Segmented Artificial Lawn Edging for Non-Linear Boundary Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial lawn edging technologies struggle to provide a neat and durable fixed edge for non-linear boundaries, often requiring ad hoc on-site solutions that are unsatisfactory, as they are not designed to accommodate irregularities such as curves and bends.
Innovation Solution
The edging is segmented with articulations between segments, allowing for flexibility to follow non-linear boundaries, and includes a severable connection mechanism to restrain flexibility during handling and transportation, enabling the edging to conform to complex boundary shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the edging is made rigid for durability and neat finish, then it provides stable boundary definition, but it cannot accommodate non-linear boundaries such as curves and bends
Solution Approach 1:
The edging is divided into multiple rigid segments that can be connected together. Each segment maintains rigidity for durability, while the collection of segments can be arranged to follow non-linear boundaries through their connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between segments is made adjustable rather than fixed. The articulation mechanism allows the rigid segments to change their relative positions and angles, enabling the edging to adapt to curved or non-linear boundaries while maintaining structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the edging is made flexible to follow non-linear boundaries, then it can accommodate curves and bends, but it loses rigidity and becomes difficult to handle and transport
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the edging into rigid sections, the overall flexibility is achieved through the arrangement of segments rather than making each segment flexible. This keeps individual segments rigid and easy to handle while allowing the assembled structure to conform to non-linear boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation connections provide dynamic adjustability only when needed for installation or configuration. During handling and transportation, the segments can be locked or positioned in fixed arrangements, maintaining rigidity and ease of movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ad hoc cutting and shaping processes are used on site to create non-linear edging, then the edging can fit irregular boundaries, but the product quality becomes unsatisfactory and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of cutting and shaping a continuous edging on site, pre-fabricated segments with standardized connection points are used. These segments can be precisely manufactured in advance and assembled to create non-linear configurations, maintaining high manufacturing precision while achieving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The edging segments are pre-configured with articulation mechanisms and connection features during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for on-site cutting and shaping, ensuring consistent quality and reducing installation time while maintaining the ability to fit irregular boundaries.
Data Source
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.