Artificial stone

摘要

An artificial stone is disclosed for use in creating a covering for a supporting surface. The artificial stone includes a body for placement on the supporting surface, which is shaped for mating engagement with like stones with intermediate perimeter joints to produce a continuous surface covering. The stone has a facing surface on the body, which facing surface has a contour defining a surface area and is subdivided by at least one simulated joint into a major surface portion and at least one minor surface portion. The major surface portion is free of simulated joints and extends over at least about 60% of the total surface of the facing surface. The stone further includes at least one perimeter recess in the body for generating a gap between the stone and another like stone in mating engagement therewith, which gap is wider than adjacent the adjoining perimeter joint. Stones of this construction can easily be arranged in a regular, repeated pattern to generate a continuous covering for the supporting surface with the surface of the resulting covering having an irregular, natural appearance. The irregular top contours of the stones, the uneven division of the facing surface and the perimeter recesses and the resulting gaps between mating stones simulate the appearance of a natural stone surface covering for walkways, roadways, pavements or walls.

主权项

1. An artificial stone for covering a supporting surface, comprising:
a base portion having a base surface forming a lowermost surface of the base portion for placement on the supporting surface, the base portion having a body shape with a body contour for mating engagement of the artificial stone with other like stones in a repeating pattern with intermediate perimeter joints; a top portion positioned above the base portion and having a facing surface forming an uppermost surface of the top portion, the facing surface having a total surface area defined by an irregular facing contour and being subdivided by at least one simulated joint into a continuous, major surface portion and at least one minor surface portion, wherein the at least one simulated joint extends from the facing surface, through at least a portion of the top portion, and without extending into the base portion; an intermediate portion positioned between the top and base portions, the intermediate portion having at least one outwardly tapered circumferential portion connecting the top portion with a sidewall of the base portion; and at least one perimeter recess extending from the facing surface, through the top portion, and through at least a portion of the base portion for generating a gap between the artificial stone and another like artificial stone in mating engagement therewith, the gap having a larger width than an adjoining perimeter joint.