Paving Stones with Partial Projections for 180-Degree Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Paving stones with protruding lugs as laying aids or spacers cannot be rotated individually in a paved area without collision, limiting their use and visibility as both upper and lower sides in extruded paver designs.
Innovation Solution
Designing paving stones with projections on end faces that are shortened along the stone height, allowing 180° rotation without collision, and featuring one or multiple web-shaped or nose-shaped projections on certain end faces, with opposing end faces being flat or having no projections, enabling symmetrical distribution and rotation without touching adjacent projections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If paving stones have protruding lugs as laying aids on all end faces, then laying precision and joint width consistency are improved, but the ability to rotate individual stones for visibility is lost due to collision between adjacent projections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by creating an asymmetric distribution of projections on end faces. Specifically, at least one end face has no projections (flat surface) while another end face has projections that extend only partially along the stone height. This asymmetric configuration allows stones to be rotated by 180° without projections colliding, while still maintaining laying precision through the presence of projections on at least one end face for joint width control.
2Reliability
If projections extend along the full stone height, then laying aid functionality is maximized, but rotation by 180° causes adjacent projections to touch and collide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the projections extend only partially along the stone height rather than the full height. This localized projection design maintains the laying aid functionality where needed (at the ends of the stone) while creating sufficient clearance along the height direction to prevent collision when stones are rotated by 180°. The partial extension provides just enough functionality without the excessive length that would cause interference.
3Reliability
If all end faces have projections for laying assistance, then durability and appearance are improved, but extruded paver designs cannot utilize both upper and lower sides as visible surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables extruded paver designs to utilize both upper and lower sides as visible surfaces by applying asymmetry to the projection distribution. At least one end face is designed without projections (flat surface), creating a symmetric appearance suitable for visibility from either direction. This asymmetric projection layout maintains durability through proper joint spacing while allowing flexible orientation and dual-sided visibility in extruded paver applications.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1e
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3e
AI summary
The invention describes a paving stone for forming a pavement from several paving stones. The paving stone (1) has a first main surface (H1) and a second main surface (H2) on opposite sides, which are designed as the upper working surface or lower bearing surface of the paving stone (1) for its placement in the pavement. The first main surface (H1) and the second main surface (H2) are connected via lateral end faces (S1, S2, S3, S4), which serve as butt surfaces for paving stones (1) adjacent to each other in the pavement. End faces (S1, S2) arranged on two opposite sides each have at least one projection (VS1, VS2), each of which is designed as a rib-shaped or nose-shaped projection. All of these projections (VS1, VS2) are located on the respective end face (S1,S2) of the paving stone (1) are formed only within the first half of the height of the paving stone (1), each shortened in the two end regions compared to the half of the height extending from the first main surface (H1) to the midpoint of the height, or are formed only within the second half of the height of the paving stone (1), each shortened in the two end regions compared to the half of the height extending from the second main surface (H2) to the midpoint of the height, and that a further end face (S3) has several rib-shaped or nose-shaped projections (VS3) or only one rib-shaped or nose-shaped projection, all of which extend along the height of the stone with any length on this further end face (S3), and that the paving stone (1) has an axis (A) directed perpendicular to the further end face (S3),The paving stone (1) can be arranged in the pavement in two rotational positions, rotated by 180°, such that in the first rotational position the first main surface (H1) forms the upper usable surface and the second main surface (H2) forms the lower bearing surface, and that in the second rotational position the second main surface (H2) forms the upper usable surface and the first main surface (H1) forms the lower bearing surface.