Paver with interlocking spacer

Abstract

A paving stone for interlocking with similar adjacent paving stones, having a rectangular block shape. Three single spacers and three spacer pairs extend from the paving stones' lateral surfaces. Each single spacer and each spacer of the spacer pairs have a crest positioned a distance D1 from the lateral surface. Two of the spacer pairs and two of the single spacers are respectively positioned opposite one another on the long lateral surfaces. One of the spacer pairs and one of the single spacers is positioned on the short lateral surfaces. When used with other paving stones having the same features, the single spacers of one paving stone are positioned in troughs of the spacer pairs of another paving stone to provide a structural interlock and create narrow joints between adjacent paving stones. Multiple paving stones can be aligned in multiple configurations, such as herringbone, runner bond, and basketweave patterns.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A paving stone for interlocking with a similar adjacent paving stone, said paving stone comprising:
 a top surface having a first long side, a second long side opposing the first long side, a first wide side, and a second wide side opposing the first wide side;   a first long lateral surface and an opposing second long lateral surface, each being perpendicular to the top surface;   a first wide lateral surface and an opposing second wide lateral surface, each being perpendicular to the top surface and said first and second long lateral surfaces;   a first spacer pair extending from the second first wide lateral surface and having an outer surface;   said first spacer pair comprising two adjacent spacers each having a crest at said outer surface positioned a first distance D 1  from the first wide lateral surface and defining a first trough therebetween;   said first trough having nadir at said outer surface positioned a second distance D 2  from the first wide lateral surface;   a second spacer pair extending from said first long lateral surface and having an outer surface;   said second spacer pair comprising two adjacent spacers each having a crest at said outer surface positioned a first distance D 1  from said first long lateral surface and defining a second trough therebetween;   said second trough having a nadir at said outer surface positioned a second distance D 2  from said first long lateral surface;   a third spacer pair extending from the second long lateral surface and having an outer surface;   said third spacer pair comprising two adjacent spacers each having a crest at said outer surface positioned a first distance D 1  from said second longer lateral surface and defining a third trough therebetween;   said third trough having nadir at said outer surface positioned a second distance D 2  from said second long lateral surface;   a first single spacer extending from the second wide lateral surface and having an outer surface;   said first single spacer with a crest positioned a perpendicular distance D 1  from said second wide lateral surface;   a second single spacer extending from said first long lateral surface;   said second single spacer having an outer surface with a crest positioned a perpendicular distance D 1  from said first long lateral surface;   a third single spacer extending from said second long lateral surface;   said third single spacer having an outer surface with a crest positioned a perpendicular distance D 1  from the second long lateral surface.   
     
     
         2 . The paving stone of  claim 1  further comprising a chamfer surface bordering said top surface and adjacent to said first long lateral surface, said second long lateral surface, said first wide lateral surface, and said second wide lateral surface. 
     
     
         3 . The paving stone of  claim 1  wherein the first single spacer is centered on said second wide lateral surface so that said crest is positioned a perpendicular distance D 3  from each of said first and second long lateral surfaces; and
 wherein said first spacer pair is centered on the first wide lateral surface so that the nadir of said first trough is positioned a perpendicular distance D 3  from each of said first and second long lateral surfaces. 
 
     
     
         4 . The paving stone as recited in  claim 3  wherein each of the crests of the second and third single spacers are a perpendicular distance D 3  from the first wide lateral surface. 
     
     
         5 . The paving stone as recited in  claim 4  wherein each of the nadirs of said second and third troughs of said second and third spacer pairs are positioned a perpendicular distance D 3  from said second wide lateral surface. 
     
     
         6 . The paving stone of  claim 1  wherein the length of each of the first and second long lateral surfaces is substantially equal to twice the width of the first wide lateral surface plus the width of a gap created between said paving stone and a similar adjacent interlocking paving stone. 
     
     
         7 . The paving stone as recited in  claim 6  wherein said gap is substantially equal to said distance D 1  plus said distance D 2  plus a standard clearance C. 
     
     
         8 . The paving stone as recited in  claim 7  wherein said standard clearance C is 1.0 mm+/−0.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The paving stone of  claim 7  wherein said gap is less than or equal to ten millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The paving stone of  claim 1  wherein said outer surface of each of said first, second and third single spacers and each spacer of said first, second and third spacer pairs has a convex curvature; and wherein each of said first, second and third troughs has a concave curvature. 
     
