Soil stabilization slab with cells designed to contain a filling material.

Abstract

Soil stabilization slab with cells designed to contain a filling material. The invention relates to a soil stabilization grid (1) with cells (2; 2a) intended to contain a filling material, for example a planting substrate, such as soil, or aggregates such as sand, gravel, or other materials. A cell (2; 2a) comprises a peripheral wall (3) extending perpendicularly from a base plane (4) and including a lower edge (5) secured, by gluing and / or welding and / or interlocking, to a support (6). Advantageously, the peripheral wall (3) of a cell (2, 2a) has an upper edge defining a wave-shaped edge (15) (16) comprising vertices (17) between which extend recessed portions (18). The vertices (17) are shared between at least two adjacent cells (2, 2a) and are located at the height of an intersection node (9) between these cells. Figure for The abridged version: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Soil stabilization slab with cells designed to contain a filling material.

[0001] The present invention relates to a soil stabilization slab with cells designed to contain a planting substrate and / or sand and / or gravel or any other filling material.

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of landscaping, roads and the like. It relates, more particularly, to slabs of honeycomb structure, the cells being designed to contain, as the case may be, a planting substrate or aggregates, such as sand or gravel. This type of slab most frequently contributes to stabilizing a soil and retaining a covering spread over the latter.

[0003] Numerous hollow core slabs corresponding to the above description are already known, making it possible to create garden paths, vehicle parking areas, access to a garage, etc. For example, such slabs provide a bearing capacity capable of preventing the ground from collapsing when the wheels of a light vehicle pass over a parking area.

[0004] As for the cells, they prevent the material they contain from being crushed under the effect of a load passing over these slabs. These cells also have the function of preventing the flow of this material, whether it is earth or gravel, in the case of a sloping installation. As an example, we can cite the case of landscaping slopes using a covering composed of gravel. Each cell in these slabs contributes to maintaining a constant thickness of gravel along this slope.

[0005] The most common design slabs are of the honeycomb type and comprise parallelepipedal cells, more particularly hexagonal in shape, each side of the peripheral wall of such a cell being shared with an adjacent cell. At the periphery, a slab may comprise half-cells which are supplemented by half-cells at the edge of a juxtaposed slab.

[0006] This honeycomb structure of these known slabs is very often made of molded synthetic material and rests, depending on the case, on a canvas of non-woven material, of the geotextile type, or on an openwork base plate also made of synthetic material, as described for example in document FR2 721 626. In this case, the openings in the base plate are hexagonal in shape, just like the cells. However, they are offset relative to the latter. Such an openwork base plate promotes the flow of water in comparison with a canvas of non-woven material which tends to clog over time.

[0007] These known slabs most often adopt a rectangular or square shape and include reciprocal interlocking means. Each slab has interlocking means on two of its sides, while on the other two sides they are provided with complementary interlocking means allowing these slabs to be interlocked with each other. It is thus possible to cover a large surface despite the relatively small slab dimensions which facilitates their manufacture, packaging and transport. The configuration of these interlocking means, as well as of the complementary interlocking means, is often defined to maintain the slabs relative to each other in directions parallel to the plane of these slabs, but also in a perpendicular direction.

[0008] While slabs with hexagonal cells, of the honeycomb type, are the most widespread, there are a multitude of slabs whose cells adopt other shapes, for example circular, square, diamond-shaped, or even comprising a combination of cells of different shapes, some of which complement the arrangement of other cells.

[0009] Whatever their configuration, a cell comprises a peripheral wall extending perpendicularly above a base plane defined by a base plate or a geotextile. The height of this peripheral wall delimits that of the material likely to be contained in these cells. The edges at the upper edge of these peripheral walls of the cells are often visible and give the space fitted out using these known slabs an artificial and unattractive character. If it is possible to spread an additional layer of material above the cells of these slabs to make its edges invisible, these always end up appearing on the surface under the effect of the thinning of this layer of material not retained by the cells.

[0010] It is possible to imagine notching the upper edge of these peripheral walls of the cells so as to make these edges only partially visible, but the load-bearing capacity of the slabs defined by its edge portions at the top of the cells is necessarily reduced. In addition, such edge portions quickly give way, by folding back, under the passage of a load, making them even more visible and unsightly.

[0011] It is within the framework of an inventive approach that a solution was sought to make the alveolar structure of these slabs less visible on the surface. In this context, it was imagined that the upper edge of the peripheral wall of a cell describes a wave shape by defining peaks between which depressed parts extend, the peaks being shared between at least two adjacent cells and being located at the height of an intersection node between the latter.

