• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    FIG. IA The present invention relates to an improved grass trough for holding turf. The grass trough comprises a flat thermoplastic plate with an ordered cell structure therein, which are divided in two approximately perpendicular directions in the plane of the plate by one or more strips that can be deformed in the plane of the plate perpendicular to the direction along which the strip runs to absorb pressures and forces in this way. The cells are provided with support ribs on the underside of the plate which ensure that turf cannot fall through the cells. The strips are all provided with several transverse walls that are transverse to the longitudinal directions of the strips. FIG. IA
    公开号:BE1023033B1
    申请号:E2015/5624
    申请日:2015-10-05
    公开日:2016-11-09
    发明作者:HOORDE Christophe VAN；Chris SLABBINCK
    申请人:Ecco Bvba；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    GRASDAL
    TECHNICAL DOMAIN
    The invention relates to an improved grass valley. This consists of a flat thermoplastic geocomposite plate containing a number of cells for holding turf, and a number of compacting strips to absorb deformation and mechanical stress.
    BACKGROUND ART
    A problem with the known grass troughs is that they offer insufficient support for the grass sods or lumps of soil with grass therein placed therein. In known embodiments, for example, use is made of particularly small cells which, in this way, can naturally retain the lumps of earth placed therein, but then often insufficiently. Moreover, this means that more material must be used for the production of such a grass valley, which has a larger material volume. The same for many support elements that are present in other versions. Some have too extensive support, which increases both the amount of material and therefore the cost per surface area of grass, but on the other hand can also cause a deteriorated flow of water.
    U.S. Patent No. 8,734,049, issued to the United States, describes a grass trough in which the grass trough consists of a flat plate containing a plurality of cells separated from one another in groups by different flexible strips in two different directions of the plane of the plate. These strips can handle pressure and forces in the plane of the plate, and have different elements that connect separate groups of cells. Furthermore, most cells include cross-shaped supports on the underside of the plate which are designed to ensure that turf does not fall through the plate. A disadvantage of this is that the cells are in each case separate structures that are connected to other cells or the elements of the strips and as such require a large volume of raw materials for manufacture. Moreover, this limits the space for the turf that can be placed in the grass valley, which makes the grass valley aesthetically less attractive and certainly also a factor for a possible buyer.
    U.S. Patent 5,689,912, issued to the United States, describes a grass trough with a bee-ridge structure for the cells. There is no flexible zone here to possibly absorb the pressure. In addition, a support is provided in the cells on the underside of the grass valley that leaves only a central opening at the bottom of the cells for watering through. In this way, the grass trough is not resistant to transverse pressures and forces in the plane of the plate and there is a risk that the plate will break or crack under external or internal pressure. In addition, the support according to the patent causes a greater need for material for the production of the product and it is furthermore possible that the grass valley causes poor watering, since the central opening can easily become blocked in a cell.
    In a final embodiment, the grass trough is described in the German utility model DE202012101724, which has a structure with cells or cell groups separated from each other by strips in two directions of the plane of the plate, with more flexible, curved walls that can deform light under the influence of pressure and force in the plane of the plate. The cells each have a support on the underside to prevent the turf from falling through the cell. In addition, coupling elements are provided to connect plates together. However, round cells are present at the intersections of the strips that can deform, which ensures a large number of cells, and in addition a larger volume of matter ensures the production per surface area of the grasslands. Moreover, it is advisable to have a fairly simple structure in the plate since the earth clogs that are placed in it must be pre-cut or punched, which is currently not the case by providing the cylindrical cells that partially cut off the square cells.
    There is a need for an improved grass trough which is suitable on the one hand to hold turf, on the other hand is sufficiently resistant to transverse pressures (in the plane of the grass trough), and in addition has sufficient strength not to sink into the soil when placed, without thereby use an unnecessary amount of material in the production of the grasslands.
    It is an object of the present invention to find a solution to at least some of the aforementioned problems.
    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
    The invention relates to an improved grass trough, consisting of a flat thermoplastic plate for holding turf. This plate comprises a top side and a bottom side, on opposite sides of the plate, and a plurality of sides connecting the top side and the bottom side, each side being provided with one or more coupling elements, suitable for connecting the plate to another plate with linking elements. Furthermore, the plate comprises a plurality of cells in an ordered structure, the cells being delimited by cell walls that are substantially perpendicular to the top or bottom of the plate. The cells are in the form of a prism with an open top surface and an open bottom surface, the prism having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the plate. The prism may, for example, be a three-sided prism, a beam, a five-sided prism, a six-sided prism, or other. Preferably, these are prisms that can connect in tessellation pattern or tiling. The cells comprise at least one diagonal running support rib on the underside of the plate. Furthermore, the plate has one or more first compacting strips, which run mainly along a first longitudinal direction in the plate, and one or more second compacting strips, which run essentially along a second longitudinal direction in the plate. The second longitudinal direction is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction. The first compaction strips include curved transverse walls that are substantially transverse to the first longitudinal direction and that the second compaction strips comprise curved transverse walls that are substantially transverse to the second longitudinal direction. The thickness of the cell walls increases from the top of the plate to the bottom of the plate. The compacting strips allow the plate to be pressed in the plane of the plate and stretched in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the compacting strip, in the plane of the plate.