     
         11 . The paving stone as recited in  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of said first, second and third single spacers and said first, second and third spacer pairs is formed of planar surfaces and wherein said first, second and third single spacers have a triangular cross-section and each spacer of said first, second and third spacer pairs has a triangular cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The paving stone as recited in  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of said first, second and third single spacers and said first, second and third spacer pairs is formed of planar surfaces and wherein said first, second and third single spacers have a trapezoidal cross-section and each spacer of said first, second and third spacer pairs has a trapezoidal cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . A system of arranged paving stones forming a paved surface, said system comprising:
 a plurality of paving stones with each paving stone comprising:
 a top surface having a first long side, a second long side opposing the first long side, a first wide side, and a second wide side opposing the first wide side; 
 a first long lateral surface and an opposing second long lateral surface, each being perpendicular to the top surface; 
 a first wide lateral surface and an opposing second wide lateral surface, each being perpendicular to the top surface and said first and second long lateral surfaces; 
 a first spacer pair extending from the first wide lateral surface and having an outer surface; 
 said first spacer pair comprising two adjacent spacers each having a crest at said outer surface positioned a first distance D 1  from the first wide lateral surface and defining a first trough therebetween; 
 said first trough having nadir at said outer surface positioned a second distance D 2  from the first wide lateral surface; 
 a second spacer pair extending from said first long lateral surface and having an outer surface; 
 said second spacer pair comprising two adjacent spacers each having a crest at said outer surface positioned a first distance D 1  from said first long lateral surface and defining a second trough therebetween; 
 said second trough having a nadir at said outer surface positioned a second distance D 2  from said first long lateral surface; 
 a third spacer pair extending from the second long lateral surface and having an outer surface; 
 said third spacer pair comprising two adjacent spacers each having a crest at said outer surface positioned a first distance D 1  from said second longer lateral surface and defining a third trough therebetween; 
 said third trough having nadir at said outer surface positioned a second distance D 2  from said second long lateral surface; 
 a first single spacer extending from the second wide lateral surface and having an outer surface; 
 said first single spacer with a crest positioned a perpendicular distance D 1  from said second wide lateral surface; 
 a second single spacer extending from said first long lateral surface; 
 said second single spacer having an outer surface with a crest positioned a perpendicular distance D 1  from said first long lateral surface; 
 a third single spacer extending from said second long lateral surface; 
 said third single spacer having an outer surface with a crest positioned a perpendicular distance D 1  from the second long lateral surface; and 
 wherein each of said paving stones is positioned adjacent to and interlocked with at least one other paving stone. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of arranged paving stones of  claim 13  wherein:
 said first single spacer is centered on said second wide lateral surface so that its crest is positioned a perpendicular distance D 3  from each side of said first and second long lateral surfaces; 
 said first spacer pair is centered on the first wide lateral surface so that the nadir of said first trough is positioned a perpendicular distance D 3  from each of said first and second long lateral surfaces; 
 each of the crests of said second and third single spacers are a perpendicular distance D 3  from the first wide lateral surface; and 
 each of the nadirs of said second and third troughs of said second and third spacer pairs are positioned a perpendicular distance D 3  from said second wide lateral surface. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of arranged paving stones of  claim 13  wherein the length of each of the first and second long lateral surfaces of a paving stone is substantially equal to twice the width of the first wide lateral surface plus the width of a gap created between two adjacent interlocking paving stones. 
     
     
         16 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 15  wherein said gap is substantially equal to said distance D 1  plus said distance D 2  plus a standard clearance C. 
     
     
         17 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 16  wherein said standard clearance is one millimeter +/− one-half millimeter. 
     
     
         18 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 17  wherein said gap is less than or equal to ten millimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 13  wherein said outer surface of each of said first, second and third single spacers and each spacer of said first, second and third spacer pairs has a convex curvature and wherein of each of said first, second and third troughs has a concave curvature. 
     
     
         20 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 13  wherein the outer surface of said first, second and third single spacers and said first, second and third spacer pairs is formed of planar surfaces and wherein said first, second and third single spacers have a triangular cross-section and each spacer of said first, second and third spacer pairs has a triangular cross-section. 
     
     
         21 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 13  wherein the outer surface of said first, second and third single spacers and said first, second and third spacer pairs is formed of planar surfaces and wherein said first, second and third single spacers have a trapezoidal cross-section and each spacer of said first, second and third spacer pairs has a trapezoidal cross-section. 
     
     
         22 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 13  wherein said plurality of paving stones are arranged in a runner bond pattern. 
     
     
         23 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 13  wherein the plurality of paving stones are arranged in a herringbone pattern. 
     
     
         24 . The system of arranged paving stones as recited in  claim 13  wherein the plurality of paving stones are arranged in a basketweave pattern.