This invention relates to a paving system and relates particularly to improvements in paving or stepping blocks or other ground cover for paths, driveways, and the like. Background of the Invention

Paving generally takes the form of relative solid material laid in situ, such as concrete or the like, or laid as separate units, such as flagstones, slate, tiles, bricks and the like. Alternatively, paving may be formed using gravel, for pathways and driveways, spaced stepping stones, lawn, etc.

It is known to form paving, or stepping stones utilizing relatively large timber sections which are placed on the ground in the desired location. Such timber sections may be slices of 2 to 5 cm. thick taken from a tree having a diameter of from 30 to 60 cm. Such "stepping stones" are, however, relatively difficult to place in position, particularly if a continuous pathway is to be formed. Further, the cost of such "stepping stones" formed of timber sections is relatively high and the timber has a relatively short life span in the ground.

Other forms of aesthetically pleasing paving which can be used for pathways or driveways include a concrete paving system formed of rigid members which have a plurality of interconnected, spaced, upstanding concrete pads to provide a firm, rigid driveway or path. The space between the upstanding pads has an infill of sand, gravel, or soil to allow grass to grow, and thus provide an attractive appearance as well as a functional driveway. While such a paving system is relatively aesthetically pleasing, it is also relatively expensive. Background Art United States Patent No. 3,775,918, dated December

4, 19873 to A.J. Johnson discloses an outdoor ground tile which is a relatively rigid, hollow member with a load bearing top and depending walls. Anchor pins extend

dσwnwardly from the underside to anchor the tile in the ground. Such tiles are relatively complex in construction, being formed of two separate parts subsequently assembled. They are, therefore, relatively costly and difficult to lay.

U.S. Patent No. 3,557,669 dated January 26, 1971 discloses paving blocks which comprise a plurality of upstanding members interconnected by cleat members to form an integral unit of a number of buttress surfaces. As indicated above, the paving blocks are rigid, being formed of concrete, and are relatively expensive to produce.

It is, therefore, also desirable to provide an improved paving system or "stepping stone" system which does not utilize concrete and which is relatively cheap and economical to produce and install.

It is also desirable to produce a paving or "stepping stone" system which may be mass produced, may be economically packed and easily transported to site. It is also desirable to provide a paving system or ground cover utilizing relatively small timber sections which are easily produced and handled. Summary of the Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a unit for use in a paving system or as a stepping stone or ground cover comprising a frame having a plurality of interconnected frame members and a plurality of pad means fastened to the frame at spaced locations. ^• According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a unit for use in a paving system or as a stepping stone or ground cover comprising a plurality of pad means disposed in a predetermined, spaced relation¬ ship and interconnected by backing means fastened to each of the pad means to maintain the spaced relationship.

The pad means preferably comprise substantially circular, timber sections having a diameter of between about 7 and 20 cm more preferably between 8 and 13 cm.

The timber section may have a thickness of greater than 1 cm, preferably between 2 and 6 cm. Such timber sections may be of treated pine or like timber, but may be formed of any suitable timber. In another embodiment of the invention, the pad means may comprise moldings formed of synthetic plastic material of any desired shape and thickness.

In one form of the invention, the paving unit has a frame formed of synthetic plastic material. Such a frame may be formed by stamping or molding and is defined by a plurality of interconnected frame members defining open spaces therebetween. The pad means are preferably fastened to the frame at intersections of the frame members. The fastening may consist of staples, adhesive or any other suitable means to secure the pads to the frame.

Preferably, the frame has interlocking means whereby one frame can be interlocked with an adjacent frame. In this way, a plurality of units can be assembled to form a path or the like. Such interlocking means may comprise holes on one frame member and corresponding projections on an adjacent frame member, the projections adapted to engage within the holes to lock the frames together. Other interlocking means may, however, be devised as required.

Features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an underneath view of a unit formed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 shows one form of interlocking whereby adjacent units may be connected together, Figure 3 is an underneath view of a second embodi¬ ment of the invention,

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing four inter¬ connected units.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate three uses of the invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The following description of the preferred embodi- ments will refer to the invention in terms of a paving system, each unit being referred to as a "paving unit". It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to a paving system and the units may be used as discrete "stepping stones", as driveways, decorative ground cover or for any other similar purpose.

Referring to the drawings. Figure 1 illustrates a paving unit 12 in accordance with the invention. The unit 12 comprises a substantially rectangular frame 14 formed of integral frame members 16, the frame members intersecting at nine locations. The frame members 16 are of synthetic plastic material and are either molded or stamped. The frame members 16 have a thickness prefer¬ ably between 1 and 10 mm. The thickness, however, will be dependent on the use to which the paving unit is to be put.

