Slabs

Abstract

 A plurality of slabs, each slab having an irregular pattern thereon. The slabs themselves are regularly shaped and therefore can be laid easily. The pattern on each is such that when the slabs are laid, the pattern on all slabs interconnects so that the overall crazy paving pattern crosses the joints between the individual slabs.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to paving slabs, in particular regularly shaped slabs having a "crazy paving" pattern thereon.

[0002] As used herein, the term "regularly shaped" means that the slabs are so shaped that they can be easily laid to a predictable pattern; it does not mean that the slabs must be square or rectangular, and indeed the slabs need not be all the same shape.

[0003] Square shaped paving slabs, each having an irregular pattern, are known. When these slabs are laid, a crazy paving effect is achieved without the need to lay irregularly shaped (usually broken) pieces of paving slab, which is extremely labour intensive.

[0004] The known paving slabs suffer from the disadvantage that, because of their regularity, the joints between adjacent edges of the slabs are often more prominent than the irregular pattern on the slabs. This to some extent defeats the object of having the crazy paving slabs.

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a plurality of regularly shaped paving slabs, each slab having an irregular pattern thereon such that when the slabs are laid in a regular fashion the pattern continues from one slab to the next, crossing the joints between the slabs themselves.

[0006] Preferably, there are two sets of slabs, the pattern on one set being the mirror image of the pattern on the other. Alternatively, the pattern of the slabs may be such that the lines of the pattern intersect the edges of the slab at regular intervals. In this case, there may be only one set of identical slabs, or several sets of slabs, the pattern on the different sets intersecting the edges of the slabs at the same regular intervals.

[0007] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a plurality of regularly shaped paving slabs, each slab having an irregular pattern thereon which intersects each edge thereof at regular intervals such that when the slabs are laid the pattern continues from one slab to the next crossing the joints between the slabs themselves.

[0008] According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a regularly shaped paving slab having an irregular pattern thereon which intersects each edge of the slab at regular intervals, such that when a plurality of such slabs are laid the pattern continues from one slab to the next, crossing the joints between the slabs themselves.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a number of conventional crazy paving slabs;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

[0010] Square shaped slabs having a crazy paving pattern thereon of the form shown in Figure 1 are known. However, when the slabs are laid next to one another, the joints between the slabs themselves appears as prominent, or even more prominent in view of their regularity, than the irregular pattern on the slabs.

[0011] Fig. 2 shows a plurality of paving slabs, each having an irregular pattern thereon. There are two sets of paving slabs, a and b. The irregular pattern on slabs a is the mirror image of the pattern on slabs b. Accordingly, when the slabs are laid with a slab from one set being surrounded by four slabs from the other set such that the slab on each side is its mirror image about its adjacent edge, the pattern on one slab joins with the patterns on the other slabs, the overall crazy paving pattern on the laid slabs thus crossing the regular joint lines between the individual slabs.

[0012] Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein the irregular pattern on each slab intersects the edges of the slabs at their mid-point, thus dividing each edge of the slab into two. When a plurality of such slabs are laid side by side, the pattern on one slab will always join up with the pattern on an adjacent slab.

[0013] All of the slabs in this embodiment may have the same irregular pattern, an overall crazy paving effect being achieved by the slabs being laid in random orientations. Alternatively, there may be several sets of slabs, each set having its own irregular pattern, but which in each case intersects each edge of the slab at the half-way point.

[0014] In order to enhance the overall crazy paving pattern, it is preferable to fill the joints between individual slabs with cement or sand of the same colour as the slabs themselves.

[0015] The slabs shown in Figures 2 and 3 are of a square shape, but as already mentioned the invention is also applicable to slabs of other regular shapes, for example, rectangular and hexagonal.

[0016] Although the embodiments described in relation to Figure 3, have the irregular pattern intersecting all edges of the slab at the midway point, it will be appreciated that the edges might be intersected at more than one point, provided that the points are located at equal intervals along the respective edge. In addition, it is not essential that all edges have the same number of intersections. For example it would be possible for a square slab to have a pattern in which two edges, either opposite or adjacent, are provided with an intersection at the midway point, and the other two each have two intersections at equal intervals along the edge.

Claims

1. A plurality of regularly shaped paving slabs, each slab having an irregular pattern thereon such that when the slabs are laid in a regular fashion the pattern continues from one slab to the next, crossing the joints between the slabs themselves.

2. A plurality of slabs according to claim 1 wherein there are two sets of slabs, the pattern on one set being the mirror image of the pattern on the other set.

3. A plurality of slabs according to claim 1 wherein the pattern on each slab intersects each edge of the slab at regular intervals.

4. A plurality of slabs according to claim 3 wherein the pattern intersects each edge of each slab at the half-way point.

5. A plurality of slabs according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pattern on each slab is the same.

6. A plurality of regularly shaped paving slabs, each slab having an irregular pattern thereon which intersects each edge thereof at regular intervals such that when the slabs are laid the pattern continues from one slab to the next crossing the joints between the slabs themselves.

7. A plurality of slabs according to claim 6, wherein the pattern intersects each edge of each slab at the half-way point.

8. A regularly shaped paving slab, having an irregular pattern thereon which intersects each edge of the slab at regular intervals, such that when a plurality of such slabs are laid the pattern continues from one slab to the next, crossing the joints between the slabs themselves.

9. A slab according to claim 8 wherein the pattern intersects each edge of the slab at the half-way point.

Drawing