Protective kerbstone cover

Abstract

A cover 204 for providing protection to a kerbstone 201 is located over the kerbstone so that an upper surface 205 and first side 206 of the kerbstone are at least partially covered by the cover. A lowermost part 901 of the cover is at least partially enclosed between the first side of the kerbstone and adjacent road surfacing material. A further part of the cover 303 may extend over a second side of the kerbstone. The cover may be angled at bend 701. The cover is preferably made from a resilient, thermoplastic material such as HDPE or polypropylene so that it can spring and grip onto the kerb. The upper part of the cover may be cut from the lower, embedded part so that it can be removed. In use, the cover temporarily protects the kerb from construction traffic.

Description

A Kerb Arrangement CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to: a kerb arrangement comprising a kerbstone, material providing a surface for a ground area, and a cover for providing protection for the kerbstone; and a method of temporarily protecting a kerbstone. 2. Description of the Related Art Newly installed kerbs on a building site, and highways, are often exposed to damaging forces from heavy construction vehicles, general traffic and falling objects. For example kerbstones may be scraped, or chipped by a wheel or track of a vehicle, as illustrated in Figure 1 or hit by a falling object. In this example a single kerbstone 101 of a kerb 100 has been chipped 102 at its upper edge nearest a road 103. Such damaged kerbstones are frequently rejected during an inspection of the site by the relevant highway authority, and / or building contractor or developer, and the road may not be adopted until such damage is repaired. The repair involves replacing the damaged kerbstone with a new one, which is relatively expensive (in both labour costs and material costs) and may also result in neighbouring kerbstones being damaged. Consequently, it is known to protect such kerbstones using a protective cover, such as that disclosed in GB2446861B. However, a problem with such a protective cover is that the method by which the cover is fixed over the kerbstone can be difficult to perform and relatively time consuming. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kerb arrangement as claimed in claim 1. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of temporarily protecting a kerbstone as claimed in claim 11. It should be noted that for the purposes of this specification “paved” means covered with a firm surface suitable for travel, as with paving stones, concrete, tarmacadam, etc, and “paving” should be construed accordingly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a chipped kerbstone 101 positioned along a road 103; Figure 2 shows an arrangement comprising a kerbstone 201, material 202 providing a surface for a ground area 203, and a cover 204 for providing protection for the kerbstone 201; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the cover 204; Figure 4 shows an alternative perspective view of the cover 204; Figure 5 shows the cover 204 positioned over the kerbstone 201 during a process of fitting the cover on to the kerbstone; Figure 6 shows the cover 204 after being lowered to rest over the top of the kerbstone 201 during the fitting process; Figure 7 shows the cover 204 in its operational position on the kerbstone 201: Figure 8 shows an alternative arrangement to that of Figure 7, in which haunching extends 209 and 210 extends further up the sides 206 and 208 of the kerbstone 201: Figure 9 shows stone material 211 and a base tarmacadam layer 212 laid adjacent to the first side 206 of the kerbstone 201; Figure 10 shows stone material 214 and a base tarmacadam layer 216 laid adjacent to the second side 208 of the kerbstone 201; Figure 11 shows stone material 211 and a base tarmacadam layer 212 laid adjacent to the first side 206 of the kerbstone 201, and stone material 214 and a base tarmacadam layer 215 laid adjacent to the second side 208 of the kerbstone 201: Figure 12 shows the cover 204 after an upper part 1201 of the cover 204 has been separated from its lower parts 1202 and 1203; Figure 13 shows the cover 204 after the upper part 1201 of the cover 204 has been lifted of the kerbstone 201; Figure 14 shows the kerbstone 201 after completion of the paved surfaces adjacent to each side of it; Figure 15 shows an alternative cover 1504 prior to fitting onto a section of kerb 1500: Figure 16 shows the cover 1504 after being fitted onto the section of kerb 1500; Figure 17 shows further alternative cover 1804 prior to fitting onto a section of kerb 1800: and Figure 18 shows the cover 1804 after being fitted onto the section of kerb 1800. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Figure 2 An arrangement comprising a kerbstone 201, material 202 providing a surface for a ground area 203, and a cover 204 for providing protection for the kerbstone 201 is shown in Figure 2. In the present example, the ground area is a partially constructed road, but in other examples it may be another type of paved surface such as a partially constructed car park area. The kerbstone 201 is located at the edge of the ground area 203, and in the present example is one of many that provide the kerb along one side of the road. The cover 204 is located over the kerbstone 201 so that an upper surface 205 of the kerbstone and a first side 206 of the kerbstone are at least partially covered by the cover. In the present case, the upper surface 205 is completely covered by the cover while the first side 206 is only partially covered. As will be described in further detail below, a lowermost part of the cover 204 is at least partially enclosed between the first side 206 of the kerbstone 201 and the material 202 providing the surface of the partially completed road 203. The kerbstone 201 is supported below by a bed 207 of concrete, and on its first side 206 and its opposite rear side 208 by concrete haunching 209 and 210 respectively. Adjacent the first side 206 of the kerbstone 201, the partially constructed road 203 comprises one or more base layers 211 of stone material and a base layer of a stone and asphalt mixture (or tarmacadam) 212 providing the upper surface of the road. This base layer 212 may itself be made up of several layers. Similarly, adjacent the second side 206 of the kerbstone 201, a partially constructed footpath 213 has been formed that comprises one or more base layers 214 of stone material and a base layer of a stone and asphalt mixture (or tarmacadam) 215 providing the upper surface. Like base layer 212, the base layer 215 may itself be made up of several layers. The final surface layers have not been applied to the road 203 or the footpath 213. Thus, the state of the of the road 203 and footpath 213 is similar to that found in many cases of roads and paths on sites of new builds, e.g. a building site where a new housing estate, or other property development, is being built. The state of the road and path will typically be left as shown in Figure 2 for a period of time while construction of buildings and infrastructure takes place. During this time, the road will typically be used by heavy vehicles and mobile equipment that could potentially damage the kerbstone 201 and other such kerbstones and damage from falling objects is also possible. However, the kerbstone 201 is protected by the cover 204 from impacts of such vehicles and equipment. In the present example, the kerbstone 201 is provided with its own cover 204 which is of substantially the same length as the kerbstone. Other kerbstones forming the kerb of the road each have their own covers, such as covers 204a and 204b, which are substantially identical to cover 204. However, in an alternative arrangement, an alternative cover is provided that has a longer length so that it may cover more than one kerbstone forming a straight kerb. In one example, the cover has a length equal to three kerbstones. In the present embodiment the kerbstone 201 is a half-battered kerbstone formed of precast concrete, and the cover is dimensioned to be a close fit over the kerbstone. However, as will be further described below, in other embodiments, the kerbstone has a different form, such as a bull nose kerbstone, a 45° splayed kerbstone, a drop kerb or a transition kerbstone (such as from half-battered to bull nose or 45° splayed kerbstone) and the cover is configured and dimensioned to be a close fit over the respective kerbstone. Furthermore, the kerb shown in Figure 2 is straight and made up of straight kerbstones. However, in some alternative examples a kerb is curved and made up of straight kerbstones arranged at angles to one another to form the curve. In this case the cover 204 may be cut into lengths that are the same as the lengths of the kerbstones, so that each kerbstone is fitted with a respective length of the cover 204. In further alternative embodiments, where the kerb comprises curved kerbstones, a cover is provided that has a complementary curve, so that again, the cover fits closely over the kerbstone. It will be appreciated that this list of types of kerbstone is not exhaustive and similar such covers could be applied to other kerbstone types. Figures 3 and 4 A perspective view of the cover 204 is shown in Figure 3 and an alternative perspective view of the cover 204 is provided in Figure 4. The cover 204 has a middle section 301 separating a first wall section 302 and a second wall section 303. The first and second wall sections 302 and 303 extend from one face of the middle section 301 to form a channel for receiving a kerbstone. The cover 204 is designed to fit closely over a half battered kerbstone and consequently the first wall section 302 is divided into two portions 305 and 306 separated by a bend 304 to accommodate the edge which forms the watermark (or waterline) on the kerbstone. During