PAVER EDGING DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

A paver edging device has a linear metal strip with at least one bend along the length of the strip forming a first and second side and voids within the metal strip on a first side of the bend, without passing to the edge, and extending through the curvature of the apex of the bend. A method sets the paver edging device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Provisional application No. 60/968555 filed Aug. 28, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to paver edging devices.

Paver edging devices are used to form edges of pathways or other defined transit areas. The paver edging devices are generally used to define the boundaries of such transit area to aid in defining the limits of these areas when they are constructed. The paver edging devices also may be used to define other areas, such as the boundaries of gardens, parking areas, play areas, and other such distinct property use areas.

Accordingly, a need therefore exists for improvement in paver edging devices. The present invention addresses this and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a paver edging device having a linear metal strip having a bend along the length of the strip and voids formed within the metal strip on a first side of the bend, without passing to the edge thereof, and extending through the apex of the bend.

The present invention also includes a method for using a paver edging device comprising the steps of providing the above-identified paver edging device, cutting the metallic area from the void to the edge of the first side, bending the metal strip on a second side adjacent to the location of the void, laying the bent metal strip adjacent to a paver path and placing paver components on top of the first side of the metal strip and adjacent to the second side of the bent metal strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an embodiment of the paver edging device of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an illustration showing a metal strip prior to bending into the paver edging device of the present invention, with representative dimensions thereon;

FIG. 2B is an illustration showing an end view of the paver edging device of the present invention after bending;

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing an embodiment of the paver edging device of the present invention; and,

FIGS. 4A-4C is a diagram showing the steps of the method for using the paver edging device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention includes a paver edging device 10 formed from a linear metal strip 12, with the metal strip 12 bent 14 along the length of the metal strip 12. The metal strip 12 further includes one or more voids 20 formed within the metal strip 12 on a first side 16 of the bend 14. The second side 18 is preferably has a continuous solid surface area. However the second side may have voids formed therein. The metal strip 12 preferably has a composition of steel, aluminum or other like metal.

The voids 20 are formed within the side of the metal strip 12 so that the void area does not pass through or invade edge 16E of the first side 16 of the metal strip 12. As such, these void areas constitute enclosed areas. Additionally, the voids 20 extend into and through the apex 14A of the bend 14. Voids 20 formed within the first side 16 may constitute any configuration or arrangement, such as multiple voids linearly extending between the apex 14A and the edge 16E of the first side 16, e.g., the area between a first void 20 and the edge 16E of the first side 16 has a second void 24 formed therein. Voids 20 may be formed to include various distinct configurations. Voids 20 formed within the first side 16 may constitute any appropriate amount effective for retaining the integrity of the metal strip. Determination of the amount of material absent on the first side 16 resulting from the formation of the voids 20 therein is preferably made considering desired weight, bending resistance, safety and other characteristics affecting the use of the paver edging device 10. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the voids 20 in the first side 16 of the paver edging device 10 constitute less than about fifty percent, and more preferably less than about twenty percent of the total area of the first side 16. FIG. 1 shows the paver edging device 10 with voids 20 that are formed as an extended oval configuration to project an end 20M of the void into and/or across the apex 14A of the bend 14. With projection of the end 20M into and/or across the apex 14A of the bend 14, the void 20 extends through the apex of the bend 14, permitting the paver edging device 10 to be readily manipulated at that area. As seen in FIG. 3, this embodiment shows the paver edging device 10 having triangular voids 20 that are formed to project an end 20M into the apex 14A of the bend 14.

Although any appropriate angle of the bend in the metal strip 12 may be used for a given use, the bend 14 in the paver edging device 10 preferably forms an angle α of approximately ninety degrees. Referring to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2A illustrates the metal strip prior to bending into the paver edging device of FIG. 1, which forms the shape shown in end view perspective of FIG. 2B, once bent.

The paver edging device 10 may be formed of flat, smooth and/or textured, surface areas, with flat surface areas preferred. Ridges, ornamentation, and other design features may be included on the surfaces or edges of the paver edging device 10. These design features may include, for example, one or both edges of the metal strip 12 forming an irregular edge.