    In addition, the first and second compaction strips can cross each other in a cell with a cross-sectional plane along the plane of the first and second compaction strips, a square with concave bending walls.
    In one embodiment, the transverse walls of the first and second compacting strips run between an upright rib of a cell on one side of the compacting strip to an upright rib of a cell on the opposite side of the compacting strip.
    In one embodiment, all successive transverse walls of at least one compaction strip either bend toward each other or away from each other. This is preferably the case for all transverse walls of all compaction strips.
    In one embodiment, the transverse walls on the sides of the thermoplastic plate are bent inwards relative to the plate.
    In one embodiment, the cells are approximately bar-shaped, with a square section in the plane of the plate.
    In one embodiment, the cells each comprise two diagonally extending support ribs, which each connect two diagonally opposed upright ribs of the cells on the underside of the plate. These support ribs are suitable for supporting turfs so that they do not fall through the cells of the plate. The support ribs preferably intersect each other, more preferably in the middle of each other.
    In one embodiment, the plate comprises Stacking elements for transversely holding a second plate when the plate and the second plate are stacked. Preferably, the Stacking Elements of the plate are such that the Stacking Elements hold the second plate transversely when the plate is stacked on the second plate, the plates being aligned with the bottom of one plate against the top of the other plate.
    In one embodiment, the plate comprises male coupling elements on at least one side and female coupling elements corresponding on the opposite side, suitable for receiving the male coupling elements.
    In one embodiment the plate comprises a material with a melt flow index (MFI) lower than 30. Preferably, the plate comprises a material with an MFI lower than 20. Further preferably, the plate comprises a material with an MFI lower than 15, and even more preferably, the plate comprises a material with an MFI lower than 10.
    In one embodiment the plate comprises polypropylene. More preferably, the plate comprises high density polypropylene.
    In one embodiment the plate has a thickness comprised between 3 cm and 10 cm, preferably the thickness is comprised between 4 cm and 7 cm, more preferably the thickness is approximately 5 cm.
    In one embodiment the plate has an approximately square upper side and an approximately square lower side, these being approximately uniform in contour. The square top or bottom has a side comprised between 65 cm and 95 cm. Preferably the side is comprised between 75 cm and 85 cm. Preferably, the side is approximately 80 cm.
    In a second aspect the invention relates to a flat thermoplastic plate as described in this document, wherein the plate comprises a layer of soil with pre-sown grass.
    In an alternative embodiment the invention relates to a thermoplastic plate as described in this document, wherein the plate comprises a layer of soil with pre-grown grass.
    In a preferred embodiment, the layer of soil has a thickness lower than the thickness of the plate. The thickness of the layer of soil is preferably approximately 1 cm lower than the thickness of the plate.
    DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1A shows an isometric view of a plate according to the invention. FIG. 1B shows a bottom view of a plate according to the invention, perpendicular to the plane of the plate. FIG. IC shows a section of a plate according to the invention, according to the B-B line. FIG. 1D shows a cross-section of a plate according to the invention according to the A-A line. FIG. IE shows a side view of a plate according to the invention perpendicular to the A-A line. FIG. 1F shows an enlarged view of the circled zone of FIG. IE. FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a second type of plate according to the invention, perpendicular to the plane of the plate. FIG. 3A shows a frontal view of a female (top) and male coupling element (bottom). FIG. 3B shows a bottom view of a female (top) and male coupling element (bottom). FIG. 3C shows a side view of a female (top) and male coupling element (bottom). FIG. 3B shows an isometric view of a male and female coupling element in the coupled state.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION
    The invention relates to an improved grass valley suitable for keeping turf.
    Unless defined otherwise, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art of the invention. For a better assessment of the description of the invention, the following terms are explicitly explained. "A", "de" and "het" in this document refer to both the singular and the plural unless the context clearly assumes otherwise. For example, "a segment" means one or more than one segment.
    When "about" or "round" is used in this document for a measurable quantity, a parameter, a duration or moment, and the like, variations are meant of +/- 20% or less, preferably +/- 10% or less, more preferably +/- 5% or less, even more preferably +/- 1% or less, and even more preferably +/- 0.1% or less than and of the quoted value, insofar as such variations of are applicable in the described invention. However, it must be understood here that the value of the quantity at which the term "about" or "round" is used is itself specifically disclosed.
    The terms "include", "comprising", "consist of", "consisting of", "provided with", "contain", "containing", "include", "including", "contents", "contents" are synonyms and are inclusive or open terms indicating the presence of what follows, and which do not preclude or preclude the presence of other components, features, elements, members, steps, known from or described in the prior art.
    The term "the plane of the plate" herein refers to the direction indicated by a plane parallel to the flat plate, or thus parallel to the bottom or top of the plate. In other words, this indicates an infinite number of parallel plates and can be considered as a direction defined by the (approximate) flat plate. This plane will also be referred to as the plane defined by the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction of the first and second compacting strips in the plane.
    The citation of numerical intervals by the end points includes all integers, fractions and / or real numbers between the end points, including these end points.
