DE29500812U1 - Set of prefabricated concrete elements that can be assembled, in particular for paving cycle and footpaths - Google Patents

Description

Set of modular, prefabricated concrete elements, particularly for paving cycle paths and footpaths

The present invention relates to a set of modular, prefabricated concrete elements, in particular for paving cycle paths and footpaths.

It is known that the paving of cycle paths and footpaths using traditional techniques requires the creation of a path comprising a base of sub-base materials with a layer of cement or bitumen on top: this path is mainly located in the area of demarcated parts of the road or pavements, areas designated as public green spaces and other spaces originally intended for other purposes. The above-mentioned traditional techniques for paving cycle paths and footpaths require the use of large machinery to remove the existing road or grass surface, to lay the sub-base materials and to lay the top layer, which is very expensive and requires long execution times for the work. In addition, in some cases it is possible to damage any pipes buried in the area of the areas intended for paving. The same is true in the case of laying

t:d .,&igr;&mgr;&ggr;.&igr;

nt imu«F WTKNT.RSTR. S. D-81667MUNICH.TEL. (089)4483037

&Lgr; m ♦ · · · 4

—2—

of paths in areas intended for gardens and public parks, it is possible to damage the vegetation cover or the roots of the plants in the areas intended for the work.

The main object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and to create a set of modular elements which allow the paving of cycle paths and footpaths in a simple, quick and inexpensive way, which are easily adaptable to any type of surface and which ensure the greatest flexibility in the preparation and implementation of routes.

This result has been achieved according to the invention by implementing the concept of producing a series of only three modular, prefabricated concrete elements, comprising a first cuboid element with a rectangular profile, a second element with a semicircular profile and a third element which has a mixed triangular profile with two concave sides and a third straight side, in such a way that it can be attached to these first and second elements in order to form cycle and pedestrian paths of different shapes and dimensions, with curves of any radius, which are obtained by combining any suitable number of the said elements in different ways and orienting them in relation to one another.

The advantages resulting from the present invention are essentially that it is possible to pave any type of cycle path and footpath in a simple, quick and inexpensive way, since only the surface of the existing subsoil is affected, while providing the greatest possible flexibility in the practical implementation of the

routes, any number of curves with any radius; that a composable element according to the invention is robust in itself, reliable even after a long period of use and easy to manufacture; that it can be reinforced to ensure that it can also be driven over by vehicles; and that it can be provided with any suitable surface finish.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by any technician in this field from the following description and with the help of the accompanying drawings which are given as a practical example of the invention but are not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which:

Fig. IA the perspective view of a

rectangular cuboid element for paving cycle and pedestrian paths according to the invention, from above;

Fig. IB the perspective view of a

Element with semicircular profile for paving cycle and pedestrian paths according to the invention, from above;

Fig. IC the perspective view of a

Element with mixed-line triangular profile for paving cycle and pedestrian paths according to the invention, from above;

Fig. 2 schematically shows the top view of a wheel

path, which was carried out by assembling several elements of the types shown in Figs. IA, IB and IC.

-A-

Reduced to their essential structure and with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, a set of three modular prefabricated concrete elements for paving cycle and pedestrian paths according to the invention comprises a first parallelepiped element 1 with a rectangular profile, a second element 2 with a semicircular profile and a third element 3 which has a mixed triangular profile with two concave sides 30 and the third straight side 31, in such a way that it can be attached to said first and second elements so as to form cycle and pedestrian paths P of different shapes and dimensions with any number of curves of any radius, which are obtained by combining and orientating in different ways any suitable number of such elements 1, 2, 3.

Advantageously, according to the invention, each of the concave sides 30 of this element 3 has a circular arc profile with a radius equal to that of the semicircular element 2. The diameter of the element 2 is preferably equal to the length of the base, i.e. the larger side of the rectangular element 1.

Furthermore, the external surface, i.e. the working surface of these elements 1, 2, 3, can advantageously be provided with a finish made of natural cement, coloured cement or washed gravel or washed concrete: either from the concrete's own composition or by applying an additional layer or slab of suitable dimensions.

It is also advantageously possible to provide one or more of these elements 1, 2, 3 with suitable reinforcement to enable them to be driven over by vehicles.

5 -

To create a cycle or pedestrian path P with any number of straight sections, curves, connections and branches, for example of the type shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, it is sufficient to join a suitable number of the elements 1, 2, 3 described above closely together and to align them in a suitable manner, using the rectangular elements 1 for the straight sections and the semicircular elements 2 and triangular elements for the curves, the connections and the end and/or start sections of the branches. To create curves of any radius, it is sufficient to join the elements 2, 3 together and rotate them along the respective curved contact sides according to the desired orientation. The same elements 1, 2 can be used to create holding zones or areas S of any size. Preferably, the elements 1, 2, 3 are mutually joined together in such a way that the respective contact sides are aligned in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the intended direction of travel, in order to thereby avoid a possible capture of the bicycle wheels by the respective elements 1, 2, 3 and thus the risk of falls.

It is understood that the dimensions and number of the above-mentioned elements 1, 2, 3 are variable depending on the respective needs.

The following dimensions of the above-mentioned elements 1, 2, 3 are given as examples and in no way limiting.

Items (1)

Base: 200 cm - Height: 100 cm - Thickness: 7 cm

Items (2)

Radius: 10 0 cm - Thickness: 7 cm

Items (3)

Radius of sides (30): 100 cm - Length of side (31): equal to or less than 200 cm - Thickness: 7 cm

In practice, the details of the embodiment may vary in an equivalent manner as regards their shape, their dimensions, the arrangement of the elements, the nature of the materials used, without departing from the scope of the inventive concept used, so as to remain within the limits of the protection granted by the present utility model.

Claims (6)

Protection claims 1. Set of three modular, prefabricated elements made of concrete, in particular for paving cycle paths and footpaths, characterized in that it comprises a first, cuboid-shaped element (1) with a rectangular profile, a second element (2) with a semicircular profile and a third element (3) which has a mixed-line triangular profile with two concave sides (30) and a third, straight side (31), in such a way that it can be attached to these first and second elements: these three elements (1, 2, 3) can be variably combined and joined together in terms of their number and orientation depending on the desired paving route and depending on the number and radius of the curves to be realized. 2. Set of prefabricated elements that can be assembled according to Claim 1, characterized in that each of the concave sides (30) of this element (3) has a circular arc profile with a radius that is equal to that of the semicircular element (2). 3. Set of modular prefabricated elements according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the radius of this semicircular element (2) is equal to the length of the larger side of the rectangular element (1). 4. Set of modular prefabricated elements according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer surface is covered by a or several of these elements (1, 2, 3) are provided with a finish made of natural cement, coloured cement or washed gravel or washed concrete. 5. Set of prefabricated elements that can be assembled according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one or more of these elements (1, 2, 3) is provided with a reinforcement that can ensure accessibility for vehicles. 6. Set of modular prefabricated elements according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that these elements (1, 2, 3) can be aligned with one another in such a way that in their use arrangement they are arranged with their respective contact sides substantially at right angles to the intended direction of travel.