Connector

Abstract

A connector particularly a connector for a plastics drainage cell or plastics permeable paver which is designed to resist lateral separation. The connector comprises a first and second part, each having splayed fingers and keyways where by the parts are slide vertically together with the fingers of one part sliding into the keyways of the other part such that the connector resists lateral separation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connection means comprising a first part located on a first body and a second part located on a second body,
 wherein said first part comprises:   a first outer finger and a second outer finger spaced apart and extending laterally outwardly from said first body and convergently to each other;   a first inner finger extending laterally outwardly from said first body and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first outer finger, defining a first keyway therebetween;   a second inner finger extending laterally outwards from said first body and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said second outer finger, defining a second keyway therebetween; and   a necked cavity formed between the first and second inner fingers, and whereas the second part located on a second body comprises:   a first outer keyway, bounded inwardly by a first finger, and complimentary in shape to said first outer finger of the first part;   a second outer keyway, bounded inwardly by a second finger, and complimentary in shape to said second outer finger of the first part; and   a necked protrusion, complementary in shape to the said necked cavity, extending outwardly from said second body intermediate the first and second fingers and forming therewith a first inner keyway between the first finger and a second inner keyway between the second finger;   wherein, in use, the first part and the second part of the connection means slide vertically into interconnection with each other, so that the first and second outer fingers of the first part slide vertically into the first and second keyway of the second part respectively, while the first and second finger of the second part slides vertically into the first and second keyways, respectively, of the first part, and the necked protrusion of the second part slides vertically into the necked cavity, whereby the connection resists lateral separation.   
     
     
         2 . A connector according to  claim 1  wherein the depth of the fingers and keyways extends the whole depth of the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         3 . A connector according to  claim 1  wherein the necked cavity comprises two convergent keyways and the necked protrusion is two divergent fingers. 
     
     
         4 . A connector according to  claim 3  wherein the necked protrusion is Y-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . A connector according to  claim 3  wherein the necked protrusion is T-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . A connector according to  claim 3  wherein the necked protrusion is v-shaped 
     
     
         7 . A connection means comprising a first part located on a first body and a second part located on a second body,
 wherein said first part comprises:   a first outer finger and a second outer finger spaced apart and extending laterally outwardly from said first body and divergently from each other;   a first inner finger extending laterally outwardly from said first body and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first outer finger, defining a first keyway therebetween;   a second inner finger extending laterally outwards from said first body and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said second outer finger, defining a second keyway therebetween; and   a necked cavity formed between the first and second inner fingers, and whereas the second part comprises:   a first outer keyway, bounded inwardly by a first finger, and complimentary in shape to said first outer finger of the first part;   a second outer keyway, bounded inwardly by a second finger, and complimentary in shape to said second outer finger of the first part; and   a necked protrusion, complementary in shape to the said necked cavity, extending outwardly intermediate the first and second fingers and forming therewith a first inner keyway between the first finger and a second inner keyway between the second finger; and   wherein, in use, the first part and the second part of the connection means slide vertically into interconnection with each other, so that the first and second outer fingers of the first part slide vertically into the first and second keyway of the second part respectively, while the first and second finger of the second part slides vertically into the first and second keyways, respectively, of the first part, and the necked protrusion of the second part slides vertically into the necked cavity, whereby the connection resists lateral separation.   
     
     
         8 . A connector according to  claim 7  wherein the depth of the fingers and keyways extends the whole depth of the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         9 . A plastics permeable paver which are generally flat in nature and are for use mainly in a horizontal or substantially horizontal disposition, and comprises top and bottom plate members having an alternating pattern of support surfaces and apertures, wherein the apertures in the top plate member are offset relative to the apertures in the bottom plate member with spacer members extending between overlaying corners of the support surface of the top and bottom plates so that the structure is cellular in nature with the cells hydraulically interconnected with each other, and comprising a connection means comprising a first part located on a first paver and a second part located on a second paver,
 wherein said first part comprises:   a first outer finger and a second outer finger spaced apart and extending laterally outwardly from said first paver and convergently to each other;   a first inner finger extending laterally outwardly from said first paver and spaced apart from and parallel to said first outer finger, and defining a first keyway therebetween;   a second inner finger extending laterally outwards from said first paver and spaced apart from and parallel to said second outer finger, defining a second keyway therebetween; and   a necked cavity formed between the first and second inner finger,   and whereas the second part comprises:   a first outer keyway, located adjacent an edge of the second paver and having its outer wall formed at least by a spacer member and its inner wall formed at least by an outwardly extending first finger, said first outer key being complimentary in shape to said first outer finger of the first part;   a second outer keyway, located adjacent the edge of the second paver and having its outer wall formed at least by a spacer member and its inner wall formed at least by an outwardly extending second finger, and being complimentary in shape to said second outer finger of the first part; and   a necked protrusion extending laterally outwardly from the second paver intermediate the first and second fingers and forming therewith a first inner keyway between the first finger and a second inner keyway between the second finger;   wherein, in use, the first part and the second part of the connection means slide vertically into interconnection with each other, so that the first and second outer fingers of the first part slide vertically into the first and second keyway of the second part respectively, while the first and second finger of the second part slides vertically into the first and second keyways, respectively, of the first part, and the necked protrusion of the second part slides vertically into the necked cavity, whereby the connection resists lateral separation between the first and second paver or drainage structure.   
     
     
         10 . A plastics permeable paver according to  claim 9  wherein the depth of the fingers and keyways extends the whole depth of the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         11 . A plastics permeable paver according to  claim 9  wherein the necked cavity comprises two convergent keyways and the necked protrusion is two divergent fingers. 
     
     
         12 . A plastics permeable paver according to  claim 11  wherein the necked protrusion is Y-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . A plastics permeable paver according to  claim 11  wherein the necked protrusion is T-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . A plastics permeable paver according to  claim 11  wherein the necked protrusion is v-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . A plastics permeable paver which are generally flat in nature and are for use mainly in a horizontal or substantially horizontal disposition, and comprises top and bottom plate members having an alternating pattern of support surfaces and apertures, wherein the apertures in the top plate member are offset relative to the apertures in the bottom plate member with spacer members extending between overlaying corners of the support surface of the top and bottom plates so that the structure is cellular in nature with the cells hydraulically interconnected with each other, and comprising a connection means comprising a first part located on a first paver and a second part located on a second paver,
 wherein said first part comprises:   a first outer finger and a second outer finger located opposite and extending laterally outwardly from said first paver and divergently from each other   a first inner finger extending laterally outwardly from said first paver and spaced apart from and parallel to said first outer finger, and defining a first keyway therebetween;   a second inner finger extending laterally outwards from said first paver and spaced apart from and parallel to said second outer finger, defining a second keyway therebetween; and   a necked cavity formed between the first and second inner finger,   and whereas the second part comprises:   a first outer keyway, located adjacent an edge of the second paver and having its outer wall formed at least by a spacer member and its inner wall formed at least by an outwardly extending first finger, said first outer key being complimentary in shape to said first outer finger of the first part;   a second outer keyway, located adjacent the edge of the second paver and having its outer wall formed at least by a spacer member and its inner wall formed at least by an outwardly extending second finger, and being complimentary in shape to said second outer finger of the first part; and   a necked protrusion extending laterally outwardly from the second paver intermediate the first and second fingers and forming therewith a first inner keyway between the first finger and a second inner keyway between the second finger;   wherein the depth of the fingers and keyways extends the whole depth of the paver, and   wherein, in use, the first part and the second part of the connection means slide vertically into interconnection with each other, so that the first and second outer fingers of the first part slide vertically into the first and second keyway of the second part respectively, while the first and second finger of the second part slides vertically into the first and second keyways, respectively, of the first part, and the necked protrusion of the second part slides vertically into the necked cavity, whereby the connection resists lateral separation between the first and second paver.   
     
