Prefab paving slab and parking lot

Abstract

A prefab paving slab (1) for constructing along a straight path a row of parking spaces parallel to this path is described. The prefab paving slab (1) comprises a prism-shaped paver body (2) comprising an upper base (3) and a lower base (4). The paver body (2) is provided with a number of continuous holes (7) which each extend through both the upper base (3) and the lower base (4) for the purpose of allowing passage of water and / or vegetation. The lower and the upper base (3, 4) each comprise at least one non-right internal angle for constructing the parking spaces such that they each lie at the same non-right angle relative to the path, as seen from above.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a prefab paving slab for constructing along a straight path a row of parking spaces parallel to this path. The invention further relates to a parking lot and a method for construction thereof.

[0002] Parking lots can be constructed with prefab paving slabs such as concrete pavers. Increasingly, turfstone is used for this purpose. Turfstone is paving material for different terrains, including parking lots, which is provided with holes through which grass can grow. The holes can also enhance drainage of rainwater. The holes form a rectangular equilateral grid.

[0003] The rectangular pavers preferably have a strength such that it is possible to construct a parking lot therewith without having to prepare the ground first. In addition to such soil improvement taking time, the worked ground may ultimately also impede drainage. The pavers can therefore be strengthened, for example by reinforcement.

[0004] Such strong, straight pavers are suitable for constructing along a straight path a row of parking spaces which each lie either at right angles to this path or parallel thereto, as seen from above. The individual parking spaces can be demarcated with pavers differing from said pavers or with the same type of paver, for instance by laying them at right angles to the pavers of the parking spaces. The result will then for instance be a paving with alternately the turfstone pavers and solid pavers for demarcating the parking spaces. It is thus not necessary to paint lines on the paving in order to demarcate the individual parking spaces.

[0005] The straight pavers are however less suitable for constructing parking spaces lying obliquely to the path, among other reasons because the individual parking spaces cannot then be simply demarcated with pavers in the above stated manner. The straight pavers then moreover protrude partially outside the outermost parking spaces. It has been found unfeasible here to cut or saw said pavers to size and / or into the desired shape on site. In practice use is therefore made of smaller paving elements, such as paving bricks, for angled parking spaces. Although a brick paving can also allow passage of water via the seams between the paving bricks, paving bricks enhance drainage to lesser extent than for instance the above stated turfstone pavers. A further drawback of paving bricks is the labour-intensive manner of laying them.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to enable a row of angled parking spaces to be constructed in efficient manner with paving having a high water-permeability and / or vegetation growth capacity.

[0007] For this purpose the invention provides a prefab paving slab for constructing along a straight path a row of parking spaces parallel to this path, wherein the prefab paving slab comprises a prism-shaped paver body comprising an upper base and a lower base, wherein the paver body is provided with a number of continuous holes extending through both the upper base and the lower base for the purpose of allowing passage of water and / or vegetation, wherein the lower and the upper base each comprise at least one non-right internal angle for constructing the parking spaces such that they each lie at the same non-right angle relative to the path, as seen from above.

[0008] The prefab paving slab can be set down with its non-right internal angle such that the two adjacent side surfaces of the paver body on either side of this angle lie parallel to respectively the path and the orientation of the parking space. In this way the paving slab need not be cut or sawn on site in order for it not to protrude outside the parking space, so that a row of angled parking spaces, having a high water-permeability and / or capacity for vegetation growth, can be constructed in efficient manner with a number of these prefab paving slabs. The paver body is preferably a turfstone paver such as a turfstone paver.

[0009] The term "path" relates here particularly to a mathematical or topological path, but may moreover relate to a paved or unpaved road.

[0010] In an embodiment of the prefab paving slab a dimension of the paver body corresponds with a dimension of a parking space in the row of parking spaces to be constructed. A row of parking spaces can thus be constructed in efficient manner. A length of the paver body preferably corresponds with a width of the parking space.

[0011] The paver body is preferably manufactured from a curable material, such as concrete or reinforced plastic. Techniques for manufacturing construction elements from a curable material by means of pouring or casting, for instance in a mould, are known to the skilled person.

[0012] In an embodiment of the prefab paving slab the paver body is reinforced. The water-permeable paving slab can thus be set down without having to work the ground first. The paver body is for instance manufactured from reinforced concrete.