use, the second wall section 303 and the portion 306 of the first wall section 302 are fitted over faces of the kerbstone that are parallel to each other. However, the cover 204 is configured such that the second wall section 303 extends away from the middle section 301 in a first direction and the portion 306 of the first wall section 302 extends from the middle section in a second direction that converges with the first direction. As a consequence of this, the cover 204 has to be sprung open during its fitting onto a kerbstone, and once fitted, the cover tends to grip onto the kerbstone to keep it in place, until it is held in place by paving material such as tarmacadam, concrete, etc. The cover 204 is formed of a thermoplastic material by extrusion moulding or injection moulding for example, and in the present embodiment, the thermoplastic material comprises polypropylene mixed with polyethylene. In the present embodiment, the extrusion generally has a thickness of between two and ten millimetres, and preferably between three and five millimetres. This choice of material and thickness has been found to provide the cover with sufficient toughness and low cost. In addition, the material is sufficiently resilient so as to allow the cover to be elastically deformed when being fitted to a kerbstone, by springing apart the first wall section and the second wall section. (This process is further described below with respect to Figure 6.) As mentioned above, in other embodiments the cover is configured to be located over a different type of kerbstone, rather than a half-battered kerbstone. In instances where the cross-section of the cover remains substantially unchanged over its length, these covers may also be formed by extrusion. However, where this is not the case, other known moulding technologies may be used to form the cover, such as by injection moulding. It is envisaged that, in some embodiments the cover may have ribs or grooves etc to provide the cover with additional strength and / or grip, and where the cover is formed by a moulding process, such as extrusion, the ribs may be formed as part of the moulding. In some embodiments, where the cover is formed by an extrusion process, it is envisaged that the extruded element will be further processed, for example by pressing or rolling, to provide the surface of the cover with a rough texture. For example, such a rough texture may be applied to the middle section 301 of the cover so that in use the covered kerb has a less slippery upper surface. Thus, the possibility of the cover providing a slip hazard to pedestrians would be reduced. Alternatively, it is envisaged that a self- adhesive tape may be applied to the upper surface of the middle section 301. A tape may be chosen with a high coefficient of friction to reduce the possibility of the cover becoming a slip hazard for people stepping on or off the kerb. In the present embodiment, the cover is designed to fit closely over the kerbstone, and to be sprung open when fitting onto the kerbstone. However, in alternative embodiments, the cover is designed to fit over the kerbstone without being required to be sprung open. However, in these embodiments, the cover is designed to fit closely over the kerbstone, and in at least some of these embodiments, the cover follows the contour of the kerb, thereby reducing the possibility of the cover being inadvertently pulled or knocked off the kerbstone. Figures 5 and 6 A method of fitting the cover 204 over the kerbstone 201 is illustrated in the end views of Figures 5 and 8. In each of these Figures, the kerbstone 201 is shown supported by concrete providing the bed 207 and haunching 209, 210. In Figure 5, the cover 204 is positioned over the kerbstone 201 so that the first wall section 302 is positioned in front of the first side 206 of the kerbstone 201 and the second wall section 303 is positioned to the rear of its second side 208. The cover 204 is then lowered into position. The cover 204 is shown again in Figure 6 after being lowered to rest over the top of the kerbstone 201. As mentioned above, the portion 308 of the first wall section 302 nearest its edge and the second wall section 303 are arranged at angles to each other rather than being parallel. Consequently, in order to fit the cover 204 over the kerbstone 201, so that the middle section 301 is located against the upper surface 205 of the kerbstone, the cover must be deformed to spring apart the first and second wall portions 302 and 303. This may be achieved by pushing down on the middle section 301 of the cover 204, as indicated by arrow 601, for example by a boot of a person fitting the cover, or other directly applied pressure, etc. Figure 7 The cover 204 is shown in its operational position on the kerbstone 201 in Figure 7. Thus, the middle section 301 of the cover is positioned against the upper surface 205 of the kerbstone, the first wall section 302 is located against the first