Interlocking ground covering elements and arrangements of them for mechanical laying

Claim 1

Modular elements of substantially uniform configuration layable side-by-side to form ground covering or load bearing pavements, each of said elements consisting essentially of a unitary rigid body substantially larger in horizontal dimensions than it is thick and bounded peripherally by two generally right angularly related inner sides each extending from an end thereof to , and meeting the other at an inner angle apex, two generally right angularly related outer sides each extending from an end thereof to, and meeting the other at an outer angle apex, and two front sides each extending between the respective ends of a said inner side and a said outer side; said body having formed in and across its top side two dummy joint gaps each of which extends substantially as a continuation of one of said inner sides from said inner angle apex to a midpoint between half sections of one of said outer sides; said inner sides, said front sides, said half sections of said outer sides and said dummy gaps being of substantially the same length and of substantially the same longitudinal configuration with each having at least one longitudinal portion thereof projecting outside and at least one longitudinal portion thereof recessed inside an imaginary straight base line between the ends thereof, so that said top side appears visually to be composed of three substantially indentical four-sided elemental units disposed side by side with the respective opposite side configurations of each elemental unit parallel to each other and any one of said elements will mate and interlock laterally at all its peripheral sides with sides of others of said elements, yet will present with them substantially the same pavement surface appearance, in any of a variety of side-by-side orientations of the elements.