    In a first aspect the invention relates to an improved grass trough, comprising a flat thermoplastic plate. The thermoplastic sheet generally comprises an upper side and a lower side that are opposite to each other. The top and bottom of the plate are approximately flat. The top and bottom are connected by several sides. These sides can be flat, curved into one or more dimensions or combinations of the aforementioned options. Furthermore, the plate comprises a plurality of open channels from the top to the bottom. These open channels will be called cells in this document. The cells are present in the plate in an ordered structure and are in the form of a prism with an open top surface and open bottom surface, the longitudinal axis of the cells being approximately perpendicular to the bottom of the plate and extending from the bottom to the top. The cell walls that border the cells are approximately perpendicular to the bottom or top of the plate. Finally, the cells have at least one diagonally extending support rib along the underside of the plate. The plate further comprises one or more first compaction strips, preferably two, more preferably three, but also 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and more are possible. The first compaction strips run essentially along a first longitudinal direction in the plate. The first compaction strips furthermore preferably divide the plate into a number of equal strips. Furthermore, the first compaction strips preferably run approximately parallel to a side of the plate. The plate further comprises one or more second compaction strips, preferably two, more preferably three, but also 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and more are possible. The second compaction strips run essentially along a second longitudinal direction in the plate. This second longitudinal direction is approximately perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction. The second compaction strips furthermore preferably divide the plate into a number of equal strips. Furthermore, the two compaction strips preferably run approximately parallel to a side of the plate. The plate is characterized in that the first compaction strips comprise curved transverse edges which are substantially transverse to the first longitudinal direction. The second compaction strips comprise curved transverse edges that are substantially transverse to the second longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the cell walls and the transverse walls have a thickness that rises from the top of the plate to the bottom of the plate. The cell walls preferably have a thickness of between 2 mm and 10 mm, preferably about 4 mm on average, the cell wall having a thickness of about 5 mm on the underside of the plate and about 3 mm on the underside. By having a wider base on the underside of the plate, applied forces can be better distributed and, possibly more importantly, the plate also stands more firmly on the bottom. With a soft bottom, a plate with a small contact surface on the underside runs the risk of partially sinking into the soft bottom. By increasing the contact surface, this danger is greatly reduced. An adjustment from 3 mm to 5 mm already provides a contact surface that is approximately 67% larger and therefore exerts an approximately 40% lower pressure on the bottom. Although this figure follows without considering the area of the support ribs, this is still a good estimate as the support ribs are thin and therefore flexible elements that will take up little of the pressure. For that reason, it is even more important that the cell walls absorb most of the pressure in order to prevent the plate from being pressed into the ground, as this could lead to rupture of the supporting ribs, as can occur with other plates, and the plates can only be used once. Due to the improvements of the widening cell walls towards the bottom of the plate, the grass troughs as proposed herein can be reloaded several times with soil and turf.
    Preferably, the first and second compaction strips intersect in at least one cell with a cross-sectional plane along the plane of the first and second compaction strips, a square with concave bending transverse walls. This amounts to a square with inwardly curved sides. In this way, a compacted cell is created at this location since opposite transverse walls can partially relieve each other from pressure once they bend enough to touch each other. The walls thus prevent further bending of each other, since they are normally both under approximately the same pressure and thus push against each other with the same force, and therefore cannot move further.
    The transverse walls are preferably bent around an axis that runs from the top to the bottom of the plate. Alternatively, the transverse walls can also be curved about an axis that runs in the plane of the plate, for example from a side to an opposite side. The diffraction can be a circular arc, or a part of a paraboloid or a part of the curve of another, possibly polynomial, function. The deviation of the transverse walls from a virtual flat wall connecting the divided sides with the cell walls is comprised between 8% and 50% of the distance between the divided sides with the cell walls for the transverse wall in question. This distance is normally also equal to the width of the compacting strip, or the shortest distance between a cell wall on one side of the compacting strip and a cell wall on the opposite side of the compacting strip. This can also be interpreted as the shortest distance between two parts of the plate that are separated from each other by a compaction strip.
    By including the compaction strips in two different longitudinal directions that are approximately perpendicular to each other, it is possible to resist pressure from inside out or out. Instead of leading to cracks, cracks, breaks or permanent deformations, the compaction strips can deform without leading to permanent deformation of the plate. This is possible by making the transverse walls curved in the compaction strip. With pressure from the inside out, the transverse walls will be less curved, but will return to their original shape when the pressure drops. With pressure from the outside inwards, the transverse walls will be more curved, but will take back their original shape when the pressure is released. Because the longitudinal directions along which the first and second compaction strips run are approximately perpendicular to each other, the plate can press and exert forces in any direction by possibly dividing it into a partial pressure or force along the first longitudinal direction and a partial pressure or force along the second longitudinal direction. Moreover, since the transverse walls of the compaction strips are approximately transverse to the longitudinal directions along which the compaction strips run, they are extremely suitable for absorbing deformation without leading to fractures, as could be the case with other patterns above.
    In one embodiment, the transverse walls of the first and of the second compacting strips run between an upright rib of a cell on one side of the compacting strip to an upright rib of a cell on the opposite side of the compacting strip.