side 206 and the second wall section 303 is located against the second opposite side 208. As shown in Figure 7, the portion 306 of the first wall section 302 extends below the watermark 701 of the kerbstone, while the upper portion 305 extends over the sloping portion of the first side 206. Figure 8 An alternative arrangement to that of Figure 7 is shown in Figure 8. In this example, the haunching 209 and 210 extends further up the sides 206 and 208 of the kerbstone 201, when compared to the example shown in Figure 7. Although unlikely to occur, the possibility of the haunching interfering with the fitting of the cover has been identified as a potential problem by the inventor. However, this potential problem has been solved by fitting the cover to the kerbstone while the concrete which forms the haunches 209 and 210 is still workable. i.e. the cover is fitted before the concrete is set. Therefore, in the example of Figure 8, the cover 204 is shown positioned on the kerbstone 201 after its lower portion 306 of its first wall section 302 has been pushed into the concrete haunching 209 and its second wall section 303 has been pushed into the concrete haunching 210. Figure 9 After laying the kerbstones, including kerbstone 201, to form the kerb of the road, and after fitting of protective covers to the kerbstones, such as cover 204, road construction takes place in a conventional manner. Thus, as shown in Figure 9, one or more layers of stone material 211 are laid on the ground surface adjacent to the first side 206 of the kerbstone, and this is then covered with a base tarmacadam layer 212. This base layer 212 may itself be made up of several layers. As mentioned above, the cover 204 tends to grip onto the kerbstone 201, and this grip assists with maintaining the position of the cover during this process of laying the layers of material 211 and 212. The tarmacadam layer 212 and / or the stone layer 211 trap a lowermost part 901 of the first wall section 302 against the kerbstone 201. Thus, the material (in this case tarmacadam 212) applied to the ground surface not only creates a new ground surface but also encloses a lowermost part of the cover 204 between the first side 206 of the kerbstone 201 and the material 212. In some preferred cases, during application of the tarmacadam 212, heat from the tarmacadam may soften the material forming the cover such that it is more easily plastically deformed, and particles within the tarmacadam are pressed into the surface of the lowermost part 801 of the cover 204. Consequently, when the tarmacadam hardens, these particles, which engage with indentations in the cover, further assist with holding the cover in place. Figure 10 As an altemnative to the arrangement of Figure 9, after laying the kerbstones, including kerbstone 201, to form the kerb of the road, and after fitting of protective covers to the kerbstones, such as cover 204, a path may be constructed to the rear of the kerbstone. Thus, as shown in Figure 10, one or ‘more layers of stone material 214 are laid on the ground surface adjacent to the second side 208 of the kerbstone 201, and this is then covered with a base tarmacadam layer 215. The tarmacadam layer 215 and / or the stone layer 214 trap a lowermost part 1001 of the second wall section 303 against the kerbstone 201. Thus, the material (in this case tarmacadam 215) applied to the ground surface not only creates a new ground surface but also encloses a lowermost part of the cover 204 between the second side 208 of the kerbstone 201 and the material 215. Figure 11 Typically after forming the kerb, material will be applied to the ground on both side of the kerb, as described with respect to Figures 9 and 10. Consequently, both the first and second wall sections 302 and 303 of the cover 204 are held in place by material forming new ground surfaces on each side of the kerbstone 201. This case is shown in Figure 11 in which the lowermost part 901 of the first wall section 302 is enclosed by material 212 and the kerbstone 201, and the lowermost part 1001 of the second wall section 303 is enclosed by material 215 and the kerbstone 201. In the present embodiment, the first wall section 302 is dimensioned to extend approximately one hundred millimetres (or 4”) below the watermark 701, while the second wall section 303 extends approximately fifty millimetres (or 2") down from the upper surface 205 of the kerbstone. In alternative embodiments, the dimensions are varied from those given in this example, but at least one of the wall sections 302 and 303 must be sufficiently long to allow it to extend down into the surfacing material, such as material 212 or 215. Typically, the surfacing material is arranged to overlap the first wall section by about fifty millimetres (or 2"). As mentioned above, when the ground (in this case road 203) adjacent to the first side 206 of the kerbstone 201 has been surfaced in this way, it will typically be used to provide access for vehicles and equipment used for construction of nearby buildings and access for other people, such as residents, etc. During the period of this construction, the cover 204 provides protection to the kerbstone 201. Figure 12 After building construction has been completed, the cover 204 has completed its function and a major part of the cover may now be removed from the kerbstone. To achieve this, an upper part 1201 of the cover 204 is separated from a lower part (1202 or 1203) or lower parts (1202 and 1203) of the cover 204 that comprise of the lowermost parts 801 and 1001 respectively, which are trapped against the kerbstone 201 by material 212, 215 (such as tarmacadam). The upper part 1201 is then lifted away. The cover 204 is shown in Figure 12 after the first stage of this process, and therefore an upper part 1201 of the cover 204, which includes upper parts of the first and second wall sections 302, 303 and the middle section 301, is separated from the lower parts 1202 and 1203 of the first and second wall sections 302 and 303. In the present embodiment, this is achieved by cutting the cover across the whole of its length just above the level of the surface material 212 and 215. In the present example, the cut may be made using an angle grinder or alternatively an abrasive saw (or cut-off saw) of the type having an abrasive disk. Figure 13 Having separated the upper part 1201 from the lower part or parts (1202 and / or 1203), the upper part is then lifted off the kerbstone 201 as shown in Figure 13. It may be noted that the lower part or parts are left remaining, held between the material 212 or 215 and the kerbstone 201. In the present embodiment, the cover 204 is formed of a recyclable material, and consequently after lifting away the upper part 1201 it may be recycled, typically by reusing the material when making new kerb covers. Figure 14 The kerbstone 201 is shown again in Figure 14 after completion of the paved surfaces adjacent to each side of it. Having removed the upper part 1201 of the cover 204, the road 203 is provided with a further layer, or layers, 1401 of material, such as tarmacadam, that provides the finished top surface for the road, and also conceals the lower part 1202 of the first wall section of the cover. In cases where the surface to the rear of the kerbstone 201 is to be paved, such as to provide a footpath, this may also be provided with a further layer, or layers, 1402 of material, such as tarmacadam, to provide the finished top surface for the path and conceal the lower part 1203 of the second wall section. Figures 15 and 16 An alternative cover 1604 is shown before fitting onto a section of kerb 1500 in Figure 15 and after being fitted in Figure 16. The section of kerb 1500 is formed of two 45° splayed kerbstones 1501a and 1501b and the cover 1504 has been cut to a length that is approximately equal to the length of the two kerbstones. The cover 1504, like cover 204, has a portion 1606 of a first wall section 1502 and a second wall section 1503 that are angled inwards. i.e. the portion 1506 extends in a first direction as it extends away from a middle section 1511 of the cover and the second wall section 15603 extends in a second direction that is convergent with the first direction. Consequently, the cover must be sprung open during fitting and it grips onto the kerb 1500 after fitting. Figures 17 and 18 A further alternative cover 1804 is shown before fitting onto a section of kerb 1800 in Figure 17 and after being fitted in Figure 18. The section of kerb 1800 is formed of two bull nosed kerbstones 1801a and 1801b and the cover 1804 has been cut to a length that is approximately equal to the length of the two kerbstones. The cover 1804 is configured to be a close fit over the bull nosed kerbstones 1801a and 1801b, and therefore it has the form of a substantially u-shaped channel having a middle section 1811 separating a first wall section 1802 and a second wall section 1803. However, in a similar manner to the cover 204, the first wall section 1802 and the second wall section 1803 are angled inwards so that the cover must be deformed to fit over the kerb 1800. In each of the above described embodiments, the cover is configured to grip onto the kerbstone due to it being sprung open during fitting. However, in alternative embodiments, the arrangement includes a cover that is made to fit over the kerbstone without being deformed or gripping the kerbstone. i.e. in alternative embodiments the cover fits over the kerbstone but does not have to be sprung open during fitting. Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments the cover has a second wall section as well as a first wall section. However, in instances where it is not possible for the cover to extend over the back of the kerbstone, it is envisaged that a cover may be used that only has a first wall section extending down from a section that resides on the upper face of the kerbstone.

Claims

Claims What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for application to a kerb, comprising: a kerbstone; material providing a surface for a ground area; and a cover for providing protection for the kerbstone, wherein said kerbstone is located at the edge of said ground area, said cover is located over said kerbstone so that an upper surface of said kerbstone and a first side of said kerbstone are at least partially covered by said cover, and a lowermost part of said cover is at least partially enclosed between said first side of the kerbstone and said material. 2, The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover is in the form of a channel, said cover having a middle section separating a first wall section and a second wall section to define said channel, said lowermost part being at least a part of said first wall section, and said cover is located over said kerbstone so that said first wall section extends over said first side of said kerbstone, said second wall section extends over an opposite side of said kerbstone, and said middle section resides over said upper surface of said kerbstone.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first side of said kerbstone has an edge, and said first wall section defines a bend for accommodating said edge.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a second material covers a rear ground area that is adjacent to the opposite side of the kerbstone, such that a lowermost part of said second wall section of said cover is enclosed between said opposite side of the kerbstone and said second material.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said cover is formed of a resilient material, and said cover is in a spring open configuration so that it grips onto said kerbstone.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first side of said kerbstone is the front side of said kerbstone.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first side is the rear side of said kerbstone opposite to said front side.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said cover is formed of a thermoplastic material.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said cover is formed of a plastics material comprising a mixture of polymer types including at least one of the group: high density polyethylene (HDPE); polypropylene.

10. A method of temporarily protecting a kerbstone, comprising the steps of: locating a cover over a kerbstone that is located along an edge of a ground surface, said cover being located so that an upper surface of said kerbstone and a first side of said kerbstone are at least partially covered by said cover; and applying material to the ground surface to (i) create a new ground surface and (ii) at least partially enclose a lowermost part of said cover between said first side of the kerbstone and said material.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: separating an upper part of said cover from said lowermost part; and removing said upper part from said kerbstone.

12. The method of temporarily protecting a kerbstone according to claim 11, wherein said step of separating an upper part of said cover from said lowermost part comprises cutting said cover.

13. The method of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein said cover is in the form of a channel, said cover having a middle section separating a first wall section and a second wall section to define said channel, and said step of locating said cover over a kerbstone comprises locating said first wall section over said first side of said kerbstone and locating said second wall section over an opposite side of said kerbstone, so that said middle section resides over said upper surface of said kerbstone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said method comprises the further step of applying second material to a rear ground surface area, adjacent the opposite side of the kerbstone, thereby enclosing a lowermost part of said second wall section of said cover between said opposite side of the kerbstone and said second material.

15. The method of any of claims 10 to 14, wherein said cover is formed of a resilient material, and said step of locating said cover over said kerbstone comprises deforming said cover by forcing said first wall section further from said second wall section.

16. The method of any of claims 10 to 15, wherein said first side of said kerbstone is the front side of said kerbstone, said first side of said kerbstone having a watermark.

17. The method of any of claims 10 to 16, wherein said kerbstone has a watermark on a front side of said kerbstone, and said first side is the rear side of said kerbstone opposite to said front side.

18. The method of any of claims 10 to 17, wherein haunching formed of workable concrete extends up said first side of said kerbstone and said step of locating a cover over a kerbstone comprises pushing said lowermost part of said cover into said concrete so that said cover becomes at least partially embedded in said concrete.

19. A method of providing a paved surface adjacent to a kerbstone, said method comprising temporarily protecting said kerbstone as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 18, followed by the step of applying further material to said new ground surface and thereby covering said lowermost part of said cover.

20. A cover for temporarily protecting a kerbstone, wherein said cover is in the form of a channel, said cover having a middle section separating a first wall section and a second wall section to define said channel, and at least a portion of said first wall section extending from said middle section in a first direction and at least a portion of said second wall section extending from said middle section in a second direction that converges with said first direction.

21. Apparatus for applications to a kerb substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of protecting a kerbstone substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims What we claim is:

1. A system including apparatus for application to a kerb, comprising: a kerbstone having an upper surface and a first side; material providing a surface for a ground area; and a cover for providing protection for the kerbstone, said cover is in the form of a channel, said cover having a middle section separating a first wall section and a second wall section to define said channel; said kerbstone is located at an edge of said ground area, said cover is located over said kerbstone so that said upper surface and said first side are at least partially covered by said cover in use, said first wall section extending over said first side, said second wall section extending over an opposite side of said kerbstone, and said middle section residing over said upper surface; and a lowermost part, said lowermost part being at least a part of said first wall section of said cover, is at least partially enclosed between said first side of the kerbstone and said material: wherein said cover is formed of a resilient material, and said cover is in a spring open configuration so that it grips onto said kerbstone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first side of said kerbstone has an edge, and said first wall section defines a bend for accommodating said edge.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a second material covers a rear ground area that is adjacent to the opposite side of the kerbstone, such that a lowermost part of said second wall section of said cover is enclosed between said opposite side of the kerbstone and said second material. 4, The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first side of said kerbstone is the front side of said kerbstone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first side is the rear side of said kerbstone opposite to the front side of said kerbstone.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said cover is formed of a thermoplastic material.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cover is formed of a plastics material comprising a mixture of polymer types including at least one of the group: high density polyethylene (HDPE); polypropylene.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a portion of said first wall section extends from said middle section in a first direction and at least a portion of said second wall section extends from said middle section in a second direction that converges with said first direction.

9. A method of temporarily protecting a kerbstone, comprising the steps of: locating a cover formed of a resilient material over a kerbstone that is located along an edge of a ground surface by deforming said cover by forcing a first wall section of said cover further from a second wall section of said cover, said cover being located sa that an upper surface of said kerbstone and a first side of said kerbstone are at least partially covered by said cover; and applying material to the ground surface to (i) create a new ground surface and (ii) at least partially enclose a lowermost part of said cover between said first side of the kerbstone and said material.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: separating an upper part of said cover from said lowermost part; and removing said upper part from said kerbstone.

11. The method of temporarily protecting a kerbstone according to claim 10, wherein said step of separating an upper part of said cover from said lowermost part comprises cutting said cover.

12. The method of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein said cover is in the form of a channel, said cover having a middle section separating said first wall section and said second wall section to define said channel, and said step of locating said cover over a kerbstone comprises locating said first wall section over said first side of said kerbstone and locating said second wall section over an opposite side of said kerbstone, so that said middle section resides over said upper surface of said kerbstone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said method comprises the further step of applying second material to a rear ground surface area, adjacent the opposite side of the kerbstone, thereby enclosing a lowermost part of said second wall section of said cover between said opposite side of the kerbstone and said second material.

14. The method of any of claims 9 to 13, wherein said first side of said kerbstone is the front side of said kerbstone, said first side of said kerbstone having a watermark.

15. The method of any of claims 9 to 13, wherein said kerbstone has a watermark on a front side of said kerbstone, and said first side is the rear side of said kerbstone opposite to said front side.

16. The method of any of claims 9 to 15, wherein haunching formed of workable concrete extends up said first side of said kerbstone and said step of locating a cover over a kerbstone comprises pushing said lowermost part of said cover into said concrete so that said cover becomes at least partially embedded in said concrete.

17. A method of providing a paved surface adjacent to a kerbstone, said method comprising temporarily protecting said kerbstone as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 16, followed by the step of applying further material to said new ground surface and thereby covering said lowermost part of said cover.

18. Apparatus for applications to a kerb substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of protecting a kerbstone substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.