At each intersection of the frame members 16, a pad member 17 is secured to the frame 14. Each pad member 17 in the embodiment illustrated is a substantially circular timber section, preferably formed of treated pine, although any timber material may be used. It should be noted that as the units are to be embedded in the ground, a timber which is rot-resistant is to be preferred. The pad members 17 are of a thickness sufficient ^: to withstand the anticipated loading • to be applied to the units. ^' Thus, units made for pathways may have a thickness less than units made for driveways. Preferably, the pad members will have a thickness of between 2 and 6 cm. The pad members 17 are secured to the frame 14 by any suitable fastening means, such as staples 18, or by adhesive which may either be a separate adhesive or may be adhesion formed by melting the _s material of the frame 14.

In order to provide an even support for the pad

members 17, the frame 14 includes extensions 19 at each corner. The extensions 19 act to support the outer edge of the cornermost pad members 17 when the paving unit is laid on the ground. Without such extensions 19, the corner pad member 17 would tend to tilt thus giving an uneven surface.

Intermediate the corners, the frame 14 is provided with interconnecting pieces 21 which extend beyond the respective pad members 17 and are provided with means for enabling adjacent frames 14 to be connected to each other. The connecting pieces 21 have end portions 22 formed of reduced thickness, the end portions 22 having either a hole 23 or an upstanding projection 24, as more particularly shown in Figure 2. In use, when two frames 14 are located adjacent each other to form a path or a relatively large paving unit, the adjacent end portions 22 are interconnected to provide the appropriate spacing between the frames 14 and to prevent the paving units 12 moving away from each other in use. It will be appreciated that other means for inter¬ connecting the frames 14. may be utilized, including a "jig-saw" type connector wherein one of the end portions is formed with an undercut shape and the other end portion is formed with a keyhole shaped aperture to receive the undercut shape.

The paving unit 12 may be used by laying the unit directly on the ground. In this case the frame 14 is lowermost and the spaces between the pad members 17 are filled with an appropriate grout., soil, sand, cement, gravel, lawn or any other suitable material so that the upper surfaces of the pad members 12 are at ground level and form a solid paving surface. The pad members 17 are held in place by the frame 14 and provide a neat, effective and aesthetically pleasing paving system.

Referring to Figures 3 to 7, there is illustrated a modified form of a paving unit, and paving formed therefrom, in accordance with the present invention. The paving unit 26 of this embodiment has a frame 27 of

generally heptagon shape and substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal centreline except for a handle portion 30. The frame 27 is formed of a plurality of integral frame members 28 and, as with the previous embodiment, a plurality of pad members 17, which are similar to those of the previous embodiment, are fastened to the frame 27 generally at the intersections of the frame members 28.

In the preferred form, staples 18 are used to secure the pad members 17 to the frame 27. However, other suitable fastening means may be used instead of staples or, if desired, two different forms of fastening means may be used.

The handle portion 30 is provided to facilitate easy handling of the units 26 when the pad members 28 are affixed to the frame 27 and to facilitate display of the units 26 in retail stores and the like.

It will be seen from the drawings that the centre row of pad members 17 is advanced relative to the side rows. This enables a wide range of shapes to be formed utilizing the paving units.26.

A plurality of paving units 26 may be inter¬ connected either end-to-end or side-to-side by means of . connecting projections 29 and receptor holes 31. As shown in Figure 4, the angled front end of one paving unit 26 has a projection 29 which engages with a receptor hole 31 on the rear end of an adjacent paving unit 2 ^' 6. In addition, the side rails 32 of the frame 27 interconnect with adjacent side rails to enable paving units 26 to be assembled side-by-side. As shown in Figure 4, adjacent, side-by-side assembled units have the tapered front ends extending in opposite directions.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the manner in which the paving units 26 of this embodiment may be used to form stepping stones, as shown in Figure 5, a single width, curved path as shown in Figure 6, and a multiple width path as shown in Figure 7. It will be appreciated that the paving units of the invention may be formed of any

desired shape to produce paved areas of any desired shape.

While the embodiments of the invention described above utilize a frame, preferably formed of synthetic plastic material, it will be appreciated that such a frame may be formed of metal or any other suitable material. A metal frame may have "gang nail" type projections to which the pad members are secured. In another form of the invention, the frame may be replaced by mesh such as nylon or other synthetic plastic mesh, or wire mesh, which is fastened to the pad members by any suitable means, including melting of the mesh material, adhesive, staples or the like.

In another embodiment of the invention (not illustrated), the frame members are formed with upstanding headed projections adapted to snap-fit into holes formed in the pad members to locate the pad members onto the frame. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for pad members molded of synthetic plastic material, but may also be used with timber pad members in which blind holes have been bored or otherwise formed.

It will also be appreciated that while the inven¬ tion has been described utilizing circular, or substan¬ tially circular, timber sections, the pad members .may be of any suitable shape for any particular purpose and appearance.