    By running the transverse walls of an upright rib of a cell on both sides of the compaction strip, there is less risk of bending in the cell structure. The ribs are sturdier than the rest of the cell wall since the ribs are reinforced by the convergence of two cell walls. For example, the deformation will not occur in the cell wall, but the force or pressure will be transmitted to the transverse wall, which is suitable for tolerating the deformation non-destructively. Moreover, such a pattern for the plate is easier to produce via extrusion by clustering wall tangents.
    In one embodiment, successive transverse walls of at least one compaction strip either bend toward each other or bend away from each other. In this way the orientation of the bending of the transverse walls of the compacting strip alternates as the compacting strip traverses. Preferably, successive transverse walls of all compaction strips either bend toward each other or bend away from each other.
    By varying the bending of the transverse walls, the risk of a deformation that can lead to slanting of parts of the plate is reduced. The transverse walls hereby deform definitively because they are all oriented to the same side and can thus deform a part of the plate both in the direction of the pressure and in the direction perpendicular to the pressure in the plane of the plate. This happens because the transverse walls would no longer be perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the compaction strip in which they are located. By alternately bending the transverse walls of a compaction strip in an unloaded state, a portion, approximately half, of the transverse walls will counteract the deformation in the plane of the plate in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the pressure.
    In a preferred embodiment, the transverse walls located on the sides of the plate are bent inwardly with respect to the plate. In this way, the plate can be laid snugly next to each other without any protruding transverse walls being able to form an obstruction.
    In one embodiment, the cells are approximately bar-shaped, with a square cross-section along the plane of the plate. This amounts to the fact that the longitudinal axis of the beam is perpendicular to the plane of the plate, or is perpendicular to the underside of the plate, in other words. Alternatively, six-sided prisms can also be used for this, or three-sided prisms, or other shapes, such as cubes and cylinders. Preferably the cells have approximately the same cross-section along the plane of the plate, over the full thickness of the plate. More preferably, the cells are truncated quadrilateral pyramids, with a height much larger than the sides of the square as a base. The sides of the top surface and the base surface preferably differ at most 5%, more preferably at most 4% and even more preferably at most 3%.
    The cells mentioned above offer the advantage that most can be arranged in a flat-filling pattern, or simply arranged to leave as few gaps as possible. The choice for preferably beam-shaped or possibly cube-shaped cells is in the fact that it is easier to cut square earth plugs to fit in them. Moreover, this shape offers a great deal of stability and an ordered grid, whereby the boundaries can also be made straight, which offers advantages when transitioning to compacting strips or when adjacent plates fit together.
    In a preferred embodiment, the width of a compaction strip is comprised between 3 cm and 15 cm. More preferably between 5 cm and 10 cm and even more preferably about 6.7 to 6.9 cm, depending on where the width is measured. The same order of magnitude is preferably desired for the double apothema of the cells, in the case of the bar-shaped cells this is therefore the side of the square cross-section. This size allows easy cutting of the earth plugs, and is not too large to have the risk that the earth plugs can easily sink through the cell. Preferably the thickness of the plate (the distance between the bottom and the top of the plate) is comprised between 2.5 cm and 10 cm. This is preferably between 3 cm and 7 cm. Even more preferably this is between 3.5 and 5.5 cm. Still further preferred, this is either about 4 cm or about 5 cm.
    In one embodiment, the cells each comprise two diagonally extending support ribs that connect two diagonally opposite upright ribs of the cells along the underside of the plate. This offers the advantage that layers of soil placed in the cells and containing grass pre-sown or pre-grown cannot simply fall through the cells.
    In a further embodiment, the first and the second compaction strips comprise curved and / or straight supporting ribs on the underside of the plate, the curved and the straight supporting ribs lying in the plane of the underside of the plate. The curved support ribs can be circular arcs, parts of a parabola or a part of the curve according to a polynomial function.
    In the present embodiment, the curved support ribs in the compaction strips have the same profile as the transverse walls of the compaction strips, but are rotated either 90 ° or -90 ° in the plane of the plate with respect to the transverse walls.
    The straight support ribs also lie in the plane of the underside of the plate. The straight support ribs can protrude from the sides of the compaction strips toward the interior of the compaction strip. These sides are the cell walls of the cells adjacent to the compaction strip, and possibly cross walls of compaction strips of the other kind (first versus second). In this arrangement, the straight support ribs are preferably approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the compaction strip, and they connect the sides of the compaction strips, or the straight support ribs are further preferably interrupted in the middle. The straight support ribs can also protrude from the transverse walls of the compacting strips and the straight support ribs can connect successive transverse walls, or the straight support ribs are further preferably interrupted in the middle. The straight support ribs in this arrangement preferably run approximately parallel to the length direction of the compaction strip. The straight support ribs are preferably present in both arrangements, optionally they can be placed alternately.
    Since layers of soil with grass will also be placed in the compaction strips, it is important that they cannot fall through there, for example during transport and placement. For that reason, the support ribs must be placed to support the layers of soil. Preferably, the straight support ribs are interrupted at the center to allow compacting of the plate in the plane of the plate without the straight support ribs coming under pressure. Due to their curved shape, the curved support ribs can also tolerate any deformation of the compaction strip without permanent damage or deformation.