[0013] The paver body preferably comprises a reinforcement lattice structure which is crossed by the holes. The reinforcement lattice structure can be formed as a frame of line elements such as bars, rods, wires and / or cables, for instance of steel. The reinforcement lattice structure for instance takes the form of a mesh or cage. The holes cross the reinforcement lattice structure and do not intersect therewith. This means that, in the above stated case of a frame, the holes run between the line elements with a sufficient distance to the line elements of the reinforcement lattice structure, so that the any effect on the reinforcement can be reduced or even wholly prevented. In order to ensure both that the reinforcement structure takes up sufficient space and that the holes run between the line elements with a sufficient distance to the line elements of the reinforcement lattice structure the holes are preferably circular, although the holes can also be polygonal, such as square.

[0014] The prefab paving slab is preferably reinforced over substantially the whole paver body. This can however not necessarily be realized in simple manner, since reinforcement is always either rectangular or cylindrical in practice. This problem can be obviated by also providing the reinforcement with a non-right internal angle, this in accordance with the paver body. The paver body and the reinforcement lattice structure are thus preferably circumferentially substantially identical. The line elements of the reinforcement lattice structure then preferably run parallel to the respective side surfaces of the prism-shaped paver body.

[0015] In order to be able to make a paving with identical prefab paving slabs the bases are preferably triangular or quadrangular. The bases are for instance trapezoidal. The bases are preferably parallelogram-shaped. A paving with a pattern of parallelograms can thus be made in regular manner.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the prefab paving slab said non-right angle is an acute angle, preferably an angle in the range of 40-80 degrees. The acute angle is for instance an angle of 45 or 60 degrees.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the prefab paving slab the number of holes forms a uniform grid pattern. The grid pattern is preferably a triangular grid pattern, for instance a triangular equilateral grid pattern. In a triangular grid pattern the holes can be distributed optimally over the paver body for the purpose of enhancing for instance the drainage of rainwater.

[0018] The holes preferably taper from the upper base to the lower base. Because the holes taper toward the lower base, the paver body has more material on its underside than on its upper side. This has been found to make the paver body optimally able to withstand load during use, such as a car being parked thereon. The outermost holes of the number of holes for instance define within the lower base an area, a maximum of 50 percent of which is covered by the holes.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the prefab paving slab the outermost holes of the number of holes define within the lower base an area, a minimum of 30 percent of which, for instance about 50 percent of which, is covered by the holes. Growth of vegetation, such as grass, through the holes can thus cover a considerable part of the surface area of a parking space.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the prefab paving slab the paver body is provided on its periphery with at least one protrusion configured to hold an adjacent paver body at a distance. The one or more protrusions can prevent adjacent paving slabs from lying too tightly against each other in a paving. By laying pavers too tightly against each other stress may occur in the material and, finally, tears can result. The at least one protrusion is preferably monolithic with the paver body.

[0021] Further provided is a parking lot, comprising a row of parking spaces which are parallel to a straight path and which each lie at the same non-right angle relative to this path as seen from above, wherein the parking lot comprises a number of prefab paving slabs according to at least one of the embodiments described herein, wherein the number of prefab paving slabs forms a paving structure which defines the parking spaces.

[0022] The parking lot preferably further comprises a number of solid pavers, wherein the number of solid pavers and the number of prefab paving slabs together form the paving structure, wherein the solid pavers demarcate the individual parking spaces. The solid pavers are for instance made of the same material as the paver bodies of the prefab paving slabs.

[0023] The solid pavers are preferably prism-shaped. The basic surfaces of the solid pavers preferably have the same non-right internal angle as the prefab paving slabs. The bases of the solid pavers are preferably triangular or quadrangular, for instance trapezoidal, such as parallelogram-shaped.

[0024] Further provided is a method for constructing a parking lot as described herein, wherein the method comprises of providing a number of prefab paving slabs according to at least one of the embodiments described herein, and comprises of forming the paving structure with the number of prefab paving slabs, wherein the prefab paving slabs are each set down with their non-right internal angle such that the two adjacent side surfaces of the paver body on either side of this angle lie parallel to respectively the path and the orientation of the parking space.

[0025] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: Figures 1A-B show schematically respectively a top view and a perspective view of an embodiment of the prefab paving slab according to the invention; Figure 2 shows schematically a side view of a section of the paving slab shown in Figures 1A-B; Figure 3 shows schematically a top view of an embodiment of the parking lot according to the invention; Figures 4A-B show schematically respectively a top view and a cross-section of a reinforced variant of the prefab paving slab according to the invention; and Figure 5 shows schematically a corresponding top view of the reinforcement of the variant shown in Figures 4A-B.

[0026] Similar elements are always designated with the same reference symbols in the drawings.