[0012] Cells of polygonal section comprise intersection nodes between them, defined by two adjacent sides of one cell and at least one side of another juxtaposed cell.

[0013] In the case of round or ovoid-shaped cells, these intersection nodes are defined by the tangential zone between two contiguous cells.

[0014] Through such a configuration, a top is supported in different directions by edge portions acting like struts, giving it very high resistance to crushing. Consequently, by filling the slabs with any filling material over the entire height of the cells of a slab according to the invention, only the tops of these cells can appear on the surface. Taking into account the size of these tops, they are likely to merge with the filling material, provided that the slabs are of a color related to this material.

[0015] According to a feature of the invention, at least some of the depressed parts that comprise an edge of a cell, preferably all the depressed parts, comprise at least one deformation limiting notch.

[0016] The advantages resulting from the present invention consist in that the slabs offer a load-bearing capacity at least similar to existing slabs, while being very little perceptible in their situation of use, that is to say once installed and filled with the filling material.

[0017] Furthermore, thanks to the deformation limiting notches defined at the level of the depression parts, not only are these slabs capable of matching convex and concave shape variations of an implantation surface, but, in addition, provide a limit to the deformation with regard to a collapse of the ground under these slabs. In short, beyond a subsidence limit, the performances in terms of ground stabilization improve.

[0018] Another advantage arises from the means which allow them to be fitted together, namely the elastic restoring force exerted by these means when the slabs are placed under stress, for example in the case of installation on a slope or on a surface with compound slopes.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows relating to exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes.

[0020] Understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached figures in which:

[0021] [Fig. 1] is a schematic representation in perspective and essentially from above of a slab conforming to the invention;

[0022] [Fig.2] is a schematic and perspective representation of this illustrated slab in [Fig.l], highlighting the apices of the wave-shaped edges of the alveoli;

[0023] [Fig.3] is a detailed perspective view of the slab shown in Figures 1 and 2;

[0024] [Fig.4] is a top view of [Fig.3];

[0025] [Fig.5a]; [Fig.5b]; schematically illustrate different shapes of alveoli.

[0026] [Fig.6a] ; [Fig.6b] schematically illustrates the deformation limitation function provided by the notches at the level of the depressed parts.

[0027] As shown in the attached figures, the present invention relates to a ground stabilization slab 1, preferably made of synthetic material, comprising cells 2 intended to contain a filling material, for example a planting substrate, such as earth, or else aggregates of the sand, gravel or other type.

[0028] As illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b, the cells can be of different shapes: round, polygonal, parallelepiped or not.

[0029] These cells 2 comprise a peripheral wall 3 which extends perpendicularly from a base plane 4. At the height of the latter, the lower edge 5 of this peripheral wall 3 of the cells 2 is preferably made integral, by gluing and / or welding and / or interlocking, with a support 6 which can be defined, substantially, by a non-woven fabric of the geotextile type, or, more particularly, by an openwork base plate 7, advantageously designed in a synthetic material identical to or at least compatible with that making up the cells 2.

[0030] The peripheral wall 3 of these cells 2 of a slab 1 has a total height 8 defining the height of the filling material that these cells 2 can contain.

[0031] Cells 2 of polygonal section comprise intersection nodes 9 between them, defined by two adjacent sides 10, 11 of a cell 2 and at least one side 12, 13 of another juxtaposed cell 2a. In the case of cells 2 of round or ovoid shape, these intersection nodes 9 are defined by the tangential zone 14 between two contiguous cells 2, 2a.

[0032] According to the invention, the edge 15 corresponding to the upper edge of the peripheral wall 3 of a cell 2, 2a describes a waveform 16 by defining peaks 17 between which extend depression parts 18, the peaks 17 being shared between at least two adjacent cells 2, 2a and are located at the height of an intersection node 9 between the latter.

[0033] The wave 16 described by this edge 15 can be in the form of regular saw teeth. Preferably, this wave 16 is of the sinusoidal type as appears more visibly in Figures 2 and 3.

[0034] The particularity of this design consists in that the edges 15 of adjacent cells 2, 2a extend all around an intersection node 9 by depression parts 18 comprising, starting from the top 17 corresponding to this intersection node 9, a descending edge portion 19 acting as a strut to towards the latter.

