US5202166A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite structure
Assignee: GROUND EFFECTS Ltd
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Filing: 1990-09-06
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Granted: 1993-04-13
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Expires: 2010-09-06
Abstract
Abstract A composite structure finding principal utility in the formation of walls, floors, patios and the like, for example. The structure is made up of a coplanar assembly of slab-like flat-faced elements provided with knobs and sockets that are congruent with each other as well as being congruent throughout the total structure so as to provide positive interlocks among the elements and thus eliminating the need for adhesive and like binders. The elements may be of molded concrete and relatively light weight so as to facilitate handling on the job by the ordinary artisan in the building of a patio, for example, in the elements are coplanar on a bed of sand, etc. The elements are furnished in several groups in which each group contains several identical elements. In addition to the knob-socket feature, the elements have perimetrical outlines or configurations such that side-by-side elements abuttingly match each other as to contour.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd F. Crompton
- 👤 Steven P. Brutsche
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:07
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44C; B44C3/00; B44C3/12; B44C3/123; A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/001; E; E04; E04F; E04F15/00; E04F15/02; A63F9/06; A63F9/10; E04F2201/00; E04F2201/09; E04F2201/091; E04F2201/096
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An assemblage of a plurality of substantially flat construction elements of uniform thickness and having outer flat surfaces and arranged with said surfaces essentially coplanar for the construction of floors, walls and patios, said elements including a base area made up of a first group of identical elements, each having a perimetrical outline configured to provide at least one knob and one socket wherein the knobs and sockets throughout are congruent and interfit knob-to-socket fashion to provide positive interlocks among the elements and the outlines of the elements apart from the knobs and sockets being so shaped as to closely mate with neighboring elements in edge-to-edge fashion, a second group of elements bordering on the first group and having shapes different from those of the first group and including knobs and sockets adapted to interfit among each other as well as with those of the first group, and a third group of elements bordering on the second group and having shapes different from those of the first and second groups and including knobs and sockets adapted to interfit among each other as well as with those of the second group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
An assemblage of a plurality of substantially flat construction elements of uniform thickness and having outer flat surfaces and arranged with said surfaces essentially coplanar for the construction of floors, walls and patios, said elements including a base area made up of a first group of identical elements, each having a perimetrical outline configured to provide at least one knob and one socket wherein the knobs and sockets throughout are congruent and interfit knob-to-socket fashion to provide positive interlocks among the elements and the outlines of the elements apart from the knobs and sockets being so shaped as to closely mate with neighboring elements in edge-to-edge fashion, a second group of elements bordering on the first group and having shapes different from those of the first group and including knobs and sockets adapted to interfit among each other as well as with those of the first group, and a third group of elements bordering on the second group and having shapes different from those of the first and second groups and including knobs and sockets adapted to interfit among each other as well as with those of the second group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assemblage according to claim 1, in which at least one element of the third group is configured to form a corner for the assembled groups of elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assemblage according to claim 2, in which said corner-forming element has at least a partial arcuate outline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assemblage according to claim 2, in which said corner-forming element has a pair of straight outer edges meeting at a 90° angle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
An assemblage according to claim 1, in which there are four base elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assemblage according to claim 1, in which the third group of elements includes a first set of spaced-apart elements of identical shape and a second set of elements of identical shape different from the first set and interspersed among the elements of the first set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
An assemblage of a plurality of substantially flat construction elements of uniform thickness and having outer flat surfaces and arranged with said surfaces essentially coplanar for the construction of floors, walls and patios, said elements including a first group of elements of similar shapes and a second group of elements of shapes differing from the elements of the first group and each element of both groups having a perimetrical outline configured to provide at least one knob and one socket wherein the knobs and sockets throughout several elements are congruent and interfit in knob-to-socket fashion from element to element to provide positive interlocks among the elements, and the outlines of the elements apart from the knobs and sockets being further so shaped as to closely mate with neighboring elements in edge-to-edge fashion and thereby enabling assembly of the elements in any of several patterns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
An assemblage of a plurality of substantially flat construction elements of uniform thickness and having outer flat surfaces and arranged with said surfaces essentially coplanar for the construction of floors, walls and patios, said elements including a first group of elements of similar shapes and a second group of elements of shapes differing from the elements of the first group and each element of both groups having a perimetrical outline configured to provide at least one knob and one socket wherein the knobs and sockets throughout several elements are congruent and interfit in knob-to-socket fashion from element to element to provide positive interlocks among the elements, and the outlines of the elements apart from the knobs and sockets being further so shaped as to closely mate with neighboring elements in edge-to-edge fashion and thereby enabling assembly of the elements in any of several patterns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assemblage according to claim 7, in which the elements in the second group have similar shapes as respects each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assemblage according to claim 7, in which the shapes of the elements in the second group are different from each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assemblage according to claim 7, in which the second group of elements includes some elements of the same shape and some elements of at least another shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
An assemblage of a plurality of substantially flat construction elements of uniform thickness and having outer flat surfaces and arrangeable with said surfaces essentially coplanar for the construction of floors, walls, patios and components thereof, said elements being of various diverse configurations and respectively including mating knobs and sockets to interlock the elements in knob-to-socket fashion in any of a plurality of geometric patterns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
An assemblage of a plurality of substantially flat construction elements of uniform thickness and having outer flat surfaces and arrangeable with said surfaces essentially coplanar for the construction of floors, walls, patios and components thereof, said elements being of various diverse configurations and respectively including mating knobs and sockets to interlock the elements in knob-to-socket fashion in any of a plurality of geometric patterns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An assemblage according to claim 11, in which at least one of the elements has a perimeter including an arcuate portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assemblage according to claim 11, in which each of several elements has a perimeter including an arcuate portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assemblage according to claim 13 in which the elements having an arcuate portion are arranged in sequence to form a continuous arc.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An assemblage according to claim 11, including a border member of greater thickness than the elements and positively interlocking with at least one element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assemblage according to claim 11, in which at least one element has a through opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
An assemblage according to claim 11, including a plurality of identical base elements grouped about a common center forming a point about which an arc can be drawn to delineate an edge spaced from the base elements and adapted to filled by further elements having knobs and sockets matching those aforesaid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-12 | 1996-10-12 | 1997-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-12 | 2000-10-12 | 2001-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-12 | 2004-10-12 | 2005-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |