Synthetic stones

Abstract

A synthetic stone, preferably a concrete stone, produced by means of a mold, having a predetermined format, that is to say a predetermined length (L), a predetermined width (B) and a predetermined depth (T), wherein the stone (2) has a visible side (1) which is formed by a first, a second, a third and a fourth edge section, wherein the first and the third edge section and the second and the fourth edge section lie opposite one another, each edge section having a straight subsection (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), wherein the straight subsections of the first and third edge section and the subsections of the second and fourth edge section lie parallel to one another and the straight subsections of the first and third edge section enclose a preferably right angle in an imaginary extension, so that the imaginary extensions of the subsections form a rectangle,A square or parallelogram or the like is spanned in basic dimensions, which has no stone material in at least one corner, preferably a second, preferably in three, particularly preferably in four corner areas (4a, 4b, 4c 4d) and / or the stone, viewed from the visible side, has no axially or point-symmetrical structure by omitting (7a, 7b, 7c) material in the corner areas, wherein at one corner (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h) the stone has a shape which is not found in the same shape at one, preferably 2 or 3 other corners.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to synthetic stones, their production and their laying in a composite, preferably as superimposed masonry stones or as paving stones, with or without connecting material for firmly fixing the stones.

[0002] Synthetic stones, especially concrete blocks and industrially manufactured blocks made from other materials, such as clay, plastic, or the like, are already available in many variations and shapes. The advantage of these synthetically manufactured blocks is their uniformity in structure, shape, dimensional accuracy, weight, etc. During production, the stone material, such as concrete, is placed in a mold, and the mold defines the depth, length, and width of the stone. After being removed from the mold, the stone material, such as concrete or the like, sets and dries, and the stone is then ready for use for its intended purpose.

[0003] When using such stones as wall stones and paving stones, it is desirable that the stones have a uniform size in terms of their length, width and depth so that a correspondingly uniform order in a wall or laying in an area is possible.

[0004] When laying synthetic or industrially manufactured stones, the goal is also for the stones to have defined corner areas, so that when placed directly next to each other, they leave as little open space as possible (narrow joints). This is particularly important when the stones are laid as paving stones, because as soon as larger gaps form between adjacent stones, weeds, grass, or similar plants quickly grow there, which then have to be laboriously removed from the cracks and joints.

[0005] Even when used as a wall stone, it is important that the stones have a uniform size, especially with defined rectangular edge areas, because otherwise it would be very time-consuming and difficult for the craftsman to build a uniform, stable wall in the stone composite.

[0006] In contrast to synthetic, industrially manufactured stones, such as concrete blocks or plastic blocks, there are also natural stones that either come directly from a quarry and are assigned to specific size and weight classes after pre-processing, or there are corresponding natural stones that are rounded due to the effects of water, classic river stone material. While river stone material is rather smooth and less rough on the outside, the directly blasted quarry material is rather rough. What all of these natural stones have in common, however, is that they have inconsistent external dimensions, with virtually no two stones being exactly alike.

[0007] Laying such stones evenly for driveways, parking areas, etc. is certainly possible, but it is also relatively complex, because the installer must ensure that the final surface is still relatively even. The same applies when using such natural stones to form a wall; in this case, the mason must find a way for each individual stone to become part of the overall structure of the wall.The flat laying of natural stone material as well as its use for walls, be it with concrete to connect the individual stones or even just the laying of such stones as an earth wall, is very complex because, as already mentioned, each stone has a multitude of sides, which are all different from other sides of other stones and therefore it requires not only a lot of time but also the particular skill of the craftsman to ultimately create a desired formation of these stones in which the stones only partially touch each other, but more or less large gaps remain between the stones, which are then filled either with filling material, e.g. concrete or earth.

[0008] The aim of the invention is to create the possibility of bonding masonry or flat laid stones, which is significantly faster and more reliable than with natural stones, while at the same time deliberately allowing reasonable biological growth between the masonry and / or laid stones.

[0009] A further aim of the invention is not to create a perfect composite image with a synthetically produced stone, but rather the appearance of a natural stone, e.g. a hewn natural stone, in which different gaps then form in the stone composite on the visible side, which are suitable to be filled with plant material.

[0010] The invention solves the problem by means of the invention according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the subclaims.

[0011] The invention describes a stone produced synthetically by means of a forming tool, wherein the stone has a visible side which is formed by a first, a second, a third and a fourth edge section, wherein the first and the third edge section and the second and the fourth edge section lie opposite one another, each edge section has a straight subsection, wherein the straight subsections of the first and third edge section as well as the subsections of the second and fourth edge section lie parallel to one another and the straight subsections of the first and third edge section enclose an angle, preferably a right angle, in an imaginary extension, so that the imaginary extensions of the subsections span a rectangle, square or parallelogram or the like in the basic dimension, which in at least one corner, preferably a second, preferably in three,Particularly preferably, the stone has no stone material in four corner areas and / or the stone, viewed from the visible side, does not have an axially or point-symmetrical structure due to the omission of material in the corner areas, whereby at one corner the stone has a shape that is not found in the same form at one, preferably two or three, other corners. The stone preferably has more than four corners, e.g., 5, 6, 7, or 8 corners, or more, e.g., 9 to 20.

[0012] Because the stone is produced in a specific mold, it requires no further processing after removal from the mold, unless the surface needs to be further treated, such as by embossing. The depth of the mold also determines the depth (height) of the produced stones. The mold is filled with the desired material, such as concrete, in the desired composition. After the mold is filled, the excess material is removed from the top.

[0013] The stone produced according to the invention is therefore essentially determined by the molding tool with which it is produced.

[0014] It has indeed been suggested that synthetically produced stones should be processed after their manufacture so that they present a rather irregular, unusual appearance, but this form of processing is very complex and cannot be compared with the quality of the result with synthetically produced stones according to the invention, the dimensions of which are predetermined by the shape itself and in which no excess material has to be chipped off or disposed of.

[0015] The stone according to the invention can be used as a wall stone but also as a paving stone or the like.

[0016] When used in a combination of stones, where these are placed next to or on top of each other, this is easily possible because the stones according to the invention have a straight lower section on which the adjacent stones then come into contact.

[0017] By removing material from the corners of these stones, gaps in the structure are created, which could then be used to allow plant growth, such as herbs, grass, or flowers.

[0018] The stone according to the invention is - generally formulated - rectangular in its basic dimensions, by omitting material in the corner areas (eight corners) and in particular by the irregular asymmetrical shape of the omission in the corner areas, a stone is created which is neither axially nor point-symmetrically formed.

[0019] Because the stones are not symmetrical, they can be laid differently in a composite pattern, resulting in a very asymmetrical and uneven laying pattern that leads the observer to believe they are natural stones. Nevertheless, laying the stones according to the invention in a composite pattern is just as easy as with previous state-of-the-art stones, although these have no or very small joints between the stones to prevent plant growth between the stones.

[0020] The Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b show designs of synthetically produced stones, in particular made of concrete material, which are known in the state of the art

[0021] Fig. Figure 1a shows a structure in which the visible side of the stone has a central axis AA to which the stone is mirror-symmetrical.

[0022] Fig. 1b shows a further variant of a synthetically produced stone, in which the stone has a first central axis AA and a second central axis BB running perpendicular thereto, and the stone is constructed symmetrically according to both central axes AA and BB, with the result that although material is omitted in the corner areas of the stone, this material omission in the corner areas of the stone is, however, always symmetrical, i.e., always identical to one another, in order to allow a stone formation with a very small gap dimension.

[0023] For the stones according to Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, the structure ensures that the stones are flush with each other with the small gap or joint dimensions mentioned, which increases the quality of the bond and at the same time creates an almost perfect bond.

[0024] The Fig. 2a and Fig. 3a shows two variants A(1), B(1) of the stone according to the invention.

[0025] In Fig. 2a shows the visible side 1 of the stone 2. In Fig. 2a' is a perspective view of the stone 2 shown with the visible side 1 facing upwards.

[0026] In Fig. Figure 2a clearly shows that the entire stone 2 fits into a rectangular base size 3 of, for example, 250mm x 110mm. These dimensions are only examples; all other rectangular dimensions are possible, including a square dimension, e.g., 150mm x 150mm.

[0027] In Fig. 2a it is also clearly visible that the basic rectangular dimension 3 is not implemented through the visible side 1 of the stone 2, because material is omitted at the corners 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d.