    In one embodiment, a first plate on the bottom (or optionally on the top) comprises stacking elements for transversely holding the first plate on a second plate (or vice versa). These can be located on the plate and extend approximately perpendicular to the plane of the plate (bottom and / or top) relative to the plate, in such a way that two stacked plates are fixed transversely (in the plane of the plate) relative to each other. This is possible, for example, by providing protrusions on one or more supporting ribs or on cell walls, the protrusions being close to the extended surface of one or more cell walls, but wherein this surface does not intersect the protrusions. More preferably, the protrusions are close to the extended surface of two intersecting cell walls, so that a protrusion can limit movement of the plates in multiple dimensions. The protrusions can extend over a distance of 1 mm to 1 cm, or even further, depending on the situation, and can for instance be cylindrical, but in addition also beam-shaped, prismatic or other shapes. Preferably, a protrusion is positioned at each corner point of the bottom surface, the protrusion being at least the thickness of a cell wall away from the elongated surface of the sides of the plate, towards the center of the plate, such that the protrusions in a cell can be moved from an underlying plate if the plates are correctly aligned. By positioning the protuberances in such a way, it is also ensured that the stacked plates are restricted in their movements in all directions in the plane of the plates.
    In one embodiment, at least one side comprises one or more coupling elements, the coupling elements being suitable for attaching the side in question of the plate to a side of another plate. Each side of the plate is preferably provided with at least two coupling elements. More preferably, each side is provided with at least 3 coupling elements. Even more preferably, each side is provided with 4 coupling elements.
    The coupling elements preferably comprise male coupling elements and female coupling elements, wherein the female coupling elements are suitable for receiving the male coupling elements. By having female coupling elements from a side of a first plate receive male coupling elements from a side of a second plate, the first plate and the second plate can be adhered to each other. Each side of a plate is preferably provided with either male coupling elements or female coupling elements, with opposite sides having the opposite coupling elements. It is also possible to provide both male and female coupling elements on the same side in order to effect the adhesion of different plates. The male coupling elements can be, for example, hook-shaped protrusions, with the hook curled from the bottom of the plate to the top of the plate, or vice versa. The female coupling elements can simply be notches, suitable for receiving the male coupling elements, and preferably having a suitable form for this.
    Since in many cases the intention is to lay a contiguous plurality of such plates so that a sufficiently large surface can be laid with turf, it is necessary to be able to lay the plates properly afterwards. In other words, the plates must be able to be placed at least partly in a thumping position. In addition, it is also important that the plates can be attached to each other, a kind of anchoring that ensures that they can be fixed securely. By connecting all plates (or a part thereof), it can be ensured that there is little or no play between the plates where dirt can accumulate, or damage can be caused to shoes that run on them or injuries to feet and / or legs. . A simple way of achieving this is to provide part of the sides of the plates with coupling elements to which other plates of the same type can be attached.
    Alternatively, a first part of the plates may have a first type of coupling elements, and a second part of the plates may have a second type of coupling element so that plates of the first part of the plates can be attached to plates of the second part of the plates.
    Other methods of fixing the plates together can of course also be used. Such a system offers the advantage that either the female coupling elements of one plate can be easily attached to the male coupling elements of another plate lying on the ground, for example by sliding a notch of a plate over the hook of a lying plate ( or multiple notches over multiple hooks). On the other hand, male coupling elements of one plate can also be attached so simply to the female coupling elements of another plate lying on the ground, for example by sliding a hook of a plate into a notch of a horizontal plate (or several hooks in several notches). ).
    In one embodiment the plate comprises a material with a melt flow index (MFIa lower than 30, for example 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21. Preferably, the MFI is lower than 20, for example 19, 18, 17, 16, further preferably lower than 15, for example 14, 13, 12, 11, and even further preferably lower than 10, for example 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. A low MFI indicates on the one hand a high strength of the thermoplastic, and therefore a sturdy plate that does not deform easily, which is certainly important since the plate must be able to withstand a lot of loads, ranging from walking people to bicycles, to light vehicles and even heavy vehicles. In addition, this also indicates the extent to which the material can be extruded.With a low MFI, the material will be more difficult to machine, so it is a question of finding a balance between high strength (and therefore a relatively low MFI) and sufficient editability (therefore not too low an MFI) In form, the plate comprises polypropylene. Preferably, the plate comprises high density polypropylene.
    In one embodiment the plate has a thickness comprised between 3 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 3.5 cm and 7 cm, more preferably either about 4 cm or about 5 cm. These preferred thicknesses allow an optimum space to provide a layer of soil with pre-sown or pre-grown grass therein, the layer of soil having a thickness that is approximately 1 cm lower than the thickness of the plate. By making the plate thicker, the plate costs more and a larger amount of soil must be provided, which on the one hand costs more. In addition, this results in a less manageable and placeable plate due to the extra weight. Moreover, a large part of the layer of soil is then superfluous for a good root formation of the grass and thus superfluous.
    In one embodiment, the plate is approximately square, the plate has a side between 65 cm and 95 cm, preferably between 75 cm and 85 cm. More preferably, the side of the square plate is approximately 80 cm. These dimensions also allow good stackability and handling.
