Artificial lawn edging
AssigneeVertedge Ltd
InventorDean Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lawn edging comprises a segmented elongate member (11) in which segments (11A) are joined in one of its two states by plastic hinges (21) and by thinned regions or cut-outs (23), (24) of base (12) and of arcuate wall member (13). The edging is rigid in that form and can be used to edge a straight boundary between an artificial grass area and another landscape feature. Removal of cut-outs (23, 24) from the connection region between two segments disapplies the flexibility restraint they impose. The segments concerned can then be displaced one relative to the other by articulation at the hinge (21) to accommodate non-linearity such as commonly found in such boundaries. One or more than one connection region can be treated in this way depending on need.
Claims36
An artificial grass edging for use with an artificial lawn having an artificial grass layer, the edging comprising a segmented elongate member in which each segment is connected to its adjacent segment(s), wherein each segment has a first face and a second face, the first face for receiving a perimeter edge portion of the artificial grass layer for fixture thereto and the second face for positioning on a ground-support surface, the segments being connected together by connection means provided at a connection region of said elongate member, the connection means comprising either:
- a. first connection means comprising an articulation for enabling relative displacement between the segments to thereby deform the elongate member at the connection region, or
- b. first and second connection means in which the first connection means comprises an articulation for enabling relative displacement between the segments to thereby deform the elongate member at the connection region, and the second connection means comprises a severable further connection for flexibility restraint across the connection region to thereby restrain or prevent deformation of the elongate member at the connection region.
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 either:
- a. first connection means which comprises an articulation connecting together said segments of said segment pair 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 in said boundary local to said connection region, or
- b. first and second connection means in which:
- i. that first connection means comprises an articulation connecting together said segments of said segment pair to enable said relative displacement between the so-articulated segments, except if and to the extent that the flexibility restraint referred to in (b)(ii) below is applied across the connection region at which said segments are connected, at said articulation to effect said deformation, and ii. the second connection means applies, by severable further connection between the so-articulated segments, for as long as said further connection is not severed to disapply it, flexibility restraint across the connection region to restrain or prevent said relative displacement and said deformation.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a window is defined in the elongate member at 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.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein 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, preferably wherein said second connection means is in the form of one or more severable stiffening members which are severable from the elongate member using a hand-held snipping tool, preferably wherein said second connection means is in the form of a single severable stiffening member or two such members.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said 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, preferably wherein said one or more separable regions are visibly designated to enable identification, preferably wherein said one or more 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 having uniform thickness, preferably wherein a window is defined in the elongate member at said connection region between the first connection means, a separable region of elongate member material 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 separable region of elongate member material across said window and said separable region is identified by its relationship in juxtaposition with said window.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first connection means comprises a resilient connector which is fixed to both segments connected by said first connection means, preferably wherein said resilient connector comprises a sprung member.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first connection means comprises a resilient member configured to a V-shape to provide a pair of arms which are resiliently hinged 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.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first connection means comprises a plastics hinge.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connection region at which said segments of said segment pair are connected comprises
- a. a window between the segments connected at said connection region, said window having a first portion provided between the first faces of the so-connected segments and, in continuity of the window first portion, a second portion provided between the second faces of the so-connected segments, said articulation interrupting said window at a junction between said faces and extending either side of said interruption between an extremity defined by a first component of said second connection means and an extremity defined by a second component of said second connection means and the first and second connection means components respectively connecting the first faces of the connected segments together and connecting the second faces of the connected segments together, whereby the elongate member is rigid across said connection region or
- b. a structure as defined in (a) above in which one or both of the second connection means components are absent whereby the connection region is a void between the segments bridged by said articulation whereby the elongate member is flexible across said connection region and capable of conforming to a non-linearity in a boundary which the edging defines, in use, between a lawn area and another landscape surface.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said elongate member comprises plural segment connections where next adjacent segments are articulated together with a said articulation and wherein one or more of said plural segment connections is further provided with a said second connection means.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein 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 which in use of the edging is disposed upon and engaged with said lawn sub-base.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said connection means connects next adjacent segments which each comprise a segment base and an opposed wall member, preferably wherein the wall member provides said first face and said segment base provides said second face, preferably wherein the segment base and opposed wall member 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 plate and in an underlying supporting relationship with said wall member, preferably wherein each segment cavity is open to that of the next adjacent segment across an inter-segmental region of the elongate member at which segments in said segment plurality are juxtaposed across the width of the elongate member.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elongate member is 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.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plurality of segments of said elongate member 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, preferably wherein the succession comprises eight segments connected each to its next adjacent segment by a said first and a said second connection means.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elongate member 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 said segments being connected by a first connection means which enables 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 rotationally displaced through an angle of at least 45 degrees at a fulcrum located on the elongate member at either of its two sides.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the segments connected by said first connection means are spaced apart such that, and said articulation has capacity to accommodate such a degree of displacement between next adjacent segments that, those segments can be re-oriented through a right angle or more.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elongate member is made of a plastics material, preferably wherein plastics material is a polyamide.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the elongate member is made of an injection moulded plastics material.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein all segments connected by a said first connection means are also provided with a said second connection means.
An edging which comprises an elongate member as defined in any preceding claim in which the flexibility restraint applied to the elongate member by one or more second connection means has been disapplied, preferably wherein the flexibility restraint has been disapplied by removal of one or more second connection means but sufficient to disapply said restraint.
An edging as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said elongate member is made of injection-moulded plastics material and comprises a succession of at least eight segments, each of which segments is connected by connection means to its next adjacent segment in the succession by a said connection means, said elongate member optionally comprising 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, 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 having uniform thickness.
An apparatus for securing a perimeter edge portion of an artificial lawn covering, the apparatus comprising an elongate member comprising a first end and an opposed second end, the elongate member having a base portion providing a first contact surface configured for abutment with a support surface and an opposed upper portion providing a second contact surface configured for receiving an edge portion of an artificial lawn covering.
An edging or apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and in situ in a lawn installation.
An artificial lawn installation comprising a sub-base layer spread over a natural or artificial ground surface, an artificial lawn support layer provided over the upwardly-facing surface of said sub-base layer and providing a support surface for an artificial lawn, an artificial grass layer provided over the support surface of the lawn support layer and extending to form an artificial lawn between perimeter edges which terminate the artificial grass layer and the lawn support surface at a boundary thereof with another landscape surface and an edging for said artificial lawn layer, the edging comprising an 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 member having an upwardly-facing first segment face on which is received a perimeter edge portion of said artificial grass layer for fixture thereto, a second member having a downwardly-facing second segment face which is disposed upon and fixed to the upwardly-facing surface of said sub-base layer at said boundary, and a space between said first and second members in which a perimeter edge portion of said lawn support layer is received in underlying supporting relationship with said first member and said artificial grass layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.