Permeable paving system

Abstract

A paving block is provided that includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The side surface includes a recess extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the recess has a top opening in the top surface and a bottom opening in the bottom surface, wherein the bottom opening is larger in area than the top opening. The side surface also has at least a portion that extends inwardly into the paving block. In some cases, the side surface comprises an upper side surface section and a lower side surface section, wherein the lower side surface section extends inwardly into the paving block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paving block system, comprising:
 a plurality of paving blocks arranged together to form a surface;   wherein each paving block in the plurality of paving blocks has side surfaces, wherein each side surface comprises a recess-free section and at least two recesses,   wherein the plurality of paving blocks are arranged so that each recess abuts another recess so as to form drainage holes in the surface;   wherein the drainage holes have a top opening and a bottom opening and the bottom opening is larger in area than the top opening.   
     
     
         2 . The paving block system of  claim 1  wherein the entire recess-free section is substantially vertical. 
     
     
         3 . The paving block system of  claim 1  wherein each recess comprises a top recess section and a bottom recess section, wherein the bottom recess section extends inwardly into the paving block. 
     
     
         4 . The paving block system of  claim 3  wherein the top recess section is substantially vertical. 
     
     
         5 . The paving block system of  claim 3  wherein the top recess section has a height and the bottom recess section has a height, wherein the bottom recess section height is greater than the top recess section height. 
     
     
         6 . The paving block system of  claim 1  wherein each recess continuously extends inwardly from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The paving block system of  claim 1  wherein each side surface comprises a recess-free section positioned in between two recesses. 
     
     
         8 . The paving block system of  claim 1  wherein the drainage holes form a cross shape. 
     
     
         9 . The paving block system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of paving blocks are substantially identical. 
     
     
         10 . The paving block system of  claim 1  wherein the recesses in the plurality of paving blocks are substantially identical. 
     
     
         11 . A paving block system, comprising:
 a plurality of paving blocks arranged together to form a surface;   wherein each paving block in the plurality of paving blocks comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface, the side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the side surface comprises an upper side surface section and a lower side surface section, wherein the lower side surface section extends inwardly into the paving block and the upper side surface section is substantially vertical, wherein the side surface further comprises a recess extending entirely from the top surface to the bottom surface;   wherein the plurality of paving blocks are arranged so that when a side surface abuts another side surface, each recess on the side surface abuts another recess on the other side surface so as to form a drainage hole in the surface; and   wherein the drainage hole has a top opening and a bottom opening and the bottom opening is larger in area than the top opening.   
     
     
         12 . The paving block system of  claim 11  wherein the upper side surface section has a height and the lower side surface section has a height, wherein the lower side surface section height is greater than the upper side surface section height. 
     
     
         13 . The paving block system of  claim 11  wherein the recess comprises an upper recess section and a lower recess section, wherein the lower recess section extends inwardly into the paving block. 
     
     
         14 . The paving block system of  claim 13  wherein the upper recess section is substantially vertical. 
     
     
         15 . The paving block system of  claim 13  wherein the upper recess section has a height and the-lower recess section has a height, wherein the lower recess section height is greater than the upper recess section height. 
     
     
         16 . The paving block system of  claim 13  wherein the upper side surface section has a height and the upper recess section has a height, wherein the upper side surface section height is substantially the same as the upper recess section height. 
     
     
         17 . The paving block system of  claim 13  wherein the lower recess section extends inwardly at substantially the same angle as or at a greater angle than the lower side surface section. 
     
     
         18 . The paving block system of  claim 11  wherein the entire recess continuously extends inwardly from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         19 . The paving block system of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of paving blocks are substantially identical. 
     
     
         20 . The paving block system of  claim 11  wherein the recesses in the plurality of paving blocks are substantially identical.