     
         16 . A plastics permeable paver according to  claim 15  wherein the depth of the fingers and keyways extends the whole depth of the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         17 . A plastics drainage cell which are generally flat in nature and are for use mainly in a horizontal or substantially horizontal disposition, and comprises top and bottom plate members having an alternating pattern of support surfaces and apertures, wherein the apertures in the top plate member are offset relative to the apertures in the bottom plate member with spacer members extending between overlaying corners of the support surface of the top and bottom plates so that the structure is cellular in nature with the cells hydraulically interconnected with each other, and comprising a connection means comprising a first part located on a first drainage cell and a second part located on a second drainage cell,
 wherein said first part comprises:   a first outer finger and a second outer finger located opposite and extending laterally outwardly from said first drainage cell and convergently to each other;   a first inner finger extending laterally outwardly from said first drainage cell and spaced apart from and parallel to said first outer finger, and defining a first keyway therebetween;   a second inner finger extending laterally outwards from said first drainage cell and spaced apart from and parallel to said second outer finger, defining a second keyway therebetween; and   a necked cavity formed between the first and second inner finger,   and whereas the second part comprises:   a first outer keyway, located adjacent an edge of a second drainage cell and having its outer wall formed at least by a spacer member and its inner wall formed at least by an outwardly extending first finger, said first outer key being complimentary in shape to said first outer finger of said first part;   a second outer keyway, located adjacent the edge of the second drainage cell and having its outer wall formed at least by a spacer member and its inner wall formed at least by an outwardly extending second finger, and being complimentary in shape to said second outer finger of the first part; and   a necked protrusion extending laterally outwardly from the second drainage cell, intermediate the first and second fingers and forming therewith a first inner keyway between the first finger and a second inner keyway between the second finger; and   wherein, in use, the first part and the second part of the connection means slide vertically into interconnection with each other, so that the first and second outer fingers of the first part slide vertically into the first and second keyway of the second part respectively, while the first and second finger of the second part slides vertically into the first and second keyways, respectively, of the first part, and the necked protrusion of the second part slides vertically into the necked cavity, whereby the connection resists lateral separation between the first and second drainage cells.   
     
     
         18 . A plastics drainage cell according to  claim 17  wherein the depth of the fingers and keyways extends the whole depth of the first and second drainage cells. 
     
     
         19 . A plastics drainage cell according to  claim 17  wherein the necked cavity comprises two convergent keyways and the necked protrusion comprises two divergent fingers. 
     
     
         20 . A plastics drainage cell according to  claim 19  wherein the necked protrusion is Y-shaped. 
     
     
         21 . A plastics drainage cell according to  claim 19  wherein the necked protrusion is T-shaped. 
     
     
         22 . A plastics drainage cell according to  claim 19  wherein the necked protrusion is v-shaped. 
     
     
         23 . A plastics drainage cell which are generally flat in nature and are for use mainly in a horizontal or substantially horizontal disposition, and comprises top and bottom plate members having an alternating pattern of support surfaces and apertures, wherein the apertures in the top plate member are offset relative to the apertures in the bottom plate member with spacer members extending between overlaying corners of the support surface of the top and bottom plates so that the structure is cellular in nature with the cells hydraulically interconnected with each other, and comprising a connection means comprising a first part located on a first drainage cell and a second part located on a second drainage cell,
 wherein said first part comprises:   a first outer finger and a second outer finger located opposite and extending laterally outwardly from said first drainage cell and divergently from each other;   a first inner finger extending laterally outwardly from said first drainage cell and spaced apart from and parallel to said first outer finger, and defining a first keyway therebetween;   a second inner finger extending laterally outwards from said first drainage cell and spaced apart from and parallel to said second outer finger, defining a second keyway therebetween; and   a necked cavity formed between the first and second inner finger,   and whereas the second part comprises:   a first outer keyway, located adjacent an edge of a second drainage cell and having its outer wall formed at least by a spacer member and its inner wall formed at least by an outwardly extending first finger, said first outer key being complimentary in shape to said first outer finger of said first part;   a second outer keyway, located adjacent the edge of the second drainage cell and having its outer wall formed at least by a spacer member and its inner wall formed at least by an outwardly extending second finger, and being complimentary in shape to said second outer finger of the first part; and   a necked protrusion extending laterally outwardly from the second drainage cell, intermediate the first and second fingers and forming therewith a first inner keyway between the first finger and a second inner keyway between the second finger; and   wherein, in use, the first part and the second part of the connection means slide vertically into interconnection with each other, so that the first and second outer fingers of the first part slide vertically into the first and second keyway of the second part respectively, while the first and second finger of the second part slides vertically into the first and second keyways, respectively, of the first part, and the necked protrusion of the second part slides vertically into the necked cavity, whereby the connection resists lateral separation between the first and second drainage cells.   
     
     
         24 . A plastics drainage cell according to  claim 23  wherein the depth of the fingers and keyways extends the whole depth of the drainage cells.