Artificial lawn edging

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lawn edging solutions struggle to provide a neat and durable fixed boundary for artificial grass lawns, especially when the boundary is non-linear, requiring ad hoc on-site cutting and shaping processes.

Innovation Solution

The development of a segmented elongate lawn edging member, where each segment is connected to its adjacent segment via an articulation, allowing for flexibility to follow non-linear boundaries, and featuring severable connections to restrain flexibility during handling and transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the edging is made from a rigid material to provide a fixed and durable boundary, then the strength and durability are improved, but the ability to follow non-linear boundaries is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of edgingVSAvoidability to follow non-linear boundaries

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The edging is divided into multiple rigid segments that can be connected together. Each segment maintains its rigidity for strength, while the connection between segments allows the edging to follow non-linear boundaries. The segments are joined via articulation mechanisms that permit relative movement while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between segments is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. The articulation mechanism allows the segments to rotate or pivot relative to each other, enabling the rigid edging to adapt to curved or non-linear boundaries while maintaining the strength of individual segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the edging is made flexible to follow non-linear boundaries, then the adaptability is improved, but the handling and transportation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to follow non-linear boundariesVSAvoidhandling and transportation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The edging is divided into multiple rigid segments that can be connected together. Each segment maintains its rigidity for strength, while the connection between segments allows the edging to follow non-linear boundaries. The segments are joined via articulation mechanisms that permit relative movement while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between segments is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. The articulation mechanism allows the segments to rotate or pivot relative to each other, enabling the rigid edging to adapt to curved or non-linear boundaries while maintaining the strength of individual segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If ad hoc cutting and shaping processes are used on site to create non-linear edging, then the ability to follow non-linear boundaries is improved, but the manufacturing precision and time consumption are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to follow non-linear boundariesVSAvoidprecision of edging finish

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The edging is divided into multiple rigid segments that can be connected together. Each segment maintains its rigidity for strength, while the connection between segments allows the edging to follow non-linear boundaries. The segments are joined via articulation mechanisms that permit relative movement while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between segments is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. The articulation mechanism allows the segments to rotate or pivot relative to each other, enabling the rigid edging to adapt to curved or non-linear boundaries while maintaining the strength of individual segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250154731A1Artificial lawn edging

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 VERTEDGE LTD

AI summary

Lawn edging comprises a segmented elongate member (11) in which segments (11A) are joined in one of its two states by plastic hinges (21) and by thinned regions or cut-outs (23), (24) of base (12) and of arcuate wall member (13). The edging is rigid in that form and can be used to edge a straight boundary between an artificial grass area and another landscape feature. Removal of cut-outs (23, 24) from the connection region between two segments disapplies the flexibility restraint they impose. The segments concerned can then be displaced one relative to the other by articulation at the hinge (21) to accommodate non-linearity such as commonly found in such boundaries. One or more than one connection region can be treated in this way depending on need.