Method of and an apparatus for forming a landscape border

Abstract

A method of and an apparatus for forming a containment volume into which concrete, or another suitable landscape border material, may be added to form a landscape border involves positioning first and second elongate members such that the distance between them is substantially the same as the desired width of the landscape border. At least one connecting member configured to engageably interconnect with each of the first and second elongate members is positioned between the first and second elongate members to secure them at the desired landscape border width and thereby form a containment volume having a structural integrity that is sufficient to withstand the lateral forces imposed on the containment volume during addition of the concrete, or other landscape border material, into the containment volume.

1 . A method of forming a containment volume that accepts introduction of a material for forming a border having a desired length, height, and width, comprising: 
 positioning a first elongate member and a second elongate member adjacent to a ground surface along at least a portion of the desired length of the border such that a distance between the first and second elongate members is substantially the same as the desired width of the border, each of the first and second elongate members having an elongate member height that is greater than or equal to the desired height of the border; and    positioning a connecting member configured to engageably interconnect with each of the first and second elongate members such that the connecting member secures the first and second elongate members at a separation distance forming the desired border width, the connecting member spanning the distance between the first and second elongate members and forming a containment volume having a structural integrity that is sufficient to withstand the introduction of the added material into the containment volume.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the process of positioning a connecting member includes positioning at least two connecting members such that they secure the first and second elongate members at the desired border width and thereby form the containment volume.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , in which engageable interconnection between the first and second elongate members and the connecting member is achieved by slidably engaging respective first and second elongate members with respective first and second longitudinally disposed recesses that extend upward from a bottom edge of the connecting member.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the engageable interconnection between the first and second elongate members and the connecting member is achieved by the use of an apparatus selected from a group consisting essentially of complementary shapes, a tongue-and-groove connection, pins, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising facilitating removal of the connecting member from the border by providing an ergonomic handgrip in the connecting member.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the added material is concrete.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing from the border the first and second elongate members and the connecting member without significantly impacting a structural integrity property of the border.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the first and second elongate members and the connecting member are formed by one of extrusion and molding of a synthetic material.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the first and second elongate members and the connecting member are formed of a plastic material selected from a group consisting essentially of polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene vinyl acetate.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the first and second elongate members and the connecting member are formed of a material selected from a group consisting essentially of an elastomeric, a polymeric, and a synthetic material.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the first and second elongate members and the connecting member are at least partially coated with one of a UV-resistant coating, a water-resistant coating, a surface treatment that facilitates removal of one of the first and second elongate members and the connecting member from the formed border, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the shape of the connecting member creates an expansion joint in the formed border.  
   
   
       13 . A concrete landscape border formed by the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for forming a containment volume that accepts addition of a material for forming a border having a desired length, height, and width, comprising: 
 a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each elongate member being positioned adjacent to a ground surface along at least a portion of the desired length of the border and such that the first and second elongate members are spaced apart by an elongate member distance that is substantially the same as the desired width of the border, each of the first and second elongate members having an elongate member height that is greater than or equal to the desired height of the border; and    a connecting member configured to engageably interconnect with each of the first and second elongate members such that the connecting member spans the distance between first and second elongate members and secures the first and second elongate members at the elongate member distance, thereby forming a containment volume having sufficient structural integrity to withstand lateral forces imposed on the containment volume during the introduction of the border-forming material into the containment volume.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including multiple connecting members.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which the connecting member includes first and second longitudinally disposed recesses that extend upward from a bottom edge of the connecting member and that are of a size that permits engagement with each of the first and second elongate members.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which the connecting member includes an ergonomic handgrip.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which the added material is concrete.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which the first and second elongate members and the connecting member are formed of a plastic material selected from a group consisting essentially of polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene vinyl acetate.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which the first and second elongate members and the connecting member are formed of a material selected from a group consisting essentially of an elastomeric, a polymeric, and a synthetic material.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which the first and second elongate members and the connecting member are at least partially coated with a UV-resistant coating.  
   
   
       23 . A method of installing a landscape border having a desired length, height, and width, comprising: 
 positioning a first elongate member and a second elongate member adjacent to a ground surface along at least a portion of the desired length of the landscape border such that a distance between them is substantially the same as the desired width of the landscape border, each of the first and second elongate members having an elongate member height that is greater than or equal to the desired height of the landscape border;    positioning a connecting member configured to engageably interconnect with each of the first and second elongate members such that the connecting member secures the first and second elongate members at the elongate member distance and thereby establishes a containment volume having a structural integrity property;    adding to the containment volume a material whose presence forms a landscape border, the structural integrity of the containment volume being sufficient to enable the containment volume to withstand the addition of the material; and    removing from the landscape border the first and second elongate members and the connecting member without significantly impacting a structural integrity property of the landscape border.