    In one embodiment, at least one side of the plate comprises one or more flexible clamping elements. These clamping elements partially extend away from the side of the plate, in a plane defined by the first and the second longitudinal direction. By making the clamping elements flexible, it is possible to fix a plate clampingly in the plane defined by the first and second longitudinal direction if the plate is surrounded by a harsh environment. The clamping elements can be partially bent to insert the plate into an opening, and then secure by attempting to return to the original position. As a result, pressure is exerted by the clamping elements on the environment, which causes a shear stress that ensures that the plate encounters a resistance if an attempt is made to move it. A side preferably comprises one or more clamping elements, for example 2, 3, 4 or 5 or more. In a possible embodiment, the clamping elements are lip-shaped cut-outs from the side of the plate, wherein the extreme end of the lip-shaped cut-out may, for example, have a thickening or bulge away from the side of the plate. The lip-shaped cutout is flexible with a high rigidity, so that a lot of force must be used to cause bending and the lip-shaped cutout can thus be pressed in to clamp the plate. Two adjacent sides of the plate are preferably provided with such elements. This is especially advantageous with square plates, since the plates can be clamped together in this way. The coupling elements ensure correct alignment and ensure that interconnected plates cannot slide away from each other, and the clamping elements ensure that the plates are not too loosely coupled by holding the interconnected plates firmly clamped together.
    In one embodiment, the plate comprises a layer of soil with pre-grown grass in the cells. In an alternative embodiment, the plate comprises a layer of soil with pre-seeded grass in the cells. Optionally, a combination of both forms can also be made. The advantage that pre-sown or pre-grown grass offers is immense. The cutting of sod soil in an appropriate form for these plates cannot be carried out on a small scale, and certainly not efficiently. That is why it is often resorted to a supplier that supplies plate and soil with grass. This makes it possible to construct a surface completely covered with soil and any grass that has already been pre-grown, in other words, ready for use. The simple structure of the cells in the plate also makes it easy to cut the lump of soil.
    The layer of soil preferably has a thickness that is lower than the thickness of the plate. The thickness of the layer of soil is preferably approximately 1 cm lower than the thickness of the plate. This allows the part of the grass just above the lump of soil to be better protected against loads such as pedestrians, vehicles and the like. Moreover, the earth is also kept better in the cells in this way and weather, wind and / or water can remove soil less easily if it had to be present above the top of the plate. By placing the upper limit of the layer of soil a little lower than the top of the slab, the grass is better protected close to the root, and only a part of the leaf can be damaged, possibly, which is easier to grow back.
    In the following, the invention is described a.d.h.v. non-limiting examples illustrating the invention, and which are not intended or may be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention. EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1
    In a first example, as seen in FIG. 1A-1B-1C-1D-1E-1F, the flat plate is generally bar-shaped with a square top side (1) and a square bottom side (2) corresponding therewith, and four rectangular sides (3) which are the sides of the square bottom side ( 2) and top (1). The top (1) and bottom (2) have a side of approximately 80 cm, although other sizes (also rectangular) are also possible. In this case, three first compacting strips (6) run parallel to a first side of the plate in the plate, and three second compacting strips (7) run parallel to a second side of the plate which is perpendicular to the first side. The compaction strips (6, 7) comprise transverse walls (8) that are approximately transverse to the longitudinal direction of the compaction strip (6, 7) in which the transverse walls (8) are located. The plate is divided by the compacting strips (6, 7) into 16 cell groups of 2 in 2 beam-shaped cells (4), the cell groups being arranged 4 in 4, the longitudinal axis of the beam-shaped cell (4) being perpendicular to the flat underside (2) or top (1) of the plate. The bar-shaped cells (4) have a square cross-section in the plane of the plate and therefore square openings on the top and bottom of the plate. The square cross-section of the cells (4) has a side between 6.4 cm and 7.2 cm, about 6.7 to 6.9 cm, wherein, as stated, the bar-shaped cells (4) are actually truncated pyramidal cells with a height that is much larger than the sides of the base of the pyramid, and as such, deviate little from beams. The cell walls (5) have a thickness of approximately 4 mm. The compacting strips (6, 7) have a comparable width (being dimensions in the plane of the plate, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the compacting strip (6, 7)). In this way the plate consists of 11 rows (8 cells and 3 compaction strips, which are arranged as 2 cells, 1 compaction strip, 2 cells, 1 compaction strip, 2 cells, 1 compaction strip, 2 cells) and 11 columns (constructed in the same way and ordered).
    The coupling elements (10A, 10B) are visible in FIG. 1A-1B-1C-1D-1E-1F, but the principle is further explained in FIG. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D. A first side includes male coupling elements (10A). These are crocheted protrusions that extend away from the side, and consist of a first part that extends away from the plate over a distance approximately equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of a cell wall (5) on the underside (2) of the plate, and on which a widening extends parallel to the side, towards the top (1) of the plate and in the directions perpendicular to it, still parallel to the side. Alternatively, the widening may extend to the bottom (2) of the plate instead of the top (1). The opposite side includes female coupling elements (10B) suitable for receiving the male coupling elements (10A). These are in the form of notches on the opposite side and start at the bottom (2) of the plate. Alternatively, following the previous comment, the notches in the opposite side can also begin at the top (1) of the plate.