[0028] However, at each edge section a, b, c, d of stone 2 there is a straight subsection 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d.

[0029] These straight subsections 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are formed particularly in the central region of the respective edge.

[0030] In the exemplary training according to Fig. 2a also clearly shows that the straight subsections 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d of the respective edges have different lengths. For example, subsection 5a has a length of 185 mm, subsection 5b has a length of 30 mm, subsection 5c has a length of 140 mm, and subsection 5d has a length of 60 mm. It should be emphasized again that these length specifications are only examples to express how differently the respective straight subsections of the respective sides 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d of the visible side 1 can be designed.

[0031] In Fig. In Figure 2a, it is also clearly visible that the respective omissions 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are also formed differently. The stone has eight corners 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, and 9h.

[0032] It is clearly visible that the edge profile, as well as the lengths of the edges 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d of the stone 2, can be designed differently in this area. This means that the edge profile can be straight, or as in Fig. 2a, it can also be slightly wavy / curved, and different for each edge 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d.

[0033] This results in a stone format that is completely asymmetrical, neither axially nor point-symmetrical.

[0034] When laying them next to or on top of each other, it is not only possible for a stone to be placed with side 5c on the stone below it with side 5a, but it is also possible for a stone with side 5c to be placed on top of another stone also with side 5c, so that the stones then also lie next to each other with the respective sides 5a.

[0035] The straight subsections 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are suitable for quick installation because they provide a defined location for the next stone during installation.

[0036] To ensure that the upper side, i.e. the visible side 1 of the stone 2, does not appear too flat, it can also be embossed, so that slight and minor irregularities (ripples) also appear there.

[0037] Fig. Figure 3a shows a further variant B of the stone 2 according to the invention, in which the variant differs from the stone according to Fig. 2a only differs in the different dimensions of the straight subsections and the omissions in the corners, but otherwise the stone itself has the same basic dimensions (rectangular in the clamping).

[0038] It is clearly visible that the straight subsections 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d also have different lengths than the stone according to variant A according to Fig. 2a.

[0039] Of course, there are no limits to the number of additional variants C, D, etc.

[0040] Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of the two stone variants according to the Fig. 2a and Fig. 3a in a group 8, whereby there are also several possibilities for this group 8.

[0041] In the illustrated combination 8, the stones of variants A and B form three rows of nine stones each. By laying the two variants, as well as swapping the sides, a very asymmetrical combination is created, so that in the corner areas, i.e. where the stones meet, very different opening surfaces are created, which are also asymmetrical.

[0042] In Fig. 4 it is clearly visible that there can be three different omissions 7a, 7b and 7c between the stones, but here too there are further possibilities to increase this number in order to create an even more asymmetrical image.

[0043] For the production of the stones according to the Fig. 2a, Fig. 3a ultimately specifies a mold whose inside dimensions correspond to the dimensions the bricks are to have on the outside. This also applies to the edge guides in the corner areas. If the edge guides are to be linear, the inside of the mold will also be linear. If the edge guides are to be wavy, angular, or non-linear, the mold will have the corresponding edge guides on the inside.

[0044] The mold also has a base and the appropriate height so that after filling the stone with material, e.g. concrete, the top of the mold can be removed and is then smooth.

[0045] Fig. 2a' and Fig. 3a' shows such stones in a perspective view.

[0046] With the synthetic stones according to the invention, it is not only possible to create an uneven laying or bonding pattern, but it is also very inexpensive to produce such stones without the need for any post-processing of the stones.

[0047] These stones are ideal for laying both as paving stones and in wall constructions because they have a sufficiently long, straight base section on which the stones can rest. Each individual installer does not even have to pay attention to which of the respective long sides or which of the respective end faces are placed together, as this is precisely what is created by the irregular laying, as shown in Fig. 4, an even more uneven (desired) installation pattern. Due to the position of the stones at their straight subsections, the bond is nevertheless very stable. Of course, the stones can be bonded with binding material, such as fresh concrete, mortar, or similar. Fig. 4 18mm joints are connected.

[0048] As mentioned, a stone can still be slightly worked on its surface after it has been manufactured, for example, the edges can be worked by rumbling or rolling, and the surface can be embossed.

