Artificial landscaping timber system

Abstract

A landscaping timber unit comprises a plurality of hollow extrusion units and a pair of end caps. Each extrusion unit extends longitudinally from a first end to a second end thereof and has a bottom wall and an opposite top wall, and has opposite side walls extending between the top and bottom walls. The top, bottom and side walls collectively form a substantially rectangular cross section when viewed along the longitudinal axis. The extrusion units are stacked upon one another with their respective first ends proximate to one another, with their respective second ends proximate to one another, and with their respective longitudinal axes substantially parallel to one another. One end cap is affixed to the first ends of the stacked extrusion units, and the other end cap is affixed to the second ends of the stacked extrusion units. Each end cap has a first end configured to receive the end portions of the stacked extrusion units and a second end that includes an aperture for receiving an elongate rod-shaped spike therethrough. The end of the timber unit can be secured to the ground by driving the spike through the aperture into the ground.

1 . A landscaping timber unit, comprising: 
 at plurality of hollow extrusion units; 
 each extrusion unit extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end thereof and having a bottom wall and an opposite top wall, and having opposite side walls extending between the top and bottom walls, the top, bottom and side walls collectively forming a substantially rectangular cross section when viewed along the longitudinal axis;  
 the extrusion units being stacked upon one another with their respective first ends proximate to one another, with their respective second ends proximate to one another, and with their respective longitudinal axes substantially parallel to one another;  
   a pair of end caps, one end cap being affixed to the first ends of the stacked extrusion units, and the other end cap being affixed to the second ends of the stacked extrusion units; 
 each end cap having a first end configured to receive the end portions of the stacked extrusion units and a second end that includes an aperture for receiving an elongate rod-shaped spike therethrough such that the end of the timber unit can be secured to the ground by driving the spike through the aperture into the ground.  
   
   
   
       2 . A landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the second end of at least one end cap is stepped such that the apertures are formed through portions of the end cap having a height about half the total height of the stacked extrusion units.  
   
   
       3 . A landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion units are extrusions formed of a plastic material continuously extruded into a substantially rectangular cross section.  
   
   
       4 . A landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the plastic material is primarily polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  
   
   
       5 . A landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the extrusion units are formed of a first material having a first flex modulus, the end caps are formed of a second material having a second flex modulus, and the value of the second flex modulus is substantially less than the value of the first flex modulus.  
   
   
       6 . A landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the value of the second flex modulus is less than about 56% of the value of the first flex modulus.  
   
   
       7 . An artificial landscaping timber comprising: 
 a plurality of elongate extrusion units of equal length, each extrusion unit having a continuous wall that circumscribes a longitudinal axis so as to define an interior bore having a substantially constant rectangular cross section when viewed along its longitudinal axis, and having a rectangular opening at each longitudinal end of the wall, the plurality of extrusion units being juxtaposed in a single file with their respective longitudinal axes parallel to one another and with their respective longitudinal ends even with one another to form an extrusion stack having an external perimeter and longitudinal ends;    a pair of end plates, one of the end plates being removably mounted on each longitudinal end of the extrusion stack, each end plate having a generally flat end portion surrounded by a side wall depending laterally therefrom, and further having at least one aperture formed through the flat end portion; 
 the generally flat end portions of each end plate having dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of the longitudinal end of the extrusion stack and lying generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the extrusion units when mounted on the extrusion stack;  
 the side walls of each end plate being dimensioned to encircle the external perimeter of the extrusion stack when mounted thereon so as to maintain the alignment of the extrusion units in the extrusion stack;  
 the aperture(s) of each end plate each being disposed to overlie a single one of the the extrusion units and being dimensioned to form an opening at least as large as the interior bore of the overlain extrusion unit;  
   a plurality end caps, each end cap extending through one of the apertures of the end plates and being removably mounted in the end of one of the extrusion units, each end cap having a body portion and a distal portion; 
 the body portion of each end cap being dimensioned to fit within the bore of one of the extrusion units; and  
 the distal portion of each end cap having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving a securing spike and remaining outside the bore of the extrusion unit when the end cap is mounted therein.  
   
   
   
       8 . An artificial landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the extrusion units are formed of a first material having a first flex modulus, the end caps are formed of a second material having a second flex modulus, and the value of the second flex modulus is substantially less than the value of the first flex modulus.  
   
   
       9 . An artificial landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the value of the second flex modulus is less than about 56% of the value of the first flex modulus.  
   
   
       10 . An artificial landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the extrusion units are formed of a first material having a first flex modulus, the end plates are formed of a second material having a second flex modulus, and the value of the second flex modulus is substantially less than the value of the first flex modulus.  
   
   
       11 . An artificial landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the value of the second flex modulus is less than about 56% of the value of the first flex modulus.  
   
   
       12 . An artificial landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the extrusion units are formed of a rigid PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material and the end caps are formed of a HDPE (high density polyethylene) material.  
   
   
       13 . An artificial landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the extrusion units are formed of a rigid PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material and the end caps are formed of a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       14 . An artificial landscaping timber unit in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the rigid PVC material has a flex modulus (ASTM Method D790B) within the range from about 475,000 psi to about 525,000 psi and the polypropylene material has a flex modulus within the range from about 252,000 psi to about 278,000 psi.