    The third and fourth sides, which are opposite sides, are provided with coupling elements (10A, 10B) in the same way.
    This form of coupling elements (10A, 10B) allows an optimum grip of one plate on another plate and does not allow rotations around an axis or a point once plates are connected, this by causing the widening to run in different directions.
    One coupling element (10A, 10B) per side is present in one cell wall (5) per cell group, which leads to 4 coupling elements (10A, 10B) per side.
    The bar-shaped cells (4) have two diagonally extending support ribs (9) along the underside (2) of the plate, which partially close the square opening of the cells (4) on the underside (2) of the plate, in cross shape with other words. These are approximately 4 mm wide (the dimension from a top view) and approximately 2 mm thick or approximately 1 mm or approximately 3 mm (the dimension from a side view along the longitudinal axis of a support rib).
    The bottom (2) of the plate is, as shown in FIG. 1C-1D-1E-1F, provided with 4 Stacking elements (11) in the form of cylindrical projections on support ribs (9), the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical projection being approximately perpendicular to the underside (2) of the plate, with a height about 4 or 5 mm relative to the bottom of the plate. The Stacking Elements (11) are positioned in such a way that, when stacking plates, the plate can be laid transversely on an underlying plate, which benefits the stackability and transportability.
    Finally, as seen in FIG. 1A-1F, the two adjacent sides with the female coupling elements (10B) each provided with two clamping elements (12), close to the sides of the side that are shared with another side. These clamping elements (12) are lip-shaped cut-outs from the side, cut from the bottom (2) of the plate to approximately halfway the side. These lip-shaped cutouts are somewhat flexible, but with great rigidity, so that a great force must be exerted to compress them. The end of the lip-shaped cut-outs has a thickening away from the plate, of about 1 mm or 2 mm or 3 mm. The thickening preferably rises from the end of the lip-shaped cut-out to a maximum, after which the thickening ends again. In this embodiment this is done over a distance of approximately 1 cm. In this way, the force required to press in the lip-shaped cut-outs is gradually built up as the plate is pushed further into a narrow opening, whereby the lip-shaped ends are pushed in towards the inside of the plate and the plate can clamp. EXAMPLE 2
    In a second example, the plate is as described above, but further provided with additional support ribs (13, 14, 15), as visible in FIG. 2, outside the cross-shaped support ribs (9) in the beam-shaped cells (4). The cell walls (5) adjacent to a compaction strip (6, 7) are also provided with the additional support ribs (13, 14, 15), to further support the layers of earth or earth clogs that are introduced into the compaction strip (6, 7) . The supporting ribs (9, 13, 14, 15) all lie at least partially in the plane of the underside (2) of the plate. A first type of additional support ribs (13, 14, 15) are curved support ribs (14) with a profile similar to that for the transverse walls (8), but with a thickness of about 2 or about 1 mm or about 3 mm, and a width of about 4 mm (with dimensions as explained earlier at the support ribs). The curved support ribs (14) run in the compaction strip (6, 7) over the lower limit of a side wall (5) of a cell (4) adjacent to a compaction strip (6, 7). Per two cell walls adjacent to a compaction strip (6, 7), one cell wall is provided with a curved support rib (14), the opposite cell wall relative to the compaction strip (6, 7) also being provided with a curved support rib (14). The remaining cell walls adjacent to a compaction strip (6, 7) are provided with a second type of additional support ribs, straight support ribs (13) which are perpendicular to the bottom side (2) of the plate perpendicular to the compaction strip (6, 7). the cell wall (5). Again, opposite cell walls are both provided with straight support ribs (13), the opposite straight support ribs (13) not touching each other, as seen in FIG. 2A, but which lie on a single straight line and are approximately 1 cm to 2 cm apart. The straight support ribs (13) have a thickness and width similar to the curved support ribs (14).
    A third type of support ribs (15) is present in cells delimited by the transverse walls (8) of compaction strips (6, 7) and optionally by cell walls (5). Here, a second type of straight support ribs (15) is present on either side, implanted in the same plane as the previous straight support ribs (13), and with the same dimensions and boundary towards each other, but with the second type of straight support ribs (15) on the transverse walls (8) of the compaction strip (6, 7) are implanted.
    It is believed that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and that some modifications or changes can be added to the described examples without re-evaluating the appended claims. For example, the present invention has been described with reference to grass troughs, but it should be understood that the invention can be applied to, for example, other plant species or flowers, and not only to turf and grass. Artificial grass can also be placed in the cells of the plates. In addition, non-flat plates can also be created for this purpose, for example on slopes or undulating terrains. The plates can be made to measure or via mass production.