[0049] Fig.Figure 5 shows the construction of a wall using the blocks according to the invention in a composite. Plant material can be introduced or grown in the gaps, joints, and openings between the individual blocks in the corner area, so that the block according to the invention within the composite allows the construction of a green wall. This not only creates an attractive appearance but also promotes the settlement of fauna and flora, thus providing a habitat as an ecological niche for many animals (especially insects, beetles, worms, lizards, etc.), but also for plants.

[0050] Due to the omission of material in the stone according to the invention in the corner areas, free spaces of more than 1 cm are formed in the corner areas 2 , preferably more than 2cm 2 up to 7cm 2 or up to 20cm 2or more, so that sufficient plant substrate, soil or the like can be introduced into these areas, which promotes the growth of plants and forms an excellent hiding place, small caves, etc. for the animals and thus increases the ecological function of the stone structure.

[0051] The stone according to the invention has - if one considers only its straight subsections - a rectangular basic dimension, wherein the stone has a first longitudinal side (edge), a second longitudinal side (edge) opposite the first longitudinal side, as well as a first end side (edge) and a second end side (edge) opposite the first end side, and in the end regions of the longitudinal and end sides, omissions 7a, 7b, 7c are formed, so that in comparison to a full rectangular dimension, the stone has four spaced omissions in the corner regions, which (can) differ from one another in terms of their size and edge or shape guidance.

Claims

[1] Synthetically produced stone, preferably concrete stone, with a predetermined format, that is to say a predetermined length (L), a predetermined width (B) and a predetermined depth (T), wherein the stone (2) has a visible side (1) which is formed by a first, a second, a third and a fourth edge section, wherein the first and the third edge section and the second and the fourth edge section lie opposite one another, each edge section has a straight subsection (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), wherein the straight subsections of the first and third edge section and the subsections of the second and fourth edge section lie parallel to one another and the straight subsections of the first and third edge section enclose a preferably right angle in an imaginary extension, so that the imaginary extensions of the subsections form a rectangle,A square or parallelogram or the like is spanned in basic dimensions, which has no stone material in at least one corner, preferably a second, preferably in three, particularly preferably in four corner areas (4a, 4b, 4c 4d) and / or the stone, viewed from the visible side, has no axially or point-symmetrical structure by omitting (7a, 7b, 7c) material in the corner areas, wherein at one corner (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h) the stone has a shape which is not found in the same shape at one, preferably 2 or 3 other corners. [2] Stone according to claim 1, characterized by that the omissions in the corner areas are designed differently both in terms of their dimensions and their structural progression. [3] Stone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the stone (2) is used as a wall stone or paving stone or the like. [4] A composite of stones according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a first variant (A) and a second variant (B) of the stone (2) are used in the composite (8), wherein the two variants (A, B) have the same basic dimension (3), namely a predetermined maximum length (L), a predetermined maximum width (B) and a predetermined depth (T), but the variants differ in material omissions (7a, 7b, 7c) in the corner regions (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the stones and the stones, when laid in the composite, each have a free area of ​​more than 1 cm in the corner regions 2 preferably more than 2 to 7 cm 2 have. [5] Synthetic stone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the stone (2) preferably has a rectangular basic dimension (3), wherein the stone has a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side opposite the first longitudinal side, a first end side and a second end side opposite the first end side, and recesses (7a, 7b, 7c) are formed at the end regions of the longitudinal and end sides, so that the stone, in comparison to a full rectangular dimension, has four spaced-apart recesses in the corner regions, which differ from one another in terms of their size and edge or shape guidance. [6] Stone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the stone (2) is subjected to edge processing by rumbling or rolling or the like after its mechanical production. [7] Combination of stones of the above-mentioned type, whereby two different laying positions are possible by using two different stone variants (A, B). [8] Stone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the stone has more than 4 corners, e.g. 5, 6, 7 or 8 corners (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h) or more, e.g. 9 to 20 corners. [9] A set of stones according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the set of stones promotes the settlement of plants in the areas left free by the corner areas of the stones, and thus the set of stones has an ecological function for plants as well as small animals, e.g. insects, snails, microstreptilia (lizards), worms, etc.

Images