Concrete stamps having locking keyways

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for stamping concrete. In one aspect, a stamp includes a flexible planar body having a bottom surface, a top surface, and a border portion, the border portion includes a plurality of recesses or tabs configured to engage with a plurality of recesses or tabs of an adjacent stamp so as to inhibit relative movement between the stamp and the adjacent stamp.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stamp for forming an imprint of a portion of a three dimensional pattern in a wet concrete surface, the three dimensional pattern having a size greater than the stamp, the stamp comprising:
 a flexible planar body having a bottom surface, a top surface, and a border portion, the border portion comprising a plurality of recesses or tabs configured to engage with a plurality of recesses or tabs of an adjacent stamp so as to inhibit relative movement between the stamp and the adjacent stamp.   
     
     
         2 . The stamp of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recesses or tabs of the stamp and the plurality of recesses or tabs of the adjacent stamp together form a plurality of locking keyways. 
     
     
         3 . The stamp of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recesses or tabs of the stamp are sized and shaped so as to receive the plurality of recesses or tabs of the adjacent stamp. 
     
     
         4 . The stamp of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises one or more portions of varying thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The stamp of  claim 1 , wherein a center portion of the body is more rigid than a border portion of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The stamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a support structure disposed inside the body, and wherein the support structure comprises a material with a higher durometer than a material of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The stamp of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the plurality of recesses or tabs of the stamp is complementary to a shape of the plurality of recesses or tabs of the adjacent stamp. 
     
     
         8 . The stamp of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of recesses or tabs of the stamp create a localized narrow region therebetween for receiving the adjacent stamp. 
     
     
         9 . The stamp of  claim 7 , wherein the shape of the plurality of recesses or tabs of the stamp and the shape of the plurality of recesses or tabs of the adjacent stamp are rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The stamp of  claim 9 , wherein a depth of the rectangular shape is less than a width of the rectangular shape. 
     
     
         11 . A system for forming an imprint of a three dimensional pattern in a wet concrete surface, the system comprising:
 a first stamp comprising a first plurality of recesses or tabs; and   a second stamp comprising a second plurality of recesses or tabs,   wherein the first plurality of recesses or tabs are configured to engage with the second plurality of recesses or tabs so as to inhibit relative movement between the first stamp and the second stamp.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the three dimensional pattern is a running bond brick. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the three dimensional pattern is a herringbone brick. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a shape of the first plurality of recesses or tabs is complementary to a shape of the second plurality of recesses or tabs. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of recesses or tabs create a localized narrow region therebetween for receiving the second plurality of recesses or tabs. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the shape of the first plurality of recesses or tabs and the shape of the second plurality of recesses or tabs are rectangular. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a depth of the rectangular shape is less than a width of the rectangular shape. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming an imprint of a three dimensional pattern in a wet concrete surface, the method comprising:
 placing a first stamp in a first position, the first stamp comprising a first plurality of recesses or tabs;   placing a second stamp in a second position on the wet concrete adjacent to the first stamp, the second stamp comprising a second plurality of recesses or tabs;   engaging the second plurality of recesses or tabs with the first plurality of recesses or tabs; and   pressing the bottom surface of the first stamp and the second stamp against the wet concrete surface to form the three dimensional pattern.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a shape of the first plurality of recesses or tabs and a shape of the second plurality of recesses or tabs are rectangular. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a depth of the rectangular shape is less than a width of the rectangular shape.