[0035] These struts corresponding to these descending edge portions 19 extend, depending on the configuration of the cells 2, 2a, in three or four directions around a vertex 17 defined by an intersection node 9 and thus contribute to reinforcing the mechanical resistance to crushing of such an intersection node 9. In short, this configuration has the consequence of reinforcing the bearing capacity defined by the vertices 17 of the cells 2, 2a of a slab 1 according to the invention.

[0036] A depression portion 18 consequently comprises, between two consecutive vertices 17 of an edge 15 of the peripheral wall 3 of a cell 2, 2a, two opposite descending edge portions 19 meeting in a median zone 20 corresponding, substantially, to the lowest point of this depression portion 18. In short, at the level of this median zone 20 the peripheral wall 3 of a cell 2, 2a has the lowest height 8a.

[0037] According to a feature of the invention, at least some of the depression parts 18 that an edge 15 of a cell 2, 2a comprises, preferably all the depression parts 18, comprise at least one notch 21 for limiting deformation. According to an advantageous embodiment, this notch 21 is located at the lowest point of the depression part 18. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, this lowest point corresponds to the median zone 20 of a depression part 18.

[0038] The ground on which a slab 1 rests may be convex in shape or have concavities to which this slab 1 must be able to adapt while ensuring, beyond a certain limit, one of its primary functions, namely ground stabilization.

[0039] As illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b, these notches 21 promote the deformation of a cell 2, 2a by allowing it to take on a convex, but also a concave shape. But in the latter case, these notches 21 contribute to limiting this concavity deformation of the slab 1.

[0040] Thus, the notches 21 act more particularly under the effect of a deformation applied to a slab 1, deformation represented by the arrow P and having the consequence of closing these notches 21. In this case, the lateral walls 22, 23 of the latter, usually spaced apart by a width 1, join together and, by opposition to each other, limit this deformation, more precisely reinforce the resistance to deformation of the slab 1.

[0041] As indicated above, the cells rest on an openwork base plate 7 comprising openings 7a of a section preferably smaller than that of the cells 2, 2a. These openings 7a advantageously represent more than 50% of the surface area of ​​the openwork base plate 7. They can be round, ovoid, polygonal in shape. In a preferred configuration, these openings 7a give the plate openwork base 7 a honeycomb structure.

[0042] A slab 1 according to the invention further comprises, at its sides 24, 24a, 25, 25a, reciprocal interlocking means 26 designed to connect, by interlocking, several slabs 1 to each other. Concretely, such reciprocal interlocking means 26 comprise first interlocking means 27 on certain sides 24, 25 of the slab 1 and complementary interlocking means 27a on the other sides 24a, 25a of this slab 1, this to cooperate, respectively, with complementary interlocking means 27a and first interlocking means 27 equipping the sides 24a, 25a and the sides 24, 25 of the adjacent slabs.

[0043] According to the invention, the first interlocking means 27 are defined by at least one tenon 28 in the form of a dovetail on one side 24, 25 of the slab 1 and designed to fit in a direction perpendicular to the plane of a slab 1, in a mortise 29 of adjusted shape forming the complementary interlocking means 27a on the side 24a, 25a of the slab 1.

[0044] In the configuration illustrated in the figures, a slab 1 has on its sides 24, 25 several tenons 28 arranged in accordance with mortises 29 on its sides 24a 25a. In this embodiment visible in the figures, the tenons 28 are projecting at the edge of the perforated base plate 7 and designed to fit from above, perpendicular to the plane of a slab 1, into mortises 29 formed above and at the edge of the perforated base plate 7 on the sides 24a, 25a of an adjacent slab 1.

[0045] Of course, one could imagine an inverted kinematics with projecting mortises on the sides 24a, 24b of a slab 1 in a manner capable of cooperating by interlocking, from above, with tenons surmounting, at the edge, the openwork base plate 7 on the sides 24, 25 of an adjacent slab 1.

[0046] Preferably, the first interlocking means 27 and the complementary interlocking means 27a are located in a plane above the perforated base plate 7.

[0047] According to a feature of the invention, a tenon 28 and / or a mortise 29 are made of synthetic and elastically deformable material. According to a preferred embodiment, the tenon 28 is hollowed out in its center, giving it a periphery that is deformable under stress.

[0048] The advantages which arise from this elastic deformability of the reciprocal interlocking means, but also from their dovetail shape, consist in that they provide a certain flexibility between the slabs 1 when they are placed under stress relative to each other, for example during installation on a slope or in other restrictive installation circumstances.

