A rain bed guardrail arrangement

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) comprising a first edging stone securing device (10a) and a second edging stone securing device (10b). Further, comprising a support rod (31) and a guardrail attachment unit (32) comprising a fastening portion (32a), wherein each edging stone securing device (10a, 10b) comprises a second plate (33) arranged to, at a mounted state, extend adjacent to, and along a vertically extending ambient facing inner surface (i1 ) of at least one corresponding edging stone (21, 22, 23) for supporting said corresponding edging stone (21, 22, 23). Furthermore, each second plate (33) comprises a receiving structure (33a) dimensioned to receive a corresponding attachment portion (31a, 31b) of said support rod (31). Moreover, the guardrail attachment unit (32) is arranged to be connected to said support rod, and when connected, arranged to receive a guardrail structure (40). The present disclosure further relates to an edging stone system (10) for positioning intermediate a rain bed (102) and a ground surface (101).

Description

[0001] A RAIN BED GUARDRAIL ARRANGEMENT

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a rain bed guardrail arrangement and an edging stone system comprising such.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Global warming has several implications for the earth. One of the implications is extreme weather, which comprise downpour. To be able to handle downpour in cities, the cities need solutions to handle the rainwater.

[0006] A solution for handling the rainwater is to utilize rain beds, which comprise an enclosed area of plants / soil that delay the transferring of the rainwater to the underground and / or filter the rainwater. Such rain beds are often in direct connection to busy roads. The frame enclosing the enclosed area of the rain beds comprises edging stones. The edging stones serve a function to delimit the enclosed area from the road and to serve as an indicator for vehicles at the road. If the edging stones are not properly attached to their position, during heavy rain fall, the edging stones may tilt / fall towards the rain bed as the rain bed gets softened by the rain. Then, they are not able to fulfil their purpose. This issue may also occur if vehicles / pedestrians apply a force, by collision or operation (e.g. a plow truck forcing snow towards the edging stones to clear the road), to the outer surface of the edging stones.

[0007] Conventionally, to avoid the edging stones from ti Iti ng / fa II i ng into the rain bed, the edging stones are casted in-between the road and the rain bed. A drawback with this is that by casting the inner part of the edging stone, which is directed towards the rain bed, the area of the soi l / plats are reduced. Also, this requires an excessive use of material, which is both costly, time-consuming to implement, and damaging towards the environment.

[0008] Further, the rain bed usually comprises a guardrail that serves to enhance safety by delimiting the boundaries of the rain bed. This is especially important when rain beds are located near pedestrian roads. Thereby, the guardrails are also able to protect vegetation in the rain bed as they can prevent pedestrians or vehicles to access the rain bed. The guardrails are usually casted in the rain bed. Accordingly, in order to install edging stones and a guardrail in connection thereto to delimit and protect a rain bed, excessive material, which adversely affects the rain bed are utilized. Further, having a complicated and timeconsuming installation procedure.

[0009] Based on the above, there is a need for a rain bed guardrail arrangement and an edging stone system comprising such, which is improved in installation convenience, cost-efficiency, material efficiency and / or more environmental friendliness.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to alleviate at least some of the mentioned drawbacks to provide a rain bed guardrail arrangement and an edging stone system in accordance with the appended claims.

[0012] This, and other objects which will become apparent in the following, are achieved by a guardrail arrangement, an edging stone system as defined in the appended claims.

[0013] The present disclosure relates to a rain bed guardrail arrangement (may be interchanged with a "guardrail arrangement") suitable or arranged to be intermediate a rain bed and a ground surface (preferably a pedestrian road or vehicle road comprising said ground surface), in particular to delimit the rain bed from the ground surface. The rain bed guardrail arrangement comprising a first edging stone securing device arranged to be secured intermediate a first and a second edging stone. Further, the rain bed guardrail arrangement comprises a second edging stone securing device arranged to be secured intermediate said second and a third edging stone, or intermediate said third and a fourth edging stone, the edging stones being aligned / positioned along a common row with said first edging stone. Each edging stone may be formed as a block, cube or have any other suitable polygonal shape. The rain bed guardrail arrangement further comprises a support rod having a first and a second spaced apart attachment portion (which may in some aspects be opposite ends of the rod) and a guardrail attachment unit comprising a fastening portion.

[0014] Further, each edging stone securing device comprises a second plate arranged to, at a mounted state, extend adjacent to, and along a vertically extending ambient facing inner surface of at least one corresponding edging stone for supporting said corresponding edging stone. Further, each second plate comprises, at an outward facing surface thereof, a receiving structure, each receiving structure being dimensioned to receive a corresponding attachment portion of said support rod allowing the support rod to, at said mounted state, extend horizontally between said second plates parallel to a horizontal axis extending along said row. The term "horizontal axis" may be interchanged with row axis.

[0015] Furthermore, the guardrail attachment unit is arranged to be connected with said support rod, intermediate said first and second attachment portion, the fastening portion being arranged to receive a guardrail structure (the term guardrail structure may be interchanged with "barrier" or "fender", the guardrail structure extending upwardly / vertically at said mounted state. The guardrail structure may protrude at least 5cm, or 10cm, or 15cm, or 20cm, or 30 cm above a top surface of at least one of the edging stones. The guardrail structure may be received by any suitable mechanism such as fastening elements (screws or the like), clamping, or any other suitable mechanism.

[0016] Advantageously, the rain bed guardrail arrangement (also referred to as a guardrail arrangement) is convenient to install and is environmentally friendly as there is no need to attach the guardrail by means of e.g. concrete.

[0017] Generally each edging stone device may be configured to secure at least two edging stones in a position so that the at least two edging stones devices are able to support the edging stones against forces exerted in a direction perpendicular to a horizontal axis. In other words, if the edging stones are arranged in-between a solid surface and a rain bed, the edging stone securing devices may be configured to support the edging stones when forces, which arise from the solid surface are exerted to the edging stones. These forces could be impact forces (such as vibrations arising from vehicles on the solid surface) to the solid surface and / or vehicle / pedestrians that collide with the edging stones.

[0018] In some aspects, to which the present disclosure is not limited to, each edging stone securing device further comprises a first plate (or any other suitable first means), preferably, said second plate has a different orientation relative the first plate. Further, each edging stone securing device may comprise a connection element extending in a first direction (perpendicular to said horizontal axis) the connection element having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion Accordingly, the first plate is attached to said first end portion and the second plate is attached to said second end portion. Further, each connection element is arranged to, at said mounted state, be fitted intermediate a pair of corresponding adjacent edging stones of said first, second, third and / or fourth edging stones so that the first plate is positioned on one side of the corresponding edging stone(s) and the second plate is on an opposite second side of the corresponding edging stone(s) the first and the second plate being arranged to, in said mounted state, jointly support said first, second and third edging stones in a first direction which may be perpendicular to said horizontal axis.

[0019] The connection element may be an oblong pole or any other suitable type of oblong structure. The connection element may be a flat oblong plate. The first plate may be of any suitable shape and dimension. The first plate may be have an orientation which is different from the orientation of the second plate. The first plate may form an angle of 75-105 degrees relative said second plate, preferably 80-100 degrees, more preferably 85-95 degrees, more preferably 88-92 degrees, or 90 degrees (substantially perpendicular) relative the second plate.

[0020] Such an orientation of the plates relative each other allow for (a largest surface of) one of the plates to be parallel with a vertically (when mounted) extending side of the edging stone and the other one may (have a largest surface which) be at least partially parallel or similarly oriented as the ground surface. Accordingly, at said mounted state, it is enough for the plate parallel with the solid surface, then the other plate will prevent the edging stone from tilti ng / fa I ling / slanti ng / tipping / rolling / tum bling over / into the rain bed.

[0021] The first plate may have a width and height of 7-15 cm, or 5-25 cm or 5-40 cm. The second plate may have a width and height of 7-15 cm, or 5-25 cm or 5-40 cm. The area defined by the width and heights may be referred to as the largest surface area. The thickness of the plates may be 1-10 or 1-25 mm. The material of the plates / connecting elements may be metal, iron or any other suitable material.

[0022] The support rod and the guardrail attachment unit may also be formed by metal, iron or any other suitable material. The support rod may have any suitable length such as 3-100cm. The guardrail attachment unit may have a height of about l-20cm.

[0023] Each first plate may be arranged to, at said mounted state, be attached to and / or embedded in a ground surface, wherein each second plate is parallel to, and in contact with said ambient facing inner surface of said at least one corresponding edging stone. Ground surface within the context of the present disclosure may be any one of concrete, asphalt, gravel, brick, rubber any combination thereof, or any other suitable material. Preferably, the ground surface is asphalt or concrete.

[0024] As the first plate is attached to, and / or embedded in said ground surface, and the second plate (which is connected to the first plate via the connection element) extends (and is preferably abutting) along the ambient facing inner surface of at least one edging stone, the edging stone device will support and secure the edging stone to its position, thereby preventing / reducing the risk of the edging stone being dislocated.

[0025] Advantageously, as the guardrail attachment unit is connected to the support rod (via the receiving structure at the second plate). A guardrail structure can be secured to the edging stone without utilizing any concrete or other fastening material, hence being environmental friendly and space efficient. In other words, the guardrail structure can be secure and protect the rain bed from vehicles / pedestrians without being anchored to the rain bed or ground surface.

[0026] The first plate may be attached to or embedded in said ground surface by that an embedding material, which may be the same as the material of the solid surface, (e.g. asphalt and / or concrete), may be poured / paved over the first plate when said embedding material is at a liquid state. Hence, the embedding material will anchor the first plate to said ground after the material has dried / solidified. Thereby, the first plate will be attached to ground surface which would have been provided anyway since the ground surface will be utilized as a road surface or pedestrian surface.

[0027] The guardrail attachment unit may comprise at least one hook arranged to attach to said support rod, the hook enabling slidable adjustment of said guardrail attachment unit along said support rod. In some aspects, the attachment unit may comprise any other suitable type of means that enables slidable adjustment of said guardrail attachment unit. The hook may encircle the support rod.

[0028] An advantage of this is that it allows the guardrail attachment unit to be flexible dependent on where along the support rod it may be optimal or preferable to have e.g. a pole of the guardrail structure to extend from. Also, this allows for convenient and flexible attachment of the guardrail attachment unit to the support rod.

[0029] The arrangement may comprise a plurality (two or more) of guardrail attachment units.

[0030] Each receiving structure of each second plate may further comprise a plane alignment mechanism, said plane alignment mechanism being operable to adjust said receiving structure along a depth axis (which in said mounted state is perpendicular to said horizontal axis) of said second plate.

[0031] Advantageously, thickness / depth variations between adjacent edging stones may be compensated by said plane alignment mechanism allowing for the support rod to extend between two plates even if the inner surfaces of adjacent stones are not fully aligned or flush.

[0032] Further, the fastening portion of said guardrail attachment unit may comprise an adjustment mechanism, said adjustment mechanism being operable to angularly adjust said upwardly extending guardrail structure. The adjustment mechanism may comprise at least one wing-nut which is operable to adjust said upwardly extending guardrail structure angularly. Preferably, the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of wing-nuts, each of which can be adjusted to cooperatively adjust a pole portion of the guardrail structure. It should be noted that the adjustment mechanism may be any other suitable type of screw / nut structure and is not limited to wing-nuts or the like.

[0033] Advantageously, the adjustment mechanism allow for the guardrail structure to be adjusted to be extending vertically if there are any tilting.

[0034] The receiving structure of each second plate may comprise a receiving opening arranged to receive said support rod. Le. the receiving structure may be arranged to receive and accommodate / enclose the support rod. Thereby, securing the support rod in a robust manner. The receiving structure may have an opening corresponding to the shape / dimensions of the support rod for receiving the support rod.

[0035] Each second plate may comprise a plurality of receiving structures for enabling a plurality of support rods to connect to said second plate. Accordingly, each second plate may have receiving structures arranged to receive a plurality of support rods, such that a plurality of support rods can be interconnected (via the plurality of second plates) to span over a dista nce / le ngth . Thereby, providing a modular arrangement which increases the flexibility of the guardrail arrangement. The term "plurality of receiving structures" may encompass one hollow polygon / cylinder which can receive two support rods from opposite ends thereof. Hence, the arrangement herein may comprise three or more second plates, two or more support rods and two or more guardrail attachment units, wherein the two or more support rods extend between corresponding second plates along a distance which overlaps / extends over a row of edging stones, the row of edging stones comprising at least three edging stones. Accordingly, the arrangement may comprise a plurality of support rods interconnecting the three or more edging stone securing devices.

[0036] The present disclosure further provides an edging stone system (also referred to as "the system" for being positioned intermediate a rain bed and a ground surface comprising. The edging stone system comprising an edging stone arrangement comprising a first, a second, a third, and / or a fourth edging stone edging stone aligned along a row. Further, the edging stone system comprises a rain bed guardrail arrangement according to any aspect herein. The first edging stone securing device is secured intermediate said first and a second edging stone, said second edging stone securing device is secured intermediate said second and said third edging stone or intermediate said third and fourth edging stones. The second plate of said first edging stone device extends adjacent to, and along said vertically extending ambient facing inner surface of at least one of said first and second edging stones (preferably both). The second plate of said second edging stone extends adjacent to, and along said vertically extending ambient facing inner surface of at least one of said second and third edging stones (preferably both), or second and fourth edging stones.

[0037] Furthermore, each second plate comprises, at an outward facing surface thereof, a receiving structure, each receiving structure hosting an attachment portion of said support rod, wherein the support rod extends horizontally between said second plates parallel to said horizontal axis (such that the second plates jointly secure the support rod horizontally). Moreover, the guardrail attachment unit is connected to said support rod intermediate said first and second attachment portion, the fastening portion hosting a guardrail structure, the guardrail structure extending upwardly and along the row formed by the edging stones. The edging stone system may in some aspects comprises a plurality of sets of edging stones forming a plurality of rows. Each row may be defined as the aforementioned. The plurality of rows may jointly form a closed or partially closed area, preferably a rain bed area.

[0038] In some aspects, the present disclosure may further comprise a rain bed system comprising such an edging stone system.

[0039] Further, in some aspects, there may be provided a method for providing a terrain for pedestrians / vehicles and vegetation / plants, the method comprising

[0040] I. providing an edging stone system according to any aspect herein

[0041] II. positioning the edging stone system at a portion of a land area intended to enable the edging stone system to delimit a rain bed from a ground surface

[0042] III. planting the rain bed and the ground surface on opposite sides of edging stones of said edging stone system.

[0043] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to a specific number of support rods, guardrail attachment units or second plates. The present disclosure may be realized with at least two support plates, one support rod and one guardrail attachment unit. Nonetheless, in some preferred aspects, the present disclosure comprises a plurality of support rods (may be referred to as a first, a second, a third support rod etc.), each one extending between two adjacent of a plurality of second plates, a plurality of guardrail attachment units provided on said support plates with a specific spacing between each other (depending on the type of guardrail structure). Hence, the first, second and third edging stone may comprise a fourth, fifth edging stone etc. Further, the first, second and third edging stone need not to be arranged along said row in a sequence. E.g. a fourth edging stone may be between the first and the second edging stone.

[0044] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will now be further clarified and described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings; Figure 1 illustrates a front cut-out view of a rain bed guardrail arrangement installed to a plurality of edging stones in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0046] Figure 2 illustrates an objective view of a rain bed guardrail arrangement installed to a plurality of edging stones in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0047] Figures 3A-B illustrates a rain bed guardrail arrangement from an objective view in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0048] Figure 4A illustrates a second plate from a front view in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0049] Figure 4B illustrates an objective view of rain bed guardrail arrangement installed to three edging stones, wherein two of the edging stones have different depth in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure; and

[0050] Figure 5 illustrates a guardrail structure relative a guardrail attachment unit from a front view in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0051] Figure 6 illustrates a top view of an edging stone system arranged intermediate a rain bed and a ground surface in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

[0052] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may refer to more than one unit in some contexts, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" do not exclude other elements or steps. It should be emphasized that the term "comprises / comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components. It does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. The term "and / or" is to be interpreted as meaning "both" as well and each as an alternative. More specifically, the wording "one or more" of a set of elements (as in "one or more of A, B and C" or "at least one of A, B and C") is to be interpreted as either a conjunctive or disjunctive logic. Put differently, it may refer either to all elements, one element or combination of two or more elements of a set of elements. For example, the wording "A, B and C" may be interpreted as A or B or C, A and B and C, A and B, B and C, or A and C.

[0054] It will also be understood that, although the term first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements or features, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The first element and the second element are both elements, but they are not the same element.

[0055] Terms such as "upwardly", "vertically" etc. as used herein should be interpreted with a gravity frame of reference.

[0056] Figure 1 illustrates a front cut-out view of a rain bed guardrail arrangement 1 comprising a first edging stone securing device 10a secured intermediate a first and a second edging stone 21, 22. Further, Figure 1 illustrates a second edging stone securing device 10b secured intermediate said second and a third edging stone 22, 23 which are aligned along a common row with said first edging stone 21. In Figure 1, only a second plate 33 of the edging stone securing devices 10a, 10b are visible. The phrase "aligned along a common row" may refer to that the edging stones 21, 22, 23 jointly form a row or are aligned on a common row with other edging stones. However, the row may be angled, or straight.

[0057] Figure 1 further illustrates that the guardrail arrangement 1 may comprise support rods 31, each having a first and a second spaced apart attachment portion 31a, 31b. In Figure 1, the attachment portions 31a, 31b of each rod 31 are located at opposite end parts of each rod 31. However, the attachment portions 31 are not limited to being at the end parts. Figure 1 illustrates that each support rod 31 may extend between two (preferably adjacent) second plates 33. Thereby, the two second plates 33 may jointly secure one or more support rods 31. The rods 31 may have a cross-section which are circular, rectangular or have any other suitable shape.

[0058] As further illustrated in Figure 1, each second plate 33 may be arranged to secure a plurality of support rods 31. Accordingly, the arrangement 1 of Figure 1 comprises a plurality of second plates 33 which jointly secure a plurality of support rods 31 along the horizontal axis hl (so to cover a part of, or the full distance / length the row of edging stones form), the arrangement 1 having a plurality of interconnected support rods 31 secured to corresponding ones of said plurality of second plates 33. Hence, as illustrated in Figure 1, each second plate 33 comprises at an outward facing surface 33i thereof, a receiving structure 33a, each receiving structure 33a being dimensioned to receive a corresponding attachment portion 31a, 31b of said support rod 31. Each second plate 33 may comprise receiving structures 33a positioned to allow support rods 31 to be aligned in parallel while having a common extension along the horizontal axis hl.

[0059] Figure 1 further illustrates that the arrangement 1 comprises a guardrail attachment unit 32 comprising a fastening portion 32a. Moreover, Figure 1 illustrates that each edging stone securing device 10a, 10b comprises a second plate 33 arranged to, at the mounted state shown in Figure 1, extend adjacent to, and along (to preferably abut) a vertically extending ambient facing inner surface il of at least one corresponding edging stone 21, 22, 23 for supporting said corresponding edging stone 21, 22, 23. Accordingly, the guardrail attachment unit 32 is connected to said support rod, intermediate said first and second attachment portion 31a, 31b, the fastening portion 32a being arranged to receive a guardrail structure 40, the guardrail structure 40 extending upwardly at said mounted state.

[0060] The guardrail structure 40 may comprise at least one pole portion 41 which is arranged to be secured to a corresponding (e.g. by being inserted into it) guardrail attachment unit 32. The guardrail structure 40 may further comprise a guardrail means 42 which is arranged to protrude above the edging stones 21, 22, 23 (so to extend vertically perpendicular to the horizontal axis hl). The pole portion 41 may be integral with the guardrail means 42, or may be a separate part such that the pole portion 41 is initially secured to the guardrail attachment unit 32, subsequently, the guardrail means 42 may be attached to the pole portion 41, the guardrail means may extend along said horizontal axis hl. The pole portion 41 may have a length that enables it to extend beyond the height of each edging stone 21, 22, 23 and protrude above each edging stone vertically.

[0061] The guardrail means 42 may be any suitable type of guardrail means such as a mesh guardrail, glass guardrail, pipe railing, wooden railing, concrete guardrail or any combination thereof. The specific structure of the guardrail may be varied in accordance with the knowledge of a person skilled in the art. Hence, the specific formation and grid of the guardrail means 42 as illustrated in Figure 1 is for example purposes solely. Accordingly, the formation may vary as long as the guardrail fulfill the purpose of providing a protective barrier and / or functioning as visual guidance for pedestrians / vehicles.

[0062] The pole portions 41 may be an elongated pole with an attachment interface at its end for receiving a part of the guardrail means 42. Accordingly, as illustrated in Figure 1, each second plate 33 may receive a corresponding pole portion 41. Hence, a guardrail means 42 may be fastened to the pole portions 41. Hence, the guardrail means 42 may comprise a plurality of interfaces for receiving a plurality of pole portions 42. The vertically extending inner surfaces il of the edging stones 21, 22, 23 in Figure 1 may be arranged to be facing a rain bed such that the opposite suface faces a solid surface (pedestrian or vehicle road surface).

[0063] Figure 2 illustrates an objective back view of a rain bed guardrail arrangement 1, i.e. Figure 2 shows an opposite side of the edging stones compared to Figure 1. Figure 2 illustrates a plurality of edging stones (four) 21, 22, 23, 24 aligned along a common row parallel with a horizontal axis hl. Figure 2 illustrates two edging stone securing devices 10a, 10b, the dashed parts in Figure 2 has the purpose of illustrating parts which are "behind" the edging stones. Figure 2 illustrates a first edging stone securing device 10a being intermediate a first and a second edging stone 21, 22 and a second edging stone securing device 10b being intermediate a third and a fourth edging stone 23, 24. In Figure 2, there is no edging stone securing device between the second and third edging stone 22, 23. Nonetheless, in some aspects there may be edging stone securing device between each adjacently arranged pair of edging stones (as illustrated in Figure 1). Hence, in other aspects, there may be edging stone securing devices between every other of adjacent edging stones. Then, the guardrail attachment unit 32 may, as illustrated in Figure 2, be positioned to be associated with both of the edging stones 22, 23 void of edging stone securing devices there between. The space between adjacent edging stones may be referred to as an "intermediate interface". Moreover, in some aspects as illustrated in Figure 2, the rod 31 may extend along the length of more than one edging stone between a pair of second plates 33.

[0064] Figure 2 illustrates that each edging stone securing device 10a, 10b further comprises a first plate 34, said second plate 33 in Figure 2 has a different orientation relative the first plate 34. Further, each edging stone securing device 10a, 10b comprises a connection element 35 extending in a first direction perpendicular to the horizontal axis hl. The connection element 35 (may also be referred to as a link-arm) having a first end portion 35a and an opposite second end portion 35b, wherein the first plate 34 is attached to said first end portion 35a and the second plate 33 is attached to said second end portion 35b. Hence, the connection element 35 connects the first and the second plate 33, 34. The plates 33, 34 may be welded, molded, adhered, screwed, or attached to the connection element 35 by any other suitable means.

[0065] Figure 2 illustrates that each connection element 35 is arranged to, at the mounted state illustrated in Figure 2, be fitted intermediate a pair of corresponding adjacent edging stones. The first and the second plate 34, 33 in said mounted state, jointly supporting said first, second, third and fourth edging stones 21, 22, 23, 24 to withstand forces exerted along a first direction. The connection element 35 extends in a direction perpendicular to said horizontal axis hl. Generally, the horizontal axis hl may be regarded to extend parallel to the row of adjacently arranged edging stones 21, 22, 23, 24. Therefore, the connection element 35 extends perpendicular to said horizontal axis hl as it extends between adjacent edging stones 21, 22, 23, 24, whereby the first plate 34 and the second plate 33 are positioned, in said mounted state, on opposite sides of the edging stones 21, 22 (i.e. on opposite sides of the row).

[0066] Figure 2 illustrates that each first plate 34 may be arranged to, at said mounted state, be attached to or embedded in a ground surface, wherein each second plate 33 is parallel to, and in contact with said ambient facing inner surface il of said at least one corresponding edging stone 21, 22, 23, 24. As the first plate 34 is attached to, or embedded in the ground surface, the first plate 33 will be anchored to said ground surface which allows the second plate 33 to be secured at a position parallel to and in contact with an ambient facing inner surface il of a corresponding edging stone. Hence, forces exerted along a depth axis dl of said second plate 34 will be at least partially absorbed by the edging stone securing device 10a. In other words, the first plate 34 will prevent the second plate 33 from moving in the first direction (towards the rain bed) and the second plate 33 will prevent the edging stones 21, 22, 23 to be ti Ited / fa II inside a rain bed. Hence, the second plate 33 is arranged to be associated with a rain bed and the first plate is arranged to be associated with a ground surface.

[0067] Figure 2 does not explicitly illustrate ground surface or rain bed surfaces which may be on opposite sides of the edging stones 21, 22, 23, 24. It should be noted that, preferably, at said mounted state, the first plate 34 is covered / buried by the ground surface i.e. such that it is not visible by e.g. pedestrians. Further, the second plate 33, the support rod 31 and the guardrail attachment unit 32 are arranged to be embedded / buried in the rain bed i.e. such that neither are visible. Consequently, the edging stones 21, 22, 23 are also arranged to be partly embedded in the rain bed and / or ground surface and / or any intermediate surface therebetween. Therefore, in said mounted state, an upper portion ul of the edging stones are visible whereas the portions below the upper portion are arranged to be underground (i.e. covered by either the ground surface or rain bed).

[0068] Figure 2 further illustrates that each first plate 34 may comprise at least one through hole 36, preferably 2-8 through holes. Each through hole 36 may have a radius of at least 10 mm or at least 20 mm or at least 30 mm. This is beneficial as the ground surface is able to extend through the through holes 36 to further secure the first plate 34 to the ground surface. The edging stones of Figure 2 are in the form of cuboids with a height of around 12-40 cm. The connection element 35 is inserted intermediate sides of adjacent cuboids, in which the sides face each other. Hence, the length of the connection element 35 should be greater than the depth of the adjacent edging stones through which it extends between. Similar to Figure 1, Figure 2 illustrates a guardrail attachment unit 32 which in Figure 2 is detachably attached to the support rod 31. Further, Figure 2 illustrates the advantages provided by the arrangement 1 of the present disclosure as the guardrail structure 40 is fully secured to the second plates 33. Hence, there is no need to attach the guardrail structure 40 to the rain bed by use of e.g. concrete. Accordingly, the sole material used to secure both the guardrail structure 40 and each edging stone securing device 10a, 10b may be the ground surface material which would need to be provided anyway as it serves the purpose of enabling pedestrians and vehicles to drive on top of the ground surface. Preferably, the rain bed guardrail arrangement 1 herein may be arranged to be installed simultaneously as the rain bed and the ground surface are to be installed / provided.

[0069] Figures 3A-3B illustrates an objective view of an operation in which a guardrail attachment unit 32 is attached to a support rod 31. Figure 3A illustrates that a fastening portion 32a of said guardrail attachment unit 32 comprises at least one hook arranged to attach to said support rod 31, the hook enabling slidable adjustment of said guardrail attachment unit 32 along said support rod 31 (and the horizontal axis hl). Figure 3B illustrates with arrows how the guardrail attachment unit 32 may be adjusted along the support rod 31. Further, Figure 3B illustrates a pole portion 41 of a guardrail structure 40 being attached to said guardrail attachment unit 32. An advantage of the slidable guardrail attachment unit 32 is that a space between a plurality of guardrail attachment units 32 may be adjusted. Thereby, the space between adjacent guardrail attachment units 32 may be adapted to comply with specific dimensions of a guardrail structure 40 intended to be installed to the arrangement 1. For example, if a guardrail structure 40 comprises two pole portions 41 which are spaced with 10 cm, two guardrail attachment units 32 may be slidably adjusted along one or more support rods 31 to provide said spacing. The guardrail attachment unit 32 and the support rod 31 may comprise openings (not shown) for enabling fastening means (screws and the like) to secure the guardrail attachment unit 32 to the support rod 31.

[0070] Figure 4A illustrates a front view of two support rods 31 while being inserted into corresponding receiving structures 33a of a second plate 33. The receiving structure 33a may comprise a hollow chamber arranged to receive one or more support rods 31. In other aspects, the receiving structure may have any other receiving mechanism e.g. a clamp or the like. In Figure 4A, a plurality of receiving structures 33a are illustrated, each being arranged to receive a support rod 31. Thereby, the support rods 31 may form a grid-structure jointly with the second plates 33. The grid-structure increases the robustness of the arrangement 1 as the support rods 31 jointly may encompass / extend along the row of edging stones along the horizontal axis hl while also encompass the edging stones vertically by having parallel but vertically offset support rods . In Figure 4A, the two support rods 31 increase the length of the arrangement 1 along the horizontal axis hl, allowing the guardrail structure which is to be attached thereto to have a greater length. Hence, there may be a pair of support rods 31 extending between adjacent second plates 33, said pair being offset relative each other vertically.

[0071] Accordingly, the support rod 31 may also comprise openings intended for securing the support rod 31 to the receiving structure 33a of the second plate 33 by fastening means.

[0072] Figure 4B illustrates a top view of a rain bed guardrail arrangement 1. Figure 4B illustrates a first and a second edging stone 21, 22 and a first and a second edging stone securing device 10a, 10b. Figure 4B illustrates that the support rod 31 extends horizontally between adjacent second plates 33 of the edging stone securing devices 10a, 10b. It should be noted that the present disclosure may provide also a third (or more) edging stone securing device (not shown) in-between the third and a fourth edging stone

[0073] Figure 4B illustrates that each receiving structure 33a of each second plate 33 may comprise a plane alignment mechanism 33b, said plane alignment mechanism 33b being operable / configured to adjust said receiving structure 33a along a depth axis dl of said second plate 33 (and the arrangement 1). Accordingly, if edging stones 21, 22 which the support rod 31 are intended to extend between, have different depths, the plane alignment mechanism 33b may compensate the depth variation. Thereby, enabling each second plate 33 to extend and abut along an ambient facing (rain bed facing) inner surface il of the edging stone 21, 22 while allowing for the support rod 31 to extend between the receiving structures 33a thereof. The plane alignment mechanism 33b may comprise a telescopic mechanism, a screw mechanism or any other suitable mechanism enabling the receiving structure 33a to be adjusted along a depth axis of the arrangement 1.

[0074] Figure 5 illustrates a front view of a guardrail attachment unit 32 having a fastening portion 32a which comprises an adjustment mechanism 32c, said adjustment mechanism 32c being operable to angularly adjust said upwardly extending guardrail structure 40. This mechanism may ensure that the pole portion 41 of the guardrail structure 40 is able to extend upwardly without any tilting. Figure 5 indicates that the guardrail attachment unit 32 is tilted with a. Hence, to compensate the tilt, the adjustment mechanism 32c may be utilized. The adjustment mechanism may comprise, as illustrated in Figure 5, at least one wing-nut which is operable to adjust said upwardly extending guardrail structure angularly. In Figure 5 a plurality of wing-nuts are illustrated which jointly can adapt the tilting of the pole portion 41 of the guardrail structure 40.

[0075] Figure 6 illustrates a top view of an edging stone system 10 for positioning / being positioned intermediate a rain bed 102 and a ground surface 101. Figure 6 illustrates that the edging stone system 10 comprises an edging stone arrangement comprising a first, a second and a third edging stone aligned along a row 21, 22, 23. Further, the system 10 comprises a rain bed guardrail arrangement 1. Further, the first edging stone securing device 10a is secured intermediate said first and a second edging stone 21, 22, said second edging stone securing device 10b is secured intermediate said second and said third edging stone 22, 23.

[0076] Further, Figure 6 illustrates that the second plate 33 of said first edging stone device 10a extends adjacent to, and along said vertically extending ambient facing inner surface il of said first and second edging stones 21, 22. Moreover, Figure 6 illustrates that the second plate 33 of said second edging stone 10b extends adjacent to, and along said vertically extending ambient facing inner surface il of at least one of said second and third edging stones 22, 23. It should be noted that the second plates 33 are not necessarily illustrated with correct scale and the illustrations are merely for purposes of interpreting the disclosure. Figure 6 further illustrates that a guardrail structure 40 is connected to the second plates 33. The guardrail attachment unit nor the support rod are visible in Figure 6. The dashed lines illustrated with respect to the first plates 34 and the second plates 33 intend to indicate that the first and second plates 33, 34 are buried below the ground surface 101 and the rain bed 102 respectively. The edging stone system 10 of Figure 6 may comprise any of the features of the rain bed guardrail arrangement 1 as disclosed in the aforementioned, specifically as disclosed with regards to Figures 1-5 herein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) comprising: a first edging stone securing device (10a) arranged to be secured intermediate a first and a second edging stone (21, 22); a second edging stone securing device (10b) arranged to be secured intermediate said second and a third edging stone (22, 23), or intermediate said third and a fourth edging stone (23, 24) aligned along a common row with said first edging stone (21); a support rod (31) having a first and a second spaced apart attachment portion (31a, 31b); and a guardrail attachment unit (32) comprising a fastening portion (32a); wherein each edging stone securing device (10a, 10b) comprises a second plate (33) arranged to, at a mounted state, extend adjacent to, and along a vertically extending ambient facing inner surface (il) of at least one corresponding edging stone (21, 22, 23) for supporting said corresponding edging stone (21, 22, 23); wherein each second plate (33) comprises, at an outward facing surface (33i) thereof, a receiving structure (33a), each receiving structure (33a) being dimensioned to receive a corresponding attachment portion (31a, 31b) of said support rod (31) allowing the support rod (31) to, at said mounted state, extend horizontally between said second plates (33) parallel to a horizontal axis (hl) extending along said row; wherein the guardrail attachment unit (32) is arranged to be connected to said support rod (31), intermediate said first and second attachment portion (31a, 31b), the fastening portion (32a) being arranged to receive a guardrail structure (40), the guardrail structure (40) extending upwardly at said mounted state.

2. The rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein each edging stone securing device (10a, 10b) further comprises;- a first plate (34);- a connection element (35) extending in a first direction, the connection element (35) having a first end portion (35a) and an opposite second end portion (35b), wherein the first plate (34) is attached to said first end portion (35a) and the second plate (33) is attached to said second end portion (35a);wherein each connection element (35) is arranged to, at said mounted state, be fitted intermediate a pair of corresponding adjacent edging stones of said first, second, third and fourth edging stones (21, 22, 23, 24), the first and the second plate (34, 33) being arranged to, in said mounted state, jointly support said first, second and third edging stones (21, 22, 23) in a first direction.

3. The rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to claim 2, wherein each first plate (34) is arranged to, at said mounted state, be attached to or embedded in a ground surface (110), wherein each second plate (33) is parallel to, and in contact with said ambient facing inner surface (il) of said at least one corresponding edging stone (21, 22, 23).

4. The rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastening portion (32a) of said guardrail attachment unit (32) comprises at least one hook arranged to attach to said support rod (31), the hook enabling slidable adjustment of said guardrail attachment unit (32) along said support rod (31).

5. The rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each receiving structure (33a) of each second plate (33) comprises a plane alignment mechanism (33b), said plane alignment mechanism (33b) being operable to adjust said receiving structure (33a) along a depth axis (dl) of said second plate (33).

6. The rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening portion (32a) of said guardrail attachment unit (32) comprises an adjustment mechanism (32c), said adjustment mechanism (32c) being operable to angularly adjust said upwardly extending guardrail structure (40).

7. The rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to claim 6, wherein said adjustment mechanism (32c) comprises at least one wing-nut which is operable to adjust said upwardly extending guardrail structure (40) angularly.

8. The rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said a receiving structure (33b) of each second plate (33) comprises a receiving opening arranged to receive said support rod (31).

9. The rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each second plate (33) comprises a plurality of receiving structures (33b) for enabling a plurality of support rods (31) to connect to said second plate (33).

10. An edging stone system (10) for positioning intermediate a rain bed (102) and a ground surface (101) comprising: an edging stone arrangement comprising a first, a second, a third edging stone and / or a fourth edging stone aligned along a row (21, 22, 23); the rain bed guardrail arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first edging stone securing device (10a) is secured intermediate said first and a second edging stone (21, 22), said second edging stone securing device (10b) is secured intermediate said second and said third edging stone (22, 23) or intermediate said third and fourth edging stones (23, 24); wherein said second plate (33) of said first edging stone device (10a) extends adjacent to, and along said vertically extending ambient facing inner surface (il) of at least one of said first and second edging stones (21, 22); wherein said second plate (33) of said second edging stone (10b) extends adjacent to, and along said vertically extending ambient facing inner surface (il) of at least one of said second and third edging stones (22, 23), or second and fourth edging stones (22, 24); wherein each second plate (33) comprises, at an outward facing surface thereof, a receiving structure (33a), each receiving structure (33a) hosting an attachment portion (31a, 31b) of said support rod (31), wherein the support rod (31) extends horizontally between said second plates (33) parallel to said horizontal axis (hl); wherein the guardrail attachment unit (32) is connected to said support rod (31), intermediate said first and second attachment portion (31a, 31b), the fastening portion (32a) hosting a guardrail structure (40), the guardrail structure (40) extending upwardly.

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