AU9523098A

AU9523098A - Paving element

Info

Publication number: AU9523098A
Application number: AU95230/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Vincenzo Scarvaci
Original assignee: Midland Brick Co Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Boral Bricks Western Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-12-05
Filing date: 1998-12-03
Publication date: 1999-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-03
Also published as: AU764422B2

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD

PATENT

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: Midland Brick Company Pty Ltd Vincenzo Scarvaci WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Paving Element" Details of Associated Provisional Application No(s): PP0773 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- TITLE: "Paving Element" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to paving elements.

BACKGROUND

ART

In providing paving a difficulty which must be addressed relates to the need to provide for drainage of water which can collect on the paving. It is conventional practice to contour the area of paving such that the water collecting on the paving will flow to the sides of the paving or to locations which are provided with suitable drains. In the event however of subsequent subsidence of the substrate accommodating the paving, depressions can be formed in the paving which serve to provide collection areas for water which will not normally drain away.

It is an object of this invention to provide a paving element which presents a substantially conventional paving surface but which have the facility of enhancing the drainage of water collecting on the paving.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly the invention resides in a paving element having an upper and lower surface and formed of a substantially impervious material, a plurality of passageways formed through the element and extending between the upper and lower faces, the opening of the passageway to the upper face being at least partially closed by a thin layer of said material to provide an upper surface which is substantially continuous said layer being permeable.

According to a preferred feature the paving elements comprise paving bricks formed of fired clay. According to one particular embodiment the bricks are formed by extrusion.

-3- Accordingly the invention also resides in a method of forming a paving element comprising extruding a quantity of clay through a die having the desired cross section, whereby a plurality of passageways are formed in the extruded column where the passageways are parallel the direction of extrusion, said method further comprising cutting the column transversely to form the upper and lower faces of the paving element, said passageways having a diameter such that the cutting of the column causes the ends of the passageways at the upper and lower faces of the paving element to be bridged by a thin layer of clay.

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of one specific embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic sectional isometric view of a paving brick according to the first embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The paving brick 11 according to the embodiment is of a substantially conventional form, is formed of fired clay and has the appropriate dimensions according to the application of the paving brick. The brick is formed by extruding a quantity of clay through a suitable extrusion die and wire cutting the extruded column according to conventional practice to form the upper face 13 and a lower face 15 of the brick.

The embodiment differs from conventional paving bricks in that, in forming the bricks a plurality of passageways 17 are formed through the brick between the upper 13 and lower faces 15, at substantially equi-distant spaced intervals across the brick and at substantially equi-distant intervals along the length of the brick.

However the outer ends of the passageway 17 are each closed by a thin layer 19 of clay to substantially close the passageway. The effect is such that the upper -4and lower surfaces 13 and 15 of the brick appear to be substantially continuous since the thin layers 19 closing the outer ends of the passageway 17 overcome tAhdiscontinuity's created by the passageways 17. However the thickness of the leler layers 19 is such that the layers are permeable to water. As a result on the mal paving bricks being laid, the passageways 17 serve to provide conduits which bet\ extend between the upper and lower faces 13 and 15 whereby water collecting on the upper surface 13 of the brick will percolate through the thin layers 19 into the substrate supporting the brick.

As a result of the first embodiment a brick is provided which is of substantially conventional appearance since the passageways 17 are closed by a thin layer 19 at each end of the passageway 17. However due to the thinness of the layers 19 at either end of the passageway 17 water is able to percolate through the brick via the passageways. In addition, the thin layers 19 at the upper face of the brick 13 serve to prevent collection of any foreign matter in the passageways 17 which is likely to block the passageway 17 and thus render it ineffective in conducting water between the opposed faces of the brick.

According to the embodiment the bricks are formed by a substantially conventional extrusion process however the extrusion die is such that the column of extruded clay is formed with a plurality of passageways, the axes of which are parallel to the direction of extrusion and which become the passageways 17 of the formed bricks. The diameter of the passageways are such, that on the column being wire cut transversely to form the individual bricks, the cutting action of the cutting wires causes both ends of the passageways 17 in each brick to be bridged by the thin layer of clay 19. The bricks are then fired according to conventional practice and in so firing the thin layers 19 at either end of the passageway 17 are stabilised. In addition as a result of the manner of their formation the thin layers 19 are porous. According to one example of the embodiment the passageways have a diameter of approximately 4mm.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiment described above.

Claims

1. A paving element having an upper and lower surface and formed of a substantially impervious material, a plurality of passageways formed through the element and extending between the upper and lower faces, the opening of the passageway to the upper face being at least partially closed by a thin layer of said material to provide an upper surface which is substantially continuous said layer being permeable.

2. A paving element as claimed at claim 1 wherein the paving elements comprise paving bricks formed of fired clay.

3. A paving element as claimed at claim 1 or 2 wherein the bricks are formed by extrusion.

4. A paving element substantially as herein described.

A method of forming a paving element comprising extruding a quantity of clay through a die having the desired cross section, whereby a plurality of passageways are formed in the extruded column where the passageways are parallel the direction of extrusion, said method further comprising cutting the column transversely to form the upper and lower faces of the paving element, said passageways having a diameter such that the cutting of the column causes the ends of the passageways at the upper and lower faces of the paving element to be bridged by a thin layer of clay.

6. A method of forming a paving element substantially as herein described. Dated this THIRD day of DECEMBER

1998. MIDLAND BRICK COMPANY PTY LTD Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant