US3802790A

US3802790A - Methods for producing pavement-like sites

Info

Publication number: US3802790A
Application number: US00251326A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Blackburn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-25
Filing date: 1972-05-08
Publication date: 1974-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-09

Abstract

Methods of producing a pavement-like site composed of separate areas of different visual character by utilizing formers having a sheet base with a plurality of projecting hollow closed peaks at one side of the sheet base and open to the other side of the sheet base. The formers serve to define or shape a first space composed of the interiors of the peaks and a second space surrounding the walls of the peaks. The first and second spaces are filled with different site materials so that the finished site may be composed of areas of concrete and areas of natural or imitation grass, sand, clinker, gravel or the like or areas of different coloured concrete. The formers may remain in the site or be removed therefrom at some stage during its construction.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Blackburn I .1 Apr. 9, 1974 1541 METHODS FOR PRODUCING 3,138,078 6/1964 Nojima 404/71 EM. SITES 3,343,468 9/ 1967 Schraudenbach.... 404/38 302,476 7/1884 Furman 1 404/19 Inventor: Jack Blackburn, 215 rn 3,438,312 4/1969 1 Becker 404/19 x Almondburg, Huddersfield, England 1,560,354 11/1925 Smith 404/18 2,662,343 12/1953 Rice 404/42 X [22] Filed:

May 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No; 251,326

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 22,455, March 25,

1970, Pat, No. 3,664,241.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,956 2/1907 Martin 264/35 1,132,502 3/1915 Walling 264/34 2,550,627 /1951 Walter 1 264/34 3,757,481 9/1973 Skinner 52/265 3,045,325 7/1962 Mabie 404/72 X 343,718 6/1886 Meyer 404/18 3,421,417 1/1969 Pilaar 404/37 3,196,763 '7/1965 RLlSi'lIOll.... 404/19 x 1,583,516 5/1926 Anfield 404/72 X Primary Examiner'Nile C. Byers, Jr. rney, 4881". F W91 Cole, 9 1 19 .& Watson [57] ABSTRACT Methods of producing a pavement-like site composed of separate areas of different visual character by utilizing formers having a sheet base with a plurality of projecting hollow closed peaks at one side of the sheet base and open to the other side of the sheet base. The formers serve to define or shape a first space composed'of the interiors of the peaks and a second space surrounding the walls of the peaks. The first and second spaces are filled with different site materials so that the finished site may be composed of areas of concrete and areas of natural or imitation grass, sand, clinker, gravel or the like or areas of different coloured concrete. The formers may remain in the site or be removed therefrom at some stage during its construction.

16 Claims, 12Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 919M 3,802,790

SHEET 2 [IF 6 PATENTEBAPR 9 I974 I SHEET 3 0F 6 PATENTEU APR 91974 SHEET t Of 6 FIGJ6.

PATENTEDAPR 9 I974 SHEET 8 I]? 6 FIG .10.

. 1 METHODS FOR PRODUCING PAVEMENT-LIKE SITES BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In order to produce a pavement-like concretious site which has a pleasing visual appearance and strength it is known to use pre-cast concrete slabs and to fill gaps between or in the slabs with material such as soil or gravel. The use of such pre-cast slabs is however limited and relatively expensive, and a firm. base must be.

provided where strength is important. The presentinvention aims at producing a site by using fluid in situ concrete and gives rise to various visually pleasing appearances and constructionally advantageous tech-v niques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION open to the other surface of the base sheet so that the walls of the peaks and the base sheet provide a barrier separating a first space composed of the interiors of the peaks from a second space surrounding the peaks.

The first and second spaces serve to receive first and second site materials of different character.

In accordance with the invention the formers can be placed onto soil seeded with grass with the peaks extending upwardly from the soil and concrete can be poured over the upper surface of the formers to fill the second space surrounding the peaks. The upper end walls of the peaks of the formers can then beremoved to allow the growthof the grass from the first space.

Instead of seeding initially the formers can be laid on a prepared base and a mixture of soil and grass seed can be placed into the first space after removal of the end walls of the peaks. Turf divots or imitation grass can also be used instead of seeded grass.

In accordance with the invention a concrete'base can be initially laid, and the formers impressed into said concrete base. A soil and grass mixture or some other site material can then be introduced into the second space.

In other methods the former can be lifted and removed when the concrete base has stiffened. The concrete can then be covered with a mixture of grass seed and soil which fills the gaps in the concrete produced by the formers.

In accordance with the invention two or multi coloured concrete sites can also be produced. Thus in one method a concrete base is initially laid, the formers are impressed into said concrete base, and a further concrete of difierent colour is poured onto the upper surface of the formers to fill the second space. i

The term pavement-like sites is intended to include the following:

1. Childrens play areas.

2. Large car parks, v

3. Swimming bath surrounds internal and external.

. Esplanades.

. Roof gardens and terraces.

. Lawn car parks.

. Garage drives.

. Footpaths.

. Motorway hard shoulders.

10. Forecourts.

11. Fire engine access to hospitals and other build- .ings. l2. l3. 14. 15. l6. l7. l8. 19. '20. 21.

Indoor bowling areas. Race track mass parking areas. Exhibition areas and Showgrounds. Self marking of parking areas. Road verges. Car race tracks. Running tracks. Caravan sites. Municipal-park areas. Embankments. 22. Open air marketplaces. 23. Sports ground surrounds contiguous with natural grass playing area. 24. Dirt track racing areas. 25. National park areas for amenities. 26. Fairground areas.

27. Internal courts. 28. Pedestrian ways and shopping precincts. 29. Air fields. 30. Cats eyes for roadway markings. A site madein accordance with the invention can be composed of grass and concrete areas to combine the pleasing appearance and softness of grass with the strength of concrete.

A site can be quickly formed and the finished result is attractive in appearance yet it can stand up to heavy loads without damage. The site requires no special drainage and inthis regard drainage costs can be significantly reduced. In contrast to solid concrete sites frost will not damage a site composed of grass and concrete since the fomer areas will take up expansion and contraction. The grass can be mowed without trouble and an overall grass appearance can be cultivated.

The invention can also be applied to camouflage an airfield where grass is induced to cover the entire concrete site.

The various methods and'types of sites which can be produced by this invention will become more apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS cordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a further former; FIG. 3 is a plan view of the former shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of part of a site being constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the finished site shown in FIG.

' FIG. 6 is a sectional view of part of a further site being constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of part of another site being constructed in accordance with the invention;

'FIG; 8 is a sectional view of part of a further site made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a former used in the site depicted in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of afurther former made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional side view of the former shown in FIG. 10, the-section being taken along the line A-A of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another site constructed in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 11 comprises a generally planar base sheet 9 having 1 upper and lower surfaces 94 and 917, respectively, and a plurality of upstanding hollow closed peaks 12 extending outwardly from thesurface 9a. The peaks l2 are all of approximately the same height and open outwardly of the surface 911. Thus, the open bases of the peaks 12 are interconnected by the base sheet 9-which represents a connecting web for the individual peaks 12. The upper extremity of each peak is substantially closed by a top wall 16 so that the side walls 12a of the space 33 composed of the peaks 12, the top walls 16 and the base sheet 9 present I a generally continuous barrier disposed between and separating a first space 33 comprising the internal hollow spaces within the peaks 12 and a second space 32 generally surrounding the peaks 12. The peaks 12 are of frusto-conical configuration with the side walls 12a tapering inwardly from the base sheet 9 so that the walls 16.are smaller than the open bases of the peaks 12 adjacent the base sheet 9. The side walls 120 of the peaks are formed with a series of depressions 12b.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a former 11 with peaks 12 of generally square shape but with side walls 12a which curve outwardly.

The formers l1 serve to define the spaces for receiving the site materials of a different character from one another in asite made in accordance with the invention and the formers 11 can actually separate these materials.

The formers 11 can be made from a low-cost self or chemically disintegratable material or from materials which are more permanent. In some applications the formers 1 1 would be removed and re-used and in other applications the formers 11 would be left in situ.

In one method of producing a site represented in FIG. 4 sub surface soil 10 is raked to loosen the same and the soil 10 is then levelled and seeded with grass. A number of formers 11 are then laid onto the prepared sub-soil with the surface 9b contacting the soil 10. The formers ll may be impressed into the soil 10 to some extent to cause the soil 10 to rise within'the interiors of the peaks 12 or else the formers 11 may merely rest on the subsoil 10. Instead of placing the formers 11 with the surface 9b contacting the sub-soil 10 it is possible toinvert the formers 11 so thatthe peaks 12 extend upwardly and the outer end faces of the walls 16 contact the soil 10. Again the formers 11 can be impressed into the soil 10 so that the soil 10 rises within the space 32 surrounding the peaks 12. Theindividual formers preferably over lap at their margins and the formers can be interlocked together. v 1 I FIG. 4 depicts the-preferred situation where the formers 11 are initially arranged with the surface 9b contacting the soil and then impressed slightly into the soil. Concrete 13 is placed over the whole site area to substantially fill the space 32 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The concrete 13 is levelled off to coincide with the uppermost surface 16 of the formers 11. When the concrete has stiffened to a sufficient extent the whole site area, when not reinforced, can be rolled to the required degree of consolidation thus cracking the concrete lying between thev peaks :12 of the-formers ll. The

space 33underneath the formers 11 either contains or communicates with the soil'10. In FIG. 4 the space 33 composed of the interiors of the peaks 12 actually con tains a proportion of grass-seeded soil denoted 15. The seeded soil is protected from birds, winds etc., and allows the seed to germinate. The

upper surface

16 or 9b of the formers is removed after germination and this can occur by natural disintegration or else by puncturing or tearing away, or chemically dissolving or burning the walls 16 of the formers l 1. Grass can then grow out from the space 33 to project above the upper surface of the site-As shown in FIG. 5 the finished site is composed of a continuous concrete area 17 interspersed with separate grass areas 18. The areas 18 can be mown when desired. The formers 11 can bemade from a transparent plastics material so that grass growth can be observed priorto removal of the walls 16.

The formers 11 can be held in position during installation by using a mesh reinforcement and this increased the rigidity of the site.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 a modified type of former is illus- I trated and for convenience like reference numerals denote like parts to those illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the aforesaid mesh reinforcement is depicted by reference numeral 100. A seriesof supports 101 which extend between the peaks 12 may be used to support the reinforcement 100.

In an alternative process seeding is not carried out initially but a mixture of soil and seed is placed into the gaps 19 (FIG. 4) which have resulted from puncturing, tearing away or dissolving or burning the walls 16 of the peaks 12 of the formers 11 to fill the space 33.

In another process small natural turf divots can be introduced into thespace 33 after removal of the walls 16 thus immediately producing the natural grass areas. Inthis case the formers 11 can be laid onto a prepared base other than soil. In a further process divots of imitation grass made of synthetic plastics material are placed in the space 33 after removal of the walls 16. The base of each plastics divot together with a small quantity of soil, sand or sand-cement can be pressed through the gaps'left by removal of the walls 16 (FIG. 4) and engages with the tapering sides 12a of the peaks 12 so that even with sand or soil filling considerable effort is required to remove a plastics divot once the latter is in position.

Where a sand-cement filling is used, the plastic divots can, of course, be permanently fixed and this has the advantage that the growth of natural grass or weeds over the site is inhibited. Site materials other than con crete can be employed especially where strength is not a major consideration and in these circumstances the inversion of the formers 11 with the peaks 12 projecting downwards may become more realizable In this case the methods of construction may be as described above but the wall 9 would be removed at least partly to permit access to the space 32 now underlying the site.

Instead of placing the formers 11 onto subsoil in many cases where the site is to take heavy loads it may be preferable to lay the formers 11 on a more rigid base composed of hardcore or even a raft of concrete. Thereafter the concrete 13 is again poured onto the formers 11 and the other site material, be it soil and grass seed, turf divots or some other site material is introduced into the space 33 opened by removal of the walls 16. In this regard another process is depicted in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6 a concrete base 30 is laid on hardcore for example and the formers 11 are disposed with the surface 9b contacting the concrete 30. The formers 11 are then pressed into the concrete 30 whilst the latter is still wet and plastic so that concrete denoted l3 rises to fill the space 33. The walls 16 of the peaks12 preferably contain small holes 31 to prevent air beingtrapped within the space 33 as the concrete rises. After the concrete has stiffened, soil and grass seed or another site material, can be placed into the space 32 to open to the upper side ofthesite-The whole site can be rolled. The walls 16 can be deliberately removed to expose the concrete or else the walls 16 can be left intact to be exposed to the weather.

In this case the site will appear as in FIG. 5 except the areas 17 will be soil and grass areas, for example, and the areas 18 will be concrete the whole site having a firm base beneath these

areas

17, 18. The growth of grass in the areas 17 can be allowed to spread over the areas 18. 7 I

To achieve dual or multi-coloured concrete site area the process depicted in FIG. 7 can be adopted. For dual coloured concrete areas one colour concrete 40 is laid onto hardcore for example and the formers 11 impressed therein .as shown in FIG. 7, or else with the peaks 12 inverted and projecting downwards. The different colour'concrete 41 is then laid over the top of the formers 11 to fill the

space

32 or 33. All or some of the

walls

16 or 9 can be removed to expose the underlying concrete areas or else the formers 11 can be left intact.

Thus the site will appear as in FIG. 5 except the areas 17 will represent areas of concrete of one colour and the areas 18 will represent areas of concrete of the other colour.

In another application of the invention the end walls 16 of the peaks of the formers 11 can be used in mark-' ing roads. Thus by painting the end'walls 16 of the peaks 12 with a fluorescent or reflecting material and carrying out the process of FIG. 7 cats eyes for roadways can be produced. Instead of colour difference the concretes can be of different consistency giving giving rise to different visual texture. Instead of placing con- '6 crete 41 over the top of the formers 11 it is possible to use sand, gravel, stone chippings or tarmac.

For multi-coloured concrete sites the underside 43 of the walls 16 of the peaks 12 in the formers 11 can be treated with different coloured dyes, which, when brought into contact with wet concrete, stain and penetr'ate the-latter. After the removal of the walls such colours become visible and contrast with the area 17 shown inFIG. 5.

In the methods described it is assumed that the formers would be of relatively low cost, andwould be left in position sandwiched between the various areas in the site, but for some operations such as those depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 the formers can be produced from more permanent materials and lifted for re-use after the base concrete (30,40) has stiffened to become self supporting and before the other site material (32,41) is laid.

In most cases one of the site materials allows natural drainage through the site but in some cases where the materials are impervious to water other 'expedients, such as site inclinations, to 'aid drainage may be necessary.

Another variation of the former construction is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 which depict a site and a former especially adapted to provide superior drainage.

The site shown in the FIG. 8 is primarily intended as an aircraft runway or a vehicle carriageway where excessive surface water can represent a safety hazard and utilizes formers 11 shown separately in FIG. 9. The features 'of the site are probably best appreciated from a detailed reference to the method constructing the site. The site is constructed by using a number of formers again denoted 11, which are preferably constructed from a synthetic plastics material. As' in previous examples the formers 11 each have a plurality of upstanding peaks 12, in this example of frusto-conical configuration, having upper end walls 16. The peaks 12 can be of any size, shape, depth or relative spacing. As in the previous examples the peaks 12 are adjoined by and interspersed with a horizontal base sheet 9 at their open bases. On the underside of the base sheet 9 and remote from the peaks 12 there is disposed a lattice-like network of inter-communicating channels. The channels are composed of channels'130extending in one direc tion and channels 140 extending perpendicular to the one direction. Each of the channels 130 communicates with each of the channels 140 beneath the peaks l2 and each of channels 130 communicates with a row of peaks l2 aligned therewith.

A solid concrete raft 150 is first laid and this raft 150 has a 'slight inclined or several inclined zones (not shown) which cause water to flow in one .or more preferred directions. When the raft 150 has stiffened or set, the formers 11 are placed onto the raft 150 and in overlapping relationship with the channels 130. of

one former 1 1 communicating with the

channels

130, 140 of the next adjacent former 1 1. It is possible to produce the formers in situ by vacuum forming equipment carried on a vehicle. In this way a continuous former can be laid in position. Concrete denoted 50 is then laid onto the formers 11 to fill the space 32 surrounding the peaks 12. The concrete 50 can be reinforced, unreinforced, coloured, plain and of any desired impact strength. When the concrete 50 is set the site is preferably brushed to break up the thin concrete film present on the upper walls 16 of the peaks 12. The upper walls 16 of the peaks 12 are then removed by any suitable method and soil, soil and gravel or some other waterpervious mixture forming a second site material can be introduced into the space 33 comprising the interiors of the peaks 12 and grass can be grown therein. The subsequent growth of the grass can cause the overall site to be camouflaged and rain water can drain away reliably through the peaks 12 and the network-of

channels

130, 140. The resultant site surface is high friction, i.e., non-slip and generally water free.

As in the other described methods turf divots or imitation grass made from a synthetic plastics material can be introduced into the space 33 after removal of the walls 16 so long as the passage of water is allowed. The space 33 can alsobe filled with a porous material such as sand or gravel. In another construction, the space 33 is left completely empty.

In time when renewal 'of the working surface of the site is required only the material on top of the raft 150 need be removed.

Theinvention can also be extended to the production.

of paving slabs incorporating formers or incorporating cavities produced by such formers. In another process perforated or solid pre-cast reinforced slabs can be produced with the reinforcement rods projecting outwardly from the sides of each of the slabs. These slabs are then laid on a site in chequer-board fashion and the areas between the slabs are then treated as described above, with withdrawable or permanent formers, to

produce. grass-concrete areas. Inthis manner the set tling-in of the pre-cast slabs is obviated since the in-situ concrete poured in the areas between the slabs sets around the projecting reinforcement rods.

The use of re-usable formers has been mentioned hereinbefore. In an extension of theconcept the invention also contemplates a further former which can be laid in position before, either of the site materials is introduced. Such aformer is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 to be composed of a sheet 9 having holes 58 therein. The former can be made from metal, wood or synthetic plastics material. Generally between the holes 58 there are disposed tapered peaks 51 having a shape and size commensurate with the intended application. The peaks 51 extend downwardly frorn the undersurface 917 of. the sheet .9. At the centre of the upper end of each projection 51 there is a small slot 52. In use the former is laid onto a firm base such as hardcore with the end walls 16 of the peaks 51 contacting the base. Wet concrete is poured onto the upper face 9a of the sheet 9. The concrete passes through the holes 58 onto the base and slight tamping or vibration will ensure that the con vents and the former made in this way would be pressed into concrete laid between templates which determine the depth of the concrete. Trapped air beneath the former will be ejected through the vents and thus the formation of air pockets is avoided. With such a former no screeding would be required after the former has been lifted.

. In an alternative construction, the pekas 51 are connected together with the aidof a lattice-structure'composed of channels. 'The formers would be used in the manner described and a site shown in FIG. 12 can thus be produced where 60 denotes concrete areas and 61 denotes grass areas forexample.

Withdrawable formers may also be produced with a depending outwardly inclined or otherwise shaped skirt along one or more of its side edges so that a concrete area having a shaped edge can be fabricated, thus precluding the use of separate kerb stones or the like.

lclaim:

l. A method of producing a pavement-like site comprising areas of a first character generally surrounded by areas of another character; said method comprising providing the site with a continuous covering forming a base, placing a formeronto the base, the former comprising a generally planar base sheet having a pair of surfaces and a plurality of hollow peaksextending outcrete rises to the underside 9b-of the sheet 9, and the concrete which remains on the top surface 9a of the sheet 9 can be removed. Mesh reinforcement can be laid betweenthe base and the underside 9b of the sheet and temporarily carried on removable hooks (not shown) located by supports engaging the holes 58 in the sheet 9. When the concrete has stiffened to a sufficient extent the former can be removed by inserting appropriate keys into some of the slots 52 and lifting the wardly from one surface of the base sheet, the peaks opening outwardly from the other surface of the base sheet and being substantially closed at the extremities thereof remotefrom the base sheet whereby the walls of the peaks and the base sheet provide a generally continuous barrier disposed between and separating a first space comprising the internal hollow interiors of the peaks from a second space generally surrounding the peaks, filling one of said first and'second spaced with a first site material by introducing said first site material onto the former, removing selected parts of the former to permit access to said other of the first and second spaces and substantially filling said. other space with a second site material of different character to said first site material.

2. A method accordingto claim 1 wherein the first material is concrete and saidsecond site material is a soil and grass seed mixture.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said one space is the second space generally surrounding the peaks] 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first site material is concrete and thesecond site material is composed of natural turf divots.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first site material is concrete and the second site material is in the form of divots of imitation grass made of a synthetic plastics material.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the removed parts of the former constitute the end walls of the peaks.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said base is rigid. I

8. A method according to claim I, wherein a plurality of interconnected drainagechannels are formed on the side of the former remote from the peaks, said channels communicating with the other of the spaces which is constituted by the first space whereby said channels the second site material.

A method according to claim 8,wherein the base is a concrete raft constructed with inclined zones to encourage water to flow along the channels.

10. A method of producing a pavement-like site comprising areas of a first character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising providing the site with a continuous covering forming base; placing a former onto the base, the former comprising a generally planar base sheet having a pair of surfaces and a plurality of hollow peaks extending'outwardly from one surface of the base sheet, the

peaks opening outwardly from the other surface of the hollow interiors of the peaks from a second space generally surrounding the peaks, filling the second space with a first site material introduced onto the former and removing at least part of the end wall of the peaks to permit water to drain through the peaks into the drainage channels.

1 1. A method of producing a pavement-like site comprising areas of a first character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising providing the site with a continuous covering forming a base,

- placing a former onto the base, the former comprisgenerally planar base sheet with a pair of surfaces and a plurality of hollow closed peaks extending outwardly from one surface of the base sheet being substantially closed at the extremities thereof, there being provided holes in said base sheet generally between said peaks, whereby the walls of the peaks and the base sheet provide a barrier disposed between a first space comprising the internal hollow interiors of the peaks and a second space generally surrounding the peaks, the former being disposed with the peaks projecting downwardly to contact said base, filling the second space with a first site material by introducing said first site material onto the other surface of the base sheet to pass through said holes, lifting the former from the site after the first site material is self supporting and filling the space in the first site material produced by 12. A method of producing a pavement-likesite comthe peaks of the former with a second site material.

posed of areas of one character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising:

jecting interconnected hollow peaks;

placing said former onto said base so that the peaks are upstanding to thereby form a first space disposed at the underside of the former separated by the walls of the peaks from a second space disposed at the upperside of the former, one of the spaces comprising the interiors of the peaks and the other of the spaces comprising the zones surrounding the peaks;

introducing a first site material into said second space;

removingselected parts of the former to expose the first space; and

introducing a second site material into said first space.

13. A method of producing a pavement-like site composed of areas of one character generally surrounded by areasof another character, said method comprising:

providing a firstsite material as a continuous covering forming a base;

providinga shaped former having a plurality of projecting interconnected closed peaks;

arranging the former so that the peaks are upstanding to thereby form a first space disposed at the underside of the former separated by a barrier-formed by the walls of the peaks from a second space disposed at the upperside of the former, one of the spaces comprising the interiors of the peaks and the other comprising the spaces surrounding the peaks;

superimposing the former onto the first site material so that the first site, material partly fills the first space; and

introducing a second site material into said second space.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein selected parts of the former are removed to expose the first site material.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein a fur- 16. A method of producing a pavement-like site composed of areas of one character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising:

providing a continuous covering forming a base;

providing a shaped former having a plurality of projecting peaks interconnected by discontinuous support means and extending outwardly from said support means in one direction;

placing the former onto a base so that the peaks are upstanding to thereby form a first space accessible from the upperside of the former via the discontinuities of. the support means and a second space separated from said first space, one of the spaces being defined within the peaks and the other of the spaces surrounding the peaks;

introducing a first site material onto the upperside of the former so that said material passes into the first space via the discontinuities of the support means;

filling the voids in the first site material with a second A site material.

Claims

1. A method of producing a pavement-like site comprising areas of a first character generally surrounded by areas of another character; said method comprising providing the site with a continuous covering forming a base, placing a former onto the base, the former comprising a generally planar base sheet having a pair of surfaces and a plurality of hollow peaks extending outwardly from one surface of the base sheet, the peaks opening outwardly from the other surface of the base sheet and being substantially closed at the extremities thereof remote from the base sheet whereby the walls of the peaks and the base sheet provide a generally continuous barrier disposed between and separating a first space comprising the internal hollow interiors of the peaks from a second space generally surrounding the peaks, filling one of said first and second spaces with a first site material by introducing said first site material onto the former, removing selected parts of the former to permit access to said other of the first and second spaces and substantially filling said other space with a second site material of different character to said first site material.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first material is concrete and said second site material is a soil and grass seed mixture.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said one space is the second space generally surrounding the peaks.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first site material is concrete and the second site material is composed of natural turf divots.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said base is rigid.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of interconnected drainage channels are formed on the side of the former remote from the peaks, said channels communicating with the other of the spacEs which is constituted by the first space whereby said channels permit water to drain from the top of the site through the second site material.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the base is a concrete raft constructed with inclined zones to encourage water to flow along the channels.

