Method of making textured edging

Abstract

A molded barrier edging for use in lawns and gardens, and a method of making the same. The molded barrier edging has a decorative appearance which may include a veneer or molded texture. A pin is provided on one end of the molded barrier edging and a complimentary receptacle is provided at the other end of the molded barrier edging such that a piece of barrier edging may be connected to other pieces of barrier edging at any angle to form a connected series of barrier edging in any desired shape. The receptacle has a structure such that it can be molded with only two molding dies, without the use of an additional core member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A molded barrier edging comprising: 
 a single thin wall structure of a readily-moldable material having a first end and a second end spaced generally horizontally from said first end when said molded barrier edging is in an operative position;    said thin wall structure including    a lower penetrating portion having constructed and arranged to be moved generally vertically in penetrating relation into a ground area so that said lower penetrating portion is fixed within the ground area when said molded barrier edging is in said operative position;    an upper barrier portion constructed and arranged to be disposed above the ground area when said lower penetrating portion is fixed therein,    said lower penetrating portion and said upper barrier portion defining front and back faces of said thin wall structure, the front face of said upper barrier portion being configured to provide a decorative, viewable appearance;    said thin wall structure also including first and second complimentary thin wall connecting elements integrally formed at said first and second ends, respectively, and positioned such that (1) the first connecting element of said molded barrier edging complimentarily connects with a second connecting element of a first similar barrier edging fixed within the ground area by moving the penetrating portion of said molded barrier edging generally vertically into the ground area in adjacent relation to said first similar barrier edging so as to extend generally perpendicularly therefrom, generally in alignment therewith, or at any angular relation therebetween, and (2) when the penetrating portion of said molded barrier edging is fixed within the ground area, the second connecting element of said molded barrier edging complimentarily connects with a first connecting element of a second similar barrier edging by moving the penetrating portion of the second similar barrier edging vertically into the ground area so as to extend generally perpendicularly therefrom, generally in alignment therewith, or at any angular relation therebetween,    the thin wall structure including the first and second complimentary connecting elements of said molded barrier edging being molded integrally between a single pair of complimentary molding dies relatively moveable toward and away from one another in opposite relative directions generally perpendicular to said faces.    
     
     
         2 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 1 , wherein said molded barrier edging includes a three dimensional design in the front face of the upper barrier portion of said thin wall structure.  
     
     
         3 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 2 , wherein said three dimensional design is a wood grain design.  
     
     
         4 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 3 , wherein the second connecting element of said molded barrier edging comprises a series of vertically attached wall sections, adjacent wall sections of said series having interior partial cylindrical surfaces being open to and facing toward said opposite directions, the first connecting element of said molded barrier edging comprising a generally vertically extending section having a periphery configured to be complimentarily with respect to said series of partial cylindrical surfaces so as to be engageable with a similar series of partial cylindrical surfaces in transversely stable pivotal relationship about a generally vertically extending axis.  
     
     
         5 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 4 , wherein the upper barrier portion of said molded barrier edging includes a generally normally extending top flange integrally formed with a top edge of the upper barrier portion so as to define a top face of said upper barrier portion.  
     
     
         6 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 5 , wherein said upper barrier portion includes a set of generally horizontally spaced strengthening ribs extending generally vertically on the back face thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 6 , wherein said complimentary connecting portions are formed at said first and second ends between said upper barrier portion and said lower penetrating portion.  
     
     
         8 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 7 , wherein said lower penetrating portion has a beveled edge for facilitating penetration of the ground area.  
     
     
         9 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 8 , wherein said penetrating edge includes serrations extending substantially to said upper barrier portion.  
     
     
         10 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 1 , wherein the second connecting element of said molded barrier edging comprises a series of vertically attached wall sections, adjacent wall sections of said series having interior partial cylindrical surfaces being open to and facing toward said opposite directions, the first connecting element of said molded barrier edging comprising a generally vertically extending section having a periphery configured to be complimentarily with respect to said series of partial cylindrical surfaces so as to be engageable with a similar series of partial cylindrical surfaces in transversely stable pivotal relationship about a generally vertically extending axis.  
     
     
         11 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 10 , wherein the upper barrier portion of said molded barrier edging includes a generally normally extending top flange integrally formed with a top edge of the upper barrier portion so as to define a top face of said upper barrier portion.  
     
     
         12 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 11 , wherein said upper barrier portion and said lower penetrating portion define a strengthening rib extending generally horizontally therebetween from said first end to said second end when said molded barrier edging is in said operative position, and wherein said upper barrier portion includes a set of generally horizontally spaced strengthening ribs extending generally vertically on the back face thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 12 , wherein said complimentary connecting portions are formed at said first and second ends between said upper barrier portion and said lower penetrating portion.  
     
     
         14 . The molded barrier edging of  claim 13 , wherein said penetrating edge includes serrations extending substantially to said upper barrier portion.  
     
     
         15 . A method of molding a barrier edging, comprising: 
 providing a pair of complimentary molding dies relatively moveable toward and away from one another in opposite relative directions, the pair of complimentary molding dies having first and second surfaces constructed and arranged to define a piece of barrier edging having 
 a single thin wall structure of a readily-moldable material having a first end and a second end spaced generally horizontally from said first end when the barrier edging is in an operative position;  
 the thin wall structure including  
 a lower penetrating portion constructed and arranged to be moved generally vertically in penetrating relation into a ground area so that the lower penetrating portion is fixed within the ground area when the barrier edging is in the operative position;  
 an upper barrier portion constructed and arranged to be disposed above the ground area when the lower penetrating portion is fixed therein,  
 the lower penetrating portion and said upper barrier portion defining front and back faces of said thin wall structure, the front face of the upper barrier portion being configured to provide a decorative, viewable appearance;  
 the thin wall structure also including first and second complimentary thin wall connecting elements integrally formed at the first and second ends, respectively, and positioned such that (1) the first connecting element of the barrier edging complimentarily connects with a second connecting element of a first similar barrier edging fixed within the ground area by moving the penetrating portion of the barrier edging generally vertically into the ground area in adjacent relation to said first similar barrier edging so as to extend perpendicularly therefrom, generally in alignment therewith, or at any angular relation therebetween, and (2) when the penetrating portion of the barrier edging is fixed within the ground area, the second connecting element of the barrier edging complimentarily connects with a first connecting element of a second similar barrier edging by moving the penetrating portion of the second similar barrier edging vertically into the ground area so as to extend perpendicularly therefrom, generally in alignment therewith, or at any angular relation therebetween;  
   engaging said pair of complimentary dies by effecting a relative movement of said pair of complimentary dies in a closing direction toward one another and generally perpendicular to the first and second surfaces such that said surfaces are directly opposed to one another and said surfaces are in cooperating relation to one another so as to define a void space between said first and said second surfaces;    injecting a molding material into said void space;    allowing the injected molding material to set to form said barrier edging; and    removing the molded barrier edging from said complimentary dies after effecting a relative movement of the same in an opening direction away from one another and generally perpendicular to said first and second surfaces.