connection so as to allow relative displacement between the segments; and the or each of any further articulated segment pairs may be treated either the same or differently in respect of these options and option combinations as any other.

As a generality, the edging of the invention is preferably produced as an elongate member having plural segments, such as eight segments, each of which is connected to its next adjacent segment by first connection means so that the optimum number of choices is offered to the user in terms of flexibility of use in real life field situations. Similarly, the elongate member is preferably equipped with second connection means at each segment connection where a first connection means is provided or at least most of them. Thus, in one embodiment, the plurality of segments of said elongate member conveniently comprises a succession of from six to twelve segments some or each of which is connected to its next adjacent segment in the succession by a said connection means; the succession conveniently comprises eight segments connected each to its next adjacent segment by a said first and a said second connection means.

It will be appreciated that supply to a user of an edging in which, as an extreme example, all locations where a first connection means is provided are devoid of a second connection means would pose challenges in terms of carriage (ie transportation), general handling (especially at point of use) and storage as each such edging would lack the stability of shape and form desirable for such exercises. However, flexibility in the edging prior to use could be tolerated although normally ameliorated by compensatory means, for example use of a tie.

Of particular interest in the unusual event that the segment count in an elongate member were to mean a considerable length to the edging, the elongate member might be produced in two arms connected by a first connection means. Thus, in an embodiment of the invention, a lawn edging is provided in which a segment connection is provided with a first connection means but with no second connection means, said segment connection dividing the elongate member into two arms, of equal or unequal length, each comprising plural segments arranged in respective successions with at least some and preferably all segment connections being provided with a said first connection means, some or all said so-provided segment connections being provided with a said second connection means. The arms could, of course, be secured together by use of a tie.

In general, said second connection means is provided respective to each of plural segment connections where next adjacent segments are articulated together with a said articulation.

Generally, an elongate member is devoid of said connection means at its terminal ends.

In an embodiment of the invention, the elongate member is configured for inclusion in a lawn installation in which an artificial grass layer is supported upon a surface of a lawn base layer disposed over a lawn sub-base, said first faces of said segments in aggregate forming a platform of said elongate member for receiving thereupon a perimeter edge portion of said artificial grass layer for fixture to said platform in termination of said artificial grass layer, said elongate member terminating said lawn base layer at a perimeter edge portion thereof which underlies said artificial grass layer perimeter edge portion and said second faces of said segments in aggregate forming a further platform or plate which in use of the edging is disposed upon and engaged with said lawn sub-base.

The connection means preferably connects next adjacent segments which each comprise a segment base and an opposed wall member and the wall member may provide said first face and said segment base may provide said second face.

The segment base and opposed wall member, or in any event, the elongate member sub-members or parts providing the first and second faces, are conveniently connected to form a cavity therebetween for receiving, in the lawn installation, a perimeter portion of a lawn base layer in an overlying relationship thereof with said segment base and in an underlying supporting relationship with said wall member, the segment base and wall conveniently defining for this purpose an opening for admission to the cavity of said lawn base layer perimeter portion.

Conveniently, each segment cavity is open to that of the next adjacent segment eg across an inter-segmental region of the elongate member at which segments in said segment plurality may face each other across the width of the elongate member, for example across an inter-segmental region at which segments of a segment pair face each other.

The elongate member may be configured for inclusion in a lawn installation (a) in which an artificial grass layer is fixed to said first face of each segment and terminates at a junction at which said first and second faces meet and (b) in which said junction abuts the other landscape surface, eg by a junction abutment of the elongate member.

It is preferred according to the invention that the articulation is so positioned that the segments it connects can undergo displacement relative to one another without the segments coming into competition with one another for the same spatial position. Such competition could mean a limitation on the magnitude of the relative displacement and thus the ability of the elongate member to negotiate a non-linearity in the boundary between the artificial lawn area and the other landscape surface. Accordingly, in preferred embodiments, the elongate member conveniently comprises a first side and a second side both extending in opposed relation from a first segment to a last segment in a succession of at least two segments connected each to its next adjacent segment, at least two of the segments being connected by a first connection means which provides a fulcrum at one of said two sides enabling the elongate member to be deformed, when said edging is in its boundary-located state and said flexibility restraint is not applied, at the connection region at which said so-connected segments are connected, by a sweep of one of said two segments across said ground support surface in which sweep that segment is displaced through an angle of eg at least <NUM> degrees. The sweep referred to will, of course, be of different direction depending upon the direction the boundary takes at the boundary non-linearity; for example, a boundary convex curve and a boundary concave curve will call for sweeps in different directions, as would turns defined by internal angles on the one hand and external angles on the other hand. The preferred embodiments of the invention call for deformability of the elongate member to follow boundary non-linearities regardless of the direction taken by the boundary at that non-linearity, although the elongate member will behave differently according the direction taken by the boundary.

In elongate members where the segment first and second faces are provided by a wall member and a base, the bases are conveniently and preferably designed so that they can overly a common ground space, or at least partially do so, when the amount and direction of the elongate member deformation so requires. In this situation, the base of one segment of a segment pair simply sweeps over or beneath the base of the other segment in use when the direction and amount of the required elongate member deformation requires it; this can easily be accommodated so that the two segments can occupy the large amount of common ground space needed to enable a <NUM> degrees relative displacement between the segments of the segment pair from an in-line relationship. The wall members of the segments also gain in proximity during this action and avoid a stall in deformation or its significant obstruction by a similar ability to sweep one over the other. Of course, with deformation in an opposite direction, the wall member and base lose rather than gain proximity.

In preferred elongate members, the segments connected by said first connection means are conveniently spaced apart such that, and said articulation has capacity to accommodate such a degree of displacement between next adjacent segments that, those segments can readily be re-oriented through a right angle or more, eg from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees.

The spatial relationship between the first and second connection means and the first and second faces of the segments in a segment pair is significant. Thus, artificial lawn edging is preferred in which a window is defined in the elongate member, in said connection region, between the first connection means, the second connection means and opposed edges of the first faces or opposed edges of the second faces of each segment making up the segment pair, whereby the first connection means is separated from the second connection means across said window. In this manner, the separable region is identified to the user by its relationship in juxtaposition with said window. There could, of course, be two such windows, one defined between the first connection means, the second connection means and opposed edges of the first faces of each segment and one defined between the first connection means, the second connection means and opposed edges of the second faces of each segment.

The elongate member is normally made of a plastics material, for example polyethylene (normally MDPE or HDPE), polypropylene, an acetal homopolymer (POM-H) or copolymer (POM-C) or a polyamide such as Nylon-<NUM>. Nylon-<NUM> is preferred for its combination of mechanical properties and cost and in addition because it has been shown to adhere well to substrates using conventional adhesives.

The elongate member is preferably made of an injection moulded nylon but other plastics materials, such as those exemplified above, could be used to make the elongate member by injection moulding.

Conveniently, all segments connected by a said first connection means are also provided with a said second connection means.

The elongate member is in a particularly preferred embodiment made of injection-moulded plastics material and comprises a succession of at least eight segments, each of which segments is connected to its next adjacent segment in the succession by a said connection means, and optionally one or more further segments each connected to its next adjacent said segment, each segment having a first face for receiving a perimeter edge portion of said artificial grass layer for fixture thereto, when the edging is in a boundary-located state, said faces each being provided, respectively, by a segment wall member and a segment base which are connected to form a cavity therebetween and to define an opening for admission to the cavity, in the lawn installation, of a perimeter portion of a lawn base layer in an overlying relationship thereof with said segment base and in an underlying supporting relationship with said wall member, each said cavity being open to that of the next adjacent segment across an inter-segmental region of the elongate member at which said segments are juxtaposed or face each other across the width of the elongate member, each of said second connection means comprising one or more separable regions of elongate member material which confers or, in the case of plural such separable regions, which together or individually are (is) responsible for applying, said flexibility restraint and said separable regions comprising regions of designated removable elongate member material whose designation is indicated by said so-designated regions having lesser thickness than surrounding regions of the elongate member, which in general have uniform thickness.

