Ground covering element for making a groove

Abstract

The invention relates to a ground covering element for making a ground gutter, with an upper side where a groove portion is provided, a lower side, two oppositely disposed longitudinal sides extending in the longitudinal direction of the groove portion, a first face supporting a first registration section of the groove portion, and, in opposed relation, a second face supporting a second registration section of the groove portion, such that the faces each provide at least one projecting portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the groove portion, and at least one receptive portion shaped at recess in the longitudinal direction of the groove portion, in which projecting portion can be brought into engagement with a recessed portion of a neighbouring ground covering element, and each recessed portion can be brought into engagement with a projecting portion of a neighbouring ground covering element, such that an edge formed between the lower side and the first face has a configuration which is essentially congruent with the configuration of an edge defined between the lower side and the second face, and wherein the edges are not parallel with one another.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A ground covering element ( 10 ) for constructing a ground groove, with an upper side ( 11 ) on which a groove portion ( 20 ) is provided, a lower side ( 16 ), two longitudinal sides ( 14 ,  15 ) located on opposite sidewalls and extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the groove portion ( 20 ), a first face ( 12 ) against which lies a first registration section of the groove portion ( 20 ), and a second face ( 13 ) located in opposition to the first face ( 12 ), with a second registration section of the groove portion ( 20 ) lying against the face ( 13 ), wherein, on each of the faces ( 12 ,  13 ) there is at least one protruding portion ( 12   a,    13   a ) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the groove portion, and at least one receiving portion ( 12   b,    13   b ) in the longitudinal direction (L), in which each protruding portion ( 12   a,    13   a ) can be brought into engagement with a receiving portion, and each receiving portion can be brought into engagement with a protruding portion of a neighbouring ground covering element, in which an edge (K 1.1 ) defined between the lower side ( 16 ) and the first face ( 12 ) follows a profile which is essentially congruent with the profile of an edge (K 2.1 ) between the lower face ( 16 ) and the second face ( 13 ), and wherein the edges (K 1.1 ) and (K 2.1 ) do not extend parallel with one another, characterized in that the edges (K 1.1  and K 2.1 ) both exhibit a radially-symmetrical profile with respect to the middle point (P 1 , P 2 ).  
     
     
         2 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the edges (K 1.1 ) and (K 2.1 ) each have a polygon-shaped profile.  
     
     
         3 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the edges (K 1.1 ) and (K 2.1 ) each have a zig-zag-shaped profile, especially an S- or Z-shaped profile.  
     
     
         4 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the edge (K 1.1 ) is angularly offset or obliquely disposed relative to the edge (K 2.1 ) through an angle α about a point D lying outside of the ground covering element ( 10 ).  
     
     
         5 . A ground covering element according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the point D is at a distance of about 5 to 25 times the width of the ground covering element measured at right angles to the longitudinal direction (L) of the groove portion.  
     
     
         6 . A ground covering element according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the point D is at a distance of about 8 to 12 times the width of the ground covering element measured at right angles to the longitudinal direction (L) of the groove portion.  
     
     
         7 . A ground covering element according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the angle α lies in the range of 2° to 10° and particularly in the range of 5° to 7°.  
     
     
         8 . A ground covering element according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the following equation is true: 
         n×α= 90°, 
       wherein n is a simple whole number.  
     
     
         9 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an edge (K 1.2 ), defined between the upper surface  11  and the first face ( 12 ), lies in the vertical projection of the edge (K 1.1 ) defined between the lower surface ( 16 ) and the first face ( 12 ).  
     
     
         10 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an edge (K 2.2 ) defined between the upper surface ( 11 ) and the second face ( 13 ) lies in the vertical projection of the edge (K 2.1 ) defined between the lower surface ( 16 ) and the second face  13 .  
     
     
         11 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the longitudinal sides ( 14 ,  15 ) are straight and parallel to each other.  
     
     
         12 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a longitudinal middle line (S) of the groove portion ( 20 ) is curvilinear.  
     
     
         13 . A ground covering element according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the longitudinal middle line (S) lies on a circular arc having a middle point outside the ground covering element ( 10 ).  
     
     
         14 . A ground covering element according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the distance between the middle point and the longitudinal middle line (S) is larger than or equal to the distance of the point D from the longitudinal middle line (S).  
     
     
         15 . A ground covering element according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the spacing of the middle point from the longitudinal middle line S is greater by a factor f than the spacing of the point D from the longitudinal middle line (S), wherein the factor f lies in the range of 1.0 to 5.0, and in particular in the range from 2.0 to 3.0.  
     
     
         16 . A ground covering element according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the point D lies between the middle point and the ground covering element ( 10 ).  
     
     
         17 . A ground covering element according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the longitudinal middle line (S) corresponds to the bottom line of the groove portion ( 20 ).  
     
     
         18 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the surface of the groove portion ( 20 ) has a grooved appearance ( 17 ).  
     
     
         19 . A ground covering element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it is made of concrete.