초록 ▼

A framing unit used with a plurality of replaceable panels that form a vertical retaining wall or a rigid enclosure to make raised planting beds. The framing unit includes two vertical end connectors, two horizontal top rails, at least one bottom rail, and a plurality of vertical panels. Each end co

A framing unit used with a plurality of replaceable panels that form a vertical retaining wall or a rigid enclosure to make raised planting beds. The framing unit includes two vertical end connectors, two horizontal top rails, at least one bottom rail, and a plurality of vertical panels. Each end connector includes two side flanges joined to form a vertical channel. Each end connector includes at least one hinge sleeve offset from the hinge sleeve on the opposite end connector adjacent framing units to be joined with a single anchor pin. The bottom and the two top rails are parallel and extend between the two end connectors. The top rails are separated by an upper gap that allow a plurality of vertical panels to be inserted into and supported by a channel formed on the bottom rail. The top edges of the panels are captured by the two top rails.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A landscape framing unit, comprising: a. two parallel end connectors each with a longitudinal axis, a midline axis and two side flanges, said side flanges of each end connector being joined together at one end and then separate to form a vertical channel inside each respective end connector, at l

1. A landscape framing unit, comprising: a. two parallel end connectors each with a longitudinal axis, a midline axis and two side flanges, said side flanges of each end connector being joined together at one end and then separate to form a vertical channel inside each respective end connector, at least one hinge sleeve attached to said side flanges of each end connector, and extending outward and aligned parallel to said longitudinal axis of each respective end connector, said side flanges of each end connector configured such that said hinge sleeves on opposite ends of the framing unit are offset with respect to one another so that when end connectors on adjacent framing units are aligned parallel and abutted, said hinge sleeves on said end connectors on adjacent framing units may be stacked and coaxially aligned and said framing units may be rotated over coaxially aligned hinge sleeves in a 300 degree arc;b. an elongated, straight U-shaped bottom rail perpendicularly aligned and connected at opposite ends to respective side flanges of said end connectors, said bottom rail includes a lower channel;c. two elongated, straight L-shaped top rails perpendicularly aligned and connected at opposite ends of each top rail to respective side flanges of said end connectors, each said top rail includes a horizontal top flange and a vertical flange, said top rails being parallel to said bottom rail and spaced apart thereby forming an upper gap, said upper gap, said vertical channels, and said lower channel each comprising a width approximately equal to one another;d. at least one vertical support member extending between said bottom rail and said top rails, said at least one vertical support member configured to hold said bottom rail and said top rails distant apart; and,e. two anchor pins each configured to be inserted into one of said at least one hinge sleeve on each said end connector to hold said framing unit in a vertical alignment over a support surface. 2. The landscape framing unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one vertical support member is an elongated z-shaped plate. 3. The landscape framing unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising an elongated top cap configured to be selectively attached over said two top rails. 4. The landscape framing unit as recited in claim 1, further including a plurality of panels configured to fit through said upper gap formed by said top rails and into said lower channel formed on said bottom rail and extend between said top rails. 5. The landscape framing unit as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one vertical support member is an elongated z-shaped plate. 6. The landscape framing unit as recited in claim 4, further comprising an elongated top cap configured to be selectively attached over said two top rails. 7. The landscape framing unit, as recited in claim 4, wherein said panels are made of concrete. 8. The landscape framing unit, as recited in claim 4, wherein said panels are made of wood. 9. The landscape framing unit, as recited in claim 1, wherein said end connectors, said bottom rail and said top rails are made of galvanized steel. 10. The landscape framing unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said framing unit is approximately 48 inches in length, 12 inches in height, and 2 inches in width, said upper gap and said vertical channels and said lower channel are approximate 1-⅞ inches in width. 11. A method for assembling an elongated retaining wall or a raised planting bed on a support surface, comprising the following steps: a. selecting at least two framing units to form an elongated retaining wall or a raised planting bed, each of said framing units includes: two parallel end connectors each with a longitudinal axis and at least one laterally extending hinge sleeve aligned parallel to said longitudinal axis, said at least one hinge sleeve of one end connector being offset from said at least one hinge sleeve of the other end connector thereby enabling the ends on adjacent said framing units to be abutted and enabling said adjacent framing units to be connected together and rotated around coaxially aligned hinge sleeves in a 300 degree arc to form a straight or angled elongated retaining wall or a raised planting bed;an elongated, straight, u-shaped bottom rail perpendicularly aligned and connected at opposite ends to said end connectors, said bottom rail includes a lower channel;two elongated, straight, L-shaped top rails perpendicularly aligned and connected at opposite ends of each top rail to said end connectors, said top rails being parallel to said bottom rail, said top rails being spaced apart to form an upper gap with a gap width approximately equal to the width of said lower channel formed on said bottom rail;at least one vertical support member extending between said bottom rail and said top rails configured to hold sections of said bottom rail and said top rails apart from one another, where said sections are distant from said end connectors; and,b. assembling said framing units vertically in an end to end manner over said support surface to form said elongated retaining wall or said raised planting bed, adjacent said framing units being interconnected by abutting the end connectors at one end and coaxially aligning said hinge sleeves of the abutting end connectors and inserting an anchor pin through said hinge sleeves of the abutting end connectors, when abutted and connected together said framing units may be rotated up to a 300 degree arc;c. selecting a plurality of panels configured to extend between said top rails and said bottom rail, said panels configured to slide through said upper gap formed by said top rails and rest inside said lower channel formed on said bottom rail, said panels include side edges configured to abut to form a continuous wall between said end connectors;d. inserting said panels through said upper gap formed by said top rails and into said lower channel formed on said bottom rail and abutting said side edges of said vertical panels to form a continuous wall between said end connectors; and,e. depositing soil on one side of said panels to form said retaining wall or said raised planting bed.