In a second aspect, the invention provides method of installing an artificial lawn according to claim <NUM>, which method comprises providing an artificial lawn layer, a lawn base, a sub-base underlying the lawn base and an edging of any of the forms and with any of the features hereinbefore described, disposing the artificial lawn layer upon a support surface of the lawn base to form an artificial lawn between perimeter edges which terminate the artificial grass layer and lawn base support surface at a boundary thereof with another landscape feature, the edging being fixed to the sub-base at said boundary and, if there are any non-linearities in the boundary, having been previously made ready for deployment by segment re-orientation necessary for the elongate member deformation needed for said elongate member to follow said boundary, said segment re-orientation following action to disapply any flexibility restraint applied to the elongate member up until that time, and fixing the artificial lawn layer to said fixed edging.

Whilst in general, the elongate member in any embodiment of the invention will normally be composed of segments forming a succession between opposed elongate member ends, an endless loop form of the elongate member eg as manufactured, with flexibility restraint applied, can also be envisaged which would, of course, normally need to be cut for use to provide opposed ends.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings which show the edging of the invention and its use in installing an artificial lawn installation. In the accompanying drawings:.

Various dimensions have been indicated in the following description. However, it should be noted that the Figures of the drawings have been prepared as illustrations without attempting to reflect those dimensions, or any dimensions, in them. Thus, for example, <FIG> illustrate the layered structure of an artificial lawn edged with an embodiment of the edging according to the invention; however, the dimensions in which the various layers and other features have been illustrated are not intended to represent the dimensions or relative dimensions of those details.

Referring first to <FIG>, the lawn installation there depicted comprises an artificial grass layer <NUM> of a conventional form and constitution well-known in the art comprising a backing sheet <NUM>, typically of latex, from which rise artificial grass filaments whose bases are embedded in or otherwise fixed to the backing sheet. In general, the upper surface of the artificial grass layer <NUM> will be over-sown with a sand infill which covers the latex sheet. A membrane <NUM> made of geotextile is laid on the ground/soil base <NUM>. A compacted layer of Type <NUM> MOT or similar material is spread over the geotextile membrane <NUM>; Type <NUM> MOT is a UK designation for a graded aggregate having particles sized between <NUM> and <NUM>. The particulate granite lawn base layer <NUM> is a compacted layer made up of granite dust. Layer <NUM> terminates at the perimeter of the lawn represented by edging described in detail below with reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The edging receives a perimeter edge portion of the lawn base layer <NUM>, which underlies and supports the arcuate top wall <NUM> of elongate strip <NUM> of the lawn edging.

<FIG> and <FIG> show elongate strip <NUM> of the edging used to define, respectively, a non-linear boundary between an area of artificial grass <NUM> and a further landscape feature consisting of a paviored area <NUM> and a linear boundary between first and second areas of artificial grass <NUM> and a further landscape feature consisting of a dwarf wall <NUM>. In the case of <FIG>, the dwarf wall <NUM> itself may be regarded as a separate landscape feature, could be non-linear (eg having a curved portion or a returning straight section joined to the straight section shown) and could represent a property boundary.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the edging comprises an elongate strip designated generally by reference numeral <NUM> and made of an engineering grade polyamide such as Nylon-<NUM> (eg as marketed under the name Alphalon <NUM>) by plastics injection moulding, other plastics materials also being suitable as alternatives as explained hereinbefore. As shown, the strip <NUM> is segmented, and from <FIG> it will be seen that the elongate strip <NUM> is comprised of a total of eight segments, these making up a <NUM> run from one end of the strip <NUM> to the other. <FIG>, <FIG> show only the four segments 11A indicated in the view port shown in <FIG>.

Each segment 11A of elongate strip <NUM> comprises a generally flat base plate <NUM> and an arcuate upper wall member <NUM> extending from a lip <NUM> at one lateral extremity to a junction at end wall <NUM> with the base plate <NUM> at the other. Each segment 11A is strengthened by ribs. First, a pair of ribs <NUM> traverse the flat upwardly-facing surface of the base plate <NUM> as shown. Secondly, a third rib <NUM> (shown in broken lines in <FIG> <FIG> and <FIG> only) extends from a point near to the previously mentioned junction at end wall <NUM> onto the underside of arcuate upper wall member <NUM>. Rib <NUM> suffers a reduction in thickness as it reaches the lip <NUM>. Bores <NUM> in base plate <NUM> are provided for passage of long fixings such as nails (not shown) through into the sub-base <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>).