10. A method of producing a pavement-like site comprising areas of a first character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising providing the site with a continuous covering forming a base; placing a former onto the base, the former comprising a generally planar base sheet having a pair of surfaces and a plurality of hollow peaks extending outwardly from one surface of the base sheet, the peaks opening outwardly from the other surface of the base sheet and being substantially closed at the extremities thereof remote from the base sheet with a plurality of interconnected drainage channels disposed at the other surface of the base sheet and communicating with the hollow interiors of the peaks, whereby the walls of the peaks and the base sheet provide a generally continous barrier disposed between and separating a first space comprising the hollow interiors of the peaks from a second space generally surrounding the peaks, filling the second space with a first site material introduced onto the former and removing at least part of the end wall of the peaks to permit water to drain through the peaks into the drainage channels.

11. A method of producing a pavement-like site comprising areas of a first character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising providing the site with a continuous covering forming a base, placing a former onto the base, the former comprising a generally planar base sheet with a pair of surfaces and a plurality of hollow closed peaks extending outwardly from one surface of the base sheet being substantially closed at the extremities thereof, there being provided holes in said base sheet generally between said peaks, whereby the walls of the peaks and the base sheet provide a barrier disposed between a first space comprising the internal hollow interiors of the peaks and a second space generally surrounding the peaks, the former being disposed with the peaks projecting downwardly to contact said base, filling the second space with a first site material by introducing said first site material onto the other surface of the base sheet to pass through said holes, lifting the former from the site after the first site material is self supporting and filling the spaces in the first site material produced by the peaks of the former with a second site material.

12. A method of producing a pavement-like site composed of areas of one character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising: providing a continuous covering forming a base; providing a shaped former having a plurality of projecting interconnected hollow peaks; placing said former onto said base so that the peaks are upstanding to thereby form a first space disposed at the underside of the former separated by the walls of the peaks from a second space disposed at the upperside of the former, one of the spaces comprising the interiors of the peaks and the other of the spaces comprising the zones surrounding the peaks; introducing a first site material into said second space; removing selected parts of the former to expose the first space; and introducing a second site material into said first space.

13. A method of producing a pavement-like site composed of areas of one character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising: providing a first site material as a continuous covering forming a base; providing a shaped former having a plurality of projecting interconnected closed peaks; arranging the former so that the peaks are upstanding to thereby form a first space disposed at the underside of the formEr separated by a barrier formed by the walls of the peaks from a second space disposed at the upperside of the former, one of the spaces comprising the interiors of the peaks and the other comprising the spaces surrounding the peaks; superimposing the former onto the first site material so that the first site material partly fills the first space; and introducing a second site material into said second space.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein a further site material is introduced into said first space to substantially fill the remainder of said space after removal of said selected parts.

16. A method of producing a pavement-like site having a continuous upper surface composed of areas of one character generally surrounded by areas of another character, said method comprising: providing a continuous covering forming a base; providing a shaped former having a plurality of projecting peaks interconnected by discontinuous support means and extending outwardly from said support means in one direction; placing the former onto a base so that the peaks are upstanding to thereby form a first space accessible from the upperside of the former via the discontinuities of the support means and a second space separated from said first space by said peaks, one of the spaces being the spaces occupied by the peaks and the other being the spaces surrounding the peaks; introducing a first site material onto the upperside of the former so that said material passes into the first space via the discontinuities of the support means while maintaining said second space isolated from the first space and devoid of any material other than said peaks; removing from said site the entirety of the former including said peaks after the first site material becomes self supporting, said first site material thereby having hollow concave areas in its upper surface corresponding in shape to said second space and having cross-sectional configurations which are completely unobstructed; and filling the concave areas in the first site material with a second site material up to the level of the upper surface of the first site material whereby to present said continuous upper surface.