[0027] Figures 1A-B show a prefab paving slab 1, specifically a turfstone paver. The turfstone paver 1 comprises a prism-shaped paver body 2 with parallelogram-shaped bases 3, 4, longitudinal side surfaces 5 and lateral side surfaces 6. The paver body 2 is provided with a number of continuous, round holes 7 which each extend through both the upper surface 3 and the lower surface 4 of the paver body 2. The number of holes 7 forms a triangular equilateral grid pattern. A clump of grass can grow (not shown) in every hole 7.

[0028] As represented in the side view of the section along a longitudinal direction of the turfstone paver 1 shown in Figure 2, the holes 7 taper from the upper surface 3 to the lower surface 4. Clumps of grass can hereby cover a considerable part of the upper surface 3, while the paver body 2 is optimally able to withstand load during use. The outermost holes 7 define an area 8 of which the holes 7 cover about 50 percent as seen in the upper surface 3, and cover about 30 percent as seen in the lower surface 4.

[0029] The lateral side surfaces 6 are each provided with a pair of protrusions 9 formed monolithically with the paver body 2 for keeping an adjacent paver at a distance. This for instance has a positive effect on the turfstone paver 1 in the application described as follows. Figure 3 shows a parking lot 10, comprising a row of angled parking spaces 11, from above. Vehicles to be parked (not shown) can approach along a path designated in Figure 3 with arrow P. The parking lot 10 is constructed by means of paving, wherein each parking space 11 is formed by a set of five turfstone pavers 1 which have been placed side by side with their longitudinal side surfaces 5 against each other so that the longitudinal side surfaces 5 and the lateral side surfaces 6 lie parallel to respectively the path P and the orientation of the parking space 11. A length L of the turfstone pavers 1 corresponds with a width of the parking space 11 of at least two metres, for instance 2 to 2.5 metres.

[0030] The bases 3, 4 each have a pair of mutually opposite angles α of 60 degrees each and a pair of mutually opposite angles β of 120 degrees each. The parking spaces 11 thereby each lie at the same angle of 60 degrees relative to the path P, as seen from above, without the turfstone pavers 1 having to be cut or sawn on site so as not to protrude outside the parking spaces 11.

[0031] The parking spaces 11 are demarcated from each other by intermediate rows of solid concrete pavers 12. These concrete pavers 12 are also prism-shaped and also have parallelogram-shaped bases with the same angles as the turfstone pavers 1, but have dimensions differing from those of the turfstone pavers 1. A length of the longitudinal side surfaces of the concrete pavers 12 thus corresponds with a length of the lateral side surfaces 6 of the turfstone pavers 1 instead of with a length of the longitudinal side surfaces 5 thereof. The solid concrete pavers 12 are laid with their longitudinal direction parallel to the orientation of the parking spaces 11. The paving thus has a pattern of parallelograms, which simplifies the paving. All the pavers 1, 12 thus together form the paving structure. The spacers 9 on the lateral side surfaces 6 of the turfstone pavers 1 can prevent tension from occurring in the paver bodies 2.

[0032] Figures 4A-B show a reinforced variant of the turfstone paver 1. The paver body 2 comprises a double-layered, mesh-like reinforcement lattice structure 20 of steel bars 21. Figure 5 shows the reinforcement 20 separately. The holes 7 in the paver body 2 cross the reinforcement lattice structure 20 and run between the steel bars 21 with a sufficient distance thereto, such that deterioration of the reinforcement 20 is prevented. The paver body 2 and the reinforcement lattice structure 20 are circumferentially substantially identical. The reinforcement lattice structure 20 is thus also prism-shaped with parallelogram-shaped bases with the same angles α, β as the paver body 2, so that the longitudinal and lateral bars 21 run parallel to respectively the longitudinal side surfaces 5 and the lateral side surfaces 6 of the paver body 2.

[0033] Although the invention is elucidated above on the basis of a number of specific examples and embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto. The invention instead also covers the subject matter defined by the following clauses.CLAUSES

