Abstract: Modular interlocking paving elements of uniform configuration are provided each in the form of a substantially right angular body bounded peripherally by two outer sides meeting at an outer angle apex, two inner sides meeting at an inner angle apex and two front sides each extending between respective ends of an inner side and an outer side, with dummy joint gaps formed in and extending across the top side of the body each from the inner angle apex to a midpoint of one of the outer sides. The inner sides, front sides, half sections of outer sides and dummy gaps are of substantially the same length, and each has longitudinal portions thereof projecting outside and/or recessed inside a straight base line between the ends thereof, so that the top side of each element appears to be composed of three four-sided elemental units disposed side by side and two or more of the elements will interlock laterally yet present the same surface appearance in any of a variety of side-by-side orientations.

Abstract: A ground covering element adapted for positioning adjacent another ground covering element. The outer contour of the ground covering element forms projections and recesses about its entire periphery, has corner projections which form the vertices of a rectangle and line portions all of which are oblique to the sides of the rectangle connecting the corner projections. At least two of the line portions connecting each of the vertices are of equal length and the remaining line portions have lengths which are integer multiples of the lengths of the at least two line portions of equal length. A plurality of irregular spaced polygons project from the top surface to form raised portions, the majority of the polygons differing in shape from each other. The edges of the raised portions are straight and separated from each other by dummy gaps having widths which vary linearly along the entire length thereof and from the periphery of the ground covering element by marginal dummy gaps.

Abstract: Apparatus for taking paving elements from a store of such elements, moving them over a placing position and placing them successively onto the subsoil. In one preferred form the apparatus comprises a fork-lift truck having a mast, a jib carried by that mast, swivel means permitting the jib to be swivelled about an upright swivelling axis, a trolley adapted to run along the jib, elevator means for raising and lowering the load carrier, and the arrangement being such that the load carrier can take the paving elements from the store irrespective of the swivelling position of the jib. In a second preferred form the arrangement is such that the load carrier having a plurality of suction apertures to engage respective paving elements can take the paving elements as they have passed an aligning device for a simultaneous alignment of a plurality of roughly aligned paving elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite paving structure consisting of elements forming a pattern. The structure is made up of laying units each of which has a group of elements adjoining at their respective peripheries and held together by predetermined rupture zones. Supplementing stones are disposed at the boundaries of adjacent units. The stones have one or more elements and extend, in each case, into recesses in both of two adjacent units. Preferably, the stones are of one shape and the pattern is a herringbone pattern. The units may be offset relative to one another in the herringbone pattern.