[0049] As already indicated above, a slab 1 according to the invention is preferably designed from synthetic material, in particular from recycled materials. Advantage It is uniquely designed in one piece and is the result of a molding manufacturing process.

[0050] The slabs according to the invention are able to effectively respond to aesthetic constraints, by offering advantageous properties in terms of ground stabilization, retention of the filling material and, at the same time, load-bearing, this in comparison with slabs known from the state of the art.

Claims

Claims

1. Soil stabilization slab (1) with cells (2; 2a) intended to contain a filling material, for example a planting substrate, such as earth, or else aggregates of the sand, gravel or other type, a cell (2; 2a) comprising a peripheral wall (3) extending perpendicularly from a base plane (4) and comprising a lower edge (5) made integral, by gluing and / or welding and / or interlocking, with a support (6), the cells (2;2a) being of polygonal section and comprising intersection nodes (9) between them, defined by two adjacent sides (10, 11) of a cell (2) and at least one side (12, 13) of another juxtaposed cell (2a), characterized in that the peripheral wall (3) of a cell (2, 2a) comprises an upper edge defining an edge (15) in the form of a wave (16) in regular saw teeth or of sinusoidal type, comprising vertices (17) between which extend depression parts (18), a depression part (18) comprising, between two consecutive vertices (17) of an edge (15) of the peripheral wall (3) of a cell (2, 2a), two opposite descending edge portions (19) meeting in a median zone (20), the vertices (17) being shared between at least two adjacent cells (2, 2a) and are located at the height of an intersection node (9) between these adjacent cells (2, 2a).;

2. Soil stabilization slab (1) with cells (2; 2a) intended to contain a filling material, for example a planting substrate, such as earth, or else aggregates of the sand, gravel or other type, a cell (2; 2a) comprising a peripheral wall (3) extending perpendicularly from a base plane (4) and comprising a lower edge (5) made integral, by gluing and / or welding and / or interlocking, with a support (6), the cells (2;2a) being of round or ovoid section and comprising intersection nodes (9) between them, defined by the tangential zone (14) between two contiguous cells (2, 2a), characterized in that the peripheral wall (3) of a cell (2, 2a) comprises an upper edge defining an edge (15) in the form of a wave (16) in regular saw teeth or of sinusoidal type, comprising peaks (17) between which extend depression parts (18), a depression part (18) comprising, between two consecutive peaks (17) of an edge (15) of the peripheral wall (3) of a cell (2, 2a), two opposite descending edge portions (19) joining; in a median zone (20), the vertices (17) being shared between at least two adjacent cells (2, 2a) and are located at the height of an intersection node (9) between these adjacent cells (2, 2a).

3. Slab (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the middle zone (20) corresponds to the lowest point of the depression part (18) corresponding to the lowest height (h) of the peripheral wall (3) of a cell (2, 2a).

4. Slab (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the depression parts (18) that an edge (15) of a cell (2, 2a) comprises, preferably all the depression parts (18), comprise at least one notch (21) for limiting deformation.

5. Slab (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a notch (21) is located at the level of the middle zone (20) of a depression part (18).

6. Slab (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (6) is defined by an openwork base plate (7).

7. Slab (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the perforated base plate (7) comprises openings (7a) of smaller section than that of the cells (2, 2a), these openings (7a) representing more than 50% of the surface area of ​​the perforated base plate (7).

8. Slab (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises sides (24, 24a, 25, 25a) provided with reciprocal interlocking means (26) designed to connect, by interlocking, several slabs (1) to each other and comprising first interlocking means (27) in the form of at least one tenon (28) on certain sides (24, 25) of the slab (1) and complementary interlocking means (27a) in the form of at least one mortise (29) on the other sides (24a, 25a).

9. Slab (1) according to claim 6 or 7 and claim 8, characterized in that the tenon(s) (28) project at the edge of the openwork base plate (7) and are designed to fit from above, perpendicular to the plane of a slab (1), into the mortise(s) (29) provided above and at the edge of the openwork base plate (7) on the sides (24a, 25a) of an adjacent slab (1).

10. Slab (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the first interlocking means (27) and the interlocking means complementary (27a) are located in a plane above the perforated base plate (7).

11. Slab (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the tenon(s) (28) and / or the mortise(s) (29) are made of synthetic and elastically deformable material.

12. Slab (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed by molding in synthetic material, in particular from recycled materials.

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