The present invention relates in general to kerbing as used to define the boundary between a first area of a site, such as a roadway, and a second area of the site, such as a pavement.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Conventionally, kerbing is made up of from short lengths of kerb stones made of solid concrete. The kerb stones are heavy and difficult to transport and manoeuvre into place.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention kerbing defining a boundary between a first area, such as a roadway and a second area, such as a pavement, is made up from at least partly hollow light weight kerbing structures. Each kerbing structure can be composed of synthetic plastics materials.

The interior of each kerbing structure can be left empty or partly filled with some other material. Alternatively, or additionally the interior of each kerbing structure can be used to accommodate service conduits and/or for drainage.

The kerbing structure of the invention can also be adapted to provide better visual identification for traffic e.g. by directly incorporating fluorescent or reflective material or materials on an exterior surface.

Alternatively or additionally light sources, or reflective elements can be mounted on or within the exterior surface.

The kerbing structure can be a one-piece construction with a generally rectangular cross-section defined by a base wall, a pair of side walls and one or more top walls. Alternatively the kerbing structure can be of modular form. One embodiment of modular form has at least a base section and a separate top section, the base section defining an open channel for receiving the top section and having an internal cavity. The top section can be solid or hollow.

Preferably the kerbing structure or one of the sections thereof has holes for passing rainwater into the kerbing structure for drainage. As upper wall of the kerbing structure can also be configured as a drainage gutter.

The invention also extends to sites incorporating kerbing with one or more kerbing structures in accordance with the invention.

The invention may be understood more readily, and various other aspects and features of the invention may become apparent, from consideration of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a site incorporating a kerbing structure in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional end view of the kerbing structure of Figure 1 in situ;

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional end views of sites with alternative kerbing structures in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 depicts various additional components usable with the kerbing structure of Figure 5 for example;

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of the kerbing structure of Figures 1 and 2 when shaped to a curved profile;

Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of another site incorporating a modified kerbing structure in accordance with the invention;

Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of the kerbing structure shown in Figure 9 but taken in the opposite direction;

Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of a further site incorporating a modified form of kerbing structure of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a perspective exploded view of another kerbing structure constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figures 13 to 16 are sectional end views of sites with further examples of kerbing structures in accordance

with the invention; and

Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view of a site incorporating another kerbing structure in accordance with the invention.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As shown in Figure 1, a roadway/pavement site is composed of a first area or roadway 9 composed of a surface layer 10 laid out on a base 11 with one or more intermediate sub-layers 2 and a second area or pavement 8 composed of a surface layer 12 laid onto a base 13. The pavement surface layer 12 can be made up from paving slabs, bricks or the like or from a continuous concretious or asphaltic layer. As is known, the upper surface 14 of the pavement 8 is above the adjacent upper surface 15 of the roadway 9 and kerbing 16 separates the pavement 8 and the roadway 9. In accordance with the invention, the kerbing 16 is made up from individual lengths or sections of kerbing structure 17 joined end to end. The kerbing structures 17 may have the same or different lengths. Each kerbing structure 17 is hollow and preferably made from synthetic plastics material. Conveniently, the end regions of the individual structures 17 abut one another as at 6 and are bonded together, e.g. by heat or inter- engage with shaped end regions.

The kerbing structures 17 can be laid into concrete 30 in an open trench 4 at the juncture between the roadway 9 and the pavement 8. The kerbing structures 17 can also

be secured to the pavement base 13 by pins or screws once the structures 17 are levelled and upright. In the specific example as shown each kerbing structure 17 is of generally rectangular one-piece unitary configuration with side walls 18, 19 a base wall 20 and a top wall 21. As shown in the example of Figures 1 and 2, the top wall 21 merges with an inclined wall 22 extending to the side wall 18 adjacent the roadway 9 to conform with a camber 31 on the roadway surface 15. The interior of the structure 17 is sub-divided by internal partition walls 23 to form a plurality of internal cavities 25.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show alternative designs based on the one-piece structure 17 shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which like reference numerals denote like features. In Figure 3, the flat top wall 21 is omitted entirely and the inclined wall 22 extends between the upper region ends of the side walls 18, 19. In Figures 4 and 5, the inclined wall 22 is omitted. In Figure 4 the' top wall 21 is concave to form an exterior drainage gutter 7 and in Figure 5 the top wall 21 is flat and extends between the side walls 18, 19 at the level of the pavement upper surface 14. In Figure 6 the top wall 21 is omitted and the inclined wall 22 is also outwardly convex.