[0034] 1. Prefab paving slab for constructing along a straight path a row of parking spaces parallel to this path, wherein the prefab paving slab comprises a prism-shaped paver body comprising an upper base and a lower base, wherein the paver body is preferably provided with a number of continuous holes extending through both the upper base and the lower base for the purpose of allowing passage of water and / or vegetation, characterized in that the lower and the upper base each comprise at least one non-right internal angle for constructing the parking spaces such that they each lie at the same non-right angle relative to the path, as seen from above. 2. Prefab paving slab according to clause 1, wherein the paver body is manufactured from a curable material. 3. Prefab paving slab according to clause 1 or 2, wherein the paver body is reinforced. 4. Prefab paving slab according to clauses 2 and 3, wherein the paver body is manufactured from reinforced concrete. 5. Prefab paving slab according to clause 3 or 4, wherein the paver body comprises a reinforcement lattice structure which is crossed by the holes. 6. Prefab paving slab according to clause 5, wherein the paver body and the reinforcement lattice structure are circumferentially substantially identical. 7. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the bases are triangular or quadrangular. 8. Prefab paving slab according to clause 7, wherein the bases are trapezoidal. 9. Prefab paving slab according to clause 8, wherein the bases are parallelogram-shaped. 10. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein said non-right angle is an angle in the range of 40-80 degrees. 11. Prefab paving slab according to clauses 9 and 10, wherein said non-right angle is an angle of 45 or 60 degrees. 12. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the number of holes forms a uniform grid pattern. 13. Prefab paving slab according to clause 12, wherein the grid pattern is a triangular equilateral grid pattern. 14. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the holes are circular. 15. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the holes taper from the upper base to the lower base. 16. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the outermost holes of the number of holes define within the lower base an area, a minimum of 30 percent of which is covered by the holes. 17. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the paver body is provided on its periphery with at least one protrusion configured to hold an adjacent paver body at a distance. 18. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein a dimension of the paver body corresponds with a dimension of a parking space in the row of parking spaces to be constructed. 19. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the paver body is a turfstone paver. 20. Parking lot, comprising a row of parking spaces which are parallel to a straight path and which each lie at the same non-right angle relative to this path as seen from above, wherein the parking lot comprises a number of prefab paving slabs according to at least one of the foregoing clauses, wherein the number of prefab paving slabs forms a paving structure which defines the parking spaces. 21. Parking lot according to clause 20, further comprising a number of solid pavers, wherein the number of solid pavers and the number of prefab paving slabs together form the paving structure, wherein the solid pavers demarcate the individual parking spaces. 22. Method for constructing a parking lot according to clause 20 or 21, comprising of providing a number of prefab paving slabs according to at least one of the foregoing clauses 1-19, and of forming the paving structure with the number of prefab paving slabs, wherein the prefab paving slabs are each set down with their non-right internal angle such that the two adjacent side surfaces of the paver body on either side of this angle lie parallel to respectively the path and the orientation of the parking space.

Claims

1. Prefab paving slab for constructing along a straight path a row of parking spaces parallel to this path, wherein the prefab paving slab comprises a prism-shaped paver body comprising an upper base and a lower base, wherein the paver body is preferably provided with a number of continuous holes extending through both the upper base and the lower base for the purpose of allowing passage of water and / or vegetation, characterized in that the lower and the upper base each comprise at least one non-right internal angle for constructing the parking spaces such that they each lie at the same non-right angle relative to the path, as seen from above.

2. Prefab paving slab according to claim 1, wherein the paver body is manufactured from a curable material.

3. Prefab paving slab according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the paver body is reinforced.

4. Prefab paving slab according to claim 3, wherein the paver body comprises a reinforcement lattice structure which is crossed by the holes, wherein the paver body and the reinforcement lattice structure are preferably circumferentially substantially identical.

5. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the bases are triangular or quadrangular, wherein the bases are preferably trapezoidal, more preferably parallelogram-shaped.

6. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein said non-right angle is an angle in the range of 40-80 degrees, more preferably an angle of 45 or 60 degrees.

7. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the number of holes forms a uniform grid pattern, which is preferably a triangular equilateral grid pattern.

8. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the holes are circular.

9. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the holes taper from the upper base to the lower base.

10. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the outermost holes of the number of holes define within the lower base an area, a minimum of 30 percent of which is covered by the holes.

11. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the paver body is provided on its periphery with at least one protrusion configured to hold an adjacent paver body at a distance.

12. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein a dimension of the paver body corresponds with a dimension of a parking space in the row of parking spaces to be constructed.

13. Prefab paving slab according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the paver body is a turfstone paver.

14. Parking lot, comprising a row of parking spaces which are parallel to a straight path and which each lie at the same non-right angle relative to this path as seen from above, wherein the parking lot comprises a number of prefab paving slabs according to at least one of the foregoing claims, wherein the number of prefab paving slabs forms a paving structure which defines the parking spaces, wherein the parking lot preferably comprises a number of solid pavers, wherein the number of solid pavers and the number of prefab paving slabs together form the paving structure, wherein the solid pavers demarcate the individual parking spaces.

15. Method for constructing a parking lot according to claim 14, comprising of providing a number of prefab paving slabs according to at least one of the foregoing claims 1-13, and of forming the paving structure with the number of prefab paving slabs, wherein the prefab paving slabs are each set down with their non-right internal angle such that the two adjacent side surfaces of the paver body on either side of this angle lie parallel to respectively the path and the orientation of the parking space.

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