The mould used for the injection moulding of elongate member <NUM> is one which has been selectively acid-etched to provide a textured surface which is reproduced on the face of arcuate upper wall member <NUM> to provide improved adhesion of the adhesive applied to adhere the artificial grass layer <NUM> to the elongate member <NUM> (see the description below with reference to <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the "as manufactured" elongate strip <NUM> is rigid. Arcuate upper wall member <NUM> of each segment 11A is formed with an opening or window <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>) adjacent the end wall <NUM>, whilst base plate <NUM> is formed with an opening or window <NUM> also adjacent end wall <NUM> (also <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>). A resiliently flexible plastics hinge <NUM> which is integral with end wall <NUM> provides continuity of that end wall whilst also interrupting its linearity to form a V-configuration; the openings <NUM> and <NUM> otherwise form a continuum which straddles the end wall <NUM>. In cross-section of the strip <NUM>, as best appreciated from <FIG>, base plate <NUM> and arcuate upper wall member <NUM> together form the approximate outline of a chevron and define a cavity <NUM> which in use of the edging receives a perimeter edge portion of the lawn base layer <NUM>; lawn base layer <NUM> then underlies and supports the arcuate upper wall member <NUM>.

Continuing to refer to <FIG> and <FIG>, there are associated with openings <NUM> and <NUM> the cut-outs <NUM> and <NUM>, which are provided, respectively, in the downwardly-facing surface of arcuate upper wall member <NUM> and in the upwardly-facing surface of base plate <NUM>. The presence of these cut-outs is responsible for applying the previously mentioned rigidity of the elongate strip <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. Each of cut-outs <NUM> and <NUM> are formed in the elongate strip <NUM> as regions of lesser thickness (<NUM>) than the gauge of the surrounding moulding (<NUM>), so facilitating their removal from the elongate strip <NUM> by use of a hand cutting tool such as snips or scissors to cut them out. Cutting them out disapplies the rigidity to convert the elongate member to its "deployment form".

<FIG> and <FIG> show the elongate strip <NUM> in its deployment form in which it is flexible rather than rigid. Upon removal of cut-outs <NUM> and <NUM>, the segments 11A of elongate strip <NUM> remain connected to one another by the resiliently flexible plastics hinge <NUM> which is integral with end wall <NUM>, but they are otherwise unconnected. In the condition of the elongate strip shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, openings <NUM> and <NUM> essentially circumvent the width of the elongate strip <NUM>, interrupted only by the resiliently flexible plastics hinge <NUM>. Plastics hinge <NUM> ensures that the segments remain part of the elongate strip <NUM> but permits their displacement relative to one another in a broadly rotational movement at the crutch of the V-configuration. Although shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> with all cut-out pairs <NUM>,<NUM> removed, this serves as illustration only and in use one <NUM>,<NUM> pair may be cut out and either none of the other pairs or one or more of the other pairs.

Each segment in the manufactured condition of the elongate strip <NUM> is connected to the next adjacent segment by (<NUM>) cuts-outs <NUM> and <NUM> and (<NUM>) resiliently flexible plastics hinge <NUM> at the connection region. Further, each segment in the deployed condition of the elongate strip <NUM> is connected to the next adjacent segment by a resiliently flexible plastics hinge <NUM> only. It is, of course, possible to construct the elongate strip <NUM> with only some segments provided with a plastics hinge <NUM>, cut-outs <NUM> and <NUM> then remaining at the connection regions of the segments not so provided if other means of rigid connection is not provided.

In use of the edging shown in <FIG> of the drawings in constructing an artificial lawn installation, the process to be followed is shown in the sequence of depictions set out in <FIG>.

An eight-segment length of edging as shown in the preceding drawings is first provided. The method is then as follows:.

Flexibility allowing the elongate strip <NUM> to deform to a boundary is an important feature of the invention and in <FIG> and <FIG> this important property is depicted. In <FIG>, four segments are shown as re-oriented to a configuration with a concave radius of the order commonly found in artificial lawn areas; four segments only are shown for illustration purposes although in practice of the invention, a significantly larger number of segments will usually be present as this makes for efficient installation processes as well as convenient storage and carriage as well as general handling convenience.