    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [1]
    CONCLUSIONS
    A flat thermoplastic plate for holding turf, comprising: a. A top side and a bottom side, on opposite sides of the plate, and a plurality of sides connecting the top side and the bottom side; b. multiple cells in an ordered structure, i. the cells being delimited by cell walls substantially perpendicular to the top or bottom of the plate; ii. wherein the cells are in the form of a prism with an open top surface and an open bottom surface, the prism having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the plate; iii. and wherein the cells on the underside of the plate comprise at least one diagonal running support rib; c. one or more first compacting strips, which run essentially along a first longitudinal direction in the plate; d. and one or more second compacting strips, which run substantially along a second longitudinal direction in the plate and wherein the second longitudinal direction is approximately perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction; characterized in that the first compacting strips comprise curved transverse walls substantially transversely to the first longitudinal direction and that the second compacting strips comprise curved transverse walls essentially transversely to the second longitudinal direction, wherein the cell walls and the transverse walls have a thickness that rises from the top of the plate to the bottom of the plate.
    [2]
    A flat thermoplastic sheet according to the preceding claim 1, wherein the transverse walls of the first and of the second compaction strips run between an upright rib of a cell on one side of the compaction strip to an upright rib of a cell on the opposite side of the compaction strip.
    [3]
    A flat thermoplastic sheet according to any of the preceding claims 1 or 2, wherein successive transverse walls of at least one compaction strip either bend toward each other or bend away from each other, and wherein the transverse walls on the sides of the thermoplastic sheet are bent inwards relative to the plate.
    [4]
    A flat thermoplastic sheet according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the cells are beam-shaped, with a square cross-section.
    [5]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein the cells each comprise two diagonally extending support ribs, each of which connects two diagonally opposite upright ribs of the cells along the underside of the plate.
    [6]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second compacting strips comprise curved and straight support ribs on the underside of the plate.
    [7]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, comprising Stacking elements for transversely holding a second plate when the plate and the second plate are stacked.
    [8]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein the plate is provided on at least one side with one or more coupling elements suitable for connecting the plate to a second plate with coupling elements.
    [9]
    A flat thermoplastic sheet according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein the sheet comprises a material with a melt flow index (MFI) lower than 30, preferably lower than 20, further preferably lower than 15 and at still further preferably lower than 10.
    [10]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the plate comprises polypropylene, preferably high-density polypropylene.
    [11]
    A flat thermoplastic sheet according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 10, wherein the sheet has a thickness between 3 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 3.5 cm and 7 cm, more preferably either about 5 cm or about 4 cm, and wherein the plate is approximately square with a side comprised between 65 cm and 95 cm, preferably between 75 cm and 85 cm and more preferably approximately 80 cm.
    [12]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein the first and second compacting strips comprise curved and / or straight support ribs on the underside of the plate.
    [13]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one side of the plate comprises one or more bendable clamping elements, which extend at least partially away from the side of the plate, in a plane defined by the first and the second longitudinal direction, for clampingly fixing the plate in said plane.
    [14]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 12, wherein the plate comprises a layer of soil with pre-grown and / or pre-sown grass in the cells.
    [15]
    A flat thermoplastic plate according to any one of the preceding claims 13 to 14, wherein the layer of soil has a thickness lower than the thickness of the plate, preferably wherein the thickness of the layer of soil is approximately 1 cm lower than the thickness of the plate is.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    US5214898A|1993-06-01|Block particularly for building loose-laid retaining walls
    KR100257227B1|2000-05-15|Modular block retaining wallsystem and method of constructing same
    US7967524B2|2011-06-28|Stackable landscape edging
    WO1980001185A1|1980-06-12|Improved precast concrete structural unit and composite wall structure
    CA2339950C|2007-12-18|Device for holding paving blocks in position
    NL1029538C2|2007-01-16|Wave protection structure, method for manufacturing a toe element for a wave protection structure, and method for manufacturing a wave protection structure.
    BE1023033B1|2016-11-09|Grass valley
    KR20140135238A|2014-11-25|Structural member used in rainwater storage laminated structure
    US7837415B2|2010-11-23|Retaining wall and blocks for the formation thereof
    NL1034103C2|2009-01-06|Water barrier element, system and method for forming a temporary water barrier.
    US20090185870A1|2009-07-23|Retaining wall block and method of manufacture
    EP2975925B1|2020-07-01|Double tray system for seed sowing or seedling transplantation
    BE1026136B1|2019-10-18|Drainage element for supporting artificial grass
    NL1039798C2|2013-07-09|BLOCK FOR OE DEFENSE AND COMPOSITION THEREOF.
    US11248383B2|2022-02-15|Insulating concrete form apparatus
    BE1023030B1|2016-11-09|Modular green roof
    KR101607528B1|2016-03-30|Support Panel For Footpath Block
    CA2426836A1|2004-10-25|Retaining wall made of sandbags
    NL1037133C2|2011-01-24|WALL AND FOOT BLOCK FOR SUCH WALL.
    AU2005240674B2|2010-10-21|Cavity former
    KR100627025B1|2006-09-25|Bone Block
    CA2950716C|2020-06-09|Long span masonry lintel support system
    NL1033377C2|2008-08-13|Floor, has comprehensive interconnected panels with top surface having contour along upper surface, where sides of each interconnected panel of floor are essentially vertical along contour
    JP3629680B2|2005-03-16|Building block
    RU12164U1|1999-12-16|COATING
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    [返回顶部]