Preferably, the paver edging device 10 includes a thickness that is severable using a hand tool. As such, the thickness of the paver edging device 10 preferably has a thickness of from about 0.15 inches or less, with more preferred thicknesses of from about 0.12 inches to about 0.02 inches, still more preferably from about 0.12 inches to about 0.07 inches. Representative gauges useful for the paver edging device 10, include, for example, 20, 18, 16, 14 and 12 gauge material, with preferred gauges of from about 20 gauge to about 16 gauge.

The paver edging device 10 may include additional features useful in its placement or utility. These features include, for example, holes 22 formed within the first side 16 for placement of stakes therethrough, ridges within the first 16 or second side 18 surface areas, welded attachments, pictures or printed information, etc. In one preferred embodiment, the paver edging device 10 includes a shearing indicator, or score line, 30 and 32 in the area between the void 20 and the edge 16E of the first side 16. When present, the shearing indicator 30 preferably has a reduced thickness of the metal strip 12 to aid in hand tool cutting.

Representative dimensions of the surface area remaining between the void 20 and the edge 16E on the first side 16 include, for example, widths of from about one inch or less, such as from about 0.15 inches to about 0.75 inches, or from about 0.25 inches to about 0.3 inches, with selection of an appropriate space determinable by one skilled in the art for a given size paver edging device 10, gauge and/or purpose.

As seen in FIGS. 4A-4C, the selected 102 paver edging device used in the placement or setting 100 of the paver edging device 10 is cut 104 at the area between the void 20 and the edge 16E of the first side 16. The sheared 104 paver edging device is then bent 106 along the metal strip on the second side at the location of the sheared void. Once the bent 106 paver edging device is laid 108 on the ground along the paver path, paver components, such as shaped stones, are placed 110 adjacent to the bent metal strip effective to line the side of the bent metal strip. These steps preferably include shearing multiple voids 20 and the edge 16E of the first side 16, such as a second void 20. Multiple, e.g., second, third, etc., shears may be made at any one void 20.

Once the first side 16 is cut the paver edging device 10 may be conformed, e.g., curved, in either direction, such that the bending or curving of the metal strip 12 on a second side 18 at the location of the sheared void 20 causes the sides on either side of the void 20 to overlap or diverge.

While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

The foregoing description is provided to illustrate and explain the present invention. However, the description hereinabove should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention set forth in the claims appended here to.

Claims

1. A paver edging device, comprising:

a linear metal strip having at least one bend along the length of the strip forming a first and second side; and,

voids within the metal strip on a first side of the bend, without passing to the edge thereof, and extending through the curvature of the apex of the bend.

2. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the at least one bend forms an angle of approximately ninety degrees.

3. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the linear metal strip is flat.

4. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the metal strip comprises a thickness of from about 20 gauge to about 12 gauge.

5. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the metal strip comprises a thickness of from about 20 gauge to about 16 gauge.

6. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the area between the void and the edge of the first side has a second void formed therein.

7. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second side forms an irregular edge.

8. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the voids project an end across the apex of the bend.

9. The paver edging device of claim 1, further comprising holes formed within the first side for placement of stakes therethrough.

10. The paver edging device of claim 1, further comprising a shearing indicator in the area between the void and the edge of the first side.

11. The paver edging device of claim 10, wherein the shearing indicator comprises an area of reduced thickness of the metal strip.

12. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the second side is free of any voids formed therein.

13. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the area between the void and the edge of the first side has a width of from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches.

14. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the voids formed within the first side comprise less than about twenty percent of the total area of the first side.

15. The paver edging device of claim 1, wherein the voids within the first side include various configurations.

16. A method for setting a paver edging device, comprising the steps of:

providing a paver edging device of claim 1;

cutting the area between the void and the edge of the first side;

bending the metal strip on a second side at the location adjacent to the cut area;

laying the bent metal strip adjacent to a paver path; and,

placing paver components adjacent to the bent metal strip effective to line the side of the bent metal strip.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of cutting the area between of at least a second void and the edge of the first side.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of shearing the area between the void and the edge of the first side includes shearing two locations between a single void and the edge of the first side.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of bending the metal strip on a second side at the location of the sheared void causes the sides on either side of the void to overlap.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of bending the metal strip on a second side at the location of the sheared void causes the sides on either side of the void to diverge.