In <FIG>, the same four segments have each been rotated further (to a total of <NUM> degrees) relative to their in-line configuration; as it will be seen, the face of each segment end wall <NUM> is at a right angle to the face of the end wall <NUM> of the next adjacent segment. However, <FIG> ins intended to demonstrate flexibility rather than circumstances which would be likely to occur frequently in practice.

With reference to <FIG>, the curvature could, of course, be convex instead of concave as shown in that Figure. Depending on the radius of the convex curvature, the base plates <NUM> of adjacent segments or the base plates <NUM> and the arcuate upper wall members <NUM> of adjacent segments would partially sweep, respectively, one over the other (ie one base plate <NUM> over another base plate <NUM> and one arcuate upper wall members <NUM> over another arcuate upper wall members <NUM>) to accommodate the rotation of the segments and their overlapping. If the segments were to be rotated relative to one another through a total of <NUM> degrees relative to their in-line configuration (which would be the analogue of the overlap shown in <FIG>), then the face of the segment end wall <NUM> of each segment would again be at a right angle to that of the next adjacent segment. In this condition, the base plates <NUM> would overlap by about <NUM>%. The arcuate upper wall members <NUM> would overlap only slightly, although minor clipping of this component may be desirable in order to accommodate an overlying artificial grass sheet in a neat manner.

Further to the depiction shown in <FIG>. <FIG> serves to illustrate the flexibility of the edging of the invention, in this case the same four segments having suffered rotation in the same direction as in the case of <FIG> through <NUM> degrees without damage.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, which do not disclose the invention, the apparatus <NUM> for securing a perimeter of a lawn covering, comprises an elongate member <NUM> comprising a first end <NUM> and an opposed second end <NUM>. The elongate member <NUM> further comprises a base portion <NUM> providing a first contact surface <NUM> configured to abut a support surface (not shown). The elongate member <NUM> further comprises an opposed upper portion <NUM> providing a second contact surface <NUM> configured to receive a portion of a lawn covering (not shown). The elongate member <NUM> further comprises an abutment member <NUM> extending therebetween defining an outer abutment surface <NUM> configured to abut a wall or fence, and an inner abutment surface <NUM>. A channel <NUM> extends between the base portion <NUM>, the opposed upper portion <NUM> and the inner abutment surface <NUM>.

The elongate member is composed of injection moulded plastics material such as exemplified previously herein.

The base portion <NUM> is provided by a plurality of spaced apart base flanges <NUM> aligned along the length of the elongate member <NUM>. Each base flange provides an aperture <NUM> for receiving an attachment member to secure the elongate member <NUM> to a contact surface. The upper portion <NUM> is provided by a plurality of spaced apart upper portion members <NUM> aligned along the length of the elongate member.

Spacer portions <NUM> are located between adjacent pairs of base flanges <NUM> and between adjacent pairs of upper portion members <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer portion <NUM> are pleated.

In use, the elongate member <NUM> is cut to a predetermined length by cutting along one of the spacer portions <NUM>. The elongate member <NUM> is manipulated to the required shape and placed in the desired position, such that the outer abutment surface of the abutment member abuts the required surface, such as for example a wall or fence.

Claim 1:
An artificial grass edging for use with an artificial lawn having an artificial grass layer, the edging comprising a segmented elongate member (<NUM>) in which each segment (11A) is connected to its adjacent segment(s), wherein each segment has a first face (<NUM>) and a second face (<NUM>), the first face (<NUM>) for receiving a perimeter edge portion of the artificial grass layer for fixture thereto and the second face (<NUM>) for positioning on a ground-support surface, the segments being connected together by connection means provided at a connection region of said elongate member, characterized in that the connection means comprises a first connection means (<NUM>), wherein the first connection means (<NUM>) is a resilient connector in the form of a sprung member which is fixed to a pair of next adjacent segments and which is configured to provide an articulation for enabling relative displacement between the segments to thereby deform the elongate member at the connection region.