As shown in Figure 9 the basic kerbing structure 17 of Figures 1 and 2 can be provided with drainage bores 36. The bores 36 can be created when the structure 17 is in situ or otherwise and allow water on the road surface layer 10 to pass into one or more of the interior cavities

25 which then serve as drainage channels. As shown in Figure 10, water in the kerbing structure 17 can be drained away via an outlet pipe 37 communicating with the drainage cavity 25 and mounted to the wall 19 adjacent the pavement 8. One or more other cavities 25 can accommodate services such as conduits, pipes, cables and the like.

If desired, the kerbing structure 17 can be stiffened and rigidified by introducing material such as fluid or liquid or a particulate substance into the cavities 25. This can be done once the kerbing structure 17 is laid. The internal walls 23 also act to strengthen the structure 17 but the kerbing structure 17 is at least flexible along its length enabling the kerbing structure 17 to follow a curve. This is depicted in Figure 8 where the kerbing structure 17 of Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 9 and 10 is held with stakes 38 until the concrete sets.

Figure 11 depicts a site incorporating a kerbing structure 17 with drainage bores 36 as described and illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Assuming it is desired to resurface the road a fresh layer of material such as asphalt is laid and this raises the road surface 10. The original bores 36 are sealed off with a plastics strip or tape 35 and the new layer 80 laid over the strip or tape 35. Fresh drainage bores 39 are then provided above the new road surface 10.

In other designs, each kerbing structure 17 would be composed of a rectangular base part (say resembling Figure

5) with side walls 18, 19 a top wall 21 and a base wall 20 and a complementary top part 32, such as is shown in Figure 7, used as an accessory. The top part 32 may have depending pegs 33 which locate within bores in the top wall 21 of the base part. It is possible to vary the overall height of the kerbing structure by using separate top parts 32 of various sizes. It is also possible to build up the height of the base part by installing a stack of upper parts 32 fitting on to another. In case of wear the upper parts 32 can be replaced without disturbing the base parts.

Figures 12 to 17 depict further forms of kerbing structure 17 of modular design. As shown in Figure 12 the basic structure 17 is composed of a base section 40 an intermediate section 41 and a top section 42. The base section 40 has a pair of inclined lower side walls 43 a base wall 44 and a top wall 45 defining a cavity 49. Upstanding parallel upper side walls 46, 47 project up from the top wall 45 to provide an open channel 48. The top section 42 may resemble the structure 17 of Figures 1 and 2 i.e. it has a base wall 20, side walls 18, 19 a flat top wall 21 and an inclined wall 22. The intermediate section 41 is of rectangular configuration.

As shown in Figure 13 the base section 40 is set in concrete 30 in an open trench 4 at the juncture between the roadway 9 and the pavement 8. The open channel 48 is then capable of receiving the top section 42. If it is desired to raise the height of the kerbing structure 17 of

modular form during re-surfacing then one or more of the intermediate sections 41 are positioned in the channel 48 as shown in Figure 16. This raising can take place several times by leaving the base section 40 in place. The base section 40 can accommodate services e.g. pipes, conduits cables and the like in the cavity 49. The top section 42 can be used for drainage in the manner described in connection with Figures 9 and 10.

Figures 14 and 15 depict alternative kerbing structures of modular form in which the top section 42 has a different shape to Figures 12, 13 and 16. Thus in Figure 14 the top section 42 has a flat top wall 21 and a side wall 18 with a bulbous lower portion 50.

In Figure 15 the top wall 21 of the top section 42 is of extended concave form to form an external drainage gutter 7.

Figure 17 depicts a site utilising the modular kerbing structure 17 as shown in Figures 12, 13 and 16 and showing water draining into the cavity 25 of the top section 42 through bores (not shown) and services 50 in the cavity 49 of the base section 40.

It is also possible to create a modular kerbing structure in which the top section 42 is a solid concrete kerb stone of conventional type.

In general, kerbing structures 17 constructed in accordance with the invention are lighter and easier to transport and lay than conventional kerb stones.

Nevertheless, it is generally desirable to ensure the kerbing structure has a shape to conform with conventional concrete kerb stones so that it can be abutted thereto or in the case of the modular design to receive such kerb stones.

The kerbing structures 17 in accordance with the invention can be made generally longer than conventional kerb stones and can be extruded or injection moulded to any length say up to about 15 metres. It is possible to preform some of the kerbing structures 17 to adopt a set curvature and to use a mixture of straight and curved sections to separate the site areas (9, 8). Generally the plastics material used to fabricate the structures 17 should be durable, impact resistant and fire retardant. P.v.c, nylon or synthetic resins are suitable alone or in a mixture with one or more other materials or agents.

It is also possible to render the plastics material coloured or fluorescent or reflective by adding appropriate materials or agents to the plastics base.

Light sources of various kinds and/or reflective elements can be mounted on or in the kerbing structure 17 so as to be visible exteriorly from one or more directions.